Of Snow and Fire

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Chapter 1

Of Snow and Fire

Lightning crashed through the clouds around me as I pumped my wings. The thunder hit me barely an instant after the flash. The boom was much more of a threat to my dumb butt then the lightning. The concussion from the thunder could knock me around and confused me. Gods, it would really suck to bury myself tail first into a hillside. I found level again and fought for more air.

This is probably the dumbest things I've ever done. Not quite as dumb as if I had stayed back there with that creeper and his little cabal, but even still. I've flown through light rain and wind storms before. The trick with those was to get above of below the disturbance, hopefully without getting wet, and continue on. This storm, however, was a little bit different. Just a teensy bit.

The storm was a full fledged black thunderhead that stretched from ground level all the way to about twice my flight ceiling. It had not been there when I had showed up at the creeps request around dawn, but appeared within minutes of my arrival. It surrounded that dirty place on all sides; the ruin covered mound was the eye of the storm. I heard the storm growling at me before I had left. It was screaming at me now. Battering me, wanting me to go back, clashing lightning and drumming thunder around me.

A hard gust slammed into me from the left. my wing was wrenched very painfully in a direction it was not designed to go. I could feel the joint wanting to pull out of its socket, and I cried out despite myself. Get a grip Snowfire. I told myself. You can do this. You got this, you've done storms before, maybe not like this, and I'm sure OTHER dragons do this all the time. For fun. Yes. I bet those other dragons also like to bang their heads against rocks repeatedly! WHY am I OUT here?!

I knew why I was out here. Short answer; I was young and dumb. I had thought that Creepy Mc Creep-creep was my friend. He had been friendly enough these past months. I suppose that should have been a tip off. No one wanted to be friends with a dragon, let alone a half-breed. I should have just left and forgotten about him when he had asked why I was covered in fur; I had told him I was only three fourths 'true-dragon.'

“Close enough for me,” he had replied said, with a wicked little smile.

So now I found myself fleeing through a thunderstorm so big and black and dark that I had never heard of anything like it before. There was so much lightning around that I didn't have to worry about flying into anything because of a lack of light. Most other dragons would have been forced to stick around McCreepy by all the electricity in the air, but just like fire was a pure-blood dragon thing, lightning was mine. What? It makes sense: fire and fur do not mix. I don't think I could actually take a full on strike by one of the lightning bolts in this storm, but I could keep my fur charged enough that the bolts didn't come close to me anyways.

Personally I liked my... I guess it would be called it a pelt? I was covered was mostly with red fur, and had a white main that went from my head all the way to a poof on the tip of my tail.Most of the other dragons thought it was a weird mutation, but I have caught a couple of the drakes eyeing my flanks. I was too tired to blush at the half-thought right now. As good as my fur and mane might look, and as good as it might be at keeping a charge, it was excellent at retaining water. Water meant more weight, and weight meant I had to struggle just that much harder.

Charging my fur did not help much with the concussive thunder or the ripping winds or the general cacophony of banshee screams and wails of the REST of the storm either. Having to constantly fight for altitude was getting really REALLY old as well. I'm a Broadwing, so I can stay 'up' a long time, and carry a lot with me, but the whole 'flap-flap-flap' constantly thing.... well I'm just not built for it. I was constantly pushing myself just to maintain my current altitude; it was lower then I would have hopped for. My muscles had long since moved past merely burning and were actively yelling in pain at every movement.

I had a good little shelter cave picked out that was probably only forty five minutes worth of flight in clear a sky. Normally an easy flight. It wasn't “an easy flight” right now. In fact, this was probably the worst flying conditions that could ever be encountered. My tendons creaked in agreement as I thrust my wings down again. I couldn't just land anywhere, as much as I might want to. Trying to do a hover landing was hard enough when I was fresh, and I knew I just didn't have it in me right now. I would end up dropping out of the sky hundreds of feet if I made the attempt just from muscle failure; no need to contemplate the wind or rain. I need a good clean stretch of ground, or even a small river, to land in. Without a clear area all I would accomplish would be to Impale myself on several trees.

I think I'm probably going to die. That sucks. I didn't want to die. I was only just leaving adolescence. This was the sort of realization that happens after one has been fighting a force of nature for hours upon hours, spending all ones strength and reserves to claw one bit further, despite making no recognizable progress, and with no end in sight. I'm not gonna give up, Ill be damned to Tartarus before I give him the satisfaction. He let slip that his little 'ritual' was going to take until sunset...I left the place at dawn.... gods, it feels like I've been out here days. It can't be much longer. He wont get MY blood for his little spell. Hes welcome to go “back to his homeland to take whats rightfully his” but I'm not going to be part of any soul-twisting-blood-magic-curse-thingy ritual!

It was right then, in the middle of my mental rant, that I was hit with a red tinted lightning bolt. It hit be right between my eyes and continued off my tail to menace something below.

Stupid creepy little unicorn. Were my last thoughts as I started to fall from the sky, losing consciousness.

****

I awoke all at once. That surprised me; That I was alive. Even if I was attuned to lighting, taking a wild bolt to the face generally kills just about anything, let alone the fact that I should have plowed a trench into the ground at terminal velocity. My mind wasn't in a “fully-working” state, and I knew it, but I was conscious. It was a happy mystery.

A moment or so later the images my eyes were seeing stated registering. I appeared to be in some sort of vast marble room, or maybe a great hall. There was daylight coming in from somewhere, and no hint of storm in its quality or on the wind. The hall also appeared to be filled with creatures, every one of them upside down and standing on the ceiling. ...Wait... Blinking a little bit, I mentally fixed the image. They were all standing on the floor; it was me that was upside down.

I was laying on my back. Over the protests of my very worn out body, could feel an impressive collection of new bruises beginning to form. I was also pushed up against a wall, and laying on-top of something lumpy. Every one of my limbs was splayed out in a different direction, and were informing me that any attempt to move them would be met with open rebellion. I carefully avoided thinking about much about how much pain I was in; I did not seem to be actively bleeding out, so the rest could wait a little. I'm probably in shock…

I could see a path from about the middle of the room to where I was that was covered in scrape-marks and bits of my fur, but pieces of cloth and fur a color that were not mine were mixed in. My twin ivory horns and neck were beginning to complain, so that probably explained the bigger gouges near my resting spot, but the ones near the start, four of them, appeared to be made more by... hooves?

The creatures around me were all staring and me with googly eyes. Not a single one moved. At that moment, I couldn't even tell if they were breathing. All of them were quadrupeds, and of an equine persuasion. Huh...A lot like McCreepy actually… but I didn't get a bad feeling from these ones. There was a bigger one wearing a lot of gold. It was mostly white, and I think it was a female. Her striking multicolored mane seemed to be moving in a wind I couldn't feel. I could see her face slowly changing from one of fear and anger to one of compete confusion as she looked at me. Most of the rest of the ones standing around had a blank look, like they were trying to get their eyes working correctly.

I saw many of the equines had weapons and armor, and more of them were entering the room... maybe some sort of guards? The big white equine had a crown … so she was royalty? Great. I probably just bulldozed her Prince or King or something. I'm gonna get stabbed a lot.

I opened my mouth. I had to say something to derail the upcoming stabbing. I had often heard stories about how silver-tongued drakes could talk their way out of any problem, but it was getting hard to concentrate. My body seemed to be doing a full inventory of all its parts, and ever last one of them felt the need to complain. Loudly. I hissed in a breath, only half noticing most of the equines in the front taking a step back.

“...Owie.”

Author's Note

This is my first work here on Fimfiction, and my first attempt at creative writing in like... 8 years (or something like that, at any rate). Comments and critiques are welcome!

Chapter 2

It had started out as a normal day for Princess Celestia. Breakfast with her sister, reading the newspaper, and then making her way to Day-Court to listen to Blueblood natter on for half the morning.

Celestia loved her nephew, she really did. She knew he had some rough spots, and privately admitted he got on her own nerves quite frequently, but in his core Blueblood was not a bad pony. Spoiled definitely. But not bad. In his private persona they often had wonderful conversations about about the plants in the castle gardens, or the whatever the latest exploration venture was that he was funding.Bluebloods’ public persona however could become extremely trying. It had taken him over four hours this morning to communicate to her that some of the nobles were feeling the tax credit for villages around the Vanhoover Dam needed to be adjusted.

She had resolved the issue by reminding her nephew, and all the other of her little ponies that were waiting their turn to approach her, that Luna had taking over all issues related to tax and revenue, and it was going through a long needed update. Celestia hated to admit it, but tax law was something she had let slide for the past thousand or so years. She had never really liked it, but it was something Luna seemed to get a perverse pleasure out of.

“Of course, how silly of me,” said Blueblood as he bowed his way out. She wondered how many favors her nephew and acquired for attempting to get a ruling out of her, rather than her sister.

Celestia had been about to call forward the next of her subjects that had requested an audience, when something made her pause. It started as a feeling of static in her back teeth, and a feeling of dread she couldn't place. The sensation quickly grew while she was trying to place it, and in a moment a swirling tornado made of red magic and storm cloud exploded into being in the center of her throneroom.

She could tell it was a portal of some kind almost immediately, just from the feeling of the waves of magic it emanated. She did not know how such a thing could appear in her courtroom, one of the most heavily warded places in the whole of Equestria. The vortex seemed to be constructed half of stormclouds, and covered a fair sized portion of the middle of the throne room.

Standing in alarm, Celestia had immediately brought her own magic to bare on the construct, trying to force it to close. Her reactions, however quick, were useless, her magic slid off the vortex like it was a hole in existence. She could not seem to affect it in the slightest. she couldn’t even get her magic to acknowledge something was even there.

A figure appeared in the vortex. It was a unicorn pony, a stallion, but its cutie mark was covered by a tattered cloak. He had a gray coat, with short, dark blue hair. Celestia thought he looked familiar, but couldn’t quite place who he was.

“What is the meaning of this?” She remembered demanding.

“Ha-ha!” said the unicorn. “Yes! Success! I knew it would work. Victory is mine Celestia!”

Celestias heart froze in her chest. ”Ritual! What are you doing here. You were banished for crimes against the crown.”

“Thats right, I was,” said Ritual ” but I’m back now. I’m here to take your kingdom for my own. Your arrogance has been your downfall Celestia. You really should have had me killed. By ‘banishing’ me you only gave me time to work on my spells without interference.”

Ritual had been a monster. Convinced that ‘his blood magic’ was one true way to power and he was destined to rule all of existence, he had done some truly depraved things to several ponies before attempting to overthrow her several decades ago. He had not been nearly as powerful as he thought he was, and Celestia had summarily banished him to a place far far away.

“Surrender now Ritual, and I will be lenient in your punishment,” said Celestia.

Ritual laughed in response. “I don’t quite think you are understanding the position you are in my dear. I have completely replaced all the ‘harmonious’ magic in my being with that of the dark! Your magic can not touch me as long as I remain in this vortex. No magic can! And nopony can enter! But I can cast spells on You!” said Ritual. His face covered in a depraved grin as his horn lit with power.

Celestia braced herself for his attack. She did not have option but to take the defensive until a better solution presented itself. Her own magic, and that of several of her unicorn guards seemed to be swallowed by the vortex Ritual stood in. Even as she watched, one of her pegasi guards bounced off some unseen barrier has he swooped to attack the deranged caster. Celestia could tell it was going to be a vicious attack, and was putting as much of her energy as she could into her own defences.

Which was why it came as a complete surprise when a massive red creature had come barreling at high speeds out of the mists. It had to have come from the ‘far’ side of the portal/vortex, and it caught Ritual even more flat footed than her. She doubted the he even registered the presence of anything before he was unceremoniously pile-driven into and across her throne rooms massive floor.

Privately, in the small hind part of her mind Celestia believed he had made a very satisfying *crunch*. Without its master, the Dark Tornado dissipated almost as fast as it appeared.

Her unlikely rescuer, as it turned out, was a peculiar dragoness about twice her size that looked like it had gotten into a fight with an elemental, and lost. She had no clue who the dragoness was, or even if she had meant to save her, but she had. Seeing its eyes gazing around in a sort of glassy, stunned way, she realised the the dragon was conscious. She hopped it wouldn’t try to eat anypony.

“Owie…” said the dragoness.

“Indeed, “ said Celestia as she raised an eyebrow.

****

Well, the last few days have been interesting. Princess Celestia is kinda of cool, when shes not trying to scare the living buck out of me. She doesn’t even need to do anything. She just gets this spine chilling look. It really kinda puts one's place in the scheme of things into perspective; I’m the bug, and shes the big ol hoof. Like I would ever wanna do anything to tick off somepony that moves the Sun just by thinking hard. Note to self: remember to never ever ever make a joke about eating anything living around here again. Ever.

It turns out that the pony that I goobered when I landed in her Throne room actually was Mr. McCreepy. He had come through just before I did. He and the Princess had some history I believe, but not the happy kind. He survived our encounter, somehow, but is currently someplace dark, dank, and with alot of magic inhibitors. He deserves every moment of it.

I’m still riding that high of finding myself still among the living. After having the near certainty of death, and then that raw bolt to the face, simply being alive was the Best. Thing. Ever. They got some pretty good healers around here too, although I had to chase the male ones out when they started poking around where males should not. They could have at least gotten me dinner first or something. I know I don't exactly extrude ‘feminine,’ but come on!

So yea, my injuries are mostly gone at this point, score one for dragon toughness and pony healing, but this room is starting to get really boring. I get that ponies are kinda panicky and stuff, sure, and I’m a ‘big `ol predator’ as far as their hindbrains are concerned but I’m getting the need to stretch my wings real bad. At least they’re keeping me stuffed with crystals.

The doors to the room open and Princess Celestia walks in. I give her a smile and she smiles back. Her guards wait outside. she has come by and talked to me almost every day I’ve been awake, and after the first day even left her guards outside. Not that they didn’t complain about being left outside, but if something was gonna hurt her in here, it wasn’t going to be me.

“Snowfire, how are you feeling today?” She asks.

“I’m doing pretty good Princess. I think I’m almost completely back to normal. I’m just starting to feel a little antsy being inside,” I say.

“It’s good that you are doing well, and I can understand that being kept inside can be quite a trial. Most pegasi react the same way. You’ve been quite accommodating in listening to my request,” She said.

“Yea, I don’t think having a whole city panic at me would be any more fun for me then you. Any idea on when I could be getting back on home then?”

“Thats still going to take us some time to research, I’m sorry. Dark Magic and Blood Magic are such a dangerous fields of study that we know almost nothing about it, and even less about when they are combined. Ritual is...not cooperating, so I don’t feel I can promise any sort of results soon.”

Huh. I had to think that over. Unless I heard wrong, she was saying she wasn't likely to be able to send me home for a long time. Not that my home was that great of a place to be, but it was familiar. “So, your uh.. is ‘hospitality’ the right word? -” She nodded “- Hospitality has been great and everything, I think I’m fuller on gems then I’ve ever been before, but I’m gonna kinda need to get out of this room soon. I dunno if I would worry too much about finding me a way home of it its just for me, though, I’m about the age that dragons leave our clutching lands and find new places to live.”

I was reminded that I really didn’t know anything about these ponies. Being around dragons wasn’t really what I would call fun, most of us were jerks after all, but at least you knew what you were in for. These ponies on the other hand.. who knew? I was trying to be on my best behavior at any rate. I had never had so much food available, even if it was all only gems, and I didn’t want that to stop if it didn’t have to.

“The doctors have told me you're healthy enough to leave if you desire to, so you may go anytime you wish. If you're open some suggestions, I have a few ideas you might be interested in.”

“Uhm... Sure” It would never hurt to get more information. I kinda wish I knew what angle the Princess was playing, but I didn’t so I would have to play this one by ear. Maybe it was a pony thing, but I never felt like I had to smash anything after I was done talking to the Princess. Not even when she laughed when I asked about the King and Queen.

“ I think this one is the best one all around by far; I know this little village called Ponyville…”

****

“Sister, Methinks you play a very dangerous game, meddling in the affairs of dragonkin in such a manner,” said Luna over the dining table.

“Oh nonsense Luna, “said Princess Celestia ”It’s not a game at all.”

“No, a game tis not. Young Spike might be considered bad enough t’wer it not for the endorsement of all Our friends, but this Dragoness…” said Luna before pausing a moment. She had to make the conscious effort not to talk in the old fashion when she was upset. “Tia, I do not understand why you so freely invite her into our subjects home and hearth.”

“Oh Lulu, a hoof-full of years ago I wouldn't have considered allowing it. Recently… well. With what Twilight has been able to accomplish recently, I think it might be best to give it a try.”

“Give what a try sister?”

Princess Celestia blew out a small sigh. “I hate having to be so pragmatic sometimes. The simple fact is dragons exists, and they can quite ornery. There is little that our little ponies can do to affect where a dragon might decide to nest. Its something of a miracle that brave Fluttershy was able to convince that red one to move somewhere else.”

“Yes, I am familiar with these habits, and the fact that they will occasionally try and partake of flesh,” said Luna shuddering. “So why you wish to invite more of them to our lands perplexes me.”

“I’m fairly sure I impressed on Snowfire exactly what the consequences to her would be if she were to ‘partake of flesh’ from anypony as you put it. During our talks it seemed repugnant to her to consider consuming anything that could talk back to her. Snowfire is a little rough around the edges, but I believe she is good enough in her core. I don’t think Spike even needs to be mentioned in that regard. Spike really is an example of what I’m trying to achieve, on the social level. It is possible for our kinds to co-exist in close proximity, and I believe our ponies, and our little dragon, are better for it. In the cold-hearted, long term view however... Dragons will not nest in territory that is already claimed by another dragon. If we were to have adult dragons friendly to us, and able to co-exist with our ponies, they would keep and drive off potentially hostile dragons without our intervention. In addition If, heavens forbid, a battle or war with another nation were ever to happen... “

“Yes, I can see how having Dragons on our side could be an asset. But Tia, they are dragons. You can not control them.”

“Oh, I don’t seek to control anyone Lulu, and Snowfire is just one dragoness. I just think it would be better for everyone if she made some friends, in the short and long runs. To be honest, I’m a little worried that our ponies will scare her away.”

“I suppose I should be the last pony to deny the power of friendship. On a slightly different note, Were you able to determine how she was able to cross Rituals portal? From the feel of the residue It had been attuned to only let ponies through. ”

“Yes, I think I have an explanation. Snowfire is only actually three quarters dragon, and didn’t seem to know what her remainder was. I believe her remainder is pony myself, sufficient enough to confuse the portal blocks with what that mess of spell work that was going on.”

“Yes, its going to take me some time to work though all that was happening in that mess” Luna shook her head while making a face.

“Ritual was always messy with his spellwork. We are going to have to decide what to do with him. Enough about this, word is you have been flirting with somepony!”

Princess Lunas denials were heard across the castle.

Author's Note

This one went quickly, so I'm sure there have been plenty of errors that made it through. If you seen any, please let me know.

Comments and critiques are amazing!

Chapter 3

There had been hints of frost in the courtyard in the predawn light. It cast everything in a monochrome, but the grass felt a bit crisper under her paws then it might have otherwise. This was her second time to this courtyard, but the first so early. It felt different.

A pair of guards had watched impassively as she stretched out some lingering stiffness out of her sore muscles. Her breath was misting, she noticed. The princess had let her know it was the starting of the fall season here. That was fine with Snowfire, she always found she had an affinity for the colder months. No small part of that, she was sure, was that the other dragons in her clutch had no fur to keep them warm when it was chill.

Snow considered what her next few days we’re going to be like. As thankful as the princess had been for… interfering with Rituals plans, having Snow around the castle was becoming something of a disruption. The Princess had assured her that it had nothing really to do with who she was, but she knew otherwise. She knew how prey species got around a predator. Although she enjoyed meat as much as next as the next dragon, she had never eaten anything she could hold a conversation with, and had no plans otherwise. Their fear wasn't really a surprise, it was actually fairly familiar to her, and so it didn't hurt as it otherwise might.

She however had found herself very surprised when the princess had insisted she stay under pony care until she was fully healed. She just couldn't do it at the castle. That had actually turned into an argument, albeit a very polite one. She was already in a better condition than she usually found herself in, and more time would only make every-pony and every-dragon uncomfortable. It was only when the Princess had put it in the terms as payment for her healing expenses did Snowfire relent. As much as Princess Celestia came across as kind, Snow did not want to a Demi-God to think she owed them anything if she could help it.

So she had found herself in the pleasant coolness this morning preparing for a short flight. The Princess had gotten her to agree to four days under ‘pony care’ at a town called “Ponyville.” she would have scoffed at the name, but knew that most dragons were even less creative at naming things. “Dragoncave” and “Dragonrock” came to mind. If a Demi-God insisted on feeding and housing her for a few more days, she wasn't going to complain very hard.

The restrictions she had agreed to weren't even harsh, much to her surprise. ‘No eating anypony’ seemed to be the main one, and not in anyway a surprise, but ‘learn about friendship’ had been a startling commandment. She already knew about ‘friendship’ from her clutch mates, but if part of the food and shelter came with cutting remarks, fear, and backstabbing, so be it. It would be like home, really. She would ignore it like always. At Least ponies didn’t come with claws built in.

The dawn had lightened while she mused. No actual frost was revealed, but it couldn't be more than a few more weeks away. The city beyond the castle walls still slumbered. She enjoyed the silence, it seemed to echo. The city was a living thing during the day, but it slept in the early morning.

It was about time to leave; the Princess would be miffed if Snow panicked the city by overflying it while ponies were awake. She didn’t know if the Princess could turn her to stone or send her to the moon like she overheard some of the guards talking about, but there was no sense in risking it.

Like a tiger leaping in a pounce Snow left the ground, her fur seeming to ripple down her length, but she did not come back down. With the grace of a lifetime of practice Snow snapped her wings out and thrust. A very steep climb, nearly vertical. It was a little rough on her joints, but after days of inactivity they could take it. A thrill filled heras she ascended. She was free. No longer bound, for now, to the ground. She clawed for the reaches above, exhilarating in the wind and the wild blue.

****

“Ugh, five more minutes,” Spike muttered as he rolled over in his little bed.

Twilight smiled and rolled her eyes at Spikes complaint. “I made pancakes Spike, if you don’t get up they will get cold.”

Spike opened an eye to see the purple unicorn standing over him with a smile on her face. “Pancakes?” He said, blinking fully awake, he took a sniff of the air. Huh, he didn’t smell anything burning...and it did smell like something good had been cooked.

“Yup! I even made some with emerald flakes baked in for you.” said Twilight.

“Well what are we waiting for! come on!” said Spike. He was up, out of bed, and out of the bedroom almost before twilight could blink.

“Don’t forget to wash your claws!” Called Twilight, laughing and following at a more sedate pace.

One of Twilight's biggest worries about her ascension had been actually concerning Spike and Hers relationship. He had taken her physical changes with a grain of salt, after everything calmed down a little, but she had been worried that her new duties as a princess would keep her from him.

Her worries, to her relief, were unfounded. Her duties, such as they were, left her plenty of time. To all outward appearances, as far as her and Spikes time together was concerned, nothing major had changed. However, she thought to herself, that wasn't strictly true. Her feelings towards the little drake had been changing. Ever since she was little she had always treated him like he was her little brother. Her mind and actions had been that of a sibling. However recently, in her own mind, she had been feeling more… Motherly. It wasn't a sudden thing, and thinking on it she realized she had begun to feel that way around her ascension.

She had asked Princess Celestia about the phenomena, thinking that it might have been some undocumented part of Alicorn-hood. The Princess had smiled and told her that while it wasn't part of being an Alicorn, it wasn't unexpected either. Had Twilight not raised spike from his ‘birth’ just as a mother would? Perhaps she was maturing to the point where being a mother was not such an alien concept.

That conversation had certainly given her a great deal to think about. She loved her little drake, which was no surprise, but that she was seeing Spike as ‘hers’ was a revelation.To her surprise, the most distressing conclusion she came to was that Spike might not want to regard her as his mother. She would have to sit down and have a ‘Talk’ with him about it soon. Maybe in a few days… or a few days after that. As long as that little revelation was still in a box, it could still go either way.

Twilight joined Spike in the kitchen. She that he had just finished washing his hands in the sink, and had grabbed a plate for himself, but was trying to figure out how to serve himself with a plate in one hand and no spatula.With a giggle and with a “here you go” levitated his share over to his plate him.

“Thanks `Twi,” said Spike. He gave a happy “mhmm!” as he tasted his breakfast, and quickly set about demolishing the rest of it.

She followed his example at a slower pace. They were tasty. She might not ever be a great chef, but she could follow instructions to a Tee, and had plenty of cookbooks in the library. As she ate Twilight gazed at Spike. She wasn’t the only who had done some ‘growing’ recently. Spike and grown a few inches recently, and from what her research told her was he would be growing even more, and his wings should start coming in soon.

That was going to be a frightening period for her. There was next to no written material about that stage of a dragon's life, and what little there was wasn't trustworthy. She and Spike had already talked about it, and they were resolved to face whatever happened together. Spike didn't bring it up often, but she knew that he was a little scared too. Twilight again found herself again grumbling under her breath at the whole ‘dragon migration’ fiasco; beyond Spikes needs there had been such an opportunity to learn there that had been lost.

“Hey `Twi?” said Spike, interrupting her thoughts.

“Yes Spike?” She said.

“Thanks for making breakfast today; it was great,” He said.

“Your welcome. I’m going to try and cook more often. It’s relaxing, and doesn't come out so bad when if I don't improvise”

“Haha, yea. I remember,” said Spike, putting his plate in the sink. “...Hey wasn't there somepony new coming here today?”

“Hmm, Yes, thats right.” Spike had delivered the letter to her late in the evening last night. Princess Celestia had told her somepony needed a few days of relaxation and maybe some friends, and Twilight had volunteered her library. She had the spare room in the basement, and always enjoyed making new friends. Celestia had agreed and would be sending the pony to her sometime today. “If I remember her name is ‘Snowfire’, and shes supposed to be red with a white mane. The Princess didn't mention her cutie mark, but she shouldn't be that hard to recognize. Shes probably a unicorn with a name like that.”

“Cool, do you think she’ll be here soon?”

“Probably not Spike,” said Twilight, glancing at a clock. “The soonest train from Canterlot will get here a little after lunch time, and even if I’m wrong and shes a pegasus, I can’t imagine anypony starting so early in the morning that they would get here before the train. It will be three or so hours more, at the least.”

“Oh, OK. I guess I’ll start putting the rest yesterdays returns back while you finishing eating.”

“OK, I’ll be out in a minute to help,” She said as Spike left the kitchen.

She was going to have to see about school for him soon; maybe home lessons would work. She mused to herself about the rest of the day. One of the perks about being the ‘Princess of Friendship’ was that making new friends was one of her ‘duties’.

She picked up her finished plate and took it to the sink to-

SLAM!

That was… the library's front door. The slam had been strong enough to rattle the dishes in the kitchen. What in Equestria? the noise had almost caused her to drop the plate. She set it down in the sink to clean later, and was halfway to the door that lead to the main room of the library. Halfway there a terrified pale yellow pony with a raspberry mane and tail bolted through the doorway and immediately dove under her table.

“...Roseluck?!” The mare looked scared out of her mind.

“Oh Celestia! Twilight! Quick-”

“-Roseluck, what are you doing-”

“-You gotta hide! its gonna eat us all”-

“- what. What are you-”

“-I was going to work, and then I saw it! I hid, but it followed me-”

“-Woah woah woah, slow down I can’t-”

“- so I ran and hid again, but if followed me again! so I -”

“Whats going on?” Said Spike, poking his head through the doorway.

Twilight could see Roseluck’s pupils shrink to pinprick. To the academic part of her mind it was fascinating; she had never actually witnessed pupils going that small from the outside before. Her ears flattened in pre-reaction to a scream, but Roseluck only let out a whimper before making a mad dash outside through the kitchen back door.

“Uhh…” Spike temporized.

“I dont have a clue either... but I better find out what has her worked up this time. Hold down the fort, I’ll be back in little bit.”

“Roger Dodger!” Spike said with a salute while Twilight left, following Roseluck.

****

Spike wandered the main area of the library. He had shelved the last of the book that need it, and the place didn't really seem that dusty, so he didn't need to dust. Huh, he supposed with `Twi out, he could probably go back to sleep.

She might be on another adventure to save the world by now. Granted, it was only Roseluck, so it could have also just been a kitten in a tree. Being a Princess took all kinds, Spike supposed with a philosophical shrug.

*Knock-Knock*

Spike blink-blinked at the door for a second. “One moment, I’m Coming!” he called. Why everypony felt the need to knock on the door of a Public Library he would never figure out. Anypony who was a friend or regularly visited the library just let themselves in. Maybe it was another door to door salespony; They came through town every now and again.

“How can I help you?” said Spike as he opened the door. He found himself blink in confusing again. Where he was expecting somepony's face, he instead saw somepony’s chest.

“Woah, a little Dude.” Somepony said above him, and he reflexively looked up.

She was a dragon, easy enough to see. Standing on all fours and about as tall as Princess Celestia, from nose to tail she was probably several times longer. He could see a pair of wings pulled against her back. The dragon was furred in short red hair, with a blaze of long white hair going from her forehead to her tail. He just knew she was a female for some reason. She was also giving him just as detailed an examination, which caused him to blush.

“Oh, uh, hi?” said Spike. His past experiences with other dragons were safely filed under ‘not-good,’ but `Twi taught him it never hurt to start out by being polite.

“Heya Little Dude. I’m looking for a ‘Twilight that lives in a Library-Tree’. Is this the place?” The Red Dragon asked, half waiving at the tree the Library was in.

“Oh, Yes. Twilight is out right now doing something, but she should be back soon. Would you like to come in and wait for her?” Spike asked automatically.

“...Sure. Why not? I could use a rest after the flight here.” She said, allowing herself to be ushered inside by the little drake. very polite this one, she thought to herself. Most other little dudes that age would be busy attacking her ankles. Being inside a tree was also a novel concept for her, as was the idea of a library. who kept books for everydragon-else to use?

As the dragoness stood looking around the library, something clicked for Spike. Red furred? Check! White maned? Check! Arrived Today? Check!

“Are you the one Princess Celestia sent?”

“Huh? Yea Little Dude. She did. My names Snowfire.”

“Cool! My names Spike.”

“Cool,” she said, looking around at all the books for a moment. Spike wondered if he should leave her alone or not. Most ponies looking for a book got a little annoyed when he hovered around when. Snowfire seemed to lose interest in the books and looked back at Spike. “Heya Little Dude, Spike right? How’d you end up here? What’s your story?”

“Well let me see. I guess it all started when my M- err, Sister hatched me…”

****

Author's Note

More with the words and things. These are coming faster then I thought they would. Rejoice! also, unless there is a huge outcry, I think I'm going to stay away from 1st person, this chapter just felt like it worked better without it mixed in.

Again, I appreciate all comments and critiques. Anything really.

Chapter 4

The two Dragon-kin found themselves in a reading area off to the side of the foyer. Spike was sitting in one of the chairs, while Snow had found the floor comfortable enough. She had lain out in a semicircle, and kept her head more or less on Spikes level. They had moved here shortly after she had asked her question. Apparently he thought standing for a while would have been uncomfortable for her, which was silly of course, but rather than interrupt the drake, she just followed him when he went to the chair.

Snowfire listened to Spike speak about his life. The Little Dude could talk. It was actually making her uncomfortable in a way. In her experience conversations with drakes generally consisted of a variety of grunts, self congratulations, and the word ‘Dude’. They also rarely lasted more than five minutes. The fact that this little dragon was being so… open was also startling. He appeared to just say things about his past without thought. If she wanted to, she was sure she could come up with half a dozen blackmail appropriate things so far. She was almost positive that the same thought hadn’t even been a glimmer of an idea in his mind. Which meant either that Spike was being incredibly naive or that how she was raised was incredibly-

“-and the next time I saw her she had wings!” Spike had just said. For some reason that seemed like an important detail.

“Woah. Slow down. What was that again?” said Snowfire.

“Uhm, I was just saying that after she finished that spell she was gone with Princess Celestia for a bit, and she got some wings,” said Spike.

“So, is like, not being born with wings a normal thing for ponies?” said Snowfire,

“Well, I guess for unicorns and earth-ponies it is. Pegasi get born with wings, but the other types don't have them,” said Spike.

“But I thought you said Twilight was a Unicorn.”

“Yep.”

“You just said that non-pegasi don’t having wings.” said Snowfire. She was starting to wonder if the little Dude was pulling her tail.

“Uh-huh. Oh, I think I get it! She used to be a unicorn, and they don’t have wings, but after the thing -whats the word- she does now,” said Spike, tapping his chin in thought.

“So shes now what? A pegasus?”

“Ah ha, ”- Spike said, snapping his fingers -”I remember. Ascended! Twilight ascended. thats what it was. I think a ‘winged-unicorn’ is something else, actually. Twilight became an Alicorn.”

“... Your yankin my tail.”

“No honest. Princess Celestia, Luna and Candice even made Twilight a Princess too. you can ask her when she gets back.”

“No way.” Now she knew the drake was trying to put one over on her. She was back in familiar territory again, at least for the rest of this conversation. For some reason she felt a bit disappointed.

“I Pinky Promise. Everything I said was true.”

Snowfire rolled her eyes. The drake had overplayed his hand. She took a breath, gathering her thoughts. She was going to really start to poke holes in his back story. If form held true they would go back and forth for a while till she had thoroughly torn down his story. After a bit she might whittle down to some truth. Familiar steps for her, if draining and off putting.

Before she could verbally rip into the Little Dude the door to the library opened. “-Sure! see you back here in a few then Rainbow.” A purple pony called back out the door as she walked in. The mare had a dark blue mane with a pink stripe, and starburst style cutie mark on her side. she also happens to very apparently a set of wings and a horn.

The two dragons, moved off to the side as they were, were not in her direct line of sight when she closed the door. The pony was obviously deeply in thought but was meandering more or less towards a display that Snow had not paid much attention to. Having caught her eye, Snowfire saw that the display contained a single piece of jewelry. It was somewhat smaller than other examples she had seen as of late, but a crown was a crown.

“‘Everything’ huh?” said Snowfire, softly.

“Yup! Hey Twilight, We have company!” Spike called.

****

Thinking back on it, the thing that probably kept her from blasting the dragoness out through the wall had been Spikes happy greeting. At that moment, Twilights hind-brain was screaming at her that there was an apex-predator in her safe area with her. Her Instinctual center was also confused enough by the additional presence of what she considered to be her child making happy greeting noises. This caused a deadlock, and her hindbrain decided to boot it up to the next level of management for a decision. Thankfully her conscious mind decided to behave a bit more rationally and resisted the urge “stomp the threat flat” … at least until she had a little more information. She had a couple of quick cast spells readied, at any rate. In never hurt to be prudent.

The red and white dragoness was laying on the floor in the reading area of the library, while Spike was sitting across from her in one of the overstuffed chairs. Spike was waving his greeting, and the other Dragon was looking at her impassively. She had been standing there for the past few heartbeats, front hoof in the air, unmoving.

As smoothly as she could, which she was sure wasnt very smooth at all, she put her hoof down and approached the duo. The dragoness seemed disinclined to make any sort of move at her approach.

“Hello, welcome to the Golden Oak Library,” she said when she got within a good conversational distance. Her subconscious mind was informing her that she was well within snapping range, but she told that part of her brain to shove off.

The dragoness hadn't been holding perfectly still the whole time, but her movement had been slow and non-threatening, but at Twilights greetings, her eyes flicked over to Spike for an instant before moving back to her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Spike sitting there with a self satisfied smirk on his face.

“You’re a princess?” The Dragoness asked. Twilight blink-blinked at the abruptness of the question. Well, might as well get the big stuff out of the way first thing, she thought.

“Yes, I am,” said Twilight. The dragoness glanced at Spike again at that. The look filled with a meaning, but Twilight couldn't decipher what it was, and it was quick enough that Spike didn’t catch it. She wondered what that was about.

“...I ain’t bowing” The dragoness said. In her mind Twilight could imagine a surly teen pony saying the exact same, and she suddenly felt like she knew how to deal with the situation.

“Oh please don’t, thank you. That always makes me feel more awkward. My name is Twilight, and you must be Snowfire?”

“Yea, thats Me I suppose Princess” said Snowfire.

“Please, outside of anything ‘official’ just call me Twilight.”

“Err, alight?”

Twilight could tell the Snowfire was out of her depth. She could almost see the cogs free-wheeling in her head and had to suppress a chuckle. The dragoness was prepared to be on the verbal defensive, but lacking a clear attack had left her befuddled.

Snowfire may not have been what who she was expecting her to be, but the last few years had taught Twilight to adjust quickly. Snowfire had been approved of by Princess Celestia, so it didn’t really matter to Twilight if she was a pony, gryphon, or dragon. A changeling might have been a … problem, but that didn't seem like it was going to be an issue.

*SLAM!*

“Hey Twilight! Where is this monster were supposed to be kicking flank on?”

Twilight couldn't tell if she was cringing more because ponies kept slamming her door, or because of what Rainbow Dash had called out as she entered. The door had been receiving more than it’s share of abuse today. The little mare in the back of her mind added ‘check door hinges’ to her to-do list.

If Rainbow Dash followed form she would would momentarily be making an exclamation of some sort and charging Snowfire. She got ready to catch Rainbow with her telekinetic grab. If she caught Dash and held her off she could explain the situation...probably. She would have to be quick; she may have bent the curve for "Casting-Speed at Strength" when she last tested for it, but Rainbow was faster.

She was more worried about how Snowfire was going to react. She could control Rainbow, at least at the speeds she would be limited to while in the library, but if the Dragoness reacted violently it would be a challenge for her to prevent anypony from getting hurt. She could see that the fur along the Snowfire’s blaze had tensed and was on end. ‘Interesting’ a part of her noted.

...Any moment now...

A Blue hoof suddenly occupied her vision. She jerked back as it started to waggle itself. Her train of thought was completely tied in a knot.

“Yo, `Twi, you in there?” said Rainbow.

“That's the second time she just kinda has frozen,” said Spike.

“Abuh. What? wait-” Twilight started sputtering.

“Oh good, you were starting to worry me. Everything cool?” said Rainbow.

“-But. you dragon. Door, Flank kick-”

“...You thought I was just going to bust in here and start a fight?” said Dash, gesturing at Snowfire. Snowfire had appeared to relax slightly, and had eyebrow raised. Spike was looking back and forth between everypony trying to figure out what was going on.

“I would appreciate not doing that, actually,” chimed in Snowfire.

“Yes! No! I don't know!” Twilight could

“Come on Twi, I don't just attack someponycuz their different, not unless they need it.”

“But but she's a dragon.” said Twilight. “How did you not?”

“So? So is Spike. Is this about the predator thing? I kinda don’t have a reaction to that anymore, “ said Dash. That caused Twilite to pause. “I used to spend a lot of time with a Griffin, you might remember her. Went by Gilda?”

“Yes. I remember. I’m sorry Snowfire, Rainbow. I wasn't thinking. That was awfully speciesist of me.”

“...It’s all good.” Snowfire said. The apology shocked the raised eyebrow off her face. She couldn't remember when someone had apologized of their own free will to her, especially because she didn't feel insulted in the first place.

“Yea. I got used to it that kinda thing happening when I hung out with Gilda. It’s cool.. Forget about it,” said Rainbow. Like that it was back to being a non-issue for the mare.“Anyways, I’m Rainbow Dash! Best flyer in Equestria. If you’re cool with `Twi and Spike, your cool with me.”

Rainbow held her hoof out, and Snowfire, decided she was already halfway down the rabbit hole, made a fist out of her front claw and bumped it. The multicolored mare reminded her a lot of one of her overly competitive clutch mates, but without constant the put-downs. These ponies could act strange, but at least it wasn't a mean-strange,Snowfire mused.

Snowfire was still in her ‘‘play along mode’ but her theory that this was all some sort of elaborate setup was getting less tenable every passing moment. Still, the idea that these ponies were acting in a genuinely friendly manner was alien to her. The running and the screaming when she had landed was normal, and soon should have been followed by name calling and possibly a show of force. Friendly conversation was doing uncomfortable things to her world view, and she was just reacting at this point.

“Uh...Good to meet you Rainbow, I’m Snowfire,” said the Dragoness, coming out almost like a question.

“Cool. So I bet you're the reason everyone's all running around in a panic.”

“Yea, I guess. It seems to happen around me.”

“Eh, I wouldn't worry about it. Ponies where I used to live would always act the same way when Gilda came around. I betcha the ones here in Ponyville will warm up to you before long,” said Rainbow.

“Oh yes, I’m sure they will,” interjected Twilight. “The ponies of Ponyville are actually very welcoming, they just don't ... startle well.”

There was a pair of matching snorts, but Twilight couldn't tell who they came from.

“Oh yea, Twi, that reminds me, I told everypony else to meet here, like you wanted,” Rainbow told Twilight.

“Everypony else?” asked Snowfire.

“The rest of our friends. This close to the Everfree we actually do get monsters that come into town, and my friends are I are kind of known as … troubleshooters I guess. ” explained Twilight, Rainbow nodding in agreement.

“Ah, more ponies? My stress level is kind of high right now…”

“Meh, don't worry about it, they're are all really cool,” said Rainbow with an accompanying ‘Yea!’ from Spike.

“Yes, they are all really nice. If you feel like you need space I'm sure they would understand, but as your host here in Ponyville I was planning on introducing you anyways,” said Twilight.

“Well…Alright. As long as none of em try and jump out at me or anything,” Snowfire said.

“Oki-Doki! Whatever you want!.” The voice from right behind them was totally unexpected, at least for Rainbow, and Twilight. Both were startled straight up and started flapping their wings instinctively, and for a few moments the air space inside the library was very busy.

Having seen her come in the front door, neither Spike nor Snowfire were caught flat footed. Spike himself had fallen over himself laughing immediately. The pink mare with the cotton candy mane was also giggling in a way that felt infectious, and Snowfire felt a smile break through.

“Thanks for the setup! I’m Pinkie Pie,” said the Mare as she bounced forward to hoofbump Snowfire.

“Anytime,and my names Snowfire.”

“Good one Pinkie,“ said Rainbow as she landed again, laughing. Twilight only rolled her eyes as she landed, but gave the Pink bundle of energy a smile.

“Pinkie pie is one of the friends we were just talking about,” said Twilight, shuffling her wings back into place. “Thanks for coming Pinkie, how are you?”

“ I’m super! I’m feeling mostly sane this time around too.” said Pinkie

“Uh…”

“Pinkies great, but we don’t question a lot of what she says. It’s safer, trust me.” Rainbow explained, with Spike and Twilight nodding in agreement. Pinkie giggled.

“Oh-kay.... Sure, why not, I’m only feeling part sane myself,” said Snowfire.

“Oh you're silly. We are gonna be great friends, I can tell! I knew I should have gotten a party ready. I felt a knee-twitch earlier, but Roseluck was hiding in my oven and wouldn't get out..”

“Huh… I was wondering where she had and hid,”said Twilight in a distant voice. Rainbow could only stare.

“There's… not something in the water around here is there?” The Dragoness asked.

“No, I tested for that. The current working theory is there might be something in the air that blows in from the Everfree. My research that direction has been inconclusive so far.”

“Or it could be Ponyville is a giant open air insane asylum they never tell anyone about! ...Why are you all looking at me like that?” said Pinkie. Twilight could only stare at the pink mare. The scary part was she could actually see it.

Rainbow fell over laughing, followed by Spike. Snowfire started to giggle but quickly stopped herself when she realized what she was doing. It didn't stop her from smiling however; the pink ones jokes may have been corny, but they were still funny.

****

Eventually a white pony, an orange pony, and a yellow pony showed up as well. They were introduced as Rarity Bell, Applejack, and Fluttershy, respectively.

The orange one, Applejack, had talked to her almost the least the whole evening. She had said enough to say her name, a few ‘eyup’s and ‘enope’s, and then had retreated to the far side of the library. That was fine with Snowfire. The cow-pony had actually come across as the sanest one of the bunch. It was comforting, for some reason, to know at least one of them had their hooves planted in reality.

Rarity had actually been interesting. She would have bet her left wing that wouldn’t have been how she thought of her later, but it did happened. The white pony had come in and introduced herself as a ‘fashionetta’, whatever that was, and had blathered on about clothing and style to her for a while. Oh sure, Rarity was quite good with sprinkling in the compliments.“Beautiful mane” and “stunning horns” her fuzzy butt. Snowfire knew sucking up when she heard it, and what exactly a dragon would do with clothing she had absolutely no clue. The most amusement she got out of the conversation that far had been discreetly watching Spike make eyes at the mare. Snowfire had tried to distract the conversation when she started talking about undergarments by asked about the mark on her hip.

That question had opened up a whole other side of the mare that Snowfire would never have guessed at. A Special Talent in finding large and tasty gems? Absolutely fascinating. They had joined in a lengthy conversation about technique and method at that point, as well as favorite cuts and colors. Rarity had even invited her to come with her on a dig she was going on, and Snowfire said she would consider it. Part of Snowfire had actually had decided that it wanted to go, but it had to convince the rest of her that it wasn't a set up and the ponies we all just crazy.

The storm that had been developing became apparent at that point, with rain starting to splatter against the windows. Rainbow had said something about a schedule that made no sense to the dragoness. Everypony else had gone ‘ahh’ like it made sense, so she kept her muzzle shut.

Snow felt kind of bad for the the last arrival. The little thing walked in, shook the water off, took one look at her, and bolted back out into the developing storm. Rainbow seemed as fast as she had boasted, but it still took her several minutes to fly down the yellow pegasus and drag her back. Even now, at the end of the the nights ‘festivities’ she was in the furthest corner she could get that was out of a direct line of sight.

Snow had even gone so far as to offer to leave and find a cave for herself for the night. She had no idea where the offer had come from, honestly she was more surprised than the ponies were, but it didn't feel like it was wrong to make. The others had all looked aghast at the idea, and supposedly even the one who was terrified of her had said something against it. Well, if they all wanted to be crazy and keep her warm, inside, and close, despite how afraid one of them was, she wasn't going to argue.

The evening had sort of meandered on at that point, as individual ponies moved between where the yellow one was and where Snowfire was laying. Twilight at some point had brought food to everypony, and to Snowfire’s surprise, she had received a pretty big gem. These ponies were trying to fatten her up or something, but she demolished the treat anyways. If a demi-goddess wanted to give you something, you said ‘yes ma’am, thank you ma’am” and took it.

Snowfire was starting to drowse while watching Spike follow Rarity around the room when Twilight had offered to show her to a private room in the basement she could use to sleep. Snowfire had accepted and followed. The room in the basement was actually pretty nice. It was was pretty large, warm, and dry. the bed was off course not build for her, but Twilight had pulled out several blankets and comforters from a closet and made Snow a nest on the floor.

“I hope this will be good enough for tonight. Im sorry I don’t have a large bed for you.”

“What? No, this will be fine, really.This is a better sleeping space than I normally have. Than I've ever had.” Snowfire had whispered the last part to herself.

“Oh… You're welcome,” said Twilight. She paused, seeming to want to ask a question,but did not know how to phrase it. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Yea sure, whats up?” said Snowfire, circling around the ‘nest’ nudging various blankets and pillows small increments.

“Well, you've met Spike, right? Silly question, you just spent most of the day with him… but, I guess its just that I’m worried about Him. Hes like a s- like a brother to me. I know who he is, but I know so little about what he is.”

“Ahh! So you're looking to get some info from the source? Ask away, I'll tell you true if I know it,” said Snowfire. Normally giving away information without clearly getting something in return was anathema, but she was ‘winning’ by a large margin in normal dragon terms already anyways.

“Thank you Snowfire.”

“Ehhh, it’s nothing. Um, you can call me just ‘Snow’ if you want. Getting called by my full name a lot makes me feel like I’m in trouble”

“Sure, I can do that Snow,” said Twilight, with a smile.” I guess my biggest question… We, ponies that is, don't have a very good understanding of how dragons age. I worry that something might be wrong with Spike, and we would never notice it.”

“Huh. Well, how old is the Little Dude?”

“It’s been twenty winters.” said Twilight. Snow whistled softly at that, which didn't do much for Twilight's anxiety.

“That actually puts him around my age.”

“What?! Really? But hes so little, and you are so big, and You have wings”

“Yup. About the same age. No lie. I don't know exactly how old I am, but I know to within a year or so.”

“If thats true, what could explain the massive difference in appearance?”

“Could be a couple of things. Lets see … how have his fights been going?”

“...Fights? I don't think I understand the question.”

“Wow, OK. So ’basics’ time I think. Now this is all just how its been explained to me, but it holds up as far as I know. A dragon actually ages in three different way, instead of just one like most other things. Only one of the ways a dragon ages is based on ‘Time’. That ones is mental maturity, and it can be held back a little by the others. Like, it gets slowed down, but not stopped, or something. Another way a dragon ages is by size. This is controlled by the size of their hoard or their ego or something… I’m not sure on this one. I have heard of some dragons shrinking after a rapid growth for whatever reason, but mostly the longer a Dragon is able to ‘grow’ temporarily the more they stay ‘grown’ permanently, size wise, if that makes sense?”

“I think I’m following you so far. You mentioned three ways, what was the third?” asked Twilight. Snow stopped turning in circles and flopped down into the ‘prepared nest’.

“Yeah. The third way a dragon ages is by fighting. Like real fights. The more, and bigger real fights a dragon gets into, the faster their body will mature towards an ‘adult’. It doesn't really affect mental maturity, or size, but things like wings, claws, horns, and other stuff won’t grown in without fights. It has something to do with the thrill and exhilaration of a life or death fight,” explained Snowfire. Looking at Twilight's poleaxed look, Snow winced. “Yea, I know. But for life out in the rest of the world its all ‘kill-or-be-killed’. You get mean and you fight, or you don't make it. Some hatchlings don’t make it very long because they just don’t fight. I’ve been told some eggs don’t ever hatch because they won’t fight out of the shell.”

“That’s a horrible way to live.” Twilight found her Inner Scholar chittering with glee, but at odds with her new Inner Mothers horror.

“Mhmm. I’m not going to argue with you on that. It is what it is, and that’s the way it’s always been. Did that answer your question?”

“I think it did. You've given me a lot to think about, Thank You.”

“Um.. Your welcome… and uh, Thank You.. for, you know, everything Twilight”

“It was my pleasure Snow. Sleep well.”

Author's Note

...Well this one certainly ended up a lot longer then I had planned...
I apologize for the errors I'm sure are present, but I'm somewhat bleary eyed at the moment, and can't see them.

Comments fuel my fingers!

P.S. all you guys that are fav'ing are awesome

Chapter 5

They thought they could stop him. They thought they had stopped him. Had him contained. Restrained deep underground. They were, however, mistaken.

Ritual was not dumb; the simple fact of the matter was he was smarter than anypony. He was still capable of making mistakes, however. Much to his chagrin, he had been interrupted on his rise to power due to something he should have caught. The dragon was supposed to have been consumed in the spellwork utterly, and he didn't make any allowances for otherwise.

Thinking back on it, he knew what must have happened. The creature had enough of dragon blood in addition to a ‘sentient’ soul to power his return, despite any depreciation that would have happened from being a mixed breed. And that ‘extra’ part of the dragon would have been a depreciation to the total power mix … except for the fact that it was connected to the place he was traveling to, and acted as an amplifier instead. Things tended to want to go ‘home’ after all.

And so he learned from his mistake. He should have slit the things throat and done the spell work the old fashioned way. Live and learn after-all. He would not allow his enemies the opportunity to learn however. Not like they were allowing him to. Keeping him alive in any form was a mistake on their part. They thought the petty magic suppressor and chains they had him restrained with would slow him? That the ragged the cell he within which he was entombed would keep him?

Pfha.

Weakness and Ignorance on their part. Child's play for him. They didn't understand his power. They refused to. Even after all these years. Even after what he did last time to prove his strength. Their ignorance was going to be their downfall. They were going to keep him, put him on trial again, and try and ‘punish’ him.

Ritual could have accepted his punishment the first time if they had taken and used his knowledge for their own ends. Their childish refusal to take the power that lay right at their hooves infuriated him. That they turned from the fruits that Blood Magic and Dark Magic offered was folly. He had discovered the mingling of those two powers to grand unheard of boons researching his Thesis. They had refused to listen, out of some petty idea concerning corruption. They had banished him when he had set about to prove he was correct in action. He had returned, and their ignorance was his gain.

If they had bothered to pay attention in the least they would have known that he could escape this ‘prison’ of theirs. It was childs play to be honest. painful, and literally soul-rending, but child's play none the less. His own blood for the circle and runes, and a portion of his own soul to fuel the spell. the magic inhibitors they put on him only stopped magic that went through his body. The circle drew the power externally, and his soul guided it. It was not easy to do, least of all to himself, but he had his mission. the jagged piece of rock he used to attain his own blood lay nearby. He would not be stopped, not by such trivialities as flesh and spirit. his mind was much more powerful than that.

The chains that bound him fell away. the Inhibitor fizzled. Ritual smiled. The effort left him weak, and his soul diminished, and even now his lifeblood leaked. He was free again, and in this land he had so much more to work with in the way of ….reagents. he would have to move from this place, it wouldn't take long for his jailers to notice his freedom, even with as inept as they were.

He didn't have enough reserves left to fuel a teleport... However, If he wasn't mistaken, there was even a pair of guards outside his cell. He could use them to repair his own self incurred wounds, even as they helped him escape. It wasn't as if they were doing anything useful with their blood and souls.

****

Snowfire woke feeling surprisingly rested. She hadn't dreamed, not that she ever did anymore, but that had been very restful. Strange scents filled the materials of her nest, which were by far too comfortable. The air was also not dank, and the little drip of water that would fall on her back from condensation was not present.

This wasn't her cave, the primitive part of her brain informed her waking mind. It was some sort of hedonistic paradise as far as it was concerned. Places that were safe enough to sleep in that were quiet, dry, and comfortable were very sought after commodities after all.

Having assured herself that there was no immediate threat that needed to be dealt with, Snow let herself wake the rest of the way up. The half awake stage was good for quick reactions and an instinctual area analysis, but that was about it.

Huh. That's right...bottom of a tree run by a crazy pony in the middle of a town of crazy ponies. Snowfire checked herself over absentmindedly. All her organs were present, and it didn't look like the door leading to the basement had been opened since Twilight had left.

Thinking on yesterday, she realized the ponies really were crazy. There was too much going on for it to be some sort of act to get something out of her (not that she had anything worth that much effort). If they had the resources to be messing with her ever since she had arrived here like that was nothing she could do about it. If ponies were that powerful there would be nothing they could want from her. She didn't think they were that powerful, outside of maybe their Princess, so yesterday was not some sort of elaborate ruse. But if it wasn't… Snowfire just could not understand most of the behavior. Friendly and nice without getting anything out of it? Especially from a position of power? Completely alien to her experience.

They were sincere, it seemed, however. Which was… alight. Very strange, but she could cope, and mimic when she needed to. While the food was definitely a motivator, there was something else, but she couldn't put words to it. Well, at any rate, her life didn't seem to be in danger and after a few more days she would be free to head off and try and find something a little more in line to her jaded experiences.

She had mused to herself enough. Stretching her forelegs out, she pushed herself up. The few blankets that had ended up across her slit off as she moved. She arched her back similar to a great hunting cat with a yawn. It was habit; she didn't need to flex any kinks out after that rest. She could have just stayed in that room, but curiosity was starting to get the better of her, and she was never the fearful type.

making her way up the stairs, she puzzled briefly at the door. She had no idea why a hoofed species would need doorknobs... but they were all crazy so she put the thought out of her mind. She pushed the door open. Maybe it had something to do with Spike.

“Heya Snowfire! Good-morning,” said Spike, as if her thoughts had summoned him.

“`Monin,” said Snowfire. The little Dude was a puzzle to her. ponies raising a dragon was just weird on the ponies part, but Spike was just as odd himself. For example, he was currently sweeping the floor, of all things. “...What are you doing?”

“Oh, the place was a little dirty after the girls spent the night, so I’m just cleaning up a little.” said Spike.

“Ahh,’ she said. She could see the logic. Keeping ones cave clean was a normal impulse,even if she had never thought ‘tree’ would substitute for ‘cave.’ “ That's right, Twilight's like your mother right? You share this place.“

“Um, it’s sister actually, but yea, we live here, “ said Spike. The words sounded confident, but Snow could see that there was some sort of emotional baggage loaded in there. Probably the ‘sister’ thing. The mare had hatched him, so she wasn't sure where the confusion was coming from, but before she could ask Spike continued.”That reminds me, `Twi wanted to speak with you.-

-HEY TWILIGHT! Snowfires Up!” Spike called to the rest of the library.

“Ok ok,” Twilight said coming out of what looked like a storage room across the main area. “Spike, you know it’s rude to yell like that, especially inside.”

“Aww `Twi, what was I gonna do?”

“You could have come and found where I was. By the way, I noticed you didn't make your bed this morning.” Snow smirked at the drakes blush. she didn't get what the deal was with making a bed in the morning, but it the embarrassed expression was amusing. “Go on, you better go make it.”

Snow snorted softly to herself as the Drake ran up the stairs. Definitely mother.

“Good morning Snow, you certainly slept in a lot, Its almost lunch time. You sleep well?”

“I guess I did. Really?” said Snow. She couldn't remember the last time she had slept past dawn.

Twilight nodded her head with an amused smile. The lack of malice still noted itself in her mind, but it was a surprisingly easy adjustment to make, mentally.

“So, Spike said there was something you wanted to talk about Princess?”

“Oh, please don't, it’s just ‘Twilight’. It’s not a ‘Royal’ talk,” said Twilight. Snow for some reason felt bad at the mares distress.

“Err, alright, there was something you wanted to talk about, Twilight?”

“Oh, there is so much I would like to discuss with you, but I don't have time to do that right now. However, on a smaller scale, I wanted to see how you were holding up and what your plans were. The letter that preceded you was a little vague.”

“Well, I guess I’m doing alright physically. Pretty good actually. I’m not sure why your Princess Celestia insists I stay around for a few more days honestly. As far as plans go, I’m not sure? I don’t think just wandering around town would probably just start a violent mob, so I’ll probably just hang out here.”

“Well, actually, if you wanted to check out the town, it shouldn't be too much trouble. I know some of the ponies at Canterlot might not have left the best impression, but I think the likelihood of an actual ‘violent mob’ forming is pretty low. I’ve already vouched for you, and that carries a little bit of weight...usually. You should give the ponies around here a chance, they might surprise you.”

“Well, the running and the screaming from yesterday sort of led me to believe otherwise.”

“Oh that was mainly Roseluck I think. I think that mare actually enjoys running scared.”

“Well, OK. I might poke my head out then. Anyways, as impressive as your collection is, I’m not a reader.”

“Spike has the rest of the day off, so he can show you around if you want. I would actually show you around myself, but my actual royal duties mean I have several sheets of laws I need to read and write reviews on.”

“That's cool. The Little Dude is interesting.”

“Why do you call him that?”

“You mean ‘Little Dude’? I’m… not sure. That's just what little boy dragons were always called. I was a ‘Little Dudette’ for a long time.“

“Very Interesting. The next time I get a block of free time, I would like to do some research with you. You have so much fascinating information in your head.”

“ We can see later, I guess?” The way Twilight's eyes dilated when she said ‘research’ set off all kinds of warning bells in Snowfire.

“There's something I wanted to ask about Spikes issue, are you sure the ‘fighting to mature physically’ aspect is correct?”

“Its the way its always been as far as I know. Maybe there is another way, but I don't know it. Fighting just kind of happened for us.”

“Oh, its just that… ponies don’t really do anything like that.”

“Yea I gathered.” Snow shook her head “I remember a few good ones I was in myself. There is just this kind of… thrill that happens, and then you've ‘grown up’ a little. Not enough real fights means it wont happen at all. Too much fighting doesn't mean you mature too much though, I've been in enough fights to figure that one out.”

“What do you mean, you've been in more battles than is considered normal?”

“ ‘Battles’ is a good word, Ill Have to remember it, but yes that's right. The rest of my
clutch is all pure-blood, and I wasn't. Not that hard to figure out.”

“...Oh” Twilight didn't really know how to respond to that. The picture of the place that this dragoness came from that she was developing was not a pretty one. The frank conversation along with the mostly unnoticed hints were going along way to describing the somewhat standoffish behavior the Dragoness was exhibiting.”Well, what about your parents? Im sure they were at least concerned with that.”

Snowfire snorted. “Nah, I didn't have any parents.”

“You mean the ‘clutch’? Are all dragon young raised like that?”

“Far as I know, yea. All dragonlings are kind of… grouped together and raised by some of the elders. But what I said when I didn't have parents was that I didn't really have any. There were no half-breeds in the flight besides me.”

“What?! That's horrible.”

“Uh, it’s actually not that uncommon? Alot of us have parents that get killed while we're growing. Sometimes they just leave too. The elders never told me what happened to mine, and I never really wanted to know If I wasn’t good enough or whatever for them if they were still alive. My parents just were dead or gone before I could know who they were.” Snowfire didn't know how to interpret the wide, watery-eyed look that Twilight was giving her, but it was making her uncomfortable.

“You poor thing!” said Twilight, taking a step forward

“Um, I’m fine?” said Snowfire, taking a step back.

“Do you need a hug?” said Twilight, taking another step forward

“No, no, I’m good,” said Snowfire, taking another step back.

“I think you might need one,” said Twilight, stepping towards the dragoness again.

Snowfire tried to backup again, but bumped into the wall of the library next to the staircase that lead up. What in the world was that mare trying to do?

“Heya Guys! whats going on?” Spike asked, walking back down the stairs

“Your-taking-me-out-to-show-me-around-the-town-and-we-are-leaving-right-now-so-bye-Twilight,” rattled off Snow, grabbing Spikes arm and breaking for the front door.

****

“Haha, yea, `Twi gets a little crazy about her ‘Research’ sometimes, “ said Spike.

He and Snowfire were ambling down the street, and she had just said that Twilight didn't seem the most stable. He agreed in his own way. While for the life of him it looked like Twilight was coming onto the dragoness, he didn't want to deal with an issues like that about his mother figure, and so was playing it off.

“So this is Ponyville?” said Snowfire, stopping to take a look around.

Ponies were still staring at Snowfire or taking a different route when they saw her, but there wasn't really any running or screaming, Spike noted. He saw somepony looking out of their window and waved. The pony looked surprised for a moment, then waved back with a little smile.

Ponies were panicky creatures, Spike had learnt over the years. Startle them or present them with something outside of their experience too fast and their reactions would be anywhere from hilarious to cataclysmic. However, mix in some of the familiar with that unknown and they could deal with it. He never really thought that He would be ‘the familiar’, but he knew that with him accompanying her around, things would go smoother.

“Yup. This is where me and `Twi have been living for a coupla years now,” said Spike. He watched the red dragoness as she looked around. Cobblestone streets and thatched roofs didn't seem that special to him, but he supposed he might have been little spoiled by growing up in Canterlot.

Snowfire was really interesting to him. She was the first contact with someone of his own species that did not act like a bully to him. Well, mostly his own species; the fur thing was different. It looked kind of cool actually.

“So… are you hungry?,” said Spike, returning her attention to him. She had a little grin for some reason, her blue eyes smiling playfully.

“You mean you eat every day?”

“Oh yea, usually at-least three times a day.”

“Three times…” said Snowfire softly. “I think I may have died and gone to heaven. Really? You're not pulling my tail are you?”

“Nope! come on, I’ll take you to Sugarcube Corner. They have the best stuff,” said Spike.

“Sure, lead on,” said Snowfire.

Spike started leading the dragoness through town. She followed, moving near silently. Spike noticed something in her gait that he had never seen in ponies before, something smooth and predatory. There didn't seem to be much he needed to do to calm the townsponies, but he was sure that the way she moved like that bothered some. Its screamed ‘on the prowl’. It looked like most ponies were accepting her, especially after spending the night with the local super-powered Princess. It was just going to take a while for anypony to come up and say ‘hello’ on their own. Spike kind of wished he could move like that, but knew it probably came from actually needing to move like that, and that was more than he was willing to commit to.

“So, we haven’t really talked much,“ said Spike as they walked.

“Oh? then what was that whole life story thing yesterday?” asked Snowfire, poking fun at him verbally.

“Awh, I was just filling the time till `Twi came back. And you did ask.”

“I did ask you what your story was, so ok. Ask me a question then.”

“Well I don't even know what to ask… humm, about about something, as a dragon I should know, but don’t?”

“So something you should know, but don’t, as a dragon… mmm… well I’m not sure what you really know or don’t, but I can take a guess,” said Snowfire, and giggled a little. Spike wasn't even sure she realized she did that.

“Go for it,”

“Well, if a dragon, and more specifically a drake asks a dragoness to get food with him, hes asking her out on a date,” said Snowfire with a big grin.

She apparently couldn't keep from laughing her tail off when he stopped right in the middle of the street while sputtering, stuttering, and blushing bright red .

****

*Ding-ling*

“Welcome to Sugarcube Corner!”

Snowfire may not have had much in the way of sweets in her life, but she knew what the building looked like. Walking around the corner and seeing a building from the outside had been a surreal experience, but Spike had not reacted to it, so she tried not to either. The interior was apparently a store of some sort selling food, but not any kind that she recognized. There didn't appear to be any customers besides them at the moment.

The pink pony behind the counter that greeted them she however did recognize. Snow wondered who had followed them in when she saw the mare smiling at them, but when she checked there was nopony there. huh, weird, Snow thought. At least the mare had an easy to remember name.

“Spike! Snowfire! Hi!” Greeted Pinkie.

“Hey Pinkie,” returned Spike.

“Heya,” said Snow.

“You have good timing, it’s right before the lunch rush, but after I made everything. What brings you two by?” said Pinkie.

“Well Snow and I were getting kinda hungry, we sorta ...left the library before we could grab anything, and I thought we could get some food here. Oh, and also Snow has never had a cupcake before,” said Spike.

“*GASP* No! She’s never tasted the sweet cake or luscious cream of the bestest of things ever?” said Pinkie.

“Yup. Never had one, so yours will be her first,” said Spike.

“Well you did the right thing bringing her to me Spike! Especially if I’m her first. I'm going to make sure she enjoys it so much she won’t hesitate to come back for more.”

“I’m… getting some mixed signals here,” said Snow.

“Sh-hh-h, nonono! Let Aunty Pinky do her thing for the little draggy-waggy. I'm sure you will enjoy it.”

“What -Glaprgh?!”

Snowfire suddenly found her mouth full of… something. It was light puffy, and sweet . Her brain kicked over to automatic and she started chewing, revealing the most amazing thing; it was full of gem-bits!

“Glerpher-mmf,” Snow tried to say.

“I know, right?” said Pinky.

“-Mmfgg-

*gulp*

Another?”

“Of course! I just pulled a bunch out of the oven, you and Spike can share them!” said Pinkie

“Awesome!”

“Sweet!”

****

She and Spike had stayed in Sugarcube Corner for the lunch rush. Most ponies did a double or triple take when the noticed her camped out in a corner, but only a couple had left after. Pinkie had called them ‘sourpusses’, and Snow had asked if that was some sort of disease. Spike had shot his drink out of his nose when Pinky had answered-

-“Sure, why not?”-

-but wasn't able to explain it properly to Snow, citing something about exposure based resistance. All in all, there was much less with the torches and pitchforks then she had expected, so these ponies could be weird all they wanted.

It was after the rush, and she said she had a little bit before she had to start baking before the next one, after bantering back and forth with Spike a little had asked Snow how she had gotten here.

“So, Princess Celestia then sent you to heal the rest of the way in Ponyville?”

“Yup, that's more or less the whole story. Not that I actually need to ‘heal’ any more, but she had made me promise to stay around a few days anyways.”

“Cool!”

“Cool?”

“Yup! If she hadn't, you wouldn't be here and none of us would have met you and we wouldn't be friends!”

“Friends?”

“I know! Isn't it great? Oh, that reminds me, I still have to throw your welcome to Ponyville party.”

The Pink mare started switching topics so fast at that point that snow was having trouble keeping up. “Friends” huh? She didn't quite notice the small smile she had gained, but Spike and Pinkie did. Snow listened to Pinky babble on for a bit, nodding at some things, but not completely sure what was being said. Nothing that set any alarms off; the talk was filled with mostly inane day to day kind of stuff. Spike seemed to have achieved a very zen state himself, that of someone completely zoned out.

After a while, Pinkie had excused herself and the two dragons left the shop.

“Alright, that was pretty cool, thanks Spike.”

“Sure, Snow, no problem.”

“Hey, are there any caves around here?”

“Um, there is a couple I can think of, why?”

“Just thinking about where I’m gonna sleep tonight.”

“What? Sleep in a cave? Why would you do that?”

“Well, I mean, Twilight has to be getting tired of having me around right? so I thought I’d just save everyone the trouble-”

“Oh my, that’s completely ridiculous dear,” a voice from besides them said.

“Rarity?” asked Spike.

“Hello Spike darling. Snowfire, dear, I hope you do realize that Twilight would not just ‘get tired of having you around.’ Shes much better then that.”

“Oh, well, you see-”

“Tut-Tut! Simply won’t happen dear. And even if she were to say... bring home a dashing young stallion and you had to find somewhere else for the evening, my door is always open.”

“That is very generous of you,” said Snowfire.

“Think nothing of it dear, it’s what I do. Why don’t you and Spike walk with me for a little while, there are some new bolts of cloth in at the market and I want to take a look at them before they get sold.”

“Sure thing Rarity, whatever you want.” said Spike. When Snow looked, he was making eyes at the white mare again, and she had to resist the urge to roll her eyes.

“Alright,” said Snow. She could have just gone back to the library, or find one of those caves, and a large part of her wanted to just that, but something else made her go with the two.

“So how has my little assistant been doing today?” Asked Rarity as she led the two towards the market.

“Oh, I've been good. I did some cleaning earlier, but I've been showing Snow around town. we just left Pinkies place. Can you believe Snow had never had a cupcake before today?”

“Indeed, that is hard to believe. And what about you Snowfire, how have you been?”

“Off balance, to be honest,” said Snow.

“That is quite to be expected dear. It’s not everyday that one finds themselves ripped from their homes and cast off into the wild by a dark wizard, after all,” said Rarity.

Snow glanced around at the neighborhood they were walking through and rolled her eyes “Wilds, right. but nah, that's not really that big of an issue. I guess its that everdragon -err.. everypony acts so different,” said Snow.

“Well, while I can understand a bit of culture shock as being normal, I find it hard to imagine that being ripped from your home to be a small thing,” said Rarity

“It really is not an issue,” said Snowfire. “Im actually about the age when dragons are supposed to leave the clutch to find their own hunting grounds, so I was expecting to go somewhere ‘in the wilds’ and survive on our own,” said Snow

“Oh dear, that doesn't sound very fun. You don’t have anypony back at home that misses you?” asked Rarity.

“Nope. Not one. Really, being out of that place is not a problem for me,” said Snow. “Your Princess Celestia told me she might not be able to even find my ‘home’ again. I told her not to worry too much about it.”

“Well, what are you gonna go after the next few days is over? ” asked Rarity

“I don’t know,” said Snowfire, shrugging her wing joints.”I’ll probably just head off, and find a cave somewhere that's far enough away.”

“Well you could always consider staying here darling. You seem like a nice enough Dragon after-all, and I for one would enjoy an additional somepony to talk gems and jewels with.”

“Here?” Snowfire could barely hold back a snort “I don’t think ponies and dragons mix very well.”

“Hey! I think we ‘mix’ fine,” said Spike with a hint of indignation. He had been content to let the girls talk, but this was something he felt the need to interject on. “Everypony is real nice around here.You just have to make a little effort. I think I can guess what it was like where you were growing up based on my own experiences with other dragon, but ponies are not like any of that.”

“Quite right, Spike,” Rarity said with a nod.

Snowfire, wide-eyed, wasn't sure how to respond to that. She was saved from having to come up with a response when they came upon the market.

It was an open air bazaar, with dozens of stalls and hundreds of ponies moving with purpose. Exotic scents tickled Snows nose and arcane devices shined in the sunlight. Hawkers called their wares, and ponies haggled. Most seemed to ignore her presence, intent on their own tasks.

“Well, maybe with two dragons as my escort Traveling Trade won’t try and swindle me again,” said Rarity before she plunged into the crowd. Spike ran after. In for a jade-chip, in for a diamond, Snow thought to herself, and followed.

****

As it happened, Traveling Trade did try and swindle Rarity again, despite having brought double the dragons. At Least he tried until Snow started to pick her teeth clean behind Rarity. Traveling’s prices had dropped remarkably fast after that.

Author's Note

I don't know why I plan a chapter and and tell myself
"yea, that's only going to be a short one,"
and then have to get so large that I'm forced to cut it and make two chapters out of it.

On that note, are these getting to wordy?

As always, thanks for reading.