Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon

I write this letter to you on behalf of my charge, Weiss the Dragon albeit begrudgingly. I trust that if she has decided to contact you both under better circumstances, then I shall try to behave myself.

I have decided and sincerely hope that in the last couple days, Princess Twilight Sparkle and Spike have had a chance to discuss the events that transpired upon our visitation two or three days ago. I wish to offer the both of you a chance to explain Spike’s questionable actions at your earliest convenience in order to try and expunge my caretaker’s view on your baby dragon in the name of friendship. Therefore, Princess Luna would like to offer an open invitation to come to Canterlot Castle for a visit on neutral ground.

We eagerly await your response.

By Celestia and Luna’s names,

Weiss the Dragon and Captain

“You really want this to be your invitation?” I looked up from the page I’d been writing on with Weiss sat on my desk next to me and Luna looking over my shoulder.

“Yes, I truly believe there had to be some kind of unknown factor that had Spike behaving like he did.” Weiss crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. “By Princess Luna’s account, he shouldn’t be anywhere near the age for such desires yet.”

“That, and Twilight Sparkle had repeatedly written to my sister and I about a crush that Spike has on one of their friends. I wish to find out the circumstances concerning what’s become of that.” Luna added, stepping back to sit back on her rump.

“So basically you’re telling me that Spike’s actions that nearly lead to his death were uncharacteristic for him?” I sat back in my newly finished deck chair with my arms crossed behind my head; the varnish having dried three days back and was polished up to the finished product yesterday.

“Yep. I do have a general theory about what was happening though, though I'm not to fond of it if it’s what will happen again as I mature.” Weiss looked down at her claws with concern.

“Care to share with the class?” I raised an eyebrow interestedly at Weiss.

“Let’s let Princess Twilight bring it up. If my idea is in fact the cause of things, I want her to explain it.” Weiss stood up with assistance from her tail before jumping down from the desk to the floor. “So what’re we doing today? More work?”

“Probably,” I rolled the scroll up and fitted a relatively sturdy enough piece of curled wood scrap around the roll to hold it closed before holding it out to Weiss to deliver. “Unless, of course, Princess Twilight insists on visiting us today.” I added as I spun myself off my chair and approached the new can of lacquer on the work cabinet next to whatever was left of the gemstone dust.

“How long do you suppose that will take?” Weiss inquired as she hopped up into my arms to lend me a claw to pry open the can before squirreling around onto my back.

“I have no idea. Depends on whether or not they’ve already talked about it and if they have to take a train or will fly…” I shrugged back as I began to pour the nearly clear syrup into the bowls with Luna steadily mixing everything together with a piece of scrap wood that acted as a stirring stick.

“A question,” Luna began as she slowly stirred the mixture in her magic.

“An answer.” I replied quickly, still pouring with the intent of keeping the rest for the clear coats of the projects themselves.

“Why not just acquire a paint or stain that’s already pre-mixed? Surely there are existing materials that would offer a similar, if not better finish?” Luna looked up at me as the magic kept the finish moving in slow circles.

“Probably, but the more I can say is my own creation the better. This way I can say that all my products are made with at least 95% self-processed materials. The rest is the lumber and clear coat lacquer.” I explained with a smirk, setting the pot down to set the lid back in place and hammer it down with a mallet for the time being.

Taking the bowl with Luna’s stirring stick in hand, I began to mix everything together much more thoroughly as I turned to the trophy cabinet behind me.

“So it’s a matter of pride?”

“Correct. It may not mean much to the customer but I take pride in my work. The more involved I am in it’s creation, the better I'll feel about passing it along to a paying client.” I explained as I pulled a tiny half inch paint brush from my nearby tool belt and began applying the first coat of sparkling blue finish to the lightning bolt.

“I suppose I can get behind that, personally.” Luna shrugged casually as she took a place on my bed, settling in comfortably.

“What’s left to do on the fabric cabinet? Have you shaped it properly to a point where I can put the finish on it and call it done?” I asked, keeping my eyes focussed on the task before me but directed the question at Weiss.

“Not likely. It’s only been, what, a day since I started on the thing? I’m going to need more time than just a couple of hours of work to get something three times as large as me done.” Weiss reported as she approached her project and began running the hand planer over the remainder of the rough surface again.

The baby dragon was interrupted by a sudden belch, a scroll materializing in the air ahead of her before landing on the cabinet surface before her. Giving it a toss in my direction without a care in the world, I set my own tools down to read the message.

Dear Princess Luna, was all I read before rolling it back up to toss over my shoulder at the Princess. Judging from the lack of sound that would indicate the scroll hitting the floor or anything else, I figured that Luna had caught it and was reading it’s contents.

“They’ve accepted your invitation and shall be flying over within the hour.” Luna announced just as I'd picked up the bowl of lacquer and paint brush once more. “They’ve requested that I set us up somewhere in the castle for the visit as you’d suggested.”

“Well that’s great…” I replied though my voice indicated that the news was anything but. “Was kind of hoping it’d take them longer…”

“Then shall we abscond to the lounge?” Luna suggested, standing up before stepping down from my bed.

“Fine, fine. Let me just find something to lid this with…” I sighed as I scanned the room for something to cap the bowl with. All of a sudden a magical field wrapped itself around the bowl in my hand and the bowls on the counter behind me for a few moments while a thin plastic layer gradually appeared over it. “That’ll work.”

“Then let us be off!” Weiss declared in her best Princess voice, a tiny claw thrust into the air declaringly.

~~~

“Princess Twilight, a pleasure to see you again.” Luna warmly welcomed the newcomer and her charge who was hiding behind her back rather defensively from me.

“Princess Luna, a pleasure to see you not as Nightmare Moon again.” Twilight gave a bow in response to Luna’s, though I remained seated in a deep cushioned recliner with Weiss resting on her back in my lap.

“Indeed, I'd heard about what had happened from my sister and from our friend here…” Luna replied, inviting the younger looking princess and dragon into the room.

The three creatures joined me in the center of the lounge and took seats opposite myself, with Luna on my right to act as judiciary.

“We were glad to hear that you’d decided to let Spike explain himself for his atrocious behavior before.” Twilight began in a soft voice, Spike remaining hidden behind her back.

“Yes, well it’s all Weiss’s idea. I’m just being the supporting parent.” I replied sternly, resting my head on the back of the seat.

“Regardless, we appreciate the chance to rectify the situation.” Twilight shifted around in her seat anxiously, trying to get comfortable. “Spike, you have something you’d like to say?” she began, magically lifting the purple dragonling out from behind her to set him down on the floor before us.

“Ahem. I wish to formally apologize for my behavior the first time we met.” Spike began. I could tell from the closed eyes and the way he spoke that he had rehearsed this. “I regret to inform you both that such behavior is to be expected in male dragons, albeit in later stages of life.” I held a hand up to break in.

“Explain that.” I demanded, making Spike ease backwards a bit.

“It turns out that when a male dragon comes of age, he starts trying to gather up a harem of females. Such is a display of power over the other males; the more females in his harem, the closer to alpha dragon he is.” Twilight explained matter-of-factually. I raised an eyebrow however a glance down at Weiss suggested that she’d already figured this out.

“Continue.” I ordered with a wave of my hand before resting my chin in my palm.

“Given my age, it was inappropriate of me to try and begin the collection of females like I had. I make no excuses for my behavior.” Spike opened his eyes to look up at Weiss and I as apologetically as he could. “Will you both forgive me?”

“That is for Weiss to decide.” I replied, looking down at the baby dragon hiding behind her head spines.

“I had hoped that your explanation wasn’t the truth.” Weiss clicked her claws together as her voice remained soft. “It means that later on it’ll likely happen again…”

“But there’s no indication that he’ll try the same thing on you.” Luna offered for consolidation, finally speaking up.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Since I'm the only female dragon in Equestria that we know of, it’s more than likely that he’ll try something again when he does come of age.” Weiss retorted, looking up at Luna past her bangs.

“But,” Spike held a claw up, trying to be helpful. “That’s not likely to happen for another fifteen, twenty lunar cycles! By then I'm sure you’ll be at the same age to be looking for a partner, right?”

“Please don’t presume that female dragon’s work the same way as male’s emotionally.” Luna requested, making Spike’s nervous smile turn into a look of fear. “At least don’t assume that Weiss works that way.”

“Sorry!” Spike wailed as he scurried back to Twilight to hide under one of her wings.

“Still, the question remains. Will you forgive him his transgressions?” Luna looked back at Weiss and me curiously.

“I… I- I- I will…” Weiss stammered out unconvinced.

“And will you agree to live with Weiss’s decision and cease all hostilities towards Spike the Dragon?” Luna looked up at me expectantly.

“I’ll agree to support Weiss’s decision to forgive the little bast-” I paused to catch myself upon Luna’s killing glare. “The accused, however as a father figure to Weiss I will not agree to cease all hostilities towards the offender. I’ll try to cease most of them, as a show of good faith.” I announced, my chin still resting in my hand.

“I suppose that’ll be as good as we’ll get from him.” Twilight sighed in content. “I do have one request though.”

“What’s that?” Weiss asked, brushing her head spines away from her face properly.

“It’s for the human, actually.” Twilight looked directly at me. This had the effect of raising an eyebrow on everyone in the room.

“What Weiss said.” I lifted my head from my hand and sat back against the back of the chair once again.

“I’ve received a letter from a friend of mine who isn’t local.” Luna’s head went up as she immediately understood the reference. “I would request that you go meet with her and her friends and help them through whatever problems they’re having.” Twilight requested of me as Weiss looked up at me from my lap.

“Man, could you be any more vague?” I demanded with a sigh, making Twilight roll her eyes in reply.

“Look, I can’t give you many more details about it unless you agree to help me.” Twilight replied with no humor what so ever.

“Fine, fine. Where am I going and how am I getting there?” I replied, holding my hands up in defeat. “How long am I going to be gone?”

“We’ll be going back to Ponyville, then from there you’ll have to go on alone or Weiss can go with you if she wants. As I have it figured, you’ll probably be gone a couple hours only.” Twilight explained, standing up to shake her coat out. Weiss and I stood up from my seat and stretched, as did Spike and Luna.

“And what can I expect from your friend?” I requested as all five of us exited the large room.

“Well, they’re all human.” Twilight announced, stopping me in my tracks.

“You have other human friends? I thought I was the only human in Equestria.” I was rather confused at the moment and after a nudge from Luna’s wing, resumed the walk.

“You are, as far as I’m concerned anyways.” Luna assured me as Weiss strolled alongside me with her claw in my hand.

“OK now I'm even more confused.” I admitted, scratching my head. “Oh!” suddenly an idea clicked into my mind. “Is this about that mirror thing and a Sunset Shimmer you were talking about some days back during our initial visit?”

“So you do remember.” Twilight looked back over her shoulder at me. “Yes. My friend is Sunset Shimmer and she’ll be meeting you in her world.”

“Ahh, OK. I think I’m caught up now.” I lounged backwards with my hands behind my head as we walked.

~~~

“So what should I expect?” I asked as I found myself at nose level to Twilight while ensuring my combat boots were properly tied up.

“Well, aside from the cold weather that Sunset tells me they’re having, I haven’t the foggiest idea.” Twilight replied from her seated position next to the fancy looking mirror.

“And go over with me again why you’re not going?” I remained in a single kneel though I shifted my weight backwards onto my second leg.

“I’m just too busy here in Equestria right now.” Twilight shrugged in all casualness.

“And I'm not? You realize I've got three or more projects that I have to get finished and sold? At this rate of disruptions I'm never going to get out of the Dungeons.” I groaned as I stood and adjusted the winter camouflage coat with my old rank patch sewn onto it. Luna had provided it upon my request, along with winter combat gloves and a toque. I’d also taken the liberty of hiding my revolver under the coat in a shoulder mounted holster also provided by Luna.

“True, but I've got royal duties to attend to; you don’t.” Twilight quipped sarcastically.

“Doesn’t mean my work is any less important.” I mumbled, stepping up to the mirror. “Come on Weiss, let’s get this over with.”

“Oh by the way, no one knows you’re coming!” Twilight shouted as she hoisted me into the air and threw me head first into the portal.

Author's Note

I'll be honest, I'm just going to see what comes of this upcoming visit to the Humanestrian world...

gëzuar!