Author's Note
As Spike is my favourite character in the show, I felt I needed to write this one-shot that I thought up.
We Meet Again
It was an average day in Ponyville. The clouds were up high in the blue sky, the air was fresh, and the streets were busy.
Two fillies and a colt ran down a road in a rush.
The yellow pegasus colt with a rainbow mane started to fly above the two fillies. "Race ya!" He said before smirking and flying off.
The other pegasus in the group, this filly being orange with a red mane, rolled her eyes and then flew up to chase the colt.
The third one, a bright red earth filly grew a determined face before using her earth pony strength to run fast to the finish.
Back with the colt, he looked behind himself to see his filly friend flying fast, trying to catch up to him. He chuckled before increasing his pace and looking down at the "poor" earth pony filly trying to dodge pedestrians while proceeding to the target. He smirked once again and looked at his target, the famous building known as the Friendship Castle. He knew his victory of the race was assured as his two friends were far behind him.
The colt came to a steady stop and landed at the front of the castle. He saw his two companions running and flying in while panting.
The earth filly breathed heavily. "You... had... a head... start!"
The rainbow maned pegasus shrugged. "A win is still a win. Not my fault you two couldn't catch up."
The earth filly moaned.
A new voice spoke. "You weren't the first here."
The three foals turned their heads to the front door which was now open. A pure white unicorn filly with a golden mane smiled at them brightly.
"Purity?!" The colt and earth filly said in unison.
The filly giggled. "I win!"
The colt was stunned. "Wha- How- You weren't even playing!" He shouted at her.
Purity giggled even more. "Swift, I heard you say 'race ya' while I was eating a sandwich nearby, so I decided to join." She explained. "I didn't get a head start, though." She beamed.
"B-but how did you beat me then?" Swift asked.
Purity rolled her eyes. "I used magic to teleport, duh!"
Swift crossed his arms and muttered. "Spike should never have taught you that."
Purity heard this and replied, "Spike said that the Princess from over a hundred years ago mastered teleportation. He said that teleporting is really useful."
Swift rolled his eyes. "Useful to win races I bet. But whatever! You know what they say, 'First is the worst, second is the best!'"
"Hey!" Purity frowned.
"That's not very sportsman-like, Swift." The earth pony said in a country voice.
"Says the one who cheated in the 7-up game in class yesterday, Sweet Apple." He said back with a smirk.
"But Rapid Rush was peekin' under her hooves!" Sweet Apple defended.
Rapid Rush frowned but didn't say anything.
"If you cheat to beat a cheater than you're not any better than they are." Swift shot back.
"Oh yeah? Well if you-"
"That's enough kids." A deeper voice told.
The four looked behind Purity to see the owner of the castle, Spike the Dragon.
Spike was taller than he was when he was a baby dragon. He was a little taller than the tallest stallions in Ponyville and Princess Luna, but still smaller than Princess Celestia. His scales were a bit sharper than they were before, and two big fangs stuck out from his upper lips.
Spike neither smiled nor frowned. "I thought I told you to just bring them in Purity. You didn't have to go and gloat like that."
The filly drooped down. "Sorry."
"And you two, you don't have to argue over silly things like that. I thought I taught you all better."
They too frowned and apologized.
"Anyways, come on in." He signaled them to come through the door and closed it when they did.
"What are we doing for Spike-Time today Spike?" Purity asked.
"Today I am going to teach you a very special subject."
The four fillies listened closely.
"I am going to teach you about the dragons and how they live."
"Awww, but that's boring! Can you teach us something else?" Swift whined.
"It may sound boring. But it'll be interesting that's for sure." Spike said with a smile.
Swift rolled his eyes. "Such an egg-head..." He muttered.
Spike chuckled. "He really is like his great-great grandmother." He showed them to the living room where they all sat. He pulled out a book which had the title,
Secrets Of Dragons
By, Twilight Sparkle
Spike smiled warmly at the author. "Actually... let me tell you a different story. The story of when this book started to be written."
Spike told the story to the little ones about the dragon lord and his daughter. The quest to find the Blood Stone Scepter to become the new Dragon Lord.
All the foals, even Swift after listening for a couple minutes, paid close attention because they were all so into the story. Swift even asked some "What happened next?" and got really excited when they all heard how Spike obtained the scepter.
"So does that mean you are the Dragon Lord? That's so cool!" Swift said while flying up in Spike's face.
"I was the Dragon Lord. But only for a minute or so."
Swift stopped smiling and looked at Spike with wide eyes. "What?! What happened?!"
Spike laughed. "I gave the scepter to a proper leader. The Dragon Lord currently today, Princess Ember."
"Woow..."
Spike saw the three other fillies looking up at him with amazed eyes. He then looked at the book's title once more. A single happy tear trailing down his cheek when he read the authors name.
"Spike? Why are you crying?" Purity asked with a cute concerned look.
"It's nothing... just remembering the past. Well anyways, it's getting late and I don't want your parents getting worried."
"Okay, Spike." Three said in unison.
The one that didn't speak for the whole time being there, Rapid Rush, smiled up at Spike and nodded.
"Say hi to your grandmothers for me," Spike told as he watched them exit the room.
A couple hours later Spike could be seen sitting at the dinner table with the same book in claw. He started to retell the story in his mind, which made him remember one dragon, Princess Ember. They really started to become friends back then, just never talked that much after that. Ember got busy being the Dragon Lord, and Spike was busy helping Twilight and the other Princesses.
Spike sighed as he started to think. Would it trouble anyone if he visited her after all these years? It's been so long since Spike had someone to talk to. Princess Celestia and Luna were too busy and there was no one else other than the four foals that came today that he truly had.
Spike came to a decision to do one thing before anything. He got up from his seat and made his way towards the library of the castle. He went over to the desk which held the quills and parchments and began to write.
He soon finished writing and rolled the paper up into a scroll, using his magic fire breath to send it off to the Princess herself.
In the letter, Spike asked Celestia if it were alright if he could leave Equestria for a while and visit the dragon lands. A pretty simple letter if you asked Spike.
It wasn't long before he felt something deep in his stomach rising up. He willingly opened his mouth and exhaled, bringing the letter in front of him. He unrolled the scroll and was satisfied when he read that Celestia said it was a great idea for him.
Putting the scroll away, Spike went up to his room and laid down on his bed. He would head for his destination in the morning.
It was a simple morning. Spike ate breakfast and did the dishes right after. He packed some gems for his trip and put a note on the front door saying he would be out for a while before leaving.
It didn't feel long traveling there. Spike swore he looked back a minute before and was able to see Ponyville. Now when he looked straight he saw black rocks with lava all around. Even with some water nearby.
He took notice of the dragons. Unlike the last time he came, there were much bigger dragons with infants nearby. Spike smiled while remembering his childhood and how small he was back then.
He stopped looking at the surroundings when he noticed something different. The last time he came, the huge Dragon Lord sat towering above all the other dragons. Now, there was a rock building with a couple of dragons around it in his place.
Curious, Spike walked towards the building, only to be stopped by a familiar red dragon.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
Spike turned and stared at Garble. "He... didn't change much..." He thought.
"Outsiders are not allowed near our lands unless checked out. We don't want any rival dragons trying to invade the castle and its land."
"That's a castle?" Spike had to hold in a chuckle.
"You dare make fun of the Dragon Lord's home?!"
"Wow... you really didn't change. Loyal, but still aggressive."
"Why you- what...? What do you mean?"
"Don't you recognize me Garble?" Spike asked.
"Hmm..." Garble put a claw to his chin and examined Spike. "Purple scales... green spikes. Wait... spikes... Spike! You're Spike?!"
"Long time no see Garble!" Spike said with a smile.
"B-but... you caught up to my size!"
"Oh, that? Some dragons have a significant growth spurt in their lives. I had mine as you can see." Spike mentally thanked Twilight for studying the dragons and writing a book about them.
"I-I..." Spike raised an eyebrow as Garble knelt down to his knees.
"What are you doing?" Spike asked flatly.
"You're the Dragon Lord," Garble replied.
"No, I'm not, Princess Ember is. She brought the-"
"Yes, but you were the one that first obtained it. If it wasn't for you, she would have never had become Dragon Lord."
"If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have gotten the Blood Scepter to give it to her in the first place. She earned it."
"But still..." Garble got up. "I still... respect that."
"Thanks, Garble! But anyways, do you know where I can find Princess Ember?"
Garble pointed to the 'castle' that was mentioned before.
"Oh, right. Thanks!" Spike made his way to the Princess's home. He walked up to the front door and knocked.
At first, he heard nothing. He fidgeted in place and was thinking the thought of leaving. But then he heard footsteps coming up and waited patiently.
The door made a creaking sound as it opened, revealing Princess Ember.
"Hello..." She started. "Can I help you?"
"Hi, Princess Ember! Remember me?"
Ember looked at him up and down. She gasped and grew wide-eyed when she finally realized... "Spike is that... is that you?"
Spike beamed. "We meet again."
Ember just stood quietly as she kept staring at him with shock and joy in her eyes.
After minutes of standing, Spike finally put out, "Can I come in?"
"Oh! Yes, come in!" She fully opened the door and stepped aside, letting the dragon in.
She brought him into a room that looked like a stash of her treasure, a kitchen in dragon culture. She picked up a good amount of gems and sat down in the middle of the room, signaling Spike to sit in front of her. When he did, she offered a ruby and Spike kindly accepted with a thanks.
"Wow, you've grown..."
Spike chuckled at that. "Garble said the same thing. So how have things been around here since I last came?"
"Things have been going great." She started. "Dad started to rest peacefully in the mountain nearby after teaching me all he knew about being Dragon Lord. After that, I just went with my gut and my opinions of what was right and wrong. Other than that it's been the same. Dragons have their hoards, protects their children, go into long sleeps. The only thing that really changed is that dragons are less aggressive to other creatures. Ponies being one of them."
"Oh. Well, that's good." Spike said, taking a bite out of the ruby.
"So? How about you? How are your two pony friends doing?"
Spike choked on some of the ruby.
This quickly shocked Ember. She went behind Spike and squeezed his stomach, making the piece of gem erupt from his mouth.
After breathing some air, Spike looked at Ember with a sad smile. "Ponies don't have the same lifespan as us dragons do Ember. Other than Princess Celestia and Luna of course. My friends... have long deceased."
Ember gasped when she noticed what she said. "I'm so sorry, Spike! I didn't-"
Spike put up a claw, making her stop. "I know. But it's alright. They are all in a better place now."
Ember nodded, albeit with a sad face.
At that moment, Spike found out the potential that this friend had over others. She'll live as long as he would.
Now for Spike to tell his story. "So, where do I start..."
