Unintentionally Yours

Intentional (Alternate Ending)

This is the alternate, non-headcanon version of the final Chapter. It is the original idea I went with for the ending, but was not ultimately satisfied, hence the current ending.

Happy readings while I prepare to post the sequel!

• His -

Celestia recalled the days when she and her sister flew side by side. It was a gentler time, when the beating of their wings signified an amicable race from one end of the continent to the other. Such was the last time she and Luna had ever paced themselves so intensely.

Then came the resent, the darkness, the Nightmare and one thousand years of utter loneliness. Now, Luna had returned in all of her former regal glory and their wings defied the ground once more, together; only this time the urgency existed not in jest, but in desperation. Before the royal pony sisters was a most imposing sight never before seen in Equestria: a throng of dragons, an army one thousand-strong, headed for Canterlot. They came as per the dire agreement between Celestia and their Lord Dadaelus, who headed the army. The fierce crimson reptile guided his followers toward the mountain-based Citadel and Celestia could see the smoke billowing from his nostrils. Anger surged within his golden eyes, though they could not compare to what Celestia could see in the dark jade eyes of Lady Nalthanida. There was menace within the elegant blue dragon that denoted the ferocity of a mother scorned of her child. Celestia knew the feeling. As they neared the winged horde, the eldest sister was taken aback as Dadaelus halted, mid-beat and bellowed aloud. The sound swept across the land, petrifying it. Celestia and Luna halted in place, their wings sustaining their lofty heights. At once, the army of dragons held their positions, daring not to venture forward, lest their lord command otherwise.

Such loyalty he wields, Celestia wondered. We shall see what kind of loyalty they all bear. The Regent of the Sun and her lunar sister cautiously approached the line. Dadaelus and Nalthanida flew forward to meet them. Fire glowed in the dragons’ brilliant eyes and Celestia wondered if Luna felt the same intimidation. Fortunately, like her sister, the Princess of the Night refused to allow her expression to become readable. The dragons of Royum employed the resolve that marked their hard visages. They will not be easily swayed, the eldest sister concluded. The waiting lines of dragons remained ever in her periphery as Celestia motioned Luna to join her in meeting her son’s true parents.

When the emissaries were met, they met in silence. Celestia made note of Dadaelus and the powerful musculature that rippled beneath his crimson scales. The hidden sinew relaxed and contracted with angered fervor. Of Nalthanida, her strong jaw was set, shut and containing her vicious fangs. Her slender, formidable frame, relaxed, as it was, seemed coiled and prepared to strike. The Princess ignored the dragoness’s deportment and focused instead in the lord, who opened his mouth as if to speak. Silently, Celestia prepared against any fire set to spew forth from the beast’s breath. A simple spell, magnified tenfold in five, she conjured lest her caution be justified. The barrier would encompass both Luna and herself, though the she trusted that the sister of silver night shared in her caution.

Regardless, she smiled when Dadaelus unleashed not flame, but words wreathed within them. Steam nonetheless rose from his nostrils as he spoke, “I was incorrect in my speculation, Celestia.” Such a greeting would have been dismissed in lesser diplomatic arenas, but the princess did not stir.

“May I ask, old friend, what your speculation encompassed?” Celestia softly responded.

“Old friend?” Dadaelus scoffed, “Now I see that my speculation was wholly inaccurate!”

“It is unlike a dragon to admit his shortcomings,” Luna conjectured.

Dadaelus passively dismissed the Night Princess, remaining focused on that of the Sun, “One thousand years has not settled your sister’s rebellious tongue, Celestia, though I admit it is also surprising to see her present, materialized, and facing the victims of her theft.”

Luna held her tongue long enough for Celestia to speak, “My sister intended to compliment the Dragonlord, for it takes great integrity, from either dragons of ponies, to even admit the smallest of errors; in your case, Royum Dadaelus, the incorrect speculation of our cowardice.”

Dadaelus said nothing, though the steam that rose lessened in its profusion, ever slightly.

Celestia continued. “As for my reference to our friendship, I do not lie when I speak of it, strained as it may currently be. You have my friendship, so long as you wish it, Royum.” She gestured to both Lord and Lady. Nalthanida did not shift, though the princess could see her barely visible struggle to retain silence. Mothers often struggle with such things when their young are involved.

To her offer of friendship, Dadaelus merely scoffed, black smoke belching forth to blemish the paling sky. “Friends and allies need not steal children, Princess. Nor are they easily inclined to betray both trust and agreement.”

“I understand that you feel betrayed,” Celestia, for a brief moment, appeared despondent over that truth, but it was swift in its passing. “However, I pray that you do not use your army to enforce the consequences of that unfortunate misunderstanding.”

“My army,” breathed Dadaelus, “is here to claim what was promised to them, penance for the theft of their prince!”

“And how many of them,” Celestia calmly asked, “are willing to die today in order to stake their claims? Can we not come to an agreement? Pull your army back so we may understand one another.”

Dadaelus barred his fangs and Nalthanida hissed under her breath. “You and your banished sister are in no position to demand terms!” Celestia held her silent defense charm at the ready. “Surrender your city, lest you wish to suffer harm to your precious ponies,” the crimson dragon bellowed, is temper spent. “Your army cowers behind your Citadel’s enchanted walls and no escort follows you to your defense, save but one now approaching.”

Celestia knew it. She knew Spike would try something, anything to speak for himself and weigh his worth on the table. She smiled at how he had grown.

“Your son approaches,” she calmly informed the Royum.

“Is this some trickery, Celestia? Do I see my son drawing nigh?”

“Your keen eyes do not deceive you, old friend. There are no tricks, for your son does arrive of his own volition.” She closed her eyes, sensing harmony, “And he is not alone, for one accompanies him, one who cares deeply for him, and he for her.”

Dadaelus looked toward the approaching chariot, too far away for mere pony eyes to scrutinize, but simple for dragons to observe. He then looked to his mate, her eyes widening as her young offspring neared.

“Let us talk, Dadaelus and Nalthanida,” Celestia implored, glancing hopefully at her sister. “Hear the words of your son, not as my charge or your brood, but as an individual. If these are not the terms that we had previously agreed upon, please do not hesitate to elaborate.”

“This changes nothing, Celestia,” Dadaelus smoldered. “There is no turning back.” Lady Nalthanida glanced at her mate, her expression quizzical before returning it to the approaching chariot.

Celestia sighed, “Even now, you cannot lower your guard?”

Dadaelus said nothing, for he too began to focus on the chariot, eying it expectantly.

“You know that I cannot allow the surrender of this city. There are far too many innocent lives to be ruined in the name of the lost Royumborn.” Celestia’s voice rippled through the air.

Dadaelus quietly lifted his gaze back to the regal alicorn sisters, “It is not your place to command what my army may or may not claim, nor order where it may lay siege.”

“Then we tell you this now, Dadaelus,” Celestia’s voice darkened, “Speak with us and disband these dragons, or I shall break the back of your army here and now.”

Black smoke erupted from the Dragonlord’s mouth as he growled against the challenge that Celestia dared issue, “No amount of magiks, even from the immortals could hope to break my army. You shall see the cost of your insolent words, pony!”

Celestia’s horn shimmered then with a golden light. In an instant, it emitted a bright flash that caught nearly every eye in all of Equestria.

“See anythin’ sugar?” Applejack squinted toward the swiftly unfolding scene before them.

“They aren’t fighting… yet,” Spike responded, for he could see the meeting clearly: his father was at the vanguard of the siege. His mother flew by her mate’s side, her radiant blue scales reflecting the light of the rising sun. Opposite his true parents, Spike saw his adoptive parent, Celestia, visibly speaking to the crimson dragon. Princess Luna silently hung by her sister’s side.

“How close would you like us to get, Master Spike?” both pegasus guards glanced back toward their commander, unsettled expressions upon their white-coated faces.

A sudden gust overtook them with a great flash and the chariot became a score more crowded. A lavender coat and sparkly cutie mark now separated the dragon from his orange mare.

A familiar voice thundered in both of their ears, “Not. One. League. Further!”

“Twilight?” Spike jumped out of his scales and Applejack nearly lost her stetson to the wind, a quick hoof denying the hat its tumbling fate. The unicorn shot him a livid stare that could only Fluttershy could rival. Her disheveled mane blowing carelessly in the passing breeze only underscored the desperation in her purple eyes.

“Twi? What’re–” Applejack was interrupted as Twilight flashed her the exact same stampede-halting stare.

“We’re going back. Now!” she yelled toward the pegasi, who both sighed with relief.

“No!” Spike, countermanded, “I need to see my parents! I need to stop them from destroying Canterlot!” The pegasi considered this and hesitated in their turn.

“The Princesses can handle it, Spike,” countered Twilight. “You have to trust them.”

“Twi,” Applejack tried to get her friend’s attention and succeeded. “I know this seems crazier than wrestling a wily rattler, but I believe in Spike’s plan as much as I believe in the princesses’.”

“AJ, I don’t want to see you all get hurt… or worse! We need to turn back to Canterlot where we may actually be of use!”

Spike folded his arms and looked away, “Not this time, Twilight.” His adoptive sister dropped her head and was about to speak when Spike continued. “My place is there, trying to stop a terrible thing from happening. This is all because of me and I need to be a part of it, an active part, not just some prize to be fought over!”

“But,” Twilight protested.

“I will not allow Canterlot to burn because of me!” Spike’s eyes set forward and he regarded the pair of pegasi. “Keep going forward, I will not let anything happen to you.”

The pegasi offered a worried glance, but did not hold it amid the young dragon’s resolve. With frustrated breaths, and no command issued by the Element of Magic, the guards pressed on toward the meeting. It was then that a bright flash nearly blinded them all, sending the chariot nearly off-course. Before the disorientation could take any toll, however, the flash receded and the balance of fortune has shifted beneath them.

As quickly as it had appeared, the light vanished, leaving but little sparks to flicker and fade about Celestia’s inert horn, all glowing ceased. A mischievous grin formed upon her perfect visage. Before the dragon could respond, something stole his attention and not only that of his mate, but of all the one thousand-strong army of drakes that hung in the air around Canterlot. In the valleys beneath them, a new brilliance shimmered in the risen morning light as a beacon from below. Dadaelus’s jaw hung limp with rapture and confusion, for the sight before him could do naught but confound.

For, cast onto the valley below from the alabaster foundations of the Citadel’s high walls, appeared near endlessly procured mounds of golden, glimmering treasures. Troves upon troves of riches comprised of bits, gems, crowns and cases, all present and all bare. These all flowed as freely as a mountain stream from the very walls that once concealed such vast amounts. Before the moment ended, the valleys beneath the Citadel became a sea of overflowing with gold.

Celestia continued to speak then. Her voice was long, loud and heard all across Equestria,

“Dragons, welcome strangers from beyond our borders! Thou hast flown countless leagues for the promise of wealth to return to thine homes and hoards, all at the behest of thine Lord Dadaelus!”

One thousand scaled, fire-breathing heads listened, their tongues hanging with distracted fervor.

She continued, “We, the Princesses of Night and Day do offer you this gift for thine troubles and bid thee a safe return to thine homes across the sea! No more shouldst thou obey thine Lord, for his promise is fulfilled and thou art now free to retire!”

Dadaelus could have not suffered to look away, had a more damning sight not overtaken him: the dragons at his side, all one thousand strong of his mighty siege, fell from their loftily held positions, each diving headlong for the golden troughs offered to them. One valley of gold, one thousand dragons, one moment of ferocious and covetous gatherings with nervous ponies looking downward from above, in untested battlements.

As vultures to fresh carrion, the valleys were stripped of their new golden flesh. Not one bit or single gem was forgot, all carried away within the arms and maws of satiated dragons, once loyal. Against the morning light, one thousand dragons departed, decorating the horizon with their glinting charges.

Before long, one thousand dragons were reduced to a mere single pair. Dadaelus and Nalthanida silently glanced over the valley, now threadbare as if Celestia had cast no spell. For once in that morning of uncertainty, the crimson-scaled Dadaelus held no words to speak, nor any threats to utter. Nalthanida was the first to look away from the valley, to offer the alicorn sisters a most unusual glance. Sadness? Defeat? Indignation? Celestia herself could not tell. Then, something else caught her attention.

“Mom? Dad?”

Both adult dragons then turned to face a lonely chariot, flown by a pair of nervously quiet armoured pegasi. Within the seat of the luxurious chariot sat a pair of familiar sights, accompanied by one that was unfamiliar: Their son, the diminutive purple dragon, the lavender unicorn that was Celestia’s protégé, and a wide-eyed earthen pony with a rich orange coat. The headdress, they could not explain.

“Severezhad,” Nalthanida breathed and lowered her head, forgetting her anger upon seeing her son. Her great snout reached over the distressed pegasi and toward Spike, who placed his open palm upon it. The orange pony, the one that Nalthanida remembered her son referring to as Applejack, simply offered a nervous, but warm smile as she respectfully removed her strange hat.

What could only be described as a draconic smile only served to further distress the pale pegasi.

“Perhaps,” Luna suggested, interrupting the moment, “we should land and continue this renewed reunion upon solid ground.” The Princess of the Night winked reassurance to the pegasus pilots while the rest of the unusual entourage nodded in silent agreement.

“Hm, no burning cities or forests, nor do I see any refugees. What do you see, Pinkie?” Rarity asked.

“Dragons!” responded the pink party pony with glee.

Fluttershy visibly gulped, feeling very vulnerable and tenthered to a slow-moving balloon, “R-really? Um, how many?”

“I think a thousand dragons,” Pinkie Pie scrutinized the skies with her trusty bifocals.

“There’s no fire or smoke and Canterlot seems to be all hunk-dory!” Pinkie Pie chirped and the friends sighed in relief.

“Okay, so Canterlot is safe, but what am I looking at northward?” Rainbow Dash pointed in the direction of the great valley that met the mountain.

Pinkie Pie shifted her bifocals over to the general direction and searched for a long moment before gasping aloud, “I see the Princesses, both Celestia and Luna talking to a pair of large scary-looking dragons. They don’t look to happy.”

Fluttershy squeaked.

“And what’s that tiny distant object approaching them?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“That looks like Princess Celestia’s royal chariot, but I can’t see who’s in it.”

“Maybe they’re going to pick up the princesses?” Rarity pondered aloud.

“Maybe they’re bringing an emissary?” Fluttershy offered.

Pinkie beamed. “Maybe they’re delivering a great big chocolate cake to settle all their differences and then throw a huge, ‘No Hard Feelings About This Potential War Shenanigans’ party!”

Then, through her bifocals, the party pony espied a flash of light that emanated from the chariot and out of thin air, a familiar purple pony dropped right into it. “Or it could be Twilight trying to intercept a wild runaway chariot that could possibly be used in an act of subterfuge to undermine whatever shaky-flakey peace that the Princesses managed to broker with the dragons!”

The remaining Elements looked back at her, their eyebrows collectively raised. Pinkie did not take notice of their expressions because something else caught her eye when Twilight materialized: a purple-scaled head with bright emerald crests and a well-worn stetson being blown away, but caught by an orange-coated hoof. The pink pony’s already dilated eyes threatened the integrity of her irises by widening even further.

“It’s Spike and Applejack in that chariot!”

“What?!” Rarity collapsed, Rainbow Dash’s wings skipped a beat and Fluttershy’s jaw hung limp.

“Yep!” Pinkie Pie grinned, happy that she could see her friends.

Rarity recovered from her heart’s near failure and hip-checked Pinkie out of her way, grabbing hold of the bifocals as she did. With a deep gasp, the fashionista shouted to the tomboy and the sweetheart pegasi, “We need to cover this distance and get our friends out of that frying pan before it turns into a fire!”

“Aye-aye, Cap’n!” Rainbow Dash saluted and drove her wings into overdrive.

Fluttershy tried to keep up, but the ever-present danger that her friends were facing soon overcame the meekness of her flying skills. With added effort, the shy pegasus drove forward, keeping in pace with Rainbow Dash. Rarity and Pinkie held on for dear life as the balloon surged forward and tilted.

“Whee!” Pinkie Pie was having the time of her life.

As the balloon approached the meeting place, the entire entourage was then diverted ground ward, into a nearby clearing. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash veered and followed with renewed vigour in their wings.

A bright flash suddenly took them all off guard, causing Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to screech to a halt. Rarity shielded her eyes and Pinkie was blown backward, tumbling to the floor of the basket in a pink heap.

“What was that?” Rainbow Dash called out.

“I don’t know,” replied Rarity. “Pinkie, can you tell us?”

At once, Pinkie Pie bounced up and peeked through her lenses. With a loud gasp, she shouted, “They’re leaving! All with armfuls of treasure and flying away from the city!”

“Well, that’s go–wait, what did you say?” Rarity gasped.

“Leaving?” asked a perplexed Rainbow Dash, “why would they be leaving?”

Fluttershy chanced a question of her own. “And why with treasure? Did they manage to….” The cream-coloured pegasus whimpered at the shared and dreaded thought that collectively settled amongst the Elements.

“Nope!” Pinkie cheerfully answered. Canterlot is unharmed and there’s only two dragons left.

“Those must be Spike’s parents,” Rainbow asserted.

“There’re headed for the forest floor now, all of them,” Pinkie reported.

“Then they may still need our help!” Rarity explained. “Take us down there, girls!”

“Do-do we have to?”

The dragons rested upon the forest floor, brightly coloured and misplaced beings within the peaceful clearing. Before them, Celestia and Luna lay quietly, their ghostly manes tossing carelessly in a breeze unfelt. The chariot sat a distance away with the armoured pegasi talking quietly amongst their selves. Between the regal sisters and the mighty dragons sat a peculiar pair: a young purple dragon, a studious lavender unicorn mare and an orange earth mare wearing a strange hat. The dragons regarded them with curious, yet hardened eyes.

The crimson Dadaelus spoke first, shattering the serenity, “It appears that you, my son, have decided to return to us by your own will, according to Celestia.”

“Is this true, Severezhad?” Nalthanida finished her mate’s sentence; hope glimmering in her icy green eyes.

Where had this journey led him? Where had it lead them all? Spike’s turmoil rolled wildly within his fire-breathing chest. He offered such little resistance upon first meeting his parents, imposing and powerful as they were.

And then they invaded Canterlot, all for a misunderstanding? They thought him recaptured when in fact a pony had rescued his life, no less! What had his parents done? Spike looked on and met his mother’s eyes and the hope that lingered there.

Did they truly believe that their siege would win their Severezhad over?

Still, the look of his mother, his true mother, her wondrous blue hue, her richly shaded eye indicated that the surrounding events were not of her desire. For the first time in their brief knowledge of one another’s existence, Spike could see innocence in his very mother’s hopeful expression. For the first time in so many, many years, her only surviving dragonling had chosen to approach her.

Surviving. The word circled about the young dragon’s mind in a swirl of un-deniability. Even then, their accidental neglect had pushed him away from them, allowing Celestia to save and therefore raise him.

He wanted to be angry with his father’s callousness, to deny him what he had striven to accomplish. Canterlot was spared not due to his mercy, but to the false faith he held for his fellow dragons and their misplaced loyalty. Celestia had outwitted him and defeated an entire horde of covetous drakes by the power of her will alone.

If one thousand dragons can be routed by one regal alicorn, then what chance did his father have of obtaining his goal? He had failed and Spike could see the weight of that failure upon Dadaelus’ heavy brow.

Nalthanida, however, simply looked upon Spike and he gazed back. She did not carry the shattered pride of her mate, his father. She seemed all to content to see her son once more, in one piece, bravely seeking her out.

Suddenly, Spike’s resolve could not hold the boiling waters that he imagined it would. Earlier, Spike would have openly declared how unworthy they were to carry him back to the dragonlands! Such a display of power and ruthlessness did not warrant the reward his father and mother truly sought.

Truly sought. They did not dive for the offered gold as their brethren and sisters had. It did not hold the same value. Nalthanida, even then, could not remove her gaze from her son, her eyes locked covetously upon a treasure she had long thought lost. Spike did not overlook this detail. Lord Dadaelus himself did not appear as crestfallen when his army had betrayed him, abandoned him. The proud and mighty dragon did not appear as ashamed at the defeat from intent to conquer, as he seemed at the removal of his superior position in the bid for his son.

Son. He was their son. They were his parents. No shading could deny that fact.

Spike broke the gaze he and his mother shared and looked down at his open palms, his sharpened claws, his purple scales, harder than diamonds.

Even now… could he allow himself to see past his parents’ transgressions? They had not hurt anypony, but the intent to do so could not be denied.

Had they wished to harm them, the ponies who had unconditionally accepted and raised him as he was their own?

Would it be a betrayal to them, to Celestia and his friends, if his desires were to be realized?

Who am I? Where do I come from? What is it truly like to be a dragon?

Answers long sought, now rested before him in the form of two great dragons, patiently waiting for their son to speak his mind to them. Spike could not deny his desire to learn, to know, to become.

What about Applejack? He asked himself, ashamed that he was even considering his parents’ offer, despite all that had transpired.

Do you think that taking this journey will allow you to become even more for her? What knowledge could your parents bestow? What skills could they teach?

Would you use what you for her benefit? To show her how much you truly care?

She loves you no matter what you choose, no matter what you have to offer in the end and you know that. He accused himself, sensing the guilt that his pending decision procured.

She will love me and I will love her. That will not change.

He made his decision.

Spike was about to give his answer when something caught his attention from above.

“Hello down there! Yoo-hoo!”

Rarity? Thought Spike

“Faster, Rainbow Dash! Faster!”

Pinkie Pie?

“Quiet it, Pink!”

Rainbow Dash?

“I think I pulled a wing.”

Fluttershy?

From above the trees, a mauve balloon carried a wicker basket into the clearing. A pair of pegasi, the basket containing a unicorn and another earth pony, was guiding it. Before long, it touched down and was secured via tightened tether and pounded pegs, courtesy the unicorn. With her deed done, the alabaster-coated mare turned to gaze upon a most peculiar sight of beautiful dragons, graceful alicorns and the entire array of her closest friends. Rarity could not help but tear up with joy at the union of her fellow Elements as she quickly unfastened the ropes around both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. The four newcomers galloped toward the waiting Twilight and Applejack. Both groups met in the middle.

Spike, however, remained behind, watching them long enough to hear his father huff, “Ponies….”

Spike chuckled.

Applejack could not contain her joy and relief upon seeing her friends all together again. It had been only a day, but the turmoil and uncertainty had taxed the orange farm mare for what felt closer to a month. Despite the joy, an underlying tone of sorrow gripped at her honest heart, one that she could not ignore fully, especially when she noticed that their group hug was missing a certain young dragon. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Spike standing alone, a soft smile upon his lips. His emerald eyes danced with welling tears, for his joy would soon leave him and she knew it.

“Spike?” she softly called. His smile curved a little more at the mention of his name, though he did not respond. Swiftly, Applejack broke the embrace of her friends and went to him. As she did so, the remaining Elements followed.

Spike’s eyes turned up to meet those of his mighty parents.

“To answer your question, I do come of my own will, father, mother,” began he, “but only to try and avert your fire from innocent ponies.” A long silence shared the moment with these words.

Then, he spoke once more, “I do not wish to immediately join you.”

“Immediately?” Applejack echoed, unsure of her flickering ears. She looked at him with worried, unbelieving eyes. “You mean that after all this, you’re goin’ with ‘em anyway?”

Spike turned back to Applejack, but she was unable to meet his gaze. His palm gently found its way to her cheek and he slowly turned her hear to face his. All he could see was pain, longing, disbelief. He wanted to soothsay the fears she bore, to assure her that his words were untrue and to prove her eyes correct in their judgment. However, he knew they were not, thus the silence that bound the orange earth pony.

“I’ve haven’t had a lot of time to think about this, AJ,” Spike began, “but I realized just how far my parents were willing to go, travel, fight just to have me back. I cannot agree with their methods, but I can see their reason.” Applejack shook her head, unwilling to hear any of it.

“I agree with Spike,” Twilight finally spoke, earning a hard stare from Applejack, who looked as though betrayed. Twilight defended her voice, “Though I cannot condone the course of action, I am glad to see that you, Royumi, are willing to listen to your son’s perspective and allow him to make a choice.”

Spike looked back to the dragons and spoke on, “I am your son. I am Severezhad and you require no army to take me, only the willingness to hear me.” Spike spoke with such grace, even Twilight was amazed by its quality. She saw then what Celestia saw, what Applejack had always seen and what it was costing her to see.

The orange earth pony wrapped a forelimb around Spike’s shoulder, fighting tears as best she could, though the Element of Honesty could only delay such truths for so long.

“Why can’t you stay here in Equestria with us? With me?” She nearly pleaded.

Spike embraced his mare, and she embraced her dragon. “This is something that I must do, in order to learn who I was really supposed to be, from the dragons who were supposed to be my parents. I need this, Applejack, just like you needed your family when you lived in Manehatten.” He sniffed, the weight of his decision crushing his very beating heart.

“But don’t let that desire change who you really are,” Applejack sounded defeated, for she understood the need in Spike’s life for what his parents offered. She knew also the cost, the distance expected, and the anguish she would feel at his loss. Her embrace was long and tight and before they would release. They understood one another, as they always had and tears flowed freely. Lightly, Spike pressed his forehead against Applejack’s and she nuzzled him in return, accidently knocking her hat free. It flopped onto the grassy floor, only to be levitated by the blue aura of Rarity’s magic. Her eyes flickered with tears of their own. Long faces and drooping ears, accompanied teary sniffles reverberated among the Elements, united in their grief.

From their resting place, Celestia bowed her head as Luna draped a dark wing over her sister in a comforting embrace. The Regent of the Sun was about to lose her sun, in many ways. Only Nalthanida took notice.

“Spiky-wikey,” Rarity sniffed, “Are you truly going to leave m—us behind?”

Spike solemnly nodded, unable to break Applejacks steady, loving gaze.

“I am.”

“But, but what will I do without my helpful assistant?” the fashionista asked loudly.

“Rarity,” Twilight cautioned, “if I can survive without him—hard as that will be from now on—then I am sure you will.”

“Thanks, Twi,” Spike smiled at his would-be-sister. “I will miss you too, Rarity. I will miss all of you!”

At that, they all gathered around him, each offering a tight hug.

“We’ll miss you, too, Spike,” Fluttershy whispered loud enough. Her pink mane obscured her face from the dragons, but was left open enough for her to make eye contact with a grateful Spike.

“Take care of your animal friends, Fluttershy. I want to see them healthy and strong whenever I get back.” Fluttershy smiled and perked up a little bit, as if her fear of dragons did not completely paralyze her for the moment.

“Oh!” burst Pinkie Pie as she hugged him, “I can’t wait for you to get back! You’ll have such. A. Party. Waiting, just for you! It’ll be great! There’ll be balloons, cake, gems, Applejack—”

The pink party pony rambled on a near endless list of favours and features that will comprise the long expected party, but everypony stopped paying attention to her when Rainbow Dash spoke over her, “Stay cool, Spike. I know I don’t say that enough, I didn’t know you had such badflank parents!” Dadaelus visibly smiled at the unexpected compliment as Dash continued, “But I wish you the best in your journey and I can’t wait for you to get back… though not nearly as bad as some ponies I know.” She winked and snickered as Spike’s cheeks flushed red.

Twilight Sparkle hugged her little brother the tightest. “I thought I was going to lose you forever when I first brought you to the Citadel,” she said. “But even then, I knew you’d return, even for just a little while.” She rested her head upon his, “But now I can see that you will be leaving of your own free will and I cannot imagine for how long, just take care of yourself and know that you will always have a home in Ponyville.” Her tears ran freely down her cheeks and fell upon Spike’s shoulder.

It was then that Celestia and Luna stood and walked forward. They were greeted by a nod from the dragon pair and by respectful bows from the Elements. Celestia approached Spike and lowered her head for him to embrace. With hushed sorrow, she said, “Be well, my little dragon. I will see you return soon, when you are ready to be seen by pony eyes once more.”

Luna simply nodded in Spike’s direction, offering a little knowing smile, which he gladly returned.

“Are we prepared to depart, Severezhad?” asked a gentle Nalthanida.

Spike returned his attention to Applejack, who nuzzled him and kissed his forehead. “I will wait for you,” she whispered.

“I can’t ask that of you,” he whispered back.

“Then you’d better believe it, loverboy.” She kissed him once more and winked, though her sadness did not leave her shamrock eyes.

“Come, Severezhad.” Dadaelus extended his claw and Spike hopped onto it, glancing back hesitantly. His eyes never left Applejack’s as he steadily rose to the level of his father’s back.

Goodbye, he mouthed to her.

I love you, she mouthed back.

Before he could respond, a great gust from Dadaelus’ mighty wings propelled them skyward. Applejack became an ever-shrinking image to his watering eyes. As she disappeared from view, Spike turned to face the blue horizon. When he did, he caught the eye of his mother, flying swiftly next to him. She simply stared, a grateful smile and boundless joy in her draconian eyes. She was happy, genuinely and that caused Spike to smile back. Again, he turned to the horizon, toward his future and wondered what it held.

A certain orange earth pony was never far from him mind.

• Hers -

Fall Weather is come, harvest long gathered.

Winter Begun, cold nights pervaded.

Spring Arrived, new cycle started.

Summer Settled, harvest renewed.

One year passes…

Of trees, their leaves withered – Autumn sees their downfall.

Of skies, their gloom gathered – Winter snows covered.

Of streams, their flow unhampered – Spring ice has melted.

Of fields green growing – Summer warmth showered.

One year passes…

Apple orchard nears its harvesting end. Winter is coming.

Apple orchard readies its work. Spring is coming.

Apple orchard in full swing. Summer is coming.

Apple orchard in prosperity. Fall is coming.

One year passes…

Applejack bucks the final branches, apples gathered, Fall harvest completed.

Applejack stokes the fire place as Apple Bloom silently reads amid its glow, Winter rest.

Applejack ploughs the snow form her fields and plants tiny seeds, Spring arrives.

Applejack watches the rain falling from her bedroom window, Summer showers begin.

• Intentionally Yours -

Summer nights had never been so lonely for the orange farm mare. Applejack waved goodbye to her friends as they finished cleaning up after the party. It was a good party with music, food fights, dancing, and laughter all around. But, like all great things, it had to end.

The moon highlighted the sheen of her apple orchards, a long familiar sight. Applejack appreciated their reflection, as if they were thousands of little candles to light her path home. Usually, Big Mac would walk home with her, but his recent injury saw to his early retirement for the night. The doctor had said that it would take another six weeks until the inflammation in his leg permitted him to buck to full capacity once more. Every night since, Applejack finished her work late and walked home under the watchful gaze of the moon, be there wind, rain or midsummer heat. Every night she would stop at one particular spot and stare at the lonely hill, shaded by a single apple tree. It was that spot where she and her long-gone dragon had sat, spoken, laughed, learned and eventually fell for each other. For several moments, she would simply sit and stare, lost amid her own memories, brief as they were. Brief, but joyful.

Three years ago, he had asked her, before his departure, never to wait for him. Many suitors had come; all had gone, failed in their attempts. She tried to love again, to fulfill his request, though with each passing year, her resolve began to waver.

She found that she could not love and she did not bother to seek it. Applejack took a quiet comfort in knowing that she was never able to acquiesce to his request.

That was when something about her favourite hilltop caught her eye. It was unusual, strange, foreign. An odd silhouette against the night sky stirred something inside her. At first, it was confusion. And then it shifted against the lonely tree and that stirring turned into outright alarm. She held her tongue and decided, against her better judgment, to investigate.

Whatever it was, it was no pony. Considerably larger than a stallion, even Big MacIntosh himself, it appeared to be sitting against the lonely apple tree, its back seemingly to her. It was then that she noticed its back was shimmering against the moonlight, a pale, beautiful purple sheen. Scales, interlinked and impenetrable. Along the centre of the creature’s back was a row of sharp emerald spines that grated against the tree bark. Applejack listened and could hear a deep and steady breathing; a low rumble punctuated each breath.

‘It’, she reasoned, was a ‘he’.

“Hello, AJ.”

The voice was deep, almost calming rhythmic. The farm mare’s heart nearly stopped at the familiar, friendly tone. He turned to face her and she nearly collapsed.

“S-Spike?” she breathed and stammered. Tears threatened to obscure her vision.

He chuckled an answer. It was Spike and he had grown. Applejack simply stared at his larger frame that easily stood taller than her, even Big Mac, as she confirmed. His body was long, slender and detailed with years of growth, struggle, strife and conquest as indicated by the underlying sinew and muscle. His snout had elongated, his teeth were plenty and sharp as razors. His jaw was squared and set and his scales were brilliant. The only thing that had not changed, Applejack noted as she slowly reached out to stroke his face, were his emerald eyes. They shone still with the wit, charm and love that he had left in her memories when he departed those three years ago.

“Spike…” she breathed once more as she took him into a long awaited embrace. She drew his warmth close to hers, Spike accepted with both arms and unfurled wings that wrapped around them both.

“You finally got your wings,” she stated, drawing back enough to look into his eyes once more.

He smiled and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, “You know that every time a pony dreams, a dragon gets his wings?”

She laughed and said, “That is the most plum-ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

“I had to think of something clever for my surprise return,” he nuzzled her affectionately.

“Should we tell the others?” she asked, brushing her shout against his.

Spike appeared to seriously consider the suggestion and teased Applejack with a deep chuckle. “I say let ‘em sleep.” He slowly closed the distance between their lips.

“Whoa-ho, there, loverboy,” she smiled at the corniness of it all as she put forth no resistance.

As the night deepened in humble Ponyville, a certain pink party pony stirred from her slumber and mentally checked a list of supplies she felt she would need for tomorrow.