The Frendship of a Dragon

Silence, Spike had never known how awkward or suffocating it could be. It wasn’t even the fact of the silence, but the fact that it was so present. Only Oceanflame’s hooves and Spikes clawed feet on stone filled the empty space. It was driving him mad, he expected at least some attempt of a conversation when he gave his name to her not this silence. Sure him and Twilight don’t always talk when the go somewhere, but that was comforting and familiar. This was neither of those things it felt forced like they were desperate not to speak at all.

“Agh! I can’t take it anymore!” he finally shouted pulling on his ears slightly.

He didn’t see how his outburst had startled Oceanflame only hearing the slight stumble of her hooves upon the stone floor. Looking up he slightly glared at her blaming her for the maddening silence. She was the one who had asked for his name so she should’ve started the next possible conversation not leave the air so thick and suffocating.

Deepening his glare Spike was about ready to snap when she looked back at him confused. How dense could you get? It was like she didn’t even feel how heavy the atmosphere was.

“Um...What can’t you take anymore?” she asked her eyes blinking confused.

“Seriously? How can you not feel the atmosphere it’s so thick it could even make Pinkie Pie frown!” he snapped back waving his arms dramatically.

“Who’s Pinkie Pie?”

“That’s not the point! The point is you not making conversation!”

Oceanflame blinked again a bit shocked by his outburst. Spike just continued to glare at her tapping his foot impatiently. Although he knew he made no effort to actually ever start a conversation either he found that wasn’t his responsibility. Oceanflame was the one who asked his name it was her job to continue after that no matter what anyone else said.

“I’m sorry. I figured since I yelled at you and stuff when we first met that you wouldn’t want to talk to me. So I just stayed quiet I didn’t know you actually wanted to talk to me.” She said looking away so her fire like mane hid her face.

Spike looked at her shocked; she was staying quiet because of him? That had never really occurred to him. Arguing really wasn’t exactly a good first impression to have let alone did it make people want to talk to you. What kind of conversation can actually be made from that anyways?

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it I didn’t exactly try to make conversation either.” He sighed.

Giving a small smile he nodded for her to continue leading the way. Oceanflame returned her own barely visible smile before turning back to the hallway and walking on.

“So why exactly are you here?” Spike asked deciding to actually try and talk with the strange mare.

“I don’t really want to talk about that. It’s not something I’m terribly proud of.” she said shaking her head a bit when Spike gave her a quizzical look. “Let’s just say it has to do with this necklace.”

Spike looked at her even more confused before noticing the golden band around her neck which held a small bloodstone in the center. How the heck had he not notice it before was beyond him, but it made him question even more about what really went on to make her live in this place.

“What about you? Why are you and this...T-Twilight? Why are you and her here?” she asked obviously trying to shift the subject away from herself.

Spike squinted at her slightly before deciding to follow along and drop it.

“We came to get some more books to bring back to our home in Ponyville. Twilight can get a little overzealous about them at times though. Heck she could get overzealous about almost anything.” he chuckled.

Oceanflame just hummed in response her eyes never leaving the ground. Spike looked at her a little worried that he had said something wrong. She, from what he had seen, was a bit unstable at times and could be hard to predict.

“Spike how can you actually spend time with her? You’re a dragon and she’s a pony, it’s unnatural.” she said quietly.

“What? Why does that matter? Besides Twilight is actually a bit more than a friend. She is a bit more like a sister than a friend. See Twilight was able to use magic to hatch my egg and as her first lesson was told by Princess Celestia to raise me.” he smiled. “I guess I never left her since.”

“Wait Celestia? As in the princess who rises the sun and stuff?” she asked pointing up to the ceiling with her hoof.

“Yeah. Twilight was her apprentice before becoming an alicorn herself.” he beamed.

“Wonderful. Another princess to torment me.” she mumbled huffing through her snout.

“Wait what? What do you mean torment you?”

“Nothing besides it looks like we are already at the library.” she said pointing ahead of them where the doors of the library were wide open Twilight barely visible from where they stood.

Spike smiled as he saw the familiar pony about to run off and greet her, before hesitating and looking to Oceanflame who was already walking back the way they came.

“Wait won’t you join us? I’m sure we could find a better home for you than this place.” he said running up to her and pleading slightly.

Oceanflame may have a bit of a temper, but no pony should live in a decaying building. Besides he was still very curious about the gem on her neck as well as her past. It wasn’t everyday you met a strange pony living in a crumbling castle.

“I don’t think that’s for the best. It was nice talking though.” she smiled at him before moving past him.

“Wait!” Spike called surprised when she actually stopped. “Can I at least come back sometime and visit or something?” he asked trying to come up with some reason to learn more about her.

“I don’t see why not. Just come to the castle anytime and tap the wall three times.” she smiled at him before continuing on her way.

Spike smiled happy he at least would have a chance to learn some more about the strange mare. Beaming Spike practically pranced his way back to Twilight.

“Wow those must have been some good gems you found.” Twilight chuckled seeing Spike’s new chipper attitude.

“Oh yeah! They were great.” Spike laughed nervously wanting to keep Oceanflame a secret.

He knew Twilight would get a bit too excited and probably force Oceanflame to answer questions or something. He didn’t want that, he was hoping to find out himself before anyone and maybe even make a friend of his own. Sure their was Twilight and the others, but it always felt like he was the third wheel, well seventh wheel technically.

Giving another smile to Twilight he went back to work already planning how to meet Oceanflame again.