Chapters Spike was skipping down the cobblestone road. He was caring a basket in one claw, and a stick in the other. A gust of warm wind blew against his scales, making him smile in delight.
As Spike past Applejack's apple stand, the earth pony looked up from her bits. "Hay Spike! What are ya doing?" She asked.
The baby dragon turned his gaze towards Applejack and walked up to her stand.
"I'm going gem hunting in the Everfree Forest. Rarity said that she's been getting a lot of vibes whenever she walks past it. So, there must be a munch of gems lying around in that forest." Spike explained.
Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Just be safe sugar cube. The Everfree isn't the safest place around." The country mare warned.
Spike nodded, puffed up his chest, and began to walk away.
As the dragon headed towards the forest, Applejack sighed and put all her bits into her saddle bag.
"Ah better tell Twi about this." She muttered under her breath.
Spike stopped at the boarder of the Everfree Forest. The sun was already beginning to set, making eerie shadows dance across the boarder.
The baby dragon took a deep breath and began to walk slowly into the forest. The trees' twisted branches and spiky leaves blocking out what was left of the sun's light.
Once he was in the deepest part of the forest, Spike held his stick in front of his mouth and took a deep breath. When he blew out, bright green flames came out and clung onto the now burning stick.
"Much better." Spike smiled.
Then he began to scan the forest floor. Leaves and twigs littered the damp floor. Spike was about to give up searching when suddenly, he saw a hunk of something green poking out of the ground. As he got nearer to it, the dragon squealed in delight.
"An Emerald!" The baby dragon announced, he set down his basket and grasped the emerald. It was the size of an apple and was in the shape of a star.
"Twilight would defiantly like you." Spike mused, then he set the treasure gently into the basket.
As Spike picked up the basket, he heard a deafening roar.
The dragon's pupils shrank. "That sounds like a.." He turned around slowly and nearly had a heart attack. "T..t..timber wolf." He squeaked.
The timber wolf was easily five feet tall. His green eyes cast a ghostly glow. It howled again, displaying it's row of dagger like teeth.
"N-nice timber wolf." Spike said, sweat started to form on his forehead.
Suddenly, the creature leapt towards the baby dragon, however Spike rolled out of the way just in time. The beast roared in frustration and began to run towards Spike. The baby dragon took in a deep breath and bellowed green fire at the flammable beast.
"RROOARR!" The timber wolf hollered as his body began to be consumed by the dragon's flames.
Spike sighed in relief and began to trot deeper into the Everfree Forest.
After about three hours of searching for gems, Spike successfully collected three emeralds, two rubies, and one sapphire. Now the little dragon was carefully walking on a narrow path. It was six feet wide covered in slippery mud. On the right side was a maze of oak trees, while on the left lead to a ten foot drop off. One false move, and he was a goner.
"I'll just search for one more hour, than I'll head back." Spike whispered under his breath. After three close calls with some timber wolves, he decided to just whisper and to walk very quietly.
As Spike walked alone the narrow path, his eyes began to wonder around the forest. He could see some smoke in the distance and saw a small herd of deer eating the long, soggy grass at the bottom. However, he wasn't the only one sightseeing.
The baby dragon stopped and gazed up into the sky. Two eagles were soaring across the night sky lazily. Spike smiled and sat down on the ground. Memorized by the powerful birds of prey.
Suddenly, Spike heard a low growl followed by a thump. The baby dragon stood up and turned in the direction of the sound. What he say made the color from his scales drain away.
The manticore let out a bloodcurdling roar and raised one of it's paws. Ready to strike.
"C-can't we just talk about this like civilized creatures?" Spike begged.
The beast licked it's lips and struck Spike with it's raised claw.
The baby dragon quickly fell to the muddy ground. His head being missed just by a scale.
Think Spike, think! The dragon yelled at himself.
As the manticore reared up for another attack, Spike heard another thud from behind. He looked over his shoulder and gasped in horror. For, there stood another manticore.
Spike gazed at the drop off below. He could risk jumping off this cliff, or engage in a battle with two manticores.
"Here goes nothing." The purple dragon muttered under his breath.
Then the dragon clutched his basket, burning stick, and ran towards the drop off as fast as he could.
The two manticores charged at Spike in both directions, however the baby dragon was quicker. He ran up to the edge and jumped off the edge. Spike could hear a crash and guessed that it might've belonged to the two beasts.
Because of the wind whipping past him as he was free falling, Spike's homemade torch went out cold. The baby dragon was about to relight it, however he fell into a big pile of leaves before he had the chance.
Author's Note
I decided to redo this story. I hope you like this new version.
Spike climbed out of the pile of leaves. Grumbling at his aching back as he picked up his basket and stick.
The dragon looked around and smiled as he saw a ruby, the size of a pencil, laying next to a rock.
"Finally!" Spike exclaimed as he picked the gem up and set it in his basket.
Suddenly, the baby dragon's eyes locked on a cave near him.
The cave's opening was big enough for a stallion to get through. Huge rocks that looked like spikes dangled from the ceiling. Spike tried to see how deep the cave was, however it was too dark to see anything.
However, the little dragon did see a sapphire in the entrance of the cave. He smiled and trotted up towards it. Once Spike picked it up, an idea formed inside his head.
"If there's a sapphire here," Spike looked into the cave's darkness. "Then there must be more gems inside here." He finished.
Then the little dragon relit the sick and started to head deeper into the cave.
After an hour of searching for gems, Spike happily plopped himself against the damp wall. He successfully was able to find five rubies, six emeralds, and six in a half sapphires. (The other half was in his stomach.)
"This place is amazing!" Spike shouted happily.
He dug into his basket and picked up the half eaten sapphire. Licking his lips, the little dragon popped the gem into his mouth and began to look around.
Because of his dull lighting, Spike was only able to see three feet in front of him. However, three feet was enough because Spike saw another emerald.
"I think I'm in heaven." Spike said dreamily as he trotted up towards the gem.
However, instead of picking the emerald up, something else caught his attention. Spike moved the burning stick in front of himself to see the object better. What the dragon saw was truly surprising.
In the corner of the cave stood a huge skeleton of a dragon. Due to age, it's bones were pale white and was cracked in multiple places.
Spike walked up to the skeleton and touched it with his claw. The carcase rattled and began to disintegrate into dust. Displaying a mirror that was hidden by the skeleton.
The mirror was five feet tall and two feet wide. It was covered in a layer of dust, however you could still see the little circles that made up the frame.
The baby dragon walked up to the mirror and wiped some of the dust off of it.
"Cool." Spike whispered under his breath.
Suddenly, the mirror began to hum back to life. The purple dragon took a step back as flashes of random pictures were displayed on the mirror.
Then the pictures stopped and a blinding light began to fill the dark cave. Making Spike having to shield his eyes from the glorious light.
"Finally!"
The baby dragon opened his eyes and gasped at his reflection.
"Are you okay?" A golden dragon with purple spikes asked. Her blue eyes full of concern.
"I-I'm fine. But who are you?" Spike answered.
His reflection smiled. "My name is Arrow. I'm the spirit of this Time Mirror." Spike's reflection explained.
The purple dragon raised an eyebrow. "A Time Mirror?" He questioned.
Arrow nodded. "It's a mirror that lets anything look into the past." The golden dragon informed.
"Cool!" Spike squealed.
"I know." Arrow said proudly. "So what do you want to see?" The reflection asked.
The purple dragon thought for a moment. He always wondered who Fluttershy's parents were, but that would be snooping! And one thing Spike wasn't was a snooper. However, there was something that has been pestering himself for awhile now.
"Well?" Arrow asked.
"I want to see my past." Spike answered.
"Can you be more specific?" The golden dragon pleaded.
"I want to see how Celestia found me as an egg." The purple dragon replied.
A purple dragon was polishing an egg. She had sapphire eyes and pink spikes along her back. The dragon smiled at her work, and placed the egg back into a basket lined with soft animal furs.
"Soon you'll grow big and strong." She whispered towards the light purple egg.
Suddenly, a large green dragon snuck behind the purple dragon. His yellow eyes glowed like the way Rainbow's did whenever she was about to prank somepony.
The green dragon quickly pressed two of his claws into the side of the purple one. She squealed and turned around. Glaring daggers at the laughing dragon.
"Very funny Emerald Scale." She said flatly.
Emerald Scales wiped a tear from his eye. "It was all in good fun, Gem." He snickered.
Gem shook her head as a small smile appeared on her lips.
"See." Emerald gave Gem a playful noogie. "Even you have ta admit it was funny." He pointed out.
The purple dragon escaped from his grasp and motioned him to come to her.
Emerald beamed and trotted happily to Gem. When he was just inches from her, he leaned in for a kiss. Only to get a jewel pie stuffed in his face.
"You're right Emerald. It is all in good fun." She laughed.
"Uh Arrow?" Spike asked.
The image disappeared as the baby dragon's reflection came into view.
"What is it?" Arrow questioned.
"Who are Emerald and Gem?" Spike responded.
"Why, they're your parents." The golden dragon answered.
"And what do my parents have to do with Celestia finding me?" The baby dragon asked.
"You'll see." Arrow said.
Soon Arrow disappeared, and the image of the past began to play.
Spike's parents were now sitting in old rocking chairs. While Gem was staring peacefully into the blazing fire pit, Emerald was rocking back and forth in his chair.
Gem rolled her eyes at her husband. Then she turned her attention towards the light purple egg inside the basket.
Emerald followed his wife's gaze. "Don't worry sweetie. Our egg is just a little late." He tried to reassure her.
However, Gem shook her head. "I don't know Emerald. Our egg is already a week late." Suddenly, Gem's eyes shrunk. "What if our egg never hatches! What are we gonna do with an unhatched egg?"
Emerald was about to answered, only to be interrupted by his panicked wife.
"I mean, we could always set it outside..NO WHAT! What if we set it outside and then it starts to hatch! Then we wouldn't be there and a timber wolf comes by?"
"Gem."
"Then it'll eat it! Our baby will be gone!"
"Gem."
"I'd be a murderer!"
"GEM!"
The purple dragon stopped talking and looked at her husband. Her cheeks begging to turn bright red.
"Our egg will hatch. It's just a late bloomer." Emerald reassured her.
Just than, the two dragons could hear hoof steps echoing inside the cave. When they turned around, Celestia was standing by the entrance.
The princess was defiantly younger. Her usual long horn was a few inches shorter. In fact, everything about her was a few inches shorter than the Celestia Spike knew.
Emerald and Gem bowed, however the young princess just laughed.
"No need to bow." She informed.
So the two dragons stood up and looked down at the princess.
"What cane we do for you?" Gem asked.
Celestia smiled, "I've come on my mother's behalf. We're recording the dragon population because they seem to be missing in great numbers lately." The princess explained.
"They-I mean we are?" Emerald questioned.
The princess nodded sadly. Then, she turned her attention to the light blue egg.
"Amazing." She whispered.
"Thank you, however it is already past it's expiration date for hatching." Gem explained, a small frown formed on her face.
"That's horrible!" Celestia exclaimed.
"I know." The purple dragon cried.
The alicorn thought for a moment before speaking. "Well, I could always take your egg,"
"NO!" Gem snapped, only to blush at what she did. "Please don't banish me to the moon!" The purple dragon begged.
Celestia sighed, "It was on accident! Luna kept going into my room even though I kept telling her not to!" The young princess explained.
"That's nice and all, but what were you saying about our egg?" Emerald replied.
Celestia blushed. "Right, so as I was saying, I could bring your egg back to Canterlot and have some of my best unicorns try to help your egg hatch. I would, however I'm not that great with spell yet." Celestia explained.
"You can do that?" Emerald asked.
Celestia nodded her head.
"YES!"
The alicorn and Emerald both stared at Gem.
"I mean, yes please." The purple dragon said.
"I can't believe that." Spike muttered.
Arrow reappeared. "I know right? If it weren't for her, you probably wouldn't be born." The reflection chimed.
However, Spike shook his head. "No! When I was born, Celestia never took me back to my family!" The baby dragon shouted.
"But,"
"No!"
"What are you doing with that rock?"
"Shut up!"
"Spike no!"
But it was too late. The stone hit the mirror and glass flung all over. Then, Spike picked up his basket of jewels and stormed out of the cave. Leaving the shards of glass behind. All but one.
"There you a,"
"Zip it!" Spike hissed as he entered the library.
Twilight shut the door and then walked up to the baby dragon. Her brow slanted and eyes full of concern. Spike has never talked to her in that kind of language before. Something must've happened to the poor dragon.
"Spike, what's wrong?" Twilight asked, her voice as soothing as Fluttershy's.
The baby dragon looked up at the alicorn. Hot tears of hate and sadness trickled down his cheeks. Then, Spike took a steady breath and told his friend everything that happened in the cave.
"I'm sure Celestia had a good excuse, Spike." Twilight said once he was finished.
Spike shook his head. "I doubt it. She'll probably just make up a lie and steal you from me too!" The purple dragon shouted.
Twilight put her front hooves on Spike's shoulders. "I could always write a detailed letter saying that she should explain herself." She offered.
However, the baby dragon shook his head. "I want to see her face to face." Spike replied.
"Than that's what we are going to do." Twilight confirmed.
After three hours of waiting, Twilight and Spike could hear a chariot pull up towards the house.
"Remember Spike, give her a chance to explain herself." The purple alicorn reminded before going into the kitchen.
The baby dragon nodded his head and gazed at the door. "Give you a chance, I don't think so Twilight." Spike muttered under his breath.
Once the door opened, Celestia walked into the living room gracefully. Her eyes sparked with kindness and wisdom.
"Twilight told me that you wanted to speak to me?" The princess asked.
Spike forced a smile on his lips. "Of course I did." Than he motioned at the two chairs by a fireplace. "Please take a seat."
Celestia nodded happily and trotted up towards a recliner chair. Once she got comfortable in the seat, that's when Spike made his move.
"You know, I've always wondered how you obtained me." Spike said, taking a couple of steps towards the unsuspecting horse.
"You have?" Celestia asked, gazing towards the baby dragon.
Spike nodded, a dark smile formed on his lips.
"So you want me to tell you?" Celestia questioned.
Spike scowled. "I already know princess " He spit the last word out like it was poison.
A shiver ran down Celestia's back. "Y-you know?" She gulped.
"Oh yes I do." Spike smiled. Every step he took got him closer to his victim.
"Spike, I can explain!" Celestia shouted.
"Is something wrong?" Twilight hollered from the kitchen.
"Everything's fine." Celestia reassured, than she turned towards Spike. "Before you try and strike me down with your shard of glass, let me explain." The sun princess commanded.
"I don't want to hear your excuse!" Spike roared, then he charged at Celestia. Revealing the shard of glass in his claw.
Celestia sighed and used her magic to levitate Spike in front of her. The baby dragon struggled, however he soon calmed down once he realized that it was useless.
"Let me go you kidnapper!" Spike growled.
"I am not a kidnapper Spike! If you just hear my explanation then you'll understand." Celestia informed.
The baby dragon crossed his arms and pouted. However, he looked at Celestia. Giving his full attention to her.
"You have two minutes." Spike grumbled.
Celestia nodded, took a deep breath, and began to explain her side of the story.
After I got back to Canterlot with you, my parents tried to use a hatching spell on you. However, for some reason it didn't work. So for to centuries we had the best magic users try and hatch you. Nothing worked, so I decided to create a school for gifted unicorns. The task, to try and hatch you. For two years nothing happened. However, soon a certain purple unicorn tried to get into my school. Once she hatched you, I instantly brought you back to your original home. But time was not in my favor. When I entered that cave, the first thing I saw were two elder dragons with walkers. I knew that they were your parents; however I just couldn't bring myself to give you away to dragons who already have a hard time taking care of themselves.
"So, you decided to take care of me." Spike finished.
Celestia nodded sadly as she lowered Spike to the ground.
Spike wiped tears from his eyes before looking up at Celestia.
"I-I'm sorry." Spike apologized.
Celestia smiled sadly. "I'm the one who need to apologize Spike." She replied.
The baby dragon shook his head. "No, I'm the one who tried to kill you before listening to your side of the story." Spike pointed out.
"But I'm the one who never told you about your past. I should've told you from the start." Celestia explained.
Spike blushed. "I guess we were both wrong."
Celestia blushed also. "You're aright."
After a few minutes past, Celestia cleared her throat. "Friends?" She asked.
Spike nodded. "Friends." He agreed.
Author's Note
Have any suggestions on what my other story should be about?
