The Hatchling Leaves The Nest.... Sort of.
Twilight had been stacking the books in her castle with Spike and their friends. Celestia had sent her more books to read over, but, even her friends knew she liked to be organized. Twilight asked that Starlight not use her quick spells to finish the job quickly, for she wanted a slow pace, because it allowed her to think.
But not just her. Sometimes, Spike would think about things while keeping himself occupied. Today though, he felt sort of lonely. Not like he felt that no one was caring about him or wanted to spend time with him, but he was feeling a bit of an emptiness, as he slowly stacked books and sighed.
Twilight took notice to this and asked, "Spike? You okay?"
This had caught the attention of their friends, who had been wrapped up in their own conversations amongst each other. "I don't know Twilight. I kinda.... I kinda feel funny," Spike admitted.
"How so?" Twilight pondered as she stopped stacking books to listen to her number one assistant.
"Well, you remember when we went to the dragon lands. I mean, I know it was a might dangerous, but, ever since we left, there's a thought that's been gnawing at the back of my mind," Spike stated.
"What thought would that be, pray tell Spike?" Rarity insisted.
"Well, I don't know who my parents are. I mean Torch was the only elder dragon there. The others.... I think they were all around Garble's age, aside from Ember, er, Dragon Lord Ember," Spike pointed out.
"Yeah, I still wonder why you guys didn't bring me along. I could have taught those dragons a thing or two," Rainbow Dash groaned.
"Rainbow, I'm not sure you would have lasted a minute before zooming back towards Ponyville. Even I was terrified to be there," Twilight admitted.
"Ha. I'm not that cowardly. Though I'll admit, those Dagger Wings Are Nasty Dragons," Rainbow stated.
"Rainbow, we're getting off topic. Spike what was your point in the matter?" Twilight inquired.
"Oh, um, well, I mean, I know what my past has been like, from as far back as I can remember, but my heritage.... it's blank. I mean, you hatched me Twilight, and all I've known is pony life, which is great. But I have no idea who my dragon mother was, or my dragon father. I don't even know if I might have brothers or sisters. Though, I wouldn't want to find out Garble's my brother," Spike shuddered at the thought.
Twilight scratched her chin, then, a thought struck her. "Perhaps we can ask Princess Celestia for help. She might know where you were found as an egg and we can search for more answers from there," Twilight said.
"Wait, are you gonna go on an adventure? Because, if you're going, I'm going," Rainbow Dash said.
Twilight smiled, and looked at the rest of their friends. "Well, I do want to keep up on my magic and friendship studies, but I think perhaps getting dragons into the spirit of friendship might be beneficial for our kingdom. Count me in," Starlight agreed.
"Well, I simply cannot have you go alone without some of my camomod fashion. I simply must see this adventure through," Rarity dictated.
"Ooooooh. I want to see all the different dragons and teach them all sorts of things about parties," Pinkie Pie stated.
"Well, um, I, uh, I think I'll stay here. Dragons are r-r-really scary," Fluttershy stuttered.
"It's okay Fluttershy, you don't have to come. We know you're not fond of Dragons," Twilight assured her.
"Well, being a family mare myself, I certainly can't stand not letting Spike find out more about his family. Land Sakes I'll come too," Applejack offered.
"So, just like that. We're on another adventure?" Spike gestured.
"We didn't suggest this to sit back and do nothing Spike," Twilight assured him.
Spike smiled and hugged his pony sister affectionately, and Twilight returned the gesture. Soon Twilight sent a note to Celestia, ironically enough, via dragon breath, stating that they wished to seek an audience with her. Immediately a letter was sent back, stating that she would be there in a few moments, and, not fifteen seconds after Spike belched the letter, the Princesses of Day, and Night Appeared before them.
Twilight led them to the dining hall, and had tea set up for them. As they began their tea and crumpets, Celestia inquired, "What was it you wish to ask me about Twilight?"
"Well, it's actually Spike who needs a few questions answered," Twilight stated.
"Oh? Spike? What seems to be troubling you?" Celestia pondered.
"Well, princess, it's about... my heritage. I know that Twilight hatched me and all, but... I have no idea where I came from. Who my mother and father were. I'm wondering, where was I found, when I was still just an egg, your majesty?" Spike politely asked.
Celestia couldn't say she was shocked. She knew this question would surface sooner or later. "Well Spike, that is a very good question. The egg had been brought to my castle, after a team of my best archaeologists, including Daring Do herself, were exploring an abandoned dragon cave. At least, they thought it was abandoned. That's where they found you as an egg," Celestia said.
"Wow, wow, wow, wait, you knew Daring Do Princess?" Rainbow Dash inquired in a state of shock.
"Indeed, but, like always, my castle staff and I kept her name and other secrets about her under raps from the public eye," Celestia said.
"Huh, who'da thunk it?" Twilight gestured to Rainbow Dash.
"Now, the archaeologists were not sure if you were left there on your own, or if your mother was to come back at some time, but you were just one egg amongst many shells already hatched. They assumed the worse and took you from the cave, along with some other treasures that had been in the cave with you, and brought them back to the castle. I knew that dragon eggs could be hatched by magic if the mother hadn't been around to hatch them, so, I felt, this might give me an opportunity to use it for my school of gifted unicorns. And, well, you all know what that led to," Celestia chuckled.
Twilight and Spike shared a giggle. "Beyond what happened in the dragon cave, I have no information that can help you Spike. But if you feel you must know more, the cave would be my first suggestion. The cave actually sits near the top of the mountain overlooking the city of Canterlot, but it is on the other side, so you won't see the city below when you find it," Celestia said.
"Okay, well, thank you for your help Princess Celestia," Spike said.
"A pleasure to assist you, young dragon," Celestia replied.
"Well, if there is any way I can assist you in your voyage, don't feel hesitant to ask. While I do help ponies in the realm of dreams, I have to admit my time among the pony court has grown rather dull," Luna admitted.
Celestia chuckled, "You never did get over your sense of adventure, did you little sister. But I can't say I blame you. I'm sure the nobles won't mind too much, and if they do, they have me to answer to. I won't have them go turning you dark on me again."
"I don't know, it is a little fun to see the terror on their faces when I threaten to gobble their backsides," Luna joked.
"Now Lulu. You know it's not Nightmare Night yet. No gobbling ponies til then," Celestia joined in.
"Awww, but Tia," Luna mock pouted.
"No buts," Celestia dictated mockingly.
The two tried their best to hold back, but once the whole group was bursting into laughter, the two sisters joined in. After everypony calmed down, Twilight said that they would make for the mountain cave first thing in the morning, giving the girls plenty of time to prepare for the journey. Spike was happy they were going to help him find out more about his dragon lineage. And was even more greatful Luna was offering her hoof to help them out. perhaps two alicorns with them might be safer, should they run into some hot heads on the way.
Author's Note
End of chapter one. Hope you enjoyed it. Let me know in the comments below what you think.
I'd be more then happy to hear what you have to say and *sniffs the air.* is something buwning? *I look back and see my tail on fire.* WHOOOOO!!!HOT!!!HOT!!!HOT!!!HOT!!!HOOOOOT!!!! *I panic so much, my wings start flapping, sending me soaring all over the place.*
When the next morning came, Luna made sure that the other nobles understood why she was accompanying Twilight Sparkle and her friends as a way to interact more with her subjects. Everypony and Spike soon had everything they needed and set off. Rainbow Dash was all excited thinking about what they might find out about dragons. She was no history buff, but any intelligent species who could fly, like Griffons, Hippogriffs and Dragons, they definitely caught her attention. Twilight had packed up what they knew about dragons, including what Ember had provided to them through her letters, along with the relics found at the cave before. Applejack made sure food rations were well packed, even though the journey was only to the top of Canterlot Mountain for now. Fluttershy had her animal friends scout ahead for the safest way to get there even though she wouldn't be partaking in the journey, and Rarity, of course, just "had" to pick out an outfit for the occasion, dressing herself in a dress with some of the finest gems. If Spike wasn't a mature and respectable dragon, he may have taken a few nibbles at her dress when she wasn't looking. But thanks to a generous gift from his adopted sister-in-law Cadence, he was well packed with gems for the journey. Pinkie Pie of course had all kinds of random gismos on her. What she would use them for was anypony's guess.
Shining Armor had insisted he help his sister, but Velvet Sparkle wouldn't have it, being that he was a father, and Captain of the Royal Guard. She did say that if they were to find anything, she would offer her services as soon as the party got back from the summit. Twilight wasn't sure what her mother could do that she couldn't, but she agreed.
As the party approached the halfway point, Spike asked, "Um, Twilight. I'm just curious, when we get to the cave at the summit, do you think that anything will still be there?"
"To be truthfully honest, I don't know Spike. So we really won't know until we get there. Even with what Ember provided, there is nothing I have learned so far about how well kept a Dragon's cave is," Twilight replied.
That wasn't the answer Spike wanted, but it was fair enough. Twilight had already gone out of her way to help him find out about his heritage. So he had to be grateful for that. And with the help of their friends, and Princess Luna, they were bound to find something. Soon they made it to the summit, and saw what they considered, to be the biggest cave they had ever ventured across. Even Luna was impressed by the size of it. Twilight, being cautious, sent a ball of light from her horn into the open cave to make sure that nothing was lurking in the darkness. For a cave, it actually looked very well made. It almost looked like a normal home that ponies use. Just, made in stone, and the opening not having an actual door. "Wow, no wonder Daring Do and other archeologists were interested in this place. Last dragon cave we went to was a lot less well designed then this," Rainbow Dash said.
"I have to say I'm impressed. It looks almost.... castle like in nature," Luna said while deep in thought.
Twilight felt that there was something else Luna may have known a while back with the way she looked at the moment, but was trying to think back to knowing what it was she once knew. As the party of ponies traveled deeper in, they soon saw a stone door. This door made them feel almost as small as Angel Bunny, in comparison, just like the opening had. Whoever lived, or once lived here, was unmistakably gigantic. As the pushed the door open, which was easier then they expected, the came to see a stone bed, and next to it, like Celestia had described, a very large stone nest, almost like a crib even, but it seemed all the egg shells were long gone. But there was something else there.
A letter. And judging by how large it was, obviously meant for the Dragon or Dragons that once lived here, be they the mother or father who wrote it. "Wow, that's the biggest parchment I have ever seen," Pinkie exclaimed.
"Indeed, but the writing.... it's.... I haven't seen this since.... since before the disappearance of Starswirl the Bearded. It's ancient text, and few ponies if any have been able to decipher such text," Luna stated.
"Can you decipher it Princess Luna," Twilight asked. She herself was not familiar with this form of text.
"No...... but I know a mare who can," Luna said.
Just as Twilight was about to ask Luna who it was, their attention was shifted as Rainbow Dash bellowed, "Wow, guys, come check this out, she said at the door, before flying out and turning left. After Twilight gathered the letter, shrinking it to fit in one of the packs they brought, they followed Rainbow Dash. They then came upon another room that looked like a family den, like at Twilight's parents' house. As they made their way in, everything seemed to be made out of stone. The chairs, the table, even the couch at the far end. Clearly, this was meant for more then one dragon to be living in the cave. This made Twilight think, that whoever was Spike's parents, based off what they saw, and what Celestia's story had stated, Spike might have some older siblings..... hopefully not Garble or any of his lackeys.
"Wow, I never thought Dragons were this sophisticated in their society. Granted it's still all stone, but it seems very.... homely.... no pun intended," Starlight said.
"And I thought they just slept on piles of gold and gems. But I wonder why they're not livin here no more. I mean, with how long we've been here, by now, at least one dragon sould have landed and made their way into this area of the cave if they were still around," Applejack said.
"We might not know why no dragon lives here for a while, but, I think we can see that had Spike's family been here to hatch him, Spike may have lived fairly decent life," Twilight said.
"Seeing this makes me wonder all the more who my parents were. I hope we can find out something from that piece of paper we found," Spike said.
"I do too, but I also, am a tad curious.... Princess Luna? Do you think that we might make this a place for educational purposes, like let schools take their students here to learn about how some dragons live?" Twilight pleaded.
"Maybe somewhere in the future Twilight, but I suggest we make our way back to Canterlot if everypony is willing, since I have now familiarized myself with our location, I can easily teleport us back to Velvet Sparkle's and Nightlight Sparkle's house," Luna offered.
"My parents. Why Princess Luna," Twilight inquired.
"Well, Velvet is one pony I know who can decipher that text on the parchment you carry," Luna answered.
"....... Oh yeah. I nearly forgot my mother was an expert on ancient languages and texts. I'm surprised this is one of them," Twilight admitted.
"Well, is everyone in agreement for teleportation?" Luna inquired.
Everypony nodded, and soon Luna teleported to the front door of the Sparkle residents' house. She soon knocked on the door and Velvet answered seeming surprised when she saw everypony. "Oh, my, the adventure was that quick. My how time flies. Please, everypony, your highness, come in," Velvet said.
"Velvet, I told you, call me Luna. No need for formalities, unless it's a large social gathering like the Galas," Luna insisted.
"As you wish Luna," Velvet said."
Soon, everypony made themselve's comfortable, and Twilight soon used her magic to pull out the parchment as Luna said, "There was a letter to someone at the cave we found, we don't know who placed it there, and another halt we came upon was the text. It's ancient, and even I am unable to decipher it, but, we feel that you can Velvet," Luna stated.
As Twilight levitated the paper to her mother, Velvet soon took hold of the parchment, and read carefully. "Oh my.... Spike..... This was a letter to you," Velvet said.
"Me?!" Spike jumped in surprise.
"Indeed, and I have a spell I remember that can translate the text into our own text so you can all read it," Velvet said.
She soon lit her horn, and the parchment enlarged a bit, and soon took form into the pony text everypony knew. It read:
To my son or daughter yet to be hatched,
When you read this letter at whatever point in your life, know that I did not abandon you. You're hatchday was not for many weeks to come, and I was out gathering some of the best gems I could find so I could let you have them when you would finally break out of your shell. But I was foolish. I should have made sure there was a way to hide you as an egg, for when I returned, someone had taken you from me. I searched everywhere, and demanded my dragon kin help me find you. But as the days pressed on, we came to agree that whoever took you was long gone. We debated about asking the ponies of the city of ponies residents below, but, we knew they would run in terror at our presence, rather then help us. And I do understand that there is a royal Princess who resides there, but with the way the ponies govern themselves, she wouldn't have had time for us, considering she would be level headed enough not to run in fear like her subjects.
I will continue to curse myself for this, for it is my fault I did not watch over you more. I should have had the rest of my kin close by to make the errands I required for me.
Know that even though we may never see each other's face, I love you. You will always be my little one, and I will hold on to that, just as I hope you do, and I hope one day, when you are old enough, you may find me. But with the pain of loss that this cave reminds me of, I must leave, and I do not intend to return. Should you need guidance, follow the path that leads north of the pony city below my cave known as Canterlot til you reach the Misty Mountains. When you arrive there, look for the path that has the mark of the Moon upon it. It will lead you into The Dragon Lands of the North.
The Dragons of that Land know who I am, and if you simply show them this letter, they shall lead you to me. I hope one day we see each other again. I will pray for it til the day comes my little one. I hope you are able to live a good life in my absence. Please take care.
I shall leave a spell with my magical flame upon this parchment so that it shall not perish in years to come, and hope you one day find it.
With all the love in my heart,
Your loving mother.
Spike just sat there after reading all of it. The archaeologist..... they had made a mistake. Granted, they did it with good intentions for him, but now his dragon mother was in sorrow over her lost egg. "Spike..... I, I don't know what to say," Luna said.
Spike was silent for a moment, then he muster up the courage to speak, and said, "I have to find her. I, I just can't stay here and not know who she is. She's got to still be in the Dragon Lands of the North."
"But, if they are anything like the Dragon Lands led by Ember, they'll be dangerous to ponies. And Spike, I don't want you going all on your own darling," Rarity stated.
"Well, um, I have a suggestion Twilight," Rainbow Dash stepped in.
Everypony turned to Rainbow Dash as she asked, "Do you remember when we helped the Breezies back to their home, the spell you used Twilight?"
"Yes but what does that have to do with.... Ooooh, I see what you are saying. And the spell will last til we are back in Equestria," Twilight said.
"Huh?" Spike inquired.
Princess Luna stepped in and said, "I know which spell you are referring to Twilight, but I advise that we use an alternate method. Your spell when using it with Spike as the centerpoint of your transformation will cause some issues. If Dragon Lord Ember were here, I'd be more then willing to let you do so."
"So.... how do we transform then?" Twilight insisted.
Soon Luna's horn lit up, and to potion vials appeared. One had a blue liquid in it. The other red. "The vial of blue liquid can change a pony into a dragon best suited for them. The vial of red liquid allows you to change back into a pony. And it also works in reverse. Should a dragon originally drink the red liquid, they'd become one of the three pony races, and the blue liquid would of course make them dragon again. You don't have to worry about a spell malfunction with these potions. We have had them tested thoroughly, and they are completely safe," Luna informed everypony.
"Wow. Well, if we're gonna help Spike find his mom, I'm in," Rainbow dash said.
She took the vial and took a sip and a gulp. "Mmm. Taste like Rainbow Berry," she stated.
Just then a huge light engulfed her and when it dissipated, everypony saw Rainbow Dash's physic, mouths agape.
Author's Note
And I have to end that on a cliff hanger. Cause right now, I have to focus on my story "Guess This Is Home Now". Sorry this took longer then I promised. I will try to better. And I will try to get back to my regression stories soon. enjoy the read. Now, I must be off to bed. It's late where I am and *Stardust to face.* Wights out. *I plop on to my favorite pillow.*