Draconic Diplomacy

by Jesicani

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure
Length: 6140

For nine years Spike has been missing. After hearing rumors of a dragon hanging around Ponyville, the Cutie "Marked" Crusaders investigate. Meanwhile, it appears dragons have been making a move towards pony towns and cities.

For nine years Spike has been missing, with nopony having any clue as to how or why. After hearing rumors of a dragon hanging around Ponyville, the Cutie "Marked" Crusaders choose to investigate. At the same time, dragons have been settling nearby various pony towns and cities. Twilight Sparkle undertakes immediate diplomatic measures to ascertain the purpose of their movements.
(Tagged for gore due to instances of animal hunting)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-16 13:15:10 UTC

Discovery

The rotting stench of a Timberwolf’s breath befouled the air as three of the ligneous creatures stalked circularly around three teenage mares who huddled close to each other within the very center. Spittle dripped from the corners of the wolves’ mouths, their eyes glinting with ravenous desire. An orange mare with a cerise-colored mane and tail, a violet lightning mark decorating her flank, attempted to stand as a wall between them and the other two ponies.

“Bring it on stink-breaths! I ain’t afraid of you!” The orange Pegasus bravely barked out.

“Scootaloo!” The yellow Earth Pony with the pink bow adorning her blazing red hair whined. “Don’t be antagonizin’ them!” Embellishing her flank was a hammer and a chisel crossed in an X.

“Don’t be such a filly Apple Bloom!” The one called Scootaloo chided.

“I’m scared…” uttered a pale white unicorn with light a light cotton pink and violet mane and tail, a treble clef ornamenting her flank.

“It’ll be all right Sweetie Belle! I’m here!”

“Yeah, what’s the plan Scootaloo?” Apple Bloom lashed out.

Scootaloo bit her bottom lip. “I… I dunno! We wait for Rainbow Dash!”

“Rainbow Dash is at the Wonderbolt Academy now!” Sweetie Belle reminded her.

“Scootaloo, you can fly away!”

“I ain’t leaving you guys!”

“Here they come!”

The three mares hugged each other, shutting their eyes close as the wolves descended upon them. A monstrous roar bellowed within the air which was then followed by a crackling snap. The mares began to feel a little warm, and they opened their eyes, finding that they were now surrounded by a column of green flame.

“What’s happening?” Sweetie Belle squealed; panic heightening the tone of her voice to a comedic pitch.

Feral snarls and the snapping of wood sounded from the outside of the ring and the mares peered through the blaze in an attempt to discern what was happening. As the flames subsided, the sight of a hulking winged reptilian, a dragon, doing battle with the three timber wolves was now within their vision.

The dragon was eight colts in length and four colts in width. It was covered in purple scales that glinted within the sun, its underbelly a much lighter shade and rugged, rather than scaled. Green spikes ran bilaterally up and down its vertebrae, the largest one on its head, the size of each spike slowly diminishing as it ran down the length of its neck, spine, and tail. Its arms and legs were well-muscled and furled on its back were massive wings. The claws on its hands and feet were scythed into a malicious, throat-tearing curl; the one on its right index appendage heavily blackened. It moved on all fours, its claws digging into the ground with each step.

One of the Timberwolves rushed the dragon head on, resulting it being smashed aside into splinters as the dragon back-handed it. The other two instinctively flanked opposing sides of the dragon and rushed in simultaneously. The dragon spun, his tail demolishing the other two in a vicious whip-like arc.

Once the wolves had fallen, the dragon turned to the three mares, the fire protecting them now extinguished, leaving a dark ring on the grass. He glared at them sternly, with them only being able to look back in awe. The dragon then snorted, smoke puffing out of its nostrils before it turned away. As it did so, broken remains of the Timberwolves slowly started to shake, before ascending into the air and collecting together into a giant swirling cacophony of branches, splinters, twigs, and bark, taking form into a colossal Timberwolf twice the size of the dragon.

The dragon snorted in derision at the resurrected foe and half-heartedly turned back around to face it. The titanic TImberwolf sent a cumbersome claw attack at the dragon. To avoid the attack the dragon unfurled its wings, revealing large, sinewy, diaphanous-green flaps, and jumped back, flapping its wings once to push itself back even further. The claws crashed into the ground, causing a rumble within the earth that tripped the three mares.

Before the Timberwolf could make any additional movements, the dragon opened its maw and a hellish stream of verdant green fire spewed forth and engulfed the Timberwolf. The wolf’s snarls, whines, and growls mingled with the sound of crackling wood and draconic fury as the dragon’s inferno remained unrelenting. It was not until the wolf seemed to have completely dissolve did the dragon stop, leaving only a pile of ash topped with small amounts of charred kindling. The dragon then turned around, kicking some dirt disdainfully at the ashen mound like a cat covering its excrement in a litter box, before walking away towards the forest.

“Wait a minute!” Sweetie Belle cried in her squeaky excited voice, one that even adolescence was not able to remove. “Purple scales, green spikes; That’s Spike!”

“Spike?!” The other two sounded off in unison. They scrambled up on to their hooves and made a mad dash towards the dragon.

“Spike! Spike!”

Spike turned his head around, seeing the crusading trio galloping after him. He wasted no time in running, spreading his wings out wide before taking a mighty leap into the air. As his wings caught wind, he flapped, ascending into the sky.

“He’s getting away!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

“Not if I have anything to say about it!” Scootaloo took off quickly from the ground, rapidly catching up to Spike.

“Hey Spike!” Scootaloo shouted at him as she flew beside him. “Rainbow Dash taught me everything I know, there’s no way you’re getting away from me!”

Spike glanced at her from the side and offered her a smirk. He furled his wings and tucked his limbs in tight as he barreled towards the ground, spiraling as he did.

“Heh, not bad, but easy enough!” Scootaloo dived after him, noting a small wispy trail of smoke buffeting against her face. “*Cough* Hey! What’s the big idea with all the smoke? Woah!” Spike disappeared in a large cloud of smog and Scootaloo attempted to pull up before she plunged into the haze.

She hacked and coughed and flew upwards out of the miasma until she was flying within fresh air. She then looked around, finding no trace of Spike. “Darn! I lost him!”

-

-

-

“How in tarnation did’ja go an’ lose track of a dragon?” Applejack queried as the trio made their way into Ponyville. Sweetie Belle had a purple scale clutched between her teeth.

“I dunno, I just did!” Scootaloo countered defensively. “He did a dirty trick, that’s all.”

Sweetie Belle levitated the scale out of her mouth with magic, allowing her to talk freely. “At least we got this scale to confirm the rumors. A dragon’s been running around in the Everfree forest.”

“Not just a dragon,” Apple Bloom corrected, “the dragon. It’s Spike! It’s been almost a decade since we last saw ‘im! Won’t everpony be happy to hear?”

Scootaloo gnawed her cheek hesitantly. “I dunno guys, I mean, it’s a little hard to believe, isn’t it? Even with the scale and all. Ponies might think we’re just making up stories.”

“We should at least tell my sister Rarity,” Sweetie Belle suggested, tucking the scale behind an ear. “And we should also send a letter to the castle informing Princess Twilight. I’d imagine those two would be the happiest to hear.”

“Probl’y.”

“I suppose…”

Purple and green. Green and purple. Purple and green of varying shades and intensities, fashionista’s the world over can all expect that this fall season, like it has been for the past nine years, the famous dressmaker by the name of Rarity will be creating and presenting her best work, in the expected colors of purple and green.

Nopony knows why, and many had asked why she chooses to restrict the amount of colors she works with to green and purple when this time of year comes by. Rarity dismisses such questions, saying she does it because she wants to. Critics rave about the fierceness her designs invoke and many other designers attempted to mimic her color palette, though none had ever worked with purple and green as well as she has.

Now, within her boutique, Rarity works on her most inspired work yet.  A long, flowing, dress robe with an accentuated tail comprised of sparkling purple silk. Emeralds lined the center starting from between the shoulders, ending at the very tip of the tail. Platinum shoes, each adorned with a small emerald on the front, accompanied the dress, with each shoe appearing unusually, almost lethally, pointed.

“Rarity!” called out a melodic pitch-perfect voice that she can only attribute to her little sister, Sweetie Belle.

Without bothering to look up from her work, Rarity’s horn glowed, magically opening the door the Cutie Mark Crusaders were standing patiently in front of. “What is it Sweetie Belle? I’m working.”

“Rarity, you should take a look at this.” Sweetie Belle approached her sister, levitating and holding the scale in front of her sister’s face.

Rarity looked at the object with confusion until it glinted in the light. Her eyes then widened and she grabbed at it with both front hooves, holding it in front of her face. “This is… But it couldn’t be!” Rarity turned to Sweetie Belle and her friends. “Sweetie Belle, where did you find this?”

“You probably not going to believe us, but it fell off Spi-” Rarity covered Sweetie Belle’s mouth with a hoof before she could finish.

“Sweetie Belle, dear, please think about what you’re going to say. He’s been gone for nine years. I don’t think-”

“But it’s true!” Scootaloo interjected. “We saw him! There’s no way it could have been anyone else!”

“He saved us!” Apple Bloom added. “We were bein’ attacked by some Timberwolves and Spike gone and turned ‘em ta ash! If it was any other dragon it woulda gone and ate us prob’ly!”

“Timberwolves?!” Rarity exclaimed in aghast.

Scootaloo rubbed her hoof on her brow, aggravated. “Forget about that! The point is we found a dragon, purple and green; it has to be Spike!”

Rarity bit her bottom lip and looked away. Her heart fluttered with hope, but her mind told her to be wary, and spare herself more hurt. What are the chances? And why would he appear now?

“I… I’d like to believe you girls. Perhaps you did find a dragon. But is it Spike?”

Sweetie Belle stamped her hoof on the ground.  “It’s like Apple Bloom said earlier! We’d be dragon food if he wasn’t!”

“I… I suppose… Where is he now?”

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom looked to Scootaloo who looked back defiantly. “What? He cheated, okay?”

“So, he’s gone. Again… hm.” Rarity turned back to the dress she was working on. The mares watched her curiously; befuddled by the way she nonchalantly went back to work. After a minute passed, Rarity stopped working, her sewing needle suspended in the air momentarily before her magic let go, and it clattered on the ground. Her bottom lip was sucked into her mouth as a tear rolled down her face.

“Rarity?” Sweetie Belle walked up to Rarity and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

“Why doesn’t my little Spikey-Wikey come home?” Rarity melted into her little sister’s shoulder, frantic sobs escaping her lungs.

Scootaloo marched out of the boutique purposefully, prompting Apple Bloom to follow after her. “Scootaloo! Where ya goin’?”

“I’m not letting him get away!” Scootaloo unfurled her wings with a dramatic swish. “You see if you can find any more information from any of the other ponies around here.” Scootaloo went up into the sky like a reverse orange lightning bolt, covering Apple Bloom in a fine layer of dirt upon take off.

Hmm, only ponies around that would know anything about Spike are ones that hang around the Everfree Forest, Apple Bloom thought to herself as she dusted off the dirt. That would leave Fluttershy and Zecora. Apple Bloom galloped towards the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage, with Scootaloo overhead, an orange streak in the sky.

Scootaloo scanned the thicket below, the mysteries and dangers of the Everfree forest eluding her, as did the location of Spike.  She was sure that all she had to do was look at the ground, after all something of Spike’s size was in no way going to be able to conceal itself within the sky. She neared the tree tops of the forest, though she avoided descending below them to avoid surrendering her aerial view.

“Drat! Where the heck can a dragon hide?”

A small whiff of smoke caught her nose, trailing from the forest beneath.

“I wonder…”

-

-

-

Apple Bloom neared Fluttershy’s cottage, finding the meek pink-maned Pegasus tending to the injuries of a corpulent bear, four long scratches running down the length of its back, with Fluttershy cleaning the wound with a rag.

“Oh Mr. Bear, what manner of creature have you been fighting with?”

“Fluttershy!” Apple Bloom ran up to the nurturing Pegasus and the injured bear. “What happened here?”

“Apple Bloom? Mr. Bear has been attacked, or at least I think he has been. He wouldn’t tell me anything. He has too much pride for his own good.” The bear looked down shamefully at Fluttershy’s remark.

Apple Bloom glanced at the long gashes on the bear’s back and winced. “That looks mighty awful. Could it been a manticore?”

Fluttershy shook her head, now applying a poultice to the bear’s back. “That’s what I thought at first, but the scars are too deep for a manticore’s claw. Apple Bloom, have you heard the rumors of a dragon around Ponyville?”

Apple Bloom took a quick intake of breath at the mention of the dragon and looked back at the bear’s back. No way Spike could have done, did he?

“Apple Bloom?”

“Huh? Oh, ah’m sorry, yeah I heard. Actually, I wanted tah speak to you about that. Don’t suppose you know anythin’ ‘bout it?”

Fluttershy placed a hoof on her chin contemplatively. “Well, I’ve noticed a lot of the animals running away from the forest. There was even an incident of a cockatrice being found in the White Tail Woods. If there really is a dragon out and about in the forest, that could explain some of the odd behavior coming from the animals.”

“But you don’t know anythin’ else? Like where this dragon could be hidin’ or why it’s here?”

“Apple Bloom, you aren’t investigating this matter are you?” Fluttershy asked, her tone dripping in concern.

“Well, er, I mean, ya know, somepony has to,” Apple Bloom mumbled.

Fluttershy shook her head. “Uh uh, it is far too dangerous. If there really is a dragon, then there is no way I can allow you to continue.”

“But Fluttershy!”

“Apple Bloom…” Fluttershy looked at Apple Bloom sternly. Apple Bloom froze in place, knowing full well this was not even all that Fluttershy was capable of. Before she could become victim to “the stare” Apple Bloom, quite literally, turned tail and ran off to the direction of the Everfree Forest.

“Apple Bloom!”

“Don’t worry, ah’m just gonna see what Zecora knows!”

Fluttershy pursed her lips at the sight of the teenage mare running into the forest.

-

-

-

Scootaloo followed the trail of smoke to a cave carved into the base of a nearby mountain. Animal bones littered the entrance, all of which were gnawed upon, with only the littlest bit of flesh still clinging to the bone.

“Ugh.” Scootaloo landed on the ground and disdainfully maneuvered around the bones as she made her way to the cave mouth. She peered inside, allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness. With her eyes properly dilated, she began to notice black markings on the wall. They were scratched in into the wall and darkened with a black ink. She identified them as pictures and despite their crudeness; she recognized many of them as various buildings and settings from Ponyville.

“That’s the library. Rarity’s Boutique. Sugar Cube Corner. The Town Hall. Apple Acres…”

“That’s a nice Cutie Mark you got there,” a deep and booming voice from behind Scootaloo sounded.

Scootaloo froze, feeling the tickle of a behemoth’s breath on the nape of her neck. She slowly turned her head, seeing a draconic visage loom into her view. “Sp-spike?”

The dragon offered her a toothy grin. “That’s right.”

“Oh thank goodness!” Scootaloo turned around, now face to face with Spike, who stood on all fours. “It’s a good thing I found you! We-”

“Don’t be too happy,” Spike said as his mouth watered much like the Timberwolves had earlier. “I was getting pretty hungry. You’ll make due for a snack.” Spike took an aggressive step towards Scootaloo, prompting the Pegasus to back up against the wall.

“N-no way! You’re not going to eat me! You just saved me’n my friends!”

“Maybe I saved you three, so I can eat you later? There’s no meat on a Timberwolf after all.” Spike’s tongue snaked out of his mouth, slowing sliding up Scootaloo’s neck as he tasted her.

Scootaloo pressed herself even further against the wall, head turned away. “I… I don’t believe that.”

Spike withdrew his long and lithe tongue back into his mouth, looking at Scootaloo disapprovingly. “You’re supposed to be running away.”

“There’s no need. You’re not going to eat me.”

Spike’s look hardened and he turned away, stalking off deeper into the cave until he curled into a ball, head resting on the back of his hands. “Go away.”

“I knew it! You were bluffing!” Scootaloo shouted excitedly, running up to the balled-up dragon. “Now come on, everypony’s been worried about you and-”

“I said go away.” Spike unfurled a wing which he used to shield his face from the eager mare.

Scootaloo grumbled impatiently, prodding Spike with her head as she tried to push him up. “Let’s… go!”

“Leave me alone.”

“I know where you stay Spike! I could be back with more ponies!”

“I’ll find another cave.”

“We’re going!”

“No!”

Spike roared at Scootaloo, his shout rocking the cave with a rumbling boom that blew back the hair on her mane and covered in numerous globs of saliva. The sheer ferocity coupled with the bloody metallic aroma let Scootaloo momentarily stupefied, her mouth tightly shut as to avoid any drop of spit from entering her mouth. Satisfied with his work Spike curled back into his ball, a thin wispy line of smoke trailing out his nostrils as he shut his eyes.

-

-

-

Upon reaching Zecora’s hut, Apple Bloom found the Zebra she was looking for balancing on a long stick beside the door on one hoof, her front hooves flat against each other in a meditative stance. Knowing better than to disturb the Zebra’s meditations, Apple Bloom sat down, waiting for acknowledgement from the shaman.

“An Earth Pony I sense is near. Is that you Apple Bloom, my dear?”

“Well howdy Zecora.” Apple Bloom approached Zecora, who with a practiced swish jumped off her stick, the pole clattering onto the ground.

“Apple Bloom, your visits bring me great pleasure, it’s true. How can this old zebra be of service to you?”

“Aw shucks, Zecora, you ain’t that old.”

Zecora smiled warmly at Apple Bloom. “You are too kind Apple Bloom. But you are here for something I presume?”

Apple Bloom tossed a leg behind her head sheepishly. “Well, I certainly can’t deny that. I was just wonderin’ if you knew anythin’ ‘bout that dragon that’s been wanderin’ ‘round the Everfree Forest.”

Zecora’s eyebrows raised for a split-second before she answered Apple Bloom’s question. “I have heard the rumors, though they must be lies, for I have never seen the dragon with my own two eyes.”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow at Zecora. “That’s funny, didn’t think anythin’ got past you in here, Zecora. Me, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo actually saw this dragon. It saved us from a bunch of Timberwolves.”

Zecora was turning towards her hut when Apple Bloom told her story and she paused when Apple Bloom finished. “Is that so?”

“Wait a tick, you know something don’t you?” Apple Bloom regarded Zecora suspiciously.

Zecora hastily went to the entrance of her hut. “I do not know from where your suspicions about Spike spring, for I do not know a single thing.”

“I didn’t mention Spike at all!”

At the mention of Zecora’s blunder, she quickly made for her door but was quickly blocked by Apple Bloom.

“Zecora, just what are you hidin’?”

“I… I’m…” Apple Bloom peered demandingly at Zecora, prompting the Zebra to release a conceding sigh. “So be it, Apple Bloom, you have caught me in the act; of knowing that the dragon was Spike for a fact.”

“Just how long did you know?”

Zecora looked away hesitantly before answering. “It was nine years ago when he first-”

“You knew for the entire time?!” Apple Bloom hollered incredulously.

Zecora placed a hoof on her own face impatiently. “Let’s step into my abode, Apple Bloom. There, the story will be told.”

Once the two were inside Zecora’s hut, Zecora retrieved a pouch of powder from a nearby shelf, sprinkling it into the cauldron in the center of room, using it to form wispy images atop the swirling green concoction within.

“Nine years to this day, when the trouble first blossomed, Spike came to me, concerned about a problem.”

“When he got his first growth spurt?” Apple Bloom queried.

Zecora nodded before continuing. “Spike had grown to a considerable size, and he could see fear in many Ponies eyes.”

“That’s no reason for Spike to run away,” Apple Bloom debated, “he still had plenty of friends who cared for him!”

“That much is self-explanatory,” Zecora agreed, “but there is still much more to the story. As he grew, his instincts grew with him, his nature he cannot defeat. His desire kindled brightly as he developed a hankering for what is essentially…” Zecora drew her face closer to Apple Bloom’s. “…Meat.”

This drew a gasp from Apple Bloom. “W-what? Spike wouldn’t!”

“Not if he could help it, no, but a dragon’s instincts are hard to let go. So before his mind would be torn asunder, I taught him the ways of a hunter. I taught him to walk on all fours, staying low to avoid detection, a skill required of both predator and prey. To stalk, to kill, to flee, to fly, so that he may live to eat another day.”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “I still don’t get it, so he’s been out huntin’ for the past nine years?”

Zecora stopped illustrating with her cauldron, having run out of powder. “Spike’s hunger for meat has filled him with fear for the ponies of Ponyville he holds dear. He exiled himself deep within this forest, making me swear not to tell a soul. I imagined he’ll stay here until he’s sure that he has desire under control.”

“So he’s been in the Everfree Forest the entire time…” Apple Bloom mused. Zecora shook her head prompting Apple Bloom to look at her questioningly.

“For four years he has stayed, before disappearing for another three. It wasn’t until two years ago did he come back, and who knows where he’s been? Not me.”

“So he’s been in the forest for four years, somewhere else for three, then back here at the forest for the last two years.” Apple Bloom placed her hoof on her chin as she began to think. “So for the majority of his disappearance, he was never too far from home. Why in the world would he just leave for three years then come back? It don’t make much sense to me. Ah whatever!”

Apple Bloom ruffled her own mane, annoyed, before looking back at Zecora. “We know about Spike now, so there’s no point keepin’ it a secret now, ya hear? Do you know where he could be?”

“I do…” Stumbling into Zecora’s hut, was Scootaloo, her mane still unkempt from the ferocious roar she had received earlier. “Oh Celestia, I can still smell it.” Scootaloo then collapsed onto the floor.

Apple Bloom sniffed her friend and covered her nose with a hoof. “Pee Yew! You smell like dragon breath!”

“It is dragon breath. I found Spike and he roared at me to get me to leave. Needless to say it worked…” With the help of Apple Bloom, Scootaloo pulled herself up, fixing her mane in the process. “I dunno why he doesn’t want to go home.”

“Actually, Zecora was just explainin’ the entire story to me.”

Scootaloo’s jaw dropped and she turned to Zecora disbelievingly. “You knew?!”

“As I’ve said before, my silence on the matter was a result of a vow,” Zecora explained to the late-coming Pegasus, “You found Spike, what will you girls do now?”

Scootaloo wasted no time in answering as she stamped her hoof against the floor. “We’re getting him out of that cave!”

-

-

-

It was just past the afternoon, the orange tinting of the sky heralding the coming of the evening. A purple Alicorn with an indigo mane and tail with clean cut bangs and a violet and pink stripe running down their length, stood atop a flattened mesa. Dwarfing her was a winged reptilian behemoth with bronzed-red scales that gave off the effect of rusting. It had a prominent under-bite, holes in its clear pinkish wings that it was unable to fold unto its back and a tail with webbed fin spikes running from the base and stopping halfway. He was a quarter of the size of the mesa they stood upon.

“Your presence insults us Princess Sparkle,” the dragon sneered, distastefully referencing Twilight’s title. “Does a dragon sage not demand the presence of the true rulers of you ponies, the Harbinger of the Sun and the Mare of the Moon?”

Twilight glared up at the dragon, boldly defying him. “You are a sage, Bronze Arm, and I a princess, neither of us the supreme leaders of the societies we lead. You and I are equals and I demand to be treated as one.”

The dragon went on all fours and lowered its head so that his face may be level with Twilight’s. “Such bravery, from one so insignificant.”

Twilight’s horn began to glow threateningly. “Call me insignificant again. I dare you.”

The dragon gazed at Twilight cautiously before bringing himself back up. “Magic,” the dragon spat spitefully as he said it, “I would be a fool to fight against something I cannot understand. So be it, you and I will bandy words then.”

Twilight’s horn stopped glowing as the dragon acquiesced. “I’ll start. Small populations of dragons have been spotted around Equestria, most of which aggregating around areas with large Pony populations. What’s with this behavior?”

The dragon gritted its teeth, a small flame petering out its nostril. “Do you ponies think that you are the sole owners of this land? Are we dragons to be exiled to the badlands, where the trees don’t grow and the winds bear the coarseness and grit of sand?”

“Perhaps, you’re not hearing me. Your race is choosing to settle near pony populations. What are you plotting?”

Bronze Arm frowned at Twilight. “I’ve heard stories of your wisdom and intelligence; perhaps they have been greatly falsified. You ponies gather where it is most hospitable. We are merely doing the same.”

Twilight regarded him suspiciously. “I’ve seen the conditions a dragon is capable of living in firsthand, you thrive in conditions a pony can’t, and I highly doubt you actually need to live in the same conditions as we do.”

The dragon smiled, taking Twilight’s comment on dragons’ ruggedness as a compliment. “It’s true we are not as… fragile as you ponies. But you must understand, just because we have the capacity to withstand harsh conditions does not mean we enjoy having to. A gentle breeze, soft grass to lie upon, you ponies take such simplistic pleasures for granted.”

“That is…” Twilight gazed upon the ground guiltily. “Perhaps I’ve been hasty in my conclusions…”

“Indeed you have,” he added, rubbing it in Twilight’s guilt. “We are not the animals that you think we are. We are civilized; we have rules and laws amongst ourselves. Years ago we even had to expel one of our own from draconic society for being too violent.”

The image of the teenage dragons Spike had been trying to impress a decade earlier came into mind. No doubt it was one of them.

“The Night Princess has now taken over the sky,” Bronze Arm observed. “Rest comes soon. I trust that I have satisfied your curiosity?”

Twilight pursed her lips. “For the moment. Please take no offense when I say this, but your race does have a propensity for violence. You should understand where my concerns stem from.”

A low grumble emitted from Bronze Arm. “… True. I’ll pass your concerns to the other sages and clan leaders, do our best to keep our population reigned in.”

Twilight bowed her head gratefully. “I thank you for your understanding. Perhaps this would lead to a more prosperous relationship between our two races.”

“… Maybe,” Bronze Arm said doubtfully. “I myself am expecting a more… commensal relationship.”

“Before we depart,” Twilight quickly insisted, “I have a question about a particular dragon; he should be in his late teens, early adulthood by now?”

“There are many dragons,” he reminded her, giving her a quizzical eye. “Many shapes, many sizes, how do you expect me to know of one?”

“He wasn’t born into your society, but in pony civilization. He’s purple with green spikes and…” Twilight trailed off after seeing a smile emerge upon Bronze Arm’s face. Once more, Bronze Arm went down to all fours to level his head with Twilight’s.

“You mean to say you are familiar with, 'the scribe'?”

Twilight’s let out an excited gasp. The scribe was a perfect title for Spike. “Yes, yes I do! We call him Spike!”

A chuckle left Bronze Arm. “He is a dragon of many names then. First, it was four-walker. Then it was hunter. Squid Killer. Black Claw. The Scribe.” He then drew even closer to Twilight, relishing in what he was about to say. “And finally, the outcast.”

Twilight's eyes widened and she shook her head disbelievingly. “N-no… It can’t be… I… I suppose we are referring to different dragons then. Spike would never…”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you then,” Bronze Arm apologized, hand going up to his mouth as he stifled a yawn. “But now is the time to rest. You would think that after waking up from a hundred year sleep one would have had enough rest, but no, that is not the case…” He unfurled his wings, revealing two large flaps that have the capacity to drape over half of Ponyville. A mighty beat sent him skyward and he slowly made his way away from the mesa, limbs dangling lazily.

-

-

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The flight back to Canterlot was uneventful, Twilight’s mind bombarded with the possibilities of Spike’s current condition. There was no way “the scribe” Bronze Arm had mentioned earlier was Spike. When it came to confrontation, Spike would typically avoid it if he could, and she was sure he wasn’t the type to burst into fits of violence.

But then again, what do I know? Twilight thought, swerving to avoid a cloud so that she wouldn’t get herself soaked. It’s been nine years. Spike could have changed so much since then. By now, Twilight was over Ponyville and she looked down at the town with great fondness. Looking upon the library brought about memories of little Spike, quill in his hand, dutifully writing down every word that has left Twilight’s mouth.

A tear fell out the corner of Twilight’s eye at the thought and flew off as she increased the speed of her flight. The lofty ivory towers of Canterlot came into view and she welcomed the night’s respite she will soon be receiving. She flew over the castle flying towards a smaller, but still sizable building.

It stood in the center of Canterlot, surrounded by a large stonewall and gated by an ornamental golden gate. Inscribed unto a marble slate mounted on the face of the building was, “Canterlot Academy of Magic”. She spied an open window and flew into it, arriving in a well-kept office, a desk on the far wall and a bed on the opposite side. Book shelves stuffed with various ingredients, scrolls, books, and parchments the wall adjacent to the bed and the door leading out of the office stood opposing it.

Twilight went towards the desk, using her magic to pull out a piece of parchment, an inkwell, and a quill. After situating herself behind the desk and placing the aforementioned items upon it, she began to write.

Dear Spike…

Spike was curled up in his cave, his blackened claw tapping impatiently on the ground. A small fire was lit to the side, contained by a ring of rocks, illuminating the cavern. Then, he felt it, the spontaneous feeling of needing to release a flame that cannot be contained within his chest. He opened his jaws, a sudden surge of flame singeing the bottom of the cave floor as it formed into a rolled piece of parchment. Spike smiled and eagerly grabbed at the roll of parchment, breaking the seal with his claw.

It was the same ritual every night. Before he would go to sleep, Twilight would send him a letter describing her day. Spike would never answer back, he couldn’t bring himself to communicate with her, but Twilight would always send letters. Spike knew why, because every time she sends him a letter, every time she casts the spell to send it to him, and it worked, it was confirmation, confirmation that he was able to receive it, that he was okay. And to make sure that she was fine, that she wasn’t in any trouble, he would read them. He relished in her words, the letters being the highlight of his entire day.

He unrolled the parchment, his eyes scanning the paper excitedly.

My Beloved Dragon Spike,

Today has been rather eventful. Three more ponies, two colts and a filly, had successfully managed to pass the test, not only adding three new students in the academy, but three new dragons to list of domesticated dragons. Today’s generation of youth seem to be particularly gifted at magic. Azula, Sweet Song’s dragon, has been asking about you again. I don’t blame her, you’re the only one older than her and every other dragon is at least five years younger than her.

Spike grimaced slightly at this piece of news. Ever since his hatching and Twilight’s success at raising him, it has been the norm for students who pass the test to keep their dragons and raise them as assistants. Only one dragon had been successfully hatched that is even near his age, which was Azula, a leafy green dragon that seemed to blend perfectly in nature. While he certainly had nothing against Azula, he was sure that Azula’s insistence would lead to his eventual discovery, if Scootaloo doesn’t bring over an army of ponies first. Spike read the rest of the letter.

By the way, while I’m on the topic of dragons, I met with one of the elders of the dragon race, a Sage, by the name of Bronze Arm. He was the size of a small mountain though he seems to have delusions as to how much power he actually commands. I’ve told you before that dragons have been choosing to settle near pony populations and according to him they do so only because it is so hospitable. I have my doubts but so far, nothing happened, I just hope nothing does.

Spike’s jaw tightened. So she met Bronze Arm.

I don’t know why, but I figured I’d ask him if he knew you. As I was describing you, he brought up a dragon they called “The Scribe”. At first I thought it was you, but he mentioned other nicknames like “Four-Walker” and “Black-Claw” and mentioned that the dragon had been exiled for being too violent. So obviously that dragon wasn’t you. Right?

As of this sentence, I’m feeling rather sleepy. I wish you a goodnight Spike, please be well.

With love, your princess, your sister, your friend

Twilight Sparkle.

Spike read the final paragraph repeatedly. Though it says she doesn’t believe “The Scribe” was him, Spike could see the doubt in her writing. He set the letter aside and laid his head on the back of his hands. It would kill him if Twilight ever found out. He blew out the small fire that was illuminating the cave.

He’ll think about it more in the morning.