The Dragon Queen

Spike sighed as he watched the larger dragons fly overhead. It was the second migration he'd seen, and even though he was taller and stronger, had wings, and was smarter, he couldn't fly with them. He was a pony on the outside and a dragon on the inside. He was Spike. But who was Spike?

"It says here that the second migration of the Dragon Tribe is when all of the dragons belonging to that tribe fly or ride to the Queen's Lair." Twilight read from her book. "The Queen's Lair is the most sacred part of the Dragon Tribe, and it is a great honor to venture anywhere near it. The Queen has never been seen, but those who've spoken with other dragons quote, 'She is the largest and oldest dragon, the daughter of the previous king. He died a long time ago and she took over almost three thousand years ago.' Apparently, this was all any pony could get out of any dragon."

"My, that sounds frightening." Fluttershy cowered in the dugout.

"Oh, don't fret, Fluttershy, the Dragon Queen is probably really really far away," Applejack cooed. "She won't hurt ya."

"Spike, isn't this interesting?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah, I guess so." Spike sighed.

"Oh Spike... here, read this." Twilight said, levitating her book over to him. "It's the only book about the Dragon Tribe in all of Equestria. I want you to have it. I think only a dragon could understand the Draconic markings in it. I can't really tell what it says, but other parts say that a dragon could read them properly."

"You're giving this book to... me?" Spike asked, confused.

"I think it belongs in the claws of a dragon." Twilight smiled.

Spike hugged the Princess tightly. "Thank you, Twilight."

Spike sat in his room, a little lamp on while he read the book. Twilight Sparkle, his adoptive sister, had told him to read the book and maybe even translate the words for her, so every pony could learn about dragons. Spike was excited to, since he was being relied upon for a very important task.

He read the book cover to cover, a quill and a bottle of ink next to him with parchment. He flipped back to the Draconic letters and wrote down the alphabet, putting an equal sign after each letter, and translating. He finished quickly, the Draconic letters easy for every and any dragon to read. He turned the lamp off and crawled into bed, ready for sleep to overcome him.

Spike sat up from his bed, stretching and yawning. He picked up the parchment and book and walked into the den, where Twilight was sat drinking tea and reading The Art of The To Do List. She smiled and put her cup and book down, looking at Spike.

"I finished translating the letters, Twilight." Spike mumbled, putting the parchment on the table and setting the book down next to it.

"Spike, you can keep the book. It should be in the claws of a dragon," Twilight sighed. She picked up the parchment and looked at it, confused. "You only translated the letters, not the text."

"Oh, sorry, I guess I got kinda lazy, Twi." Spike smiled sheepishly. "I could read it to you and the others if you want."

"That sounds pleasant. I'll go gather them while you make some snacks. Sound like a plan?" Twilight queried.

"Sure!" Spike smiled, walking to the kitchen.

Twilight knocked on Rarity's door, waiting for a response. The door chimed as it opened, the Unicorn stepping out and smiling.

"Hello, Twilight. What brings you by?" Rarity asked.

"Spike is going to translate a book for us, would you like to join us?" Twilight asked, smiling.

"Oh, of course, darling! It'd be so very fun!" Rarity smiled. "Sweetie Belle! I'm going to Twilight's, can I trust you and your friends to be good while I'm gone?"

Sweetie Belle galloped into view and smiled, Applebloom and Scootaloo behind her. They were almost as tall as their sisters now. "Of course, Rarity! I'll be sure to make appointments and take phone calls, don't you worry, sis!"

Sweetie Belle levitated a clipboard over and smiled, looking at the board. "I'll call Berry Punch and tell her that you're busy for today. I'll see if I can arrange for her to stop by tomorrow at 3 o'clock. Sound good?"

"Thank you, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity praised. "You're the best little sister in the whole wide world!"

Rarity and Twilight Sparkle cantered off as Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom started the phone calls and scheduling. The duo cantered to Sugar Cube Corner.

"And so I said that it was impossible to do that many outfits within a time span of eighteen hours and she paid me triple to finish it in thirty hours! I finished them on time and she was so pleased with the outfits that she paid me an extra fifty bits!" Rarity finished her story, Twilight praising her smarts.

They knocked on the door to Sugar Cube Corner and Pinkie Pie ran to the door, the usual smile on her face. "Hey'a, girls! What's cookin'?"

"Spike is going to translate and read that dragon book for us, would you like to join in?" Twilight asked.

"That'd be awesome!" Pinkie smiled. "Mrs. Cake, is it okay for me to take the rest of the day off?"

"Oh, don't worry about it, Pinkie Pie! We have a back up foal sitter so don't you fret!"

"Thanks, Mr. and Mrs. Cake!" Pinkie smiled and hopped outside with her friends.

The trio made their way to Sweet Apple Acres, finding Applejack bucking apples as per usual. They cantered over to her, the orange farm pony stopping and wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"Howdy, girls! What's up?" Applejack asked.

"We were wondering if you'd like to join us. Spike was going to read us a book all about dragons!" Pinkie Pie smiled.

"That sounds like a hoot in a hat! I'd love to come, jus' let me check with Big Mac. Hey, Big Mac!"

"Eeyup?"

"Can I take the rest of the day off? I'll do extra buckin' tomorrow!"

"Eeyup!"

"I'm in!"

The four quickly ran to Rainbow Dash's home, Twilight flying up and knocking on the door.

"Coming!" Rainbow yelled from inside, putting a bookmark in her Daring Do book. "Oh, hi, Twilight. What's going on?"

"Spike is gonna read us a book about dragons!" Pinkie yelled from the ground.

"Oh, dragons! I'm totally in!" Rainbow smiled. "But we should hurry, it's supposed to rain later today."

The five gathered Fluttershy and quickly returned to Golden Oaks Library, just in time for the rain to begin its dance, and the wind its run. They all sat in the den with Spike, cookies and milk provided. He sat on the 'story telling' chair, with the book in his claws, candles lit for ambiance.

Fluttershy looked over the Draconic letters, raising her brow a few times. She looked at the paper and the sounds, thinking of how to say the letters and words. After about two hours of saying each and every letter over and over and over, she thought she had at least a hold on it. She started conversing with Spike to check her authenticity.

"Spike, am I speaking Dragon correctly?" Fluttershy asked, making Draconic hissing sounds as she spoke.

"Yes, that's... almost right. Can you understand me?" Spike asked.

"Oh my! Your mother was a piggy?" Fluttershy spoke, confused. "I got confused, say it again?"

"Yes, you have a hang on it, but it's still choppy. Repeat that to me, okay?" Spike smiled.

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "You said..." She thought a bit. "Yes... you have a hold on it... but it's still chippy? Retort that to me, right?"

"Close enough," Spike laughed.

"Oh, what did I say?" Fluttershy asked.

"You said, 'You said yes you have a hold on it but it's still chippy. Retort that to me, right?'" Spike smiled.

"What did you actually say?" Rarity queried.

"I said, 'Yes, you have a hang on it, but it's still choppy. Repeat that to me, okay?'" Spike smiled.

"Okay, Spike, read us the story!" Rainbow Dash smiled, folding her wings, ready for a new adventure.