Author's Note

So sorry it took me so long but 3 jobs are keeping me busy along with the massive writers block I have. I will continue this for a while though I plan to space a bit the chapters... no more than a few weeks.
On top of that, This story and Four Villainesses vs Dusk are my priorities for now with Villainess being done in like 4 or 5 chapters while this one will break off into another book.
Again sorry for the wait by live has me at the horns and I will do my best to continue one. Expect Villainesses next chapter to be done by this week.
(No edit to this, lost all my proof readers)

What is to come

Spike’s Life
What is to come

The following morning, Spike and gang had a huge breakfast, without the visuals of meat, with Celestia and Sunset in front and Talonus up front. No pony really saw the flirtatious or often passing between Sunset and Spike.

Winks, raised eye brows, twitching tails and the not so subtle giggles. This only went noticed by Celestia and Talonus. They themselves saw the hidden gestures but made no comment for it.

In which case, Celestia cleared her throat and got everyone’s attention.

“If you all may, I believe that due to Spike leaving so soon, I ask that you may… go back to Ponyville to give him a proper send off. With friends and family of course.”

“OH does this call for a ‘Happy Good Bye’ party for Spike?!” Pinkie Pie Exclaimed.

Celestia gave a happy nod.

“Of course! I’ll join you all once Luna awakes and the cakes are baked.”

“Careful, Sun Riser.” Spoke Talnous in his Draconic Tongue. “You keep eating those sweets and your ass will grow. It will grow so that I may no longer have to shrink down to size in order to fit inside of you.”
Sunset was the only on in the entire room who almost giggled loudly and had to hold herself from losing control. Spike got a few words here and there but was just as clueless as everypony else.

Celestia’s cheeks puffed and grew red.

“And you be careful, Skylord, that if you don’t watch your tongue you mate not be happy you might go back without it.”

“Will it be stuck between your large bums?” he challenged. “She might not like that I won’t come back with it but she will do anything to retrieve it, even if its through you.”

“Hey Spike?” leaned in and whispered Rainbow Dash. “You have any idea what your folks are saying? I don’t speak ‘dragonesse’.”

Spike gave her a look before turning back to Celestia and his father who were still bickering between each other in draconic. They don’t really appear to be fighting but rather… Celestia seems to be angered for a different reason while his father had a grin that would make a Cheshire cat jealous.

“I got every other word… a few that my father taught me… I only hear ‘large’, ‘sweets’, and ‘inside’.” Spike paused. “That’s about it.’ and realized that Sunset Shimmer was blushing furiously while still holding back giggles.

“Sunset?”

Sunset waved her hoof dismissively.

“ Sorry… I’ll tell you later.” She spoke, still holding back her laugh. Celestia and Talonus still argued and it was a point that nopony knew what to do.

“Anypony wanna head on outside before things start ta heat up?” Applejack whispered loudly enough for them to hear but not to break the two adults’ bickering.

Everypony nodded. They stood up one by one and slowly, and casually began walking out the doors. Spike and Sunset were the last to leave, watching their parents continue to speak to each other… more or less as they kept approaching one to the point where Celestia took wing and hovered in front of Talonus face.

They both knew that with the loud voices, the heated exchange and closeness, it meant only one thing.

They quickly followed the others and ran outside. The door closed and that caused both parties to look towards the empty table.

“Where did they all go?” asked Celestia.

“I believe that they saw us arguing and decided a retreat.” Commented Talonus.

“What… they thought we were fighting?”

‘Either that or were alerted to leave us in case things got… out of control?”

Celestia wondered.

“No matter, though I still believe that you owe me an apology for calling me fat.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because I am a princess, you low life lizard!” she half yelled in the Canterlot voice. “And it is very disrespectful to insult a royal, especially if you are from another country or species!

The dragon lord snorted.

“Very well then.” Celestia raised an eyebrow, surprised at his quick change in attitude. Talonus cleared his throat and spoke, turning his voice into a mock of proper Cantorlot speaking.

“We apologize for thou bottom in which thou ingests so many fattening sweets that it will in time, become so vastly large that we may plunder my wonder lance into its depths where we can breed you like a whorse in heat without the aid of shrinking my size and spill my seed unto thy flanks were they will perfectly match they coat.”

Celestia’s mouth was wide open and the dragon had a smug grin. He spoke again with a normal voice now.

“But I will not apologize that you do have a lovely body and that no matter how many sweets you do eat or your ass gets any huge, you will still be beautiful to my eyes as well as all of your ponies.”

Celestia tried counter only for Talonus to lean in and gave her a ‘draconic kiss’ which was a lick to the muzzle. She only stuttered and her cheeks turned red before he gave a wink.

“Come now… looks go look for our children and their friends.”

Celestia gave a growl before turning to leave. As she left Talonus stared at her flank as she moved towards the door.

“Nope, I will not apologize for that sexy ass.”

Everypony was outside of the doors with each discussing their own thing. Spike and Sunset were close to one another while the girls were speaking to one another. When Celestia and Talonus came out, Talonus shrunk himself to fit through the doors; he then regrew to his size, though there was a bit of a grunt as his tail was still stuck.

Princess Celestia approached Twilight.

“Will you be heading back to Ponyville?”

Twilight nodded, though looking a bit glum.

“I think that Spike should have a last party before he… goes.”

Celestia saw the sadness in her former student’s eyes, before bringing her close with her wings.

“Worry not my, once faithful student. Spike won’t be gone for long. Just like you had all those many years ago, he has to explore his own path and find his purpose in life. Besides, I believe that he needs to learn of his origins. Maybe finally realize what it means to be a true dragon.”

At that, Twilight gave a smile.

“Wise as always, Celestia.”

Celestia gave a small chuckle.

“Years of practice. Decades of patience. A lifetime of perfection.” She then nuzzled her. “Something you will one day learn and surpass me even.”

Twilight gave a smile and nod. She then turned back to her friends.

“All right girls. Time to head back home and throw Spike a ‘Going away party!”

Pinkie Pie, whom somehow brought out a party cannon from nowhere, fired it towards everyone and confetti and streams rained upon them with a banner, again from nowhere appeared, saying ‘Spike’s last party for a whole year and lives off with his birth family before returning home party.”

Talonus leaned down towards Celestia.

“How…?”

“Don’t ask, don’t tell, not even I know much of how that mare works.” Celestia said with a smile. Though Talonus saw the smile, she seemed to sweat at knowing that if one where to ask how Pinkie Pie worked, they would most likely get a headache.

He gave a grunt before turning to his son.

“Spike?” Spike looked from the girls to his father.

“Yes?”

“When you return, make sure that it’s the most memorable memory you will carry with you. It maybe a long time for them but for you it will be but a moment. A dragon is almost as ageless as the Alicorns and you experience changes to yourself that might affect you when you return.”

“Will it be that bad?” he asked, feeling a sense of worry.

His father shook his head.

“No, not bad, just life changing and some things that change you at home, will change here. So, spend the rest of the day enjoying everything your home and your friends have to offer. Don’t hold back feelings, don’t leave any regrets and make sure that when you leave, the feelings left behind are of smiles and not sadness.”

Spike took in every word and gave a nod.

“I will.”

Talonus gave a small grin.

“Good, now go. Go with your friends and enjoy your farewell party.”

Spike eagerly nodded and walked back to the girls, as they began to get preparations ready.

By near noon, the girls and Spike where all getting ready to board the train back to Ponyville. With Celestia and Talonus waiting for them to go, Sunset was also going to ‘personally’ say good bye to her ‘brother’.

“I hope that when you return, you are a better dragon for it.” She spoke with a smile. “I think that returning home will do well for you, just like I hope it will do me. Maybe even learn some new lessons here.”

“You will be learning a new lesson, Sunset.” Spoke out Celestia. “But they won’t be from me.” Confusion itched over Sunset’s face before fear and finally sadness washed over. Her heart fell and she was about to speak out, but Celestia silenced her with her wing. “I said you won’t be learning it from me. But you are still my daughter and that is something that will remain forever.” Sunset then turned confused again, as her mother let her speak.

“What do you mean?”

Celestia gave her the same warm smile she would give to so many others, but this one was motherly and so warm. Bringing her close, she spoke calmly yet loud enough for the others to hear.

“I have tried to teach my ways and I failed.” Sunset was about to retort about ‘her failing her’ but Celestia silenced her again. “I have failed you because I didn’t teach you what you needed to learn and that is Friendship and the power it holds.” She gave her a small muzzle. “And I am not the one to teach that. That honor belongs to the Princess of Friendship.”

Sunset’s eyes went wide before turning to Twilight, who gave her as warm of a smile as Celestia as well as the other’s standing by her and almost welcoming her to them.

Sunset never felt so relieved and so heart filled in so long. For too long she felt that Celestia may never take her back, never allow her to finish her lessons and to never meet her full potential. If anything, just knowing that she still calls her daughter and allows her to continue her studies, it made everything all the better.

“You have so much to learn Sunset and all you seek is Forgiveness from others, which you already have. What now you seek is to forgive yourself and use that as an Element in your studies. Spells, magic and enchantments come and go but the memories you share with your friends are forever. I think that since you returned, you might need to learn some new lessons. And with it, gain some friends and create a new destiny for yourself.”

With that she gave Sunset a kiss on the forehead and brushed her off with her wings. Sunset smiled and quickly followed after Twilight and the others. The train horn blew, letting know of its departure soon.

Spike would follow last, him being the biggest one, had to hunch a bit to enter the train before reclining his tail in as the door closed. Once inside, the train gave a final whistle before the screeching sound of the wheels worked forward and pushed the train forward. Spike and the others waved back towards Celestia and Talonus as the train began to rider further and further away.

“Do you think it is wise to let your once ‘student’ take care of our daughter, to teach her where we have failed?” he asked.

Celestia gave a warm smiled. “Of course I do. After all, Twilight wouldn’t have ascended if she wasn’t ready.”

“And what of our son?”

“… Spike will have to learn what it is to be a dragon.” She paused. “Something he tried to learn before but did not succeed on his quest.”

The train disappeared around the corner, leaving the two. They both turned around and headed back to the castle.

“And you trust me to take care of that?” he asked. There was some seriousness in his voice but nothing that caused her concern.

“Shouldn’t I?” she replied, raising an eyebrow.

Talonus paused, trying to find the right words.

“You know that the only reason Sunset stayed the same is because she was born and raised by ponies before she left with us. She already knew what she was getting into when she became a part of my clan and my daughter.” He then looked straight ahead to the castle. “Spike however… was born with ponies but never experienced life as a dragon.” He looked down at her. “Something we both know is not the most… pleasant life.”

They reached the gardens where all was empty; Celestia had ordered a few maids to set up tea and biscuits for her, while bringing a treat (A whole raw dead pig) for him and have the guards leave them be.

Celestia dropped to sugar cubes into her, slowly stirring it while Talonus carved soft chunks of pig. Seeing this made her swallow her tea and sigh.

“Your right, it is not the most… pleasant life.” Referring back to his previous statement. “It is not something many pony or even other species will even understand what it means to be what you are, but that could be said for other species.”

“True,” he quipped. He tossed a chunk of pig into his maw. A few bites from his steel like teeth before he swallowed. “But our race is the most vicious, the most violent and some of the most dangerous species on this planet.” He looked at the rest of the pig before leaning his head back and dropping the rest of the pig carcass into his maw. The sickening crush of teeth against bones, made Celestia cringe a little. Years of practiced stopped her from throwing up every time the food was served. Decades to master discipline of not showing disgust and even centuries to not even show emotions to the food, especially when she slowly developed a taste for it.

“Our methods are odd, our meals are harsh, we take care of our young but grow up to be greedy regardless, other sentient and non-sentient beings hate us and our magic is unstable.” He then turned to Celestia who seemed crest fallen. With a gentle lift of his talon, he moved her head to gave into his eyes.

“With that said, I will raise him to be a dragon, but make sure he never forgets who he really belongs to. The ponies that raised him, for even if he were to live more millenniums without end he shall always carry with him, his true home and his true family. Family isn’t always family by blood, but by bond and gods forbid that I fail to teach him how to be a dragon and forget his family, I too should learn my on lesson.

“I want my son back Celestia. His mother wants him back, his sister wants him back but most of all you need him to go and become something he was destined for. Just like you had planned for Twilight’s and if possible Sunset’s ascension, I want my son to ascend from his place. I want him to be a better Dragon Lord than I and I know that the only way he would be able to do that is if he had learned what other species see before he ascended. He was raised by ponies, and learned with and around other species as well and with that he will use that with him as a future Dragon Lord. He will know the needs of the many besides his own kind and learn what the difference between right and wrong when it comes to our races meeting.

Spike has already earned his name here in the Pony lands; Crystal Empire savior, Assistant to the Princess of Friendship and he will one day gain his own last name outside of ‘Sparkle’ or ‘Sol’.” He moved his claw away and casted his eyes towards the horizon where the quiet town of Ponyville awaited their arrival.

“Spike’s destiny is going to be harsh. His fate is planned but uncertain, he will see many trials, encounter big lose and I know that he might even hate us for what we have in store for him but I believe that he will be the one that can cross the line between Pony and Dragon. For two species to co-exist with one another without fear or malice. Spike Dran’gul, my son… will rise…”

They both stared towards the distance where the barely visible smoke of the train was scene as it approached its destination.