The new "Castle of Friendship" stood out from Ponyville, shining in the sun, the crystal-like copy of the destroyed Ponyville library reflecting the sun's rays. The "Main Six" as the six friends were called, sat upon their thrones, a seventh throne remained empty as a dragon standing on two legs slightly taller than the newly crowned "Princess of Friendship"-Twilight Sparkle-stood in the center.

It had been a startling experience for the dragon-Spike-having awakened to Twilight Sparkle standing over him demanding where his hoard was. However, that accusation stopped when she saw the utter confusion on his face. It had simply been time for him to grow up.

"What did you say?!" Twilight Sparkle-bearer of the Element of Magic-said, as her friends remained wide eyed.

"I said that I need to leave." Spike said in a deeper-yet youth-filled voice, crossing his arms. "Face it, you've become more independent. I'm just getting in everypony's way."

"No you're not!" The bearer of the Element of Loyalty-Rainbow Dash said, wings unfurling, "Name one time!"

"Cleaning the Castle of the Two Sisters." Spike said, and everypony shut up. They all easily recalled being sucked into an enchanted comic.

"Ever since I could truly walk, I've been an assistant. That's what Princess Celestia raised me to be. But now the pony I've been assisting has become independent. It's time for me to find who I truly am!" Spike said, as a frown marred the faces of the six friends.

Letting out a deep sigh, Twilight hung her head. "Alright....but not until the day after tomorrow...we have to prepare things for your trip."

It was a delay tactic and Spike knew it....BUT....it would be nice to have some rations and equipment for the trip.

"Fine." He said, letting out a heavy sigh. "Thank you." He said before walking out of the main room of the Castle.

As soon as he was out of the room, Rarity-the bearer of the Element of Generosity-looked at the others.

"We're all following him....right?" She asked.

"Oh yes." Twilight said, gazing at where Spike had exited.

Nopony knew that Spike was around the corner listening to them.

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The next day couldn't come fast enough for Spike, with each pony having a wrapped package. It almost felt like his birthday.

On second thought, he really hoped it wasn't like THAT day.

Pinkie Pie-the bearer of the Element of Laughter-had bounced up to him first before tearing the wrapping of the package herself.

"Surprise!" She shouted as he held up the two four pouches.

"Pinkie...I'm sure he needs more than...four...pouches to carry everything....if you don't mind." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Well DUH! That's why I made them myself! They can carry up to 24 objects each! Regardless of size!" She said.

"How does that?...What?!" Twilight said, "You know what...never-mind. I'm giving myself a headache trying to figure it out."

"Well its ah good thing Pinkie gave you four of those pouches." Applejack-the bearer of the Element of Honesty-said as she placed down about twenty apples. "Ah reckon that this should last you ah while 'till you find more food."

"Thanks you two" Spike said, gaining an ecstatic grin from Pinkie Pie and a bashful one from Applejack.

Rainbow Dash just handed him the object that was unwrapped, which ended up being a double-edged sword and sheath. It was short-barley longer than a large dagger. "Sorry it wasn't bigger. It was hard enough finding a sword at all!" She said, puffing up in pride at her object.

Fluttershy-the bearer of the Element of Kindness-had her package meticulously wrapped. Spike was careful not to rip any of the paper (too much), which she seemed to appreciate. Hers was a metal shield that was blue and had the red image of a bird. "I thought this would be useful to protect yourself from harm." She said quietly.

Spike smiled and hefted the shield, admiring it.

At first he went to grab the sword and shield in his right and left hand-respectively. However, as he swung them, a frown marred his face.

"This....doesn't feel...right..." He said, before swapping which hand held the shield and sword.

"This feels more comfortable." Spike said, swinging the sword much easier in his left hand-much to Twilight's amazement.

"Spike...I think you're left-hooved!" Twilight said, gaining wide eyes from the others.

"But I write with my right all the time!" He said.

"Yes, but anypony-if they teach themselves how-can easily write and eat with either hoof. However, more strenuous tasks will make them use their dominant hoof more." Twilight explained.

Nodding to herself, Rarity handed him a bundle and told him to "go change." When he left the room (taking the other objects after putting the apples into one of the pouches) the others looked at her like she was crazy.

"An outfit....really?" Rainbow asked.

"An adventurer's outfit! Why it will help him carry the objects you all gave him!" She said, defending her choice. "I made it myself too!"

When Spike came down, he was wearing a forest-green tunic with a long cap on his head. The sword and shield were strapped to his back by belts over his shoulder and chest. The sword was angled so the handle was over his left shoulder, and a belt along his waist held the four pouches above his tail.

"A dress?! PFFFT!!!!" At this, Rainbow Dash broke down laughing.

"IT'S A TUNIC! LIKE THE ONES WORN BY ANCIENT KNIGHTS!" Rarity shouted.

Twilight, with a sad smile on her face revealed the last object. A blue, metal ocarina.

"I was looking through the Castle of the Two Sisters one day and found this Ocarina and there was a song written down. Whenever you feel lost or lonely, just think of us and play this song." With that, she used her magic to hold up the ocarina and cover some of the holes as she played a beautiful, yet haunting melody before Spike made an attempt and perfectly copied it-using his fingers instead of magic.

"All that was written on the music were the words Song of Time....and the words Ocarina of Time. "

Tucking the Ocarina of Time-as it was apparently called-safely into a pouch, he thanked everypony and headed up to his room. If he could fall asleep early...then his plan would work. The last thing going through his mind as he fell asleep were the echoes of the Song of Time.

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Waking up to a dark, starry sky, Spike couldn't help but grin. He heard the soft snores of Twilight from another room as she slept. Pulling on his tunic and cap he strapped on his weapons and pouches and wrote something down on a parchment-writing with his left hand-before placing the parchment on his bed and tip-toeing out of the room.

Once he was outside, he quickly ran from the castle and headed to Fluttershy's Cottage, slowing down to make sure he didn't step on an animal (or something loud enough to wake up one of her animals). Once he made sure that the coast was clear, he sprinted off into the Everfree Forest.

The Next Morning

"Okay Spike. We'll let you go on that journey like we promised, so wake up!" Twilight called out, getting no response.

"Spike?" She asked, opening the door to his room-which was empty. Walking into the room with wide eyes, she spotted the parchment and read out loud.

Dear Twilight,

I heard you and the others planning on following me, so I woke up at night and headed out. This is something I must do on my own. I will try to send you letters, but I cannot promise that they will be sent constantly-no parchment. I will return home when my journey's done.

Sincerely,

Spike

The parchment dropped to the ground as Twilight Sparkle just stared out in the distance.

"Spike."

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A few days into his journey through the woods, he had received a parchment from Twilight, both scolding him for leaving and wishing him luck. Writing something down with some nearby mud and drying it his fire (carefully as not to burn the parchment) before sending it to Twilight with his special fire breath. He let out a loud sigh before he spotted a strange...being...

It was pony shaped, but its mane and tail were made of vines with autumn-colored leaves and its body looked like it was carved from wood. It had a griffin-like beak without the sharp teeth as well and glowing yellow-orange eyes. It wore a tunic made of straw and leaves and wore a wide straw hat.

(In case you don't know. It's a pony version of This)

"Well hello there stranger!" The being said, waving a hoof at him. Two glowing orbs with dragonfly-like wings, one white with a yellow glow and one purple with a red glow, hovered near him.

"Um hello." Spike said, waving back. Before anypony could say anything, the being's stomach growled.

"Sorry. I haven't eaten anything in a while." And the being turned it's beak in the air and sniffed. "Hey! Something in your pouch smells good!"

Spike pulled out an apple and handed it to the being. As it took a bite of the apple, it's beak curved upwards in a small smile.

"Sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Skull kid! And...well, I'm a being they call a skull kid." It said, holding out a hoof.

Spike shook it and introduced himself.

"I'm Spike. I'm a dragon." With that one of the orbs-the white one spoke with a girlish voice.

"A dragon?! Are not dragons supposed to be sleeping in caves and hoarding treasure?"

"I'm far from ordinary. I was raised by ponies." Spike said with pride before he frowned. "I was an assistant...but the pony I was helping has become more independent. I'm on a journey to find out who I am supposed to be." With that, he stood up.

"I'm sorry I can't stay any longer, but I must be going. Farewell, Skull kid!" With that, he slowly walked off into the vegetation.

The skull kid frowned. "They always leave....huh?" He glanced down and spotted three apples left behind.

"What a strange dragon...."

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A grinning, cream colored pony with a short but well groomed brown mane and tail and a grin plastered on his muzzle walked through the forest with a huge backpack covered and filled with masks. Unbeknownst to him, a pair of yellow-orange eyes were locked onto his bag.....

Author's Note

Behold my latest creation! This was inspired by the game "Majora's Mask" , the Fimfiction story "The Legend of Spike: Discord's Mask".

This was written with the author's permission.