It was shortly after the events of Starlight Glimmer’s reform that Spike, Twilight’s loyal dragon assistant, celebrated his birthday.
“So…,” he said as he greeted the Princess of Friendship. “I suppose I’ll get the place ready to have all our friends over?”
“Actually,” said Twilight as she filled a saddlebag. “It’s just going to be you and me today.”
The young, purple dragon was caught off guard by Twilight’s statement.
“We’re not organizing books again?” he asked meekly. “Are we?”
“Oh, no,” chuckled Twilight. “We did that yesterday.”
Spike thought on what the purple alicorn was getting at.
FWIP-OO
JINGLE
THUP
“Huh?” asked the green-bellied dragon as he felt his blue backpack land against his chest.
“Hurry!” encouraged Twilight. “I’ve got a big surprise for you that I can’t wait for you to see!”
Spike was confused at what Twilight was up to. However, he was a bit excited, too. How often was it that he and Twilight did something together? Well, something that didn’t involve work, books, or matters relating to the spreading of friendship throughout Equestria?
“Okay!” he exclaimed after loading his backpack with his important things.
“Great!” cheered Twilight as she clapped her front hooves together. “Now follow me to the top of the castle!”
Spike was feeling butterflies over what could possibly be awaiting at the Castle of Friendship’s upper-most chamber. Could it be a surprise party? Perhaps that first edition, alternate cover variant of ‘Power Ponies – Issue #1’?
“Here!” he huffed upon reaching the room. A quick scan showed it was as it always had been. Empty.
Twilight smiled as she turned towards the opened window and sat on her back haunches.
“Climb on!” she proclaimed. “We’re off to Canterlot!”
“Canterlot?” wondered Spike while climbing upon Twilight’s back.
“That’s right!” announced Twilight while spreading her wings. “And we’re off!”
Spike tried to get answers to what was going on as he and Twilight flew towards the Equestrian capital. However, the purple alicorn only chuckled while telling him, “You’ll see!”, or “It’s a surprise!”.
Upon reaching Canterlot, the Princess of Friendship used her teleportation magic so that their destination was truly a surprise to her ‘Number One Assistant’.
“Whoa!” yelped Spike upon suddenly finding himself on the ground before a familiar building. “I thought you were going to warn me when you did that?”
“But that would ruin the surprise!” Twilight said gleefully while using her magic to open the door before them.
“Oh…,” wondered Spike upon entering what he now realized was their home before moving to Ponyville. “What are we doing back here?”
Twilight used her magic to quickly lift a book away that had been set out.
“Remember your old room, Spike?” she asked.
“Yeah…,” he replied while putting a claw to his cheek.
Without looking towards the young dragon, Twilight stated, “I want you to go to your room, Spike.”
“Huh?” he wondered.
“You heard me,” she forcefully stated while still making no eye contact with the young dragon. “Go to your room.”
Spike sighed as he complied with Twilight’s orders.
“Some ‘surprise’,” he moaned while opening the door to his old room. It was dark since all the curtains were closed.
CLICK
“Whoa!” he cried upon turning on the light switch. Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, and Starlight Glimmer were all standing before him.
“SURPRISE!” they all cried. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SPIKE!”
Spike couldn’t believe his eyes as he stood wide-eyed with a gaping jaw at the three alicorns and reformed unicorn.
“Surprised?” asked Twilight as she entered. “I hope you’re surprised! I know I was surprised!”
“You…?” asked Spike. “What do you mean?”
“Spike,” said Princess Celestia. “First, and foremost, happy birthday.”
“Thanks!” he exclaimed.
“Today is indeed a special day,” the Princess of the Sun happily stated. “Right, Starlight?”
“Yes!” announced the periwinkle unicorn. “It’s not everyday you get to share with someone how truly special they are.”
“Special…?” asked Spike while looking about the room. “Do you mean… me?”
Princess Luna nodded and said, “I was just as surprised as every pony else when I found out,”
Twilight giggled cheerfully while she stood beside Spike.
“My mind was completely blown!” she boomed.
Spike looked to everyone before putting a claw over his chest and stating, “What? What is it?”
“This is where I take my leave,” stated Luna. “Happy birthday, Spike.”
Luna raised her front hooves before teleporting herself back to where she slumbered during the day in preparation for her nocturnal duties.
“I should take my leave as well,” stated Celestia while levitating a small box in front of herself and then guiding it to Spike. “Happy birthday, Spike.”
Celestia spread her wings triumphantly before vanishing in a flash of light.
Spike looked at the tiny box he had been presented.
“Don’t open it,” stated Cadence. “At least, not yet.”
Spike looked to Twilight for guidance.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Spike,” said Starlight. “It’s unbelievable what I was able to learn after that fateful time you and Twilight taught me the value of friendship.”
“It was the first time I met you,” replied Spike. “And all I remember is falling a lot.”
Twilight blushed.
“That was my fault,” she said. “I kept forgetting you can’t stand on clouds like I can.”
“No,” countered Starlight. “If I hadn’t put you both through my own misguided, anger-driven actions none of this would’ve happened.”
“Exactly!” announced Cadence. “And that is why you are now redeeming yourself through putting your talents to good and discovering what Twilight is about to share with Spike.”
Spike looked towards Twilight.
Twilight smiled and nodded.
“I think it’s time we took our leave as well, Starlight,” stated Cadence. “There is still much to do in the Crystal Empire and our train leaves soon.”
“Right,” agreed Starlight.
Cadence and Starlight gave Spike a hug before exiting. Once the pair had left the building, Twilight gestured for Spike to join her at his old bassinet.
“Ready?” she asked eagerly while levitating the book she picked up in front of herself.
Spike shrugged before sitting on his old bed.
“I guess so…,” he said.
Twilight wrapped her leg around her trusted assistant and put her hoof upon his shoulder.
“I’d like to begin by saying how sorry I am, Spike,” she sighed.
“Sorry?” he wondered. “For what?”
Twilight closed her eyes and looked towards the floor.
“For not ever fully realizing how special you are… to me,” she replied.
Spike noticed a tear form in Twilight’s eye. He moved his claw to wipe it away.
“Please don’t cry, Twilight,” he said.
“Oh, Spike,” she sniffled. “You’ve always been so kind, caring, and considerate.”
There was a brief pause while Spike tried to comfort the purple alicorn to whom he had known for his entire life.
“Okay,” said Twilight. “Moving on.”
The Princess of Friendship opened the book she had to a page before guiding it towards Spike.
The young dragon took hold of the book and stared at the pages before him. He was surprised to see an image of a large, hairy, winged creature handing an egg to who appeared to be Star Swirl the Bearded.
“Remember how I told you I didn’t know who found you, or where they found you?” asked Twilight. “Well, Starlight found the answer.”
“Starlight…?” asked Spike as he gazed deeper at the image in the book. “How…?”
“Well,” said Twilight. “The answer was lost with The Crystal Empire when King Sombra was defeated by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”
“…,” Spike continued to look with intrigue at the strange creature holding the egg.
“The one holding the egg is Scorpan,” stated Twilight. “He and Tirek came to Equestria a long, long time ago.”
“Tirek?” questioned Spike. “Isn’t he the one that destroyed our home at The Golden Oaks Library?”
“Yes, Spike,” she replied. “However, unlike Tirek, Scorpan wanted to be friends with the ponies of Equestria. He even aided in banishing Tirek to Tartarus along with Star Swirl the Bearded. However, fearing for the safety of our world, Scorpan offered Star Swirl an egg along with a prophecy.”
“So…,” wondered Spike as he tapped a claw upon the image of the egg. “That egg… is me?”
“Yes,” replied Twilight. “Scorpan knew Equestria needed far more than The Elements of Harmony to defend itself against those who would threaten it. He also knew he and Star Swirl could not live forever as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would eventually achieve. So, to ensure the safety of all Equestria he offered a dragon egg he had discovered in his wordly travels.”
The young dragon scanned the text of the pages hoping to read where his egg was found, but was only able to find a blurb on how ‘…It was not of Equestrian origin…”
“Long to the short,” continued Twilight. “The prophecy was ‘When one to whom’s my color magically hatches me as my mother shall forever be bound to my eternal power.’.”
“Eternal… ‘power’?” thought Spike.
“Yes,” said Twilight. “And that is why King Sombra stole you from The Castle of the Two Sisters and hid you, along with the prophecy, deep within the walls of his castle.”
“Well…,” thought Spike. “I don’t remember anything about King Sombra except for that terrifying experience with his shadow where we had to find The Crystal Heart so Cadence could vanquish him.”
“That is because Princess Luna recovered your egg before Sombra could use his dark magic to hatch you,” stated Twilight. “Unfortunately, she only got the egg and not the prophecy.”
***
Twilight went on to share how Celestia and Luna both tried to hatch his egg, but were unsuccessful. However, they did remember Star Swirl giving it to them with the hopes that ‘A purple pony would come along to hatch and raise the dragon in the name of all that is good in Equestria.’.
“And,” grinned Spike. “That pony was you, Twilight.”
“Princess Celestia never told me how she used the ‘Egg Test’ on every purple unicorn who sought admittance into the School for Gifted Unicorns,” she added. “Most could get your egg to glow, which was considered a ‘Pass’, but none could hatch you until…, well…, I did.”
“And I’m grateful for you hatching me!” hugged Spike. “Wow…, I never knew I was over a thousand years old!”
Twilight closed her eyes and sighed.
“What’s wrong, Twilight?” asked Spike. “I’ve never known you to be sad when you learn something new.”
“What…,” she softly replied. “What makes me sad is how selfish I’ve been.”
“Selfish…?” wondered Spike. “What do you mean, Twilight? I mean, you are the Princess of Friendship! The ‘Tree of Harmony’ chose you as did Princess Celestia herself!”
“That’s just it!” Twilight boomed in self-frustration while pulling the young dragon closer to her. “I’ve been so caught up in me that I’ve totally neglected you!”
“Neglected?” gasped Spike as he felt himself being firmly pressed against Twilight’s barrel. “What do you mean?”
“The prophecy!” cried Twilight. “It said ‘mother’ and I’ve completely failed in being one!”
The purple dragon didn’t know what to say. So he just allowed Twilight to release her feelings while gently wiping her tears away.
“Spike…,” she said upon getting all her emotions out. “I’ve only ever known research. If I couldn’t learn it through research, I presumed it couldn’t be done. Worse, I thought I could never do it since I couldn’t find something written to instruct me on how to do it to fall back on.”
“Well…,” stumbled Spike. “It’s better to be prepared than not… right?”
“When I received word from Princess Celestia on what Princess Cadance and Starlight Glimmer had discovered, I felt my heart sink,” she replied. “It made me realize how much of what made me the Princess of Friendship was you. You and your kindness, generosity, loyalty, laughter, and honesty.”
“Huh?” wondered Spike upon hearing Twilight list all the Elements of Harmony in regard to himself.
“Don’t you see, Spike?” asked Twilight. “Just as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna once wielded the Elements of Harmony, it was the intent of the prophecy that you and I were to do the same!”
“But what about Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and your other friends?” asked Spike. “Didn’t Princess Celestia send you to Ponyville to meet them to recover the Elements of Harmony and defeat Nightmare Moon?”
“She did,” answered Twilight. “However, it is only because I didn’t see the ‘forest for the trees’.”
“The forest for the…, what?” asked Spike.
Twilight stood up and looked about the room.
“Spike,” she said. “Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Twinkle Shine, Lyra Heartstrings, and Moon Dancer, could’ve just as easily become the ‘Elements of Harmony’ alongside me. However, I was so caught up in studies and being serious and, well, being downright selfish to realize how all the answers I truly needed were before me through the bond I was to build with you!”
Seeing Twilight all worked up definitely wasn’t making it a very happy birthday for Spike.
“Hey,” he said. “Why don’t we just let bygones be bygones and go to the Donut Shop? Perhaps we can get some of your old friends to-”
“-No, Spike,” interjected Twilight. “It’s time I did what I should’ve done years ago. Something that I never thought I could do as I was too afraid of failing at doing it.”
“What’s that?” asked Spike as he fidgeted his fingers.
“Be a mother to you,” she replied.
The young dragon was caught off-guard by the statement. Deep down, he had truly longed to be just like the other children he saw playing, going to school, hearing bedtime stories, etc. However, he never complained since Twilight raised him to be helpful and helpful was what he was proud of being. Well, sort of.
“Spike,” said Twilight. “Open the box Princess Celestia gave to you.”
Spike opened the box to discover an old ring that was engraved with ruinic symbols he did not understand.
“That’s Scorpan’s ring,” she said. “Princess Celestia found it in a hidden chamber within the Palace of the Two Sisters once we received the word from Cadence and Starlight.”
Spike looked at the ring and its markings. He then looked at Twilight for guidance on what to do next.
“Put it on, Spike,” she said. “It was meant for you. Scorpan’s gift to the dragon born from the magic of the one he had prophesized would hatch you.”
Spike nervously slid the ring on and was surprised on how it was a perfect fit. He then flinched, because he expected something to happen, but nothing did.
“The ring’s magic is to protect you from avarice,” stated Twilight.
“Ava-what?” asked Spike.
“Greed,” grinned Twilight. “So long as you wear that ring you will not succumb to what happened on that birthday where… Well… We don’t need to go there.”
The young dragon smiled brightly. He had been very wary of getting gifts for fear of becoming the monster that he did during his first birthday in Ponyville. Ever since all he ever got for gifts were books, or a gem. It hurt not getting lots of presents like his pony pals, but he knew it was for the best. Being free of this restriction made him feel most hopeful that he’d finally be able to get some great toys, more gems, and other goodies he had long wanted, but feared having.
“Now, Spike,” said Twilight. “I wish to give you my first gift for your birthday.
“What’s that?” he asked while playing with his new ring.
HUG
SMOOCH
“I love you, son,” she said after wrapping her hooves around Spike and kissing him on the cheek. “And will for all eternity.”
“I love you too…, mommy,” he softly replied while snuggling into Twilight’s chest and rubbing his cheek against her muzzle.
“Now,” she said. “We have a lot of mother and son time to catch up on.”
Spike smiled.
“What are we going to do?” he asked with his bright, green eyes focused right on the purple alicorn.
“We’re going to the comic book shop,” she stated. “There’s a comic I know you’ve always wanted and we’re going to go and get it for you.”
“Really?” gasped Spike. “You mean-”
“-Power Ponies volume one with the limited print alternate cover!” cheered Twilight.
“Wow…,” awed Spike.
The two left to spend the rest of the day as mother and son instead of as Princess and Assistant. Twilight delighting in allowing Spike to explore about Canterlot as if he hadn’t a care in the world. And, honestly, he didn’t need to have one. He was still young and well-deserving of the precious years he had left before he did truly grow into those responsibilities she had unintentially thrust him into.
“I promise,” said Twilight while watching young Spike playing with some other fillies and colts. “I won’t take you for granted ever again.”
