A knight's desire: The dragon's tender heart

Spike stared at the goldish liquid in his glass, before knocking it back and downing it. The burning liquid slid down his throat and even more alcohol was introduced to his system. He shook his head as the sensation made him shiver.

“Hay, when I said I’d hang out with you, I didn’t mean going out to a bar and drinking ourselves to death. You know I don’t even drink, Spike.” A smoke grey stallion said to him. His mane was a deep jet black and was swept to one side of his head, covering his left eye. He and Spike were both dressed in their armor, not yet having been allowed to remove them.

“Yeah, well maybe you should… You wouldn’t complain as much a as you do, Spades.” Spike slurred in an attempt at an insult, though his logic was very thrown off by his drunken state.

Spades groaned and rubbed his temples, feeling the beginning signs of an oncoming headache. He took a deep breath to ensure he wouldn’t strangle the arrogant purple stallion. “I don’t complain as much as you think I do. I only complain when my superior makes an arrogant decision. It’s only increased because the decisions have gone from arrogant to stupid. You almost got us killed four times in the last month. Who’s to say there will be an almost next time.”

Spike paused just as he was about to take another shot and sighed. He slowly set the glass down and shook his head. “You know… It’s one thing to not agree with my orders, or even openly ignore them… But to call me stupid to my face. You do have balls, Lieutenant.” The purple stallion chuckled.

“Enough to tell you you’re not my superior. I’m quitting the Solar guard.” Spades snapped as he stood from the bar and turned toward the exit. “You endanger my life and Celestia has a soft spot for you. My children need me and I won’t let you endanger my family any longer. Good luck getting yourself out of the grave you’re digging.” The stallion then proceeded to leave Spike.

“Shoulda kept your mouth shut, Lieutenant.” Spike mumbled under his breath as his horn began to glow green.

Before Spades could reach the door, he was caught by Spike’s magic aura, causing him to freeze in place. The green energy then tossed him across the bar and crashed him into a circular table at the other end of the room.

The whole bar suddenly grew silent as they looked to see the pony who had been injured, then to the one who had thrown him. Spike simply acted as if nothing had happened. He picked up his glass and finished his shot, before paying the tab and grabbing his jacket then walking out, not minding the stares of the many ponies in the slightest.

Spike stopped right at the edge of the overhanging roof, which was extended only over the short walkway from the door of the bar. He sighed and ran his hands through his spiky green mane. He reached into his satchel for the bits for a taxi home, but all that was left were two daggers and his watch. Spades was supposed to help him home. He always did, but Spike’s recent act of violence pretty much tossed that plan out the window.

What made things worse for the drunken stallion was that it was dark and raining. He could hear the heavy downpour as it pummeled the ground with thick rain drops.

The stallion growled and threw on his jacket, before storming out into the pouring rain.

“Spike! Why are you home late and soaking wet!? Were you drinking again!? How many times have I told you about alcohol abuse!? You know you have a weak liver!” A lavender dragoness roared at Spike. She was taller than most ponies, besides the walking apple tree, Big Macintosh, and her scales all glistened with a magenta tint. Her wings were almost as large as she was, towering over her shoulders and almost dragging the ground behind her. Her black head and neck spines grew oddly curved in a single direction, making them look like they were draped over her head and neck. A single purple and pink spine grew in the mix, making like a mane highlight. A row of light purple underbelly scales ran down from her neck and ended mid-tail.

Covering her form was a very unrevealing black sweater and a pair of tight jeans with fake fur to warm her ankles. Her paws were kept bare.

“So what do you have to say for yourself, Spike!?”

Spike’s ear twitched as he looked up at her. “Oh, I’m sorry, Twilight. I must have zoned out.”

Twilight bared her fangs and growled at Spike menacingly. “You weren’t listening!?”

“I don’t think I have to.” Spike replied arrogantly. “I’m twenty five damn years old and the only reason I haven’t moved out is because you feed me every day.”

The dragoness raised her hand as if to strike the stallion, but quickly stopped herself when Spike’s horn began to glow. Instead she grabbed him hard by his horn and yanked him toward her, causing him to squeal in pain. “Don’t you forget, Spike, who you’re talking to. I was the one who taught you to use magic. Mistake my kindness for weakness again, and you will have to find a way to live on your own without magic. I won’t tolerate your attitude if it continues.”

“Owowowowowowowowwwww! Ok! Ok!” Spike cried out.

“Now stop this tuff act of yours. It’s getting you nowhere.” Twilight let go of Spike’s horn, allowing him to pull away and tend to his throbbing horn. She crossed her arms and stared Spike down with her intense gaze. “Tell me what happened after you got to the bar.”

Spike knew it was pointless to argue with her. He was aware of that now, thanks to the rude wake-up call having sobered him up. “Well…” He started, struggling to continue, not knowing how angry Twilight was going to be. “Spades wanted to hang out and we went to the bar together. He decided to start some trouble and we got into a confrontation. I… used my magic on him.”

Twilight gasped. “Spike! What have I told you about that?”

“I know, I know… I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“You think? I thought writing that rule a thousand times was enough to make you get it. The magic I taught you is for defence only. If used incorrectly, you could kill somepony without even meaning to. Even if you use a simple levitation spell. Your magic is stronger than most others.” Twilight scolded, stressing her point to the smaller pony.

Spike shrank away. “I… was drunk…”

“Yeah, well… That’s your fault.” Twilight groaned and rubbed her temples. “Change out of your armor and put your reading glasses on. I guess I’m going to have to drill this into your head again.”

“Awww!” Spike complained, but didn’t turn his displeasure into words. He picked up his jacket and made for his sleeping chambers.

The next day, Spike’s wrist was throbbing with pain. There was no way he could even swing a sword, even if it were a life or death situation. Twilight’s relentless drilling had made sure of that. The alcohol had also been removed from his system before he had started writing, making it so that he could feel the slow growing agony in his wrist and arm.

The purple stallion groaned and rubbed his face with his good hand. There was no way he was even going to work today. Whoever said writing was easy has obviously never met Twilight. But then again… maybe he was just lazy and simple punishments were enough. Maybe that’s why he had all the chores still.

Spike shook his head, trying to snuff out the thoughts that kept burning what little fuel he had left. Instead, he used it to push himself out of bed and onto his hooves. After taking a moment to gather himself, he began his sleepy-walk to the kitchen as the first signs of hunger began to gnaw at him.

“Sleep well?” Twilight asked suddenly as Spike passed by unknowingly.

Spike cried out as he was startled. His hoof slipped on a slick spot on the stone floor and he fell face first into the hard floor. He groaned in pain.

Twilight sighed and shook her head. “Jumpy this morning, aren’t we?”

The purple stallion pushed himself into a sitting position and rubbed his sore snout as a slow nosebleed began to trickle from his nostril. “Don’t sneak up on me like that…” He whimpered.

“I didn’t sneak up on you. You walked right past me.” Twilight replied, crossing her arms. “But that’s not important. Why aren’t you getting ready for work? You were supposed to leave before I woke up.”

Spike looked away, but held up his next-to-useless hand. “Your relentless drilling strained my hand… Can’t even move my fingers.”

The dragoness rubbed the bridge of her snout and sighed. “One of these days you’re going to grow up, Spike… Fine, stay home. But you’re cleaning everything that doesn’t require two hands.”

Spike slowly nodded. He continued to avoid Twilight’s gaze.

Twilight shook her head, before walking toward the kitchen. She began setting out the utensils necessary to start her morning tea as soon as she got there.

“So do you plan on just sitting in the hallway all day? Or do you want breakfast?”

Spike’s ears perked up at the mention of food. He quickly scrambled to his hooves and nearly sprinted for the kitchen to help.

Spike’s ears rang as he felt the jaw-jarring impact of a fist to his chin. The sucker-punch sent him sprawling back, until he stumbled and fell into a wooden table, snapping the legs. The contents that had been placed on top shattered on Spike’s head.

“That’s for last night, bitch.” Spades’ rage induced voice pierced through the ringing in Spike’s ears.

Spike groaned as he struggled to keep consciousness as he attempted to pick himself up off the ground, but it was no use. The moment he had put his hooves under himself, he lost balance and fell back down.

Moments before, Spike had been enjoying a nice day at the local coffee shop. He had dressed warmly due to the chill in the air and the warm coffee made it even more comfortable to him. His right hand was wrapped in a brace, thanks to his writing injury, so he was stuck using his left hand to eat and drink. Little did he know that Spades sought payback for the previous night. It caught him entirely off guard.

One moment Spike was sipping on his coffee, then next he was knocked into somepony else’s table, causing the two mares that happened to be seated at it to scream.

Spike wiped a small trickle of blood off the corner of his mouth from where his tooth had punctured his lip. He weakly chuckled. “Some uppercut, Spades…. That hurt like Tartarus.”

“Oh, shut up. I only came here to prove a point. Threaten my safety again and I’ll be forced to do the same.” Spades growled back.

“Whatever… I deserved it anyway. You could have at least given me a little warning. I was previously injured after all.” Spike held up his braced hand. “Funny how writing the same thing a thousand times can cause so much pain.”

Spades ignored the comment and about-faced, before walking casually away.

Spike’s forced smile dropped from his face and he looked up at one of the mares that were still standing there. She was a cute blue earth pony with a straight white mane. She wore a black hoodie and a short skirt. A pair of white leg warmers covered her skinny legs. Spike forced a smile again. “Mind lending me a hand?”