I do not own 'My Little Pony'

Encounter

It was a wonderful day in Equestria for all, especially in Ponyville. The sun was shining bright and the air was clean as always. It was days like these that a certain baby dragon and Unicorn loved.

After working so hard in her studies on magic and friendship, Twilight had an idea. She and Spike would head to Sugar Cube Corner for a small break. Spike agreed whole heartily to the plan.

After dealing with a bit of Pinkie... randomness, Spike ended up with a free gem cupcake. After Pinkie Pie gave them their order she seemed to...vanish, but a new cupcake would appear when they finished. She may be weird, but she sure can bake. He was already finishing his third when a certain Unicorn entered the bakery.

"Spikey-Wikey" a angelic voice spoke, it belonged to a white mare named Rarity "There you are, I've been looking for you."

Spike felt his skip a beat Rarity was looking for me! he thought in excitement What could she want?

"Hello milady" Spike greeted in a daze "What can I do for you?"

"Twilight I was wondering...I need Spike for a favor." she spoke hesitantly "I need gems for a dress..." she hesitated again "and I... ran out."

"So you want Spike to go gem hunting with you?" Twilight asked "I guess that's..."

"No deary" she cut her off "I need Spike to get the gems for me."

"WHAT, You want Spike to go gem hunting alone!?" Twilight asked "Rarity that's pretty dangerous for Spike, he's just a baby."

Wow, thinks for the vote of confidence Spike thought sarcastically.

"I would ask some-pony to go along but every-pony is busy, even you." Rarity defended herself "Spike is the only one who can find gems without a spell."

"Twilight, I can do it" Spike spoke "I go gem hunting with Rarity all the time."

"Yes, with her." Twilight spoke with emphasize "Why can't you go with him?" she asked her friend

"I have a very large order and I need to make the clothes." Rarity spoke "While I do this, Spike can get me the gems."

"Come on Twilight." Spike practically begged.

"I don't need that many." Rarity spoke "Spike can be in and out in a hurry."

"Well..." Twilight began as she looked into the pleading faces "Fine"

"Yes" both Spike and Rarity cheered

"Just fill this basket up" Rarity spoke producing picnic basket "that's all I need."

"Now remember Spike" Twilight began "if you get into any danger just run."

"Don't worry" Spike spoke "I can take care of myself." he flexed his muscles earning a giggle.

"Thank you again Spikey-Wikey" Rarity spoke "you are a true gentle-drake" she leaned in and gave him a kiss "I couldn't do this without you."

"Anything for you" Spike spoke dreamily "I'll be back later."

"I expect you back soon" Twilight stated "It's supposed to storm later on."

"Watch out for that doozy!" Pinkie shouted

Wait, WHAT?

Spike was like a dragon on a quest, he was determined to get Rarity the gems she needed. Though I'm sure she wouldn't mind if I snack on a few-NO, bad Spike, these are for Rarity. He needed to stay focused. I know the perfect place to look.

There was a small ravine that was just full of gems underground waiting to be dug up, he could smell them. There was a large amount of trees and vegetation to cover the area. In those woods were a lot of wild animals. There was waterfall on the side of a mountain than ran off into a nice sized stream. A few feet away from the waterfall was a large cave.

Spike found the ravine when he was out exploring when the girls where having their adventures. He instantly fell in love with the place. He wanted to share it but decided to make it his special spot, a little haven.

He couldn't wait to get there. How long has it been since I've been there anyway? He didn't know but it was too long for his taste. The only reason he didn't go more often was because it was a few miles out of the town.

That's when he heard it. From the direction of the ravine, he heard growls and roars.

Naturally when one heard these kind if noises they would turn away, Spike usually would have turned away.

Not this time.

For him the ravine was his, his home away from home. His territory. A dragon's territory was the same as their hoard. He couldn't abandon his territory, plus the best gems are there.

Spike slowly made his way toward the noises.

What Spike saw was far from what he was expecting, but not unusual. There was a pack of Diamond dogs attacking a dragon. This was not uncommon since both species were natural enemies for gems.

It was just something that's never happened this close to Ponyville.

There had to be six of them surrounding the dragon, and another six dead. They all seemed to be nothing but the lower Beta dogs so they weren't too smart. These dog however, were large, wore armor and brandished spears.

The dragon was black with large bloody wounds everywhere.

They seemed to have the dragon backed to a corner but were wary to get close.

Spike had to admit that he admired the dragon. Even as the dogs jabbed with those spears there was no backing down.

"Now I finish dragon" a voice spoke "and gem ours."

Spike turned his head and saw another diamond dog. It seemed that he hadn't seen Spike hiding in the bushes. It was one of the ones that pony-napped Rarity, the large grayish blue one.

The Diamond dog was brandishing a large spear, larger than the ones the others used. The kind that was used for the sole purpose of hunting and killing large creatures.

Like dragons.

The dog pulled his paw back to throw the weapon.

"NO!" Spike shouted

Spike didn't think, he just acted.

He jumped toward the Diamond dog and crashed with a full tackle. This caused the surprised Diamond dog to drop the spear. He and Spike to roll out of the bushes into the open in a heap. The shock was evident to all who saw the two.

The dragon was the first to recover from surprise and react. Using the snake like tail similar to a scorpion he impaled the nearest Diamond dog in the exposed neck part of the armor. The dog fell over and began to shudder and convulse.

Spike was grabbed by a pair of large paws and lifted up. He was now face to face with the Diamond dog he had tackled. The Diamond dog began to squeeze as if-no he was trying to crush Spike.

"You!" the dog shouted in anger.

The Diamond dog seemed to have remembered Spike. In the instant of recognition he relaxed his grip on Spike. This was enough for the young dragon to draw breath.

And expel fire.

The flame Spike usually produces isn't much, an insult really. Thankfully the Fight-or-Flight instinct kicked in and Spike chose fight. His fear allowed him to produce a slightly larger flame. It wasn't enough to hurt, but it did scare the Diamond dog enough to drop Spike.

The Diamond dog was on his feet faster than Spike. He was already making his way toward the baby dragon in a rage.

Spike knew he was in trouble, he needed an idea and fast. He glimmer from the corner of his eye caught his attention, it was a spear.

With no better plan the baby dragon grabbed the spear. It was to big for him to hold properly, but he managed to raise it. I hope this works.

Spike waited for the outcome, whether it be the death of the Diamond dog or his.

Nothing.

Spike never felt the feeling of something ramming into the spear. He never felt himself being knocked over to be killed.Am I already dead?

All he felt was something wet move across his chest. Spike's eyes snapped open as he felt the strange sensation. He was being licked!

His green eyes snapped open to meet a pair of red orbs.

"That got your attention." the dragon spoke giving a low chuckle.

Spike looked toward where the Diamond dog that he tackled was. The Diamond dog was on the ground completely still, a pool of blood under him. Spike didn't need anyone to tell him the dog was dead.

"Y-you killed them all."

"Not all" he was corrected "one got away."

Up close Spike could see that the dragon was black with red markings similar to a tigers' stripes everywhere, even on the underbelly of the dragon. A snake like tail with a triangular type point at the end swayed calmly. The most interesting part was that the dragon was a female, the first female dragon Spike ever met. She was quadrupedal and as big as two full grown Manticores.

She's beautiful was his thoughts

"Thank you." she spoke causing Spike to jump back in shock.

"Ho- Can you read my mind?" he asked.

"No." she answered, pointing her tail to him "Your spines are standing up."

Spike turned to look at his spines as best he could. Just as she said, his spines were standing. He was thankful for his thick scales to hide his blush.

"I'm s-sorry" he spoke "t-that's never happened before."

"What are you doing here?" she asked calmly.

"I um, I was... am here to..." Spike was at a loss.

"STOP!" she roared knocking Spike back in shock "YOUR A DRAGON, AREN'T YOU?"

"Y-yes." Spike answered terrified.

"Then act like it." she snapped "Even a baby dragon is a great dragon" she grabbed him by the arm and stood him up "if he stands against the world, and does it with a blaze!"

Spike stared at the dragoness in front of him in a mixture of feelings. She was trying to get him to act like a dragon. Not like the ones he met at the migration, but the kind he always pictured.

Proud and majestic.

"I'm Spike and I'm here here to gather gems for my friend." he spoke in a way he never knew he could "What are you doing here?"

"I have claimed this area as my territory." she spoke coldly.

Spike didn't show it but he was devastated, he had just lost his haven. Once a dragon claimed an area as theirs, then that was it. Everything in a mile long radius became their territory.

The only way to get anything was to fight for it. It seemed the bigger dragon knew this since she became cold to him. He lowered his head in submission, Spike knew it was a fight he would lose.

The black dragon must have known how he felt because she spoke again.

"Take the gems from the dead Diamond dogs." she spoke "I've claimed this area as my territory... but you can have them."

"T-thank you" Spike spoke with false happiness Diamond dogs always carry gems

The baby dragon had no trouble taking from the dogs. Not after their last encounter when the kidnapped Rarity. His only problem was stealing from the dead.

"Before you get to business" she spoke again "we can't let such a meal go to waste." she pointed to the bodies "Join me." she pointed to the Diamond dog that he tackled "You helped finish him so he's all yours."

Spike almost went full green at what she was implying. She wants me to eat him! He'd never eaten meat in his life, he was raised vegetarian. His family was made of ponies after all.

"No thanks" Spike tried not to gag "I'm fine."

"Do you wish to insult me?"

Spike nearly smacked himself for his own stupidity. Dragons were very territorial, especially with their food. Refusing something like that was like spitting in their face. Insulting a dragon wasn't good for your health.

"No, I don't." he answered, once again afraid "I've... I've never eaten meat." He wasn't ashamed of that, it was how he was raised.

"I know" she spoke "You don't smell like you have an ounce of blood on you." she gave a roll of her eyes "You pony born never do."

Her comment shocked the babay dragon. "How did you know I was raised by ponies?" Spike asked cautiously

"I can smell them on you." she answered as she made her way to the dead dog and raised a claw. In a horrible moment she ripped out his heart and handed it to him "It's the best part, eat."

It wasn't a request.

Spike held the still warm and beating organ in his hand. It was then that he realized how hungry he was. Well... it doesn't smell too bad strangely enough, it didn't smell bad at all. It was actually smelled nice.

With only a moments hesitation he bit into the organ. The heart released it's blood into his mouth with a wild gush. It was warm and went down easily as he drank.

It wasn't long before he drained it and swallowed the meat whole. It completely quenched a thirst he didn't know he had. But it started a hunger he never knew existed.

Spike made his way to the dead Diamond dog and knelt. Without a word from the dragoness, he began to eat. His teeth tore through with ease as the remaining blood jumped around his tongue. He devoured chunks of flesh off the Diamond dog at a time and only tore more off.

Spike had never eaten meat before that day, but now he knew he has been missing out.

All too soon it was gone, but not his hunger. Now there was only bones.

Bones and regret.

"Told you, the best part." she spoke "Always gets the hunger going."

I ate him Spike thought in a bit of a daze I actually ate him.

Spike looked down at himself. His body was covered in the Diamond dog's blood.

He never felt the dragoness position herself over his knelt form. She began to lick him, removing the blood but gaining his attention. He quickly jumped from her grasp. He hoped he didn't offend her, but she only gave him a curious glare.

"Hmm fine, you can use the river to remove the blood." she spoke

"No!" Spike spoke, a little too fast, not meeting her eyes "Thank you for the... meal, but I have to go." he looked up to the darkening sky "I'll let the rain clean me." And take another bath at home.

Spike started gathering the gems from the deceased Diamond dogs. He did his best not to notice the gaze of the black and red dragoness on his back.

Or his hunger.

Once he had the gems he placed them in the basket he brought. It wasn't a moment too soon, the rain began to pour down.

"Goodbye." Spike spoke never looking back.

"See you later." she returned with a certain tone.

Spike left toward the town as the rain washed him clean. Washed away all of the blood and regret. Wash it all away. Something told him no amount of baths would wash it away.

Not the blood.

Not the regret.

Not the feeling of her gaze...

or her tongue.

Not the desire for more.

Author's Note

This is my first MLP fiction.-Please give constructive criticisms and no flames.
Review and enjoy.
Will also take Spike related requests