Every Dragon Has His Day

The rest of the festival seemed to pass with a blur. He managed to catch up with Twilight and the rest of the ponies near a cotton candy stand. Pinkie Pie had two hooves up on the counter and was screaming.

"OUT OF COTTON CANDY AGAIN? HOW DO YOU EXPECT A PONY LIKE ME TO KEEP ENERGIZED FOR THE REST OF SUPER-TOTALLY-AWESOME DRAGON PARTY?"

An earth pony stallion peeked up from behind the stand.

"M-ma'am, you've eaten a-all of it and I don't have a-anymore..."

The pink pony suddenly began to fume, until she caught sight of a churro stand and galloped over towards it excitedly.

"That Pinkie Pie. Can always calm her down with sweets." Twilight Sparkle said, rolling her eyes with a smile.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash rolled their eyes. “And about five barrels of cider, too...that girl is gonna have to do field work for all of the cider she drank!” Applejack quipped.

“Yeah! I barely got a mug down before she just ended up drinking it all! Even Spike barely got a taste,” Rainbow Dash said with a slight frown. Fluttershy put her hoof around her and tried consoling her.

“I'm sure she was just really excited of our Spike being celebrated that she couldn't control herself. You know how it is. I'm just glad nopony got hurt in all of the fun,” she said with a grin.

“Rarity? Has anypony seen Rarity?” Twilight asked, craning her neck around the dispersing crowds.

“Ah haven't seen Rare since after Spike's speech. Maybe she was just off enjoying the festival by herself.”

“Yes, but now it's almost....oh hey, Spike!”

Twilight caught sight of Spike staring at a dragon mask being sold at a stand quite intensely. As she trotted up to him, he turned to her.

“Oh, hi Twi! I was just looking at these silly things.”

He pointed to the mask that was hanging from the stand. Big, goofy eyes and two horns growing out the side of its head.

“Imagine how silly a pony would look with that on!” Spike chuckled.

Twilight knew that the past few days hadn't exactly been the easiest for him. She knew that no matter what she could have told him, the only way he was going to be convinced that things were fine is if he found it out on his own.

“Spike, have you seen Rarity? We haven't seen her all day and were wondering if she was with you.”

“Uh, sorry Twi. I haven't seen her either.”

Like he'd actually go out and try to find her after what happened backstage. And what did Twilight mean, “if she was with you?” Spike's mind raced, wondering if Twilight was playing dumb with him. What if Rarity had already told them? Would they be fine with that, of all things?

“Hello, girls! I'm sorry, I was just looking at the most dazzling dragon-inspired ensemble from Canterlot, you know that they're very much more open to them these days than they used to be.” Rarity trotted around the six friends eagerly. Pinkie's face was stuffed with churros.

“Rarity! We've been looking all over for you! Ah well, all that matters is that you're here now, I guess. I think we can declare this festival a rousing success, right Spike?”

“Uh, yeah...” Spike said with a blush.

“BEST. DRAGON PARTY. EVER!” Pinkie exclaimed, before returning to her mountain of churros.

“We all should get some rest. We still have things to do tomorrow, right Applejack?” Twilight said, turning to her.

“Yeah, we do, especially you, Pinkie Pie.” Applejack said with a glare. “You gotta help me get cider production back up or Granny ain't gonna be pleased.”

Pinkie Pie smiled and pronked off with Applejack. “Worth it!” she excitedly exclaimed as the two walked off.

“Flutts and I better head back to our houses too. She's been begging me to have a 'pet picnic' for months now, and it starts early.” Rainbow Dash yawned. She was not a morning pony. They both flew off away.

“Spikey-wikey, I had the best time with you today. I can't believe the noble dragon that you've become in such a short time,” Rarity said, hoof under his chin.

“T-thanks, Rarity. And thanks Twilight, for being there for me. You guys really are always there for me.”

Spike began to tear up. Maybe he could fit in, even with his wings. He'd become what he always wanted dragons to be seen as by ponies. He might even start a new era of ponies and dragons living together in peace.

Rarity leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. Twilight's eyes bugged out and she stared at the two in silence at first, before giving way into a smile.

“See you tommorow, my handsome dragon.” She trotted off back to Carousel Boutique, a pony who more than just accepted Spike's new change. She reveled in it.

“I see someone had an especially good day today, huh?” Twilight said, with a sly grin.

“Yeah, yeah,” Spike said, rolling his eyes and trying to comprehend how she was taking it.

“Come on, Spike. Hop on my back, and we'll go home.”

Spike decided against trying to fly home. He had always felt safe riding on top of Twilight, and this time didn't feel different.

“Guess somethings really never change,” he smiled contentedly. He stretched out his wings and let them flap in the wind.

As the two winged creatures flew high over the festival grounds in various states of disassembly, the light from the evening's sunset caught both of their wings. One set feathered and a deep lavender, the other scaled and green with purple edges. And yet, if you looked at them in the right light, you could almost see them join to form a being that was more than itself. A dragon, the ferocious beast that once terrified ponies, had found his way. Spike had proven he was more than the rough dragon exterior ponies saw in him. His friends would always love him, and somepony who was once his friend was now something more to him.

Underneath that armor of scales, there was a heart of gold.