Spike's Temporary Stay

by B_25

Rating: teen
Tags: Princess Luna, Drama, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Spike, Romance, Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Main 6
Length: 74826

Spike inadvertently returns home while disguised as another dragon, avoiding six friends whom he longs to see.

This is a tale of a stranger seeking redemption.

Published 2013-06-20 08:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-02-17 14:07:25 UTC

Prologue

PROLOGUE

The distant town was awash in a haze that enveloped its wandering citizens and fragmented its buildings underneath a layer of shadow. The sun had already begun its slow descent to rest behind the mountainous horizon, momentarily eclipsed by the very town itself on its downward way, shining forth blinding white lights onto a pair of draconic eyes.

The Stranger raised a claw to shield his eyes from the harmful sunlight, becoming treated to the sight of blood trailing across the length of his forearm. His eyes didn't linger on the bloody race for long, opting instead to focus on the space between his digits, where a partial alabaster bridge phased into existence.

He began to walk toward the said bridge, and found himself staring at the billboard proceeding it: welcoming both old, and potentially new, friend.s to the town of Pon—

"I'm through with this town!" The Stranger's attention was caught by a semi-transparent phantom on the other side of the bridge, who quickly ran across its length. He quickly stepped out of the collision course the phantom had set, standing now on grass instead of the dirt trail he had been following the entire time.

The phantom reached the land on the other side of the bridge, taking a moment to compose itself as it wiped a tear away from its eye, and turned around to the town it had just run away from. "Everyone here is a fake! A big liar!"

The Stranger stepped closer to the strange phantom in order to discern its features, finding its overall form composes of bright purple lines and cool green blobs. Though he could not find it within himself to disturb the scene before him, as he chose to remain on the grass.

"Friends are supposed to help one-another rise up, not crush them for no reason." The purple phantom couldn't prevent a billowing sob escape the sore wastelands that was its throat, turning its head around to hide its shame. "I love to help others, but why must I feel so guilty about wanting to be helped in return?"

The town had no answers to give to the questions it was being asked, only to responded with the apathetic chatter of its citizens as they went about their day like everybody else. The phantom was the only one acting out from across the bridge, making its desperate questions sound more like whines as the thing began to back away from being rendered this realization.

"I guess none of it really matters." The phantom whispered to itself as it walked backward into the forest that oversaw the town. "Who I am doesn't matter; what I worry about doesn't mean a thing. If someone like me were to simply disappear..."

Its once vibrant colors began to dim as the green blobs upon its back had already disappeared. "...then no one would even notice."

A sphere of six differently colored lights expanded into existence and placed the phantom in its epicenter, untangling each of its lines and disintegrating them from existence. The Stranger reached out a claw to the odd phenomena in the abstract hope that it would do anything to help, only to be blinded once again by a flash of light that's force blasted his claw back to before his eyes.

He shook his head to rid himself of the whiteness that his vision had become, pushing his claw out of his way to see the empty forest that he had just left, and the busy town to his right. The Stranger opened his mouth to speak but found that no words could escape his throat, as his legs returned him back to the bridge.

His emerald eyes watched as the bridge expanded tenfold both in width and length before, exuding an aroma of malevolence that sent shivers coursing through his already trembling body. Time seemed to slow down as the world around him began to freeze in place. He saw in the incredibly long distance the silhouettes of citizens at the other side of the bridge, smiling in a way that twisted the definition into something that would scare away little kids.

And then, it all sped up. The world returned to normal and the bridge its proper length, but still, The Stranger opted to follow the water trail that encircled the town for a more secluded entry point.

“It’s…heh~ha...it's been a long time.”

A serpentine tail slithered into the open air, sunlight catching its dark amethyst scales that were further tinted by blood stains. Few spines sprung from his back, although the ones on its head stood tall, so thin that one might mistake them for a mane.

The dragon turned back to the path trailing into the woods and took a step forward upon it.

“To think…I’d end up here… before I was ready...”

His words were accompanied by pants as he cupped a claw into the air. His talons emitted a fickle aura that began to encase around them until the light of the glow began shaping into a glowing ball that then thickened into a paint-like liquid of green.

The ball was brought before his eyes as the glanced at the purple dragon in the reflection, staring back with heavy eyelids and a limp body. The dragon smiled at it as if it were the last time he was to see that reflection, before pressing the glowing ball into his chest.

Raging agony coursed through the dragon’s mind as the purple of his scales was drained away into a liquid, flowing upward to gather around his eye. His every pain receptor was being stimulated as the emerald color of his right eye began to dissipate until only a blankness remained.

The once purple belonging to his scales began to inject themselves into the blank eyes, filling it with their presence where they would temporarily reside, while the green liquid from the ball began to imbue itself in the empty spaces of his scales.

The dragon was forced to fade into the depths of his subconscious to avoid the full strength of the pain, where he found his new identity beginning to brew, that he took back with him when returned to consciousness.

A scaled foot stepped onto the trail, taking the first phase necessary to reach its destination, as the dragon trudge through the words with not a single glance at his newly transformed body.

“I guess it’s time that Spike the Dragon returned home.”

ACT I: I – Introductions

Spike's Temporary Stay

Act I

"Feelings of Hontesy"

~I~

INTRODUCTIONS

A late evening’s ray of light shimmered down through the branches of the densely packed trees, landing upon the dragon limping by. Instead of the trees lessening at his side, they increased in bunches with a red gloss adorning their leaves. As his feet stumbled along the ground, a raised root laced around his ankle, causing him to trip and slam into a tree. The world around him slowly morphing into one giant blur.

Spike’s right claw trembled against the bark of the tree as he pushed himself upright; his left claw reaching out to some blurry red orbs dangling just above his head.

“Hold it right there!”

Spike spun around to the distorted voice, allowing his trembling claw to slip off from the bark and his body to fall sideways. His arms spun around like propellers to keep him aloft, though this lasted for only a few seconds, before he collapsed onto his chin.

The voice giggled, then tried to hold back said giggles, before breaking out into full blown laughter.

“You know—” The drake grunted as his claw pressed against the ground, lifting himself back up, only to fall backward onto the tree “—it’s not polite to laugh when someone falls down.”

“Neither is it polite to be wandering on others property without their permission.” The orange blur grew in size. “Care to explain what you’re doing out here?”

“Going for a lovely evening stroll?”

“I ain’t in the mood for funny business.” The voice paused a moment, its blurry form beginning to swing like a pendulum. Attempting to follow it left and right only caused vomit to rise in the dragon’s throat.

Yet the glimpses he did catch were the intruder’s eyes scanning up and down his body. “It looks like you’ve seen your fair share of the the world.”

The voice sounded feminine, and the southern accent was cute on the ears, yet it carried a strong pitch spoken from the chest.

“I’ve been to towns that have better reception, if that counts.”

“Cut. The. Funny. Business.” The voice of the mare grew into a protective growl. “Just what do you thinking you’re doing on my family’s farm?”

“Farm?” Ponyville had just been looming in the distance from the edge of the forest, and somehow, Spike had wandered onto a farm. “My vision really is screwing me up…look. I’m just trying find a town called Ponyville.”

The moment was kept in a state of silence, until a pair of hooves began to crush leaves that laid scattered along the ground, till the sound was no longer faint to the dragon’s hearing. “Have you heard of it before?” he tried again with a slight crack in his voice.

The crunching of leaves stopped before it could reach the tree on which Spike was currently leaning against for support. The stranger drew a heavy breath, with spikes of distress interrupting the long draw.

“Ponyville… what is it you want to do in Ponyville?”

Spike chuckled as he attempted to slowly push off from the tree, careful to not put too much weight on himself, and more importantly, his wounds, just yet. “Was hoping to buy a nice hat, along with a few bandages for my arms…chest, torso, legs— you get the idea.”

The claw that pressed against his hip received a spray of blood onto its palm, the shifting weight of the dragon creating more pressure on the wound. Spike leaned back fully onto the tree and stifled away his pain, lest he tempt the mare with the knowledge that she could overpower him.

Not a whisper, nor a heavy breath, came from the mare. The expected screams for help never roared from her lips, but that did not mean that it wasn’t still a possibility. If it weren’t for the hollowing of Spike’s body, the mare would’ve already been put to sleep.

“You look like a wild creature—” the mare began before being interjected.

“Thanks for the boost of confidence.”

“—a wild creature who ran into something far wilder than yourself… something tells me you weren’t lying about the other towns’ better reception of you.”

The beatings of Spike’s heart chose not one rhythm to stick with. His breaths didn’t align with the surges of pain that stabbed daggers into his abdomen. It felt so easy to correct all these mistakes, but any thoughts or processes to make any changes were lost in a fiery cloud that clouded his mental capabilities.

“What makes you think that?” he said as his inhales timed with the beginning of the surges, allowing them both to reach their peaks together, so that he may exhale the pain away. Along with droplets of blood, of course.

“I don’t know many critters from the Everfree that can talk, nonetheless, speak as well as you do.” Her brows matted with perspiration narrowed upon him. “It’s almost like this ain’t even your first time speaking with a pony”

A sword comprised of pain slashed at the dragon’s core, causing him to gasp for air and stifle the expression of agony before the mare could finish blinking. “Thank you…for that…I suppose…”

Amidst the abstract blurs of brown that made of the trees, and the green haze that was of the grass, her small orange smile was clear to his draconic eyes. The mare’s freckled cheeks adorable in the sun’s rays of light.

“You’re welcome. But now you get why this whole thing is odd to me, right? First I think an overgrown lizard is going to terrorize my farm, and in the next moment, we’re having a conversation. So pardon my asking, but just what kind of creature are you?”

Spike couldn't help but chuckle and grin amidst the bolts electrocuting his body. “A dragon. If you must know.”

A rope flew forth and snapped in the air, the very sound shocking the dragon’s heart as he erected against the tree. Before he could even move, the rope sliced down like a saw before his snout, before being snapped back to its owner’s side.

Green claws rose from the bark and wound, to before the dragon’s face, and the other, towards the mare. Her emerald eyes glimmering in the golden rays showed to all the honest character inside, as well as the conflict that brewed within the pools of green.

“Dra… dragon.” White teeth clenched down upon the rope in her mouth, slightly muffling the voice, as the face above held an unreadable expression. “You…you’re a dragon?”

“Call me… a reptile…” the drake’s breaths were getting cut short by the tightness in his chest. “If that...makes you...feel better…”

There was a snap that whipped through the air. The brown blur tied itself into a circle big enough to fit around the neck of the dragon it flew towards.

Spike flew his wrist before his face, the rope lapping around the green arm. With a great pull from the drake, the mare with the rope clenched between her teeth flew forth.

Her screams caused the birds perched upon the branches to fly away into the orange sky, as her body hurled towards the dragon with no way of defense.

A fist rose into the air, with the elbow eclipsing her sight of the sun, as the claw then came down upon her, weakening opening at the last moment before its talons slashed away at her furry cheek.

Blood splatter towards the drake, as the force of the strike sent her flying back. Yet with another tug at the rope with an opposite claw, the mare was yanked back yet again, and flying her way for another strike.

A popping sensation burned in the wrist of the hand that held the rope, spasming the muscles in the claw into opening, which allowed the rope to slide out from his grasp.

No longer having her body tugged at, the mare leaned back and pushed out her hindlegs, aimed directly at the dripping wound upon the dragon’s hip. His eyes caught sight of their directions as he twisted off from the tree, blood splattering from hip onto the hooves that slammed against the tree.

A tremble shook throughout the branches as a few broke off from the tree.

The arm that hadn’t gone nerve dead had risen into the air, erecting each of its talons, and brought their sharpness down upon her. Yet he couldn't help but catch a glimpse of himself upon her eyes, a face of a savage dragon looking him back.

The claw hurling towards her lost its speed, allowing for the mare to kick off the tree. Yet, the claw came just before her eyes, and she had already exhausted all movements she could away from it.

The talons hovered before her pupils, ready to pluck them away. They then swung up to steal the thing upon her head instead.

And as the mare fell back onto the grass, a familiar snap rang throughout the air. After a second, a great pain burned at Spike's hip, forcing him unto his knee, while a rope covered in blood swung back to its owner.

Pants wheezed out from the fallen dragon, as his heavy eyelids began to slide close. Damn…it...can’t think…can’t focus on...her...

The mare rose from the grass, no longer needing to look up to stare into the dragon's eyes. Her tied ponytail exposed to the lifting winds, yet her eyes fell upon the stetson in the dragon’s hand.

Spike scoffed away the pain and humiliation as he tried to stand back up, the pressure of every rising inch forcing his claw to clench the stetson, further crumpling it.

“No. Stop! Please!”

Spike clenched his teeth as he collapsed back onto his knee, his claw unfurling to show a well-worn hat…seemingly passed down by generations to protect the eyes of those who worked hard under the harsh rays of sunlight.

Spike stumbled to rise from the ground once more, his claw careful to not clench the hat, as a chuckle escaped his lips. “Ready for round two?”

A huff came from the mare as the two began to circle one another, the distance between them gradually shrinking as they began to talk, with Spike barely holding up his claws.

“If you really are a dragon,” the mare began with a strain on her voice, “then why aren’t you acting like one? You hesitated back there at the tree, as that’s the only reason I even made it out of round one.”

“I’m in a lot of pain.” Spike shoulders were invourtaily shaking at the weight it costed to keep his claws up. “My reflexes aren’t on point, so you can thank them for not having a cut on your other cheek.”

The rope snapped at the grass in-between them that flew the dirt into the air, with the mare’s hoof stepping upon the hole in the ground. The dragon choose to retreat back as his left claw faltered to his side.

“Even if that were the case, Mr. dragon, it still doesn't explain why you chose to not damage my hat.”

The spark of Spike’s conscious was being drowned in the sea of pain, the luxury of coming up with lies and ideas too far gone to even be conceived anymore. “Alright, you got me. I don’t like to instill the maximum amount of misery that my dragon brethren seek when they burn down your villages.”

The irritation that seemed to have narrowed the mare’s eyes slowly faded from her features, as her eyes became lost upon his wound, to the point where her pools of green began to glimmer. “You speak like you aren’t very close with your dragon family.”

Spike dryly chuckled as his body began to feel hollow. “I tend to keep away from other dragons...too much king-playing and dumb-talking for my liking.”

Her eyes narrowed again, but this time, the cause didn’t seem to be that of anger. “Another question for you.”

“What? Not another surprise attack?” Spike’s side slammed into a tree his eyes had failed to see — eyes going wide as a sprew of blood erupted from his mouth. “K-Keep this up, and I-I’ll start thinking this is some kind o-of interview.”

The mare began to close the distance between them, with Spike forced to dig his claws into the bark of the tree to stay afloat. No longer was running away an option for him, and the mare seemed to know this, as she took another step. “This interview is the only thing stopping me from tying you up, and dropping you off at the Royal Guard.”

“Are... ponies always this friendly?”

The mare took another step. “How does a dragon like you speak so well?

“Do you mean, how am I so articulate?” Even in death, Spike could still be a dick.

The mare huffed as she took yet another step, ignoring his comment “Every dragon I’ve met could only speak a few words, and at the same pace rivaling that of Tank.”

“Ta...Tank?”

“Oh.” The mare’s lips pouted forth as her eyes went blank. “Tank’s a turtle, so, the dragon spoke as slow as a turtle. Which means that you sorta speak faster than a turtle, almost faster than a pony.”

Spike’s mouth hung open as his mind processed the mare’s logic, only understanding half of what she had said. “I see. So you’ve met a full-blown dragon and lived to tell the tale?”

“Sorta.” Her head bounced in remembrance of something old. “We had Fluttershy scold the big fella for causing a big cloud of smoke to overtake the town. Heck, she talked him into finding another place to slumber down.”

The mare’s eyes blinked in realization of something that was beginning to slip her mind. “Just wait a second. You haven’t answered by question!”

Spike exhaled a long breath that dealt away with some of the tension building inside him. It’s like I’ve seen this mare everyday of my life, but had forgotten all about her while in a dream.

“Most teenage dragons,” Spike began, the tightness loosening in his chest, “even some baby dragons, are able to talk as well as you and I. It’s only when our greed gets the better of us, that we begin to forget who we are, and even how to speak.

“All a dragon is, after that, is his hoard. But the one thing that hoard will forever lack, is life itself.”

Now that I think about it, I guess there’s more things than just greed that’ll take away a dragon’s life.

Falling in-between the dragon and the pony was the sun that began its graceful descent. A wave of golden light washed through the lands of trees and even offer the duo the last of its warmth embrace.

“Even if t’were the case,” the mare stepped closer to the drake, being perfectly outlined by the temporary golden light, “I get the feeling from you, by the way that you talk to the way how you act, that you’re different from the other dragons that my friends have talked about.”

The mare took another step closer towards the dragon, but no longer did it increase the pressure in the dragon’s blood. “And that just makes you a plain interesting dragon. Albeit one that’s lost his manners along the way, yet that doesn’t stop from from being plain interesting.

The mare uttered a soft giggle. “Only one other dragon comes to mind who was as close to interesting as you are. Heh, far better mannered, his name was Spiii…”

No longer did the rays of light fall upon her being, as her head fell almost to reclaim that last bit of falling light, only to hang her head in the shame of the shadows of the trees. The back of her neck looked ripe for a quick slash that would keep her down onto the grass, affording the dragon the time he would need to escape back into the Everfree.

The only thing that touched the fur upon her neck was the wind’s faintest touch.  “S-Say p-p-partner? W-What was...what is...your name?”

“M-My name?”

“Y-Yes.”

Both beings were lost to the world at this time due their separate reasons: one appeared to be of a forgotten memory, while the other was suffering in the pain of it all. The latter still conscious enough to fall forward with a claw hung up high.

Eyes as green as mine that spoke of their owner’s honesty…

Freckles that shone admirably in the rays of sunlight…

The hat she carries that shows respect to families past...

And a tail tied so it doesn’t get in the way of hard work…

I think I finally remember you.

The mare shook out of her dreamy state only to see the claw too late upon her, without a chance to even flinch, it seemed that the end was near, so she closed her eyes and waited. Yet, it wasn’t pain that struck her, only the presence of something upon her head.

When her eyelids slid open, she found them protected by the stetson atop her head, placed there by the dragon’s whose body just slammed against the grass. Blood soaked the ground and painted the land red, as it continued to pour from every hole the drake had to offer.

“I don’t have a name.” The words weakened into a whisper, as he looked up to her with the one eye that was above the grass. “Even if I had been given one at birth…I’d never...remember...it…”

A seeming eternal darkness consumed the dragon’s orb of vision as well as his mental faculties. No longer did his body bear the weight of pain nor his mind the misery it carried, as his eyes finally slid close.

The dragon went to sleep, with the mare standing above, able to do whatever a pony would please to a dragon who had once terrorized the town, and recently, her farm.

In the black abyss that exists within everyone, the place where those who dream reside in their sleep, and those who die are forced to continually fall and see vague glimpse of stars, is where the dragon found himself plummeting to the bottom.

He tried to scream, but had no mouth to do so with. Instead a claw reached out to the ceiling of the abyss to claim some kind of hope to cure his being, yet part of his body desired to reach the bottom, to extract whatever power that could create such a space.

It was the dragon who began to roll that allowed him to collide against the walls of blackness, phasing on out through the middle of the abyss, eternally damned to wander in-between the cross roads, as he fell onto dry patch of grass.

“Ah nelly!” A voice cried from just above. “I can’t do this! I can’t help him by myself!”

Spike’s heavy eyelids began to slide open as the sight of a wooden ceiling and bundles of hay made his vision. So too, was the worried face of the mare before, with blood covering her hooves.

“Hold it. Is he… are you…”

The claw trembled as it barely rose off the ground, trembling as it turned, telling the mare to come a little closer. Her eyes drifted from the claw to the barely conscious dragon, as she brought her ear next to his mouth.

“Could you… slam your hoof into my thigh, please?”

The mare pulled back her head with quivering lips and eyes that kept shaking. “Are...are you crazy from all the blood lost?”

“Pain.” Spike lifted his head ever so slightly from the grass, shaking every inch of the way. “I need a fresh dose of it, to stay, awake.”

A tired furry brow raised up high, so too, did a hoof over a scaly thigh that was mostly barren of wounds. Looking to the dragon as he nodded his head, the mare then slammed her hoof onto his leg.

A snap was lost to the screams of wailing pain.

Spike lurched up his back and fell it upon the bundle of hay behind him. “A dose of pain is better than caffeine,” he gave a weak chuckle. “A useful thing to know when traveling through the Everfree.”

The mare could only sigh in irritation.

“So,” the drake let his head fall back as well, the mare being captured in his eyes, “I’m a little confused as to why I’m not six feet under the ground, or behind metal bars.”

“Now’s not the time to discuss that,” the mare began, walking towards the door of the barn. “If I don’t find someone who can help you soon.”

Her hoof reached for the door handle.

“Don’t.” Came the voice from behind her back, causing her to turn and face the dragon. “By the time you find a doctor, and the tools required to save me, I’ll already be gone.”

A sigh escaped her lips as her hoof fell from the door, as she began to walk back to the dragon, who had his eyes glossing down his body.

“Neat. So I can’t feel anything in my upper-body.” Spike looked back up and offered the mare a smile. “That means I shouldn’t feel any of this!” Embers sparked out from his nostrils as a fire erupted from the cavern below, a green fire flaming down his chest and spreading along the surface of wounds, sealing them in a burning passion all the way down to his feet.

Another cry of misery resounded off the ceiling of the barn. “I was wrong! I was soooo wrong!

The mare, who no longer was just the mare to Spike, continued to be called as such as he sat down next to the drake. Her mouth retrieved the white box on the bundle of hay and brought it down to the floor.

“Since you’re refusing anyone else’s help,” the box sprang open with bandages and clear bottles inside it. “Shall I get back to trying to help you?”

As her hoof went for the box, a green claw refuted its entrance.

“Thank you for the help so far.” Spike rose his claws and wiggled them as if to accentuate their sharp contours. “But it’s better to have claws than hooves when you need to be precise.”

The wounds scattered across Spike’s body had dwindled in size, with less blood leaking out from them. But the bigger gashes had holes that offered the view of the inner-workings of a dragon, just as they spewed t blood across the wood and grass of the farm, in revenge for the irritation of the dragon’s flame.

Spike’s bottom lip slipped into his mouth as his fangs pierced through the scales, drawing a trickle of blood. “Mind if we talk so I don’t lose consciousness while mending my wounds?”

He noticed the forlong look on the mare’s face, not at all liking the sympathy, or guilt, that her eyes tried to suppress. “Depends on what you wanna talk about.”

Spike blew a green flame unto his suspended claw, casting enough fire unto it until it burned by itself. The claw then lowered to the dripping gash upon Spike’s left pec, pressing the burning flame against the place where his heart beated.

“Anything!” His eyes clenched in agony as his lips fully recoiled in misery.

No longer could the mare suppress her sadness as it washed across her face, placing her hoof upon the dragon’s leg, much softer than before. “Alright. But I’m taking over as soon as this becomes too much for you, you hear?”

The bottle of rubbing alcohol was lifted from the box, the lid coming to be bitten off by a pair of fangs, before being held over a patch swollen lips.

“Isn’t it kinda ironic?” His emerald eyes drifted over to hers. “To save a dying patient, while being that dying patient?”

“Uh-huh.” The mare suppressed her own groan at the liquid that was washing across the dragon’s chest, he being unable to suppress his own screams. “I guess bad jokes are the last thing you have to cling to?”

“Yep!” The scream died down into a groan, allowing the dragon to look back down to her. “It’s why you shouldn’t feel bad for me: I’m the one who got myself into this mess. Besides, frowns never helped anyone, yeah?”

“So what?” The mare lifted her hoof off from his thigh, irritation seeping into her tone. “You just want me to sit here and smile?”

A needle hovered over the wound that barred the way to Spike’s heart, piercing the lips as a line followed behind it, bringing the lips closer together every time the needle went for another loop. “If you... don’t mind.”

The ceiling of the barn began to fade away into the receding distance, the walls of the barn falling to reveal a storm of a vague blue surrounding them. Spike’s head felt faint as it fell left, with eyes still focused on coordinating the needle.

I’m not...going to last...much longer...

“You wanted to know why I save you, right?”

Spike tried to nod his limp head, yet his toes wiggled instead, as another pair of lips became sealed. “Ye...ah…”

The mare sighed as she rose from the ground, her tied tail swaying along with the movements of her hip. “I just couldn’t leave someone to die like that, bleeding all over the place, in a pain I probably couldn’t handle. Even if I don’t know the full reason on why I saved you, I know doing so was the right thing.”

A squeal of air came from one of the sealed lips, spreading ever so slightly as the line became undone. Another dose of sleepiness attacked Spike’s mind, as his claws fumbled to re-do the stitching.

“Sounds like…you did it…out of guilt…or curiosity.”

The freckled face faded into an orange blur, as it bobbed, up and down. “Think it was a bit of both.”

As soon as the wound was re-sealed, the needle fell from the claw’s grasp. “If that’s the case, then I would have rather you—”

Blood torrented out from the dragon’s mouth and poured like a waterfall onto his body, covering green with red, hiding away the wounds, with their faintest place being betrayed by arising bubbles.

The mare’s hoof slammed against the ground.  “That’s it! You can’t do this alone, and neither can I. We need to go get help!”

“N-No!” A claw stretched out towards her, but only served in weighing its owner’s body forward, causing his chest and navel to collapse onto the ground.

“Ponies can’t see me like this! I-I won’t let them!” Blood continued to drip from his lips as the outstretched claw dug into the grass, pulling the rest of the body forward. “I’d rather bleed all my blood away than have another pony see me!”

The mare stepped closer to the dragon, while keeping a safe distance away from his stretching claw. “You can’t be serious.”

Spike stared the deepest of hatred into her bewildered eyes, never breaking contact as he rolled onto his back, and hovered a claw above his heart. The sharpness of the talons shining in the candle light.

The gaze of pure madness struck at the mare’s very heart as she recoiled a few steps, chest looking weak as her breaths were faint. Eyes blinking nonstop, as if unable to understand the sight of a dragon willing to tear it all away.

“What…” she stepped back while shaking her head. “What if I call just one pony, a great friend who's as kind as can be, and will treat anyone no matter what they may be.”

The talons inched towards the bloody chest. “What’s her name?”

A moment’s hesitation overtook the mare, seemingly debating if she should give such information to a dragon in quite a mental state as this one. Yet his trust was needed if there was going to be any hope of saving him. “Fluttershy.”

The talons began to tremble over the wound sealing away his heart, so desperate to slash away at what gave him what life he had left, yet something else possessed the claw to allow the dragon to live a little longer.

Unable to will his heart away, the claw smashed the box next to him. The sound of falling wooden pieces being carried throughout the barn.

“I’ll take that as a yes?”

The dragon merely mumbled something inherently as his heavy eyelids began to slide close, the weariness of the pain finally taking hold of his system. He could hear her faint breath that fell past her small smile, as she turned to to the door.

“Before you...go,” his voice crackled with every word, causing the mare to turn her head “Can you...tell me...what your name...is?”

Her smile grew bigger, just before it opened. “Name’s Applejack, sugarcube.”

“Applejack?” His eyes blinked in horror, before his heavy eyelids finally slid close. “Please….don’t...tell...them…”

Not a sound came from inside the farm, the hallowing wind banging outside. Then came the sound of hoofsteps against the grass, coming closer and closer towards, before they stopped entirely. After a moment’s silence, the hooves turned and became fainter by the step, till they disappeared past the squeaky sound of an opening and closing door.

The claw that had been reaching out for Applejack fell to the land below.

A fog composed purely of black streamed from the walls, falling towards the bottom that had an unforeseeable end. Upon a transparent bridge that shone lightly, the colors of the rainbow, laid a dragon whose claw dangled off the edge.

His face scrunched in pain as his eyelids began to slide open, eyes dilating to the blinking red light hidden amongst the fog, then drifting downwards to the nothingness his claw hung too. The right side of his body began to lean over the nothingness, weighing the rest of the body to fall along with it.

Spike screamed internally as he pulled himself back, rolling his back onto the bridge, and taking a much needed breath of air. At the circle ceiling of the abyss shone down a light, so bright and revealing, that Spike couldn’t help but raise a claw towards it.

The green liquid that formed all around the dragon’s body found its symbiotic touch being torn away from the purple scales, ascending above the body like balls of paint into the light’s embrace, until nothing of the matter stuck to the dragon.

In the light’s grasp, the balls of green began to collide into one-another, growing in size as the light drifted across the bridge, leaving the drake in the faint glowing colors of the bridge. And as all the balls became one, so too, did they color transform from green to orange.

Ripples formed on the surface of the giant orb, as four pillars shot from its core and stretched to the bottom of the abyss. Laughter roared off the walls of fog as the orb began to stretch and widen, taking the form of someone Spike once knew before.

“Why if it ain’t the tiniest dragon around!” Her voice sent cracks shattering throughout the bridge, the colors nearer to her going faint, with the effect trailing Spike’s way. “Ready to talk again, even after the last time?”

There was a tremble in Spike’s claw as it rushed to pull him back from the mare, while the other repressed his lips from ever speaking a word. Though he could only crawl as fast as the pain in his abdomen, which the surges of pain matched in time to the blinks of red light.

“C’mon on now, hun.” Applejack’s face flew to behind her mane as her teeth bit down upon something, coming back to show the rope secured in her mouth. “You can trust me. Everybody trusts me!”

The gigantic rope was tossed into the air and swung around like a saw that cut away at the fog, gliding all over the place as Spike saw himself just a splatter underneath its weight. He pressed his claw against the bridge and forced his weight upon his thighs, the red blinks growing brighter, while the colors of the bridge became fainter by the second.

Spike’s eyes clenched closed as the comprehension that Applejack was back to tormenting created the impulses to just leap off the bridge, and allow this nightmare of life to finally be over. Yet, Spike felt his body go weak, as a smaller, semi-transparent version of himself, stepped out from his body, and began to walk towards the mare.

Little Spike walked with open arms and a talkative mouth, that would smile as soon as it closed. The giant figure of Applejack smiled down at the itty-bitty dragon, yanking her rope down onto the bridge from where he stood, and shattered it all to fall to the nothingness that loomed below.

Applejack laughed at the falling dragon, as her eyes drifted over to the other that ran across the collapsing bridge. “Always running! Never talking! Ignoring your feelings! You’ll never reclaim yourself, ever again!”

Carrying forward despite the pain that lingered throughout his system, Spike came to halt before the wall of bright colors that barred the way to the other side. Shards of colorful glass fell just behind him, reflecting from below the other dragon who fell with eyes closed, but an open smile.

With a huff of uncertainty at his own fate, Spike pummeled his shoulder through the wall of rainbow, trying to stop his shuffling feet as he reached the other side. Rages of golden flames burned to the right of the bridge, as a dragon’s head floated above the flames.

Its purple eyes soaked in pleasure, derived from hatred at just what was burning below. Spike peered over the bridge as well to see vast amounts of gold burning into molten; libraries catching aflame, with one looking like an oak tree. Books filled with knowledge and answers having the edge of their papers set aflame.

All that had been accumulated to achieve this grand plan of revenge burned away, along with those that the hatred had been set against. Ponies encased in clay couldn’t move an inch as the flames began to consume their bodies, horrified as the day they were first captured in the substance by the one whom they trusted.

A claw trembled all the way to the chest to repress the beatings of Spike’s heart. It beated so fast, so gently, so freely, so greatly. Despite all the horror and hatred that loomed below, the greatest of all pleasures washed over the dragon’s being.

A hollowness hid underneath the waves of pleasure, but that mattered not when the dragon himself felt so complete.

Taloned feet recoiled back from the raging flames until they backed off the the bridge. Spike tried to scream as his body fell past the thin bridge, watching it shrink above his head. He quickly glance below to the thick, green glowing pool, swirling to deeper and deeper depths, until it all ended in the center.

A claw shot up to the bridge and graced its edge, the severing pain in his core almost tearing away his abdomen. The jerk of pain caused the right claw to slip from the bridge, dooming the dragon to the pool below.

And as the right claw fell down, the left one flew up and secured a fistful of the bridge. Spike’s body dangled below as he was forced to look into the acid pool below, before looking up into a pool of nothingness.

Spike narrowed his eyes on the skeleton eye socket, which turned slightly, to show its other half that wasn’t made only of bone.

“No way,” Spike said as he struggled to raise his other claw onto the bridge. Purple scales and green spines that had half of its bones exposed lit up in reflection of the pool below. “It’s me from before I had left!”

It felt to Spike, that the eye socket composed of bones was the only thing watching his struggle, rather than the functioning emerald eye surrounded by purple scales, which stared solely at its reflection upon the surface of the pool below.

Spike threw himself over onto the bridge and began to crawl forward, with the burning fires of pleasure and hatred to his right, and a pool of the unknown to his left, with a Spike that was half alive and half dead.

A door stood at the end of the bridge, which the dragon rose before, reaching out a claw for the know, to seek whatever it was that awaited him on the other side. Whether it be the answers he seeked, or yet another nightmare, the door began to open.

Celestia’s’ heavily orb shined brightly from atop the hill that Applejack was currently

Applejack climbed the hill to meet her awaiting friends, who all sat on a blanket covered in many pastries and juice boxes, with a tree that hung overhead that shielded away the golden rays of light.

“Look who finally decided to show up!”

A tired smile became of the mare’s lips as she removed her hat from her head. “Apologies for the tardiness, girls. A few, extra matters, came up on the farm that I had to take care of right away.”

Fluttershy stopped nibbling on her sandwich held between her hooves and offered her friend a forlong look. “Oh no. Did anything…severe, happen?”

“Nah.” Applejack nodded quickly at the pegasus that seemed to relieved the worry from the pegasus heart. “Things are going as they should, but I like to invest the extra effort so everything keeps running smoothly. ”

Fluttershy offered a small nod, as well as a smile, as she returned to nibbling on her meal.

“And just what are these matters that’s always causing you to be late recently.”

Applejack gave a haughty giggle as sat down on the blanket and picked up a sandwich herself, munching away happily as the stress lingering in her system evaporated through her nostrils. “Kinda a long story, Rainbow Dash.”

The pegasus in question crossed her forehooves. “Give us the short version.”

A sigh escaped the orange lips as well as breadcrumbs covered in saliva. “I guess you could say I have a, special guest, occupying the farm at the moment.”

Rarity released a stream of giggles. “My my! Honesty is your forte, but I’d never expect you, Applejack, to be so blunt about your romantic interests.”

“Yeaaah.” Rainbow head bobbed as her eyes carried about a certain confusion. “Wait, you telling me that while we waiting for you to get here, that you were hanging out with some some stallion instead?”

“Don’t put it like that way, y’all!” Applejack’s teeth sliced the sandwich as she munched with an open mouth. “It wasn’t even a stallion neither.”

“...a mare then?”

Applejack dropped her sandwich onto the blanket. “No mares!”

Rarity turned to her cyan furred friend. “Has your griffon friend returned to town?”

“I have a dragon in my barn!” The pent up stress of keeping around the clock watch on a potentially dying dragon flew out the mare’s mouth as she erected from the ground. “No stallons! No mares! And definitely no griffins! What I have, is a live walking and talking, dragon, who needs special help in my barn because the boy’s an idiot!”

Orange hooves shot to a pair of lips of the same color, only to arrive too late. Before they could leave to allowed words of redemption, another pair of alabaster lips had gone first.

“You certainly are an adventurous type, aren’t you darling?”

II – Disguised Entry Into Familiar Territory

II – Disguised Entry Into Familiar Territory

~II~

DISGUISED ENTRY INTO FAMILIAR TERRITORY

Twelve days had past since the dragon had set foot on her farm.

Looking like he had risen risen from the grave, he had presented his claws before her face; they had looked sharp enough to rip her eyes from their sockets. Yet the dragon didn’t strike when she gave him the chance, which suggest that there was some hope in saving him.

It was risk to take, with such a dangerous creature. But it was seldom that her gut gave the wrong impression of someone.

And that someone now slept in her barn. Covered head to toe in bandages, and only opening his eyes a wink, so that he could eat his spoon-fed meals. If Applejack time wasn’t spent working on the farm, than it was at the side of the dragon.

And even while on the farm, her thoughts refused to forget about his existence. Just who was this dragon? Where did he come from? Why was acting offensive, even though he meant no harm?

The thoughts never stopped repeating in her mind, which was the reason why she screamed.

Perhaps this outing with her friend would take her mind off the matter.

“What do you mean you have a dragon in your barn!?” Rainbow shouted, while pressing her face against Applejack’s.

Applejack wished she covered her ears, as she pushed the mare away.

“Can you please not scream that out loud?” Applejack said, sighing. “And it's exactly what it means: I have a dragon sleeping my barn.”

“Oo, Oo!” Pinkie bounced forward as all heads turned to her. “Is he a big dragon? Or a teeny tiny dragon? Well, I don’t mean teeny as in the size of my hoof, but, like, dragon standards! I mean, like, is he smaller than regular ponies – which would make him a teeny tiny dragon – or is he slightly taller than ponies, which would make him a small dragon?”

Applejack cocked her head to the side. “Ah a guess a small dragon... then.”

Her mind called it a quits on trying to figure out Pinkie’s train of thought. There isn’t really a good reason to try and comprehend Pinkie’s logic, as it only gets more sillier and complex.

“Oh my, Applejack,” Rarity stepped forward with the sun burning behind her. “Did he try anything improper untowards you?’

“Ah, well…” Applejack played with her hooves. “His first impression was, ah, for lack of a better word: poor. He did try to kill– or, er, seriously wound me.”

Applejack didn’t have time to blink before Rainbow Dash was upon her. “It tried to hurt you!?”

“He – not it – didn’t do a thing!” Applejack pushed Rainbow off her once more. Upon returning to her hooves, she looked to each and every one of her friends. “The boy was all talk! He looked mighty scary at the time, and you could hear the roar hidden behind his voice. His fangs looking like they could dig deep into ya… his claw could probably tear away meat like a knife…:”

Am I supposed to be helping the boy or condemning him?! Applejack shook her head and tried again.

“Look, the drake looked dangerous, but somthin’ in my gut told me otherwise. And I always trust my gut, which proved that inside him, he wasn’t all that bad.:

Rainbow turned her head away, her eyes interest in a patch of grass. “I don’t know, Applejack.” She sighed. “A dragon! It’s been awhile since we’ve last seen one. A dragon... Dragon...”

“I have to agree with Rainbow on this one, as dragons aren’t ones to be trusted,” Rarity stated. “But this dragon does sound interesting. I mean, a dragon that talks, and nonetheless to ponies! Simply fascinating.”

Pinkie hopped in front of Rarity. “Oo! I want to meet him! I want to meet him!”

Applejack stepped forward. “No can do, Sugarcube. I’m afraid the dragon’s still recovering.”

“Recovering?” Rainbow Dash asked as she recovered from her silence. “I thought you said you didn't end up fighting him?”

“And I  didn’t; he’s the one that came to me with his dang foot stuck in the grave. Heck, if it weren’t for Fluttershy over there, I doubt the drake would be just sleeping right now.”

Dash's head shot straight to Fluttershy. “Is this true?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Oh yes. At first, he looked really scary. He had blood and dirt covering him, and I was afraid he might attack me if I got too close. ” Fluttershy stopped to take a breath. “But it's really thanks to Applejack that I took a closer look at the dragon, so that I could see that he needed my help.”

She turned her head and looked away. “I shouldn’t have judged him on his looks. How rude of me to do so!”

“Uh, Fluttershy?”

Flutters snapped from her train of thought. “Oh, sorry.”

“Will this dragon be okay?” Rarity asked, looking sincerely concerned.

“Oh, yes,” Fluttershy replied with a smile. “His wounds were severe, but his scales should re-grow pretty fast. As long as heeps resting, then he should be back to normal in no time.”

Fluttershy paused for a moment, going to say something, but halted the words in her throat; only after shaking her head did she speak. “He had a lot of open wounds, so my main concern was that he might’ve caught something.”

Pinkie didn’t seem too interested as she once again interrupted. “So when can we meet him? I want to see him!”

 “Not now, Pinkie,” Applejack said. “The dragon’s gotta heal up, and even then, he seems like the type that likes his privacy.”

Even if I just exposed him to all my friends. She sighed. He’s gonna hate me for that one.

Pinkie dropped to the picnic blanket. “Oh…’

“Cheer up, Pinks.” Dash rested a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. “I’m sure we’ll get to meet him soon enough, somehow. But for now–” Dash ran a hoof along her belly, giving it a pat “–I’m starving.”

Applejack joined the five on the blanket. “I agree with you there, Sugarcube. Let’s eat!”

During the exchange, Twilight didn’t say a single word, only watching and listening as the girls talked about Applejacks new friend. The only response or sign of life she showed was her intent stare and a few eye twitches at the mention of the word dragon.

Rarity noticing Twilight’s behaviour moved close to her to see what the problem was. “Darling, is everything ok? You have been acting rather...odd”.

“I’m fine,” Twilight replied in an emotionless tone, while looking intently at Applejack.

“Well ok then dear,” Rarity shrugged her shoulders and turned to the conversation at hoof.

The six mares enjoyed their picnic.

Everypony ate the same lunch: sandwiches and hay, while Pinkie and Dash skipped to desserts.

With the world not coming to an end anytime soon, the six were free to take a load off, and discuss the small things, like the new salon that was opening up.

Villains still came out nowhere, but Applejack and her friends could always find a way to defeat them. Though the appearance of these villains was decreasing, which either relaxed the nation with its peace, or stressed it out with what may be gathering off in the distance.

Applejack paid it not a thought. Whatever what was going to happen, was going to happen. Though at the present, since there were no villains to vanquish, the girls had less of a reason to meet up and hang out.

Crops had to be harvested, and the bank ponies needed to be paid. If it wasn’t something urgent, than all else had to wait. Applejack wasn’t the only one with a life to deal with: each of her friends had their own paths to walk down.

So to gather up and discuss the most mundane of topics, was still enough to bring a smile to each of their faces.

Fluttershy nibbled on her salad and listened to what everypony had to say. It wasn’t apparent if she cared about what was being said, but her attention was there. Though, occasionally, she would glance over at Twilight.

Speaking of Twilight, she hadn’t said a word. Her face lit up when Applejack announced there was a dragon in her barn, but besides that, she held no emotion. She just sat and there and listened, her plate full of food, yet not a bite taken.

Then, when everypony was almost finished with their meals, Twilight spoke.

“This dragon, is he nice?”

Applejack coughed on her food, tapping a hoof against her chest. “I certainly wasn’t expecting to hear that question, Twi.”

Twilight kept silent. Though she offered Applejack an empty stare.

“Well, like ah said, at first he was aggressive and distant. And, while I don’t know kind of character he is – something tells me he’s an alright guy underneath. That’s just my two bits, and I still have lingering doubts about him.”

“This drake”– Twilight said the word as if it were deeply interesting question –“you’re sure the dragon is a he?”

“Ah, yeah?” Applejack tilted her head. “He had the voice of one, I suppose.” She then raised a brow. “What’s up with the the odd question, Twilight?”

Wait. No… She can’t be suggesting that this dragon might be him. Applejack closed her eyes. Please Twilight. Don’t do this here.

“No reason,” Twilight replied. “Now, it isn’t polite to call someone by vague names; did this dragon give you his name? Or did he want that to be kept secret as well?”

“No. The fella didn’t even have a name.”

“Wait a sec,” Dash interrupted, “if he doesn’t have a name, then what do ponies call him?”

“I don’t know.” Applejack said, sighing. “He must have some nickname he’s called by. But we– I mean I, won’t know until he wakes up.”

 Applejack picked up her half-eaten sandwich and presented before her mouth. “Now, can we drop this and start eating’?”

Dash struggled to keep her mouth closed, Applejack could tell. But the past few day of dealing with work; making sure the dragon was alright, and motivating Fluttershy not to run away took its toll. As interesting as this dragon was, all these worries and stresses of him needed to go away for a little while.

Fluttershy kept glancing at Twilight. Rarity started to do it too. The two would look at Twilight, then at each other, and then frown. Applejack cleared her throat and gained the two’s attention. She shook her head at them.

We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, girls. Now can we PLEASE just eat?

The picnic unfortunately went on without anypony talking, which was a problem that so rarely came up when the six were together. But with it, the afternoon was ruined. To make matters worse, Twilight stood up from the blanket.

“This picnic has been really fun girls, but I’m afraid I’ve gotta run.”

Rarity stood up. “But darling, it’s been forever since we’ve all spent an afternoon with each other and just chat. Surely whatever it is can wait?”

“No can do, Rarity. I forgot about an important assignment for Princess Celestia that requires my immediate attention.” Twilight bowed her head, but did it in a hasty manner. “I’m sorry girls. I promise we’ll do something soon to make up for this.”

And without saying goodbye, Twilight trotted off to who knows where.

“Anyone else just feel like they’ve been lied to?” Applejack asked, while looking at all her friends.

“Twilight probably just had something important to do that she couldn’t bear to say out loud, is all,” Rarity defended, though her face looked uncertain. “Besides, the five of us are still here: why ruin such a nice outing with drama?”

Rarity wanting to stray away from drama? Applejack punished herself from laughing, but that didn’t stop her from laughing. She took a bite from her sandwich and moaned in delight, as her friends began to talk once more.

The picnic continued on without Twilight presence, though the mood of it wasn’t the same. Minds racked on about the mystery of this dragon, while their hearts pumped at twice the speed.

But, since that conversation was off limits, the five were force to discuss the mundane things of everyday life, before departing to their separate lives. Applejack watched as they all walked away, before returning to that place she called home.

Though a thought plagued her. There was no intention in letting her friends know of the dragon, as he barely tolerated her appearance. But now that her friends knew… she could trust in them to not spread word around town, right?

A dragon in town would be the topic on everybody’s mind. And patching up that said dragon has already Applejack losing sleep over it. To then have to guard the drake from public eye, while making sure he doesn’t go berserk on his own…

What in the hay have I gotten myself into? Applejack thought to herself before shaking her head. No no. You can’t think like that. HE needed your help, and it would’ve been bad if we let him wander around in that kind of state.

I wonder though. What would’ve happened to him if he had wandered into town? She looked at the floating ball of fire in the sky. I don’t think Ponyville is the type to carry around pitchforks, but there’s no guarantee that no stigma would interfere in his getting help.

What if he had wandered to Fluttershy? As kind as she is, there’s a chance her fear might of prevented her from helping him.

Rainbow? Hmm. There’s a chance she might of helped him… after she had fought him, of course.

Rarity? That one I can’t be sure of. Though there is a chance she might of spared him.

Pinkie? Would’ve thrown him a party as he lay dying. Than throw him a ‘funeral-party’ once he had died.

Twilight?

Applejack had stopped walking to ponder that one. Upon the mention of the dragon, Twilight seemed the least interested in the subject. Her questions were plain, almost as if she were a Royal Guard filling out a report.

Seeing as how Twilight once had a dragon brother, it can’t help but send a shiver down Applejack spine on how apathetic she had been. Wouldn’t she the most interested to learn about this drake?

He could tell them how a dragon works and feels, and maybe even find a way to integrate more dragons into Ponyville’s society. Even more important, is that with this knowledge, the girls could finally understand the workings Spike had gone through while he was still alive.

They could finally understand why he became so distant. Why his feelings became so odd and slightly repulsive. And maybe, just maybe, Applejack could understand what it must feel like for someone like Spike to have his feelings betrayed.

“Oa—” Applejack coughed. Her eyes blinking as she looked all around her. “Am– am I thinking for Twilight here. Or are these thoughts my own?”

Taking a deep breath to silence her mind, Applejack walked home and to her barn.

Light groans came from the other side of the door.

Applejack had her ear pressed against it, as she tried to make out all the sounds on the other side. Taking a breath, she rapped her hoof against the door, before entering the barn.

Inside, the dragon laid sprawled on the bundles of hay. He had a goofy smile, like he had seen a very pretty girl.

Applejack smiled herself, as she neared the bundles of hay.

“You… I think I can do… that,” the drake murmured in his sleep.

Applejack shot up a brow.

“Wha you mean… leave… but I…”

Applejack bit her lip as she looked to the door. The dragon was unconscious of the words he might be sprouting, so it wasn’t right to peep in on what his thoughts may be. She wouldn’t want the same being done to her if she were asleep.

Yet, Applejack plopped down next to the hay, and hovered her ear over the dragon’s mouth.

“What do... you… mean… don’t... love me?”

Applejack’s eyes flared open as she inched forward, her coat brushing against his arm. A claw then gripped her throat and held her up to the ceiling of the bar. The drake stood up as he stared at her, with his grip growing tighter.

“Pl—” the rest came out in a squeak. If his grip prevented a breath to pass through her throat, then why did she expect her voice to be able to do so. Still, she did her best to cry for help.

The dragon continued to stare at her, with a emotionless face. It wasn’t even like he was watching pony being strangled, but rather, that he was watching a film being played before him.

The claw grew fuzzy. The innings of the barn became haze. Applejack face was turning blue, as she tried to buck his chest with her hind legs. But his claw were too long to perform the feat, as the hooves could only dangle in the air.

Just as the world had faded black, the drake had blinked his eyes, before they went wide. He quickly tossed Applejack aside, with her smacking into the barn wall.

The drake took hold of his right claw – the one that had been strangling her moments ago – and store into it. His eyes fully open, with something welling at the bottom of them. He looked at the claw as if it weren’t his own; like blood had stopped circulating in it.

Applejack scooted back into the barn wall, as her breathing was rapid. A hoof massaged her throat as it gulped down the air. Her eyes stared at the dragon, and they weren’t sure what emotion they should show.

Not a minute ago, the dragon standing tall and strong, had been lying on a bundle of hay– unable to move most of his limbs. He had bandages from head to toe, and couldn’t stay awake for more than five minutes.

He had relied on ponies for food and medicine; for them to take care of him.

The dragon had been helpless moments ago, and then he went and held her up by her throat.

The drake looked to her and she looked to him. He stood horrified, while she sat there panting. Just what was going on in the mind of the dragon’s? Was he going to walk over and finish the job? Or run out the barn doors while he still could?

Applejack didn’t move, nor did the drake. He took a step towards her, in which, she yelped. His eyes flew up as he took a step back, and then looked away.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so-so sorry.”

Applejack hadn’t stop panting.

“Why–” her heart nearly burst out from her chest “–did you do that? Are you… are you…”

“I–I,” he stuttered. “I didn’t mean to. I felt a presence, and my… and my instincts just took over. I’m sorry to have hurt you.”

 Applejack didn’t stop pressing her back against the wall.

“You just attack anything in your sleep?!”

The dragon gulped. “S-Sleeping out in the wild… you gotta be prepared for anything.”

Applejack closed her eyes and let her head fall. Her pants returned to regular breaths. “You can’t do that me!” Applejack tiredly whined. “You almost scared me to death.”

“Sorry.”

Applejack rose up and limped towards the drake. Her heart still pounded, but atleast she had some control over it now.

“I shouldn’t of come to this town,” the drake said, “beast like me belong in the wild. Even if we mean good, we still end up hurting others.

Applejack sighed, and let her anger flow out with the breath. “Look, don’t go beating yourself up just yet. I was the one intruding in on your personal space, and I’ve should’ve known not get too close while you were sleeping.”

“That doesn’t make me feel less like crap,” he muttered. “I mean, I could’ve seriously hurt you.”

“And week and a half ago, you were ready to fight and slash me,” Applejack said with a smile. “If anything, I’d say someone is starting to come around.”

The drake fell back down to the bundles of hay, and rested his head in the palm of his claw.

Applejack sighed as she walked over, and took a seat next to him.

“I really did mess up coming here,” the drake murmured. “Making threats; hurting others, just being a nuisance. Ah... I shouldn’t of come here.”

“You were dying and having hallucinations: I think you made the right choice in coming here.”

He looked over at her. “You don’t make it easy for others to loathe themselves, do you?”

“That’s what friends are for, partner.”

The drake scoffed, looking away. “So what, we’re friends now?”

“Only if you want to be, Sugarcube,” Applejack said. “I can tell you like yer distance, but something also tells me, that you don’t want to be entirely alone.”

“You may be right there,” he said. He then took a deep breath. “But just so you know, that my stay here: it isn’t for long.”

“And why is that— I mean! If you don’t mind asking and all!”

The drake turned his head to look at her, but never ended up doing the latter. “I guess I just like to keep a move on. Staying in the same place keeps me stale, as I’m sure most ponies who’ve met me will attest to that.”

“Stale or not; I wouldn’t mind having you around.”

“Than you’d be the first,” the drake said with a faint smile.

The air became slightly tense, though the silence wasn’t entirely unwelcomed. The dragon had returned to staring at his claw, while Applejack herself stared at the same claw. No feelings of anger rose while she looked at it, but rather, a desire to take hold of the claw.

And to pull him out from his pound of troubles.

Yet, he only inched his claw away. It was like he would rather drown in the water, than reach out claw, and have the wrong pony take hold of it. Applejack sighed as she retracted her hoof.

“Well, we don’t have to be friends just yet,” she said. “No hard feelings, but please keep in mind, that you can trust me.”

The dragon bowed his head. “Thank you.”

Applejack smiled, and, carefully, wrapped a hoof around his back. He jolted for a moment; his right claw rising up. But the firm grip his left claw had on his right arm stopped any such action, and the drake exhaled.

His left claw let go of his right arm, which fell to the hay.

“Thank you,” he said. “For everything.”

The mare giggled. “No worries, Sugarcube. You’re not as bad as you might think you are – just someone who is going through a bit of trouble. Everypony goes through trouble from time to time.”

And besides… you almost strangling me? Well, that doesn't even come close to what I did to Spike. Even as we talk right now, I’m tempted to bite my own tongue out of what I might say.

And clog my ears for what I may here.

No, stop Applejack. Focus. You’re helping this dragon out right now; worries about the other one can come later.

Besides, you’re not the only guilty one in this room. With every word I say to you, my teeth are just inches above my tongue.

“You know,” the drake began, causing Applejack to snap her head left. “you should really ask for something in return. I don’t think anyone else would’ve shown me the same kindness you did. I mean, when blood-covered dragon starts threatening you, most ponies would have assembled a mob.”

“My my! I never thought to even ask you if you had something to give me.” Applejack giggled. “Tell me, what does a dragon like you have to offer? You don’t happen to be a genie as well, do you? Because I already know what my three wishes are.”

“Ah… well… uh…”

Applejack gave the dragon a pat on the back. “I’m only kiddin’. You were in trouble and needed a hoof; it ain’t right to ask for something in return.”

“Even still,” the dragon started, “you took time out of your day to nurse me – that can’t be cheap.”

“Sugarcube, bits aren’t a concern for me.”

The dragon sighed. “Just know that I’m going to pay you back someday, somehow. I may not look like it, but I’m actually pretty strong.”

“No need to tell me. You lifted my entire body like it were nothing!” Applejack laughed, while the dragon looked away.

Ah, why’d I say that? Quick, think of somthin’ to say, Applejack.

“So, if ya don’t mind my asking, what are you going to do now?”

The dragon shrugged his shoulder, as he kept his face distant. “No idea, that’s a question I’ve been trying to avoid.”

There was a shutter above the barn-doors, which allowed those inside to look into the blue sky. The dragon seemed to be admiring a pair of clouds. “The original idea was to keep my head low and make a bit or two. But I don’t know how that ever was going to be the case.”

Applejack giggled at his expense. “Ah don’t see how you were planning to doing that either. Believe it or not, but dragons are an attraction ‘round these parts.”

“Heh, glad to I know I’m famous,” He said, chuckling. “But that adds on to the reason why I have to leave as soon as I can.”

This dragon, Applejack thought, he isn’t… wanted anywhere, is he? She took a breath as her head trembled. I mean, he does give off an aura of danger, and didn’t hesitate to get into a fight with me. But that’s the thing though! He didn’t fight me! So maybe if he did it elsewhere, it was just to scare them off…

Or maybe he didn’t hurt me because he was too weak to do so…

Applejack shook her head.

“Who knows!” The dragon continued on. “Maybe someone will give me a job when I’m back in fighting condition, and that way, I could pay you back and be on my way.”

“Boy, I ain’t worried about the bits!” Applejack shouted; the dragon snapped his head to her.

 Applejack sighed before speaking further. “Just get yourself patched up, okay? Make sure you're all good physically and mentally before going into town or anywhere else.

“Just please, stay here on the farm and piece together what you wanna do next. I’d rather have you wandering on the farm, than creating a storm you didn’t mean to create in town.

“There’s no rush in paying me back. So please once again, if not for you, than for me, stay here for a few more days, and just… clear your mind.”

Please, just help yourself. And you’re not doing it for your sake alone.

The dragon’s eyes glinted, his shoulders fell. “You mean I can stay here?”

“I haven’t told my family about you yet. Might’ve told my friends. But, with you being you, I’m sure Big Mac and Applebloom won’t have an issue with it.”

“Really Applejack!?” The dragon lit up like a candle. “Oh, thank you, thank you!” His smile then disappeared. “Wait, what’d you just say?”

“Sorry,” she said, drawing a hoof in the ground. “My friends wanted to know why I was late… and I might’ve blurted about you. Sorry Sugarcube, but I’m not the type of mare to lie.”

The dragon smirked. “I kinda got the vibe from you, seeing as how you're the Element of Honesty.” The drake shot a claw to the roof, before it fell back to the hay. “So, what did they say; any fire I should worry about?” Any harsh words in the air? Should I go pack my bags? Or, lack thereof.”

“No no – they’re just curious about you. Not everyday you meet a dragon you can talk to for more than a minute. Mind you, I know you wanted your privacy, so they’ll stay away for as long as you want them too.”

“Thank you for that,” he said. “I haven’t been around ponies for quite a while, so I have no clue how I’m supposed to act around them.”

“There’s no need to act!” Applejack exclaimed with a laugh. “If I like ya for who you are, than my friends will too.” Applejack rose from the bundle of hay and made way to the door.

“Though, do promise me, that one day, you’ll start being nice to ponies when you first meet em’.”

“Eh, I’ll try my best.”

“That’s good enough.” Applejack started to chuckle, and so too, did the drake.

“Though,” the dragon said amidst his laughter, “no promises of me becoming a gentle dragon.” His laughs grew louder, while her laughs ceased to be.

The dragon’s laughter slowed, as he looks towards her; he opened his mouth to speak.

“I think it’s about time I got going.” Applejack had beaten him to the punch, as she opened the barn-door. “Did you want come outside for some fresh air, or did you wanna be left alone?”

“I’ll laze around in here if you don’t mind.”

Applejack smiled before taking her leave.

Spike watched as the doors came to a close, before laying back on the bundles of hay. He tried reaching to the ceiling of the barn, but it was too far for him to touch. So the the claw fell by his side, while the other propped up his head.

Now ain’t this something? Heh. I leave this town years ago, because of them, and now? My life is indebted to the one who broke my trust. Spike started to laugh, but it sounded more like a hiss. Oh, to think I owe her anything.

She seems interested in the tale of this dragon – the one without a name. Hmm! If tell you its tale, will you add on your distasteful opinions like before, than share that said opinion with the world? Huh, Applejack? Huh!?

Spike chuckled as he covered his face with a claw. “I’m going insane, aren’t I?”

Between the gaps of his talons, lay a piece of paper in the distance.

“Huh?” Spike went to rise, but halted halfway. He looked to his right claw, in which, he infused his magic: a green aura forming around the claw. The same magic then consumed the paper, as it levitated up in the air, and began to glide over to Spike.

A grunt came from Spike. The magic stopped flowing. The paper dropped to the ground.

“Ahaa! I haven’t practise my magic nearly enough.” And too make matters worse, Twilight had already begun teleporting before my birth.

But Twilight had also had books and teachers to teach her on the workings of magic, while Spike only had the forest and his own mind to show him the ways of magic.

But even with that, I still don’t compare with a filly-unicorn. And I’m supposed to be a teenage dragon… oh-boy. Spike stood from the bundle of hay and approached the paper. He both picked it up and read its contents.

“To care for your dragon: the… checklist?” Spike read the note out loud. “Change bandages every three days… soak towel every two hours… give medicine at sunset…” The paper glided from the claw to the ground.

And Spike couldn’t help but sigh. “Fluttershy had patched me up and written a list so that Applejack could care for me. And, apparently, spent most of her days doing so.”

Feet shuffled together, as the one scratched the top of the other. Past the shutters of barn, clouds continued to fly past.

Applejack must really care for this dragon...

The barn door then creaked open.

A shadow fell into the barn’s ground. The drake dashed behind the doors, just as they had fully opened; concealing his presence.

“Ah don’t know what yer girls are talking about,” a voice squeaked. “Ah haven’t seen or heard anything come from this barn. See! Take a look – empty.”

Multiple hooves crunched the grassy-floor of the barn, as they then shot in different directions. “This isn’t right. When Rarity arrived home, I heard her mumbling something about a dragon as she went to her room. Even Scootaloo overheard Rainbow talking about it!”

“Ya’ girls are being foolish; I get that this barn is big, but it's not big enough to fit a full-blown dragon.”

The voices went silent.

“I guess you’re right, Applebloom,” another voice said as it sighed. “This sucks! I was really hoping to see a real life dragon.”

“Yeah! One that doesn’t want to eat you.”

Someone pulled back the door, and before Spike knew it, he stared down into the eyes of a teenage-filly.

“Boo?” Spike sounded.

The filly’s eyes lit up as she took in their newest discovery. “I found him girls!”

Sure enough, the other two fillies galloped forward and collectively gasped. Spike recognized the trio, though it was their screams that sealed the deal. The fillies that stood before him were the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

Scootaloo  weezed. “Can it speak?!”

“Yo?”

“It can!”

Spike raised a brow. “You know it isn’t nice to refer to someone as it.”

“Pardon them,” Applebloom said, stepping in-front of her friends. “We’re just a little excited to see a talking dragon!”

“Right…” Spike said, taking a peak past the barn doors. Nothing but trees and the blue sky were outside. “I keep forgetting we’re uncommon around here.”

The October's breeze tickled his scales. Each inhale felt like it was cleansing his lungs of any filth. Trees spanned out as far as the eye could see, so much that Spike wanted to take a stroll along them, just to see where they might end.

“So,” Spike started, looking down to the fillies. “I guess you girls have some questions?”

The three looked at one another and then at the drake. “Nah.”

“We were just wondering if you existed was all,” Sweetie stated. “Which is cool that you do.”

Spike scratched the back of his head. “Right.”

His shoulders fell. A moment ago, it sounded like finding this dragon would be the greatest of all mysteries. But upon his discovery, they didn’t ask to hear his name or what his story might be.

“Are you sure you girls don’t want to know anything about me?”

The three looked at one another; each one shrugging their shoulders.

“I guess I may want to know what your name is?” Sweetie asked.

“Oh.” Spike scratched the back of his head. “That one I can’t answer.”

“Huh? Why?”

Spike crouched down so that fillies didn’t have to look up to him. “That’s because I don't’ have a name.”

“You don’t have a name!?” Scootaloo yelled. “What do you mean by that?”

Smack!

Smack!

“OW!!” Scootaloo cried, glaring at both her friends.

Sweetie Belle coughed, gaining the drake’s attention. “What she meant to say was, do you have any nicknames you go by? So, y’know, ponies can call you?”

“Hmm…” Spike pretended to think, before striking up a talon. “That’s just the thing: I’ve never had a pony want to call me before.” Actually, that bit’s true. After I left Ponyville, I never got close enough to anyone for them to want to learn my name. “I was a bit of a loner I suppose.”

The fire crackled in the middle of the night. Howls rang in the distance, beyond the grasp of the fire’s light. His head would lean back onto the tree, as he would drift asleep, all by himself.

“Duh! I mean, long story short: I’ve got no name.”

“Well, how about we give you one?” Scootaloo suggested.

Spike stepped back.

“Yeah!” Applebloom joined as she looked to the drake. “Maybe we’ll have a talent in name giving!”

“I’m not sure, girls.”

“Ah, come on! Please?” Applebloom pouted. All three sat down and pouted. Spike’s defences were useless whenever another pony begged or asked him to do something twice.

They’re just giving you a nickname. You don’t have to use it or regard it. They’re just fillies; do it for them. At least they were somewhat nice to you, when you used to be Spike.

He sat down in defeat. “Fine.” Though the smile on his lips betrayed his tone. Indeed, he placed his chin on his thumb as he watched them huddle together. The darnn smile wouldn’t go away no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

“Come on girls, think! What’s a name we could give him?”

“Ah never met a dragon before, do they have special name?”

“Nah. Look at the one dragon that used to hang out around Twilight… you know, the purple and green one – he had silly name”

“I’d almost forgotten about that guy! What do you think the bugger is up to nowadays?”

“Didn’t he run away or somthin’?”

“Nuh-Uh! Twilight said he went to a special school in Canterlot.”

“Girls. Now’s not the time for that – we need a name, remember?”

“Right!” The group went silent. Even with their head pressed against each others, their minds couldn’t connect. Creating a name worthy for a dragon proved to be more difficult than a math question.

“Wait, maybe Spike could help us out with this!” Sweetie exclaimed and turn to the dragon; his heart missed a beat. “Mr.?”

Spike tried not to sweat. “Yeah?”

“Can you cover your ears for us?”

Spike breathed, took a moment to control his heat, then covered his ears. Of course, he could still make out their muffled voices. Sweetie Belle cast him a glance, to which, Spike looked away, before she spoke.

“Long after Spike left, Twilight started to tell us stories about him. What he liked to eat, what books he read, and even how he got his name. Do you girls remember how Spike got his name?”

“I think I remember,” Applebloom said. “Didn’t Twilight go to hug him one time, and one of his spikes pricked her?”

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves. “That exactly it!”

“So what does that here have to do with this drake here?”

“By going with Twilight’s logic, we don’t need to give him a fancy dragon name! Anything will suit him fine, as long as it sort of relates to him.”

“That’s all fine and dandy logic, but we still don’t know what to call him.”

“Hmm…”

Spike stared at a wall. Why was he even playing the Crusaders little game? He was standing around like a fool, awaiting for three teenage-fillies to give him a name. How sad is that?

Finally, Spike threw his claws up. “That’s it! Do you girls have a name or not?”

“Patience,” Scootaloo said, “we’ve almost got it.”

Spike fell back onto the wall as the trio looked at him.

“His scales look rough–” Sweetie touched the drake with a hoof, causing him to yelp “–yet they feel really nice when you touch em.”

“Really!” Applebloom took a step forward, but stopped when the drake shook his head.

“He’s also covered in cuts, but I don’t think cuts is a good name for a dragon,” Scootaloo said.

“Then how about scaly?” Applebloom suggest.

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves. “That’s it!”

Scootaloo and Applebloom tilted their heads in opposite directions, but before either could open their mouths, Sweetie Belle turned around to Spike.

“Scaly. That’ll be your new name!”

Spike did his best to keep his mouth shut, but that did not stop the steam from escaping from his ears. That is a horrible name. C’mon, I didn’t even get a school education, yet I could come up with a name more creative than that.

There’s no way in Tartarus I’m going with that name.

The fillies all smiled at all one another, before coming together for a group highfive. Scootaloo even hovered in the air for a moment, before landing the ground. The CMC then turned to Spike with the biggest smiles present on their faces.

“So?” They exclaimed together. “Do ya like it!?”

Spike bit his lips. “I love it.”

Spike shook his head left and right and did his best to keep his mouth shut. Steam arose from his ears.

“So,” Scootaloo began, “how about it, scaly or... scales, did you want to come outside for a bit?”

Spike’s stomach did a backflip, as he did his best to smile.“I guess I could use a breath of fresh air.”

The fillies nodded their head and went for the door. Their flanks came into Spike’s view, as did their cutie marks. Cutie marks. Spike’s breath was caught in her throat as the trio left the barn. Heck, they stood just below his hip; they couldn’t be consider young fillies anymore.

The crusaders changed; they were different. Spike’s heart wrestled with that thought as his body felt weary. Yet he trudged out of the barn and into the open world.

The sun warmed the land. It was in a constant battle against the breeze to keep the world warm, but it was a losing one. Every breath that entered the air transformed into mist.

Spike carefully stretched out his body, groaning at the trees. “Oh, boy. It feels good to get out.”

“How long have you’ been cooped up in that barn?”

Spike turned to look at Scootaloo. “More than week, apparently. And I was asleep for most of those days.”

The four stood together, basking in the sunlight as clouds were non-existent, leaving the sky clear. Each just standing; each just breathing in the breeze.

Then, Applebloom spoke. “So, how do ya know my sister, Scales?”

“I think that’s a question better asked to Applejack,” Spike said with a chuckle. He then looked off to the town in the distance. “Hey, would you say Ponyville has grown over the years? When I first heard of it, it was just a small town.”

“And still is! We’re the most neighbourly out of them cities. Though we still see ponies coming and a goin – shops opening and then closing. But overall, this town is still the same as the day we were born into it.”

“Ah,” Spike expressed, looking down at Applebloom. “That’s good to know.”

“Did you want to come into town with us today?” Sweetie asked.

“I think I’ll have to pass: I’m currently looking better than I did a few days ago, but there’s no guarantee that I won’t end up passing out on the streets. And besides, I’m still not sure if my appearance will bring out the pitchforks or not.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Sweetie said. “After all, we didn’t scream in horror when we found you!”

“Yeah, but you girls are different.”

“And how would you know that?” Scootaloo asked with a raised brow.

Ah crap. Think, Spike: come up with a lie.

“... because no normal filly goes into a barn with a dragon it it?”

Scootaloo bounced her head left and right. “Yeah, okay.”

“Though to be fair,” Applebloom perked up, “we thought that if Applejack could handle you by herself, that the three of could too.”

“Hmm. That’s true.”

The three fillies began to step towards the town, as the drake stayed put.

“Are you sure you don’t wanna come?”

Spike smiled. “I’ll pass, thank you. Besides, with a sight like this, it’s more than enough for me.”

He sat down on the grass and laid on his back.“I’m going to stay here for a little while. You girls must have places to go, so I’ll leave you to it.”

The girls looked amongst themselves, but there was nothing more to be said for them. Spike could tell they wanted to get a move on, and he was fine with just sitting alone with the breeze, letting its sounds clear out his mind.

“Alright,” Scootaloo said, “we’ll leave you alone. But beware! The CMC will strike again soon!” The girls started to gallop away, but they then stopped in their tracks, and turned around. “We almost forgot to give you our names!”

“I’m Applebloom.” The earth-pony gave a hooves up.

“I’m Scootaloo.” The pegasi patted her chest.

“And I’m Sweetie Belle.” The unicorn bowed her head.

Spike bursted out in laughter. This was the second time he was being introduced to them, though for them, this was their first time meeting him. There’s gotta be some kind of irony in there, no?”

“And we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” they shouted in unison. Afterwards bolting down the hill, though they did wave a hoof, in which, Spike returned the gesture. He waved until he could no longer see them, and then claw dropped into his lap.

His tail curled up to his face, and for some reason, Spike began to stroke it.

The sun hung in the air, emitting a high pitch sound. The grass hustled with the wind, with the breeze dancing lightly on the dragon’s face. Leaves were plucked from branches, and flew past overhead.

Spike couldn’t help but have a goofy smile, as the world just felt so right. The future didn’t matter, and the past was just a phase. All that mattered at the moment, was feelings that nice breeze.

So he sat up. The sun blinded him for a moment, before his eyes adjusted. Spike felt more of the breeze on his body, so too, did he feel a tap on his shoulder. His head snapped to it, but his view caught nothing.

Then was a tap on his other shoulder. He snapped to look, and once again caught nothing. And before he could feel the tap on his back, he wrapped his tail around his prey, and brought the body before his eyes.

In his hold was a cyan mare. A rainbow colored mane that fell just little past her neck, accompanied by a smile worn often; judging by the wrinkles starting to form next to her lips. Speaking of form – her body was toned from her head to her flanks, with her legs looking ready to run a marathon at any given moment.

She was quite slippery, as she wiggled out from his tail’s grasp, and tackled the drake to the ground.

Spike tried to shoot up a claw, but she already had both his arms pinned down. Her face hovered just above his.

 “What do you think you’re doing!?” Spike shouted

She smiled as she rested her body upon his chest. Bringing her lips just by his ear. “I win.”

Did you now? Spike thought with a smirk. He kicked off his legs and alleviated his stomach; the pegasi slid down his frame and onto the grass. With his claws free, he pushed off them and sent himself flying over her head, until he landed right in-front of her, wearing a grin. “You were saying?”

The mare poked his snout. “We’ll call it a tie, then.”

The dragon sat back with a chuckle.“What the heck was that about anyways? And who are you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“I do. Hence why I asked.”

“Well,” she sang out, “if you must know, my friends call me Rainbow Dash.”

“So what should I call you then?”

She dropped the grin she had been wearing, while Spike picked his up.

So Rainbow’s the second one I run into, eh? Ain’t my luck just fantastic.

“You can call me Dash,” she finally said. “So what can I do for you?”

“Nothing at the moment,” Spike replied, “thank you. If anything, I’d see it as a great favor if I was left alone.”

Rainbow Dash whistled. “Aren’t you a classy one. Hey, since I gave you my name, shouldn’t you give me yours?”

“I would if I had one.”

“Ah-ha! I knew it! You’re that dragon – y-you are a dragon, right?”

Spike raised his lips, so that his fangs could be seen; Rainbow gulped. “O-Okay, so you are a… a dragon.”

The wind was the only sound present. Rainbow’s mouth had hung open, but she didn’t speak whatever it was on her mind. Though Spike couldn’t care less, as he watched the town hustle in the distance.

Then Rainbow made a noise. “You must be that dragon Applejack was talking about!”

“I guess I must be,” Spike said with a heavy breath. “Since you’re friends with Applejack, then that makes you one of the elements – the Element of… Loyalty, right?”

“Hey! How did you know that?”

“Elements of Harmony!” Spike exclaimed with a sigh. “Who hasn’t heard of them? The dandy heroes of our time.”

“Oh! So we’re spread around, are we? More importantly, you knew who I was.” Dash struck a pose: pushing out her chest, holding her head high, and giving the wiggling of the eyebrows.

Spike couldn't help but laugh.

“What?!” Rainbow shouted as her posture fell apart.

His laughs shrank into chuckles; he lay back down onto the grass. “Nothing. Just… the stories are really accurate on your confidence. For a while there, I thought jealous ponies were just trying to trash your name. But now I see, you truly are the most humble pegasus out there.”

“Oh-oh, aren’t you a funny one.”

“That’s good to hear,” Spike said. “See, living out there in the forest, one of the things I didn’t get to practice was comedy – looks like I have a natural talent in it.”

“Oh, look whose humble now,” Rainbow played. “Say, where’s all your battle scars? Surely you got into a good fight or two while out there?”

“I was dead on arrival, and I’m still covered in cuts. Though, you’ll have to thank the Element of Kindness for keeping me alive.”

“Why not just say her name?”

“What?”

“Her name is Fluttershy, why not just call her Fluttershy?”

“Maybe”– Spike slightly tilted his head –“I didn’t know her name?”

“Yet you know she’s the Element of Kindness? Or how you made the connection from my name to the elements?” Rainbow raised a brow, and hovered her head over his. “Gotcha there.”

Spike expressed a claw. “Alright. You got me there.”

Dash walked away with a triumph smile, as she began to stretch out her limbs. Her eyes purposely avoided his, as if she were basking in some victory and Spike had no choice but to be ignored in his defeat.

“Well, anyways,” she said while still looking away, “it looks like Fluttershy did a pretty good job on you. A fantastic one, if I do say so myself.”

Spike continued to watch her, the furthest thing from a smile on his face.

“You haven’t been to town yet, right?”

Spike went to spea—

“No? Then what are you waiting for! Come with me and I’ll give you the coolest tour.”

His mouth hung open for a moment before it spoke. “I’ll pass. I’m still not used to hanging around you pony folk, nonetheless talking to them. I doubt I’d make any good first impressions.”

“Well now that’s just a load of hay!”

Spike cocked his head. “What?”

“You’re talking to me right now, aren’t ya?”

Spike shook his head. “Yeah, but…”

“But nothing!” Rainbow exclaimed, looking the drake full well in the eyes. “Conversation is already flowing between us, so something tells me this isn’t your first time being around ponies. Besides, you're a dragon, that’s bound to attract attention.”

“Even more of a reason for me to wait. What if I go into town and cause a riot? You can’t lie and say some ponies won’t have pitchforks.”

Rainbow huffed and crossed her arms, hovering into the air. “Of course ponies are gonna’ be scared of you. You’re different! Ponies are always like that when something is different.”

“Do you know what we’ll do to them?” Rainbow asked. “Laugh! We’ll laugh at their stupidity.”

Spike chuckled, her words sounded like a joke. He stood up from the grass, and Dash hovered around him like were the sun. Funny, as this was the first time that Spike could stand at his full height, and still look a pony in the eyes.

 “I appreciate what you're trying to do, Dash, but I don’t feel ready to go into town yet. It’s been awhile since I’ve been anywhere near civilization.”

With anyone else, they’ve would’ve understood. This dragon: this poor, poor dragon just needed some alone time. He needed time to sit in the barn and do absolutely nothing to prepare himself, but think about how he could prepare himself.  Anyone else would’ve left the drake alone.

Unfortunately, Dash is a one of a kind mare. And with a kick to his back, Spike found himself jogging down a dirt trail, which he followed through all the way to the bottom. The mare flew next to him.

“Excuses, excuses. Look! You’re almost in town now, why give up? Just go in there, walk about, and come out.” Rainbow landed on the ground. “It’s not too hard. And I’ll be there to hold your claw if need be.” She said the words to him like he was a baby.

Spike sighed as he picked up his head. Looking at the town before him.

“Eh, crap.” He looked to Dash, before taking a step forward. “I guess whatever happens, happens.”

Few ponies walked about on the streets. The sun hung in the sky, though it found itself with each passing second inching towards the ground; painting the sky around it a faint red.

Spike reached out to catch the falling sun, but once again, he was tiny; the sun too far away. He brought back his claw, sighed, and walked on into the town. Ponies walked the same they did two and a half years ago; never trotting, either talking with a friend or enjoying the sights.

The buildings held the same names. But buildings had their windows boarded up, their signs missing. A place that used to be full, that ponies would come and go from, now seemed like it never existed.

Spike wanted to go into that building. But he and Rainbow passed it by – she didn’t even pay it a glance.

Some buildings were still open from way back then, but they were painted in a new color or design. They added parts to the structure or redid how the place looked. They weren’t the same as before, and Spike found himself staring at them. Eyes opened yet mouth closed.

Yet all the buildings; all the benches and statues held one thing in common: they were smaller. Spike remembered struggling to jump up onto a bench, now, he would probably take up most of it.

Then, Spike froze in his tracks. There were ponies walking on the streets! Buildings on either side of him were used as homes or stores. This town was once a place where he used to live; where he would walk around and talk with other pony folk.

Spike reached down and ripped off a patch of grass, which he threw into the air and let the wind take it with it’ breeze.

Everything was different and yet the same.

Then something poked the side of Spike’s head. “Yo, bud? You okay in there?”

Spike shook his head and did his best to drop the pleasure he felt. Lowering his shoulders and taking on a frown, he responded. “Yeah… I guess it just… seeing ponies doing, well, pony things is, kinda nice.”

Rainbow flashed a grin “See? I told you’d be fine.”

That comment resulted in Spike looking around him. Careful to not move his head, his eyes danced around, looking at the different ponies. Some acted like he wasn’t there, while others stopped walking to give him a good look. A couple of them looked ready to growl, hiding their fillies behind their legs.

If Spike were offered the power to read minds, he’d reject the offer.

Though, despite all of the ponies expressions, a smile drew across his face on seeing their faces. Something pinched at his heart, while his mind scolded him on how coming back was a mistake; that everything he feared was currently happening to him. You can’t get attached to this town again. You have to leave one day, so let that day be an easy day.

Dash stepped in from of him. Spike dipped his head to look at her. That’s when Spike realized he wasn’t the only one to grow. Indeed, Rainbow stood taller than she did those years before. Heck, even her tail was longer— crap, looking back there wasn’t the best thing to do.

“So, since I didn’t give you a proper”– Rainbow quoted with her hooves –“introduction, I might as well as give you one now.” She coughed into her hoof, which she then polished into her chest.

She then swirled around and stopped the drake in his steps. “The name’s Rainbow Dash! The one and only Element of Loyalty, part of The Elements of Harmony! Surely you’ve heard of us, saving the world and all.”

She struck a hoof at the drake’s chest, resulting in him taking a step back. “If you’re bad, you might get encased in stone; if you’re good, we’ll teach you a lesson anyway!”

Spike tilted his head; the spines on his head leaning right. Is this seriously their new catchphrase or is that Rainbow being Rainbow?

“But if you’re a drake needing help, then we’ll hand you a hoof!”

Spike stared blankly at her for a moment. Then, he spoke. “After Applejack told you about me, did you spend the time afterwards practicing a presentation?”

“What— no!” She pushed her hooves against invisible water. “I just heard about a dragon in town who seemed to be down in the gutters, so I figured I’d help him out.” She huffed, laying her back against the air. “So much for trying to be nice, nowadays.”

She closed her eyes and began to hover around him.

“Thanks for that then, I guess?”

Rainbow smiled and began to walk. Spike followed in suit next to her.

“So, what’s your business in Ponyville? If, you don’t mind me asking.”

“Just looking for a place to wind down and heal up. That one mare, Fluttershy, did a fantastic job on me. Whatever she had me drink, I can’t feel any pain. Most of my marks are covered and cleaned.”

“So healing is taken care of.” Rainbow stuck out her tongue as she seemed to be thinking. “So just chill for a bit and get your stuff together then, right?”

“Yeah, pretty much that,” Spike said. They passed by more buildings. Everything he saw made him happy yet hurt his heart. An emotion he couldn’t understand took over, so he tried to drop all thoughts.

“Applejack said I could stay in the barn for a few days. But after that, I’m gonna have to get a job and a place to say. A cheap place, do you have any in mind?”

“How’s your writing?”

“Writing? Uh, really good, actually.”

Rainbow smiled, but she wouldn’t let Spike see her face. “Heh, if you were a bit smaller, I’d know the perfect place for you to stay. You’d get a place to stay for your work and some bits for your chores.”

Spike distance himself from Rainbow, but she didn’t notice, she kept looking foward. Rainbow... don’t say things like that.

“That’s a shame,” Spike said, “but I need something now to pay the bills. You have anything in mind?”

Rainbow didn’t reply. She kept walking forward in her own little world. Spike caught up to her and poked her shoulder with a claw. She stirred, as if her own world disappeared  and she was back here. Dash looked at Spike with longing in her eyes.

“Sorry about that,” she said and nothing more. If it were anyone else, they’d take Dash’s behaviour as rude. But Spike knew what was on her mind, and he wished she would stop dwelling on a thought that’s not possible.

Well, Spike had returned, so it is possible. But the Spike they wanted back would never return; he died long ago in the forest. The dragon standing here, the one with no name, is someone completely different.

Rainbow then shook her head, sending her mane flying in different places. A green thread hovered over her eyes: she brushed it aside and looked up to Spike. “Hey, since this is a tour, there’s one place you gotta check out.”

Spike already saw it. Up ahead, a building that could be mistaken for no other. Sugarcube Corner. Absolutely nothing has changed about it. The size was the same; it hadn’t grown or shrunk. The color was the same; everything was the same. Spike smiled.

Wait, no! Pinkie’s going to be in there. You’ve already made friends with Applejack and and you’re talking with Rainbow Dash. Remember, Spike! Keep your head low, get some bits, and leave. There’s no staying in this town, you gotta make sure there’s no reason for you to stay.

“Sorry Dash, but I’m going pass. I don’t have any bits at the moment, and bringing me into a candy store to not buy anything is too depressing for me.”

Dash shrugged her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I got you covered.”

Dang it. “Dash, we’ve only just met – I can’t take advantage of you like that.”

“You’re not,” Dash replied. “If anything, Pinkie will probably offer you something anyways.”

The building soon approached, with three steps that would guide you into the building. Then Pinkie would greet him, annonce him to the world, and all would be over.

Can I just be a prick or keep silent?

“If you’re worried about Pinkie being scared of ya’, don’t worry. We’ve had plenty experiences with dragons before.”

“Is that so?” Spike gulped. An aura caught Spike, filled him with delight and rid him of his worries. Something that could fill his belly and make his mouth feel nice. In other words, Spike smelled treats.

I’m doomed.

Spike sighed and pushed out his chest. He couldn’t bolt, for there was nowhere to go. Up the steps the pony and the dragon went, and into the bakery they entered.

Light entered through the windows. On a day as bright as today, there was no need in wasting electricity or using candles. The sun made sure to burn bright today, as if it knew it had the breeze to fight against.

Stallion and mares; mare and stallions. Stallions and stallions with mares and mares– all sat down before tables and talked with one another. Some talked as if each word invoked a fire within them, and others admired a wall as they spoke.

Spike smiled as he watched everypony talk. The urge to go sit the in the corner and watch them all talk was present, but the sound of an oven ticking brought him back to reality.

Rainbow Dash walked to the counters and rested her forehooves on it. “Hey, Pinkie, you back there?”

Clank!

“Yeppuerdouse. I’ll be just a sec!” came the reply from the kitchen.

Spike stood away from the counter, pretending to look outside the window. “Buddy, what are you doing over there? Come here.”

Spike sighed and did as he was told. How come I’m obeying her so easily? Wait, aren’t I supposed to hate her? Spike tried to hate her at this moment, to recall awful moments with her and use that to fuel his resistance. But he couldn’t, he just wasn’t in the mood.

A pink blur appeared before him. “Hiah!”

Spike’s heart beated twice, but his expression remained stoic. “Hey.”

“Who are you?”

“A nobody,” he replied simply.

“No, you’re a dragon!”

“Really?” Spike asked with raised brows.

“Yes, I’m sure of it! Wait, are you not sure you might not be a dragon?”

“Kinda,” Spike said. “I’ve always wondered, but never actually thought about it.”

Pinkie climbed over the counter and eyed Spike, up and down. Looking at each of his scales, the spines on his head, then she looked into his eyes. “Yep! You’re definitely a dragon. Yepperuppers.”

“Huh.” Spike tilted his head. “Neat to know.”

Pinkie stood there for awhile. She didn’t say anything nor do anything, besides scanning Spike’s body. “I think you knew you were a dragon all along.”

Spike shook his head. “What, me? No, never!”

“Hmm!” Pinkie hopped back over the counter. “I’ll believe you for now, only because it’s not nice to distrust strangers. Especially when they have candy: always trust strangers with candy. Anyway, what can I get for you– HOLY GUACAMOLE YOU'RE THE DRAGON APPLEJACK WAS TELLING US ABOUT!”

Spike turned to Rainbow. “Where did she get a microphone from?”

“Stick around, you’ll find out soon enough not to question her,” Rainbow stated.

Spike’s claws phased through the air, shaking up and down at the speed of the light. Then Pinkie appeared, revealing herself to be the culprit of the shaking claw. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize this at first! It’s nice to meet you Mr. Nobody, how do yooou do?”

“I’m doing fine, thank you.” Spike looked around the building. Memories of spending his afternoons here, sitting in the corner and munching on a cupcake. A nostalgic smile came to his face, yet he quickly fought it off. “You got a nice place here.”

“Why thank you!” Pinkie said as she reached for the claw once more. Spike hid both his claws behind his back. All Spike offered was half a smile and wide eyes. Pinkie seemed to take the hint, walking backwards onto the counter and climbing it as if her hooves were sticky.

“So, Mr.Nobody, did you want to be my friend?” Pinkie asked, taking out a clipboard and sticking out her tongue. She hovered a pencil over the paper, her eyes scanning over the page.

Spike stretched back his bottom right lip. I expected her to spring that on me, but not so quick and easy. Eh, crap.

“My apologies, Pinkie. But I’m not really in this town to make friends.” Especially rekindling old ones.

Something soft brushed by Spike’s side, tickling the wound that had caused him to fall so many times. He looked down, to find Rainbow looking up to him, a frown occupying her lips. Spike stared down at her. What? What do you want me to say– wait, why do I even care about what you think. We’re not friends either. None of us are friends!

A pencil hit the ground. Then something else met the floor, though Spike couldn’t make out what. He paid Rainbow no more attention and looked to Pinkie, who dropped everything in her hooves.

Spike opened his mouth, but shortly closed it. His claws twiddle, yet he his mouth remained closed.

“That’s okay, I guess,” Pinkie said. “Making friends the first moment you meet them isn’t for everypony or any dragon, right? All I have to do is keep trying, then, we’ll be friends soon, right?”

I doubt it. Once again something pleasant brushed against Spike’s side. It’s obvious Rainbow wanted him to say of course, to make it sound like a joke or even a game. Heck, if she had her way, she would make Pinkie think that the more time she spent with the drake, the higher her percentage would go.

Making friends isn’t like that. That’s how you make acquaintances, not friends. I hate how some ponies say there’s friends, and then there’s true friends. There is no such thing as a true friend; there is only friends and acquaintances. Nothing more; nothing less.

“I’m not really that hungry, actually,” Spike said, averting his eyes from anypony in the room. “It was nice meeting you, Pinkie. And may your business be fruitful.” Walking to the door, Spike didn’t turn around to see what reaction his actions had provoked.

Leaving the building and leaping past the three steps, Spike didn’t stop for a moment as he began to walk.

“Hey, where do you think you’re going?!”

A fire burned next to Spike’s face. Even the oncoming wind was powerless to cool it. “I’m going back to the barn, Dash. I told you I wasn’t ready to go into town yet.”

“News flash, hotshot. There’s a difference between being ready to talk to other ponies and just being a prick.”

Spike stopped walking and pointed a claw at her face. “Have you not met my kind? Our entire species is based off hoarding treasures and fighting off whoever may dare to challenge us. We’re not naturally meant to make friends; we shouldn’t even be talking right now!”

Rainbow never took her eyes of him, they never closed an inch. “That sounds like you’re just firing off excuses.”

“How dull can you be?! I came from a forest which tried to kill me everyday, I went to Applejack covered in bruises and almost tried to hurt her, when she was only trying to help me. I’m not ready to meet other ponies.”

“There you go!” Rainbow exclaimed, a smile overtaking her face. “You mistook Applejack for a threat at first, right? You’re doing the same with Pinkie. Trust me, she’s a good friend to have that’ll make you happy.”

Spike sighed and took a step towards Rainbow. “Listen. I’ll try to be as nice as possible with this, but I’m not here to make friends. You and I are just acquaintances, nothing more. That’s already asking a lot from a dragon.”

Rainbow didn’t step back. “Applejack and Fluttershy saved your life. What are they to you right now?”

“Lifesavers?”

Rainbow chuckled and looked away. Behind her eyes, Spike found a fire, a flame which he did not know the reason why it burned. “You have a bad taste of jokes.”

“You wouldn’t be the first one to carry that thought.”

Rainbow turned back to him; the flame behind her eyes dimmed. “You know, not all dragons are like you say they are. There was once a dragon who... was good to a lot of ponies. He didn’t keep a hoard, for all he needed was friends. He was raised among ponies and turned out just fine.”

“Then he’s an artificial dragon, not a real one.”

Spike started to walk forward, not glancing back. “And, when his inner-nature called, I bet he didn’t stay long.”

Spike walked alone.  No hoofsteps behind him. He didn’t bother looking around at the town he once called his own. I almost caught myself missing this place. This town is like any other, you’ll stay for a few days and leave without a problem. There is nothing different about this town.

Spike continued to walk. He sighed and stopped. I wonder what Young Spike would think of all of this? Would he be proud to look down at his friends, or would he be sad the way they carried on?

Was I too hard on them? Spike shook his head, as his right claw curled into a fist. Were they too hard on you when they made you feel… meh. Forget all of this. Just go back to the barn, get some shut eyes, and—

“Can you please wait a second?” a voice asked. Spike closed his eyes and threw up his arms, as he turned to Rainbow Dash. Her eyes held nothing behind them, her lips formed neither a smile or frown, yet her face said something to Spike.

“What’s up?” Spike said as if nothing had happened. The anger within him was gone; his eyes wanting to close and stay that way for a while.

Dash didn’t say anything. Spike could see her mind, racking for the right words to say. He had no clue if the words were to be nice or not, yet he willed his ear to listen to whatever she had to say.

Rainbow spoke. “I’m sorry.”

Spike didn’t do or say anything.

“I didn’t take your life out in the wild seriously.I tried to force you to make friends with Pinkie, which you didn’t want to do. I’m sorry; I didn’t take your feelings seriously, and that’s the reason why I’ve lost so many friends.”

Spike’s claw twitched.

“And you were right about dragons. You’re not meant to be like us, I guess. But, maybe, you could change; to be able to converse with ponies. I mean, you must have met a few of us out there?”

Spike kept his body still, yet he nodded his head.

“That’s a relief to know” Rainbow said. Her face brightened. “Maybe, there’s a chance that good…. dragons, could get along with ponies.”

Spike smirked. “I’m a good dragon now?”

Rainbow carefully pushed him. When Spike chuckled at that, he could see the relief on her face. “The drake we had here, Sp… hm.” Dash inhaled and exhaled. “Everyone knew he was a good dragon, and so I used him as an argument. But you tore that definition apart; you were right about everything about him.”

Spike glanced away. “That’s a shame; it’s not always great being right.”

“But I still think you’re wrong there. He was a good dragon, almost had the heart of a pony.” Rainbow made sure the drake was looking at her, before she continued. “But we’re the ones who got greedy with him… anypony would’ve broke with the things we did.”

“That doesn't inspire any confidence in me,” Spike said. He meant it as a joke, but knew well it didn’t come off as one.

“Yeah…” Rainbow trailed off, yet she still looked at Spike. Her eyes asked him something. But what? What did Rainbow want to say but dare not tell? It’s like she had no clue what her thoughts were and her words were just from emotions alone. Were these words she spoke even true?

“But maybe, if we…” Rainbow trailed off, stepping back from Spike and trying to hide her head. A blush occupied her cheeks, but Spike doubted it was for a reason most males would take it for.

Then, Rainbow stood up tall. Her lips turned into a smirk; the blush disappeared and the blue furry cheek returned. She took two steps towards the drake. “Look, never mind about what I just said. I’m sorry for forcing you to do stuff.”

Rainbow held out one of her fore hooves and suspended in the air. “So, we cool?”

Spike sighed yet chuckled.  A smirk overtook him as well, as he rose his right claw. The two brohoof. “We’re cool.”

The two grinned at each other, as a fire of energy burned inside of Spike. His legs were ready to bolt all the way back to the barn – maybe he could even race Dash there! Wait… what? What is this?

“Say, since I brought you all the way out here, it seems only fair that I walk you back to the barn. My way of an apology, I suppose?”

Spike lifted his claw to decline, as he wanted to use his walk home to ponder some things. But, seeing as how he’ll have the next few days to do these things, Spike shrugged his shoulders.

And so, the two walked side by side, and took the longer way through town. Instead of cutting through the town in a straight path, they went around Sugarcube Corner and thus costing them more time. As rare as it is, time wasn’t a concern for Spike.

Being a dragon means you never had to worry about time. Being a dragon with pony friends is what calls clause to it.

Dash scrunched up her nose as her eyes paced from place to place. Spike opened his mouth to speak, but allowed his eyes to find the answers for him. What would cause Dash to suddenly–

The mares watched Spike as he walked by with elevated eyes. One in particular blew wind his way, which made no sense whatsoever. Some stallions held their snouts up to him, eyes looking elsewhere.

Spike found himself looking at his body. The blood had been wiped clean; the wounds not present to faraway eyes. Whenever Spike looked at a stallion, his shoulders just shrugged. Yet when a mare caught his eye, his heart desperately beaten.

Neither spoke, and it was a calming silence. As soon as Dash’s eyes met his, they would look away or go do something else. Spike wasn’t sure what to feel with Dash doing her job as a cockblock, but the more they carried on, the more snouts from stallions and mares were turned his way.

So Spike became grateful to Rainbow Dash. Even more so when some stallions scanned his body with eyes Spike did not want to think about. Another dragon could take that market if they wanted the bits.

I hope I never have to resort to that.

“Hey.”

Spike snapped his head to Dash, who just tilted her head so he could see her face. “You said you didn’t have a name, right?”

Not one that I use.

“A group of fillies gave me a horrible alias I’d rather not use… why you ask?”

Dash was silent for a moment. “Would you like a name?”

Spike squinted his right eye. “Eh, not really. Not trying to be rude. Just, I think me having a name would be a bad idea.”

“Oh.” Rainbow went on looking in front of her. “I see, that’s a shame: I had a really good one for you.”

Spike smiled, but did not say a word.

The two carried on through town. They were at the heart of it when Rainbow halted in her steps, causing Spike to do the same and come by her side. “Everything alright?” he asked.

“Yes and no,” Rainbow replied. “While we’re in this part of town, I… have something really important to do. Like, something I need to do now.”

“Oh,” Spike said. “Well that’s alright. You’ve walked me this far, I’m sure I can guess my way back from here.”

Dash held up her hooves to stop Spike from moving. “Wait, I still want to walk you back though!”

Spike tilted his head with a raised brow. Dash took a second to shake her head and collect herself. “Look, I’ll only be a moment. Do you see that tree over there?” Dash pointed a hoof, which Spike followed and traced up.

Then he saw the tree he could never forget.

“I have a friend who lives there – don’t worry, this isn’t some plot to have you make friends – I just gotta go see her about a book. You can wait out here if you like.”

Spike breathed. “Yes. I would like that a lot.”

Rainbow stretched out her wings and hovered before his face. “Okay, then. I promise not to be longer than a few minutes, okay?”

“O-k-a-y,” Spike replied with the roll of the eyes. Dash shrugged her shoulders and dashed off into the tree. The door leading into the library blocked her path. A sign hung on the door, which Spike could read from a distance.

‘Library is closed until further notice.’

Dash threw up her hooves. “What’s up with that!” Flaring up her wings, Dash flew up to the library's window and pounded on the glass. “Twilight, you in there? Open up!”

No sounds came from within the library. Even Spike turned around at the old tree and raised a brow. “Closed library during day time? Something’s not right there.” Spike mentally kicked himself for saying that outloud.

“Twilight, if you don’t open up something, I’m busting through the window; you know I’ll do it! Done it plenty of times before and this won’t be any different!”

Still the library kept quiet. The wind blew once more, sending Dash’s mane out from her face. She rolled the the invisible sleeves on her hooves and shot up into the sky. Spike looked up, holding a claw above his eyes to block out the sun, as Dash reached a height.

She made different shapes with her hooves, then stuck her tongue out and smiled. She pushed out both hooves as if to bench press the air and zapped down to the oak tree. It was all a blur, but once Spike’s eyes caught up, Dash was missing as was a library window.

Spike went to take a step forward, but hovered the foot above the grass. Ahead was once a place he called home; a place he shared with a mare he trusted and loved. Spike bit his lip and closed his eyes, as he placed his foot on the ground, and walked to a tree that no longer was his home.

The bottom window had been smashed in, with no traces of blood. No ponies were around to witness the act of the B&E, and so, Spike put a foot through the window, further shattering the glass and entering the Golden Oaks library.

Barely any sunlight entered the library. The glass of the windows collected enough dust that it dimmed any light that entered through them. Spike sighed when he saw the state of the windows; the same window he would dust off as he hummed.

Spike liked those windows; he could watch other ponies live their life while he did his chores.

Gah, what am I doing? Spike thought. His eyes scanned across the room, where his heart panged even more. Books were on the shelves, and the ground was free of most things. Yet Spike’s eyes widen in horror.

Something is seriously wrong here. The books… not only are they not in alphabetical order, but they’re not even in the right genre. Twilight wouldn’t let that—

Spike breathed out. His head feeling heavy. Twilight, the unicorn. Bearer of magic, a pony. A pony. A pony. Pony pony pony. Spike gripped his face as he shook away this unwholesome feeling.

Soon Spike realized, that he stood in the Golden Oak Library. The place he once called home, the place he shared. The yells that traveled from the kitchen to the living room. The shouts of words that were half-complete in his memory.

Golden Oaks held more words than the ones you’d find in books. And carried a story, once completed, would find itself on the tragic shelf.

Spike banished such thoughts, as his attention was gained underneath a wooden table, where Rainbow Dash laid underneath. Judging by the way she rubbed her head, Rainbow Dash crashed into the base of it. Spike went over and ducked under.

“You alright?”

“Fantastic!” Rainbow said as she crawled out. She then kicked off her hooves and stood up. Her right hoof was quivering – Spike guessed she wanted to hold her head but didn’t want to show Spike weakness.

She stepped towards the stairwell.

“Wait!” Spike said, as he looked behind him. “There’s glass all over the floor. Shouldn’t we, y’know, clean it up?”

Rainbow shrugged her shoulder. “Meh, Twilight can do it.” And climbed the stairs without another step. Leaving Spike alone. He bit his lips together, did a little hop with his feet, and clapped his claws together.

“It’s interesting how I find myself in these scenarios,” Spike said. And, with nothing else to do, started picking up pieces of glass and placed them on the counter. That didn’t take too long, and the broken window allowed more light into the dim library.

Voices came from upstairs. But Spike made sure not to listen. Maybe he’d pick up on Rainbow’s voice, but to him, she was just talking to herself.

Rainbow didn’t come down the stairs alone.

She’d come with a lavender mare. And not just any lavender mare, whose name just happened to slip Spike’s memory. But she carried something that Spike did not remember.

No way…” Spike breathed, lifting up his claw. “The story...what other ponies said… they weren’t lying…”

Both mares looked the at the drake. Rainbow tilted her head, while the purple one didn’t move nor speak.

“Twilight Sparkle really did become a Princess… and she grew wings!”

III – Of Fallen Drakes and Arisen Princesses

~III~

OF FALLEN DRAGONS AND ARISEN PRINCESSESS

Spike’s claw hung in the air, pointing to the things that should not exist. Those wings weren’t really there, no! Spike’s vision still must impaired. Yeah, that’s it. Because… because what’s happening right now can’t really be happening.

Things don’t change in Ponyville. Everything, is supposed, to be, the same. Small things like birthdays and, saving the world are of course going to happen. But the fundamentals of this town? They’re supposed to stay the same.

So… how could Twilight do this? How could she dare change herself once he left? This wasn’t fair at all! Twilight and everyone else were supposed to remain the same. Just like how Spike never changed while he was gone…

Okay. Maybe Spike’s a little bigger, and, has a different scale color. But he’s still the same dragon on the inside.

So why does Twilight get to change? Spike thought, before bending a knee and bowing his head. “Princess.”

His head rose an inch, as his eyes pierced through her violet ones.

Dash looked to Twilight, who in turn, looked to Dash. Dash then shrugged her shoulders, causing Twilight to look to the drake. “Please. Uh, Twilight is just fine.”

Spike rose to his feet, nodded his head, and made his way to the door.

“W-Wait!” Twilight called, stopping the drake. He turned around and blankly stared back at her.

“We haven’t been introduced yet!" she said.

Spike casted his eyes over Rainbow. It’s because of you that I’m in this mess.

Dash cleared her throat. “Let me introduce, to you, Twilight: the dragon with no name!” She celebrated her hooves with a dead expression. “He’s anti-social.”

Dash tapped a hoof against her head. “Well, I guess most dragons are like that.”

Twilight looked away. “Oh.”

Spike rolled his eyes, leaving their view to go check out the library's books. Maybe, something would catch his eye; a book that could whisk him away from reality for a bit. That’s what I need: to leave this world for a little bit.

Yet the dust on the shelf offered him no peace. It was a disgrace to see how far the state of the library had fallen. All those days spent cleaning and organizing, only for the library to look worn-down.

Honestly, since you’re a princess now, why don’t you just hire a new assistant–

Spike’s shoulders dropped; a heavy breath escaped his lips. With his left claw, he wiped the dust.

“Say, Twilight?” the voice of Rainbow Dash said. “I have a favor from Fluttershy, though I suppose I’m a few days late on acting on it. Heh, she wanted to know if you had any books on dragons. Now I wonder why she would be looking for that!”

“...”

“Twilight?”

“Hmm?”

“I just asked if you had any books on dragons.”

“O-Oh, Y-Yeah! Most books I have pertaining to dragons are in my personal library, upstairs. Say… why don’t you go get them?”

“... Twilight. You know I can’t do that.”

“P-Please, Rainbow?”

“Eh… Fine. But I won’t be long.”

“Thank you.”

One pony went up the stairs, while the other went down it. It didn’t take long until Spike had a companion by his side.

“S-So–” Twilight cleared her throat, probably to help eliminate that annoying stutter of hers “–is there anything I can help you with?”

“Not really,” Spike replied.

Then a thought struck. “Actually, why is your library in such a mess?”

“A mess?” Twilight repeated, looking around the room. “But, everything looks decent to me.”

“That’s the thing: everything just looks decent,” Spike said, as his claws swayed to better articulate his thoughts.  “There doesn't seem to be any magic here; like the desire for knowledge has been dusted over. All this library feels like, is a place filled with books, nothing more.”

“Isn’t that what a library is?” Twilight asked, her tone slightly defensive.

“Well, yeah.” Spike shrugged his shoulders. His eyes scanned for something that could prove his point, if only by a bit.. “But, coming to a place like this, there’s supposed to be some kind of feeling, no?” Spike fumbled with his words. His heart longed for an answer, yet his head didn’t know the question.

Twilight’s face painted her confusion well. The eyes of Spike found themselves staring at the mare, asking the dragon’s soul if they should be seeing her in a heavenly light, or obscured in a darkness. His soul had no answer, so the eyes viewed Twilight as she were.

“I guess you’re right in that sense–” Spike snapped out his trance, as Twilight began to speak “– that a place like this should evoke the feeling of creativity, of endless possibilites. It’s not so much the books we should be stressing, but the ideas behind the books.”

Spike blinked. I guess that was the case, though I’m not to sure. Meh, I’ll nod my head anyway.

“Though as thankful as I am to that discovery – I have another one which surprises me more.”

Spike found himself yawning. “Oh?”

Twilight recoiled her head and squinted her eyes. “Hmm.”

The yawn came to an end, and Spike blinked back at the mare.

Twilight, with her mouth slightly agape, shook her head, and proceeded to sigh. “What surprised me even more, was a dragon able to read!” Her tone was rather annoyed, but you could tell she was doing her best to keep her irritation at bay.

“Are you stereotyping me?”

Twilight groaned. “It’s not a stereotype if it’s been proven true multiple times!”

Spike stared blankly back at her, fighting off the urge to yawn again. And as for Twilight, after a few deep breaths, she replaced her frown with a barely stable smile. “Er, ah, sorry about going off on your there.”

“You should be more careful with your words, princess. Not all members of a race are tied to their stereotypes."

And to think, Celestia entrusted a nation to you

Twilight looked down at her hoof, as she used it to take a step closer to the drake. She rose her head, looking slightly concerned. “But from what I’ve read and heard, dragons are incapable of reading after passing through adolescence. And since education isn’t mandatory in those type of lands, most dragons are unable to read.”

Twilight rose her body a little higher. “Am I wrong in this assumption?”

Spike chuckled before shaking his head. “Most dragons can’t tell the difference between a word, and a scribbled line; so you're not wrong in that respect."

“So my previous point about you being able to read is then remarkable, no?” Twilight asked. Spike knew full well what was going on that head of her’s – she had caught the whiff of a logical problem, the type that fully stimulate the mind when followed.

“Sorta. But you gotta keep in mind, my deciding to read doesn’t make me better than other dragons; actually, it makes me weaker.”

“Are you saying that by reading, you’ve stunt your growth?” Twilight’s face grew closer, causing Spike to take a step back.

“Again, sorta. But I rather not get into it.”

Twilight body lowered. “Oh.”

Spike sighed, head sinking a bit. “I suppose if I stay in this town long enough, you’ll be able to pick out the differences between me and other dragons; mainly strength and what it takes to make us happy.”

Spike paused for a moment, as he looked up at the library's ceiling. “Though, I am the one who get’s to hear some pretty good tales, so I guess it all balances out in the end.” He looked back down to see if Twilight was even paying attention, and while her ears were perked up, her eyes were scanning his body.

“Say,” Twilight said, looking back at him, “you’re still recovering over at Applejack’s, right?” Spike nodded his head. “So why not rent out a book while you patch up? It’ll make the time go by faster–” Twilight giggled “–trust me on that one.”

Spike yawned again. He wasn’t doing it to be rude it – although it did feel rather nice to act like a prick – but rather, everything about this scenario was tiring him. He covered his mouth, and soon the yawn passed.

“That actually sounds like a good idea,” he found himself saying.

Twilight smiled, as the two turned to the shelves next to them.

A claw tapped itself on a scaly lip, as the eyes above passed every booked binding, taking only a second to read the title. Was there a book in this library, capable of whisking Spike away from reality. Maybe an adventure book would do: one that could make him feel like a hero, and take him out to distant lands.

Or maybe, a good ol’ romance would do; the kind that let you hide away in your own idealized heart.

Some horror books jumped out at him, but the drake was already living the nightmare, so no need to worsen it. “Besides, I don’t want to wake up in sweat, thinking that Applejack may be my number one fan.”

The words came out as a pant, as Spike finished his lap around the library. Without realizing it, he had absorbed all the titles of the books, and got a little run in while doing so.

Spike sighed, as he looked back up the shelves. Eyes jumping to different books.

“I’ve already had friends sell me out, and I’ve been in the keg a few times, so no need for that.” Spike brought his claw against the spines of the books, running it across as he moved. “I don’t feel like going out to sea and being brainwashed, and I’m not diggin’ war at the moment.”

Twilight watched the dragon from afar. Spike couldn’t tell what expression she had. No, he was too focused on the books to care! He went from tired to wide awake when the prospect of taking a book home was announced, the energy streaming from nowhere.

But Spike didn’t care! He was to escape this world through the means of words; all he had to do was find the right words to escape with. “I’d never thought this would be so hard, choosing one book. Heck, I have at least a book from each genre I want— I could go for.”

Twilight paused for a moment, then a giggle came. “You can borrow more than one book, you know.”

Spike shook his head, turning around to face the mare. He placed his claws on his hips. “No can do, or else I’ll violate the Magical Code.”

“Violate the what-now?”

Spike nodded. “It’s almost like a curse, almost. But if you pick up more than two books, you’re doomed to only read one, and disregard the second.”

“That’s preposterous!” Twilight exclaimed, taking a step forward. “Just read both books, or if push comes to shove, you stay up all night to read them all!”

Spike shook his head. He knew the powers of Twilight’s book consumption, but she doesn’t know about the diet he’s place himself on. “Not in my case. You see, once I finish a book, I have an urge to go get another. And since the second book has been in my possession for so long, the magic of it wears off. Unless it’s a really good book, or even when it is one: the magic’s gone, and the desire to read it has vanished.”

“The previous desire is overwritten with another: the desire to go to the library, to select another book to read. It’s a fun experience: one I love to do. Hence my argument on how a library should have a special something to it—” Spike gripped his head, almost screaming. “I still need to pick a book!”

Twilight lost her breath, tilting her head without any say in the matter. Then laughter came from those lips of hers.

The claws replaced their grip from Spike’s head to his hip, where a new pain surged. The laughter ceased from Twilight, who came next to the dragon’s side. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Spike muttered, his breath coming as pants. “I still have internal bruising, so I gotta pace my movements. But with all these books, I just kinda lost myself in the moment.”

“As you’re supposed to,” Twilight replied, giggling afterwards. “Though, not many ponies see books the same way I do, so to find a dragon that does is quite surprising.”

“Guess I’m different from both dragons and ponies.” He turned around back to the books, a claw wrapped around his side. “Now, what to read?”

As his claws danced along the book covers, he made sure not to stretch his body. Twilight stood dangerously close to him, taking a step right after he would. You could say she was doing it for his health, or maybe, she was just interested in what book a dragon would choose.

Spike had a different theory. That’s clever, Twilight. Even though I can’t see it, I know you channeling magic through that horn of yours. The only thing I can assume you’re doing, is jotting down all the books that are of an interest to me. And with that list, you’ll use it to compare to what Spike the dragon used to read.

But that’s not going to happen. While it’s fun to re-read books to find hidden meaning, this time around, I want to go… on a new… adventure…

Spike claw stopped on book and refused to move. His eyes stuck to the title; body crying in pain if he attempted to move. His heart raced; his mouth going dry. Spike had stumbled upon the book of his childhood.

A little book, about swords and heroes.

Spike gulped as he pulled out the book. And just like that, images and vague feelings emerged from deep with Spike’s subconscious. The nights spent late, a flashlight under the blanket to illuminate the words. Even when the drake fell asleep, in his dreams, Spike was the hero of the book.

Spike felt the presence of staring eyes, as his scales began to sweat. The drake closed his eyes, and with a deep breath, disregarded all the feelings from within. Once empty, he opened his eyes, and looked to the mare with the same look he came to this town with.

This book… Twilight would never let me read it. It was too bloody and mature for me to read at my age, but luckily, Twilight was never good at hiding things. So the old Spike never read the this book, meaning no suspicion should come the drake currently holding this book.

He held up the book. “Any good?”

“Well…” Twilight tilted her head slightly, before bouncing it  left and right. “If you like a bit of everything, and don’t mind the gore, then I suppose it’s an alright book.”

Spike brought the book down to his side. “You don’t sound too enthusiastic about it.”

“ It’s just not my type of tea.” she said. “I’ve only given it one read through, in which, it was an alright experience. But nothing jumped out at me, and more importantly, I couldn’t understand what the author was trying to say. The plot was decent, a bit cliche, but enjoyable. It’s just, the ending ruined it for me.”

Spike looked down on the book. “Oh.”

Twilight tapped herself on her hoof. “But never mind what I say about it! The book grabbed your attention for a reason, so it couldn’t hurt to give it a shot.”

Spike still held the book at a distance, an eye barely looking over it.

“Besides, you shouldn’t do something because others told you it was bad!” Twilight shouted, which, by the looks of it, she didn’t mean to. A blush arose on her cheeks, causing her to nervously giggle. “I mean, you know what they say: be a wolf, not a sheep!”

Twilight stuck out her chest, and doing her best to keep a straight face. But once the moment had ended, both parties couldn’t help but break into laughter. Twilight streamlined with giggles, as a few chuckles crept up the drake.

But all too soon did the laughter died down, and the dragon inspected the book more closely. And with a shrug of the shoulders, he looked to the mare.

“I suppose you’re right.”

He held out the book, a smile on his face.  “Well, I guess I’ll take this guy home then.”

Twilight smiled as she took the book with her magic. Opening the back, she stamped the last page, and levitated it back to the drake

The two didn’t have anything to say after that. A silence overtook the room, banning the two parties from looking at each other. So they settled with looking around the room.

Should I bring up a topic? Wait, why would I purposely bring up something to talk about with Twilight Sparkle?

Steps came from stairs, putting a smile on both the dragon and pony’s faces.

“Hey, I got the books,” Rainbow said as she reached the last step. “I hope you don’t mind, but I borrowed your satchel.” She gave the said item a little shake.

“Yeah, sure.”

Dash looked to Spike, which caused her to cough and look back to Twilight. “Hey… do you need to see them, or can I just bring em’ back like usual?”

Twilight opened her mouth, but when she looked at Rainbow, something on her face caused her to reconsider her words. Spike peered his head over to see, but all he saw was Dash smiling eagerly at him.

Finally, some words came from Twilight’s open mouth. “Of course, Rainbow." Twilight tighten her tone. "please be sure to have Applejack return them on time this time.”

Rainbow giggled at the word play, and Spike couldn’t help but chuckle. Yet it was Twilight who rolled her eyes. “Funny. So, I’ll be seeing you two around?”

“Fo sure from me,” Rainbow said, who then looked to the dragon, “but I’m not sure about him.”

Spike looked at the two mares, curling his lips inward. “No promises from me, but…” Spike held up his book. “I do have to return this once I’m done with it. So you can bank on that, I guess.”

Twilight smiled. “Alrighty then. Well, I suppose I’ll be seeing you.”

Dash and Spike went to take their leave.

“Wait!” Twilight called, causing both creatures to turn around. “I forgot something.”

“Hmm?”

Twilight looked to the drake, and bowed her head. “Thank you for cleaning up Dash’s mess.”

She then snapped her head to Dash. “And you’re in trouble for making a mess.”

Dash gulped as she looked to the broken window. “H-Hey! Look at the bright side – the library is just that!”

Twilight did not find that funny.

“Well,” Dash started. Instead of speaking more words, she took hold of the dragon’s claw, and busted out of the library before Twilight could cast her magic

They also created a new exit by smashing yet another window.

“AUGH!” Spike almost fell to the floor, gripping his side so tight that his claw’s threaten to pierce through the surface. Yet the pain felt like a phantom, more pain resonating from out of the hip.

The giggling Dash stopped flapping her wings upon hearing the groan, she turned her head and gasped. “Oh hay… I forgot about your wound.” She flew down next to him, pressing her body next to his. “I’m so sorry about that – I just got caught up in the moment... seeing how running from Twilight is always a laugh… Er.” Dash awkwardly laughed, as a hoof rubbed the side of her head.

The same hoof was used to smack herself across the face. “Look… Sorry for draggin you around like that, I-I should’ve known better.” She brought her face closer to his. “Are you alright?”

Spike held in his cry of pain, as he felt something tearing from within. He looked to Dash, whose eyes looked of concern, as her frown convoyed her guilt.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Spike groaned, managing to rise to one foot “Just wasn’t expecting a sharp pain is all.”

Dash didn’t say anything, as she leaned fully into him. Every inch of movement Spike made, he would exhale a great deal, and move another inch. Spike could already hear the few complaints brewing inside of Dash’s head, but was thankful that she kept her mouth shut.

Finally, Spike was able to stand up. The pain diminished, but still present enough to make him wince.

“Here”– Dash slipped her head underneath his arm, allowing him to lean more onto her –“This should making walking a little easier for you.”

The drake didn’t have any words to express, so the two continued down the Ponyville. Not a word was spoken, and the only sound, was the occasional grunt that came from Spike.

“Did… Did you want me to go get help?” Dash asked, careful with her words.

“No thank you,” Spike said, “I’ll suffer now, and, take it easy when we get to the barn.”

“Are you sure you’ll be fine?”

Spike nodded.

Dash looked straight ahead. “Alright~” she sang out.

Spike’s head bobbed as he walked, allowing him the occasional glance at what was up ahead. Though his eyes lay dormant on the figure of Rainbow Dash.

Heh, if this was late at night, everyone would just assume I’m drunk, and Rainbow Dash taking me home. Hehe.

A smile – even if it were a quick one – washed over Spike’s face. Though as his eyes wandered over Rainbow, did a curiosity wash over him. Rainbow Dash had something, or, was doing something that jumped out at him.

What exactly was it, that she had going on?

Spike wasn’t sure. Maybe… Does Dash look different at this moment, than how she looked before? No… that couldn’t be the case: while some of the girls were taller than before, they all looked the same. Dash was still as cocky as ever, still wearing that grin with pride.

So, what could it be? Spike sighed, as the question zapped him of his energy. Like with most questions he had nowadays, it just made him want to sleep more. So he let his eyes drift for a moment, yet the question would not die. So, upon opening his eyes, did Spike find the answer to his question.

It was the way Dash walked. Even while she supported Spike, she took the same care to hold herself up. She didn’t look around, to see all the surprised and weirded out reactions of the town’s folk. But rather, she paid her attention to what was coming next. As if her only concern, was to get the dragon back home.

And because of this concern, did Spike want to strike down at her in this instant. To unleash his claws upon her, slashing across her face. He wanted her dead and gone, and he would walk his path alone. He couldn’t find a reason for his arisen anger, but by Celestia, was he doing his best to hold it back.

Back in his days, wandering out in the forest, Spike was able to meet some kind pony folk. But none were ever so kind for his sake.

So then, why is it, that when Rainbow Dash’s sole focus, is on helping him, does he want to tear her throat out? Like he needed her help to walk. Like he needed her to find his way home. Like he needed her!

Spike pushed Dash away, standing up on his own two feet.

Dash shot her head up. “What was that for?!”

“I can walk on my own,” Spike replied.

Dash looked up to him, her eyes questioning his authority. She muttered something under her breath, and looked away. “Fine, have it your way.”

Spike carried on forward, not daring to even look behind him. There was no point in doing so. It was of no concern of his if Dash was angry or sad, walking along with him or decided to go another way. There was no reason for him to look back.

Yet there was an urge to do so. To know whenever she was following him or not. Spike pushed her away, so, why did he want her to follow him?

“Yo, Drathagon bthoy!” Came a muffled voice from behind. Upon turning his head, Spike saw Dash with a familiar book in her mouth. A small smirk came across his lips, as he extended out a claw.

Dash spat out the book, looking back up at him with a smile. “You dropped this few feet back, heh, I just noticed it now.”

Once free, Dash spoke. “You dropped it a while back, just noticed it now.”

Spike’s smirked died, as he closed his eyes.

“I guess I owe you a thank you,” he mumbled.

“I’m sorry,” Dash pressed an ear forward, “I didn’t quite hear that.”

Spike sighed, and pulled together what dignity he had. “Thank you, for picking up my dropped book.” Spike groaned out. Any energy he spent conversing with her, felt like it was taxed.

“Heh, It’s no biggie,” she said, throwing her hooves over her head. “Though, we should get you back to the barn. Y’know, before the town start’s getting the pitchforks out.”

I just physically pushed her away, Spike thought, why is she acting like nothing happened? I know Dash is one for not caring, but she also never steps down when aggravated. So why so calm when around me?

Dash kept looking at him, as if expecting something.

“R-Right,” Spike said, as he began to limp forward. As he began to pick up his pace, the mare walked a few steps to the left of him. Her head never looked to him, but he caught her eyes wandering over from time to time.

And she was quiet. So no problems with that.

“So, draggy-boy.”

So much for that thought.

“What’s up with that book?

Spike rose the said book in her direction. “Romantic suffering?”

Dash looked ready to gag, but did her best to hold back the expression. “Is that really the title of it? Didn’t know you were into lovey-dovey stuff.”

“It’s not what you think,” Spike said, not so much as in a defending tone, but rather, lost in the true meaning of the title. “It’s a bit of everything, I suppose. It’s not so much a character who falls in love with someone else and falls into despair, but rather, someone who loves the feeling of suffering, so much, that they takes on unnecessary suffering just to feel good about himself.”

Dash stopped walking and darted her head towards the drake. “Wait. Wait wait!. You’re telling me someone likes to suffer?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mean like pain? Because I can understand someone enjoying the pain that comes with working out; it makes you feel good and changes you for the better.”

“Ehh,” Spike bounced his head left and right, “sorta – but not quite. It’s... more of a mental thing, I suppose.”

“Wanna tell me more?” Dash urged, as she started to walk again.

Spike followed. “It’s like taking on more than you can chew, so that you can help others. Purposely getting shitted on, so that you can improve the lives of others, at a great cost of your own. And, in the end, the other pony doesn't really care about what you did, because they became used to your actions – to the point of where it’s expected of you.”

“That sounds like a lot of bullshit,” Dash said, swaying her mane. The words came off as harsh, with a flame burning at the end of each letter. “How could someone ever fall so low, and allow themselves to be treated like that?”

“Someone who's desperate, I suppose,” Spike said. The pain at his side began to lessen, to the point where it only stung. But, compared to the flood of hurt nerves, this was a breeze – so much, that Spike was able to put his claws at his sides, and walk at a normal pace.

“Desperate for what?” she asked.

Spike was silent, the only movement from his face were his blinking eyes. “I’m not sure, and I don’t think they’re sure either. They’re searching for something: that’s we know.”

He sighed, hoping the words that came to him were the right words to describe his feelings. “It’s like they’re searching for an answer that they’ve forgotten the question to.”

Dash dared take a step closer to the drake, as his hostile attitude seemed to dissipate. “Are we still on the book, or are we starting to learn a bit about you?”

No anger came from Spike from the intrusive comment, but rather, a pensive state flushed over him. He couldn’t get angry if he wanted to, or feel any other emotion. He entered a peace state of mind, one where he could lose something and yet not lose himself.

“A bit of both, I believe. I mean, isn’t that a point to the book? Where it resonates so deep within you, makes you question what you and the world are about. Books are great things, as they make feel–”

“Easy there, my drag,” Dash interrupted, eliciting a suppressed groan from the drake. “I don’t need a speech, I was just wondering who your thoughts were directed to.”

“Oh…” The energy which had been building up, waiting to reach the climax that would let all that had been bottled up free. But, instead, that building collapsed – it being built for no reason. Spike was empty, the excitement of life gone in a second.

“My thoughts are purely to the book.”

Dash smiled. “There you go!” She went to give him a pat on the back, but his expression warned her against such an action. “Er, see! Just keep things simple, and ponies will be able to understand ya’ better.

“I take it that’s how you like to live your life?” Spike muttered.

“You know it!” Dash exclaimed, striking up a hoof. “I like to keep things nice and plain. Not like boring plain, like everyday ponies like to live their life, but awesome plain, which is how I live my life. Keep things entertaining, keep bettering yourself. But I feel you shouldn’t think so much, or else you’ll just make yourself unhappy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” Dash started, stretching out the word, “You hear stories about ponies going on these life long journey to go find themselves – searching far and wide for a purpose to live. I’ve had few teacher from Cloudsdale do this; fed up with their lives and searching for something more.”

“But, when I go back to campus for ol times sake, those same teachers are always there. Still miserably, a lot poorer, if that’s even a word. And they didn’t find anything out there, which they couldn’t of found here. Heck, what most of them say, is that by them thinking so much on who they are, they found themselves even more lost.”

“Wow,” Spike said, his eyebrows raising just a bit. “That’s quite a lot coming from you.”

“Heh, I had to get my point across.”

“And, what was that point again?”

“That thinking all the answer lay out there, is stupid. And that thinking too deeply, just makes you more hissy!”

“Thinking too much lot….” Spike took a breath, as he placed a claw on his hip. “Hmm, I think I may be guilty of that one.”  He aimed his eyes at Rainbow Dash. “But what else can a dragon like me do?”

“Well…” Dash trailed off, looking away. “It’s not really my place to say how you should say your life: I don’t even know your real name.”

“Please, I could the advice.”

Dash looked back at the dragon, stretching out her shoulders. “Well… see, we have this farm pony – the brother to Applejack – called Big Mac. Most ponies just past him by, as used to do. But one day, while I was drifting away on my cloud of mine, I happen to see Big Mac at work.”

“I didn’t think anything much of it at first; I was too lazy to go rent a book, yet I didn’t just want to lay in my cloud. So, my nearest entertainment was Big Mac at work. You wouldn’t expect anything from the guy; he just works, doesn’t complain. He doesn’t rush anywhere either, he just… enjoying life, I guess.”

“A typical farm pony enjoying life,” Spike stated. “But what’s that got to do with anything?”

“The guy doesn’t expect anything!” Rainbow cried out. “It’s like one of those things you know, but you don’t actually know. You know what I mean?”

Spike responded with a raised brow.

“Like, Big Mac expects nothing. He doesn’t get mad when it rains, or excited when a new gig comes into town. Whatever happens, happens! To him, everyday is like a fine day… dah! I’m not getting my point across at all!”

“No, no.” Spike went silent for a moment. “It’s like we always expecting something… always wanting something. Things to be different, things to stay the same. With, with that lifestyle, you’re just kinda content with everything.”

“Huh,” Spike rose his right claw. “You’re right. That is quite an amazing way to live your life.”

“A hard way too,” Dash said, “for a pony like me.”

Spike couldn’t help but nod his head.

The houses on the sides of the duo began to shrink in number, till they became an oddity to see. Trees soon replaced the houses, with fences at their defense. Just before the farm, hung a sign reading Sweet Apple Acres.

“Not too much longer now,” Dash said.

Leaves danced from their tree-branches, floating down until they met the ground. Only for the wind to pick them up, and drift them to the wind’s desire. The blow of the wind wasn’t hot, merely warm enough to fight off the chill the came with the fall weather.

Dash had been silent on their walk. For someone who disliked thinking, she sure was heavily in thought. As they ascended the hill to the farm, Rainbow began to talk. “That’s weird.”

Spike turned his head. “What is?”

“Here I am, giving you a bad rep for giving me a long answer. And there I go, and give you a speech about what I feel.”

Spike looked down at her with no particular expression. “Do you feel as what you said earlier was wrong?”

“Hmm.” Dash titled her head, so that her eyes aimed up to the sky. “I’m not so sure now. I feel like I had something going there, but now that I think about it, it feels like something's missing. I like my life, and who I am, but sometimes, you just… wonder.”

Dash trailed off, with that grin she always wore fading away into a frown.

Whenever something didn’t go Dash way, she would frown and complain. Anything trivial was annoyance to her, those frowns never a product of sadness.

And when it came to saving the world; when it came to something that affect Dash on a personal level – you could bet you’d see a determined grin on her face. Even if it was something impossible, Dash was never one to submit her will so easily.

So why now, with a conversation not too deep, was Dash frowning?

But, more importantly, Spike thought, why am I concerned that she is frowning?

Emotions spurred from within Spike, like a jolt of remembrance. Any attention placed on these emotions caused them to dissipate, and their departure awoken certain feelings; ones that Spike wasn’t sure he had.

His left claw wanted rise high, so that it could strike Rainbow Dash down to the dirt, allowing Spike his revenge. His hatred finally quenched, for all those times she laughed at him. How funny, was it, that Spike almost drowned in that lake! OR, how Spike said something stupid – let us laugh at his stupidity. Girls, look! Spike fell to the ground… he’s even more below us! Bwahaha!

Spike’s left claw curled into a fist.

While his right claw wanted nothing more than to reach out to Rainbow Dash. So that he could take hold of her, and save her from her sadness. To talk one another, as deeply as she liked. To become something more… his right claw longed for something that Rainbow Dash had.

But what?

Spike broke the mare at from her thoughts.

“I think you’re right about thinking too much; you might find yourself in a trap, one that you’re unable to escape. But if you don’t think, then you may end up living a life you don’t like.

Dash blinked her eyes, stopping at the base of the hill to look up at the drake. “Whoa… that’s kinda deep, dude.”

Spike only shrugged his shoulders.

Dash rubbed the side of her head, smiling sheepishly. “Heh, I guess I should’ve used fancier words to express myself – I kinda came off as a dutz, didn’t I?”

“Meh,” Spike replied, “it’s alright. Besides, I’m cool with how you act now.”

“Wait,” Dash said, “we’re actually cool?”

“Well, yea–er, may… I… Hmm.” Without Spike even knowing it, a claw already placed itself against his upper-lip. “I’m… cool with you – still not a fan of pony kind, and I feel like you and Applejack are planning something.”

“But, with that said, I guess it isn’t torture staying here.”

“That’s…” Dash opened her mouth, playing her tongue along her teeth. “A good thing?”

“It’s a good deal for me,” the dragon replied, “but not for you. And that’s why I’m suspicious around you ponies.”

Dash’s face flared up. “And what do you mean by that!?”

“Who the heck sticks around to a dragon,” Spike articulated the word, “who has been nothing but rude to them. Last I check, dragons aren’t welcome folks around these parts.” Those words took more breath out of Spike than he expected them to. “I understand I may be a bit interesting, but not enough to want to keep me around.”

Rainbow didn’t have a response.

“So, Rainbow,” Spike started, “is there some bigger-picture I should be worried about?”

While Dash stood tall, her stature began to fall apart beginning with her head, which fell and hung low. “Is it really so hard to believe that we’d put your attitude behind us, because of the state you came to us in, from the world you faced?”

“A lit–” Spike stopped himself, as white-lies had been leaving mouth so easily as of late. “Yes, the concept is hard to swallow. Now, am I wrong to have such feelings?”

“No… I guess you’re not totally wrong,” she whispered before shaking her head, and staring up at the drake. “But you’re not right either. While there may something else affecting us. I do know that Fluttershy, the mare that helped you, did so out of kindness!”

“And Applejack saved your caboose, because she knew it was the right thing to do!”

Spike hissed. “Always doing the right thing may hurt Applejack in the end.”

“The guilt would kill her first.”

Spike’s eyes jumped wide open, as he took a step back.

“You’re…” Spike stopped to take a breath. “You’re right: it was wrong of me to say that.”

Dash smiled.

“But still leaves your motives in the mist.”

“There isn’t much to say,” Dash said, while taking a step back, “you’re cool drake, and I wanted to learn a bit about you. Nothing really more than that.”

Spike stared down at Dash, causing her eyes to quiver.  He took a deep breathe. “So you're wanting to know me; it wouldn’t have anything to do with the dragon that used to live here, would it?”

Spike could hear the sound of Dash’s breaths, as he did her best hide her shaking.

“I… mmm… I’m not sure.” Dash’s eyes broke away from Spike’s stare, and with her newfound freedom, she used it to control her breathing. “I’m not gonna lie: it may have been part of the reason. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you give off the same feel as that dragon… as Spike.”

Spike turned his back on Dash, choosing instead to stare at farmhouse on top of the hill. “So that was his name, huh.” He put his claws on his hips, took a breath, and twirled around. “It sounds like a good name.”

Dash giggled. “I found it silly.”

Spike chuckled. “As did I, but I didn’t want to say anything. Still, if the name is given to the right guy, then maybe it’ll come of as cool.”

Dash once again giggled.

“So. Tell me! Was this Spike cool?”

Now that caused Dash to laugh, and even the drake himself couldn’t help but smile.

“He was cool in his own way,” Dash said, as she began up the hill, “one that you don’t quite notice at first.”

Spike began to walk alongside the mare.

“But with ponies and dragons with that kinda cool,” Dash being, her tone turning somber, “I think it’s important to let them know just how cool they are. Y’know, just in case they don’t know it themselves.”

The leaves followed Spike as he walked along the fence, racing on ahead to where the wind lead. The scent of the farm caused Spike to inhale deeply, which allowed his mind to relax. “I’d rather not hear the sad story of this Spike character. But, from the sounds of it, something small escalated into something big.”

The butterflies in Spike’s stomach began to tie his intestines together, as his entire being began to falter. His face held the same distant expression, but his mental state was at the mercy of whatever Dash said next.

“It was the opposite: it was something big, that we thought of as small. And once it became a small deal for him, it then became a big deal for us.” Dash sighed. “We were a little late in realizing what was wrong.”

Spike exhaled, as he gained the right to once again breathe. The oncoming breaths helped inflate the deflated dragon; his strength returning.

No one said anything after that. This talk was already too meta for Spike, and any more talk may reveal things he’d rather not know. Yet the desire to chat with Rainbow was still there!

There’s something seriously wrong with me, Spike thought.Maybe it’s the years spent out in the forest, or the trauma of returning to this town: but something is definitely wrong with me.

The barn grew larger and larger, till the dragon and pony stood before it. The drake had his mouth agape, as his eyes stared at the structure.

Rainbow took a step towards the drake. “You alright?”

“Feels like a cage.”

Dash blinked. “What?”

Spike snapped himself out of his trance. “Ah-sorry, lost myself for a moment there.” He cleared his throat. “I suppose I owe you a thanks for walking me out this far.”

Dash flared her wings up, as she rested her back on the open air. “It’s no biggie. Besides, I enjoyed chatting with you, ya’ unsocial dragon.”

“Right,”Spike faked a smirk, giving a roll of the eyes. “I guess this is farewell for now.”

“Pfff,” Rainbow flapped her lips, “no need to sound so morbid. A simple goodbye is enough, and a hello tomorrow morning works just as well.”

Spike smiled.

Dash landed back on the ground, and began to walk away. Though after a few steps, she twirled around.  “Say, if you’re a dragon with no name: what do I call you?”

Spike shrugged his shoulders. “Call me whatever you like.”

“Ooff” Dash sounded. “You want to be careful with the ponies you trust making you a name.”

“Then know you have that tiniest bit of trust from me then.”

Dash stepped backwards, a hoof raising to her chest. She looked to the drake looking surprised, before quickly shaking her head and giggling. “I think I’ll call you Drag, because you’re a drag to have around!”

The dragon’s only response was a frown.

“New name?”

The dragon only shrugged.

“Drag it is, then,” Dash said, with a smile stretching on her lips afterwards. With a wave of the hoof, she bidded the dragon farewell, and walked back the way whence they came.

Spike turned to the barn, pressing a claw against its door. Yet, try as he might, none of his muscles dared to move the door. He chuckled

I wanted nothing more than to spend all of today locked away in here. And now that I’m finally back, I can’t even force myself to open the door.

The claw fell back to Spike’s side, as the other claw left his book on a barrel next to the door. He then took a gander at what was around him.

The Apple family house was just up ahead, with a candle lit by the window.

There’s a chance that Applejack is home, but, I doubt she’s told her family about me yet. Heh, actually: there’s a chance the CMC started spreading rumors about a dragon.

His feet began to move on their own. Meh, it would be too awkward if I walked in there, and Granny Smith had to clue who I am. Big Mac would probably run off to go get the whip.

Spike began to walk in the opposite direction of the house, his claws throwing themselves to the back of his head. “And once again, it feels like I’m making another excuse.”

Eh, why do I even want to see the Apple family anyway? Spike pursed his lips as he walked. Actually, I would like to see Big Mac again – he was cool. We never talked much, but on those days I felt like I had no one else to go to, I’d wind up going to him.

Heh, now I kinda feel bad, as I would do was stress out all my problems to him. I would rant for hours, and he would sit there and listen.

Then, we would just… relax.There wasn’t an urge to say something, or the feeling that things were awkward. Things just alright when I around Big Mac.

Spike slowed his walk. I had forgotten all about Big Mac! And now, I miss the guy. Heck, I think he’s the only one I miss from this town.

The drake paused before the forest, one akin to the one he washed up on. “I have absolutely no clue what I’m supposed to do next with my life.”

So he kept following the trees, trying to not walk so fast, but to pace himself and look around. With Big Mac on his mind, along with the endorsement from Rainbow Dash, Spike tried to take life at a slow pace.

A breeze danced by, rustling the leaves. Spike watched the effect, just seeing how nature rolled when he wasn’t paying attention. The grass, when careful with one step, would tickle the foot. It felt good, but once the process was repeated, the sensation lost its effect.

The world claimed the heart of Spike, but doubts still lingered on his mind. The questions left unanswered about himself, as well as the future. As long as they remained, then Spike would find no peace in this world.

Spike’s foot was caught on a branch hidden along the grass, as he tripped and twirled; his back slamming into a tree. His claws dug into the bark, to help him keep standing.

“Just what is the process of figuring everything out?”

He sighed.

He looked right.

And saw Big Mac.

“Oh, hey,” Spike said.

Big Mac nodded his head.

Spike looked back down again.

Then realized he wasn’t alone.

Spike shot his head towards Big Mac. “Big Mac!”

He raised a brow. “Eyup.”

Spike coughed into his claw, averting his gaze. “I-I wasn’t aware you were here.”

“Nnope.” You do know I work on this farm, right? Came the voice of Big Mac, from within Spike’s head.

“Yeah,” Spike said, “I should’ve known better.”

Big Mac blinked his eyes.

You do know the bigger question is: why is there a dragon intruding on my farm?

“You’re probably wondering: why is there a dragon loose on your farm?”

Big Mac shrugged his shoulders.

Spike coughed, unsure of what action should come next. “Applejack was around when I was in bad shape…” He opened his mouth, tongue searching for his next words. “Long story short – she saved my life, and allowed me to recover in your family’s barn.” He bowed forward. “So thank you for that.”

Big Mac raised a brow, while his lips remained neutral. Like I care about that fact. If this story really added up, then Aj would’ve told me. And, if she did, you must be lying, because you’re walking around just fine and freely on my farm.

Spike gulped. “I know, I should be in a worse state, and I should’ve gotten permission to wonder on your field, but it all just kinda happened spontaneously. Er! I mean– it just kinda happened!”

Big Mac spoke no response. Instead settling to slide his back down a tree adjacent to Spike. You’re boring me, Spike. Entertain me with a few lousy jokes, to make this situation not awkward.

“But it’s kinda funny though, no?” Spike said while rubbing the back of his head. “A dragon needing to get permission to do something?” He added in a sheepish smile.

But Big Mac continued to stare. You’ve fallen pretty far, haven’t you, Spike?

“I know, I’ve fallen pretty far as a dragon.” Spike sled his back down the tree, releasing a large sigh upon hitting the bottom. “That fall makes me feel really useless. I’ve always hated that word: useless. I think the word itself is useless.”

Spike’s head slumped forward. “Regardless, if you wanna see the living definition of the word, then here I am.” He exhaled. “I mean, if you compare me to ponies, then of course I have the better physique. But if I were to face a dragon– oh boy! Am I toast.”

Big Mac brows perked up, as he slightly tilted his head.

“I don’t do much to improve myself. All the things I do now, is because I’ve always had those skills. And, because of those factors, I give ponies the impression that I’m… filled with boundless potential!” Spike spoke like he was re-telling an old joke.”

“So, some ponies like to gawk at me; others hate me, and I have others that urge me to become something more.” Spike chuckled. “Honestly, I feel like a scam artist on the inside.”

Big Mac blinked.

“Because the impression I give is a fake. I’ve tried to better myself, but I feel like I can’t do that, until I find out who I am. But… even when I went out into the world, and fought for my own survival. With all the situations I’ve been in, where I had to rely only on myself, I still couldn’t find any ground within me.”

Big Mac continued to sit, not speaking nor moving.

“I know coming to this town was a mistake, as I tend not to mix well with pony kind. But with the state I was in, I know that I had no other choice. And that I should be grateful to Applejack, but even still, I don’t feel any gratitude for her.”

No anger or even a frown came from Big Mac, as he continued to watch the drake.

“I know I should be thankful to her, and part of me is. But I’m unable to make myself feel grateful to her; to truly want to repay her.” Spike sighed. “It’s hard to explain. I don’t even understand it, myself.”

A surprised chuckle came from Spike.

“Heh, I kept all these thoughts– er, feelings to myself; thinking that made me strong. But as soon as I come across to a stranger willing to lesson,, I blabber out everything.” Spike sighed once more; an act that was becoming a habit. “Sorry if I annoyed you; made ya mad, and... wasted your time.”

Big Mac twirled the sprig of wheat in his mouth, as his eyes watched the bending grass. “Nnope.”

“Really?” Spike asked. “It sounded like for a moment you wanted to ah, beat me up.”

Big Mac’s head recoiled an inch. “Nnope.”

“Huh,” Spike pressed the back of his head against the tree. “I guess that little voice of mine is trying to get the better of me. Heh, I thought if things got quiet: you’d go away.”

Big Mac shook his head.

“Yeeaah, I should really stop spilling my emotions out. I must be coming off as really weird to ya’, eh?”

Big Mac shook his head. “Just ta regular weird.”

Spike chuckled, almost bursting out into laughter. “That’s a pretty good one, mate.”

Big Mac exhaled through his nostrils, smiling.

“I tell you what,” Spike stretched his arms up, before letting them fall behind his head, “I was so worried about what I was going to do next. But, by just talking to you, I feel so… calm.”

Big Mac looked over to Spike. “Ya’ sound broken.”

Spike coughed. A claw gripping at his chest as his body trembled.

He looked back at Big Mac. “I certainly wasn’t expecting that.” Once the shock ceased, Spike let the claw on his chest fall.

“But… I think you’re right.”

Big Mac turned his gaze over forward, to where the sun began to fall.

“Though I also think you’re wrong. I mean, what makes someone complete? The dragon I am now, isn’t that the natural me? There’s nothing wrong with having feelings, but should you change your reactions to these feelings? Because then, aren’t you changing yourself? Because the motto right now, is to be yourself?”

“Bah!” Spike cried. “What’s the right way to live your life?”

Big Mac swirled the wheat to the other side of his mouth. “Ta’ think too much.”

“And you might not think enough.”

Big Mac back looked over at Spike, missing the setting of the sun.

“Ta find yourself trapped inside the cave, because ya’ thought the answer laid within. Yet ya’ left the question alone, outside.”

Spike eye’s lit up. “Were you eavesdropping earlier?”

“Nnope.”

“Oh.”

Big Mac had been able to figure out Spike’s current situation without him even speaking of it. Just by the way Spike had been acting.

I like to try and seem smart, yet Big Mac, the farm pony, was able to figure me out by just by meeting me.

“I’m sorry,” Spike said. “That comment about you not thinking a lot was wrong… and rude.”

Big Mac shrugged his shoulder. “Sorta’ true.”

That served to make Spike feel more insecure. Big Mac seemed smarter than him, was also  in a better state of mind. Yet he was comfortable in sharing his weakness, even though he understood reality more than Spike. Which made him even stronger in Spike’s mind!

“Ah, boy.” Spike stretched out his limbs, just as a nice breeze struck. “I feel useless! But at least the weather's nice.”

“Distractions.”

“What?”

“Nothin’.”

The stallion and dragon kept quiet after that, as all their attention was placed on the sun dipping past the land.

“Say,” Spike said, “do you ever wish you were... someone else?”

Big Mac pushed his lips left. “Sometime’s I’d like to be Applejack, seeing how she’s important to the world. But then I wouldn’t be me, so nah.”

“But wouldn't it be better to be someone better?”

“Ya’ just be a duplication: never thinkin’ for ya’ self. Sure, you might enjoy it at first, but... ya would begin to feel empty afterwards, ah’ think.”

“Huh,” Spike looked down. “That kinda makes sense. Though, I’m at a point, where I don’t think I’d be losing much if I made the change.”

“Ya can only regret it, once it’s done.”

“That’s true.” Spike sighed. “So I guess I just gotta go with the norm of finding yourself, and improving yourself?”

Big Mac shrugged his shoulders, as he rose up from the ground. “Let me know how that works, as I’m still lookin’ for an answer myself.”

Spike reached out to him. “You mean you haven’t found it?” He brought back his arm. “I thought you said too not enter the cave.”

Big Mac shook his head. “Look for ta’ treasure inside the cave, but know when to leave, because tha holy grail ain’t there.”

Spike held his mouth open, and a moment later, he began to laugh. “I guess I don’t know how to quit sometimes – and that ain’t a good thing.”

Big Mac chuckled as he turned around, walking back towards the farmhouse.

“Ya’ haven’t changed one bit.”

A chill froze up Spike’s body. His throat being choked. He reached out his right claw to the far out Big Mac, as his own eyes were as large as saucers.

“Just’a remember,” Big Mac shouted back, “ya’ don’t always hafta follow what’s normal.”

And with that, Big Mac made his departure. Spike’s claw return to his side, bearing with it another question. It didn’t have to do with Spike’s exposed identity, but rather, a different question altogether.

“But how do you know, when it’s time to leave the cave?”

IV – Nightmares of the Moon

~IV~

NIGHTMARES OF THE MOON

The sky had gone dark.

Though the transition went unnoticed by the dragon, as he looked in the direction in which Big Mac had left. He stood up with a sigh, threw his claws behind his head, and walked back to the barn.

Finding the knob to the barn door proved difficult, with moonlight being the only light. But the claws scratching against the wood finally found their prize, allowing Spike entrance. He ambled to the stacks of hay that were bunched together, and promptly threw himself onto the makeshift bed.

Upon turning over and laying on his back, the drake was struck with the view of the night sky from the shutter overhead.

He chuckled, as the stars danced in the sky. A claw reached out to take hold of at least one of the lights, but it fell back with no reward. Though if he truly desired something, then he could go for the water and blanket left for him on the other side of the barn.

But that would’ve required him to get up – and that just wouldn’t do. So he fell asleep, albeit a little cold.

How about warm? Yes. To have something warm, around the body; but yet, for the body to not feel cold. The same is also true for the body to feel warm, even though the world around it is cold.

But what is correct? The being saying that it is warm; or cold water around it?

Spike’s eyes fluttered open, as something smooth washed along his scales. A same effect possessed the houses and the trees, though not pony walked streets, as Spike floated with ease.

A breath resulted in water rushing to the lungs, which caused Spike to gag and gasp for air. His body began to sink to the bottom of ocean, making Spike fling his arms about until he began to ascend.

His heart banged against the confines of his chest, in an attempt to escape; his lungs being set aflame for every second it took to reach the surface.

On breaking the wall, water poured out from Spike’s mouth in a coughing fit, who afterwards, tired to drink as much air as possible. His body bobbed in the water, with his eyes adjusting to the surface; which was filled with the roofs of houses, and the branches of trees.

It wasn’t that small section had been flooded, but the wherever Spike looked, water persisted. The entire town seemed to be filled with water, which is why Spike dived back under.

Inside the houses, there was a chance a foal could be crying, while the water leaked in by the windows. Or that a rock had sunk onto a poor pegasus wing, and they were sucking in water instead of air.

But all Spike had seen were dry interior of houses, and no ponies sitting on a park bench. The area looked barren of any life, so Spike resurfaced. Though his back cried out in pain, while his lungs demanded a minute so they could relax.

But the rooftops were too thin to support his frame, and the tree branches too weak to support his weight. Though there was one far-out tree, with a stone tab floating in front of it, that looked to do nicely.

So he swam over, with every stroke resulting in a jolt of pain, and every breath, filled with a poisonous steam. His entire body felt like it were on fire, with the water just making things worse for the burn marks.

His body would cry out and sink, if he didn’t get out of the water soon. But he did, as he reached the tree and threw a claw on the stone tab.

A giant breath of relief came next.

“Hello,” said a voice, “my number one assistant.”

Spike looked up to witness Twilight Sparkle, standing on the tab with both wings missing from her body. While this brought a smile to his lips, it did nothing to hers.

Our next lesson is starting… why don’t you come inside?”

She offered a hoof, one that Spike galdy took that pulled him out of the water. And at the touch of her fur, it forced the pain to leave Spike alone.

Twilight smelt nice and fresh, almost like lavender.

Spike shook himself, but not a droplet of water came. Upon examining himself, he found that his scales were try and purple, as an aura faded from his body. Smiling, he went to thank the marre, but had to look up to do so.

She finally smiled as she looked down at him. The green coated armor that had been protecting his secret, was washed away. Spike stood as Spike. And not as the green dragon with no name.

Something within him wanted to scream, but his mouth would allow no such action. So instead, he hugged her leg as tight as possible, to the point he almost wanted to hump it. “I missed you, Twilight.”

Twilight wrapped slimey hoof around him. “I know.”

Her leg slipped out of his grasp, as she inched her head to the tree: a wall of black fog serving as the entrance. “Come on, Spike. The next lesson is beginning soon, and you don’t want to be late.”

Twilight entered the fog, and Spike was just about do the same. Though was something shining underwater, at the base of the tree. It almost looked like another entrance.

Spike shrugged his shoulders and entered the tree.

The room in which they entered, was of that of their own library – back in the days where they both maintained it; where both their laughs carried throughout the halls.

Twilight walked over to a tile on the floor. And upon elevating it, revealed a passage underneath, with a ladder serving as means to get down.

“C’mon Spike,” Twilight said with a smile. She jumped down the hole, and Spike had no choice, but to do the same.

The hidden part of the library wasn’t small, though its height caused Twilight to duck. It length is what surprised Spike, with the room longer than the tree itself. Water was soaking through the walls, though Twilight didn’t care as she went to the front of the room.

There was cube in the wall, allowing someone to ponder if they wished.

Spike wasn’t the only kid in to room, as colts and fillies sat in lines before the chalk the chalk board.

All eyes felt like they were on Spike, even though they were more concerned with Twilight. Spike was standing out, with his body feeling isolated and his mind weak. He should sit with the other kids and conform, so that he won’t be out of place. Yet back was glued to the wall.

So Spike watched the lesson from afar, with his shoulder trembling from the upcoming fear.

Twilight wore a grin that reached both of her ears, with her right eye doubling in size. A stream of giggles erupted from her throat, but not her mouth; though her head did tremble.

“You’ve all placed such a great trust in me, to follow me into that hole. I may even seem like Princess to you, wanting nothing more than help ponies.

Twilight stalked across the room. “But I would like to say, that all that trust has been misplaced.”

She gave everyone in the room a small smile. “Each and everyone of you, will enhance my research, and I doubt! You’ll make it past the testing.” Twilight waved her hooves like she didn’t care. “Oh well!”

The foals shared the same expression: a blank stare that watched their teacher’s every move.

Spike – on the other claw – peed himself a little.

Twilight approached the first colt. And in aiming her horn at him, struck a blast of magic. His gray fur turned red, with him closing his eyes, as body expelled a wave of heat.

And in the next second, he was gone.

Twilight moved to the next filly.

A wooden table caught Spike’s glance, with a wooden box resting on top. He rushed over to open, with two knives lying in it laying – both sheathed.

“T-Twilight,” Spike called out, “I-I challenge you to a duel.”

The mare turned with a raised brow.

“W-Well, we’ll fight with the sheaths on first,” added in the drake, “just so we can get a feel for it.”

Twilight chuckled as she used her to whisk away one of the knives. Spike picked up his, and it filled his hollowed out body. Walking to the mare in a stride, all his fear began to decay. None of students turned to watch the battle. Instead, they focused on chalkboard.

Bink! Bink! The knives clashed in the air. Bonk! Bonk! The knives fought under there.

Up. Up. Down. Down. Left. Right. Left. Right. Sometimes the brothers met one another, and sometimes they missed. Though more often than not, did the sheath make contact with a furry cheek, than a scaley one.

Twilight stepped back as Spike progressed forward.

The knives went to meet, but did so in such a way, that both sheaths slid off: revealing the blades underneath.

Spike’s eyes flew open, his claw trembling. Held within Twilight’s magic, was a real knife: something that could dig into his scales and take away his life. Blood would flow out his body, and his mind would wonder about what came after he closed his eyes.

Spike began to pant, as he tried to block all of Twilight’s strikes.

Spike stepped back as Twilight progressed forward.

And with a resound cling! Spike’s knife went flying, leaving his claws pinned to the wall.

“Before…” Twilight stood before him. “You fought without a care about death: like you were hero that was going to save this room. But, when the risk of death came to your realization: you cowered in fear. You weren’t as heroic as you thought, and because of that, you lost the duel.”

Twilight lowered herself so that they were leveled. “You overvalue yourself, up in your head, that you think you wouldn’t mind dying. But upon realizing who you really are, and what death means, you cowered in fear.”

She pointed the knife at his belly. “You’re not as brave as you think; you’ve never tested yourself. Always wondering what you are, when you already know!” She brought her lips to his ear. “That you are truly, useless”

Twilight struck the blade into the wall and returned to her experiments

Spike gained the ability to breathe one she left, and quickly started looking for anything that could help him. And thus, another wooden table caught his gaze, as he begun to crawl towards it.

Another box sat on the table. Opening it revealed two rings.

“Wait,” Spike said. “These are to stop the flow of magic in a unicorn’s horn…”

He looked to Twilight – who glanced back at him. Spike dropped the box and crawled back to the wall. Twilight begun to walk over, but was stopped on her path by certain filly. “Twilight, I challenge you to a duel.”

With a chest raising high and sinking low, Spike reached out his claw.

“Sweetie Belle…”

The filly turned her head back to look at him. “If only you had said something before, then I would’ve know to come help you.”

Sweetie looked back at Twilight, and met her at the wooden table; where both parties took a seat and put on a ring.

The students this time around watched the game, all with the same blank faces. Except for Spike, who clutched his tail to his tummy.

“Ready?” Twilight asked.

Sweetie nodded.

Sweetie fired: nothing.

Twilight fired: nothing.

Sweetie fired: nothing.

Twilight fired: the ring rusted.

Sweetie fired: the ring cracked.

Twilight fired: rust covered the ring.

Sweetie fired: the whole ring cracked.

Sweetie charged her horn again and went to fire, though she was struck from a blast and her existence was ripped from the dream.

Twilight smashed the ring in her hoof. Upon standing up from her seat, she continued her experiments on the rows of kids; zapped away without a sound.

And then there were none.

Two hooves filled the floor, in which, Spike was staring down at. He raised his head to witness the charging of the horn, and closed his eyes and awaited the endless darkness with a smile...

A darkness that never came.

Just what was Twilight waiting for? For him to open his eyes, so he could be present for his death. Though that would make her victory that much more sweet.

Though regardless of the reason, if Spike didn’t open his eyes now, then he would suffer a heart attack. And at the crack of his sight, the drake found himself looking at the Princess of the Night.

“Welcome!” Luna said, “the most important dragon in the world.”

The Princess and the dragon stood at the same eye-level.

The white void around them, contained a flow of colours, that seemed to like to dance.

Spike infused his claw with a green liquid, which he then pressed against his chest: his purple being painted over.

“I advise you don’t do that,” Luna said, “as I do believe, purple scales, suits you best.”

The green retracted from the scales and returned to the claw, with the green aura ceasing around his claw. “Do I know you?”

“You should,” Luna raised her voice, “as I have known your existence since you were but a baby dragon.”

“I don’t recall meeting a Princess in my lifetime.”

Luna closed the distance between them. “Spike, tis I know that you are not a fool. You can’t escape the knowledge of a Princess.”

“Really?” Spike played, “because I made Twilight believe my story, who just so happens, to be a Princess – and by the way? I just found that out.”

Luna sighed. “What I mean to say, is that you cannot fool an actual, Princess!”

“Oh oh oh!” Spike inched his head back, “so there is some unchecked feelings going on here.”

“That is besides that matter, Spike the dragon.”

Spike watched the wave of colours race beyond Luna’s head. “So Celestia told you I was still alive, huh?” He chuckled a dead laugh. “Thanks, mom.”

“She did no such thing!” Luna shouted. “I pressed the matter of your disappearance to Celestia very much, but she wouldn’t speak a lick of it.

“She even told me not to go searching for you in the world of dreams.”

Spike looked back at the Princess. “So you're disobeying your sister now then?”

“My sister has little control over my actions,” Luna barked, her breath picking up the pace. “I may listen to her guidance, but the decision is that of my own.”

“I guess that is a good thing then, as you saved me from that nightmare.” Spike bowed in a faux respect. “But if you don’t mind, I’ll be waking up now.”

He walked away in search of the door; though in a flash, Luna blocked his way. “I’m afraid you’re departure from this world has been put on a halt.”

“Can’t you say: you won’t be waking up just yet?” Spike groaned. “I mean, why be so vague? I’d get your message easier if you—”

“Will thou shut up!?”

Spike nodded his head with absent eyes. “Oookay. So I guess you’re going to give me some kind of speech? A lecture, maybe? If the latter, please don’t tell me you got your advice from Twilight...”

Spike gasped, with both claws on his chest. “Or maybe, you’re going to pour all your sympathies out to me!”

“You’re going to receive a flank kicking in a second,” Luna barked, stepping closer to Spike.

“I’ve had worse from the timber wolves.”

“Oh! And that is just the thing, Spike.” Luna placed her mouth next to his ear. “They are beast, whilst I know what I’m doing.” She smiled. “If you think that nightmarish Twilight was scary, then I’m about to show you what a nightmare really is.”

The dragon looked away.

“Good.” Luna exhaled.

A glass tabled formed from the nothingness of the whiteness. Luna took a seat, as did Spike on the opposite side.

“So… how has Ponyville been treating you?”

“Alright.” Spike leaned his chin on his palm.

“Well, I see that this question segment will prove to be redundant.” Luna dropped her head. “But I suppose I didn’t care for the answers anyway, as your feelings are moot to me.”

“Ohh.” Spike rolled his eyes. “Now tell me what you really feel?”

“I didn’t always have a distaste for you,” Luna remarked, “but when you declined our help, and kept on the path of the same mistakes – tell me, what point is in caring for you?”

“I guess none.”

“Exactly.” Luna twirled her head around. “Tis a disappointment you came out to be.”

“Hey,” Spike growled.

Luna waved, playfully rolling her eyes. “You desired what I really felt, and I have fulfilled your request!” She poked him on the snout; he displayed his fangs. “But this meeting isn’t about you, no! It’s about those who suffer from the nightmares.”

The flow of color, swirled next to the the table. The lines drew themselves into pictures of Ponville. “Your appearance in this town, Spike, has caused many to fear going to sleep, for what they may dream.”

“Nightmares and memories are two different things,” Spike remarked, “for, if we’re talking them, then they caused their own nightmares.”

Luna’s eyes fell as her head shook, a wave of disappointments reaching Spike. “Still blaming them, are you?”

“They’re the ones who broke my trust and forced me out.”

Luina erected from the table. “It was your choice to run away!”

Spike jumped from his seat. “They’re the ones who gave me that choice!”

The table turned back into lines of colors, joining the flow back in the void. Only two stayed behind; black and green.

A paint stroke of black began to wrap itself along hind legs. “You could’ve asked for help.”

“From who?” Spike fired back from his mouth like a canon.

A thin green line slithered to a pair of feet, and begun to wrap itself around like a wire. “Because I didn’t see you or Celestia. But yet! When a filly has a nightmare, you’re there!”

“I would’ve been there sooner for you,” Luna said as her chest trembled, “if I could of.”

“And why couldn’t you?”

“Because I couldn’t interfere with your scenario!”

Spike stepped forward – their faces meeting. “And why is that?”

“Because I owe those six too much to risk what I would’ve done!”

A breath caught his throat, by a trap that barred him from breathing. His brows coming together, as they remembered an old joke. The line in the throat was removed, the next action being a single chuckle. Soon…those chuckles grew into laughter. The laughs booming, that the streams of colors shook; lines shooting up and down like a heart rate. Laughs that rung out through the void! The lines so sharp, that they might tear through the whiteness of the void, and enter into reality.

“It was because of what you owed, that you didn’t come...” Spike laughed. “Yet, whenever Twilight so much as whimpers, I bet you're there, right at her side!”

The string of green wrapped around his knee.. “You weren’t allowed to care about me…” Spike turned back with a delightful grin, “Yet I pushed you away before you're betrayal could have an effect!”

Spike paused his laughter. He licked his claw and tapped his head. “No, that wasn’t the reason why I had forgotten about you.” He brushed away a tear of laughter. “Tis cause you were so forgettable!”

“How dare you say such a thing!” Luna pushed him back, as lines of her mane fell before her eyes.

“Ohh?” Spike regained his balance and rubbed his claws together. “I guess that wasn’t the proper way to say it.

“No! No no no. It isn’t that your forgettable, Luna.” He drew a breath to hide his laughter. “Just, when compared to your Sister, who so easily did your job, along with hers…” Spike shut his mouth to hide the giggles, though his lips couldn’t refuse to smile.

“Well, in Celestia’s light, it’s just so hard to find you in her shadow. I mean, isn’t that why we focus all our attention on her?”

Luna lifted the drake by his throat, and he didn’t hesitate to do the same.

“You wanna play, sunshine?” Spike coughed, yet with a smile. “Because we’ve got all night.”

The way the steam escaped her nostrils, like that of a train! You could just tell that nightmarish fight was the only thing on her mind. But such disappointment Luna proved to be, that the two returned to the ground of the void. Boy, Luna just wasn’t any fun at all.

Ah well!

“Listen,” Luna empathized her every letter. “What I do now. Is not for you, but for everypony else. You took the cheap way out of your situation – but I won’t rant on that. I am here only to deliver my message.”

“C’mon then, delivery mare.” Spike coughed out. “What’s the scoop?”

“I do not want to see you repeat my mistakes.”

“What?” Spike asked with a shit eating grin. “Not being good enough for someone else?”

“To travel down a horrendous road, so that you may become good enough for others, and for yourself.”

 “A road to to make myself better, eh?” The drake admired his claw.

The Princess stood erect, with a head held high. “When the thoughts of others become overbearing; when you can’t prove your qualities to yourself – you shall descended on the path to power, regardless of the price.”

“Power?” Spike at both ends of the void. “Say, where was that path again?”

“There isn’t a point in telling you, as you have already taken the first step on it.”

“Oh have I now?” Spike said. “Tell me, are you afraid that I’m going to destroy the town again?”

Luna spit on the void. “I’m more concerned of you turning into something so dangerous, that it will take a great effort to stop you; I fear for what may come to this nation and you and your sanity.”

Spike crossed his arms and looked away. “Don’t give me so much credit; I don’t have a desire for power.”

“But there exist the possibility,” Luna said. “When the feeling of helpless becomes too much, I fear you may give in to the voice of your insanity.”

“Can’t say I’m not close,” Spike muttered, “it sure likes to describe things weirdly.”

Spike pointed a claw at the Princess. “But what makes you think that you and I are the same?”

“Because we’ve already transformed into our nightmares.”

“Huh?”

The soothing eyes of Luna, the ones you could trust to watch over you as you slept, now filled with a tint mist. Her pupils had sharpened to that of a reptile. So heated in that passion of the argument, that Spike had failed to see the she somehow adorned.

Her coat infused with darkness, with her cutiemark radiating the light of the moon. Even during the heated argument, Luna kept cool and composed. Now she was a goddess who truly looked alive; that twisted smile, in which she had no control, looked adorable.

“Nightmare Moon…” Spike’s head fell and the sight of his body encumbered his eyes.

“The villain of my soul is black,” Nightmare stated. “And yours is—”

“Green…”

The flowing colors continued to fly around. Sometime painting things into the void, before racing back to catch up with the other colors. The swarm soon constructed themselves into a mirror, one that both the villain and the destined looked into.

Princess Luna saw the darkness that allowed her to be free from the shadows. Though she wore a frown.

Spike the Dragon saw the same disguise he wore into Ponyville that allowed him to hide his identity. And he couldn’t help but smile.

No overbearing thoughts were on Spike’s mind. When he looked over at Luna, he didn’t cower and think himself unequal in her presence. The void around him wasn’t hopeless; it was something to be endlessly explored.

“You may think yourself a hero one day,” Nightmare Moon said, “but you are so close to becoming the opposite. You may feel great now, but only because you’ve escaped the insecurities you hold deep.”

Luna’s face captured all was the only thing Spike could, with her nose almost touching his. He inched forward, lips ready for an unknown cause. But the drake stopped himself, he hadn’t known why.

The Princess tilted her head and smiled, and tapped her horn on his forehead.

“Now you see, this is the only reason why I’ve come.”

Spike’s left claw remained green and curled; something burned within it.

Spike’s right claw was purple and open, so much, that his fingers danced in the freedom.

Nightmare Moon nudged his left claw into the palm of his right. “Spike, I want you to be honest with: what is your reason for staying in Ponyville?”

He looked up from his claws and into the eyes of Nightmare Moon. “To get… uh.”

The Princess was split into two: half Nightmare, half Luna. And Spike wasn’t sure which he admired more.

One had casted enteral night and harmed his once-friend, but she looked looked so vibrant and alive. The other half looked away, almost like it was ready to cry.

Both were just as lovely, but one spoke of a greater happiness to him.

Spike coughed. “I came back because I had no choice. But if I’m really being honest, it's because I missed this town, and I was wondering… how everyone moved with their lives. Now that I know everything is fine dandy without me; my only goal is to get enough bits, so that I may leave. ”

“Good,” the Princess said. “Promise me that will be it.”

“I… I promise.”

A hoof dabbled against his cheek, bringing in warmth Spike had long forgotten. He leaned into the hoof, before it was taken away.

Spike looked to the Princess, who offered him a smile, before walking off into the void. “You may leave.”

Spike watched her leave, admiring the last blow of her hair. A stream of colors wrapped around her being, and in a second, she was gone.

Spike sighed and turned around, and with a step, he left his nightmare.

Golden rays flickered into the darkness, creating a pair of dancing lines. Eyes shuttered open, being both blinded by the sun.

The drake stretched out four limbs, until they pleasurably popped. He sat up on the bundle of hay and allowed his tail shoot out as far as it could. Once it popped, it fell to the floor in ecstasy.

“Talk about a weird dream,” Spike said as he scratched his head. “And an even weirder mare to meet.”

Spike stood up from his bed and made his way outdoors; the morning breeze tickling his cheeks. The sky faired orange, with the scent of apples, fresh with every breath. The grass tried to fly along the breeze, but it could only lean in its direction.

The drake stretched out his back, moaning as it popped. A claw found itself on the wound located on Spike’s hip, where not a pain surged. Spike experimentally twisted his body, and not a cry came.

Chuckling, Spike placed his claws on his hips. “So, what’s in store for us today?”

He began to walk on the farmland.  “We could go to into town, but… I’m feeling antisocial. Maybe we can find a nice tree to hunker down at, and, read some of that book.”

At the mention of a tree, the memory spent with Big Mac underneath one came to mind.

Big Mac… there’s possibility he knows. But Applejack didn’t come in the barn and start blabbering my name, so I can assume for the meantime: I’m safe. But I wonder if he would be okay for another chat?

“Where is Big Mac right now?” Spike chuckled to himself. “Probably working. Harvesting some crops, kicking some trees.” Spike laughed – and didn’t know why. “Kinda like this!”

Spike kicked a tree, which made his thigh spasm in pain. Clutching his knee to his abdomen, his profit for the pain was a few fallen apples. “Oh… come on.”

He exhaled and let the foot fall to the grass. “I know you can do better than that.”

He kicked his other foot-sideways at the tree, with the sharp pain only pinching his thigh this time. More apples fell, but not enough to nearly match that of the Apple family.

“Bah!” Spike once again clutch his leg, opting to kick with his other foot.

Kicked.

“Bah!”

Kicked little harder.

“Fu–Back!

Kicked even – no. The foot paused before the tree, retracting back to the ground. “You know what.” Spike curled his claws and rose them up. “Let’s give these a little try.”

Spike gave the one-two to the one tree; a combo breaker on the next tree. Sliding over to the third tree, he charged his claw and uppercutted the bark, causing it to the lean back back. While in the air he kicked off that tree, and used the bonus momentum from that launch to lay a final, legendary kick on the fourth tree..

The tree leaned back and surrendered its apples, as Spike landed in the grass in front of it. He rose up and smiled, before his mouth cried out in pain. “WHY WOULD I DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?! THE COOLNESS WASN’T WORTH IT!”

The drake shed a tear, as his right eye bore into the tree behind him. “I’ll make you pay for this!” He struck his claw into the tree, a crack coming from within his arm. “That did not work!”

He held his arm close and waited for the horrible pain to pass. His mind couldn’t wander to what Big Mac was doing; the pain became part of his mind.

Pain.

Pain.

Pain!

“Pain!”

“You are sure a smart one.”

Spike whipped his head to the presence of Applejack, who had a smirk on her muzzle. “You saw?”

“Saw?” Applejack said with a chuckle. “I watched, and it was an entertaining show.”

“And there goes my self-confidence.” Spike couldn’t help but chuckle at himself. Oh well! He tried something new, and even had a little fun with it. Besides, so what if Applejack was going to judge him for it.

Though things got weird when Applejack started touching his leg. “May I?”

“S-Sureee?”

A hoof stroked along the thigh, stopping at places to press, which resulted in a groan from the drake.

“Sore?” she asked.

“Kinda,” Spike replied. “My wounds don’t hurt as much, but I shouldn’t have put pressure on them right away. Though I’m a cramp more than anything.”

“You’ve been kicking wrong,” Applejack stated with a frown.

Spike tilted his head. “I’ll have you know, that this kick is responsible for saving my scales, numerous times out in the forest.”

“And as impressive as that may be,” Applejack said with a smile, “it is still the wrong approach when considering trees. Now, while I may not know much about dragons, I think it’s safe to assume you have the same amount of strength an earth pony does.”

“And I’d like to agree,” Spike said with raised brow.

“So then, why do you think our kicks, are better than your kicks?”

“I’m going to sound like and idiot here, but isn’t because of how much you ponies practise, and your knowledge of where to kick?”

“Close,” Applejack giggled, “but not quite. Ya see, the answer isn’t where we kick, but how we kick.”

Spike leaned forward. “Huh?”

“Tell me, when you kick someone, what happens?”

“F-For me? They fly back.”

“Exactly.” Applejack nodded her head. “When you kick, you expect to move someone. But try as you might, your kicks can’t move a tree. What you want is for is the tree to lean and shake, so that it’ll drop its apples.”

Spike’s shoulder slumped. “I’m starting to think it’s easier to just shake the tree.”

“Certainly the easiest thing to do, but not the most intelligent, especially since it's coming from you.”

“Hey…”

“But if we look at this matter from business perspective, then shaking every tree would take far too long for us to make a profit.” She pushed on a tree, which barely inched backwards. “But see, Spik– er, dragon: that we need to find a way to shake these trees fast.”

Spike rubbed his neck, as his heart pumped at twice the speed.

“So that’s why when we kick, we do so to shake the trees from within; not to kick it back.”

“What do you mean by that?” Spike asked.

Applejack giggled, as she put her hoof on the dragon’s belly, causing him to stumble back.

“Relax!” Applejack exclaimed. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The drake stepped forward with shaky feet, and gulped as a hoof hovered an inch away from his belly. The hoof thrusted forward…

Which caused Spike to whine. “You said it wasn’t going to hurt!”

“Quick! Where does it hurt?”

“In my stomach of course!”

“Where in your stomach?”

“In–in the middle?”

Applejack exhaled and wrapped a hoof around his side. “Thank you for being a test subject, partner.”

“How do you say?”

“I wasn’t aiming to hurt your belly, I was aiming to hurt your stomach: so I punch past it.”

“You punched past it?”

Applejack giggled. “Your belly doesn’t hurt now, but past it – your stomach – does. It’s because when I hit you there, I didn’t direct the force onto your scales, but rather, focused the energy on what was past it.

“I visualized where I wanted to force to go, and that’s where it went. You don’t always strike where you hit.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Spike said. “But unfortunately, I can feel the lesson. Oh, and thanks for making my injuries worse, by the way.”

Applejack stared up at him with an open mouth, looking to apologize… when she noticed the smirk along the drake’s lips. “Don’t goof me like that, Sugarcube. Though I do apologize”

Spike chuckled as he looked to the trees, with Applejack approaching just one.

“Take this tree for example – I’m not aiming to kick him back, but for my force to reach its heart, and unleashes its energy there – that energy shaking it about from within.” Applejack reared her legs up, and snapped it down unto the tree.

The world slowed.

Spike sat on along the fence of Sweet Apple Acres, watching Applejack buck yet another tree. He struck a claw to the sky to commence her victory, but didn’t say a peep, as to disturb her work.

Spike was a kid again, and felt just as happy as one.

Then world resumed to its natural flow, with two orange hooves colliding with the bark – a line shot past its surface and into the interior of the tree, where it then shot out and stirred everything from within.

The tree shook and dropped its apples; one falling on top of Spike’s head. He caught it before it fell to the ground.

“I think I discovered something new,” Spike said.

“Gravity?”

“No!” Spike tossed the apple in the air and caught it when it fell. “Hehe, but something just as amazing though – that the forces of our movements can be manipulated.” He laughed. “And I here I thought, I knew most things about a good ol’ brawl. I guess just mindlessly fighting doesn’t teach you everything.”

“It also doesn’t teach you if you’re fighting for the right reason,”  Applejack said with a melancholic smile, “but I wouldn’t too much on what you don’t know; just learn as you go.”

“Yeah,” Spike whispered. A faint smile forming as he looked to the sky. “Right.”

Applejack watched the drake as he stood fixated on the sky.

“So, Aj…”

“Hmm?”

“What’s your plan for today?”

“Well.” Applejack bounced her head left and right. “I don’t have anything set in stone, but I reckon I’ll be catching up on some neglected chores.”

Neglected? Since when does Applejack neglect something, unless to help someone else… oh.

“Don’t worry: it’s got nothing to do with you.” She added in a giggle, which relaxed the dragon’s shoulders. “But how about you, Sugarcube; what do you have planned?”

“Nothing really,” Spike said. “I got a book from that Princess, Twilight; but I’m not really in the mood to read. If anything, that little warm up back there, got my heart racing.“

Spike crouched down so that he was at eye level with Applejack. “Say, since you saved me and all, how about I help you with a few of your chores?”

“Uh…”

“Come on!” Spike exclaimed. “I’ll do it for free if that’s your concern.”

“I couldn't care about that,” Applejack groaned. “I’m just worried about putting you putting too much pressure on your injuries.”

“Ahh, come on!” Spike playfully fought back, “I’ll won’t go too hard myself. And besides! It might even get me outta this funk I’m in.”

Applejack didn’t say as she looked away. She hadn’t outright decline him, so it must mean she at least considering it. Maybe if he got a good look at her face, he could see what his luck was. But when he tried to inch himself into her view, she pulled down her hat and hid expression underneath it.

Neither party had said anything. Spike continued to look at the mare for lengthy amount of time, until it felt uncomfortable, even stalkerish to do it any longer. “Well?

“Fine!” she groaned. “I’ll let you help on two conditions–”

“Yes!”

Applejack stared at him and sighed. “You have to listen to every word I say–”

“And the other?!”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “And for you to act like no hero!”

The cavern of Spike’s throat became dry, with all the fun within being caught in the dust.

“You came to this farm, almost ready to kick the bucket – and I don’t want to be the reason you do, because you kicked a tree a little too hard and opened something up.” Applejack inhaled deeply as her eyes soften. “So play it safe, and do what you can. There’s no need to impress me.”

The urge to suck on his tail was present to Spike, as even though he was the one looking down at her; it felt like the other way around. “I understand.”

Applejack smiled and patted the dragon on the back. The action made him shake, though once he caught his breath, a smile formed on his lips. “Thank you for listening, Sugarcube.”

Spike stood back up to his normal height. And he didn’t shy one step away from the mare, as he felt himself an equal next to her. They were going attack the farm together, like proper workers on the same level.

A hero – not a sidekick – standing next to another hero.

“So,” Spike begun, “what’s the gameplan?”

“Well, I can’t exactly have planting seeds or harvesting the crops just yet…”

Okay. So maybe he’s a lesser hero, standing next to another hero.

“And bucking apples may be too much for you...”

“Ah, come on!” Spike whined. “I already promised that I won’t overdo it. And besides, you can’t show a blood-thirsty dragon”– he playfully rolled his eyes –“a new way to fight, and not let him test it out.”

The soft smiling face of Applejack’s had been caught in a mild shock, before all of her features dimmed. “Blood-thirsty, huh,” she whispered to herself, though just loud enough for Spike to hear.

The happiness too washed away from his face. The vile words slithered naturally from his tongue, and what was worse, is that enjoyed speaking about himself in such a way. The story of the green dragon was building quite nicely, but was it really just a story now?

The stetson covered her eyes, but her faint smile was on display. “Well, if you’re looking to just, blow off some steam: then be my guest!” She lightly laughed, keeping her head turned away. “Just... try not to kill any trees that aren’t due yet – or suck the juice from any of the apples”

She took a deep breath before raising the stetson past her eyes. “I already have bat-pony to worry about, so I don’t need a dragon to think about too.”

“So you think about me now?” Spike did his best to joke the tense air away.

Applejack laughed, with small blush occupying her cheeks.

Spike blinked at the effect he had.

“Easy there, Casanova. I don’t like you that.”

The two shared round of laughter.

The beautiful orange sky, treated to only those who woke up early enough to witness it, had faded into blue. The blue sky, while adorned with numerous clouds, was ordinary to behold. All the ponies in town could look up at the sky, if they wished to do so.

The the orange sky. Only a select few, wake up early enough, to witness its presence. And that’s what made it magical; that this sky was a rarity to behold.

Spike and Applejack stopped before a wooden station. Multiple carts rested  alongs its sides, with the door of place open an inch, showcasing the bags a fertilizer. Applejack walked to the door and pushed it open, before looking back.

“Take any cart you want ,and start wherever you like.” she said. “But try to tackle the trees in a line, so that the boys coming in in afternoon can start where you finish.”

Spike saluted. “Aye aye.”

Applejack laughed and disappeared past the door. Leaving Spike to approach the carts, pick up their harnesses, only to detach them and plop them to the side. Grabbing the handles of the two carts, Spike dashed to the trees. “As long as I don’t let Applejack catch me working hard, than I should be fine.”

Spike chuckled to himself. “Just you watch, I’ll show you girls that I can be just as great.”

The endorphins rushed to Spike’s head. After being protected by Applejack, to making Pinkie sad, and almost having made a connection with Twilight – Luna’s words of him walking the path of mistakes had rung throughout his head; stirring a guilt that washed over his conscious thoughts.

Even if the act of harvesting apples is a simple one, the knowledge that you’re doing it right; that you finally did something in your life, that you knew was right, was liberating for Spike’s soul.

Be it a curse or a joy, his thoughts were no longer processed by his mind, but rather his mouth. Though like his previous words, his mind had failed to catch those words, and remind the drake of his insecurity.

While his spirit felt free. If the smiling mare standing in the doorway were to hear those words, then that hidden spirit might of been known.

But those fears are a waste of time, when you're on the job.

Wheels rolled from the messy dirt that smothers the wheels with its presence, and unto the soft grass that acted as a cushion and a cleanser. The change made the carts shook.

Rolling for a little more, the carts came to a halt on either side of a tree. Their owner, paused before the tree, and cracked his neck while a smile tugged at his lips.

“To strike not on the surface,” Spike whispered to himself, readying his stance. “But for target to be past it.”

Spike’s leg rose up and struck forward, striking the bark and made it tremble, which allowed for a few to fall into the carts.

“Now that I won’t do,” Spike said as he retracted his foot. “Remember, allow the force to travel to the center, before dispersing.”

Once again, Spike rose his leg, readying it in the air.

My wounds haven’t cried out yet, today, but I don’t want to risk opening one back up. Spike drew a breath. Now, just picture you kicking the middle of the tree. The middle, like the force of your foot is traveling past the bark.

Spike kicked the tree, the force traveling past the surface, and exploding from within. The tree danced left and right, which made the carts profited greatly in apples, allowing their temporary owner to smile.

“Not bad.” Spike waved a talon. “But I can do better.”

Spike took the handles of the carts and thrust them forward – they rolled forward and placed themselves at the next tree. The dragon dashed forward and twirled in the air; his kick striking into the wood and revealing the tree of its apples: the weight brining the carts to a complete stop.

Rushing to the carts, the dragon took hold and dashed to the next tree. Letting go a few steps before the tree, they rolled past the the drake who readied his kick, and stopped underneath the tree: the falling apples weighing them down.

“Now that’s better!” Spike cried out, once again rushing over the next tree and repeating the process. With every next tree, he experiment with the different ways how his leg could move; how many apples fell with each different strike, or how much it hurt to be flashy.

“Call me crazy, but I feel like I’m on top of the world!” Spike shouted as he struck a claw to the sky, to display all of the energy that surged within him. Coughing, he leaped up in the air, and struck another tree with all he had: all the apples fell.

And when it came to the dragon to land, his right leg slid along the grass, while his supposed his frame. Bring three talons before his eyes, Spike stuck a pose, as the carts were filled.

“Heh.” He twirled around and stuck a talon at the tree-filled landscape before him. “Just you watch… I’ll be king of the apples in no time!”

Spike raced to bring the apple-filled carts back to the station. As he neared, he slid his feet along the dirt, and caused the carts to drift. Letting go, they rolled wooden station and tapped against the structure.

Talk about easy parking.

Sliding into past two carts, he grabbed hold of their handles, and with a strong push on his legs, returned to the field of trees.

The town’s chatter was only a fluctuating sound, when heard from a distance. The sun in the sky emitted a high pitch squeal, serving as a warning to the oncoming wave of heat. And the leaning trees created their own breeze, with the ponies putting their hind legs to good work.

“Bah!”

Spike kicked a tree, though that rush, did not come. “With all these ponies around, watching me at work; I can’t fool around and any fun.” He sighed a long breath. “So much for the dramatics.”

He tapped his forehead against the tree.

And to think, I was having fun there. No worries about what I was going to do next, or dealing with my overflowing feelings – it was just me, hard at work. Heck, I even felt fulfilled! I mean, this is what Applejack and Big Mac must feel, right?

The warm wind danced along the back of his head, as Spike pulled away from the tree. Grabbing the handles of the two carts, Spike turned around was greeted with the sight of Big Mac.

“Oh crap!” Spike shouted as his eyes flew open. He dropped the handles and looked across at both sides of the farm. “I men, hey!”

Big Mac continued to stand there, blankly looking at him.

“I didn’t… see you there. Heh, how… long! Have you been there?”

Big Mac didn’t answer, instead raising his head above Spike’s shoulder. He too looked behind him, to see all the tree he had bucked – with some of them missing their branches.

Finally, Big Mac said something. “Did ya do all this?”

Spike punched his own spirit, while making his head hang in shame. “Yeah, that was me. Did I do a good job, or… did I botch everything up like usual?”

Big Mac blinked. “Er, no”– he scratched his head. – “Well, ya did some good, and ya did some bad – but mostly good!”

Big Mac chuckled to himself, before looking directly at Spike. “Ya haven’t been trained, and yet, you met the same expectations we have for everyone else.”

Spike rose his head back, as he took a breath of relief. “Aren’t I glad to hear that! I was worried that I did more more harm than good, like I usually do.”

Big Mac shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t blame you for wanting to help out.”

“Thanks,” Spike said with a smile the soon faded. He cleared out the joy from his throat. “Say, yesterday: you said I hadn’t changed.” The wind blew in-between them, carrying a few leaves along within its current.

“What did you mean by that phrase?”

The stallion narrowed his eyes, but his body stood still. Not a tremble in his leg, nor a shatter in his mask. Unlike Spike, whose heart nearly leapt out from its cage. And his arm, which refused to keep still.

Spike stood tall, yet his spirit trembled.

But looking at Big Mac. How he composed himself, his eyes never looking away; while Spike’s jumped at the first chance to avert his gaze. It felt like Big Mac held the cards: that he knew of all the secrets, and could do as he wished with them.

Big Mac took a breath and smiled, before turning around. “It could mean whatever you like.”

“How so?” Spike stepped forward.

“It could mean that you haven’t changed since you wound up dead on our farm, spouting little things in your sleep.” He took another breath. “Or it could mean you haven’t changed since you first left this town.”

Salvai traveled down Spike’s throat, as his foot hovered over the grass. It stayed there for quite some time, as the grass below danced to the winds musical. The foot did not join in on the dance, and returned back.

“It’s up to you what relationship you want,” Big Mac said, turning his head to the dragon. “Just know–” he began to smile “–I’m here for ya, regardless of your choice.”

The tension swirling in the chest, left the body in the gust of a breath. The grass danced underfoot, but the strands didn’t move an inch, once the wind took its music and went home.

Looking up at the sky, watching the clouds inch their way along the blue horizon. The green scaled beast felt his inner-being turn purple. “So I still talk in my sleep, eh?”

Spike exhaled and brought his attention back down to Big Mac. “Tell me, did I say anything... revealing?”

“I’d say embarrassing better suits it,” Big Mac said. “But I wouldn’t worry your head – you didn’t admit anything that would have ponies thinking twice about you.”

“Oh boy,” Spike laughed. “So, when it comes to my identity, the only pony I have to worry about is you then?”

Big Mac kept quiet for a second, before a smirk came across. “Eeyp. I could go around town, screaming you name. Maybe even get a magic pony to cast a spell to clear your scaly butt of all the green.”

A chill caressed Spike’s spine. “You would really do that!?”

Big Mac laughed as his head fell forward. “I’m only joking.”

Spike dropped his head with a sigh. A hoof took hold of his shoulder, and gave his body a shake. He looked up to have his vision filled with that of Big Mac’s face. “I wouldn’t do that to you; we’re friends, aren’t we?”

A chuckle escaped Spike. Which soon became a stream of chuckles, which then grew into laughter. Big Mac looked confused, but join in on the laughs.

The butterflies crashing around in Spike, had finally escaped in those streams of laughter. Once free of anything plaguing him within, Spike didn't hesitate to speak.

“Of course.”

The dragon and stallion had decided to go for a stroll along the farm. They didn’t really chat, but rather, just walked together. They didn’t set a destination; one of them wasn’t leading the other.

The two simply walked.

And walked they did, until their adventure took them to a barn. That’s where they journey ended, and where the pair stopped walking.

“Well,” Spike said, turning to his friend. “I guess this is where we part ways.”

“Eeyup.”

“Well, goodbye!” Spike stepped towards the barn.

“Er, wait!”

Spike turned around.

“Can ya, uh, do me one favor? Somthin small so that I can sure with myself.”

Come on, Spike. He listened to you when you were down, and kept safe your secret.

“Can’t argue about that,” Spike whispered to himself, before looking back at Big Mac. “What can I do?”

Big Mac looked around them, causing Spike to do the same. Only trees and the grass were the only things around. The two looked back at each other.

“Your face,” Big Mac said with a heavy breath, “may I see it?”

Spike swallowed and looked at the barn doors.

“Just for one last time?”

A pebble clogged itself in Spike’s throat, as a claw went to caress that spot. His eyes darted around to once again only see trees, but that did not stop his claw from trembling. So he closed his eyes, as his claws glowed green.

An arua formed around his eyes, and after a few seconds, the eyes opened back up.

There’s no one near…

The dragon’s chest raised and fell “Okay.”

Spike held out his left claw, staring into it with a longing in his heart. A aura formed along the claw’s features. Drawing a heavy breath, Spike brought the claw before his face, as the sight of his palm over took his vision.

Closing his eyes. A liquid stirred along his scales surface, before washing out from his body, and into his claw; forming a green ball.

The dragon slowly retracted his claw back, watching as his palm shrank in the distance. He held at the orb of green liquid at his hip level, as he raised his head to look back at Big Mac.

“Long time… no see… Mr. Big Mac.”

Big Mac turned his head and blinked his eyes, as if to keep something back. With a heavy breath, he put on a smile. “You look like a child.”

“A child wearing an adult mask.” Spike chuckled, looking away. “This mask doesn't feel like the type a hero would wear. Yet, it’s the mask I wear, in order to protect my secret.”

Spike’s eyes flashed open, as Spike the Dragon, was standing on Sweet Apple Acres! The sight causing the green ord to ripple.  “So I’m finally back, eh? It feels like it's been for forever.”

“Spike?”

Spike turned around. “Right, I guess I don’t want the whole farm seeing, that their dead Spike has returned!.” He lifted the orb before his face, but hesitated to put the mask. “To think, that little baby dragon, with so much potential, would find himself in a state like this.”

“Are… are you okay?” Big Mac asked as he stepped towards Spike.

“I’m fine – just pensive is all.” He laughed at himself, and didn’t feel bad for doing so. “I mean, you’d think for a dragon like me, would end up in a better place. A mother a Princess; me being a dragon, you’d think it impossible for me to sink so low.”

A smirked tugged along his lips. “Heck, I’m starting to wish I became a villain, that way I would’ve had a more interesting story.” Spike looked back at Big Mac. “I mean, at least the villain is part of the story, am I right? They get some sort of adventure in there, while I’m stuck in one place.”

Big Mac stopped trying to get closer to the dragon, and instead started to take a few steps back.

“Tell me, Big Mac, you aren’t scared of me, are you?” Spike winded his head up. “Ohh, how pleasurable that would be! For me too be on top of the hill! And for you to be on the bottom.”

Spike laughed.

Big Mac gulped.

“Now!” Spike raised his voice. “You’ve seen what’s become of that baby dragon. Now  it’s time for that dragon without a name TO make ITS return.”

Big Mac stepped back as the green orb collided with Spike’s face. His claw trembled as the liquid circulated, but didn’t hesitate to place his claw onto his face; covering his eyes, as his scales were imputed with the liquid. It traversed the dragon, like that of a symbnaite.

And just like that, Spike the dragon was  once again dead! And this new dragon, the two point oh of Spike’s potential, reawoken to this dull world.

“Don’t be silly!” The dragon said to himself. “Even if the world is gray, all we gotta do is get a paint brush and paint a rainbow.”

The dragon placed a claw on his lip and physically moved it into a smirk. “There’s a lot of fun to be had out there. We might of failed the first time around, but if our plan works out here, than the world better be ready for a second attempt.”

The dragon turned around to witness the shocked face of Big Mac, who already had his hind legs slid back. “Oh, you're still here?”

Big Mac could only reply by the blink of his eyes.

“You have to forgive me, as sometimes I like to go on these rants whenever I get the slightest bit of adrline. I assure you, I haven’t lost all my marbles just yet.”

“Doo…”” Big Mac coughed into his hoof and swallowed back the dryness in his throat. “Do ya need some water? I-I think the sun is playing games on your head.”

The dragon looked up at the said sun. “Your right. It could just be the sun playing games with me…”

The sun making fun of me in its light, and the moon harreses me in the night. Aren’t you two just the greatest family members?

So the dragon decided to play along with the rules for now, so that his plans for the future may be fruitful. To make enough bits so that he may leave this place.

The world flew back to Spike as his lungs emptied of all contents. Hunching forward, he sucked in as much air as possible, while looking over to Big Mac. “Yes,” Spike said, “I think I could use some water.”

“So much for you tryna take it easy,” a voice which was not Big Mac’s said, causing both parties to turn to the mare before them.

“Apple...Jack…” Spike rose up after catching his breath, resting his claws on his hips. “When did you get here?”

“Just now,” she said, “but I’ve been looking around for you everywhere! Just where have you been?”

“Um…” Spike scratched the back of his head, while the mind within raced to find an excuse.

Big Mac cleared his throat, resulting in all parties looking his way. “Sis.”

By the way that Applejack acknowledge Big Mac’s existence, it’s like the entire situation made sense to her. “Ah,” she turned to the dragon, “now why didn’t you just say that Big Mac caught you on the farm, and wanted to have a quick chat?”

“You… shocked me?” Spike offered with the shrug of the shoulders.

Applejack giggled. “Y’all sure are a scaredy cat for being a dragon.”

“Tell me about it,” Spike groaned.

“Anyway,” Applejack went, “Applebloom left you some treats in your barn, along with something to eat for lunch. When your done that, feel free to come in the farm house to shower up.”

“Huh? You don’t want me to keep on working on the trees?” Spike asked.

“Honey, you did far more than your fair share.”

“To be honest, “Spike started, “I don’t feel like I did that great of a job; maybe when I’m feeling a little better, I’ll be able to tackle more of them.”

Spike yelped when something patted his back. He darted his head down at Applejack, who only had a smile to offer.

“If what you did today wasn’t your best, then I’m sure scared to see what you consider your best to be. You already kept up with the quota for the average farm pony, without any training or breaks. Heck, I’m not sure if I want you helping out anymore; you might replace Big Macintosh and me.”

Spike chuckled, a little weight lifted off  his shoulders, as they rose up in happiness. “Heh, thanks for the words of encouragement. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to take you up on your offer of food and washing up.”

“Of course,” Applejack said, walking over to her brother’s side. “I’ve already let the whole barn know that you're a guest, so don’t be shy entering the house. Though if you don’t feel like talking, I recommend you take the back door.”

“Thanks, Applejack,” Spike chuckled. “But you’re sure there’s nothing else you need help with?”

“Not at all. So go and get your rest. Besides, Me and Big Macintosh need to discuss some business matters anyway.”

“Ah, okay. Well, bye then.”

The dragon returned to the barn, as the green liquid stuck to his scales.

V – Honest Talks

V – Honest Talks

~V~

HONEST TALKS

Sneaking into the Apple’s family house was no easy feat.

The stairs cricketed with every step, with the added weight of a dragon serving only to make them cry out even louder. And shushing them did nothing to quiet them. Nonetheless, the dragon entered the home through the back door.

Applejack’s previous advice about the back door proved useful to the dragon with no name, but was redundant to Spike. After visiting the farm a million times with Twilight, it was hard to not know its layout.

The simple – yet interesting – kitchen, with a wooden floor that stretched out throughout the house. Despite the narrow halls, it was still wide enough for the family members to pass one-another, and have their memories hung upon the walls.

Photos of reunions; a vase that told of a tragic love; scribbles that lay at the bottom of the wall, that showed that the next generation had arrived. These halls were a testament that the Apples had lived in the past, were living in the present, and would be born into the future.

Spike stood in the hall and admired all that made the Apples into what they are today, but a certain photo was what caught his gaze. It was of the Apple family standing behind a table, full of food, with Applejack smiling in front of it.

Next to her was a heavy looking Twilight Sparkle, wearing a weary smile.

Spike smiled, though that smile quickly faded. As next to Twilight, was Spike himself – only his face had been cut from the photo, and taped back on. Spike rose his talons to the photo, aiming to touch his memory...

Something rocked back in forth, at the end of the hall.

Spike threw his back to the wall and placed his ear to it. The rocking continued, and proved that the drake was not alone in this house. Something was in the next room over, waiting, and the slightest noise would alert it to Spike’s presence.

And if knew that, then it may do the one thing that terrified Spike the most.

It would want to talk to him.

Spike slid his back down the wall’s length, being careful with his every step—

The rocking stopped. Spike held his breath. Someone moved around in their seat.

“...darn...kids…”

The voice was fragile, ready to croak at any second. A series of snores then came afterwards, and the rocking started back up. Spike reached the end of the hall, and a dared a peek, into the room.

The one responsible for Spike’s distress, was the one, the only, Granny Smith. Her were closed, and her body leaned back and forth, upon her rocking chair.

“...ruin my lawn...I tell you...”

Spike chuckled as he unstuck his back from the wall. To think, that Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Pinkie: they all had changed in some way. But here, Granny Smith sat, not looking a year older since Spike had run-away.

Truly, she was going to outlive them all.

Granny didn’t have her signature tube in her ear, meaning that Spike could make a fuss and she would be able to hear his call. He still tip-toed up the stairs, and into the family’s bathroom. No more alert phases could be triggered here, so the dragon let loose with a giant yawn.

“Talk about being the cause for heart-attacks, Granny Smith,” Spike said to himself, as he slid the bath-tub’s curtains out of the way.

The dials squeaked as they turned. Spike stepped into the tub, and couldn’t help but moan at the warm droplets of water that rushed down his scales, and took away any dirt with them.

The clog that muddled his mental capacity, began to evaporate away along with the rising steam. A good shower is meant to be both physically and mentally refreshing, whereas a bucket of water to the face only serves to instill the chills.

Spike inhaled deeply the warm mist, allowing it to cleanse the filth inside his lungs, and then exhaled it all. He looked over to the window next to him, and checked to make sure it was closed, before sucking the green liquid off his scales and forming it into a ball.

His scales glew purple once more, and the ball of green was set upon the counter.

My body feels as light as a feather, and my mind doesn’t have any rusty chains holding it down. Is it because if the shower? Or that I took my mask of? Meh! Either way, it doesn’t matter, because I feel great.

Though greatness doesn’t tend to last forever. The hot water was getting cold, and even if scales couldn’t sag, the body still sent signals for when it was time to leave.

Stepping out of the tub and walking to the mirror, Spike looked at his reflection. The scars that the Timber Wolves gave him were now just lines on his chest, Spike smiled at them, though he kinda wished they were a bit bigger, as if that would make him look cooler.

Flexing his biceps; they definitely weren’t small, though they had a long way to go before being considered big. Spike’s face had also became sharper over the years, though they still retained some of his baby face.

The dragon mopped away from the mirror, and went to reclaim his mask. In pressing it against his chest, the color began to spread across his scales. The transformation looked awesome the first time around, but after seeing it a few times, the act started to lose its effect.

It was like a time waster, nowadays.

Passing by the mirror, the drake was unable to do just that. Tilting his head, a smile came across his lips. “Wow…”

Was Spike looking at the same dragon? Because what he saw in the mirror was a drake he wanted to be. His face looked brilliant and sharp, with no resemblance to his baby self. His chest stuck out just right now, with his biceps pleasing to the eye. Even his scars looked like achievements.

His spines rain down in a straight line, while his frills hugged to his cheeks. Spike had gone into the bathroom a mess, and now the dragon with no name came out looking groomed for success.

After a mirror session that would rival the time of Rarity, the dragon left the bathroom and ran off the walls as went down the stairs. Granny Smith no longer resided in the family room, allowing for the drake to make a little noise.

She could be in the kitchen.

Deciding it wasn’t the time to say hello, Spike tried to dash down the hall and get out of dodge.

“Woah, Sugarcube!?”

Spike’s foot stopped his entire being at the middle of frame. He turned his head to the kitchen.

“Oh, hey! Did you already find out what I did to the water?”

Sitting together at the family table was Applejack and Big Mac; Aj had her head tilted.

“The water?” she said, looking over to Big Mac, who only shrugged in response. She looked back to the drake. “Whatever’s wrong with it is fine, sugarcube. But, can I ask you to sit down for a quick second?”

Spike heart desperately beaten; had Applejack found out about his identity? He looked over to Big Mac, who seemed catch his shock, and lightly shook his head in response, quenching the dragon’s fear.

With a shaky exhale, the drake took a seat at the table. “So wh–what’s this all about?”

“Well…” Applejack began, setting her hooves on the table. “I heard you went off into town the other day with Rainbow Dash – and I heard she forced you into it, but I also hear that you weren’t exactly complaining about it.”

“I suppose hearing about how many heros come from this place, that I was a bit interested to see how the town was like,” Spike said, a claw placed on the table. “It’s simple here, and I like that. Ponies actually seem nice here, unlike the jerks I’ve met in many other towns.”

“It’s good to hear that you're finally adjusting to our kind,” Applejack said with a relaxed sigh. “It might make what I have to propose next a little easier to say.”

Spike quirked a brow.

“When we first met, you went off sprouting how you were going to pay me back.”

“Ah.” Spike leaned his head back. “So you want to lay out what I owe you?”

“Not particularity. Just… I know you wanna make a few more bits on-top of that, so that you can leave this town. That is your end goal, right?”

Spike couldn’t open his mouth to speak the words, so he slowly nodded his head instead.

“Now, if you don’t mind my asking, what kind of work are you here looking for?”

The dragon’s eyes wandered down to the wooden-table’s surface. “I’d… take anything, really.” His eyes shot back up to the mare. “Just as long as it’s enough to pay you back – an amount you haven’t told me yet.”

Applejack sighed as she took her hooves off the table, and let them dangle by her side. :

“It’s like I told you when we first met,” Applejack said, her voice weary. “You don’t owe me a thing; I just did what I felt was right, and I don’t feel like it's right for you to pay me back.” She looked into the dragon’s eyes, almost as if she was looking past his mask.“And that’s all there is too it.”

Spike leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “You spent time watching over me, and spent bits to pay for my medicine.” He uncrossed his arms and propped up a claw on the table. “Even if that doesn’t feel like a lot to you, I still feel some responsibility for it; my dragon code calls upon me to at least do something for you.”

Applejack sighed as her eyes came to a close. “If that’s the case”– her eyes reopened –” then you can include those responsibilities on this here offer.”

Spike adjusted himself in his seat. “Offer?”

“We can’t have ya living in the barn – it's not only a burden on storage, but it's also no way for someone to live,” Applejack said. “We have some vacant huts on the farm for the international workers, and I’m sure one of them would be big enough for you.”

“So you’d willing to rent one out for me?” Spike asked with a curious smile, but a claw soon found itself placed on his upper lip. “I was just going to stay at a hotel. And if push came to shove, I’d just sleep outside.”

“Sleep outside?”

“Yeah.” Spike chuckled. “It’s what I did back in the forest. Though, if I can scavenge up the bits, I’d much prefer to have a hut.”

Not only that, but living in a hut is the furthest thing away from Ponyville – from ponies themselves… and from my old friends.

“As would I.” Applejack said, sitting upright in her seat. “You went into town, and came back without there being an issue. Yet, I hear your demeanor could still use some work, especially around ponies. Or, so I hear from Pinkie Pie.”

Spike didn’t say anything, as he stared at Applejack, without an expression on his face.

Applejack didn’t back down. “Am I wrong in saying that?”

The drake kept staring, and after a few seconds, he huffed. “Guess not.”

“That’s good,” She said, allowing her shoulders to relax. “I’m not saying you need to change, as I don’t have an issue with you walking around on the farm, but having you in town, well… I honestly can’t tell you what could happen.”

“I like the distance anyway.”

Applejack tilted her head, and her shoulders tensed once more. “Like I said: I don’t mind you on the farm. Applebloom has already met you, and couldn’t stop rambling on about it. Granny doesn’t seem to mind you, though you did wake up going up the stairs.”

What? How!?

“And Big Mac here doesn't have anything against you.”

Big Mac looked Spike up and down, before closing his eyes, and nodding his head.

Spike smirked, while his eyes bounced between the siblings.

“So with that being said–” Applejack retrieved a paper next to her seat, and slid it along the table “–we want you to read over this.

Spike pulled the paper down with a talon, and began to read. And within a few moments, his eyes shot back up at the simply, with a growing smiled that stretched out to his ears.

“You two serious?” he asked, a smile coming about on its own. “You want me to work for you?”

Applejack giggled as she leant over the table. “We have two workers whose contracts ends this season, with them going off to Manehattan afterwards to study. So in the meantime, we need someone to fill their place.”

“So you're looking to hire me along with someone else then.”

“Actually,” the mare began, “we’re starting to think that you might be enough to fill both spots.” She chuckled. “After seeing your performance on the field, although a bit choppy, still had potential behind it. Even without training, you still met the quota of a typical worker.

“If we train you well enough, and use that dragon strength to its potential, then we’re thinking that you might be able to do double the work a pony is able. Heck! Maybe even a little more.”

I don’t think I’ll be that good. But thanks for the boost of confidence, Applejack.

“Mind you!” The dragon jumped his seat, his tail shooting out like an arrow. “If you do meet the quota of two ponies, or even more, then we can discuss in increase in pay.”

Spike couldn’t help but chuckle at Applejack antics; which were only caused by her desire for everything to be fair and honest. What was more commendable, is that even after the little outcry, she still held her head up and displayed a smile.

Applejack’s antics never seemed embarrass her.

Spike smiled as his eyes hovered over the salary. “The amount you’ve listed already has my mouth watering.” He looked up at the two. “Seriously, I don’t think a dragon like me even deserves that much.”

A knife slashed through Spike’s heart, and its contents spilled out inside his body. His eyes were ready to pop, and his arms became hollow. It took all his remaining strength to keep himself sitting straight, as a hand began to fly within his being.

Dragons are inherently greedy creatures, but it is their will that determines the size of their hoard. To fully indulge in a dragon’s instinct, is to loose the mind in greed; to ignore what a dragon is, serves to cause the being to collapse.

Just like how a lion must be honest with itself in its need for meet, so too a dragon must be honest, with what it is that makes him a dragon. He needs to control it, and not let it control him. But worse of all, he must not forget what it is that makes him a dragon.

“Rest assure, Sugarcube,” Applejack started back up, “that you look to be worth the asking price.”

The dragon managed the strength to look back up at her.

“But if you don’t mind my saying so, it seems our offering you a job sent you down for a little scare.” Her features lighten. “Is… is there anything you don’t like about the offer, or there an issue with you working on the farm?

“You won’t hurt my feelings in saying so. I’d rather you turn down the offer if it would make you happier.” Applejack's words were imputed with with as much sincerity as they could hold.

Why does an unemotional pony like her, have to put so many feelings into caring over others? She seemed so ready to let a teardrop, as his body trembles in anger, for her to do such a thing in the presence of someone else.

How dare Applejack show her feelings to the world. And to do so in the presence of someone like Spike.

Spike did his best to control his breathing. “It’s not that I hate working on the farm. In fact, it's the best job I could ask for at the moment.”

Well, besides becoming an assistant again, but that title is long retired.

Spike chuckled at the thought.

And here Applejack is, worried for my working conditions, and even my pay.  Someone willing to pay me for my work; why does that sound so foreign to me?

“It gives my claws something to work with, while I think about what should come next.” Spike stopped to chuckle. “I’m a little more sociable now, but I still fear what you pony folk may be thinking.

“But I suppose… that really isn’t my fear.” those aren’t the things that really on my mind.”

“Wha—” Applejack exhaled and fidgeted in the seat. While she seemingly prepared for her voice to be as soft as possible. “What is it… you’re afraid of?”

Spike didn’t say anything as he averted his gaze.

“You you can tell me anything, partner,” Applejack said. “Even if it hurts my feelings.”

Hurt your feelings? My, how things have turned around in two years! Hurting your feelings in the first place is what caused this mess. And you want to know what’s even more funny? That I may now have to work for a mare that hurt my feelings.

Feelings. Feelings? Feelings! It’s all about feelings here! With you pony folk, all you care about is respecting each other's feelings. Why bother? It's just a waste of time to deal with feelings, nonetheless your own.

Celestia, what am I even talking about anymore? I have to focus on the issue before me: I have Applejack offering me a job, which isn’t an evil thing. But if I keep being passive to these ponies offers, then there’s a chance that I could fall into their trap… and become their friend again.

I just can’t let that happen.

Unsaid words and feelings continued to sink in the pools of Spike; their descent causing the walls around them to decay. Despite wanting to make the water boil, so that they may fly out and finally be free… they continued to sink to the bottom of the sea.

“When I came this town,” Spike said as he kept his eyes distant from theirs, “even though I was crawling, I made the promise that I wouldn’t befriend any of you ponies – that I would stay as far away as I could.

“By taking this job, is to not only break that promise, but to shatter an oath I swore long ago. Not only will I start to get close to you ponies, something even scarier may happen: I may think that ponies are good on the inside.”

Nothing was said for a little while, as the words hung in the air. Big Mac had been quiet this whole time, with his eyes shut. While Applejack hid under her hat, with an expression Spike was unable to read.

Finally, Applejack spoke.

“I thought that after showing you kindness, and Rainbow sticking to you despite what you had said, that your grudge would at least slimmer.”

“It did,” Spike said, “and that’s why I’m afraid.”

Big Mac opened his eyes; Applejack slid up her hat.

Spike continued on. “I’ve had ponies inflict their prejudice upon me in more ways than one, to the point I just want to believe that you're all inherently evil. That there’s no sense in getting my hopes up when a pony nice to me, because they’ll just stab me in the back later.”

“Now you’re starting to make sense,” Applejack said with a breath of relief. “Sugarcube, let me put this as lightly as I can. This… hatred, and the questions that come forth from it, isn’t going to be solved by someone else. Now, I don’t doubt for a second, that why you hate ponies isn’t well-founded upon.

“But you have to understand, that everypony isn’t necessary good or evil. Sometimes, we all just make mistakes.”

The dragon curled his claw as a flame shot through his veins. He hid his face under the darkness of his own expression.

I’m WELL aware that we all make mistakes. Spike’s shoulder trembled, with each passing breath used to calm the muscles. But on the level in which you speak, Applejack: maybe you shouldn’t be the one talking on the matter. Let someone's whose pure, like Big Mac, talk about what’s right in wrong. Not somepony who probably doesn’t know the differnce herself.

Each breath also played in part of cooling his mind. Applejacks words must ring some truth, at least to herself. So it might be okay listening to what she might have to say; anything Spike didn’t like could be rejected.

“If you lower your shields, partner, you take that risk of somepony taking a shot,” Applejack said, her tone light light despite her words carrying quite the weight.

“Not all ponies are good,” she said, “and not all dragons are evil. To believe otherwise is to become stuck in a single-view point, which I guess is a safe option to some.” She drew a breath. “But something tells me… that you aren’t like that.You don’t want to beleive in an easy fantasy, but in somthing that is real”

Spike mouth went agape, with his eyes staring into the wooden-table. Her words had caught him in his attempt to avoid the problem.

“The choice is yours, and yours alone,” she stated, her tone returning to normal. “You can work with us and make a few friends, or keep on living like how you are now. Neither choice is wrong, so long as it brings you happiness.

“Which, at the end of the day, is the only thing I want you to have.”

The drake leaned back in his seat, rocking it back and forth as he looked at the paper. Funny, how one signature – something that takes a few seconds – can change someone’s future. How a chunk of someone's time will be spent, decided at this very moment.

Just how long will I be tied up here? Can I actually work on the farm and not make friends with anypony. Because no matter how much I swear not too in my head, when I finally get talking to one, a part of me never wants to stop. I can’t trust that feelings, no matter how good it may feel. It's just not wise.

But let's say I can keep my distance, and work on the farm, and most likely read while in my hut. Will I be able to avoid them – the six? My heart burns when I’m near them, and it takes all of my willpower to not go savage then and there. But look at me and Applejack… even though I’d love nothing more than to twist her words to cause her pain…

A part of me wants to sit on the picket fence once more, as we discuss life and the happenings in the world. Just to hear her thoughts, and to have her listen– see! If such bastard feelings come for her, then there’s a chance…

“Hey, Sugarcube?” asked a voice. “You’ve … is everything okay?”

Spike head slipped off his hand, which shot straight up. “Of course!” He exclaimed, drawing a breath to repress his beating heart.  “Sorry, I was wrapped up in my thoughts.”

The paper remained unsigned on the desk, causing the drake to gulp. Reaching for the pen next to it, he brought the utensil before his eyes and admired it – for it allowed him a few moments of peace.

Clicking the pen, he brought it to the paper, and signed.

“Honey, are you sure?”

Spike slid the paper over. “Honestly, what you two are offering is more than what a dragon like me is worth. I know I’ll be a bit rusty with how work is performed – and that isn’t to say how my condition may affect my performance.”

He drew a breath and smiled. “And my communication with others may come off as a bit edgy. But as long as I have you two to coach me, then I think we could shave those edges.”

Applejack didn’t say a word for a moment. Big Mac over there was smiling, and let loose a chuckle. Then, a stream of light laughter came from Applejack, as she rose from her seat, came next to the dragon, and wrapped him up in a hug.

Spike’s eyes looked around as his arms hung at his side. Applejack leaned her head on his side, and allowing no way to exit the hug. So Spike bit his tongue, and patted the mare on the head.

She looked up to him in a tilted fashion, with a single brow raised. “Really?”

“I’m not so good with hugs, yet.”

Applejack dragged the paper along the table as she returned to her seat, where she began to smirk. “Now I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been dying to find what name you gave yourself.”

Maybe it was because of her tone, but Applejack looked ready to rub her hooves together as her mind plotted an evil scheme. She hovered over the paper and read the lines, which made her smirk disappear.

“You signatured the letter D?”

“Well… I didn’t have a name to put, so I figured D for Dragon would suffice.”

Applejack slammed her face unto the table.

“Big Mac,” her voice came muffled from the wood, “I’ll let you discuss the living and working agreements, as my head is calling in a quits.”

The meeting lasted until night.

Spike smiled whenever someone talked, and didn’t hesitate to chuckle at a good pun. Whenever it was his turn to talk over soup, he wasn’t stingy about sharing the details of his  tales back in the forest.

Of course, fighting timberwolves and making fires don’t count as job experiences, but it helped the employers understand just what past he came from. Plus, there was joy in creating a backstory for the green scaled character, yet retaining enough as not to not reveal the purple scales within.

Once everything was said and done, the dragon was shown to his hut out on the land. It looked like a wooden capsule, with a door, and windows on either side.

Inside the hut, Spike could stand erect and his head would just gaze the ceiling. And while he slept, there was enough room so that his legs remained on the bed. There was another door in the hut, that led to his bathroom and shower, but any food would have to be cooked inside the Apples house.

Next to the bed stood a wooden table, with a lamp and a glass frame holder. Along the walls were shelves, with enough room on top to place treasured items; a great starting place for a hoard.

“The previous owner had enough books to fill the place whole, so I figured this setup would be best for you,” Applejack had said. “Once you’re done working, you can go visit the library afterwards and fill up your collection.”

Spike entered his temporary home and lunged onto his bed.

“Dash was telling me how you and Twilight hit it off well,” Applejack said. “I think you two would have a lot to discuss if you gave her a chance as well.”

Spike buried his head into his pillow, as his feet kicked on the mattress. “Don’t mistake me, Applejack,” came the muffled voice of Spike. “You’re the only one I’m giving a chance to.”

And even then, I didn’t say we were friends… just merely, good acquaintances.

Turning over, the wooden roof captured Spike’s view. “Still, not a terrible situation we’ve found ourselves in. I mean, I go could go on for days, complaining about coming back to this town, but–” Spike stretched out his out in four directions until they pleasurably popped “–but where would that get us?”

“A decent amount of bits to tide us over, with a place to call our own, and even a few ponies we can chat to if we feel like doing so; can’t say I’d be doing better back in the forest.”

He slipped his feet under the covers and slid his back onto the puffy mattress. A moan escaped his lips. “Plus, it’s up to me whenever I want to head back into town. That’s right… I get to… decided where to… go..”

The world became a blur, that offered vague remembrance of the hut. While the emptiness of the place would paint a pretty proietti, a dragon still has within their systems a demand for a hoard.

As long as his possessions didn’t attract the attention of the farm owners, then it would be safe to call this home his cave.

The lamp dimmed without a pull on its cord, which in then, the dragon welcomed the refreshing, temporary darkness.

Nightmares didn’t disturb the great sleep. Nor did any arrogant Princesses preach any wisdom which they couldn’t follow thyselves.

Such an unconscious affair allows the mind to loosen, and for a fresh air to take away any stale thoughts.

At the rise of the sun and the coo from the cock, a pair of eyes began to stir. A claw was set forth in defense of the eyes, from the attacking rays of sun. At last, the defense was too small, and the rays plentiful. So as the sun rose, so too with it, did a dragon.

To standing outside on the perch, the dragon stretched as the warm air filled his nostrils. This was the first time he was able to leave a house that he owned, and take in the delight of the morning rise.

Spike had his own home. A piece of property in  which he lived solely in, and could do as he wish in. Filling it with books or having pizza boxes on the ground; it was all his call on what he wanted to do.

Though, for the moment, he wanted to get to work – because he totally had a choice in that matter.

The morning was spent with a shared breakfast and a pot of coffee with Applejack, who would go on to explain the day's events, and teaching the ways of the farm life.

In whatever subject spoke; at what speed you should plough the fields, to the variations of seeds – Spike leaned forward and eagerly nodded his head. Even when it came to the growth of seeds and their interaction with water – which is enough to send the average pony to sleep – there was a tingle to every word Applejack spoke on it.

The talk wasn’t of that of a manger explaining how to mop the floors to an employee, but rather the magic behind the work, and the wisdom that could be taken from it. With such a passion and an understanding, every word Applejack spoke came with an entertaining value – that often resulted in Spike muttering the point Applejack was trying to reach. In response, was always a smile and a “right.”

She would then go further on the matter, and Spike couldn’t be more privileged than to be her student. Whereas in the forest, where he wanted nothing more than to speak his mind out, at this moment, he wanted nothing more than to listen to her words.

And while he couldn’t be sure, Applejack seemed more lively as she explained her ways. Almost like she enjoyed his presence… as much as he enjoyed hers. He couldn’t be sure of that fact, like how they way she spoke wasn’t uniquely for him, but for everyone else as well.

Plus, it could be he isn’t the only good listener among the group, so then this experience she has wouldn’t be her first, even though it was his. So then, the only unique out of this group would be Applejack, and not the workers.

Spike still continued to listen with a pleasant smile, though deeper thoughts nagged at the back of his head.

After training, Spike would get claws-on experience on the farm, and release the tension some of the deeper thoughts that lingered on his mind. The outlet made him bits and as well as physically stronger, though it did nothing to cure what plagued him mentally.

After work, Spike kept to his reclusive ways and retired to his hut. While given an advance on his pay, the hut still lacked items. There wasn’t a need to go out shopping yet, when Romantic Suffering had yet to be finished.

And the the drake would fall asleep afterwards, and he would either have a dream or nightmare, depending on how his conscious felt. Regardless of either one, he would wake up at the coo of the cock, and prepare to go to work.

That’s how the first two days were spent after Spike acquired his job, the temporary member of Ponyville.

And then on the third day...

… The moon was missing from the sky.

The striking of the tree resounded all throughout, as thunder lit-up   kick resounded from the tree, as thunder lit up the black backdrop. Grass stood up on its end in fright, yet it didn’t break the dragon from his posture.

Cold droplet fell from the empty sky; one of them falling upon a snout, and awakening the owner’s absent eyes. Silhouette of trees were the only things to be seen, as even the tree in-front of Spike was enshrouded in a shadow.

Thunder lit the world once again, the trees and grass covered in a glow, before disappearing back into the black mist.

“It’s never been this dark before,” the drake said, looking up to the sky, only to find it missing. “Even when Nightmare Moon casted the endless night, a glow still came from the moon…”

Looking down at his claw, half of it seemed to be lost in the dark. I wasn’t even working that late, but for it to get so dark without me knowing is bizarre. Don’t tell me there’s a new villain in town that Twilight and the others are facing against.

Spike foot was still pressed against the tree, which he brought back down to the grass. “I’m probably just overreacting,” he assured to himself with a chuckle. “Besides, even if there was a villain at work, the Elements should be able to handle it.”

The claws wandered through the black mist, until they came across the handle to the cart. “Though if there is a villain at play, I better lock myself up in my hut, and let the heroes take care of the action.”

The dragon took the cart hopefully filled with apples, and made his way back to the shack.

The ground held many ingrown branches, which remained unseen in the dark mist. Many a time a foot was caught in their grasp, and few a time, that a face met the abyss below. Reptilian eyes adjusted to the darkness well – better than a pony’s – but they couldn’t see what lay ten feet ahead.

With the loss of vision, came the ability to hear the rain pelting against the grass. The rustling in the distance by a wind that Spike couldn’t feel. Yet even though all these sounds could be heard, there wasn’t one that might of belonged to somepony else.

Spike was alone in the dark mist.

The carts were returned to their stations, and Spike tried to navigate his way home. His scales drenched by the cold downpour, the clouds were in the sky were so black, that they all meshed together in the black sky.

A pair of eyes existed in the black mist. They watched Spike from afar, yet they couldn’t be seen by the dragon himself. Whatever this monster was, it saw better in the dark than it did in the light.

A smile was probably on its face, and it could do anything it wished to the dragon. But it did not make a sound.

There was a thing that could do anything it wished to the sacred dragon, yet all it did was watch, and fill the dragon with its presence.

The water pelted against something harder than grass.

The dragon whipped his head left to witness the thing, only to see a house jump into existence. He leapt into the air and elicited a scream, as his tail was pulled as far it could go. Landing on his bottom, the drake crawled backwards, which served to allow him to see the entire haunted house.

Nothing could be seen in the darkness, yet the entirety of that house had a glow. There were no candles lit, and no lights from within. Yet it emitted a white glow, just strong enough for the house to be seen. The glow of the house was similar to that of the moon…

On the top-right window, a faint figure was hunched over and seemed to be sniffling. Spike scratched the back of his head, as the curtains of the window were drawn closed.

Spike took a step away from the house. And then another. And on the third step, he hovered it over the grass. Looking back, the house almost disappeared from his vision, just like how the sniffles were overlapped by the rain. But even though the haunted house was about to disappear; even though the rained assured Spike that no one had been crying – that he didn’t need to do anything – it didn’t change the fact that within Spike’s heart, that he was too scared to tempt his fears to make sure that someone was okay.

Turning around and taking a step, the doors of the house screamed as they banged against themselves, lest they gobble him forever; the windows winking at the idea.

A claw trembled, as it reached out to the door knob. The owner of it closed his eyes, and the trembles settled, as the was pushed open.

Rejecting his fears, the dragon with no name entered into his demise.

No ghosts came to greet him upon his entrance, to which, Spike breathed of relief – he hadn’t a vacuum to protect himself. But no chances were to be taken in such a place, so Spike traveled on his tippy-toes.

All the candles remained unlit in the house, and the windows only invited more of the black mist. The drake pressed his back against the wall and slid along its length, as he had not the eyes to guide himself.

A few days before, Spike knew the house like the back of his hand. But now, it layout served more challenging than that of the labyrinth.

Despite these challenges, the dragon was still in search for the one who weeps, and this desire made the house glow the faintest of lights.

The stairs could be seen, but what lay at the top remained a mystery.

Spike travels up, step after step, and reached the corridor at the top, which was lit up by another strike of lighting. Windows shone in its glow, and the doors stuck in the drake’s memory.

Something thumped at the end of the hall.

Every step creaked to loud; the dragon stood too tall that he may be seen. His body shook, his eyes dancing around all around him. The candles desired it so-so much to be lit by a green flame, but if such an act were to occur, then it might awaken the ponies from their portraits.

At the end of the hall, came the final door. Sniffles squeaked from the other side, causing Spike to gulp, as he took hold of the handle. Turning the handle made it squeak, but that did not stop the door from being opened.

The sniffles stopped, along with Spike’s heart. Was there a truly a ghost awaiting him in the room? And had it been haunting him this entire time, testing the length of his courage? Spike reached out to the candle hanging next to the door, and spit onto it, a green fire.

The door slammed behind him.

The candle was thrown onto the floor, as the dragon leaped into the air. A green glow now blanketing the room, but its light stopped just before a bed, leaving the creature atop it enshrouded in the black mist.

“Sorry for the scare,” said a voice, “I guess I gone here… and forgot to close my window…”

The curtains floated up. The window slammed closed. The curtains deflated.

“Apple…”

“Why if it isn’t you.” The voice giggled. “I thought for sure it would be Big Mac to catch me like this. But for you… heh.”

“Apple…?”

“It's just funny, I suppose. The someone – so much like him – would get to witness me like this. Oh boy, if he were to see me crying; I’d bet he’d be laughing.”

Spike didn’t laugh. He only stepped forward.

“Please don’t come any closer... I’d rather not have someone like you, see me so weak.”

“Weak?” Spike repeated. “I–I didn’t know it was possible for someone like you, to… to be weak.” He shook his head. “A hero… both in the media and in real life… to be weak? It’s like that song, you know? Big mares don’t cry.”

The lyrics of the song, along with its pitch, almost came out of the dragon’s mouth. But what was happening at the moment; coming across Applejack weak and in tears, proved too much a strain on his voice.

“Especially a mare like you, Applejack.” His eyes attempted to pierce for the darkness, but the mist proved too thick. “Someone as great as you can’t possibly cry, or even consider themselves for a moment, weak.”

“I ain’t no hero, Sugarcube,” replied the voice. “And you’ve giving me too much credit: just a few days ago, you were holding me up with just one claw.”

“But you still maintained your character, that you were in control of the situation.”

“That isn’t a superpower, it’s just call grit,” said the voice. “And you’d develop it, if you weren't busy worrying about every little thing–” a sob escaped the sore wastelands that was Applejack’s throat “– that’s going to happen to you.”

Still burning in the middle of the room, was the candle. Spike came and sat before it – its light illuminating his entire being; while the figure kept itself in the darkness.

“That’s a tip for my self-improvement,” the dragon said, “now about we start talking about you?”

“And like I said earlier–” the voice grew in volume “–I do not want you to seeing me in this state! So why don’t you scurry off home and get a good night’s sleep!”

Hooves slammed against the bedframe, spiking the dragon’s heart-rate.

Sobs came from the bed, even more plentiful than before.

Looking down at the candle, Spike could pitch its flame, and cast the whole room to the black mist. But such was true is the fire went unattended, as there lay enough stick, for the fire the reach the wooden-floor, and capture the whole house in its fire.

“I’m too much of a wuss to walk home in the dark,” Spike said, looking back to the bed.  “And besides, your request is being met: I can’t see you, though you can see me if you like.”

A sniffle was the response.

“As heroic as it may sound, holding in your feelings isn’t as romantic as it sounds. From the moment you met me, you can tell how cranky I was because of it.”Spike began to chuckle at his bitter past, and laughed at the way he tried to deal with it.

“You’re surrounding by family that love you, Applejack. Even better, they’re willing to listen to you pour it all out, and comfort you afterwards.”

Spike looked down to the fire. “It’s… a pretty awesome thing to have, and I think you should take advantage of it.”

The flame started to dance, its glow reaching farther depths of the room.

“It could be an amazing thing,” said the frail voice, “if you can trust that pony afterward, to not go off andrun their mouth.”

A fire’s unable to run their mouth, they can only keep burning with what you feed it. A fire will spread into town, but it won’t tell the town’s inhabitants of the secrets told to it.

“How…” Spike’s chest had become light, and words too heavy to say. “What do you mean?”

“It’s best for ponies to not let others hear of their problems, and just write it down on paper and resolve it themselves,” the voice snapped; the sniffles disappearing. “Because you can go tell another pony what’s troubling you – but if they misinterpreted what they hear, then there’s a chance, that what they do next, may end up killing you on the inside.

“Running their mouths; telling their lies; banding everyone against him. I don’t go to others anymore for help, and I’m weary when someone starts asking me for help. Just ends up becoming a mess.”

The flame stopped dancing; more of the black mist invaded the room.

“That’s the lesson you got there,” Spike finally said, “write it down on a scroll and send it Twilight’s way, and I bet she would eat it up.”

“Though, I’m just surprised I’m the the one in this position right now,” Spike said to himself. “Typically, these friendship-issues, happen in Twilight’s presence: and it's up to her to find the solution, and enhance her study of friendship.”

“And just how do you know that?”

“Rainbow talks a lot. Though, do tell me: holding in all that pent-up stress must strain on you from time to time, how do you deal with it?”

“Work.”

“Work?”

“Work,” said the voice. “When you focus your all on doing something, it help alleviates your frustration.”

“How about the days when you feel ready to explode?”

The flame shot up, before slithering back down.

“Find ways to deal with it in private.”

“In private,” Spike said to the flame. “So it isn’t a sin to cry, just as long as no one catches you doing it.”

I’m not the type to cry anymore. But something about this philosophy still doesn’t sound right.

Blackness continued to exist out the window, without a wink of light present. Though the helplessness of the world didn’t affect the drake, as being in the company of someone else, made the burden bearable.  Though that hopeless feeling didn’t hurt Spike as much, as he was in the presence of someone else.

“When you choose to not trust others with your feelings,” Spike began, “are you doing so, to be left alone, or because of what others might think?”

The mare made a sound: whether it a chuckle or a sob, was unknown. “You sure are like him…” She breathed out a sob. “Like Spike. Curious about everything; if he were still around, you two would have a lot to talk about you’d have a lot to talk about.”

“... that doesn’t answer my question.”

“It’s a bit of both, then,” the mare answered. “My actions in my past, should be kept to myself, and I’m no longer deserving of a listening ear because of it.”

The flame leaned to its limits, in the direction of the bed, despite there being no wind. It attempted to cast light, unto the one who hid in the dark, keeping the truth of the event hidden to all.

“And why don’t you deserve to be heard?”

“Because I told a lie.”

“What do you mean?”

Green eyes floated above the bed, the brightness behind them, allowed the eyes to be seen even in the dark. Had the mare been looking out the window this entire time, and that was why Spike couldn’t see her?

And if that’s the case, what in the black sky was she looking at?

“Would you like to hear a story?” said the eyes.

The light receded from the bed, as the flame stood still.

Spike nodded his head, causing the eyes to disappear.

“It feels like it happened a long time ago, though in truth, it’s only been two and a half years.”

“You’ve been keeping track?” As well.

“It’s hard to forget that day, as I can’t help but to relive it once in a while,” replied the voice. “The same day, that lil’ ol Spike came to pay me a visit. He was younger than you are now, but just as childish.”

The voice giggled. “Easy-going: he would follow Twilight and the rest of us until the very end. Crude at times, but a gentledrake at heart – you could even take a lesson from him.”

Spike didn’t have a comment to make, nor did he move an inch.

The voice went silent for a moment, as the green flame continued to burn. After a deep breath, the voice returned.

“To be honest, we didn’t give the boy enough credit. Everyone regards us as heroes, as you have said, but I don’t think anyone ever praised the qualities in Spike nearly enough. The boy stood up to his fears, so that he could face against evil in Twilight’s stead, even though his legs were buckling under him.

“Kid had courage, and we should’ve gave him more credit for it. You hear these stories about dragons being bad, but Spike wasn’t anything like them. We should’ve given him more credit… we should’ve given Spike more credit…”

The dragon sitting in the light tilted his head. “Was this, Spike, bad-mouthed around town?”

“Not at first,” said the voice, “everyone regarded him like any other filly or colt. But then, everyone caught whiff of the scent of his dragon nature…” The voice dryly chuckled. “I guess that’s why the whole town is so fixated on you as of late. I’m guessing you’ve seen the odd ponies stalking the farm?”

“Not that I’ve seen,” the drake said. “Though a co-worker did ask, if I was going to eat them or not.”

“WHO!?”

“... in jest,” the drake finished with a slight smirk. “Not gonna lie and say no one acts odd around me, but from what I can tell, everyone seems fine with me.”

“You can’t go off and scare me like that!” the mare exclaimed, her sobs sounding faint. “Especially not at a time like this, and… and not when the topic is about Spike. You can’t joke around when we’re talking about Spike.”

The flame continued sit still, though it desired to dance throughout the house. If any words were spoken into the flame, would it then spread those words into the rooms it travels, and into the ears of whoever would listen?

A flame could not speak, but could the words inside it still be picked out?

“What did you do to him,” Spike asked, his eyes narrowed. “What is it, that you did to him?” Salvia gathered at the back of throat, which he shakily swallowed down.

A reply had not come from bedside, and Spike’s eyes could not pierce through her darkness. So he took the candle, and slide it closer to the bed. “Answer me. What. Did you. Do?”

Sheets shuffled as a bang resounded off the wall. “S-Sugar, m-move back the light.”

The candle was inched forward.

“Tell me. What you did.”

The bed scrapped along the wooden floor, but not enough to phase it through the wall. The room must of gotten colder, because the mare began to audibly shiver.

“Okay!” she cried. “Okay.”

The green upon Spike’s back was flushed away, as purple scales took their reign.

“The–” she afforded herself a moment to breath “–the boy was going through a troubling time; he was a dragon living in a pony society. Twilight couldn’t give him the information he needed, nor was she the best one to listen to your feelings.

“She’d just come up with theories to your feelings, and looked to see if you had a mental illness. She’s a good mare, but she also a bit much.”

“Don’t delve off topic,” the dragon barked.

The mare yelped, and continued on with her excuse. “So the boy would come down to the farm, sit with Big Mac and me, and we would just talk. Looking up to the sky for a little while, Big Mac and me would share our piece, and then… little Spikey would speak.

“He always seemed to take our wisdom to heart. We always listened to Spike, and never judged what he had to say – feeling can’t be wrong, for they’re just there. But it’s our reactions that tell us who we are, and Spike seemed to be in control of his.

“I can’t say we helped the boy out with his issues, but he always thanked us for listening.” The voice drew a breath. “If only he knew... that my listening, would become his greatest fear,”

The candle was pulled back, allowing the mare to take more refuge in the dark. “Afraid to speak his feelings,” Spike said to himself, like it were a joke. “I wonder what caused that?”

“I’m... I’m not liking your tone.”

“A-A history?”

“Continue on with the story.”

The voice coughed.

“Then it came,” her green eyes lit up the darkness once more, “the day I ruined Spike’s life, and created six unforgivable events.” The eyes blinked, and receded back into the dark.

“How”– the flame shot up – “did you do that?”

“I can’t go into details – I know I’ve already ran my mouth like a Rarity – but I’ve got to keep some of what Spike said a secret.”

“And I trust you’d do the same for me,” the dragon said, “but continue with the story.”

Tears collided with the wooden floor. “You’ll have to give me a moment.”

A claw was clenched. And so was another. Stream escaped through his nostrils, as the fire burned out of spite. She dare cry about this event? She dare attempted to be remorseful? How dare she do such an act!

And how dare! The dragon’s heart beat out of sympathy for her, and his eyes look to the floor. How could the same being want to grab the mare by the throat once more, yet want to hold out his claw as well?

Hatred.

Sympathy.

Why was the dragon feeling both, for the one who had broken his feelings?

And for the one, who had rescued him?

More tears were meeting the wooden floors. More sobs escaped the cavern of the mare’s throat, even though she tried her best to hush them.

Just what reason does a dragon have to sympathize with a mare like her? Because a criminal cries at their hearing, doesn’t make them innocent of their crime. And the mare’s personality is perfect, meaning the crime must have been deliberate.

For perfect ponies don’t make mistakes.

So why had the drake sat through all this crying and recollection, when he knew the tale himself? Surely, the dragon with no name didn’t care as well, and certainly not for her perspective of the tale.

The tale that left Spike unable to express his feelings to anyone – not even himself. He couldn’t be honest with himself, or with those around him. Carrying around a weight that had guilt placed upon it, so that he could speak of it to another soul.

Well, this would be the case, if Spike were still alive.

The mare deserved to suffer misery, pain, and rejection, over and over. Just like how Spike did, just before his death.

Applejack must suffer.

Outside the window, to where the black-sky lay, a hole was pierced through the darkness. The moon shone its light through this hole, and showered the land in its glow. The house had been captured in this light, and the candle no longer fought alone.

Applejack was curled on the bed, with her drops falling upon the blanked instead. She had nowhere to hide, nowhere to run.

Spike could take her into his claws and do as he likes. But instead, he closed his eyes, so that she could not be seen. “Tell me – that day, why did you do it?”

The mare went swallowed back her tears and kept silent. It was like she was processing his words, before speaking again. “Spike hadn’t been on the farm for a long while, nor anywhere else for that matter. He’d locked himself in his room, and refused to come out for weeks.

“At the time, Spike only trusted me with his feelings, so I was expecting to see him soon on the farm. But the only thing that came, was news of him not eating or drinking, or even talking to those that came to his door.

“It was hard on us at the time, as we weren’t sure what triggered his sudden depression. He went through the same act just after his birthday, but we were able to pull him out of it. Spike was a little more quiet after that, and not too long after the Crystal Heart incident, did Spike go completely silent on us.”

“It seems like after his birthday,” the dragon said, “something began to fester inside him.”

“Yes,” Applejack said, “and I got bits of what was troubling it, but he would never give me the full story, until the day came, that he finally visited me on the farm.”

The dragon kept his mouth shut, and focused on the rise and fall of his chest. A fire still burned within, but it could no longer erupt whenever it liked. Regardless of the words that entered the dragon’s ear, he would be in control of his own fire.

So Spike sat still, and listened to her story.

“The conversation started off with his fears: Twilight abandoning him, and becoming useless in the eyes of everyone. Never to be of importance to anyone, just a dragon who should never existed; the world would’ve been less annoying that way.

“The dragon would stand up to his fears so that he could stand by your side, but whenever it came to things that plagued Spike alone, then he couldn't change them. He’d let the voices ring out in his head, and would always take their words to heart.

“It nearly broke my heart to hear him talk in such a way about himself, but no matter what I said, he never seemed to believe what I had to say. Nor did he believe what the other side of him had to say either.”

“Sounds like Spike should’ve gotten a therapist,” the drake said.

“And I was supposed to be his. Maybe I should’ve gone out and got him one; at least they have to keep what you say a secert.”

A light glow washed over the black space of Spike’s vision. He took notice of it, but didn’t allow it to stop him from counting his breaths. “Please, continue with the story.”

“The day he came to visit me, apparently he had realization that made him bust out of his room, and dashed down to the farm. He still looked guilt-ridden, but something now blossomed inside him: as if he had found the fire within his core.

“A nasty, nasty fire. But I was wrong to say that at the time, just as I am wrong to say it now.”

“So the dragon finally became just that.”

“Worse,” the mare said. “He told me that he no longer had any fears of being left alone, because he would leave on his own one day, and become a force to be reckoned with. ‘Why should I feel guilt over my rampage’, Spike had said, ‘when the whole thing felt great to me! I’m already seen as an annoyance, so might as well upgrade to a beast. That’s how ponies are starting to me nowadays, so why prove them wrong, when doing so just make me hurt?”

“Sounds like Spike was starting to get tired of the voice, and decided to dive right into his full desires. It’s not uncommon for dragon to want power, and in more ways than one.”

The sheets shuffled as the mare sat up. “But you should’ve heard him: this was dear ol’ Spike, who had stood up to bad dragons to save an egg. For him to start going off on how it must feel to crush ponies under his foot, and—”

“I’m-I’m sorry.”

“No need,” the dragon said, “keep some of his details a secret.”

The mare shakily exhaled. “He wanted to become our rivals and destroy all the other villains. To never be played down again, to never hear of the heros he had for freinds again: Spike was going to be the only thing in the spotlight.”

“When he was done telling me of all these deep feelings and new desires – I didn’t have anything to say to him. No wisdom that could possibly help him. So I sent him back on his way to Twilight, and spent the night thinking about what he had said.”

“And what he had said was wrong. I didn’t why, but it just was. Spike needed help,

“It’d all spilt out; all those sessions with Spike just came flying out. He trusted me enough to keep his secrets, and I went off spreading them around like gossip. I knew… I knew my heart was in the right place, but I messed it up. Everyone was as disgusted as I was at the dragon, and so everyone treated him as such.

“It was because of me, that the town was starting to look at him like a monster.”

Spike opened his eyes to find that Applejack had closed hers. Sighing, the dragon rose up from the ground, left the glow of the green light, and joined the mare atop the bed. He raised up her forehooves and allowed them to drape across his shoulders, as she cried into his chest.

“Dear little Spike came to me for help, and I’m the one that turned all that help against him. All that my friends did, they wouldn’t have if I hadn’t gossiped like a silly filly.

“If I had kept my mouth real tight, Spike wouldn’t have been in so much pain. He wouldn’t of run away, he wouldn’t be dead either!”

Spike’s eyes shot moment, as his heart stopped for just a second. Drawing a breath,he started to brush her mane with a claw.

“So this… Spike,” the dragon talked, “you think you're the reason he’s dead?”

“And even if he weren’t, he’d still be in pain because of me.”

Spike exhaled and brought his head close to hers. Rising his claw behind her head, he watched as the scales turned purple. But the magic stopped when it reached his wrist, as claw once again turned green.

“I think…” Spike began to stroke the back of her head, “you take too much pride in you guilt.”

“Pride?” Applejack looked up at him.

“Yes. What you did, sure! It was a horrible thing to do. And I know Spike at the time could probably only see you in a light of hatred. But if he were around now, I’m pretty sure he would have different thoughts about you.”

“And how would you know this?!” Applejack yelled.

Because I am Spike.

“Because us dragons think alike,” the dragon responded. “You have to understand, that if I had someone who I could talk to while I was growing up; it’d be in a better mental place right now. You helped Spike in a way that no other really thought of – not by just listening, but by understanding. Just, when it came to a time where you couldn’t understand; you freaked out. It’s not your fault that you’re not perfect.”

Spike drew a long breath. “If Spike, I think, could think that not everyone else is perfect, that that day would be like any other day from your past.”

At the end of his sentence, Spike began to laugh.

“What?” asked Applejack.

“I just realized, not only did you listen to the drake, but you also allowed him to do something which most can’t!”

Applejack wiped the tears from her eyes. “And what is that?”

“You let him being honest with his feelings!’ Spike laughed. “You allowed him to sprew everything out, sort it, then place understanding back within him. You allowed him not to feel guilty over certain feelings, when he himself is not allowed to be a judge.”

“It’s almost like you: you know that you aren’t fully accountable for what happened to Spike, yet these thoughts tell you you are.”

Spike brought a claw before his eye. “Even with me. I wanna feels things that my mind tells me no; the way I’m acting all triggers. By being honest with myself, maybe I can sort myself out.”

Applejack both cried and laughed. “Boy, you and Spike would’ve gotten along just dandy. But thank you, for letting me open up to you. Heh, isn’t it kinda funny, how Spike use to come to me, and now I’m coming to you.”

“You deserve to let loose the dams just like everyone else.”

“Does that include you?”

“It does,” Spike replied, “even though I wish I could be exempted.” Spike pulled back from the hug.

“Well, since I’ve learned this lesson Spike has passed down, I guess I should apply it.” Spike took a breath.

“Applejack, will you be my friend?”

Thus concldues Act I: Phantom Feelings

Over.

By not being honest with his feelings, Spike had locked away both his identity and potential. But now, he and Applejack had become friends once again, and her guilt now forgiven.

ACT II: VI – A Party of Themes

Spike’s Temporary Stay

Act II

"Loyalty to Mediocrity"

~VI~

A PARTY OF THEMES

“Cheers to the farm!” Applejack held up her mug.

“Cheers to the farm.” Spike bumped his mug into her – precious liquids spilling over the rim and onto the brown grass below – before gulping down its contents.

The breeze was faint against their fur and scales, with a few clouds blocking the sky to the eyes of the ones down below. Off in orange glow of the horizon a certain red-coated pony had his hind legs smashing into a tree.

“Funny how things turn out.”

“How do you mean, D?”

Spike groaned at Applejack taking his ridiculous alias seriously. “I came here with an imaginary weight in my head and a will to despise you all. Now here I am, having a pleasant drink with a pony who is a friend, while on a job that I enjoy.”

Applejack have a haughty chuckle. “What can I say? I’ve got a knack for making anypony or dragon into friends.”

“I thought that was suppose to be Pinkie’s trait.”

“We like to share.”

The winds kept flowing passed the lands and ruffling the leaves on their approach. Grass gave the smallest of all hustles, and the breathes the came from the pony and dragon no longer weighed down the current like they used to.

“Mind if I go a little deep here, Applejack?”

“You know I’m always all ears.”

“It’s kinda weird to have lost my depression over that one night we spent talking.”

“How… how do you mean?”

“I’ve always had it plaguing my mind since I was little. Mind you, it was good to have in the wild, as I needed to type of thoughts to keep me on guard to the ponies and other creatures around me. It gave me the desire to learn and read a lot, for I felt I needed to find an answer to my life.

“I thought traveling would help me find the answer that plagued me from within, but I only ended up descending into that made-up world in my head. Thus, I was worried about what ponies thought about me, what they might say about me, that I kept my distance and my worries.

“But after that talk… it's all gone. I don’t worry so much anymore, and I enjoy the sight of the farm every morning. But that tainted glow that added a little something to everything – that made me so curious about everything – is kinda gone.

“I don’t worry anymore. But I also don’t desire much anymore.” Spike turned to see if Applejack understand the words that rambled out from him. “I just kinda am now, and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”

She kept quiet as the winds continued to blow. Then, a sigh. “Ya sure are an emotional one.”

“Please don’t say that.”

“And you like to look to deeply into stuff.” She took off her stetson and looked into his eyes. “Look, there’s a change going on in you that I can feel. I say ride it out and see what happens – maybe you’re just at peace with yourself, and who knows how long that will last.

“Besides. Maybe those desires will come back to you, just wait a little while and see.”

The two leaned back onto the wooden fence and basked in the presence of one-another’s company. Even in silence peace could achieve in just knowing someone stands close, and that their in no rush leave. Any words; any actions could be said or done, and they’d still be close and they’d still be honest.

“Yeah…” Spike chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

Spike and Applejack spent the rest of the afternoon taking in the orange glow of the distant sun, speaking few words on just about anything.

Luna’s orb began it's descent in the twilit sky to the horizon, just as it's larger sister orb rose to take the sky once more and paint all that loomed below in its orange glow. The very same glow that attacked the closed eyelids of Spike the Dragon.

Though an orange glow wasn’t the only thing that greeted him when he rose from his bed and opened his door for the usual morning stretches: Applejack had walked up the little ramp and was standing on his porch.

“Mornin—” He yawned a yawn that pierced the heavens “–sorry about that. Morning, Applejack.”

“And a morning to you too,” she said with the nod of the head, which then went to dig through her tail; a letter being produced. Many speculate that the hairs wrap around items such as bits and letters, but a definite answer as to how ponies hold items in such places is unknown.

A letter was placed into an awaiting claw. “What’s this all about?”

“I’m here to crack a deal with you,” Applejack started. “You can spend the day working on the farm like usual, or”— she wiggled her brows with a smirk –“you can deliver this letter for me and I’ll still cover your wages.”

Spike inched his head back. “So this is your way of getting me out of my shell.”

She nodded.

“Alright, I’ll bite. Who’s the letter for?”

“The baker of Sugarcube Corner.”

“... you chose the hardest one for me to deal with?”

“Quit yer worrying – just a simple talk between you two and everything should clear up. Besides, if I were you, I’d want my name to flow around decently by the town folks, so that I wouldn’t get hassled when I try visiting other places.”

Applejack had a way of conveying others that the others lacked. It’s never a question of someone’s ideals, morals, or past deeds that she gets others to do as she liked. No. She used what was in your best interest: the thing capable of convincing almost everyone.

“You got me,” Spike sighed out. “I’ll go get it down and over with.” He went to take a step, though an outstretched hoof barred his path.

“I don’t want it delivered just yet.” Her eye shone from under her hat. “Say, at around sun-down?”

“... what do you have planned?”

Applejack began to walk away from the building with a smirk accompanying her features. Of course, once she and the drake got close, she would start pulling these kind of games. “Oh nothing, just make sure you show up on time.”

Spike rolled his eyes and went back to his home, flopping down onto his bed. Waking up early to get ready and go somewhere, then realize that you don’t have to is one of the best feelings out there. A day is free for the taking, and anything may be imprinted upon it.

It could be spent doing serious work like arranging a platoon.

Or spent lazed about on a bed with a book in claw. Spike opened Romantic Suffering to the first page and began to delve into a new world.

The sun settled for a graceful descent to the mountainous horizons at the edge of Ponyville; its inhabitants checking off the ends of their checklist before retreating to the coziness that was their homes.

Though a certain dragon was ambling through the town and mingling with the rest of denizens who were still outside. Lazed about on park benches or chatting with one-another on street corners.

Eyes would wander to the spiky tail that hovered just above the ground, lips moving close to ears and whispers being made. Though no frowns were to be found nor did any eyes suggest a kind of fate.

Only curiosity of the dragon with green scales. Such a creature was a rare sight to see, the only other being a smaller dragon with purple scales. If only they knew the twist, that both the beings were the same.

An orange glow captured Sugarcube corner and shone its presence onto the dragon, who held a claw before his eyes. A piece of paper hung on the door, reading the words ‘closed for occasion.’

Spike examined the letter in his claw, while the other rapped against the door. “Hello? It’s uh, that one dragon that stopped by before. You know, the one that was kinda a prick?” He knew well how to get himself re-invited to places.

Something hard fell to the floor on the other side of the door. “Hello? Anyone there? I’m coming in, please don’t shoot.”

Pulling back the door and stepping into the bakery, the door whipped close behind him, a mist of darkness covering the area despite their being windows in the establishment. Hushes and whispers mingled in with the black.

Oh… Applejack. You didn’t—

Light flickered on and confetti exploded into the air, covering the manes of the ponies sprouting out from wooden barrels. “Suprise!”

A banner unrolled from the ceiling and sprange along the side with a blue aura holding its right corners, the words upon it reading ‘Welcome to Ponyville, Dragon with No Name!!’. The ends of it flew onto pair of hooks prodding from the ceiling.

The dragon’s mouth hung open, his empty eyes blinking. Had this occurred a week ago, steam would’ve arose out from his nostrils and his tail would’ve been out the door in a hurry. But now, he couldn’t help but smile, release a small laugh to unleash the tension from within, and go enjoy himself.

“A party for me?” he asked, coming before the six who were stepping out from their barrels. “Don’t you six have better things to do? Go save the world or somthin.”

They laughed both at the joke, and if some worries of there’s was just simply a worry. “We’ve been doing enough of that lately,” Rainbow said, “it's time for us to have a little jam. And what better a way than to have one for the newest drake in town?”

“And besides,” Pinkie emerged from the dragon's side, causing him to believe for a moment, that he had grown a pink tumor. “Everyone get’s a party”– she slid up his length until her lips met his ears –“And I mean… everyone.” That last part came out longer than it should've.

She backflipped off his back.

“And why is that?” Spike asked.

“Because everyone deserves at least one party in their life.”

The view of the pink pony walking to the table filled with sweets and punched filled Spike’s vision, the floor being the next thing to do so. “Huh.”

“So now everyone,” Pinkie began, carrying two cups of punch, “let's… have… A…. PARTY!”

Cheers roamed out from the mouths ponies occupying the room whom dispersed to achieve in the very same mouth, the treats and drinks of their own desires. The place felt bigger than what it looked, especially when cleared of most tables.

There weren’t too many ponies about, maneilly the six Spike had known a little too well, and a few background ponies that have been catching the eye of Spike. Still, there was enough space that the air wasn’t hard to breath, nor to overclock the brain with thoughts of appearances that don’t really matter.

Spike was helping himself to the cake resting upon the pink covered table, when he turned around, he was greeted with a face that was as white as snow, and stirred a content from his heart as faint as a cloud.

“Why hello!” Rarity said as her hooves came to a stop before him. “I’m afraid I haven’t had the pleasure of getting to know you, and I’d figured it be fit to do it now, seeing as how you are the guest of honor.”

That’s a mouthful.

“Pleasure’s all mine, Ms…?”

“Rarity.”

Spike bent down onto a knee, so that the two were on the same eye-level. “Unfortunately, I do not posses a name that I could share with you, though I doubt any name I could come up with would be as elegant as yours. So please, call me whatever you feel would be fitting.”

There’s no way in Tartarus that I would ever normally ever talk like this. A thought then came to the drake faking his own way of articulation. Wait, Rarity never talks so sophisticated with her regular friends, but because I introduce myself bs-ing every word, does that mean she’ll expect me to do that always?

Don’t know about that, Spike. Mares changed over the years, the prime case being the slipping mental state of Applejack. So maybe Rarity is just doing this as a formal greeting to prove herself.

The said mare had her brows raised in either suspicion or in wonder. “My my. I’ve met a few dragons in my lifetime, and only one the kinder, but none who could word himself so properly. But, for the sake of others, let’s just talk normally.”

Spike cracked a smile. “Gladly.”

Rarity turned her body around and kept her eyes fixated on the ceiling fan. “Now, what nickname could I bestow upon you?”

The lips of Spike separated so much as to show a few teeth.

She whipped back around. “Only kidding! Now, how does the name… nickname… sss… hmm.”

The dragon green in color with purple spines prodding along his back brought his lips back together and so subtle narrowed his eyes. Never before had the word S striated such small walls of fire inside the dragon, for if they are followed by pike, the drake himself may blow a load.

And not in the good way.

“How about Stich?!”

Stich. Stich? Wasn’t there an alien by that name that almost died once? The name itself wasn’t terrible, nor were the ponies around this town with coming up a good names for a dragon. The prime example being Spike.

“That sounds like it’ll stick, so you may call me that, Miss Rarity,” Spike rose from the floor and made the necessary steps to reach the dance floor.

“Oh wait, Mr. Stich!”

The drake cocked an eye back, turning his head so that half of his face could be seen by her. “Yes?”

Rarity was fidgeting with her hooves and found trouble apparently in looking up at the dragon, like his gaze could see every stream of her subconscious. “It's not often that a dragon appears in town and is friendly to boot. I hear you’ve been helping out of the farm with Applejack, and you don’t wish any harm to ponies in this town.”

The only thing preventing Spike for questioning her morals on dragons was that she sounded sincere in her words, so much, that her thoughts just came jumbled out. A dragon being friendly by itself is a unique case to pony kind, but to suffer the prejudice daily was becoming a nit on the bottom to the drake.

What was worse?

Ponies being in wonder that a strange dragon is actually settling in with pony kind?

Or.

That this dragon talks and acts like that one baby dragon that had lived here long ago?

Spike rathered to not choose at all.

“And, in light of that information, I was if I could propose an offer to you.”

That got Spike to turn around. “Oh?”

“You see, not many creatures are bipedal around here – we ponies can stand on two hooves for only so long. But you! You, I can see, can bring a new change to the whole fashion game.”

“Fashion?” The dragon looked down at his average looking self. “You sure you got the right dragon in mind?”

“I only know two, though I do wish I knew where the other was.” She shook the thought out from her head. “But yes. If you wouldn’t be opposed to do so, I would love to have you down by the boutique sometime to make a set of clothes and jackets for you.”

A dragon walking out of a forest all cut and bloodied up.

Another walks out wearing a full article of clothes on his being.

Which is most strange out of the two?

“Well, that certainly sounds dandy, Rarity.” Spike scratched at his neck and averted his gaze. “But my hoard isn’t the biggest one around, so I have to start converting what bits I have; I’m sure you understand.”

Even if it was just for a second, Rarity’s face took on a weight of menochony on hearing about a dragon as kind as Stich unable to achieve the finer things in life. Of course the feature faded away a second later, but her chest seemed to weigh her down for the rest of the evening.

“So… Um…” Rarity clutched her eyes shut and inhaled deeply before reopening them. “I hope this come off as rather brash, but… would you say it's become a habit for you not to get what you desire?”

“Er…” His pupils dilated. “I guess. Though I’m content with what I have now, for its more than a dragon like me is worth, but like every other dragon we have our desires.” Spike placed his cup back onto the table with his claw shooting to grab another, though it halted halfway. “But I don’t let that stuff plague my mind anymore… seems like a waste of time to me now.”

The claw took the same cup from before and replenished the emptiness with a sweet purple liquid that raised just to the rim, which in turn, raised to a pair of scaly lips. A satisfied sigh coming afterwards.

Green horizontal iris traced the snow-white hoof to same stack of cups resting on the table. Lapis caught sight of the hoof stretching to its own accord and promptly asked for the one hoof the smack the other off the table, with the mouth asked to giggled the nervous tension that had built in sight of the green iris away.

“You’ll have to excuse me tonight, Stitches,” hooves returned to the floor with the one giving the slightest of trembles, “I had the flu not too long ago and I’m afraid I’m still recovering in body and in mind.”

The shakey hoof dashed underneath the clothed table.

“R-Right.”

Party Goers walked from table to table indulging in the sweet tooth that always came out of the gums once Pinkie had announced a party was to be had. Hooves smacking down in the corner to the constant change of colors showed how ponies didn’t worry about appearances when fun was to be had.

Even the ponies outside had drinks tucked in between their hooves as their eyes reflected the glow of the lowering sun. A soft smile tugging at their lips as they sat, and words that traveled to the ears that made the new bearers glad that it was heard.

Back at the middle of the room was the dragon and marshmallow pony leaning against the clothed table. One had a smile that was constantly wavering, and another with a blue eye that couldn’t stop eyeing the sweetness that wasn’t cupcake.

But the one resting on the very top of the stand was a no no to be eaten, for a blue feather had somehow fallen upon the cream.

“Would you like to know something, Stich?”

Do I even have a choice?

“... sure.”

“I don’t like taking medicine anymore once I found out how it's given out depending on class.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

“Ponies that are of too low of status, meaning that their income isn’t to an average, are unable to afford medicine for themselves or their foals. Even average pony folk at risk! For they may not get the stronger medication they need because the pony next in line just so happens to hail from Canterlot.

“And so, I simply cannot accept that, so that’s why I’ve stop taking medicine in order to spite that system.”

It’s always good to have a drink whenever talking to someone: it gives the claws something to do, the body to be hydrated – but most importantly, it allows the drinker a few seconds to think on anything before being asked to answer.

What the heck happened to Rarity while I was away? I’ve been there to witness her many boycotts when I used to help her around the boutique, but never anything to this level.

The cup was drained past the lips that proceeded to exhale. Is this even the same Rarity? Before I ran away, she had no problem splitting those lips to preach what was right and wrong for me to have – like she knew better on what I was allowed to have.

Then there was that day, when she discovered my developing hoard...

“I think that’s a terrific idea, Rarity.” He winked and waved a thumbs up. “Definitely an idea worth dying for.”

“Why do I get the impression that you’re trying to make a joke out of all this?”

“Sorry.” He lowered his head so that his eyes could meet hers. “It's just that machine and a talented pony like doctor is the reason why I even made it alive out of the farm, so you’ll have forgive me not joining in your hatred of them.”

She sighed, then proceeded to shake her head. “That’s fine. No, I get it.”

The surface of the table began to vibrated with the legs beginning to inch around. It was getting to the point that the floor was being scratched. Something's wrong with Rarity, and it isn’t just mentally. I wanna ask her about the hoof, but, I can’t get my own claw to stop shaking when I go to ask.

“I’m sorry for going off on you like that, Darling.” That caught the dragon’s ears and pulled the eyes back over. “Hearing about a dragon like yourself forced to live the style in which you do now, I cannot help but feel sorrow prick my heart at the thought of a kind dragon suffering the way you do.”

“But I wouldn’t really call what I’m going through stuff—”

“I get that’s the way you feel, dear. But it still affects me in a bad manner, so much, that I feel I need to help you in some way. So please, forget about the bits and come visit my boutique sometime and we’ll come up with a great sense of clothes for you.”

The dragon’s shoulder slumped slightly. “We’ve only just met, Rarity. Not only is what you’re saying beyond the normal bounds of logic, but it isn’t just right for me to take things from you.”

“But it's not a problem!”

If Rarity changed the subject to something involving a bed, would Spike still think it a problem?

“That’s… that’s enough, Rarity.” Spike began to breath the tension out through his mouth, with small shivering racking about his body. “I simply can’t do-do something like that.”

Reject. Rejection. Take. Take it all. Love? Love? Take it all. Take it all.

No. No. no.

“But please!” Rarity threw up her hooves which both began to shiver in the open air, gaining a few eye to look from all around the room. “This favour is more so for myself than it is for you, so please, accept it.”

Is she trying to be generous or a cu… er, I can’t say that.

Claws shaking as much as the hooves clutched both of them and lowered them to the floor with their noses coming to meet. “Look, Rarity. I’ll figure out some way we can work this out – maybe I’ll work for you for a week or something like that.” He stood back up to his full height. “But please, let’s discuss this some other time, okay?”

The mare closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. “Okay, Darling. But I expect for you to keep your word.”

The drake too closed his own. “Yes. I’ll come around soon.”

Her eyes reopened. “Good. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to use the little mares room.”

She trotted off the the doors in the distant background where ponies were gathered up, acting as a good camouflage for the drake to dipski out from the tables and sprint out the open door displaying the darkening sky.

Spike leapt past the steps and rolled in-between two ponies amidst conversation, who both looked down to their invader of privacy. “Even, ladies. Hope I wasn’t… Rainbow Dash?”

The cyan mare gave a good look over before cracking a smile and extending a hoof.

“You look to be having fun.” The claw wrapped around the hoof and the body it was attached to rose up. “Leaving already?”

“I think Aj would give me trouble if I left before all the other guests.”

“It is bad manners for the guest of honor to leave without thanking the host.”

“So Applejack told you about the letter.”

“How else were we supposed to trick you into coming?”

“... you were on this too, weren’t you?”

“We all were.” Dash looked over to the butterscotch mare standing in the dragon’s shadow. “Isn’t that right, Fluttershy?”

“I-I might of had a hoof in it, but I sure didn’t do it to offend y-you.”

Spike turned around to the pegasus standing behind him, mouth kept agape and eyes filled with a scared curiosity. “It's no…”

Fluttershy sat on the floor with her face hiding behind the strands of her pink mane, while her body had a slight shiver despite there being not a breeze. Yet it appeared the space within his shadow was chilling enough.

Spike rose his claw before his eyes so that they could bear witness to their trembling state, talons refusing to keep still and the breath that refused to keep constant. With a sigh to expel the nervous tension, Spike bent his knees.

“I’m not offended,” he tried carefully with his voice, “just surprised. So that means you did a good job.”

His shivering claw went forth to before her body, where her lone eye came across it, a brow rising slowly at the talon’s twitches.

A hoof of yellow stretched out from its safety to claim the surface of the claw, the thousand strands of fur brushing against the scales; releasing the blockage the clogged the dragon’s chest.

“Please take a deep breath.”

The walls of Fluttershy’s cottage came in fours and boxed the duo in. A set of stairs shot up and towards the unreachable roof that was gigantic in size, with Fluttershy now resting atop the stairs.

Spike stepped forth onto the step, reaching out a claw to that pinnacle of help resting just above. Step after step, help seemed so close. Step after step, maybe she would come down to save him.

Step after step, Spike began to fall.

“A deep breath, can you take one for me?”

As Spike lay on the floor with rays of light blinding his eyes and shadowing the mare, he still reached out to that distant hope, even if it would only lead him to despair. Still, air collected within his lun and was kept there, as the beatings of the heart becoming something to felt, and those stresses and fears to disappear.

The exhaled air took away with the things festering in Spike’s core, though it would only be so long until they developed once more. But for the time being, that beautiful smile spreading across that furry face was Spike’s current sight.

“Do you feel better now?” Fluttershy asked as she came out from her mane.

“M-Much.” Spike rose up with his head faced down. “T-Thank you.”

Spike felt the pair of wings fluttering from behind his back. “Wow, Fluttershy! I didn’t expect you to adjust so quickly to having a dragon back in Ponyville.” Dash came closer to the mare. “Were you practicing on that plushie like I said?”

Pink strands of hair gliding through the air as the head they were attached to shook.

“Then what gives?” Dash landed on the ground. “The last dragon we had to deal with close to the badlands had us pulling your head out from the sand. I know this one isn’t much bigger, but he’s certainly more bigger than Spike!”

Hoofs shot up to her cyan lips as Dash turned around. “Opps. You didn’t hear anything.”

Spike’s right shoulder dropped as his faced displayed his tired annoyance. “Riiight.”

Though Fluttershy had even risked a hoof to touch his scales to her own accord; none of her friends were at risked, and she could probably outfly him as well. That’s why both the dragon’s and pony’s eyes were on hers.

“Well, this isn’t my first time meeting him.”

The two recoiled their head and raised a brow, though only one of their hearts was pumping at twice the speed.

Spike gulped.

“That didn’t come out right!” Fluttershy explained, rising up into four hooves. “When he first collapsed at the barn doors, Applejack couldn’t properly diagnose what was wrong with him. So she brought me over to look over his wounds.

“He was covered gnashes and had many opening pierced onto his scales, where traces of timberwolf wolf saliva and dirt mixed, which lowered his white cell count.” Fluttershy looked up to the dragon with a small smile “You’re lucky that you came to us when you did; I don’t think you would’ve made it another day.

“Even more so, you should be thankful that you’re a dragon – no pony would’ve made it as far as you did, or survive the wounds that you had.”

The dragon peacefully sighed as his heart slowed in pace. “Never been grateful for being born a dragon, but now you’ve given me one.”

“Wow…” Dash said with a lazy smile. “That came out real subtle.”

All Spike could do was shrug his shoulders with a smile persistent on his lips. No longer could the sun been seen in the distance, but the rising moon shared its glow to those below it, as it took its rightful place in the sky.

“Um… Mr. Dragon.”

Spike looked down to Fluttershy.

“If you ever come across free time – and you have nothing else better to do– you can come down to my cottage just off the Everfree. Maybe we can have some tea, and, talk, about certain things.”

Her tone wasn’t overly carefully; she didn’t speak like somepony with therapeutic tenacity. It was like she was trying to whisper the words to his ear alone; that some secret she poses was meant strictly for the dragon with no name.

Her offer seems harmless enough. Though just what is it she wants to tell me, that she can’t tell to Rainbow? The two were talking out here fine enough, so I doubt any rifts separated the two while I was away.

“Sure… Fluttershy, was it?”

“Oh come on!” Dash exclaimed, stepping next to the drake. “Don’t act like you don’t already know all of our names – is only makes you look more suspicious.”

Words that would have no affect on others were now sending balls of tension to rack around in Spike’s mind. It were like Dash and Fluttershy had already known his secret but kept the charade going for his sake, but dropped innocent hints like these just to torment him.

To know of his dirty secret, but allow him the constant mental struggle that they also may not. To fully play into his character to keep his lie on-going, or to simply give up this silly little game and allow the world to know.

How dumb would Spike look playing too much into character to ponies who already knew his secret?

“And to what, am I suspicious to?” Spike asked, talons pressed against his temple.

“Well…” Rainbow hovered above the ground and rested her hooves upon his shoulder, bringing her lips closer and closer to his ears. “You want everypony thinking you’re a good dragon, right?”

Spike rolled his eyes and shrugged off her hooves.

Dash’s hooves slid off his shoulder and lost her balance in the air, wings adjusting just as she fell forward. “You’re not going to garner a fanclub acting like that.” she turned around. “Trust me, I would know: I have one.”

“That’s still on—” Spike bit his tongue and suffered a spear to the chest.

Rainbow’s flew closer to the drake as her neck stretched out, both of her brows were narrowed. Fluttershy sat behind the oncoming threat, mouth slightly open, yet with eyes that told of something else.

“What was it…” Dash’s nose pressed into his with eyes threatening to overtake his. “You were about to say, Dragon.”

“That…” Talons pinching together; heart pumping too fast; brain overloaded. “That we still need to get it on.”

Dash’s recoiled back and Fluttershy popped up.

“We’re supposed to hang out sometime, but we never ended up doing—” his voice cracked “–so. Isn’t now the best time to ask you, to see, if maybe, you’d want get drinks and talk?”

Cyan wings kept the mare suspend in the air and in her disbelief. “Talk?”

“Yeah, yeah!” Spike brighten up, bending forth so that their faces met. “Like when we were walking back and having those deep talks. We should do that again only with drinks!”

I sound like a buckin’ idiot!

Indeed Spike sounded like a fool. Both in mind and speech. But hey.

“You drink?”

Rainbow bought it.

“Come on!” Spike said, looking around for some strange reason. “I’m a wanderer! I’ve had my drinks underneath a twilit sky, by a fire roasting in the forest.”

“But have you had the good stuff?”

“I’ve… I’ve had a lot of stuff. But you know what, Rainbow Dash? Show me the good stuff.”

Dash looked him up and down, eyes examining every scales on his body as if to see there was some kind of gap; like a break in the amoror. “Alright.” Her eyes stared into hers with an unreadable expression. “You’ve got a deal.”

Spike sighed as he hunched forward as if the weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders.

“How does tomorrow night sound.”

“Fantastic.”

A cyan hoof presented itself before his waist, causing Spike a sigh as he met the hoof with his claw, giving it a firm shake.

“Alright! This is going to be so cool – I even have a fun game we can play.”

Those closed eyes somehow became tighter. “Can’t wait. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a drink.”

The breeze swept into the air the collecting filth that had gathered on the ground over the night, such an effect being caught by an emerald eye. A claw held claim to a cup and was responsible for bringing it forth to his lips.

The dragon was leant against the wall with eyes taking in the ponies dancing in the middle of the room, to those who kept to the edges with fellow ponies by their sides. Usually more effort would’ve been placed in trying to conceal himself better, but Rarity had apparently collapsed upstairs after her twentieth drink.

Hopefully she’ll forget about that conversation we had and the appointment we made.

From the hooves gliding across the floor to becoming joint with another's hooves, both bringing one another closer so their faces could meet. Ponies rose up into two hooves and held each other closer as their paces met the song’s slow embrace.

Their eyes would glance to the wall, eyes taking the smallest notice ment of the dragon by his lonesome. They took in the patches of dirt clinging to his scales as their mouths would whisper into their partner’s ear.

It were only quick glances, though the weight of the eyes bore down into the dragon’s sanity. All alone he stood, what a wonder that must be? Do all dragons look like he, for we cannot see if he is attractive for his race.

A dragon who hails from a race of strength, known to unleash fire to burn armies to ashes spread across grassy plains, now standing in a town filled with a race below him, yet he was brought to weakness by their stares.

Ponies were casted into the glow casted by the overhanging disco ball, while the dragon wallowed in the darkness just out of the glow’s reach. He clenched his eyes as well as his cup, taking a breath to drain those talking voices from his mind.

When the world reloaded by the opening crack of the eye, a box  of size towered over the mare who was huffing to keep it leveled. With a crack of the eyebrow, the drake walked over to the mare behind the counter, placing his two claws underneath the cardboard.

“Here, allow me.” With a light groan the box raised higher into the air. “This going to the kitchen?”

No words came from behind his back, all expect for an exasperated breath.

“Not the kitchen then?”

He could hear the mane wagging in the air, creating its own breeze.

“You know I can’t see you, right?”

“To… To the kitchen, please.”

“Alrighty.” The dragon walled with his head leant left of the box, careful not to bump into the cup covered counter to his right, or the packed shelves to his left. The door awaited him at the end, as his back pressed into it.

“You… sure are strong.”

“Not really.” Spike said as he looked around the open kitchen, spotless with even a shine emitting from the floor. “Wow, this is like, super clean. Weren’t all the foods and drinks prepared back here?”

“They were. You can set the box at the corner there, just by the door if you will.”

Squeaky voice… Pinkie? But I don’t remember Pinke ever talking like that.

Walking over and setting the box in the corner, the drake reeled back his shoulders until a crack pop came. He turned around to find a pink mare with a fluffy mane, yet a straighten tail. “Pink…

“-ie,” she finished with a small, so small smile. “That’s my name, but,” she drew a breath, “you can call me pink if that’s easier.”

A wave of sadness chilled up the lengths of the sea of purple scales as the emerald eyes felt the same awakening of that sea. “Pinkie. I’ll call you Pinkie.”

The smile grew, but not by much. “Thank you.”

“For carrying that box?” Spike pointed his snout to the thing behind him.

“That too.”

The pound’s worth of saliva gathering in the dragon’s mouth was gulped back to fight away the heart that couldn’t stop beating against its cage. The pedestal that held the drake close to the spreaded clouds which allowed golden rays of light was swiped away from his feet, and he fell to the abyss of guilt that had been waiting to catch his fall.

No longer did hooves reach out to him with letters of sadness at the grief he faced, or did mouths speak of endless apologies to the suffering they inflicted upon him.

Spike was just a hollow of the drake he thought himself to be.

All because he made this pink mare sad.

“Pinkie.” Spike stepped forward, trembling claws reaching to the messenger bag clinging to his back. “I have something for you.”

He withdrew the letter. “But first, I have to know. On days and nights such like these, do you still like to laugh?”

That question didn’t bring any surprisement to the mare’s pale face like the dragon thought it would, for she only sat back on her haunches; that smile growing an inch. “Can’t say that I do.”

“T-Then this letter is for you.” His claw brought forth the letter to the mare, who took it into the grasp of her hoof. In taking the letter she tore off the purple seal, shaking the parchment over her hoof until the paper inside slipped out.

The air of the room was heavy enough to slide Spike’s eyes to a close, where a fiery cloud was burning behind their lids. Pressing his back against the cabinet to keep himself from fainting, the drake couldn’t repress a small groan. “Pinkie… Miss Pinkie a Pie.”

His ears picked up no traces of the paper being unfolded. “Hmm?”

“How I was… the way I acted when we first met… I’m sorry…”

“What time would that be?”

The cloud grew bigger in size as the ends of his claw suffered a great chill. “When me and Rainbow came to your shop, and I said I wouldn’t be your friend: it was rude of me to say.”

“That’s okay,” the mare said, as the paper crimped open. “I forgive you.”

Spike’s eyes slid open as the world was basked in a shaky blur, with the drake feeling as if he were suspended in the air. “T-Thank you.” Silence overhung in the air, weighing more heavily upon their shoulders. “S-Say, what does the letter say? If you don’t mind my asking.”

Finally, the mare allowed a chuckle. “It says to please forgive the jerk standing in front of me.”

A chuckle too escaped the confines of his mouth, a smile spreading all on its own. “That’s Applejack for you. Oh boy, has tonight been a weird one.”

“Yeah.” Pinkie allowed another chuckle which helped to free herself from the shackles of passiveness. “With the way you were talking, to this very room feeling… weird.”

“Tell me about it,” Spike added in. “Honestly though, I better get going. This party has been a great fun and I thank you for inviting me, but my eyes are starting to close on their own, and I have a big day awaiting me tomorrow.”

“Don’t we all,” Pinkie chimed in with a sorrow smile. “But thank you for showing up. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen all my friends act so honestly.”

“I’d say everyone was more weird than they were honest.”

“Ponies acting weird,” she exhaled a breath, “is just another way for them to express themselves; sometimes they just can’t come out and say what’s wrong with them.”

“So they beg to indulge you in clothes and then refuse eat or drink anything?”

“Rarity just unable to be honest with herself, nor with any of us. So it makes me glad for her to express whatever she has going on.”

When did Pinkie start talking like this? No bouncing off the walls; no asking to become my friend. Her voice is striking a chord deep within me, and I can’t help but feel something for her.

“I guess I can’t really say anything on this topic – it wasn’t long ago that my passive aggressiveness was just creating more enemies than friends, casting me into this… this hollow shell of the kid I once was.”

As soon as the words left his lips did their meaning become a realization in the dragon’s head, sending a claw to scratch behind it. “Heheh. That came out a little more edgier than I had planned. Please forget that I said anything?”

The mare gave a single chuckle. “I’m just glad you gave me an honest answer. I was worried, that when we first met, that you didn’t like me very much – that you wouldn’t come to trust me with much.”

Pinkie raised her head so that their eyes could truly meet. “I’m glad to see that I was wrong.”

Those blue orbs created a shine of sincerement that disallowed those who stared into them to be pulled away. “In a way,” Spike said, eyes still captured by hers, “so am I. Though I better get going.”

Pinkie only nodded her head as she retreated back into the corner, digging into the box and shuffling around the contents inside. “Maybe laughter isn’t such a bad thing, just as long as it isn’t directed to your friends.”

Spike paid her a quick glance, eyes cathing her rear bouncing up and down as she disappeared further into the box. Small streams of laughter slithered out of the box, basking the ground underneath in a chilled shadow as they made they’re way to Spike’s foot.

The muscles in his thighs went numb as his body began to shake. Shoulder trying to break free of the hold as the laughter trailed over his face, causing his eyes to clench close and the dragon to take ragged breath.

Laughter. Laughs. Giggles. Chuckles. Talons wouldn't stop jerking; shoulders unable to stop shaking. The stream of white light from the window basking the dragon in its presence, as those eyes and mouths hid away in the darkness – both parts focused and laughing at him.

Laugh at Spike the Dragon.

Die of laughter at the dragon with no name.

The world shattered apart as the dragon opened his eyes to bear witness to Pinkie only humming to the box. Yet that realization didn’t stop him from busting out of the door, well on his way to the exit.

The music had ponies tapping their hooves fast against the floor, clapping their forehooves to the beat. Stallions spun mares onto other stallions; vice versa being the case just to keep in pace with the music.

As Spike slid in-between couples and keeping his foot from being stepped upon, he was blindsided in the mare who fell against his chest. “Ohh! So at the change of the chorus, everypony changes their dance partner. Isn't’ that interesting… it's you!”

“Twilight?” Spike said, ponies pressing into his back as he was the only one stationary in the crowd. “It is you. What are you doing dancing?”

Her response was to take the claws hanging by his sides and to raised them into the air with her hooves. “We’re disrupting the crowd – start moving your feet!”

“But I don’t dance.”

“You’re bipedal: you’ll look the most natural out of the lot regardless of what you do.”

As usual, it was pointless to refute logic when it came to Twilight. So it was only a matter of ignoring her words and heading to the door. Unfortunately, it was her hip bumping into his that caused his feet to shuffle.

He stumbled though he caught his balance, his body already in a movement, just starting to come align with style the music was casting upon his dancing soul. With a groan, his feet moved on their own.

“See?” Twilight said while tilting her head. “You’ll do fine.”

“R-Right.”

Her hooves began to stomp, so too did his begin to do so. Her shoulders slid up and down, matching the rising and falling of the pitch. “So what did you think of the party we threw for you?”

“Packed, with a touch of oddity, but I can’t say that I’m not having fun.”

Twilight smiled as she began to fall backwards, hoof wisping in the air and falling back with her. This caused Spike’s eyes to widen as he reached out to the hoof and press his talons down upon the fur, though with this extra support, Twilight merely struck her other forehoof to the disco ball; her other hind hoof parting slightly from the floor.

Spike groaned as he used her counterbalance to mimic her, claw shooting into the opposite side of the room. Soon the ponies of the room were reenacting the scene, shouting the words: “Hiyah!”

A pull from equal parties brought them close together once more, returning them to try any dance style they pleased.

“So,” Twilight began as her head came just before his chest, “how have you been enjoying that book so far?”

“Already knowing how the tale comes to an end kinda kills any suspense,” Spike said, not sure what to do with his other claw until it came by itself to rest behind her back, just inches away from her fur. “Though I’m picking up on things hidden away in the small things – characters saying things that relate to their themes, and most of the time, the cause of their deaths..”

The crowd shifted right and left as hooves clamped against the floor. Only problem is that bi-pedals steps tend to cover a larger distance than the rest, hence while Twilight’s foot didn’t nearly cover the same ground as he and began to fall to the left.

Before her feet could fully trip off the ground a force pulled up her forehooves and glided her hind over the extra distance, dropping them off in front of the talons attached to a nervously chuckling dragon. “Looks like I still have a lot to learn from our dance practice.”

Twilight giggled as her hooves went from being clutched by his claws to resting upon his sides. His eyes snapped to each one as a cough served to hide the aforementioned action. “Your claws… if we’re to keep in rhythm with one another, then you should probably put your claws on my sides as well.”

To consciously touch a mare and have their individual strands of fur rub against his set of scales caused a lump to be created in the drake’s throat, not going away regardless of how much he swallowed and tugged at his neck.

Contact with other ponies doesn’t hold a high significance among the inhabitants of Ponyville, for they all gave hugs dailey and shook hooves quite frequently. While her frame was nice enough to not be skin and bones, yet give away an aura of delicacy – surely Twilight wouldn’t consider a simple touch of something more.

Placing a claw upon her fragile shoulders made her face burn up in a state of uneasiness, confirming to the drake that the claws guiding her body to step left and right are to be held responsible for increasing their bond from something more than familiar strangers.

“Say.” The hoofs on Spike’ side began to softly direct his feet, forward and back. “Are you Elements always this friendly to newcomers?”

“I don’t know how, but Pinkie always seems to have the energy to throw a party for every newcomers who comes into town. Heck! Sometimes she even throws parties for fillies and colts who had their first tooth pulled out.”

“That… interesting to know. But I was asking, more so, for my case.” That prompted Twilight to slightly tilt her head. “You see, you Elements, are kinda a big deal in this nation. Bearers of a magic powerful enough to encase villains such as Discord in stone!” He shook his head to better arrange the flow of thoughts running in his head.

“What I mean to say is, you six are practically heros who many would like to meet.” He ended the sentence with a tint of pain in his voice. “Schoolers would love to study your skills and magic; towns would love to have you over and speak to large crowds – all there just for you! Most heroes are borderline celebrities, as it is in your case, but I have to ask…”

The hooves slipped away from the length of Spike’s sides as Twilight lowered down onto all fours. “What is it you want to say?”

“Why is it, that ponies as high in publicity as you are,” his claws slid off from the fur that brought them comfort, “would care so much about a dragon like me, who just so happened to wander into town.”

The reasoning why the dragon would ask such a question propping deeply into their relationship seemed to be lost on the mare, but even more so, on the dragon himself. Does he desire the answer as to gather knowledge that could be used against the mares in attempt for revenge, or did he want it for what she might say may hold some value as he sees himself?

Did moe questions exist that dragon had yet to probe himself about, or did none of these question matter for the question came out without any real depth to it.

“To be honest.” Partygoers stomped their hooves past the duo, not allowing what it was stopping them to stop the pleasure that all this dancing brought on. “It has to due with you being an interesting dragon.”

The same excuse as Applejack. Twilight told of the same lie, once again holding back some truth that the dragon’s essence longed to hear.

“Though after Applejack told me that you were a bit hostile at first glance, I knew that a dragon coming into pony society was going to have a hard time accepting our ways of life. So when you showed up at my library, I actually got to see what you like, and I don’t fully know why, but I wanted to help you in some way.

“Which lead to that awkward conversation. Since then, I’ve been kinda curious about another dragon who could read.”

Dancers wore their annoyance on their faces as they danced around the standing duo, some even shuffling in-between the two, causing a distance between the two. “The first one being Spike, right!” He called from across the crowd forming in-front of him.

Twilight’s expression changed to display the sudden remembrance of her long lost friend. She was being pressed back by the ponies with some coming to take up the gap. A sea of glow sticks and hooves hid away the lavender mare, though Spike caught sight of her face before she was concussed by the oncoming waves.

She was trying to yell something to him as her mouth opened as far as it could, while a single teardrop fell from her eyes. Whatever her words were was lost to the pounding beat of the music, the mare being lost in the sea filled with please.

The oncoming wave had hooves and bodies pressing against the drake, causing him to stumble out from the swarm as it only grew bigger in size. Louder music blared out from the speakers as the DJ flipped on over another track.

The lights began to dim and the glow stick became brighter, casting a neon glow to the smiles being worn by everypony.

Though the neon glow caught in no sight, of a dragon smiling. For he disappeared into the small darkness at the entrance of the sweet shop, stepping out into the embrace of a silver glow from a Princess that had threaten to expose him.

Still, taking in her gift was better than having something pound in your head every two seconds. The roads of Ponyville were barren of ponies with only streetlamps to assist Luna in assuring ponies the proper paths home.

Spike took the dirt trail leading up to the farmlands with only his thoughts as company. When the blow of the breeze and the sounds of footsteps are the only thing to be heard, it allowed for the dragon’s thoughts to flow more easily.

He had a drinking date with Rainbow tomorrow, with some sorts of deep talks inbound. Getting himself out of that would result in more of Rainbow’s questioning, plus constant reminders of the dragon breaking his word.

Somehow, Rarity had talked him in into having a pair of clothes stitched for him. Funny how the mare whom thought he was a annoying, greedy dragon, was now offering highly-valued items for free to him.

No unkind words ever came from Fluttershy over a cup of tea. Though it seemed to have any words come from her first require tea to be served. Maybe she just doesn’t like to leave her house to help out her friends?

Then there was Pinkie. She laughed, it wasn’t at him, and that’s all that there is to that.

And that dance with Twilight caused Spike’s claws to curl. An unlikely occurrence that served in a way for Twilight to believe that they had gotten close in some way. Ideas of coming to pay the dragon a visit could now be justified in a way, allowing the mare to even get closer to him.

“And that just can’t happen,” Spike growled under his breath as his expression came to darken, his talons digging into the scales of his palm. “I’ve had it long in my mind, that one day, when I acquired what it is that I seek, that I would have my revenge upon the six.”

To become a villain that would stand in the way of the six, making them question their wills and morals as they fight the dragon they once loved. Such hesitation allowing the dragon to beat them all thoroughly and throw them down onto the ground, with the world gasping at their display.

And the Dragon with no name. No. Spike the Dragon would be the one towering over them.

“That would all be too easy!” His talons pressed harder into the palm until they pierced through, blood trickling out from his claw and dripping onto the dirt below. “That very well may be my final goal, but it won’t be my only.”

A baby dragon not fully comforted as he undergoes a big change in his life.

Words becomes misused and shared, shattering the ideal of trust.

Questions of being are torn apart like jokes some just can’t understand, only until they’ve experienced a similar pain. Yet a sense of being is crumbled up like a paper with questions deemed unworthy of answers.

Is it then that the dragon seeked to bring about suffering so that the Elements could understand empathy? In a town where griffons and donkeys are accepted, where parades are thrown for groups that need it the most – isn’t then, the concept of understanding one another already established in this town?

“I haven’t been in this town long enough to assess what it is that seems lost on most of the town’s folks. All that chatter that I once heard, joint laughter and giggles, hugs and handshakes.”

Talons popped out from the bloody holes that they had made and rose to cup the dragon’s forehead. Blood dripped down onto his temple and sped away down onto his nose and to both sides of his eyes.

“All seem so… superficial to me now. A whole stream of warmth enjoyment that everypony seemed to be in, all but me. Everytime I tried to get into that flow some kind of force always repelled me out.”

The claw slid down from the temple and covered his eyes with their presence, blood still pouring from the holes, falling down onto his cheek until they met the ends of his lips. A smile arose at the touch, lifting the blood along with it.

“My exploration of the world made it clear to me that such companionship will never be come to known to me.” Streams of chuckles bounced off from within his inner-cheeks. “Becoming a loner is the life for me! Time is mine to acquire knowledge; time is mine to train my body; time is mine to become a character of power!”

Did the dragon than opt-in for exposing those that the world as the sacred embodiment of harmony? To show all the depths of the malice that they hide underneath the masks that they wear.

To expose the greed of the one who made him feel guilt about coming to posses thing of his own, while she lavished in the gifts brought to her by many a lovers.

Allow the world to see the laziness and cowardice that had the one friend – the one mare that seemed to understand and listen – that was nowhere to be seen when he needed her most?

“Now this flow is getting closer to what it is I seek from this town! To bring a light to the ones who used the shadows of their light to cast upon me a great darkness that tainted my heart and mind.”

A key of gold formed in the white space where a black keyhole hovered in the space. Something lacked in-between the distance of the two which was the key to connecting them both.

What was it that could make sense of the sudden insanity that struck the dragon? That missing line that connected what it was that the dragon seeked.

To bring shame unto the mare that had laughed on everything that made the dragon who he was? Gather all the ponies around to laugh at her, to giggle at what it was her body and soul combined and clung to?

Or to conflict with the one that brought the greatest of all suffering? The one who destroyed his very notion of being; set on fire his reasoning for existing; shown to all for how useless he was. To such a mare that was once the protector of his heart, was the one to slow the beat that gave him life.

“I lost everything when I left this town. My eyes cried as I ran away from my home; my mind lost to thoughts of despair, brought on by those whom I once loved, which subdued me in isolated self-doubt. I wandered and wandered, from forest to city, searching for an answer to clear away all that had plagued me.

“Yet it seems, that all this time, that my answers and vengeance lied in the very town that brought on the questions, as well as death of Spike which, I! The dragon with no name, is here to avenge.”

The claw fell from the face to hang by his side, blood dripping and mixing into the dirt once more, as the faded talon ahead began to step forward. “To show them the depths of their flaws and place them into that isolation of self-doubt, hearing of their misery as they unable to understand their own suffering.

Both claws opened up to the world and invited it onto the dragon’s being. “To toss their pitiful forms onto the stage of the world, showing the lot the reality of these fantasies!”

The bloodied claw whipped around so that its palm faced the eyes of the drake; its blood draining down the length of his wrist. “Then to stand before them all, as they come to wonder to dealt them this fate, only to realize it was the dragon they inflicted worse upon.”

As the drake came to see the blood dripping from his elbow did his eyes lose that glint of madness. “To face the dragon, that once, had been loved.”

His claws came to his sides as a sudden sadness encapsulated the dragon with its melancholic touch.

VII – Death of Spike the Dragon

~VII~

DEATH OF SPIKE THE DRAGON

“Y’know, I just don’t get that guy.”

Rainbow Dash currently had her hoof pointed toward the drake fading away into the shadows that were the streets of Ponyville. “We’ve know this dragon – who’ve I’ve officially dubbed as Drag because he keeps insisting he was born without a name – for close to two weeks now. And not once in any of our conversations with the guy has he revealed a single detail about who he is or where he might be from!

“I can’t be the only one thinking he’s got something to hide, right, Fluttershy?”

The pegasus in question sat on the highest step of the staircase belonging to Sugarcube corner, her eyes lost in a trance to a sky painted with gray clouds, transparent enough to see the blue glow exuding from the moon past their wisps.

Fluttershy watched Luna’s glow banish the shadows plaguing the streets, drifting moments later to drape around her friend sitting on the grass below, though the celestial rays never came to embrace her cyan fur.

“It’s not nice to talk about somepony, or, in this case, some dragon behind their backs, Rainbow Dash.” Fluttershy awaited the soft blue glow to wash over her as well. Before its glow could even touch the staircase belonging to the confectionery shop, the moon was eclipsed by the roof of the establishment.

The reason why the drake had failed to see the butterscotch mare on his way out from his surprise party was due to the thick black fog currently enshrouding her presence, which is why she desperately wished for the glow’s embrace. To be able to look down, and see not the blackness that stole away her form, but the rhythmical rises and falls of her own chest.

But more importantly to Fluttershy: to not only have her words heard but to have her face seen by the friend who was best at reading the troubles stirring underneath the surface. “We shouldn’t be discussing things ponies or dragons aren’t comfortable with revealing yet: especially if they’re still a new friend.”

“Last I check, Drag…” Rainbow stopped herself at having used the dragon’s officially-unofficial name, knowing that the mood of conversation was driving toward seriousness.“...I mean, the dragon, isn’t calling anypony friend.”

Rainbow’s eyes tried to dilated past the wall of blackness that had enshrouded her friend but couldn’t find even a dot of contrasting yellowness. “But that isn’t going to stop any of the girls from trying their hardest to get him to say that magical word that begins with F. Though the dragon may be thinking of the word that ends with ED instead of ND, especially after that hard to watch encounter with Rarity.”

Deciding it not being worth the awkwardness of leaning her snout forward and scrunching her eyes in an attempt to see her friend, Rainbow Dash settled instead on fiddling with the pebbles just before her hooves. “It sucks, y’know? How for the past two years, the girls would show up to nothing else besides birthday parties or important meetings: things that they were bound to. But when it came to doing stuff for the sake of fun or friendship, like picnics or pet play dates, no would ever show up.

“Even Pinkie, who gave up throwing spontaneous surprise parties, does so for a dragon who was not only rude to her, but she’s never known before in her life. And guess what? All the girls, despite the short notice, still made it to a party for a dragon they know nothing about.” The cyan hoof struck at the patch of pebbles, sending them flying past the protective beams of blue light. The act did nothing to alleviate the rising anger that began to course through her system, as her mind forced her to relive a conversation from only a few hours ago.

Twilight and Rainbow stood amongst the other party goers for the dragon’s surprise party, deciding to take a moment away from the blaring music to play a little catch-up.

Dash spoke of her soon approval of becoming a Wonderbolt, while Twilight talked about expanding the library into a school as well.

But before she could even begin to listen to the cyan mare’s thoughts on the matter, Twilight’s ears flicked and her pupils shrunk at having seen a certain serpent tail slither past them. It was as if, for a single moment, the librarian was lost to some terrible memory, far greater than any fictional tragedy her eyes ever laid upon.

Before she was halfway done giving her thoughts on the matter, Rainbow Dash found herself being interrupted by a quick farewell to her friend and watched on how the lavender mare chased after the drake with a smile adorning her lips.

“You’re totally right, Fluttershy!” Rainbow said upon returning to the present moment on having found the source of her newly founded anger. “We shouldn’t be discussing what the dragon may be hiding because it is none of our business. But do you know what is?”

No trace of her friend's existence could be found past the thick wall of blackness, effective in obscuring the kind pegasus image and allowing her to keep silent without being immediately judged. But Rainbow Dash was never one to let such minuscule things prevent her from getting a point across.

“The reason why, no matter how painful or embarrassing, the girls are willing to do anything for this dragon. The thing is, Fluttershy, is that I already know the answer. Do you want me to tell you what the great big surprising answer is?”

Silence reigned over the staircase and the small patch of land.

“Fantastic! I’ll take the silence as a yes.” Rainbow had become too swept up by her anger to care for whatever expression was hidden behind that blackness, as she felt her mind propel forth into the realm of truth. “The girls will forever suffer the whims of a particular set of dragons. Our such dragon fits the bill, as may some others, so long, as they vaguely remember a dragon that we all once knew.”

The silence afterward was meant to be answered with the aftermentioned dragon’s name, though the wisps of blackness must have plagued Fluttershy’s ears.

“Okay, fine! I’ll spill it out. The girls will bend over for any dragon the vaguely resembles Spike!”

Maybe the wall of blackness rebounded any of the words spoken from within it, and that’s why Rainbow’s friend had been so silent for so long. “Isn’t that why we’ve dealt with this dragon’s issues for so long; because nothing he could say or do could possibly hurt more than what we did to Spike?”

Beams of colorful light crept along the windows of the shop in correlation to the faint beats of the music within. Each succession lit away a brick of blackness, revealing for a moment, turquoise eyes sorely lost to the sky above. “I think you may be mistaken on everypony's feelings, Rainbow Dash.”

“Oh?” Now that Rainbow could barely see her friend amidst the wall of blackness, she tried to muster the courage required to argue on a matter long repressed, but cowardice stole her heart and command her eyes to look down the dimly lit street. “Is the great innocent Fluttershy ready to give her opinion on the matter?”

“Rainbow Dash.” The blackness enshrouding the veterinarian allowed her to speak with the anonymity she craved, as the black wisps imposed itself into the words so they could pose a bigger threat. “You know better than anypony that my door will always be open to ponies who need a listening ear and a cup of tea, and that those involved in the matter have yet to knock at my door.”

“So why not bring the tea and biscuits to their house?”

“It isn’t my responsibility to force the girls to talk about something they're still not comfortable with. Have you ever stopped to consider, that maybe the reason the girls are so nice to this dragon, is because they’ve felt his pain before? We all have our scars from the adventures we’ve been on, and bear the pain of mistreating someone special to us.”

The wisps of blackness expanded outward, obscuring Fluttershy fully by placing her in its epicenter, which amplified her words as they shot outward. The traces of said words could never be directed back at the mare, as she was safely hidden amongst the blackness. “Dragons are seldom friendly to ponies nor has any even attempted to live among us... don’t you feel that the extra pains are worth it to make this dragon feel at home?”

The shadows that still lingered along the lengths of the street were beginning to evaporate from the flickering light and light buzzing of the streetlamps, as a faint golden glow began to overtake the street.

The said lamps began to turn on from the influx of energy, one lamp at a time, as the effect raced down the street toward the candy shop. The effect caused Rainbow to hold her breath, relishing being hidden in the faint darkness like her friend, and not quite sure why she was fearing being exposed to the light.

Amidst the fright of being protected by the darkness or having everything exposed to the light, a realization dawn on Rainbow that allowed her to breathe once more. “If you think the girls are helping the dragon because of the purity of their heart, and not of the venomous thorn they’ve stabbed themselves with, then that wall of blackness has really hindered your vision.”

Rainbow’s eyes trailed up to her friend once more, obscured by the wall of blackness, as she didn’t even need to squint her eyes in order to see to her friend. “Know this, Fluttershy. You can feel protected by the fact that no one can see you, that you’re forever exempt from reproach because of how high you stand on a certain subject. But one thing will forever be true between you and me, and that is I will always know when you are lying.”

The final street lamp flickered on with its golden glow expanding outward into the candy shop's reach, embracing the cyan mare into its light, while exposing half of the butterscotch's mare’s face.

“Especially when you’re lying to yourself; true friends always know when something's wrong.” The faint image of Fluttershy’s face was enough to satisfy Rainbow’s crave to see her friends current state, as she resumed gazing down the street once more. “That’s why you gotta tell me whatever it is you’re hiding because you’re doing more harm than good then defending our friends when they’re in the wrong. You’re the only one in this affair that bears no guilt, as well as the only one that can resolve us of our own.”

A breeze used the rustling leaves to conduct a sporadic melody that lulled all who listen into a lulled state, allowing them to deal with their feelings without any resistance prompted by the ego. Rainbow fought the urge to look back to her friend to see why she was still quiet, instead choosing to expose her feelings to the truth of the light.

“This night has a weird feeling attached to it; the kind where you just wanna get away from it and go to sleep.” Rainbow shook her head to clear away the fears gunking her thinking. “Maybe it’s seeing the girls brought back together, or how there’s a dragon walking around the town, or just this deep conversation you and I are having now. But I feel so weak and hopeless now, like I’m about to slip away from the world, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

The fears that had begun to capture her heart were too much for the cyan to bear, and the only mare capable of bringing her above the murky waters sat at the top of the staircase. Rainbow rose from the ground and placed her hoof on the first step, looking back up at that wall of blackness.

“It was because of the week that the girls stopped showing up to picnics, leaving just you and me to finish a meal meant for six. My afternoon flights would catch sight of Twilight and Rarity walking past each other, never saying hello, but staring daggers into one another’s back.”

Dash dared to climb another step to the safety that awaited her at the top. “All of the fights and arguments are not because of the things happening in the present, Fluttershy. They’re all because of the feelings still lingering in the past!”

The cyan hoof slammed against the next step, sending pain coursing through the rest of the hoof, though its owner did not care in search of the truth that it desired. “This drift that splitting the girls up is because of the unsettled emotions still attached to Spike! Each one of them carries a guilt filled with whatever they did to Spike, and are now trying to rectify it by helping out this new dragon.”

Rainbow tried another step but found her hoof to weak to reach the top just yet. “Those extra pains that the girls are willing to endure are only because of the weight they’re going to place on the dragon’s shoulders. If we truly wished the best of him, then we can’t place our drama and consciousnesses on him!”

The breeze that had once played a melody intensified tenfold, blowing back the strands of rainbow mane to reveal the entirety of the Rainbow’s face to the world...and to her friend.

“Can you please–” Fluttershy drew a breath and retreated further into the shadows, where not a ray of light could touch her besides the spontaneous glows from the party behind “–never say his name again?”

The faint image of Fluttershy’s face was erased from Rainbow Dash’s memory, as only the wall of blackness remained in her mind and loomed before her. “Never say his name again? Who, Spike?”

“Please.” The voice behind the wall wasn’t pleading at it used the blackness to amplify its voice. “Never, ever, say his name again”

A certain wetness began to well in Rainbow’s eyes, causing her eyelids to seal away the liquid before it could further sting her. “How...could you? How could you suggest, even for a moment, denying his name? Do you want us to forget about him entirely as well?!”

When her eyelids had split once more, the batch of tears hidden beneath was no more; only anger resided in those pools. “You, out of all ponies, have no reason to forget about Spike. What could ever make you suggest something like that? Do you dislike him now because he’s the reason we’re all so torn and broken up?”

“You’re not even close, Rainbow Dash.” The distorted voice inside the blackness held no hesitation in speaking nor apprehension in her tone. “My reason for wanting to forget Spike is simple, while your’s is not. Don’t you want to forget Spike too? To forget about the times where you teased him to no end, stripping him of any dignity of being a dragon until he saw himself as nothing more than the dirt atop of his grave?

A faint glow of red flashed onto the windows behind the shadow, boldening by the second, until the light of heated blood illuminated the silhouette of Fluttershy amidst the shadow. She stood tall with wings slowly extending by her side, with one eye covered by her mane, and the other burning away the darkness with the fire within her pupil.

“Why is it you need my approval for you to be able to forgive yourself and to forget him? Everypony makes mistakes, including you, so you should forgive yourself of stripping your friend of his self-esteem. Or do I have to shove it in your face that you made a horrible mistake, for me to punish you with all I got? If I do that, will you then be able to forget about Spike?”

The overpowering waves of anger were enough to protect Fluttershy’s ego even from the night, as she stepped out from the grasp of blackness fully into the view of her friend, whom she no longer feared. “I won’t be either of those things because I don’t care enough, Rainbow Dash. What happened, happened because you didn’t think, and no one thought to stop you.

“None of you girls thought about how your treatment of Spike may affect him in the long run, and that’s why the week happened. But more importantly, it happened because some ponies could see the harm that you girls were inflicting, but didn’t dare to interfere!”

The winds that howled late into the night began to cease, as the causal breeze return to calm the two heated bodies. The strands of Rainbow no longer floated up, as they fell to cover but a single eye. “Flutters…”

Fluttershy looked down at her friend from the top of the staircase, the fire still lingering within the pupil, as the breeze worked only to stroke the flame. “If you want my opinion on the matter, then listen closely: you can’t claim to be better than someone when you’re just as low as them. Spike never claimed to be more than what he was, and you made fun of him for that.

“So start acting like who you claim to be, then maybe Spike’s death wouldn’t have been in vain.”

Rainbow’s mouth hung open to exhale the air that had numbed her chest. The words of her friend rang incessantly in her mind, reaching deeper into her subconscious until they finally made themselves at home.

What came after the newfound silence beside the breeze were not sobs or anger. It was the sounds of giggles that soon grew into laughter.

“This has to be…the funniest thing ever!funny!” Rainbow brought a hoof to her eyes as more laughter spewed from the cavern below. “It’s ironic to the point where it poetic, and explains perfectly why you haven’t said a thing about Spike!”

A yellow hoof slammed against the top step, demanding the attention of all those nearby to the one who was at the top. “Stop using his name, Rainbow Dash. Just give up already and move on!”

“Sorry Shy, but forgetting him wouldn’t be as funny.”

Fluttershy shook her head as she descended a step, pausing her hoof over the next one. “I don’t get you! Sad and scared a moment ago, and now, you’re happy?”

“Oh, Fluttershy.” A hoof draped over Rainbow’s eyes. “It’s not that I’m happy, but that when something super scary settles in, all I can do is laugh. Even I don’t why – maybe we have to blame Pinkie!”

“What is with you?!” Fluttershy pleaded, blinking as she reached the last step of the staircase. “What did you just figure out; what did you just realize about our situation. What’s made you so scared that you’d laugh like this!?”

“Because I realized that you feel guilty too!” The laughter bursting from the cyan chest was so strong that it sent its owner flying onto her back on the ground. “I mean, why would the kindest pony ever refuse to help her friends out of their greatest trouble? Because she wasn’t there to stop the trouble in the first place and feels the same guilt as them!”

The few blades of glass littered after the last step of the staircase served to cushion the impact of Fluttershy's hoof, as she left the sanctuary and safety of the wall of blackness on the tallest step to wander the endless street.

Despite the blurriness induced by the laughter, Rainbow's eyes still followed Fluttershy’s leaving form. “You can’t save somepony else if you can’t first save yourself. So you’re one of us, Fluttershy. All for one...and one for all!”

Fluttershy’s shaky legs took her slowly past her friend. Tears began to race down along her cheek and taint the open mouth with their salty taste. Eventually, Fluttershy made it to the exposing lights of the lamps, only to momentarily be lost in the shadows, and brought back in the light.

The effect was endless on the mare.

“Talk about a funny joke.” Rainbow managed to fit the words in between her bursts of laughter, which echoed throughout the empty town. “The only pony that could save us from our pits has accidentally stumbled in, and that the only dragon that can pull us out, lies dead below the trees!’

A shooting star zipped past the moon, leaving a faint blue afterimage, that one could easily mistake for the tears of the moon.

Spike huffed out in exhaustion at the front of a tree, the long day spent bucking trees, plowing through the soil and pulling loaded wagons had deprived him of the last traces of energy in his body. So it was a pleasant surprise indeed to the drake to find his boss behind the aftermentioned tree, where he quickly composed the excuse that would exhaust all of the luck he had for the day as well.

“I need to leave work early.”

Applejack’s legs as just steadied from her latest buck just as the words reached her ears, causing her her lean her head past the tree to see the drake standing there. She briefly wondered if he had been watching her for quite a while now, and that made her feel awkward, for some reason. “And why is that?”

“Because Rainbow Dash wants me to get horribly smashed with her later, and she doesn’t seem like the type to have to wait to get her drink on if you catch my drift.” The excuse, while eliciting a forbidden smile from his boss, served to extend Spike’s shift on the farm rather than shortening it.

Sweet Apple acres had grown a considerable amount in the drake’s absence, from the now almost never ending land to the many buildings scattered across it, to which Spike knew not of their uses. But the one thing that the farm lacked was watchtowers, allowing Spike to sneak away into the woods.

Applejack had given the drake more chores to do and began to list them, while stimulus drawing a map in the ground, composed of lines that showed the drake to a trail in the woods that would take him to Ponyville.

With a smile that quickly faded as she turned away, Applejack left to go on the extra chores on top of her own.

Spike found the said trail on the outskirts of the woods but forewent going in just yet, opting to take a final glance at the landscape of the farm. Workers became mere silhouettes in the distance under the burning halo, doing the work that they work tasked with while Spike was far away from his responsibility.

The drake had done more work than any of those who stood on the farm, but that was only due to his draconic body as he felt he could still do more to help his fellow worker. Yet, here he was, leaving with his last traces of energy to go get drunk with an old and once friend.

“Sorry guys.” Spike waved to the workers as he made his promise to the ears of the sky. “I’ll make this up to you, I promise.”

The drake turned around, stepping into the woods, as his back disappeared into the realm of the wood’s shadows.

The trees swayed from the winds force but its leaves whistled from the breeze touch, though the ones that had fallen from their branches were soon crunched underneath the weight of the drake’s foot.

The drake himself allowed his eyes to wander from branch to branch, to drift from apple to apple, as their red blurry form began to phase into the forefront of his mind. His wounds, no longer present, pained and ached as they once did before, as the drake reached out to claim one of those red blurry orbs.

“Hold it right there.”

Giggles began to combust inside his chest that shook his shoulders with realization, as the drake then turned around, and saw the distant town of Ponyville above the streams of blue water that surrounded it.

“...oh...no...” The drake slumped over in defeat yet the giggles did not cease. “Really? All I had to do was keep going straight with the trail at my feet, and I could’ve avoided the farm, and thus, the girls, and wound up directly in Ponyville instead!”

Spike understood nothing could be done about this mistake, as it was long in the past, and all he could do was have a chuckle at it and work on the present. So, in giving a thumbs up to the distant town, the drake began his approach toward it.

The sky visible past the dense branches of the woods darken at an unnatural pace, causing a pair of emerald eyes to drift up and have difficulty in finding where the sun went. No longer did the breeze sing its melody with assistance from the leaves as all the remained was the same chill from before.

Spike pinched his brows together and closed his eyes, fighting off the gunk that began clog his mind, as his body began to tremble. His flutter opening eyes saw to a woods completely devoid of its naturals color, where whiteness enveloped everything to the left of him, and blackness covered everything to the right.

In the middle for which Spike stood, there was nothingness

“No, no no,” Spike muttered to himself as drowsiness began to take hold of his system, exhausting it to fuel the hallucination before the drake’s eyes. “Why are these happening to me now? I was never this mentally ill even in the forest.”

“I can’t believe it!” An energetic voice scared the current drake into looking left into the realm of whiteness, where he saw a drake as tall as him, as its purpleness contrasted nicely against the whiteness. “I’m finally old, tall and strong enough to be accepted by the girls!”

Spike watched as this purple drake walked past him in a flash, the aura of happiness around this creature being faintly passed onto Spike, where he began to smile.

“It doesn’t matter that the girls didn’t like me before because I was weak, small and annoying. Now I have a personality that the girls seemed to enjoy, as they put up with it, and I’m even off to go have a drink with Rainbow Dash.”

Spike twirled around so he could see this dragon fully disappear into the whiteness. “Is that, me? Is that what I thought I was going to grow up as?”

He kept quiet so he may hear the last piece of dialogue from his imagined current self. “When I finally get out of the woods and cross that bridge, I’ll finally no longer have to hide myself deep within this disguise, and Rainbow and I will have a toast for me coming home!”

The euphoria derived from this purple drake’s possible future affected the Spike of the present, as his heart to beat in synchronization of having his old dreams of being recognized be brought out from his subconscious.

The dreams of accompanying the girls on their adventure could now be acquired due to the strength and resilience of the current Spike. To be regarded as one of them thanks to how much wisdom he acquired from different sources throughout the world, and how he finally came to respect whatever character he had developed throughout the years.

The mane six with a lousy sidekick could now become the mane seven. All Spike had to do was cast away his disguise, and show those whom he once loved his true identity.

The current Spike found his foot inching toward the path of light where he imagined his happiness lied, though a voice from behind caught his foot before it could even move.

“I must get Spike out of this accursed town.” Another drake walked in the never ending realm of blackness, where his green scales glowed against the backdrop. “It wasn’t long now that those who claimed to loved him were shouting insults that slowly killed him internally. My ever burning flame of hatred for them was enough to fuel his survival through the forest and the many planes of lands, but I can’t allow that fire to now dim because those six try to disarm him.”

The black texture of the realm began to swarm inward into drake’s scales and conforming to his every move, acting as an additional layer of armor that reflected the reactions of everything nearby on its scales.

This green drake stood taller than the other drake, seeming like the real deal to Spike. His eyes were stern as if they could see through any facade or superficiality; its scales darkened to never succumb to the despair that is brought on by hope.

Spike’s heart beat in respect for this creature as it walked past him, going backward deeper into the depths of blackness.

“I despised that I had been locked away in such a useless vessel, never knowing how low hopelessness felt from the height of my once power. But after suffering the same pains of the dragon, I came to feel something for him that I had never felt for anyone else: compassion.”

The green drake with the black shaded scales slugged its feet through a thick liquid that the blackness of the realm had dissolved into. Despite the liquid ascending the drake’s body, it did nothing to hamper its progress.

“Spike should be more displeased with the mane six, coming to know that he and they weren’t simply meant to be. And yet, here he is, with the faint hope in his heart that he and they can become one once again. Such disillusions will destroy him to a point where not even the likes of I can hope to revive him.”

“Why can’t Spike see that he and these six weren’t just meant to be! I will carry the weight of the world for you to discover what it means to be you, and to guide you with my never judging voice to find those who will accept you as you are.”

The black liquid reached up to the green drake’s neck as he kept moving onward. “To strike the six down with the dragon’s own claw would be enough so that he would never fall to their ways, but my control is still too weak. Until such a time can come to fruition, I must ensure that he doesn’t fall for their faux speeches on acceptance.”

The green head dipped below the thin layer of blackness as not even bubbles appeared on the surface. Spike, who had watched both affairs, saw how both dragons disappeared both into the distant light and below the black surface, where the truth lay hidden.

Spike tried to have his green colored eye focused on the realm of blackness, simultaneously trying to keep his other purple eye consecrated on the realm of whiteness. This placed a strain on his vision and induced a blurriness on it, as well as overworking his probably unconscious mind.

To the right stood the achievement of the dream Spike had long since cherished as a kid. Where he’d grown enough both physically and mentally to finally become friends with those whom he loved and go on the adventure’s he’s always dreamt of.

On the left stood the determination of the drake loyal to only himself and the ways that would fuel his own progress. To have a flame that always burned for yourselves that would prove to be the only companionship and inspiration that someone could hope for. The drake disappeared under the waves of blackness, but only to find the truth that lay hidden at the bottom of the sea.

Spike’s feet split apart to their separate direction, but could never dare to hope to follow their course fully without the help of the other.  So there they were, glued to the crossroads, not knowing which way was the right way.

In an instance, the two realms faded back into their original states as the fluttering of wings awakened Spike’s ears. His eyelids came to split to the leaves being torn off from their branches and carried along the breeze.

In the distance above the patch of trees where the sounds of fluttering wings originated from, a cyan blue phantom descended ever so slowly into the open patch of land available in the dense woods.

“Rainbow Dash?”

Spike looked around the woods for the slit houses of the drakes he had just seen in his delusions, his gaze only being met with the wood of the trees and the swaying blades of grass. Though the phantom in the distance finally landed, gaining the drake’s attention once more.

“I definitely need to see a doctor now that I’m back in town for a little bit.” The contents of the dragon’s face fell into the palm of his claw, as the memory of him walking home the night before flashed in his mind. “Last night...when I was talking about getting my revenge on the girls...I thought that was just some strange dream I had.”

Knowing the nothing more could be done at the moment, the drake decided to go investigate whatever was happening up in the woods, and then go out for his beer date with Rainbow Dash.

The edge of the woods opened way for the alabaster bridge that crossed the blue waters into the town known as Ponyville. Spike forewent crossing into the town just yet as he disappeared slightly into the woods, where a small patch of free land existed boxed in by wooden fences.

Past the rows of stone tabs the prodded out the grass, there, standing in the middle, was no other than the mare Spike was supposed to get drunk with. The shadows of the nearby trees hid most of her features from his eyes, as her head was lowered and lost to the writing before her.

Spike made his way over to the wooden gate, which opened with a slight creak, as the drake made his way across the rows of stone tabs. His eyes trailed away from silent mare to the writing on these stone tablets, which contained the names and deeds of those who had once lived, and listed the date that they had all died.

In influx of shock coursed through the drake’s realization that he currently resided in a graveyard, pressing his claw against his mouth to repress anything that may come out of it. To both scream and disturb someone in grief is a big no-no.

The blurry creations of those names just read began to act out in Spike’s mind eye, as he slowly shuffled toward the mare. Their forms played on a black and white courtyard where they interacted with one another, playing basketball as they grew bigger in size until they all split away to chase after their dreams and ambitions.

Each tombstone passed served to inspire the events currently playing in his mind, watching some achieved their lonely dreams, while others created families as they got older with age. But sooner or later, they all fell into their caskets, which now laid below the drake’s moving steps.

‘It’s weird how they have a graveyard just outside of town.’ Spike tried to will away the thought of death by having a conversation with himself inside his head. ‘Well, I guess having the graveyard in the middle of the town would be creepy, and having it out in the woods allows for it to be concealed. Oh well, what can you do, besides wonder why Rainbow Dash would be here?’

He arrived at the same row as the phantom, being careful with his steps as to not disturb her mourning. ‘The graveyard isn’t too far away from the Apple’s farm, so maybe this is a gravesite exclusively to them. But even Granny smith looks well on the farm, so whoever died would have to be from outside of town.”

The drake footsteps came closer and closer to the phantom as possible candidates rolled past his mind’s eyes. ‘Rainbow would only be here for someone she once knew. Perhaps someone from Appleloosa, as that’s probably the only other Apple farm that she’s visited...oh no! Don’t tell me someone like Braeburn died!”

A sudden sadness washed over the drake at the possibility of that being the case. The two may not have gotten to know each other well, but from a distance, Spike respected Braeburn for what he does for his family. He hoped to one day stop by the town of Appleloosa once more to catch up with the guy and to have a proper conversation with him.

But now, there stood the chance he could be dead. This stallion would never get to hear of the lengths of the drake’s journey that molded him into what he is today, nor could he see the physical changes of Spike that put him in the same league as him.

The talons came to a stop just a foot away from the cyan hooves, as both creatures stood before the grave that had captured both of their consciousnesses. The phantom didn’t even flinch at the arrival of the newcomer; too lost in her trance with the words below.

Spike went to shake the phantom lightly but hovered his claw just above her body, as his eyes trailed to the same words her eyes had been stuck on. What the drake read next not only caused his legs to tremble and to fall but for the engraving to resound incessantly in his head.

Spike stared at the grave meant for himself.

Spike the Dragon

“A number one-assistant to all but to himself.

He lies here with the eternal love of those in his debt.

Even if they didn’t repay his kindness in his time of need.

Leaving encased in this stone.”

The winds played their solemn, sporadic symphony with the leaves of the nearby trees as their instrument. This melody which assaulted scales and fur with its chillness was still desired by the two creatures, for they were unable to handle the silence of their own hearts.

Past the grass that the scaly green feet stood upon was the supposed casket where the drake’s scales were supposed to be rotting away in, locked away in death’s confines.

Vibrations shook underneath the land that stretched out into the forest as faint brown lines phases in and out of existence in correlation to traffic speed which the nearby trees shook at.

The drake stepped backward once the vibrated began to sting his under foot, twisting him around to see the land part before his very eyes. Something emerged from the depths of dirt and gravel as it began to tower over the drake, eclipsing the sun to his eye.

A sharp pain impaled itself into the green scaly back that caused its owner to stumbled forward away from the pain, right into the opening door of the thing, and against the plushness that composed the interior of the thing.

Spike turned around as a tightness repressed both his breathing and the beats of his heart, as he reached a claw to the outside world that seemed vistas away from him now. The same door that had greeted himself came to a swift close, trapping him inside to his once fate.

Rays of sunlight shone through the glass panel near the top of the door to the thing, urging the drake to step up on his tippy-toes to see who or what had closed the door from the outside world.

A much smaller, semi-transparent baby dragon stared back at Spike from the other side of the panel, scaring the dragon into falling back into the velvet cushion. The echo offered a smile at the realization of its sudden appearance, though that wasn’t what scared the drake away.

Half of the echo’s face resemble the baby Spike that the drake once was, though the other half was but a mere skeleton whose bones allowed the drake to see into the nothingness that was the echo’s head, and some of the world beyond it. The eye socket was empty besides the patch of blackness at its depths that inched outward.

The thing which Spike resided it began to lean forth due to this echo’s weight. The patch of land before it had already been drugged and its depth was as far as an average pony could dig. At the top of the ditch, the tombstone regarding it read of Spike the Dragon’s name.

Spike tried to scream but his throat became clenched by the impact of his back crashing into the velvet cushions, for not even their pushiness could comfort the drake’s descent into death. The thing twirled as it fell, its back slamming against the dirt as the body inside flew against the door.

Out from the cracks of the cushions slithered out straps that stretched toward the drake plastered against the now ceiling door, wrapping around his form and carefully pulling him back against the cushions of the thing.

When the drake’s eyes fluttered open to the darkness that had mostly covered the thing he was inside, he tried to rub his eyes to see if the blurriness was on his part from the fall. Despite the immense strength in trying to pull up his wrist, something wrapped around it was much longer. Spike gazed down his body to his wrists strapped down and his stomach tightly wrapped around, with the same treatment applied to his legs and throat.

Each expansion of breath pained against the tight straps around Spike’s chest, where that said breath would shrink in size due to the tight passage his throat had become. The lack of air caused the edges of his vision to darken as the world itself became blurry.

Straps slithered out from the cracks of the cushions and short forth across the dragon’s chest, while others laced themselves around his wrists and neck, tightening him against the plush death bed without a single allowance of movement.

Something light tapped against the glass panel that gained the attention of a certain pair of eyes. They looked on at the photo that had just fallen from the sky, depicting multiple ponies along with one dragon seated at a round table, as they all smiled at the upcoming flashed.

A banner reading of a certain dragon’s birthday hung above the happy lot, creating an influx of nostalgia and happiness coursing through Spike’s bodies as those happy memories played in his mind.

The soft fur of Rainbow’s hoof on his shoulder as she encouraged him to blow out the candles on the cake that Pinkie had made for him, while Fluttershy and Twilight smiled to him from afar. Once the flames were gone, a glorious cup of apple cider was presented to the baby Spike from no other from Applejack, as Rarity then planted a kiss on his cheek.

From the sky above came down a gust of the wind like no other that collected the photo within its grasp, tantalizing the emerald and purple eyes to follow its course as it took away his moment of happiness. Spike struggled against the restraints but his frail pants weren’t enough to power his strength, as the photo left him alone in the ditch.

As he watched the photo fly away into the sky, six familiar faces appeared around the edges of the column that Spike currently resided at the bottom off. The drake looked up into their eyes as if he could see them but they couldn’t see him, as they all left for a moment but came back with something terrible.

Dirt.

“...Grave…” Spike tried his best to chuckle past the pain. “...How did I not notice I was in a casket...this whole time!?”

The once smiling faces of his friends were washed away by the sadness derived from sorrow, as each mare dug their shovels in the land, and began to bury the friend which they had all equally killed in their own right.

“Don’t you dare.” Spike began to struggle harder against the confining straps in an attempt to get closer to the six. “Don’t any of you pretend to feel sad or sorry because of my death! Everyone is so glad when I’m not around, and since I’ll be gone forever, you all should start feeling happy!”

Spike could see the tears beginning to form in Rainbow Dash’s eyes, who closed them to both hide away her shame to neglect their stinging effect. “Ponies that are useless should die, right, Rainbow Dash?! When they have to no chance of surpassing their limitation, than those who are weak should get out of the for those who are strong, right!”

No amount of blinks could repress the tears in Rainbow’s eyes, as none of her friends made mention, deciding to carry on with their solemn duty.

“You can’t harm someone with your apathy and arrogance, then pretend to be sad when they’ve finally left you alone. None of you have the right to be sad about my death, only the right to be dancing that your final nuisance is gone!”

The straps tighten against each of the drake’s limbs to pull him back into death’s still embrace, though the fire raging in his heart couldn’t be quelled by the illogic of the injustice being done above him.

“I died a useless fool who didn’t know how to handles his emotions and feelings and required too much of your support and attention. Rainbow was right when she said I should’ve been able to deal with them by myself, and in no way should’ve taken it out on you.”

The dirt continued to fall on the casket and fill along its sides and edges; the air inside becoming more than just stuffy. “What’s done is done! Let my useless memory be forgotten so six may have happiness once more! Sounds like a fair deal to me!”

Dirt began to raise past the surface of the casket as the glass panel was covered in a layer of dust. “That Spike the Dragon who was supposed to grow wings never got em, so isn’t that proof enough that that Spike is long dead? I am not a dragon but a drake with no name, who’s one-half of his body feels hatred for your ignorant actions, and the other feels sorrow for taking away your happiness!”

Rainbow began to sniffle as she dropped her shoveled despite claiming the night that she’d be the one to bury her friend. No one else was allowed to do the deed unless they had been invited, and it required copious amount of alcohol to get her friends to agree.

Yet here the cyan mare sat, crying without hindrance into her hooves.

The straps finally made to pull back the drake, but they weren’t the reason for his confused cough. “You should be the last pony crying for my sake. Go on, get drunk with this drake, and swear at the last call to forever forget the name of Spike.”

The shovel through the last of its contents down into the ditch below, sealing whatever laid buried below it hidden underneath its layers, as Spike the Dragon finally came to rest in peace. Though the sky couldn't be seen past the dense pack of clouds, there was no rain nor any lighting.

The mane six continued their silent duty late into the night, until the dirt became leveled with the tombstone before it. The friends went their separate ways once their greatest evil and shame was hidden away, never meetings as friends ever again.

The blurry grayness of the tombstone returned to clarity once the present drake blinked his eyes and returned to the real world. He shook his head to alleviate the headache gained by stimulating the hallucination, as he then gazed to the phantom at his side.

Rainbow Dash hadn’t so much as flinched at the unknowable amount of time that two stood together in silence, as Spike wasn’t quite sure that the mare knew he was there. She was too lost to the baby dragon dead below their feet, who would look up to the current drake in awe, for he was what the little one dreamed of becoming.

“So...that dragon you kept on going about that I should emulate more of...” Spike raised a shaky claw at his tombstone. “I take it this is what became of him.”

“Hey, that first time you and I went into town, you were telling me about this dragon...is this him?”

Dash nodded her head, as her frail voice escaped past her lips. “What gave it away?

“That his last name is officially dragon?”

Even though she didn’t want too, Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but have a small, pained chuckle.

Spike couldn’t bring himself to chuckle as well, though he offered a small smile. “You made it sound like the kid had either ran away, or the Royal Guard locked him away because he had become too dangerous. But I was never expecting this.”

“We didn’t expect it ourselves.” Rainbow rose her head but never did her eyes leave the grave. “I cried at the funeral, but tired afterward to conceive myself that it wasn’t my fault. Slowly but surely, his memory passed from my mind, until I came to meet you again.”

Spike raised a brow as the shivers coursing through his body disallowed him from looking back at her. “Again?”

Rainbow smiled as she tried to look away from the grave to him, something she failed to do. “You remind us so much of him that I can’t help but sometimes see you as him. It’s strange, I know, and I’m sorry to impose such a weird thing on you.”

The thought of her seeing Spike as the baby dragon that was long dead, and not as this new drake that he had worked so hard to become enticed a surge of anger to course through his veins. But he was able to stop the burst with a couple of deep breaths.

“Don’t sweat it.”

The mare to smile to show her thanks, but the frail thing couldn’t help but crumble after a moment. “Thanks. It really makes me wonder, though, that had I encourage Spike instead of discouraging him if he would've ended up as strong and as tall as you?”

Finally, she looked to him, and the drake knew what to do. So he did as he usually did in nervous situations: scratch the back of his neck and crack a lousy joke. “Am I really that tall?”

Rainbow looked like a little filly who had spilled a cup of milk from the drake’s height, nothing like the towering mare before who had once broken his previous spirts. Even though the times had changed, the drake knew that the six would never become the seven.

‘Though maybe that’s because I lack a mane,’ Spike thought to himself to try and make himself feel better.

“Yes,” Rainbow replied, tilting her head left as she twirled around and started walking. “Now enough with all this sadness. Let’s go get drunk!.”

Spike nodded his head. “Aye.”

Before he left to go join the mare, the drake glance back at the tombstone belonging to Spike the Dragon as if it would be the last time he could do so. He placed his claw on the top of the tomb and wiped away the filth that had gathered atop it.

“I’m sorry your dream had to die with you...rest in peace, Spike the Dragon.”

The drake felt only the winds touch upon walking away from the grave, as the path of whiteness that he was supposed to walk down as a purple drake all but shattered once that part of him had been locked away down below.

Though the drake walked without so much as a glance backward, for it wasn’t he who killed the dragon nor his dream – that service was due to the six mares supposed to have cared most for him.

The sun began its graceful descent through the night-time sky in order to rest behind the mountainous horizon, shining its final rays of light on two beings of scales and fur who finally made it to the establishment which they’ve longed for during the course of the day.

Spike looked down at his to the mare responsible for getting him shitfaced tonight. “You sure about this place? Seems sketched compared to the rest of Ponyville.”

Rainbow looked up to the drake with her signature smirk as she took the first step toward the bar. “The only reason why Ponyville doesn’t look sketched is because of this place! Everyone in town is all so virtuous only because they come here to have their vices and sins washed away with drinks, which are then swept underneath the carpet by the bartenders.”

“Really?”

“C’mon, dude.” She gestured a hoof to follow her, which the drake complied with. “Every place needs its section of controlled chaos.”

“Ri~ight.” Spike glanced downward into the open palm of his left claw. “Controlled chaos, eh?”

“You comin?”

“Be right there!”

The sole source of light presently inside the Monty came from the only window located at the farthest wall near the ceiling, where rays of sunlight exposed the trials of smoke wafting across the bar and rested upon the gather dusted on the many wooden tabletops.

Spike walked underneath the ceiling fan that had turned on by his approach, tilting in every direction possible while doing virtually nothing to alleviate the heavy smell of smoke. His ears tried to describe the incessant chatter filling throughout the place joint, gazing from the currently used pool tables to the round tables filled with ponies holding their equal share of cards, all in the attempt to find a free seat for both himself and his friend.

“Heh,” he chuckled under his breath. “It’s like I never left the bars in the Badlands.”

“You’ve been in the Badlands before? Wait, scratch that: you’ve been in a bar before?”

Spike didn’t know what to think first. For one, Dash had great hearing despite performing several rainbooms in the past. Two, he had just leaked vital information about his past after Ponyville which he wished to keep a mystery. Three, Dash was more interest in him having gone to a bar, rather than the lands known for being bad.

“Yes...Rainbow.” The drake looked away from his gaze to down at her. “More time than I care to admit, though most those times were for work.”

“Work?”

“Yeah. I used to be a—”

“EY, WHO LET THE FREAK SHOW IN?”

Spike and Rainbow turned to the nearby pool table, where the last ball was sunk in by the stallion hold the cue, consequently guilty of gaining his attention with his yell. The stallion looked up from the table to the drake, as the gang around him did the same. “Dragons usually aren’t allowed around these parts due to em eating ponies. I know this ain’t exactly Canterlot with the fancy guards, but you should've been run out of town before ya could even enter it, ya freak.”

Spike turned around to fully face the gang of stallions surrounding the pool table, stretching out his back as they began to do the same. “You’re not wrong about me being a freak, but the only one who’s ever allowed to call me that is me.”

“Oh?” The stallion feigned surprise as he stepped away from the table, cue still clutched in hoof and resting along his shoulder. “Is that so, freak?”

Spike’s eyes began to narrow as his claws curled inward into a fist.

“I just called you a freak without any bolt of lightning striking me from above.” The gang of stallions chuckled at their leader's joke, who came closer to the drake foot by foot. “So either you’re an liar, or you’ve got some punishment that you dish out to those that disobey you

“Like how you would demand a crying mare to keep quiet, but eat her whole when she refuses to do so. A much more terrifying trip, if I do say so myself.”

Spike tensed his foot to move forward but felt it relax by the touch of cyan fur. “Whatever you’re thinking Drag, don’t. These guys aren’t worth your time and will probably leave you alone if we mind our business.”

The gang leader chuckled as he stopped in his steps, eyes trailing all over the curves of the mare from behind the shades of his glasses. “All this soft talk coming from the feisty Rainbow Dash. I knew you liked to sleep around, but there’s no way you’re loose enough to mount a dragon.

“So why don’t you come over to our table, where we’ll get you drunk on whatever you like and fed to your heart's content, and we’ll take ya back home when the night’s almost done?”

Rainbow Dash put herself in front of the drake to closer to the leader. “Just who in the hay do you think you’re talking to?”

“Well you of course, babe.”

Rainbow began to drop her head as a layer of shadow hid away her eyes, as she took a step forward.

“Thanks for the complainant.” The voice that was neither of stallion or mare caught everyone’s attention.

The leader of the gang looked up at him, as Dash turned her head around as well. “Huh? What did you just say, dragon.”

“The dick complainant,” Spike stated simply, gesturing with a claw. “The only reason why you would make a false accusation against Rainbow Dash is to complement the size of my dick. Which relieves me greatly, thank you, for I’ve worried for a long time that I was a bit on the shorter side.”

The stallion clutched tighter at his cue before slamming the butt of it against the ground. “Did you fall out of your mountainside as a baby? You’re dead, kid, and we’re inviting your girlfriend out for drinks in celebration afterward.”

“That’s it!” Rainbow yelled from the middle of the two opponents, originally intend on trying to distance the conflict, but now more than willing to watch them collide. “I just wanted to get some drinks with a bud and not have anypony get hurt. But you all deserve the beating, and I’m more than willing to cover for all trouble the drake causes.”

The leader smiled as he signaled all his stallions to his side with the tilt of the head. “Come at us with your best shot, sweet-stuff; we all like a little foreplay before the action. As for you, dragon, this will all seem like a dragon attack to the common folk.”

“Don’t listen to em Drag.” Dash stepped back a few feet until she stood just before the towering drake. “All you’ll end up doing is impressing the other patrons with your moves, and earning their thanks for taking out the trash.”

Spike crashed a claw into an open palm, cracking his neck as he looked into every single pair of his opponent's eyes. “I haven’t fought since back in the forest, nonetheless ponies back in the Badlands. I could use seeing just how patched up I am.”

The drake and the mare stood together, smirks plastered across their faces, with their fists held just inches before them. Spike felt the rush of endorphins as if he and Rainbow were embarking in some great brawl, back to back, trusting in one another ability with a confident smile.

Spike always had to fight alone to the extent of his will, for that were to ever fail him in combat out in the world, then the world he knew would come to an end. But to have the assistance and backup of someone who could save him brought relief to the dragon’s heart.

For a moment, Spike the Dragon’s dream seemed to be coming true.

Then the drake realized everything wrong in his current situation. His eyelid sealed shut over his purple eye, while the ones over his green eye couldn’t be more repelled away from each other.

Another entity gained control of the green eye as it began to focus on things that the purple eye tried to ignore. Instead of seeing the great combat ready to unfold with the mare he dreamt of fighting alongside with, Spike saw instead the frightened and annoyed faces of the other patrons.

Phantoms splinters shot away from the wooden tables, flying into nearby eyes and furs, coming afterward to become a threat littered across the floor. The damage done would not only hurt those not involved but cause trouble for the bartender as well.

Spike understood that past the mind-numbing endorphins triggered by the superficial achievement of his dream, that other ponies, and items that would be hurt and or destroyed. By going deeper within himself and taking a longer glance, he was able to realize a truth that he felt mattered more to him.

In a flash, the drake appeared in front of Dash and just before the leader, who instinctively readied the swing of his cue. But before he could so much as tense his muscles for the swing, the drake before fell to his knees.

“Please excuse I and my partner’s rude behavior tonight.” Spike then bowed his head and stared into the wood. “Please find it within yourself to forgive the mare and let her drink in peace tonight, and let it be just us to settle our biological differences.”

The leader backed up a step as he tossed a glance to his gang, who all bore the same confusion as he as all their bewilder eyes laid upon the back of his bowed head. “Even though I may look like a dragon, I am actually a drake. Although the difference between us may be but a mere lack of the wings and of size, I still apologize for the harm my kind as laid upon you folk.”

Silence hung over to the bar, besides the occasional squawk from the ceiling fan. Rainbow’s eyes trailed along the length of the drake’s back to the tip of the tail that was perfectly lowered against the ground.

“Oh?” The leader laughed, taking back his place once more, tall and proud. “Are you finally realizing that a puny dragon like you stands no chance against a gang like us? What, are you afraid that you wouldn’t be able to protect her?”

The rose eyes jumped from the tail to the side of the drake’s face, as they began to sting with a familiar emotion.

“No.” Spike rose his head so he could communicate with his eyes that what he said next wasn’t a lie. “Dash would be able to hold more than her own and would’ve ended up saving me. I’m more so worried for the other guests here, whose night I hope to no further ruin.”

“Did I say you could look up!” The brown hoof wrapped around the back of the drake’s scales and slammed it downward into the ground, where the drake decided to keep it. “I don’t give a damn what we do here tonight because the owner ain’t in. And you’re sorry excuse for an apologie isn’t buying me any sympathy, so get back on your legs so I can knock ya down again!”

“No.” That response elicited multiple responses from different gang members.

“Are dragon’s chickens now? Get back on your feet and try to fight back!”

“Do you seriously think getting on your knees is enough to make up for the amount of land your kind as burned? We could wail on your for a thousand years and it still wouldn’t be enough to atone for your crimes, unlike our Princess of the Night.”

“C’mon, dragon. Get up and fight, so I can have the honors of saying I beat a fully breathing dragon!”

A shadow washed over the side of the drake’s head, as he dared to look up to see the concerned face of Dash. “Why...why are you taking this? I promise you no one is going to be mad, so make these guys eats their words.”

Spike rubbed his forehead against the wood in an attempt to shake his head.

“Fine.” Rainbow looked back up to her opponents and readied her hooves. “I’ll take care of all of them myself!”

The mare cracked her neck as she stepped next to the drake’s bowed head, gazing at every member whom she imaged already beaten in her mind. She took a step toward them, signaling the start of their battle.

“You’ll do no such thing!” Spike shouted from the floor, pausing to two airborne hooves before they could connect to their targets. “If you ever had the faintest hope of ever becoming my friend, then you’ll walk away from this fight now and go find us a seat!”

A brown hoof pulled the drake’s chin up so that his eyes could meet the gray ones of the leader. The stallion offered a smile for but a moment, sliding down his glasses on his nose. “I don’t know what kind of cowardly dragon you are, but this peace crap has gotta stop. Imma smack ya now, and ya better try your hardest to hit back.”

The hoof cocked itself backward, trained in the center between the two eyes, as it shot forth into the target.

Spike didn’t flinch as the hoof hovered just an inch away from his nose, eyeing both the punch and the leader. “So you’re too cowardly to throw a punch but strong enough to take one without flinching. You’re one strange dragon, but I know what’ll get ya pumping.”

The brown hoof flew back to wrap around the cue, which was shoved high up into the air, and brought down into the head of Rainbow Dash. She didn’t have time to see the movement happen, only recoiling away at the last second upon seeing the brown blur, closing her eyes for the moment.

No pain came to bore deep into her head and course through her body, as she took the step backward, and re-opened her eyes. In her place was the drake, leaning as far left as he could, as the cue lifted away from his neck.

“That wasn’t supposed to be for you!” The cue came down much harder against the drake, who struggled with a groan to keep his body up at the strange angle. “Why won’t you fight back!?”

The cue smashed against the exposed neck with the most amount of impact it was capable of, as it shook at a terrific speed that caused the drake to collapse onto the floor. Though his green eye was left open to the world, looking deep into the depths of the stallion currently beating him.

“Why.”

Another slam.

“Won’t.”

The cue rebounded off the neck.

“Fight.”

The cue snapped in half due to the force of the attack on the throat.

“Back!”

The sharp end of the cue prepared itself to be impaled into the drake’s throat, past his scales where blood would eventually leak out.

“ENOUGH.” The call forced all to put down their drinks as weapons fell to the ground, all eyes climbing to behind the counter of the bar, where the bartender had put down his now cleaned glass. “Anymore fighting will result in the immediate ban of all those involved.”

The leader stepped past the body of the fallen drake and opened his hooves to the bartender. “C’mon, Trendy. We’re just trying to clean the bar of any dangerous filth, and you know dragons like these can attack at any moment.”

Trendy, the now revealed bartender, picked up his next glass and began cleaning. “All I see is a potential paying patron being beaten by the local rowdies who are about to get the boot. Leave the kid alone and get back to your game.”

The leader was at a loss for words as he took another step forward. “But Trendy, your folks were burned by his kind. Don’t you wanna get a beating in for the good of the whole town?”

Trendy looked past the desperate stallion and to the drake looking back to him with a single green eye. “Hey kid, you ever breathe fire on ponies before.”

Spike struggled to speak, trying to get the words passed his hurt throat. “A few times...though it was by accident.”

“And were those ponies hurt bad at all?”

Spike shook his head to save himself the pain of speaking.

“Good enough for me. Get back up on your feet and take the V.I.P. seat below the window – I’ll bring your drinks to you whenever you’re ready.”

Spike pummeled claw against the wood in order to establish a beam of support for the rest of the body, but felt relieved when soft fur caressed the smooth scales under his head. He felt the strands of the chromatic mane that he couldn’t but sniff the scent of strawberries off.

“You’re an idiot, y’know that?” she said without looking at him. “You first shun my friends but then take a beating from a douche. How more idiotic can you be?”

The warmth of her body felt great against the drake’s scales, as he was allowed to rest against her as she carried some of his weight to the booth. He cracked a grin, not quite knowing what was to come out of his mouth next.

“Free drinks for everybody!”