The Great Dragon

“Are you sure you’re okay with letting Peachy stay with you?”

“More than sure! I insist that she stays!”

“Are you REALLY sure?!” Pinkie Pie asked, bright eyed putting her face right up to Rarity’s.

“Mooommm! Stop it!” Peachy said between clenched teeth, giving her mother the stink eye through the one part in her perfectly straight mane. Her coat and mane both peach colored, hence the name of Pinky’s oldest daughter.

“How about you Spike?”

“She’ll be fine.”

“Can I stay too?!” An orange colt with a black mane said; Pinkie’s only colt, an earth pony she name Pokey.

“No!” Peachy said.

“Oh little darling,” Rarity said to Pokey. “You wouldn’t want to stay. Peachy and I are going to be doing nothing but boring grown-up things.”

“But I could fly around on Spike!”

Peachy looked at Spike with desperation in her eyes. Her ears and horn pointing up at Spike.

“Well, I really don’t go outside much, Pokey. I’ll just be staying in, in case Rarity needs anything.”

Peachy’s desperation turned to relief.

“Aw you never leave,” Pokey said pouting.

“Yeah,” Pumpkin added. “You’ve been inside so long I don’t think you could even fit through the door anymore.”

“Peachy, do you REALLY want to-“

“YES! GO!” she snapped at Pinkie.

“Okie Dokey! Say goodbye to Rarity and Spike kiddies!”

“I don’t wanna leave!” Paisley groaned. “Everything is so much bigger here.”

The smaller daughters of Pinkie were sitting at the foot of Rarity’s bed and took turns hugging her.

“Bubye Auntie Rarity,” Pinkie’s youngest, Poesy, lisped. “I hope you feel better.”

“YEAH! GETBETTERSOYOUCANCOMETOMYBIRTHDAYPARTY!DADSAYSI’LLGETMYOWNBEDROOMAND YOUCANDODESIGNINGTOMAKEITLOOKLIKEYOURBEDROOM! THAT’LLBEYOURBIRTHDAYPRESENTTOMEAND-“

“Okay Piffle,” Pumpkin mercifully interjected. She shooed her younger sister off the bed and kissed Rarity on the cheek. “Do get better Aunt Rarity.”

Pumpkin motioned Spike to drop his head down to kiss level, when he did Pinkie Pie’s second oldest gracefully gave him a kiss on his nose. “Bye Uncle Spike.”

The rest of Pinkie Pie’s children began leaping up at Spike’s face trying to kiss or hug him, but for the most part hitting him in the chin with their hooves and horns.

“Come along, Pumpkin, Poesy, Plucky, Presto, Pokey, Paisley, Penny, Piffle, Patter, Pedagogy, Pickle Barrel, Pyx, Puce, Prescience, and Puck. I got a mustang waiting for me at home and he’s getting lonely!”

“Dad’s not a mustang, he’s a unicorn,” Pedagogy said.

“Daddy’s an accountant!” said Poesy. She obviously has been trained by her father to keep all of Pinkie Pie’s humiliating nick names from being leaked to the public.

Pinkie Pie hopped away, her massive brood bouncing behind her. Spike and Rarity waved to them goodbye.

“She is going to wear him out,” Rarity said as soon as Pinkie was out of earshot.

“He’ll go with a smile though,” Spike added.

“EW! Come on guys, its bad enough when my Mom talks like that.”

“We are just saying your Father must be very happy.”  Rarity said with an innocent smile worn just to annoy Peachy.

“Oh yeah? Well you two seem very happy,” Peachy said with a more sinister smile. “What’s it like when you - you know?”

Spike gulped.

“Oh Dahling, it is AMAZING!” Rarity cooed. She turned on her side to face Peachy and seductively writhed under her covers as she spoke. “You have no idea the PASSION of a dragon, they are so PRIMAL and so STRONG and sooOOOOOooooooooooo-“

“ALALALALA!” Peachy yelled with her hoofs over her ears and her eyes closed. She opened her eyes when she guessed it was safe for her delicate sensibilities to see Rarity smugly grinning knowing full well she won. Peachy looked up at Spike dropped her hooves from her ears and laughed at the look on his face. If he could still blush his face would be a beet red right now.

Unfortunately Spike is used to this. Rarity and Peachy are so in tune with each other Spike ends up feeling like the ball in a tennis match any time they decide to spar.

“Thanks for letting me stay with both of you,” Peachy said. “I really needed some peace and quiet.”

“You’re welcome here any time, hun.” Spike said. “Besides, it’s nice to see you smile for a change.”

“I smile!” Peachy said acting more insulted than she really was.

“Oh hush Spike!” Rarity said taking Peachy’s side as usual. “Alright, Peachy. Your Mother’s gone, let’s see those drafts of yours!”

Peachy nodded. “Be right back!” and galloped off to Fluttershy’s room where she has set up camp.

“That was the most flattering and most embarrassing thing you have ever said about me.” Spike lectured Rarity.

“It has been a while, but I have a very good memory,” she whispered looking up at Spike and fluttering her eyes. It made Spike wish he was still closer to pony size.

“Do you ever – regret not having a foal of your own?”

As weighty as the question was, Rarity hardly noticed and took it with her usual grace.

“Hmm. Sometimes, but only if they would be like Peachy.”

Spike knew that. There was no blood relation between the two of them, but one would never guess. Rarity has become Peachy’s de facto guardian with Pinkie Pie so busy with her other children.

“I wish we could have had offspring,” Spike apologized “or adopted at least.”

“Stop it! Spikey Wikey, we’ve been through this a million times and I’m sick of you blaming yourself for everything beyond your control. You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn’t destroy my career, you didn’t rob me of Motherhood, you didn’t alienate me from my parents, and you didn’t make me sick.”

“Sometimes, I wonder.”

“Well stop wondering. I’m never going to blame you and that’s that.” Rarity raised up her cheek. “Now kiss me and tell me you love me.”

Spike brought his head down to Rarity, and mashed the side of her head with his lips like he was chewing her head. “OM NOM NOM NOM!”

Rarity screamed and laughed at the same time. She was still laughing when Peachy returned. Peachy ignored the happy couple setting her drawing utensils on Rarity’s lap with her portfolio facing her.

“Okay, what I was looking of doing is bring your style back,” Peachy said as she opened up her portfolio.

“My style wasn’t that tight.”

“No I didn’t want to make an exact copy, like a modern take. See the jewels?”

“Hmm, what were you going to use?”

“On this one, cut onyx with grey cloth.”

“How about this?” Rarity tried picking up a charcoal pencil with her hoof but dropped it. “Oh Bother!”

“I got it.” Peachy used her unicorn powers to pick up the pen and draw the lines the way Rarity proposed.

The scene broke Spike’s heart. Rarity lost all of her magic some time ago, and now she was too weak to hold a pencil, yet still went on indifferent to her debilitating state. Peachy and all of her siblings were used to seeing her as frail on her best days and bedridden on the others, so Peachy barely noticed. To Spike it was another sign that Rarity has been sick for a very long time and was getting worse.

He left the two to their work, not bothering telling them he was leaving, since they wouldn’t notice anyway. They’ll be talking and drawing for hours before Spike is needed to carry Rarity into her studio so they can actually make the dresses. Peachy’s weakness is sewing so that will be the part that frustrates her as Rarity coaches. Peachy seems better at drawing the dresses than actually making them no matter how hard she tries. Her cutie mark is of crossed pencil and paintbrush which explains those strengths, and why she connected with the most creative friend of her mother’s.

Spike decided to go to his front door to test Pumpkin’s theory. So he opened it and tried to walk outside and stopped right at his wings. Passersby would get an eyeful of the comic sight of a homey looking doorway blown up to gigantic proportions with neck and head of a dragon sticking out like a purple and green goose.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he complained to himself. “Applebloom, I told you a fully grown dragon wouldn’t fit in this doorway.”

Spike remembered the argument she had with Applebloom over the front door. She mocked it painting horrible scenarios of Spike growing larger and larger till there’s nothing left in the world but him stomping around. Spikes’s first thought was to smash through the entrance and fly to Applebloom’s house with the doorway around his neck to give her a piece of his mind. Then he thought of how upset Rarity would be without a front door.

It did bring to light a very grim point: Spike has not left his house in a very long time.  He mulled over many questions to try to make sense of it all. How many times has a dragon lived with magical beings like unicorns? Is Rarity’s illness the result?

“Spike? Spike!” Peachy cried. “Something’s wrong with Rarity! Come quick! SPIKE!”

~~~~~~~

“SPIKE!” Silver shouted above the storm of green flames. “Listen to me!”

Spike viciously attacked Silver’s force field till it shattered. She pushed the flames away with a gust of wind before being scorched.

“Discord! Stop this!” Silver pleaded.

“OK,” she heard Discord say. “Hey Spike! Stop being a dragon! There, that should do it.”

Spike brought is tail down on top of Silver who dodged it by only a foot. The thunderous impact knocked Silver off her feet. Spikes’ growling was so horse and loud it shook her bones.

“Did it work?” Discord taunted. “I can’t tell with all the giant monster attacking going on.”

Silver heard Spike inhale and put up another force field just in time. The flames were boiling the snow causing clouds of steam to blind her. Silver jumped into the air high above The Great Dragon and Discord, Spike twisted and turned inside the steam cloud look for her. She flew higher looking down at Spike. Even from this high height the dragon spotted her and leapt up in the sky after her. She raced away hearing Spike gaining on her.

~~~~~~~

The Pegasus flew faster than he ever had in his life as the dragon gained on him. The terror of being eaten the only fuel he had left. As soon as he saw the dragon silhouette against the backdrop of the early red dawn, he dropped his parcel to distract it and ran into the clouds. He read that dragons normally don’t attack Pegasus, but this one was tracking him, wearing him down like a hawk against a pigeon. The sound of his heart beating pounded his temples, he wanted to just fall and let the ground put him out of his misery. Yet every time he heard the dragon’s maniacal laugh he found another bit of adrenaline to keep him flying away. The flapping of its great wings was getting closer.  He banked at a harder angle than he ever tried before, light headed he ducked behind a cloud. He panted loudly as he laid there on the cloud wide-eyed, cursing himself for not being able to breathe quietly. Above him was a dense fog, the blindness panicked him, he needed to see where the dragon went. He tried to listen for him, but the sound of his heart pounding pulsed his eardrums to the point where he might as well been deaf. Without warning, the giant head of the dragon leapt out from the fog inches away from the Pegasus’s face.

“AH HA! – Oh! Whoops. I’m sorry. I thought you were someone I know.”

The Pegasus had blacked out.

When he came to he was on the ground. A beautiful green glade lined with flowers, morning dew sparkled off the plants as birds chirped in the distance.

Am I dead? he thought.

“Oh good, you’re awake.”

He looked up at the dragon and screamed uncontrollably. The Pegasus tried to fly away but as soon as he moved his wings the pain of his furious flight grounded him.

“Hey! Hey! Calm down!”

The screaming Pegasus tried to run but tripped. He frantically crawled and still screaming.

“STOP SCREAMING!” the dragon yelled. Birds fled the nearby trees.

The Pegasus tried to play dead. The dragon picked the limp Pegasus up off the ground and sat him up facing him.

“Look, I’m sorry. From a distance you looked like a friend of mine.”

The Pegasus was catatonic.

“Her name’s Scootaloo. Do you know her? She’s got same color coat and mane as you, so you would remember that.”

The Pegasus mouthed words a couple of times. “Meaaah.”

The dragon had no idea what he was trying to say. “Here you dropped this,” he said giving the Pegasus his mailbag. “What’s your name?”

“Daaaaaaah.” The Pegasus blinked and swallowed. “Down Draft.”

“Well hi, Down Draft. Welcome back. My name’s Spike.”

“You chased me because you thought I was a friend of yours?”

“Yeah, it’s an old game we’d play.”

“You’re not going to eat me?”

“No! I – Am – Not – Going – To – Eat – You!” Spike has been getting very annoyed with that question from everypony he meets nowadays. “So you never met Scootaloo?”

Down Draft shook his head.

“How about Rainbow Dash?”

“I’ve heard of her, but I never met her.”

Spike nodded. “Yeah she’s a bit of a celebrity.”

“I heard she defeated a dragon once, are you out for revenge?”

“’Defeated a dragon’?!” Spike scoffed. “She kicks a dragon in the nose while he’s taking a nap and now it’s ‘she defeated a dragon’?!” Spike shook his head laughing.

“That didn’t happen then?”

“Of course not! That’s stupid!” Spike sighed. “I’m going to have a REALLY long talk with that silly filly. Do you know where she is?”

“She died.”

Spike was struck dumb. “She’s dead?”

Down Draft nodded.

“Rainbow Dash.”

The Pegasus nodded again. Spike growled.

“Now let me say this out loud so I know we are all on the same page: Rainbow Dash – is DEAD?”

“Yes.”

“And when did this happen?”

Down Draft shrugged. “I don’t know. A year ago I think?”

“A YEAR?!” Spike roared. “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ANYONE?! SHE DID HAVE FRIENDS ON THE GROUND YOU KNOW?!”

Down Draft screamed again and tried to run.

“STAY WHERE YOU ARE!”

Down draft obeyed, curling into a ball. Spike leaned in on the quivering mass.

“Down Draft, listen to me very carefully. I am going to repeat what you just told me. Rainbow Dash: former Wonderbolt, former Weather Chief of Ponyville, close personal friends with Twilight Sparkle your Steward has been dead for a year. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” Down Draft said, still crying and hiding his face under his wings. “Please don’t kill me.”

“How did she die?”

“I don’t know. I just carry the mail. Please, I got a wife. I just want to go home.”

Spike flew off snarling.

~~~~~~~

Silver could hear Spike’s snarling as he drew closer.

I’ve got to get to his head, Silver thought. If I can get to him I can cure him.

The danger in doing that was obvious. Spike seemed completely feral since being cursed.

Discord was laughing while flying alongside the princess, he didn’t want to miss a second of this chase.

“You know, it serves you ponies right.” Discord said. “Enslaving this poor dragon for all those years. Why can’t any of you just let things go wild?”

Silver dove down into some highlands on the edge of the desert, Spike was right behind her. The ground was thawed and fertile enough for the spell, so she landed. Spike banked low enough for the spell to work. Vines sprung out of the ground entangling The Great Dragon. Silver tightened vines pulling Spike against the ground, she brought more vines around his nose tying his mouth shut.

Spike struggled against the vines growling. Silver could hear the agony I Spike’s voice. As she got closer she could see the vicious lacerations her teacher had, deep cuts that would be fatal on any other creature. Any other dragon she imagined. She flew over quickly to cast the spell, as she got closer they locked eyes for her to see nothing behind them. The others she cured were still coherent, talkative in some cases. The was a feral dragon and nothing else. Spike thrashed violently breaking the vines. Silver cast more up to replace his restraints, but Spike shook off even more, tearing open his wounds at the same time. He was breaking free but at a terrible cost.

“Spike! Stop it! You’re hurting yourself!” Silver pleaded through tears.

“HA! What do you care? He’s just a dragon Celestia trained!” Discord said. “If it weren’t for that he wouldn’t even be here.”

~~~~~~~

“I don’t know if I should be here,” Spike cautioned.

“Nonsense. You’re Family.” Applejack shot back. “Just help set up the tent, and carry a few things and it’ll be fine.”

The entire Apple family has shown up. Applejack introduced Spike to any who didn’t hide. Most of them looked at the big dragon with suspicion. Spike noticed Fluttershy’s children were fully grown now.  He helped as they set up for the services, the co-workers not completely paralyzed with fear were polite. A few of the extended family remembered Spike. But for the most part, they were all strangers. Pinkie Pie and Applejack being the only exceptions.

“I wish Twilight could have come,” Spike confessed to Applejack.

“Ah know, but she has a lot of responsibilities now.”

The services were outdoors for the benefit of the large number of ponies that came to pay their respects. The Pastor’s eulogy spoke of Fluttershy’s kindness, her devotion to her family, her uncanny ability with animals, but no real mention of her six friends and the time with them in Ponyville. That wasn’t important to most of the grievers, not even to Applejack and Pinkie Pie. It mattered to Spike though. It was the only thing that mattered to him. Because it was the only time he fit in. He sat at a far distance from the rest watching them all and felt so out of place. When it was time for Spike to pay his respects the crowd of strangers look at him with dread.

She was my friend too, he thought as he stepped up to the coffin. She didn’t look at all as Spike remembered. Older, more plump, but it was the way she was laying there. When Fluttershy slept she never looked as stern as she did here. He placed the gift he brought in the coffin resting on her grey and pink hair, and walked back ignoring the gawkers.

The pallbearers were her four sons, strange she would have only colts. Her grave was set next to Big Macintosh’s on a hill at the far end of their property. The somber event was all finished by late morning.

After the ceremony most of the Apple family went home, those who were closest to Fluttershy stayed at her house. That was more comfortable for Spike, she knew most of them and their attitude towards him spread through the ponies he didn’t know. Spike still kept at a distance from the back-yard get together. He’s gotten far too big to mingle. Applebloom and Applejack being cordial as usual had that chore down, introducing one pony to the other and exchanging stories about Fluttershy and Big Mac. Spike just watched.

“I miss her already,” the quietest voice said next to Spike.

To his right was a tiny blonde and sea foam earth pony sitting demurely next to Spike.

“She was the kindest, best mother-in-law a filly could ever hope for.”

It made Spike smile inwardly. This one was so quiet, avoiding the crowd. She probably moved next to the dragon because no one else was near him. Spike imagined one of Fluttershy’s little colts saying: When I grow up I want to marry somepony just like Mommy!

“I miss her too,” Spike said trying to be just as quiet.

“I had no idea Fluttershy was friends with a dragon.”

Spike nodded. “We were friends when I was very young.” He was going to add about Fluttershy drifting away as Spike became an adult because of her annoying phobia, but it didn’t seem worth mentioning.

“I saw you leave something for her, what was it?”

“A flower, I visited her old house near The Everfree Forest. They were growing wild on the front lawn.” Spike scratched his spines on the top of his head. “I don’t know, I thought I should bring something. We haven’t gotten a chance to talk in so long. Her and Mac were – great. I wish I got to see more of them.”

“I remember Big Mac,” she said. “He would hardly say anything until we were alone. Then he’d go ‘So uh, when am Ah gonna be a Granddad?’”

They both laughed a little. Her imitation of Big Mac was pretty close.

“He wasn’t pressuring me or anything, he never did. If I didn’t want to talk about something or just didn’t feel like talking, he would just stay nearby in case I changed my mind. But with Momma Fluttershy, I always wanted to talk to her. I just,” She sniffed. “I just felt so comfortable here.”

She began crying openly, leaning on Spike. Spike put a hand on her and covered her with his wing to comfort her. In doing so he felt the tears welling up in his eyes. As the two wept Spike noticed they attracted attention of the others here.

Spike locked eyes with Applejack who smiled at him through tears.

~~~~~~~

Silver escaped Spike’s attack despite the tears in her eyes. She was crying as she flew from her wounded friend. Behind her she heard the last of the vines breaking and the dragon grunting in pain as he tore loose. She flew higher above the desert. To buy time she employed an invisibility spell.

“This is fun!” Discord said. “Where’d you go?”

Silver landed on one of the few clouds left so Discord could not hear her wings. Spike was climbing towards him from below. The princess thought of a mischevious spell to try on the Spirit of Chaos, a glamour spell that changed his likeness to hers. The sound of Spike’s wings grew louder as Discord looked at himself confused.

“Hey what’s this?” he asked, then looked down at the approaching dragon in horror.

Silver was ready to enjoy the show, then noticed Spike was flying towards her, the dragon knew exactly where she was hiding. Spike’s jaws snapped around the princess everything went dark. In a panic Silver teleported away unsure of where she was going. She got her bearings and realized she was back on the ground again.

How did he see me? She thought. The bonding spell!

As horrifying as that was it did mean there was a part of Spike inside the mindless dragon.

That means I CAN cure him!

That hope was still there. No remains the obstacle of getting near the dragon to do so. Every other time she used the spell the subject was restrained, an impossible task with Spike.

The dragon landed in front of her with a grinning Discord alongside him.

~~~~~~~

Spike landed with Pegasus alongside him.

“Let’s go again!”

“Pleeeeeaaaaaase?!”

“I don’t think so,” Spike said. “Poor Kanzi Apple looks pretty tired.”

Kanzi was more that tired. He was lying on the ground supine desperately trying catch his breath. The parents all agreed that Spike could take their kids up for rides as long as Kanzi Apple flew along with Spike as a spotter to keep the little rascals from falling off. After the third trip of trying to keep up with Spike the poor farming Pegasus was spent, and this was the fifth trip.

“Let’s get one of the other pegasuses to follow!”

“Yeah! Ol’ Derpy said she’d do it!”

“No way,” Spike said.

“Then you could catch us if we fall.” One of the foals reasoned.

“You mean all of you?” Spike looked back at the little herd on his back.

They all caught on and nodded in agreement hoping the lie would become truth by consensus.

“Well let’s find out!” Spike began bobbing up and down. The foals did their best to hang on like a mass rodeo. They were all laughing as the fell off and rolled safely down Spike’s wings onto the ground. Except for one determined filly that wouldn’t budge. Spike gave up and let her stay. “How are you feeling Kanzi?”

“Old,” he wheezed.

The parents were collecting their various colts and fillies all of them talked about their flight. Some saying how lucky Pegasus like Uncle Kanzi Apple are, or how small the house was from up there. None of them admitted to being scared, including the ones that were.

Pokey greeted Spike with a smile.

“You know you look just like your father,” Spike had to say.

Pokey nodded since he couldn’t deny it. Over the years he lost most of his mane and donned a pair of glasses. “Well the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree as Kanzi would say. If he could still talk.” Pokey leaned in to the fresh corpse lying on his lawn. “You OK cousin?”

“Feeling better, gimmie another week.”

“Let’s go again!” the foal still riding Spike’s back ordered. She even kicked him on the neck.

Spike ignored her looking around at his landing site. Pokey has done very well for himself, the yard around his house was large enough for farming but it was just noting but gardens and a wide lawn, which is currently being trampled by a crowd in the hundreds if not thousands. The guests were mingling, sharing memories, or dancing to the DJ and even the band that set up. Applejack and Applebloom were running the cider bar that was built. They brought a massive amount of cider and treats for everypony.

Kanzi Apple finally got up to the relief of Spike and Pokey. “Wooey!” he said still winded. “And Ah bet you weren’t even trying to fly fast were you?”

“What can I say? I’m a dragon.”

“Are you done with rides for the day?” Pumpkin asked as she greeted the three.

“Ah know Ah am.”

“MOM!” the foal in Spike’s back shouted. “DIDJA SEE ME?!”

“I did!” Pumpkin said with equal enthusiasm. “You know, you’re VERY lucky! Spike wouldn’t even let Uncle Pokey ride him when you were his age!”

Spike pulled Pumpkin’s her daughter off of his back while she bragged that she was the only one to stay on when Spike shook all of the other young ones off.

“You should come work the farm with those talents sugarcube!” Kanzi Apple said.

“Yes, that’s what she needs, more encouragement.” Pumpkin replied to her “cousin”.

It didn’t surprise Spike in the slightest how these children of his friends consider themselves extended family. Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were so close after all. The Apple family has always been a prominent and affable clan that welcomed Fluttershy when she joined. And judging by the number of grandkids scurrying around, Pinkie Pie decided to start her own personal army. The two families together turned Pokey’s palatial estate into a berg on par with small city.

And since most were of Pinkie’s army, none of them were afraid of Spike in the slightest. Their jovial attitude infected Spike, so he started giving the young ones rides. He noticed there were still more coming in from far off at the front gate, a short distance for his dragon eyes. More than family but friends from all through Pinkie Pie’s life, anyone who could make the long trip from Ponyville as well as the hundreds of local friends Pinkie Pie gained when she moved in with her only colt. Around noontime some neighbors complained, but when the authorities arrived, they took one look at all the earth ponies, unicorns, Pegasus, griffins, donkeys, zebras, minotaurs, and one giant dragon, and decided to look the other way.

Spike spotted a familiar face cautiously walking past the valets in an expensive black dress. She looked unsure of her surroundings as she leaned on a rather pompous looking unicorn for protection. Spike leapt into the air and glided over to his target. Her look was first one of fear, then of annoyance when she recognized the dragon. As her date galloped away screaming at a very high pitch, she stood her ground prepared for the humiliation to come. The dragon scooped her up hugged her gently as he landed.

“Hiya Peachy.” Spike said still holding her.

“Hi Spike,” she said with a sad smile. “You’ve gotten bigger. How have you been?”

“As well as could be expected I guess,” he said while putting Peachy down.

“Yeah.” Nothing else really needed to be said on the subject. Peachy noticed her date was still galloping away. “Could you, stay with me? For like the ENTIRE time I’m here? I’m really not comfortable doing this, and I don’t think he’s coming back.”

“Who was he anyhow?”

“Just some colt, I don’t want to talk about it.”

Spike walked along side Peachy as her date. “I’ll be glad to be his replacement, but you have to tell me what you’ve been up to. It’s been a long time.”

“Well,” she said. “I never got to be a great designer. So I started, doing drawings and paintings. And, that’s how I make my living.”

“Quite a reserved biography, are you doing well?”

“As well as a living artist can be I guess. I got my own studio in Fillydelphia and get steady work. Some of my paintings have gotten me in hot water though.”

“Oh?”

Peachy nodded with that sinister smile from her adolescent years. “A few of my more avant-garde portraits involving unicorns and dragons.”

Spike growled.

“They are very happy together in my paintings.”

“Alright, I get it.”

Peachy laughed. Her laughing stopped when they got to the party in the backyard. Instinctively she got closer to Spike.

“Is this – appropriate for a funeral?”

“You really think your Mother would want anyone to be sad because of her?”

She laughed sarcastically. “No she never wanted people to be sad, she was always ordering me to smile and be happy. Every – single – day.”

“You just felt out of place. That’s all, Peachy.”

“Yeah, like I do right now.”

She started to back away, but Spike stopped her with his tail.

“It’s alright. I’m here,” said Spike.

“I feel really bad about this,” she whispered. “I was there when – Aunt Rarity died. I was with her the whole time when you flew off to get help. I was alone with her waiting for Zecora and Twilight to show up. I felt so stupid and helpless; all I could do was watch. So when I got a letter telling me Mom wasn’t feeling well. I – I just didn’t want to go through that again.”

Spike used one finger and patted her straight peach colored mane.

“We didn’t part on the best of terms,” Peachy said her voice shaking. “After Rarity was gone, I felt so alone. I didn’t want to burden you, and Mom wasn’t much help. I said some things to her that I really shouldn’t have. I really hurt her I think. And then, instead of saying I’m sorry, I left.”

“I don’t think you could have hurt your Mother,” Spike said. “I mean if you said something that hurt her she would never hold it against you. And if she did hold it against you she would probably forget.”

“Oh thank you, now I feel much better!” Peachy said trying to hold back tears.

“Did I ever tell you about the first time she brought your father over to meet Rarity and I?”

Peachy shook her head not making a sound. She was doing her best not to cry.

“She actually forgot to tell your Dad that I was a dragon.”

She broke down in sad tears and laughter.

“She went on and on about how Rarity was this great designer and how she knew me since I was a baby. Oh and how I always had a crush on Rarity since was really really really really small, but Rarity didn’t even notice till I got bigger. And boy did I get big!”

As Spike imitated Pinkie Pie as best he could, Peachy’s tears went away completely but the laughter stayed.

“She did nothing but talk about the two of us to your Dad for THE ENTIRE TRIP, and NOT ONCE did she tell him I was a dragon. So when he first saw me he said ‘EEK!’ and jumped into Pinky’s arms.”

“I can picture that!” She said while still laughing. Her laughter died off, but now she had a smile on her face. “Thanks Uncle Spike, I really needed to hear that.”

“Well, well well, look who decided to show up,” Pedagogy said.

“Hello, Ped. How have you been?”

“More like where have YOU been?”

“Be nice,” Spike said in a stern voice to Peachy’s sister.

Pedagogy was a little surprised at Spike’s change in attitude. The look on her face told Spike this little pony wasn’t going to back down. Her eyes showed her to be both angry and hurt over her older sister’s sudden appearance after such a long absence.

“I’m sorry. I wish I could have gotten here sooner.” Peachy said. “Could we just put the family drama on-hold till later? I promise you will have all the time you need to tell me what a horrible sister I am.”

“Peachy?!” Pumpkin cried. She galloped over and hugged her older sister. “I’m so glad you came!”

Peachy was surprised by Pumpkin’s reaction. “Really?”

“Of course!”

“But, when I left Mom and all of you-“

“Hey!” Pumpkin said holding her older sister’s face and looking her right in the eye. “I’m not going to hate you. And Mom never did. Now come on I want to introduce you to your nieces.”

Pumpkin dragged her away. Peachy looked at Spike with that same pleading look he remembered from years ago. So the dragon followed her.

~~~~~~~

Discord strutted towards the princess with arms out stretched theatrically, the grey dragon following him.

“He’s not yours anymore, he’s free.”

“Spike isn’t free!” Silver cried.

“Isn’t he?  Be honest now, what other dragon collects books and cuddles ponies? That just isn’t natural. I bet Sun Butt planned this since he was an egg. Poor Spike still hears Celestia’s voice in his big purple head. Not anymore though!”

“Please take care of-“ Silver said.

Spike stopped in his tracks unsure of his prey. Silver noticed his reaction.

Could the lie Zecora said be true in some way? She thought.

Spike growled and lunged at Silver, stomping Discord deep into the mud in the process. The princess flew back into the air, flying up as fast as she could. Spike pursued her again into the sky, but at a slower pace. Silver noticed, all of his wounds, the fighting he’s been doing for what could be days is wearing him down. But Spike was still gaining on her, as she flew she could feel the dragon’s breath.

Silver peered ahead and teleported. It worked. She got further away from the dragon with that short jump. It gave Silver an idea, a way to take what Spike taught her. As Spike drew close she dove down at him and corkscrewed around the giant dragon. Spike tried to follow his tiny prey with his head but had to stop his forward flight to do so.

As he hovered, Silver flew so close she was almost standing in Spike’s lap.

Try and bite me now, she thought.

The dragon stared down at the princess.

~~~~~~~

Twilight Sparkle stared down at the device placed on her lap.

“Now I will just place this crystal like so,” the doddering old earth pony said. “And hold just the tiniest flame to it.”

A flash of blue light filled the room, startling everypony as well as the dragon outside looking in from the open balcony. For at least five seconds the guards and advisors were all silent.

“Great, now I’m blind!” Twilight Sparkle groused. Clearly she was most unimpressed from the demonstration.

“B-But you can see the potential in this. We could light streets ten times brighter than they are today.”

“Uh huh. For a half-second at a time.”

“This is just in the preliminary stage. I still have more research to do. But for that I need funding for an expedition to get more crystals.”

Twilight Sparkle groaned. “Last estimate I read stated you need a small army of Pegasus for the expedition. Half to collect these crystals, the other half to fight off the beasts at the top of this mountain where you found them.”

“Well, uh. Yes but-“

“Goodbye!” she said cheerfully. The guards dragged him out. She sat in her bed disgusted with her plight. “Spike, are you still here?”

“I’m right outside. Follow the sound of my voice.” He said the last part like ghost in a haunted house.

“I wouldn’t recommend going near the dragon, M’Lady.” Her Doctor said.

“I’m not going to talk to little brother through an open door while he stands outside.”

“But it’s so cold out M’Lady, it is detrimental to your health.”

“Have you felt a dragon’s breath? It’ll be a lot warmer than that practical joke that was just pulled on me.”

“I understand, but for your own good-“

Twilight’s horn glowed and everypony, guards and all, were forcibly shoved out of her room and the door locked. She then levitated her bed cushion and rode it like a magic carpet to the balcony, folding it in the shape of a chair so she could comfortably sit upright. A Pegasus guard standing at ease on the balcony snapped to attention.

“Honestly Spike, I think you are the only one here that has the slightest bit of pony sense.”

“Look on the bright side, it didn’t blind you for very long.”

“Actually I’m still blind,” she complained with the same annoyed look she wore during her irksome ordeal trying to understand Pinkie Pie’s ESP.

Spike chuckled when he saw the young Pegasus guard’s reaction. He was trying to be stalwart at attention while ignoring the fact this sweet feeble old unicorn just performed a feat of magic unicorns in their prime would do to impress a crowd, all while not being able to see.

“Can you believe that idiot?” she said, still mad. “I bet he was going to ask for Royal Guard to go on that expedition too. Like I’m supposed to put them at risk for a bunch of flash bulbs?”

“I think you’re selling The Guard short.”

“No Spike, the sad thing is I’m not. The Guard doesn’t get the best flyers anymore. Why do you think all of Fleet Foot’s and Rainbow Dash’s records haven’t been broken? It’s because The Royal Guard and even The Wonderbolts are not first choice anymore.” She turned her head to yell at the guard, but turned the wrong way. “Yeah that’s right! I know all about The Nomads!” she said to nobody.

“Twilight he’s on your right, not your left.”

She spun her head to her right. “You’re here because you couldn’t qualify for The Nomads, is that your story?”

The young guard said nothing but Spike could he was hiding something.

“Can you believe it, Spike? Any Pegasus that’s worth a flying feather doesn’t even consider service for Equestria anymore. The Royal Guard is being upstaged by a – a – a jumped up Cloud Gang!” Twilight rubbed her eyes. “Who in the hoof does Rainbow Dash think she is?!”

“Twilight –“

“I know Spike, I know. To be honest though, I don’t believe it. Well, she might be dead now, but the way you were told all those years ago? No body, no funeral? Scootaloo disappeared near the same time, did you know that? No. This is all planned.”

“Enough politics,” Spike said. “You’re getting upset.”

She sighed. “You’re right.”

Spike rested his head on the balcony so his breath would warm his sister.

“Ah,” she said in a refreshed tone. “I think my vision’s coming back. Is the sun setting?”

“Ehyup.”

“I wish my room was facing the sunset.”

“Well, you’ll enjoy a nice moonrise.”

Twilight Sparkle nodded. “You know I think that’s the real problem. Celestia and Luna are gone and the Sun and Moon are getting on fine without them. So all the ponies are forgetting, they think their rule was all a trick. The Canterlot Unicorns are the worst too, they are certain they should be running things. You notice how many of them are tagging along calling themselves ‘advisors’? I haven’t met a single one that couldn’t be replaced with a decent book in my library. Yet you bring up the true wisdom of Celestia and they treat her like she was, was. Darn it! What was her name, that stage act that came to Ponyville? When Snips and Snails nearly got us all killed?”

“Trixie.”

“Yeah they treat her like she was Trixie. It’s like the old seahorses say: ‘Anypony can man the helm when the seas are calm’, and the unicorns have been sailing along not a cloud in the sky, and they think that makes them good leaders. They are so arrogant too! Can you imagine what would happen from just a parasprite outbreak with one of these snobs in charge?”

“Twilight?”

“Yes?”

“Shut up.”

The guard chuckled. Twilight shot a look at the Pegasus, and then laughed in agreement.

“Ugh! Why am I so grumpy?!”

“Well you were just blinded without warning.”

“That’s probably it.”

“And you’ve been away from your friends for far too long,” Spike added.

Twilight leaned forward and put her hoof on Spike’s nose. “I know,” said Twilight. “I really do miss them all.”

“Well come on down and visit Applejack, she’d love to have you. Or we could have a little party at my place. I can’t remember the last time you’ve been to your room Rarity set up for you.”

Twilight scoffed. “Yeah I’m sure they’d let me do something like that. Did you see how much effort went in to trying get my doctor to agree to just sitting outside?”

Spike growled.

“What?” Twilight insisted. “Spike you can’t hide your thoughts from me, I know that growl.”

“Welllllllll”

“Come on.”

“Twilight, I really don’t like what’s happening to you. You regressed back to being the little unicorn you were before you moved to Ponyville. All work and no friends. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but aside from me, Applejack’s the only friend you got left.”

That last part stung Twilight.

“Also your Doctor didn’t agree to anything you just threw him out.”

She was supposed to laugh at that last part but didn’t. Twilight Sparkle sat there watching the moon rise. “Spike,” she finally said. “I’m very old. You don’t notice because you’re a dragon. I can’t just fly off to visit friends like I was still a teenager. Do you have any idea what it is like to have all of Equestria depending on you? When we were young it was easy, just swoop in, save the day, get a pat on the head by the Princess, and go home. No we have to do actual work. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy had families and jobs. I’m Steward of Equestria, so I have to do everything I can so their families are safe and comfortable.”

“And what was Rainbow Dash doing for work?” Spike challenged.

“Ask the spy,” Twilight said pointing at the Pegasus Guard.

The Guard stood at attention ignoring the accusation.

“Yeah, I may be old but I’m not stupid,” she said to the Pegasus.

“Twilight, I’m not asking you to run away and buck apples for the rest of your life. I’m saying you should just take a little vacation with friends.”

“But I don’t want a vacation. We all have to move on, Spike. You’re life is just beginning, mine’s at an end.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Oh come on, Spike! Four of us are gone! How much longer do you think the two of us have left?”

That last part stung Spike worse than what he said to his sister. Twilight knew it and patted her little brother on the nose reassuringly.

“I’m just preparing you, Spike. You’ve seen how everypony reacts to you. When we’re gone, I don’t think you will be too welcome among ponies.”

“I’ve noticed,” Spike said sadly.

Twilight leaned out of her chair and hugged the dragon’s long snout. “Don’t worry, I’m not gone yet.” She said cheerfully as she sat back down.

“I certainly hope not,” Spike said “and if you don’t mind, I would like to stay with you here every day from now on.”

Spike got his head closer and nuzzled Twilight Sparkle.

~~~~~~~

Spike shot his head closer and attacked Silver who teleported above the dragon’s head. The Great Dragon lunged again and Silver ducked, as he swung she teleported to another spot in the air close to Spike. It gave Silver the advantage she needed. Spike flailed wildly at the princess as she appeared and disappeared around him. It disorientated Silver, yet if she stopped for an instant she knew that Spike would kill her. As he swung Silver noticed he was tiring. Silver began to teleport less, flying around the dragon’s lunges and his snapping jaws. Silver flew above the dragon’s bared teeth as he missed another bite and violently crashed between Spike’s eyes horn first.

In an instant she was in the curing spell. Silver saw a massive grey cloud with a faint red light in the center of it. The red jewel from before. Fighting through the grey was worse than the blizzards that have frozen the land. Tumultuous grey clouds swirling, it felt like loneliness. Closer she say the jewel was a large heart shaped ruby. Silver touched it with her horn.

“You’ll live longer than any of us, Spike,” Celestia said. “Please take care of Rarity, and when she’s gone don’t be angry. Remember the good times with her, and Twilight and your other friends. Keep us in your heart. But most of all, be happy.”

A flash of white blinded the princess. When her sight returned she was staring directly at Spike. He was no longer grey and recognized her, and smiled. The dragon’s wounds caught up with him, his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

“NO!” Silver screamed as Spike fell to earth.

I flew too high, she cursed herself as she flew down after him.

“Spike! Wake up!”

She couldn’t catch him, he fell too fast. Silver could only watch as the giant dragon’s limp body crashed onto the desert. Silver landed by The Great Dragon’s head.

“SPIKE!” she cried.

His eyes were closed.

“Oh great! You killed him” Discord said with annoyance. He was covered in mud and limping. “Looks like I’ll have to finish you off myself.”

Silver was shocked to the ground a searing pain stabbed her heart. She did even see the attack, and Discord was still far away limping towards her. The princess was immobile she couldn’t even flap her wings. Discord was getting close now, an evil grin on his muddy face.

Green flames engulfed Discord who screamed in agony, the dirt baking on his skin. The spell he used to hurt the princess faded, she flew up away from the firestorm. The desert floor was alight from Spike’s fire now. Discord swirled in the middle of the storm screaming. Spike slumped onto the ground his chin crashing onto a large desert rock.

“Spike?!” Silver flew over to him.

He lay there struggling to breath.

“Spike?”

The dragon opened his eyes.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault,” she said. “I flew too high-“

“Don’t.” Spike wheezed looking at the princess’s necklace. “Don’t ever blame yourself. Think only good thoughts now. Whatever happens whatever he says or does remember only the good times we had and our friendship.”

The dragon’s eyes closed.

“Spike? SPIKE?!”

~~~~~~~

“Spike?”

Spike turned to see a yellow version of Granny Smith.

“Ah knew it was you,” the old mare said. “Ah mean who else could it be?”

“Applebloom?” Spike was a little stunned. “Has it really been that long?”

“Well not all of us can age as well as you. My stars you’re big!” the old mare laughed. She got real close to Spike to tell him a secret. “My kin saw you when you landed here, they’re all hiding in the storm cellar.”

As Applebloom laughed, Spike found it hard to join in.

“Oh, what’s the matter sweetheart?”

Spike fixed his eyes on Applejack’s grave.

“They’re all gone now,” he said.

Applebloom sighed. “I know. It must be hard for you.”

“Me? She was your sister.”

She was going to say the she is not alone, but didn’t want to hurt the poor dragon.

“So,” she said. “Still living in that nice spot in the Everfree Forest?”

Spike nodded, then snaked his head up to Applebloom. “But I did have to smash through that tiny door you made.”

It took a minute for Applebloom to remember, and then she cackled at the old memory. Spike tried to laugh but could only smile. It was nice to talk to one of his old friends, even if they weren’t that close. But it felt odd. He might as well been talking to a familiar rock outside of the library in Ponyville. Applebloom seemed barely real, like this was all a memory.

“Oh Spike, that is a hoot!” Applebloom laughed a bit more.

“Glad I gave you a laugh.”

Applebloom put her hoof on the lonely dragon’s cheek.

“Aw. You were always such a nice dragon. Even when you got all big and scary, you had such a great heart. Not everyone could tell, but Ah remember when a timid little thing like Tinsel saw it.”

Spike didn’t recognize that name. He thought maybe the old mare was getting things jumbled in her head.

“You remember Tinsel, dontcha? She was Cottonwood’s wife, quiet as church mouse she was. Poor filly didn’t have much a home life growin’ up. Her Dad left when she was born and Momma didn’t like her because she weren’t a unicorn. Well Ah don’t know how Fluttershy’s youngest met her or anything like that, Ah only got to see her after they was married. But boy did Tinsel love Fluttershy and her kin. When my brother died, she stayed with Fluttershy, even made Cottonwood move the two of them in to his Momma’s house so she could keep an eye on her Mother-in-Law all day.”

Applebloom chuckled to herself about that. Spike smiled, he remembered that little pony now and could never imagine her asserting herself.

“Well, you know when Fluttershy passed on, that poor filly just shut down. Not cryin’ or even mad, she just walked around not making a sound. She wouldn’t talk to any of us, and when more of us tried to talk to her she just withdrew even more. Cottonwood told us all to leave her alone, somethin’ about her past I guess. He was certain she wouldn’t talk to anybody and this big crowd just scared her. She talked to you though, she even started to feel again. We were all amazed by it, Ah was worried she would never talk again.”

Applebloom could see it in Spike’s eyes that his thoughts were somewhere else.

“You can talk to me ya know?”

“I don’t know what to do now,” he said to himself forgetting Applebloom was by his side.

“Hmm,” she pondered. “Well, you’re a dragon! Go on and mix it up! When is the next migration? A big strong dragon like you ought to make a real show at something like that.”

Spike looked up at the moon, it was midnight.

“I don’t know if I want to leave.”

“Oh don’t worry about us, we’ll be fine.” Applebloom looked up at the dragon. “That’s not it is it? You just don’t want it to end.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your life here. With us. Ah can certainly understand, it was a lotta fun and Rarity was one in a million, but ya can’t jus’ dwell on it. You need to move on. There will be plenty of time to look back on the good ol’ days when your mah age.”

“I am your age.”

Applebloom hit the dragon’s leg. “You know what I mean!”

The dragon swallowed, he has been thinking of this very thing for some time now. Just start over. Considering how long he’ll live he can do that. Who knows maybe he’ll meet a dragon that isn’t as stupid as the ones he’s met so far? Maybe even a mate?

“It sounds like a good idea Applebloom. You really think I should just leave?”

“Ehyup! It’s the raight thing to do.”

~~~~~~~

“NO! NO! NO!” Discord hollered through the flames. “This is all wrong! I freed you!”

He stomped out of the fire still burning and too furious to care. Silver unaware paced around Spike’s head trying to wake him up.

“Everyday with you ponies and dragons and zebras! I’ve had it!”

Discord spun Silver around and grabbed her by the throat lifting her up over his head.

“I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU!”

Silver struggled to breathe. Discords arm was still of fire burning her as he strangled her. She kicked and flapped her wings but could not break free. She started to black out, all she could think was Spike.

“Think only good thoughts now,” Spike told her.

She thought of The Great Dragon. Thought of how he taught her, his honesty no matter what questions she threw at him. Thought of the kindness he had shown her, and Zecora, and Crescent, and all of the ponies he let stay with him. She thought of how he could always make her laugh. Thought of his generosity as Spike let her and all the other ponies use his library. And she thought of the dragon’s loyalty, to his old friends, to Rarity, and to her. Only good thoughts.

Silver felt the magic within The Elements of Harmony again. White light engulfed her. Discord’s grip failed, the flames stopped. Silver focused the magic towards her attacker. Discord didn’t holler or cry, he just stopped where he was.

Before Silver stood a large statue, Discord had been turned to stone, a grimacing monument choking the air. The statue fell over in the mud. It’s done.

“Spike?” she gasped. Silver turned back to the dragon. “Spike?!”

The Great Dragon opened his eyes.

“Well,” he said he said with a wounded smile. “Look at you.”

Silver had noticed. The necklace of orbs around her neck had become ornate jewels, and she was wearing a crown. As she touched the tiara her mane felt different. In the reflection of Spike’s giant eye she say her mane and tail had become a shimmering cloud of silver stars. And something on her flank, she looked to see an ornate circle of jewels pink, red, orange, green, yellow, and blue with the background of a sun.

Silver looked back to Spike. He was in very bad shape, he tried to stand but his legs just moved back and forth along the ground moving sand and slush. One of his wings was broken and could not contract. The Princess could see Appleloosa off in the distance.

Spike, stay awake. I’ll get help!”

The dragon weakly nodded.  Silver flew off to town.

Spike lay there in the sun in too much pain to move. He looked around with his eyes only. The clouds had parted, it’s warmer than it has been in a long time. In fact it’s a beautiful day. He can see where he burned Discord, that sand had been baked into glass. And standing on that glass was a tiny buffalo looking right back at him. The young bison looked confused over the dragon’s presence. Galloping came from the town which alarmed the buffalo.

“Stay,” Spike told the little thing.

The buffalo held its ground as the town approached with Silver flying up front. None of them even noticed the young buffalo. She commanded the ponies to clean up around the dragon, asking for a tally of his wounds. Spike noticed that armored Pegasus, Windstorm, was with them. He along with some others came in front of the dragon the statue of Discord.

“Silver?” Spike said.

“I’m here.” She flew up in front so Spike he could see her. The young filly looked resplendent adorned with the elements and her starlight mane, but with the face of a worried child.

“Where did you get them?” Spike asked as he looked at The Elements of Harmony.

“The Pegasus were carrying them, Princess Luna gave them to Rainbow Dash.”

Spike breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh Blessed Luna, it all makes sense now.”

Windstorm flew up to present himself to Spike. “You fought fiercely, sir. I salute you.”

Spike coughed out a laugh.

“I was instructed to stay at Apuliza and report,” the Pegasus continued.

“Spike,” Silver said touching his face. “Tell me what you need, I’ll get it from your home.”

“Do you know where Cloudsdale is?” he asked Windstorm.

“Yessir.”

“That’s where Discord was hiding. Two unicorns are trapped in one of the old buildings there. I -.” Spike groaned from an unexpected pain. “I need to know they’re safe.”

Windstorm saluted and flew off. Spike looked at Silver finally.

“I almost had him Your Majesty,” Spike said. “It was quite a fight.”

“Spike, we need to get you well,” Silver pleaded. “Tell me what you need?!”

“It’s alright, Your Majesty.”

“Stop calling me that!” Silver tried to hug the giant dragon. “Just stay with me. Please?”

Spike smiled. “As long as I can, Your Majesty.”

The ponies had cleared out all the filth and brought planks to cover the ground surrounding the dragon. All the while Spike stared at the little buffalo. A cloud approached from the north, the Pegasus Nomads were flying together in herd so dense it blocked the noon sun. A number of them were carrying ponies from Spike’s place, some had chariots even.

As they landed in the wet sand the herd spread out, those of higher rank and those familiar to the Princess and Spike ran to meet them.

Aerlies flew in front with General Powerglide alongside him. When he saw Silver’s transformation he bowed before he could look surprised. News traveled through the large crowd, and the ponies began celebrating. Around the dragon though the mood was different. Those who could help make the dragon as comfortable as possible while others reported to the Princess the goings on.

“All of the sudden, the ponies went back to normal,” Aerlies told the Princess. “Once we all got situated the General told us where you were. We came to help you fight.”

“The clouds are clearing up everywhere,” General Powerglide added. “You did it, Your Majesty.”

“Where’s Etiquette and Little Twilight?” Spike asked.

“We intercepted Windstorm on the way here. I sent my fastest flyers to Cloudsdale.”

Spike groaned again, his eyes closed.

“Spike?!” the Princess cried.

Spike didn’t respond.

The Princess held onto the dragon’s nose and wept. As she cried her horn touched the dragon. The Princess was awash with light, the ethereal state she used to cure ponies. She felt a familiar magic in the dragon and saw the heart shaped ruby again. In an instant she was back in the normal world. Spike breathed.

The Princess was elated. “I can cure you Spike!”

Spike moved a bit, and felt the pain paralyze him. “No,” he said. “It’s not necessary.”

“B-But I have to! You’re my best friend!”

“Silver,” he finally said. “How much longer do you think you could give me? What would the cost be for that magic?”

“But I felt it, the magic I in you. I-I think it’s part of the Elements of Harmony just like you said.”

“I don’t want this magic anymore, use it for something else. The chaos has been here for long time until today. You’ll need all the magic you can get to make things right.”

Two Pegasus soared in, one carrying Etiquette, the other carrying Crescent. The other ponies parted for the four. Etiquette rushed over to Spike. Silver hung her head, saddened.

“You made it,” Spike said with a smile.

Etiquette was horrified at Spike condition and could barely talk. “T-Thank you,” she forced out before crying.

The dragon looked at Crescent. She her potion-made wings hung limp on her sides, the ointment Zecora used to change her coat has been fading, so she was a bluish purple now.

“I liked you better as a purple pony,” he said to her.

“Are you going to get better Spike?” she asked meekly.

“I don’t think so,” he whispered still smiling. “But it will be warm enough that you won’t need me.”

Crescent didn’t smile back, she looked more scared and confused.

Spike closed his eyes and let out a long breath. The wind from it washed over Crescent and as it did her wings flapped and she lifted herself into the air before she realized it. The crowd was amazed except for the Princess.

“Spike?! SPIKE!”

Crying she touched her horn to the lifeless dragon. She saw the heart shaped ruby again, its light was dimmer than before. She tried to wake the dragon back up, but nothing happened. The light of the ruby was nearly gone. She took the spirit gem before it completely faded, absorbing it into her form. The world went back to normal. Before her Spike lay still.

The Princess fell to the ground crying. The others stayed by the Princess but at a distance, letting her grieve. All but the tiny buffalo. In the excitement no one even noticed her as she silently watched. Now she walked up beside the Princess. The Princess saw her and hugged the buffalo nuzzling her as she cried. After a while she stopped crying, but held onto the little buffalo with her wing.

“Are you the new Pony Princess,” the little buffalo asked.

The Princess nodded.

“My name is Far Eyes,” the buffalo said. “What’s your name?”

The chaos has been here for long time until today. You’ll need all the magic you can get to make things right. She heard Spike say in her mind.

“Princess – Harmony,” she said.