Finally. A nice cave out of dragon country. Although I guess this is dragon country now, but I don’t care. What’s that? Is that a gold piece? It is! Fantastic! Although…That means this used to belong to another dragon…Well, if he or she decides to come back they’re gonna find a nice toasty fireball waiting for them. I’m tired of running, this is mine now. I don’t need to take a big sleep for a couple more centuries, but this seems like a nice place to stay just the same. The Wild Forest is nearby, so food shouldn’t be too much of a problem, assuming that pony town I saw on my way won’t give me any trouble.
……
And so it begins…this happens every time I move into a new place before I actually need to sleep, I get all nice and comfy, my hoard’s all situated like I want it and I. Am. Bored! Eh, it’ll pass, it always does. Huh…Is that pony fear I smell? Oh come on! I’ve been here for like five minutes! I haven’t even left my cave, and already they’re scared of me?! Well that’s just great…I guess that’s what being a dragon is all about, and to be fair, I don’t mind the scent of fear, it just gets real old, real fast. Oh great, there I go again. What is wrong with me? You know what, I don’t even care anymore, I’m just gonna turn around and eat a little something.
Mmmm…I do love me my sapphires, although emeralds are amazing too. And rubies. And diamonds. Basically any gem, but sapphires are my favorite. Hey, this place actually has a pretty sweet view of the sunset, that’s nice. I’m getting kinda tired, maybe I should call it a night. Ah, why not? I’ve had a long day, I’ve got a new cave, I’m gonna get some shut-eye, nothing big, just for the night.
Huh wait what? Oh, right, new cave. Well Sliver, you’ve got a new day, what’re you gonna do with it?
……….
Apparently I’m going to deal with ponies all day. Terrific. If anybody’s up there, can I have one day, please? Just one freaking day?! Well I can’t change it now, and from the smell of it…I’m gonna have to deal with two earth, two pegasi, one unicorn, and one…Alicorn?! What the-They got one of the Princesses involved?! Oh, come on, I’ve only been here one day, no need to bring the Sun Goddess down on me, or her sister! Well great, just great, now I can’t just fireball in front of them and scare them off, I’ve got to fight my way out of this. Or just admit defeat and get out of here before they get here…No! What am I thinking?! I’m no coward, I’m a dragon!
And here they come. All mares by the sound of it, that’s weird. What are they saying? Maybe if I scoot a little closer…There! Now I can hear them! Huh… “Another dragon?” I was right! Keep listening Sliv.
“I don’t know why in the wide world of Equestria we had to come up this dreadful mountain again, there isn’t even any smoke! And I just had my hooves polished.” Well, well, well, aren’t we the fancy pony.
“Come on, Sugarcube, you know as well as the rest of us that a dragon in these parts is bad news, and we’ve gotta get this one ta move along afore it causes trouble!” Really? Really?! And by the way, some accent you’ve got there, I feel like my teeth are falling out just listening to you draaaawl on and on ‘sugarcube’.
“I’m just hoping I’ll get to kick some dragon butt this time around! Maybe a little Sonic Rainboom to its chest! Hyaah!” Oh, lookie here, we got a fighter. This might get interesting.
“Alright girls, that’s enough, we’re just here to talk to it. Remember what happened last time you tried to fight a dragon, Rainbow Dash?” And bingo, that’s the Princess. She sounds smaller than I thought she would. I guess it must be Princess…Oh, what’s her name…Luna! That’s it! Oh…
And now they’re just standing out there. The door’s open, ponies! Okay, that’s it, I’m going out there! Or at least, my head is. Good, I’ve got their attention. Alrighty then, what am I dealing with? I’m guessing Giant Hat is ‘sugarcube’. Only Fancy would have a mane that styled, but I gotta say, those diamonds on her flank are gorgeous. Woah! Easy on the Pink, geez! My eyes are starting to hurt. Moving on. That…is a lot of colors in one pony, although the lightning bolt makes me think that’s Fighter. Wait what? That’s the alicorn?! She’s tiny! And purple! Oh this is just too, too funny.
“Um, hello Mr. Dragon, my name is Princess Twilight Sparkle, I’m a citizen of Ponyville, the village just down the mountain there?” No duh, ‘your higness’. Just get to the point already.
“We were wondering if you would be able to move to a different cave before you took your nap.”...What. I don’t think I can roll my eyes any more, if I was gonna sleep, I would already be doing it, smart one. Hang on a second…Where’s the other pegasus?
“So if you would be so kind to-” Yeah yeah yeah, hold up a second.
“Uuum….What is it doing?” I’m looking for your little friend. Ah, there she is, behind the rock. Well, I don’t care anymore, I’m gonna go ahead and ignore you now.
“Mr. Dragon? Excuse me?” Shut up, Princess.
“Hey! We’re talking to you!” And guess what? I’m not listening. Back inside I go.
“That was just rude.” Well la dee da, Fancy, we can’t all be as ‘proper’ as you.
“Fluttershy, can you talk to him?”
“But she’s a…dragon.” Wow, I did not think anything could be that quiet.
“She?!” Was that all five at once? Ponies are so weird. But yes, I am a female dragon thank you very much.
“Um, yeah. She’s a she.” Will you puh-lease speak up? I can barely hear you.
“Well I certainly had no idea; if I had I would have been sure to give her a more proper greeting.” Like what? ‘Hello Daaaaahling, I see you’re a female just like me, would you fancy a trip to the spa or a shopping spree? We could get our hooves done, well, I suppose it would be claws in your case.’ Give me a break, Fancy.
“I wonder if that’s why she went inside, I mean, we did call her ‘Mr. Dragon’.”
“Ah don’t know, maybe.”
“Oh! Oh! I know! Why don’t we throw her a ‘Super-Duper-Sorry-For-Thinking-You-Were-A-Boy-Dragon’ Party!” Pinks, shut up. There is no way I would ever want a bunch of ponies to throw me a party.
“I’m not sure that would work, Pinkie Pie.” Wait, wait, wait. Her name is actually Pink-ie?! That. Is freaking hilarious.
“Why not? Everypony likes a party! Even dragons!”
“And how many dragons have you met that like pony parties? Besides Spike, I mean.” Wait, what? Spike? Who’s Spike? Do they actually know a dragon?
“Well, there’s uh…” Giggling? Why? “I don’t actually know, but maybe this one does!” Guess again, but still, who’s Spike?
“Ah doubt it, Sugarcube. Maybe we should all go in there and try ta talk ta her, what do you think Twi?” Come on, talk about Spike.
“That seems like a good idea, she had the chance to attack us when she came out but she didn't, maybe she’s a nice dragon.” Okay, that’s it, if they don’t start talking about this Spike they all seem to know in a couple of seconds, I’m going to start getting impatient.
“Are you serious? You actually want all of us go into that dreadful cave at one time?” Hey, it’s not that bad, Fancy. But now I’m going to have to find out about Spike the hard way.
“Who’s Spike?” And now they’re doing the whole stare at her with open mouths bit. “What, you never heard a dragon talk before?”
“Um, we’re uh, sorry, it’s just you surprised us Ms…?”
“Not important. Who’s Spike?”
“Oh, um, Spike is my assistant, why do you want to know?” Oh, come on, can’t I have a simple conversation without you getting all nervous and scared on me?
“You said he’s a dragon. Is that true?”
“Oh, my yes, Spikey-wikey is the cutest dragon in all of Equestria.” Spikey-wikey? Seriously?
“Uh huh…Look, I’ll make you a deal. I just got here and I don’t intend on leaving anytime soon, but if you send this Spike up to talk to me with whatever reasons for me getting out of here you came up with, I might consider it.” And back I go into the cave. Oh hey look, a nice loose boulder I can use as a door. I’ll just put that here and…There! Now those ponies can do whatever they want, I can’t even hear them anymore! Hmm…I’m getting hungry, how about…Ooh! A nice big pile of topaz! Score!
Well, that day was totally well spent. Geez. Wait a second? Is that what I think it is? Someone is seriously knocking on the boulder? Must be the ponies again, might as well open the door just to get them out of my-
“Uh, hi there. Twilight said you wanted to talk to me?” What? They…They actually sent the dragon? He’s just a baby!
“Um…Yeah…You must be…Spike, right?”
“Yeah, that’s me.” He’s rubbing the back of his neck. Is he really that nervous?
“I gotta admit, I didn’t think they would actually send you, I mean, you’re just a kid.”
“Well, yeah, but Twilight really trusts me!” Wait…The pony trusts him?
“Huh. Well, uh, come on in, I guess.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of jewels!” Ah, shiny eyes and watering mouth, the kid’s a dragon alright.
“Eh, it helps to not have to share.”
“Yeah, I suppose. Um, you wouldn’t mind giving me a couple, would you?”
“Hey. Keep your claws to yourself.”
“Sorry.”
“So. What’d the ponies down there tell you to tell me? Hold up a second, I’ve got a diamond digging into my side….there we go. Go ahead, kid.”
“Um, well, Twilight’s a princess, and she and the mayor of Ponyville think you should go so you don’t cover Equestria in smoke from your big nap. And Princess Celestia thinks so too so…”
“Hahahahahaha! Oh wow, they really think I’m here to sleep for a hundred years?! That’s hilarious!”
“Uh, what? You mean you aren’t?”
“No! Of course not! I’m just here to, you know, live! A dragon needs a cave; this one was open, now I’m here.”
“Hahaha! Really?! Oh, I can’t wait to tell Twi!” Twi? Is that Princess Twilight? He abbreviates her name? A princess?
“You’re…Really close to that Princess Twilight, huh?”
“Of course I am, she raised me, and I’m her Number One Assistant!” I might want to duck, he looks like he’s about to burst from pride.
“She raised you? How? She’s a pony.”
“Well…I never knew my parents, she hatched me when she was a filly and she’s taken care of me ever since.” Wow…Poor kid, never knowing his own parents.
“That’s nice of her, I guess. So you’ve lived with ponies your whole life?”
“Yeah. I tried living with dragons once but it didn’t really end well…”
“How so?” Maybe I should offer him a place to sit, he looks kinda uncomfortable…
“Well, I went on the Great Dragon Migration and I met these teenage dragons and-”
“Say no more. I know what you mean, I’ve only been on five migrations myself.”
“Really? Only five?”
“Yeah. Don’t look so surprised, I’m not what you call an ‘ordinary dragon’. Here, sit down.”
“Wow, thanks! Um, what was your name again?” Wow, he settled into that gold pile quick. Well, can’t really blame him, I’ve got some good stuff. Oh, yeah, my name.
“My name’s Sliver. But you can call me Sliv if you want, Spikey-wikey.” That face is priceless, look at him blush! But he seems like a pretty good kid so far. “Nah, I’m just kidding Spike. Hey, you can eat some of those gems you’re sitting on if you want.”
“Thanks a lot, Sliv! Mmm…Wow, these are really good! Where’d you get them?”
“There are some good mountains for sapphires up north, I usually go there.” He’s actually pretty nice; I guess living with ponies rather than dragons does that to you.
“So why are you here if you aren’t taking a nap?” Geez, talking with your mouth full? I guess Fancy hasn’t had much of an influence on him.
“I told you, I needed a cave and this one was free.”
“But what about the other dragons? I thought that most dragons live with each other except for the hundred year naps.” …So he does know something.
“Most do.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, did I say something?”
“Nah, it’s okay, I’m fine.” Totally fine.
“Then why do you look so sad?”….Smart kid.
“Look, kid, I’m different from other dragons. I always have been, I always will be.”
“You don’t look so different to me.” Maybe not quite so smart.
“...Look again, Spike.”
“What the- You only have one wing!”
“Excellent observation, brilliant one.”
“How is that possible? Did something happen to you?” Great, now I have to explain it. Eh, whatever, I don’t care.
“Yeah. My mom and my dad happened.”
“What?”
Sigh…“You have no wings, right? And every other dragon you’ve met has wings, right?”
“Riiight…”
“You ever wonder why that is?” And a pony education rears its head and I have to teach the kid.
“Well, yeah, but I guess I always assumed that I was, you know, deformed or something…”Oh no…Poor kid…Okay, I know I don’t ever do this but he needs a hug, and I’m the only dragon around. Wow…He’s so small…Okay, time to talk.
“Now Spike, you listen to me. You are not deformed. There are two kinds of dragons in this world: Drakes and Dragons.”
“But I thought drake meant boy dragon.” Freaking ponies.
“No. A drake is a dragon without wings, and a dragon is a dragon with wings. The reason why ponies call all dragons ‘dragons’ is because drakes are really, really rare. They only live way up north beyond the Crystal Mountains, and it’s too cold for ponies up there so no one’s ever done any research on them.”
“So I’m a…drake?”
“Yup. You are a healthy young drake, and not a deformed dragon.”
“But what about you? You’ve only got one wing, and you said it was because of your mom and dad.” Right. I forgot about that.
“My dad was a drake.”
“And your mom was a dragon?” At least he’s got some brains in him.
“Yeah…”
“Then wouldn’t that mean you either had either both wings or none at all?” Sigh…
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But no, when I hatched, I had one wing.”
“Wow, I’m sorry, that must have been hard.” Compassion? That’s new. Really new, actually…
“Yeah, I guess. A few years after I hatched my parents started fighting and eventually they split up. I went with my mom.” Why am I telling him this?
“Oh…” Why does he look so sad? This is weird. “Did you miss him?”
“Well, at first, yeah, but I was really little the last time I saw him, so after a while I guess I forgot about him.”
“At least you knew him at all…I’m probably never going to know who my parents are.” Poor kid.
“Hey, it’s not all sunshine and rubies. I never fit in with any of the dragons, especially on the migrations. It took me forever to learn how to fly, and even then, I couldn’t fly for very long. That was the reason I only went on five migrations, because all the other dragons my age made fun of me, and the adults did nothing except shoot dirty looks at my mom.”
“Why?” Wow, he is so naïve. Well, I guess that makes sense if he’s only lived with ponies his whole life.
“Because dragons never ever marry drakes, let alone have children with them. It’s stupid, but that’s how it is.” Great, now I have to tell him harsh truths about life. This is just fantastic.
“I’m really sorry, Sliver.” Wait, what?
“Why? It wasn’t your fault, heck, you weren’t even an egg yet.”
“I know, but I’m still sorry that you got teased because of your wing, and that your parents split up.” Huh. He’s a really sweet kid.
“Wow, Spike, that’s really nice of you to say.”
“Thanks.”
…….
“So, tell me about your life, what’s it been like being a drake among ponies?” That ruby he’s munching on looks pretty good, I think I’ll have one too.
“Well, it’s been a lot of fun, but sometimes stuff happens like Canterlot gets invaded, or Pinkie Pie makes a million copies of herself, or the god of Chaos breaks loose. But every time Twilight saves the day with her friends Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity.” Why did he blush when he said ‘Rarity’? Does he have a little crush on a pony?
“Who’s Rarity?”
“Only the most beautiful pony in all of Equestria. And sweet, and kind, and just so amazing. She’s the Element of Generosity too!”
“Hahaha! You have a crush on a pony!”
“Hmph! Nopony asked you!”
“Oh, I’m just kidding with you, Spikey-wikey!” That is a lot of red under the purple. This is hilarious.
“Stop that!”
“Why? Is that what Rarity, your little pony love, calls you? Spikey-wikey?” Oh, a little shove there, not gonna work kid, I’m bigger than you are.
“I’m serious, stop it!”
“It’s hard to take you seriously when you’re laughing and bluuushing! But I’ll stop, I’ll stop. Have you told her?”
“No! Of course not!” Aww, he’s so shy.
“Why not? If you like her, why haven’t you told her?”
“Because! I can’t tell her, I mean, what if she totally shoots me down or tells me I’m a loser…”
“If she’s your friend, I don’t think she’ll tell you you’re a loser, even if she does reject you.”
“But how would that work? I mean, what happens if I start to grow up? Or even if I don’t, how could we be together?” What?
“If you grow up? What do you mean ‘if’?”
“A while back, on my birthday, I got a bunch of presents and then I started to get greedy. I started taking stuff and then I got really big, and I almost hurt Rarity. And I don’t want to do that again ‘cause I’ll forget who I am and then me and Rarity won’t have a chance.” Oh, are you serious? Geez, someone’s gotta teach this kid how it actually works.
“Spike…That’s not how it works.”
“What do you mean? I grew up because of my greed.”
“Yes, but that isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Look at me. I’m an adult, right?”
“Yeah.”
“But I’m not driven by greed, and I know exactly who I am. If you give in to your greed that will speed up the process, but it isn’t the only way. All dragons and drakes age like ponies, it just takes a long time. For instance, I’m a young adult, about the same relative age as…Twilight Sparkle, but she’s probably around twenty, and I’m almost six hundred and twenty.”
“Really? six hundred twenty?”
“Mhm. So don’t worry about it, Spike. You’re going to grow up to be a fine drake; you’ve just got to give it time. And as far as Rarity goes, I think that you should do whatever your heart tells you, even if that means waiting a few years to tell her that you love her.” I hope that helped him. He’s a good kid, he deserves to have a good life.
“I guess…Yeah, you’re right. Thanks a ton, Sliver, you’re the nicest dragon I’ve ever met!” Oh…Wow…He’s hugging my neck, or trying to anyway…Now I know why Mom always smiled so much when I did that to her.
“It was nothing, Spike, I was glad to help. Hey, it’s getting pretty late; I think maybe it’s time for you to head back home. Princess Twilight will be waiting.”
“Yeah, I think so too. Oh, um, Sliv?” He’s a cute little guy.
“Yeah?”
“You’re not going to take a hundred year nap, right? Because if you are, Twilight will want me to get you to um…Go…”
“Course not, kid. I’m gonna stay wide awake, so you tell the princess not to worry about any smoke.” Besides, I think I might actually like it around here.
“Good! Twi’s gonna be so glad to hear that!” I’ve never seen anyone’s face light up that much. You know, now that he’s going, I feel kind of…Sad. I think I might miss him…Weird.
“Hey Spike? Just so you know, you can come up here anytime you want, okay?”
“I’d like that Sliv, thanks.”
“Oh! And here’s a little snack for the trip down the mountain.” Let’s see…Oh! Here’s a good emerald.
“Thanks! Mmm…This is really good, I’ll see you around, Sliv! Bye!”
“Bye Spike!” Thanks a lot for talking…It’s been a while since I’ve actually talked to anyone…It was nice. He’s such a great kid, I’m really happy I got to meet him. Hey, you know what? I think I might actually have a friend. I like it.
