Spike sat alone in the Friendship Castle. A room all of his own, and looking around he noticed something that until recently he had no proof of. The proof that he had no real friends. Sure when everypony was sucked into the comic, they made a huge monologue of how he wasn’t comedic relief, that they were his friends, that he actually mattered.

But unlike Twilight who had tons of photos of her and the girls. He had no momentos, no pictures, nothing of them when they eventually died of old age. Even after that event, they never made the very rare, token effort to be part of their lives that wasn’t for them needing him to do some type of work for them.

A token effort that over 5 almost 6 years he could count on one hand. Once when he framed Owlicious and Twilight went to get him, that one meteor shower, when he ran off to the dragon migration, the comic book fiasco, and when he almost made a disaster of the Equestrian Games.

The rest of the times, they only wanted him around when they needed something. He was pretty sure there was a friendship lesson against that somewhere but he couldn't seem to care to remember which of Twilight's thousands of reports she mentioned it in. After all his work, all of his time, there was one thing for certain. His friends didn’t see him as a friend or as a pony. In truth, he always saw himself as a pony, but he lacked the body of one.

Sure Twilight could do a spell to transform him, but those spells were temporary. That, and the traumatic experience of being transformed into a living basket ball had given him a phobia of all transformation magic. As well as a fear that, knowing Twilight, it could go horribly wrong. But he was tired of being treated as a pet, or a non-pony. He didn’t mind being considered girly for a dragon, since he was raised by mares with no male role model in his life. That suited him fine.

What do I do? If I go to them, they’ll pour on the honey words, but I have it staring right in front of me that they don’t really care. Worst of all, those girls are the center of my world, but soon they’ll die and become worm food. What can I do to make sure they always stay with me? I’ll guess I’ll just sleep on it.

♥♥♥♥♥

With a burst of insight it came to him during a dream. He dreamt that Rarity and him were sitting in one of Applejack's barn while Rarity was making him a suit made from thread that was the color of all of his friends. In it she said that pictures fade, but a nice suit could last a lifetime.

Of course it was weird when Luna arrived. Seeing that he was feeling down, asked him what was wrong, and after telling her she gave him the best advice he could ever hope for. One supplied in the dream before hoof. Get his friends together, and talk to them. Let them know how much they meant to him and it would bring them closer together.

Of course Luna’s advice and Spike’s eureka moment couldn’t have been further apart. And it was a moment that Luna would never forgive herself for after the fall out of what was to come. But how was she too know that giving the generic advice of listening to ones dreams could turn out so wrong?

But that is neither here nor there. For as Spike awoken, he knew what he needed to do. He needed to make a suit of his friends. A timeless treasure that would not only last through the ages and bring them closer than ever before, but most importantly would ensure that he could be a pony just like his honorary mother was.

Or even all the ponies that made him see the pony looking back in the mirror every time he posed his sexy, body in front of the mirror. At least he considered it a sexy body. Especially with the additions he was adding, soon he’d be an alicorn just like his mom. Then she’d finally acknowledge him as family.

♥♥♥♥♥

It was just as the sun was above the rise when he sat across Granny Smith and Big Mac across the table at Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Jack having woken up earlier to go buck the east fields before taking off for a rodeo at Mexicolt for the National Rodeo Championships. Of course Spike had plans for her before she left, but it all came down to this important meeting.

“So now Sugarcube,” Granny Smith’s rickety voice said, “You want ta buy one of our barns?”

“Yes Granny Smith,” Spike said with an anticipatory grin.

“What for?” Granny asked giving him a discerning eye.

“Well honestly,” Spike started, he didn’t need to fake the tears coming down his face, “After our home was destroyed, and most of everything being unsalvageable. That new place feels like an imposter. And I guess I just need someplace safe to call my own until I’m ready to go back to …” He waved a claw listlessly in the direction of the castle.

Taking a breathe he added, “Also because I like it over here. I know I got carried away with my dragon code, but even when I’m ready to go back, I think having myself a little slice of Ellysium would be nice.”

Granny scooted out of her chair and strolled shakily to Spike wrapping him in a hug, “Well there young’in I think we might be able ta get you a barn and we might even be able to work out a deal so it ain’t much of a loss of bits too yer piggy bank.”

Spike returned the hug, “Thanks Granny Smith. Between the stipend I got for getting the title, 'Savior of the Crystal Empire' and my raise in allowance. I think I have enough bits to buy one of the older barns near the entrance,” he said as he tossed a rather substantial bag of bits and gems onto the counter.

He was loathe to lose such a cut of his horde, but he reminded himself ponies didn’t have hordes. So it was a sacrifice he had to make, that and Rarity taught him there was no too big a sacrifice one could make for one’s friends.

Now he just needed to get Applejack to visit before she left and the first part of his plan would be finished. All he needed to do was find a way. And find a way he would, his friends were counting on it.

Author's Note

This fic had no editors or pre-readers. Any comments or critiques are appreciated. And as of now I don't know if I want to add sex to this or not. I will have this fic finished by Halloween or earlier.