Of Dragons and Mortals

Prologue: Awakening

Ponyville. A calm, quiet town in Equestria's countryside. Also the site of several of the most important events in recent history, as well as the home of Equestria's newest princess and the Elements of Harmony, who frequently play host to the god of chaos and go on epic, world-saving adventures.

So maybe not very quiet, but Ponyville is nonetheless calm and an all around pleasant place to be.

The keepers of the Elements are not the only remarkable individuals that live in this unassuming but oh-so-important town. Ponyville is also the home of the only friendly dragon in Equestria, a young and small dragon named Spike.

One warm summer evening, Spike found himself sitting in the park with no one around, sighing and thinking. The park was always abandoned at this time of night, so this had become a spot that the young dragon used to sort out his thoughts without his friends and loved ones distracting him. Sometimes one needs to be alone, after all.

The young dragon had actually grown a bit in the many years he had spent in the small town: his fire breath was more powerful than ever, he was stronger, and his voice had dropped, among other things signifying a growing young drake. His physical growth, though, seemed to have been stunted, as he was only a little bigger than he had been when he first moved to Ponyville from Canterlot. He was a little bigger than the 'cute little dragon' Twilight Sparkle had brought with her, but he still looked prepubescent. Generally, however, this was simply written off as dragons aging differently from other species.

Spike was deep in thought, but still perked up when he heard the sound of a male voice singing. This was closely followed by the sound of a lute being played. Smiling in spite of himself, Spike straightened out and looked over towards the sound. He was rewarded with the appearance of a dust-gray unicorn with blue eyes and chestnut-brown mane. His name was Quick Wits, and he was a traveling musician who had been in Ponyville a week, performing in the streets. He was really good, too.

The unicorn was walking down the path, giving off an aura of relaxation while spinning his latest tune on his lute, a smooth song about moonlight and twinkling stars, with a calm and soothing melody. For a moment, Spike wondered if the distracted bard would simply walk past without noticing him, but when Quick was a few paces away from the bench, he stopped. Quick looked at Spike as though startled to see him.

“Nice song,” Spike said, smiling.

“Thanks,” Mr. Wits replied, frowning at him. “What's wrong, little guy?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you look like you're deep in thought about something unpleasant.” The unicorn leaned his lute against the bench and sat down next to Spike. “Mare troubles?”

“I guess you could say that.” Spike answered, leaning back on the bench. Quick was very easy to talk to, and always seemed eager to lend an ear to anypony’s troubles, so Spike didn't mind talking to him. Still... “It's... complicated.”

“Hey, try me!” Quick exclaimed, patting Spike on the back. “I'm smarter than I look.”

Spike looked over to him and couldn't help but smile. Quick Wits was every inch a “pretty boy,” with the sort of roguish, almost boyish good looks that many nobles would kill to have. Quite like a teenage heartthrob, really.

“You'd pretty much have to be, huh?”

“Ouch! Low blow,” the unicorn replied. He clutched his chest dramatically, but grinned good-naturedly with mirth in his eyes. Quick's eyes were indeed surprisingly bright with intelligence and laughter, but it was 'surprising' because his kind of looks usually signified a dense mind coasting on appearances or a dim-witted noble who worried more about accessorizing his look than anything else. “But seriously, problems don't get better by going over them again and again on your own. Fresh input often helps.”

Spike's smile faded, and he turned his head down to stare at the ground.

“I don't... It's complicated.”

“You said that already.”

Spike looked up at his companion and studied him. He had quickly come to like Quick Wits, pretty much since the moment he first saw him. There was something about the traveling bard that made Spike feel like he could be trusted; he had spread laughter effectively enough to make Pinkie Pie proud, and he was kind and respectful to everyone he met. It was a young friendship the two young men shared, but a strong one. And something told Spike that even if Quick didn't understand, he'd at least try to.

“There's something wrong with me,” Spike finally said. He quietly waited for Quick's response. None came, so he looked up to find the unicorn silently observing him. Taking his silence as a go-ahead, Spike continued. “It's a dragon thing, I know it, I just... know it...”

“What is it?” Quick said, his voice calm and supportive. “What's wrong?”

“I'm... stunted. I'm growing up slowly. Don't say it!” Spike held up a hand to forestall the inevitable response. “It's not how dragons age, I know it isn't.” The hand went down and balled up in his lap as he slumped forward and gazed at the ground. “Some years ago, the dragon migration passed by. The trail is right next to Ponyville, so my friends and I went over to observe it. I realized that I didn't know anything about dragons and... well... I followed the migration to learn more, to be with my kin.” Spike's posture tightened, and he felt Quick's hand rest on his back in a show of support. “Things didn't work out. The dragons were bullies. I didn't... I don't want anything to do with them. So I returned home. But I learned a bunch of stuff. Some of the dragons there were just a few years older than me at the time, the same age I am now, and they were... well... pony-sized. Bigger than I am.”

“And you're sure it's not your breed of dragon?” Quick said, gently rubbing the small dragon’s back.

“I'm sure. I can't explain it, but... I know there's something wrong with me, I just don't know what... It's...” He paused and searched for the right words.

“A gut feeling?” Quick supplied.

“Yeah. I have a gut feeling, an instinct... I know there is something wrong, that I'm not developing as I should, it... it's aggravating! I feel so helpless!”

“Can you describe it to me?”

“I'll try... I feel... I feel like something is holding me back. Something is stunting me. I mean, I'm strong, my voice has changed, my abilities are getting stronger, all signs of a dragon maturing, and my mind also feels more mature, but my body… it just doesn't follow up.”

“Hence the mare troubles.”

“Yeah. I'm sure you know I'm close with some of the prettiest mares in Ponyville. About a year ago, I realized that... well... I began to be attracted to them... you know... physically.”

“But...?”

“But I'm still too small. Look at me, I'm of age but look like a minor! I can't... I can't be with a mare that way... and the ones I know would never be interested in a… in a child in that way. Which I suppose is a good thing, really.”

“So you want to grow up?”

“I want whatever is wrong with me to be fixed! I keep...” Spike paused. This was another doozy, and he needed to word it right. “The same gut feeling is telling me that this problem is of a dragon nature. And ponies know next to nothing about dragons. I want... I want to stay with my friends, my family. This place, Equestria, is the only home I've ever known, and I'm happy here, I truly am...”

“But...?”

“But as much as I hate them... the only ones who may have an answer for me are the dragons... I keep playing with the thought of going out to find them again.” Spike closed his eyes, unshed tears building in them. “I can't live like this. I can't go around feeling all wrong... But every time I make plans, every time I plan to sneak off in the middle of the night, or have a farewell party arranged, or just go out on a walk and not come back...” Spike choked back a sob and actually smiled. “Twilight asks me to make my famous nachos, she loves them so much and that smile when she eats them... Pinkie shows up with a freshly frosted diamond cupcake, just because she wants to make me smile...” Genuine warmth entered Spike's voice as he reminisced about his friends. “Fluttershy asks for help with her animals, and we end up having a picnic with her animal friends... Applejack will show up and offer some expertly baked apple goods, or just good conversation... Rainbow Dash and I will end up discussing those adventure novels we both love so much... Rarity will give me a rare gem to snack on and smile that beautiful smile... Or the Cutie Mark Crusaders, or I guess Conquerors now... Making music with Sweetie Belle, working on new contraptions with Apple Bloom, or cheering Scootaloo on as she performs... Or any number of things, really...”

“That sounds wonderful,” Quick said, his voice filled with warmth.

“And that's just the ones closest to me. Every time I think I have the determination to go after the dragons, someone will do something, or need something, that makes me just... want to stay. It's the little things that make me feel like I truly belong here. With them.”

“I understand. You have wonderful people who care deeply for you, and who you care deeply for. I gotta ask though, do you have any male friends?”

“I do, they're just not as important to me.”

“Hey, I can respect that. Nothing wrong with being a ladies' man.” A sudden gleam appeared in Quick's eye, a gleam that Spike missed. “Would you defend your friends with your life?”

Well, that came out of nowhere. Spike looked up at Quick Wits and looked into his eyes. Those blue eyes were harder than he had ever seen them, and completely serious. It was an unexpected question, but an easy one to answer.

“Yes.”

A few moments of silence passed, and Spike couldn't shake the sensation that he was being tested somehow. But then Quick's eyes softened and returned to the look he knew. Spike felt as though he had passed whatever test it had been.

“I may be able to help,” Quick said.

There was a new sensation in the air now. Quick seemed more impressive and important somehow and gave off a sort of aura that made him seem trustworthy. It was odd. The sensation vanished as soon as Spike became aware it existed, and Quick was just Quick again.

“See, I may not be an expert on dragons,” he began, “but I have something here...” The unicorn dug his fingers into the front pocket of his pants and produced a small, black gem. There was something strange about it...

“What is that?” Spike asked, leaning closer to it. It smelled… interesting. And it also smelled, which was odd for a gem.

“A dragonstone. Or 'The Dragonstone', I'm not sure.” Quick rolled the small gem around in his hand and fixed Spike with a relaxed gaze. “I got it in a thrift store in... Canterlot, I think. It was after a dragon scare.” Quick smiled. “The shop owner told me the stone had a mystical connection with dragons and would ward off dragon attacks. And I had some spare money and I was feeling a little paranoid, so I bought it. It's been with me for years, and I haven't met any dragons.” He chuckled slightly. “'Course, no one has, so the stone is useless to me. Didn't keep you away from me either, huh?” Quick held up a finger and smiled. “But! There is magic in this gem, magic unlike anything I've seen in ponykind. Maybe the shopkeeper wasn't spouting nonsense, maybe it has a special connection with dragons. I mean, you seem to be all over it.”

Spike caught himself leaning almost all the way forward trying to smell the gem. It was a unique scent, and quite alluring.

“Sorry...”

“Don't be. Here.” Quick held out his hand, and Spike slowly extended his own to grab it.

The two hands brushed with the gem in the middle, and a surge passed through Spike. When he then slowly retracted his hand, the gem rested in his palm. It was exuding an odd sensation. Following some primal instinct, Spike popped the gem into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

The world fell away.

A few years ago, Spike had experienced the full weight of the dragons’ greed and their violent natures. He had stolen and destroyed and grown to satisfy his basest desires. It had been a terrifying experience. Now he was suddenly feeling it all again, that overwhelming sensation of greed and the power it promised. He could take what he wanted, build a hoard unlike anything that had ever been seen, destroy all who opposed him... As this seductive power whispered to him, Spike began to panic. He had been down this road before, and turning back had been almost impossible. It had cost him nearly everything. What if he fell again? What if...?

Spike's mind was a dark place. Suddenly, there was light. The world came back into half-focus. A hand was grasping his shoulder tightly.

“You're stronger than that,” Quick said, his voice cutting through the overwhelming sensations rushing through the young dragon's mind. “Fight it.”

And Spike fought. He tried to suppress the emotions, the overwhelming greed and associated rage, the urge to take and take to satisfy himself.

He succeeded.

The sensations faded at his insistence, the previously overwhelming impulses bending at his will and fading away. His head felt clear, and another sensation washed over the young dragon's mind:

Control.

He had complete control over himself, over his power, over his mind. No draconic instincts reared their ugly heads. He had powers beyond what he thought was possible, and they were at his clawtips without forcing themselves on him. He was nothing like the savage beast he had once been.

That was when the first flash of information surged through his mind. He flinched. Scripts he had never read, places he had never been, history he had no way of knowing, knowledge of all kinds that he had never acquired flashed through his mind at a dizzying pace. Spike slumped in his seat again and clutched at his head.

“It feels like someone blasted a library into my head!” He half-shouted, claws scratching at his head in a desperate attempt to slow the surges down and hopefully make them understandable.

“I know.” Quick replied.

Spike looked over at the unicorn, who regarded Spike with a certain pride in his eyes. The odd sensation of trust and strength was back, this time stronger than ever. By focusing on Quick, Spike found a calm island in the storm of his mind, and was able to concentrate a bit. Information flashed before his mind's eye, the sudden influx of knowledge trying to identify the “bard.”

“You need to get some rest, Spike. Things will be clearer in the morning,” Quick said, standing up and holding his hand out to help Spike up. But the dragon hesitated. His instincts told him to trust Quick, but this whole situation was odd, and there was a lot more to the traveler than he had let on. Facts and tidbits flashed before Spike's mind too quickly to focus on.

“Who... What are you?” he finally asked, meeting the unicorn's eyes. They twinkled, and Quick smiled softly, dropping his hand back to his side. Something told Spike that the gem was not the cause of these odd sensations. “What did you do to me?”

“You're more perceptive than I thought... Get some sleep, Spike.” Suddenly, Spike was lifted from the bench by a shimmering blue disc made of magic. “Maybe you'll have your answer tomorrow.”

The disc sped off towards the library with Spike helplessly along for the ride. As he glanced back one last time at the strange bard, who had turned away and was walking off, Spike's newly “improved” mind finally gave him something concrete. A word, a title.

“Dragonheart...” Spike muttered.

The disc flew Spike to the library's door and sunk into the ground, leaving the young dragon on his hands and knees in front of the door to his home.

Along with the title for the mysterious bard was a sensation: Dragonheart was a friend, could be trusted, and Spike should do as he suggested. His mind still reeling from massive information overload, Spike managed to get the door open with significant effort, and stumbled inside.

This late at night Twilight was already asleep upstairs, so she wasn't there to question his almost drunken gait and head-clutching as he shut the door, locked it, and almost stumbled down to the cellar, also known as “Spike's room.”

He barely reached his bed before he collapsed, allowing unconsciousness to claim him.

Tomorrow would be a new day.

Author's Note

Hello Fimfiction! Rakni here, testing the waters with my new story. This is not the first time I've ever written anything, but it is the first time I've ever published my writing to any significant audience. I currently do not have a proofreader or any coverart, which are both things I'd like to have but do not know where to look. Any assistance would be appreciated.

I will keep working on this, but since I have a busy schedule I do not know how often I will be able to update.

At any rate, I hope you enjoy my foray into the swampy bog that is writing and if you didn't, than I hope it didn't melt your eyes too much.

Edit: Edited now by the talented Feo Takahari
Edit2: Also edited by Pearly (not on this site)