Heart`s Warming, the Breezes of Loyalty [Edited]by CaioCoiaChaptersPower Ponies vs Daring DoPrologueWhat do you want? The heart's warming eve night. [Edited]Power Ponies vs Daring DoAfter collapsing to the floor, Spike was looking at her like his heart had stopped beating for a few seconds, she wasn't moving, and Spike assumed the worst. “Rainbow!!” Spike shouted in despair, he didn't think about what he was going to do, but his instincts had kicked in making him move to her side and wrap her hooves over his shoulder and pick her up, carrying her on his back. He knew where the fireplace was, so he didn’t have that far to go. After passing many doors he finally reached the one with the fireplace inside. He opened the door and carried Rainbow Dash over to the fireplace. He set her down in front of it, hoping it’d warm her up. Letting out a sigh of relief, he went into another room and took some blankets out for her. After laying them across her he noticed her smiling like she was enjoying the warmth. “Hey, Spike do you know who was at the door?” Twilight asks before spotting Rainbow Dash. She was going to say something else but decided against it. “Never mind. What happened to her?” “She was outside freezing, when I let her in, she just sort of fainted.” Spike said putting more blankets on Rainbow Dash. “Hey Spike, why don’t you make some hot cocoa for her? It will help her when she wakes up.” Twilight suggested to him, Spike nodded in agreement. “Got it.” Spike ran along to the kitchen, leaving Twilight and Rainbow Dash alone. Twilight stared at Rainbow Dash for a few minutes, before she noticed Rainbow Dash starting to recover. Her eyes widened slowly, after realizing where she was, she smiled at Twilight. “Hey Twi, how are you?” Rainbow Dash asked leaving the blankets. “I’m alright, how was your little nap?” Twilight asked narrowing her eyes. “Oh that, sorry to faint in your home. hum...” Rainbow Dash stretched and yawned. “Anyways, thanks for bringing me here.” “Actually, It wasn’t me who did that. When I came into this room, it was Spike who was putting blankets on you. He was the one who brought you in.” Twilight said giving all the credit to Spike. “Really, the squirt? How did he bring me here?” Rainbow Dash asked in disbelief, she couldn’t imagine how Spike had managed to carry her here. “I carried you here by myself, and before asking another question. I already carry your weight in books daily, so don’t act so surprised.” Spike sounded a bit disappointed and upset. He never liked it when somepony didn’t believe what he could do, but he knew this would always happen. Even with his friends. “Here, I brought you some hot chocolate to make you feel better.” “Oh thanks Spike, I didn’t want it to sound like I didn’t believe you. Thanks for your help, Squirt.” Rainbow Dash tried to apologize to the little dragon. “That’s okay Rainbow, you aren’t the first pony who did that, but I have a question for you. What the hay were you doing outside on Hearth’s Warming Eve?!” Spike really wanted to know why she was out that morning, on a day where it made more sense to stay home. She took a sip and let out a sigh of pure bliss. She was in paradise after taking a sip of the hot cocoa, her reaction made Twilight and Spike share a look, smiling at each other. “Okay, I was alone at my house and I really wanted to do something. I was like super bored, cause I read all my Daring Do books, so I left and decided to visit my great friends.” Rainbow Dash answered taking another sip, approaching them and hugging them. “Fluttershy isn’t home right?” Spike asked making her look at him like she was offended, but she sighed nodding. “She left a message saying she was staying with her family. I tried to talk to Applejack, but the Pinkie Pies’ family was there making a new ‘family tradition’ the last pony I wanted to visit was Rarity, that’s why I came here.” Rainbow Dash snorted like she didn’t like how the conversation was going. “I’m glad you choose to stay here Rainbow, Starlight decided to stay in the Crystal Empire to celebrate with her friend Sunburst, and it was only me and Spike, we’re making the preparations for Hearth’s Warming, and Spike was going to take a break when you came.” Twilight was happy to see one of her friends there to celebrate with them, but looking to Spike, he wasn’t excited like her. “Okay, so, if you don’t mind, Twilight. I will go to read my comics.” Spike said walking away from the door. “Spike wait, please, if you won’t read the books, at least read your comics in the reading section.” Twilight suggest, almost begging him to do that. “Urrrrgh, come on Twilight! Why are you still trying to do this? Fine, I will go there, but I will do only that.” Spike shouted and closes the door with a slam, leaving Rainbow Dash with her mouth agape. “What just happened?” Rainbow Dash asked, still trying to figure what she saw some seconds ago. Twilight sat down, sighing. “Spike had a terrible week, and when I tried to make him read a book to feel better, he said no. And that he doesn’t like reading books.” Twilight said trying to understand what she did wrong to him. “Woah woah wait, are you telling me, that your number one assistant, who helps you every day looking and finding books for you. Doesn’t like to read?” Rainbow Dash sounded weird when she said that, but that was really what she was thinking. “Yeah, I did everything to help him, but I don’t know why, maybe you can help me, Dash. Can you talk to him, you can try to make him to read a Daring Do book.” Twilight asked for her help to make him to read her favorite book, and nothing was better than helping her friend read a Daring Do book. “Okay, I will make him love to read books the same way you do, just one Daring Do will make him change his mind.” Rainbow Dash finished her cocoa and flew at high speeds around the library. Finding Spike quickly among the shelves. “Hey, Rainbow. You look better, going to read another Daring Do book?” Spike asked glad to see Rainbow Dash back in the air.. “Yeah Squirt, Daring Do is the best story in the world, maybe you should give it a shot.” Rainbow Dash approached him, winking. Spike went over his options before shaking his head in disagreement. “No thanks, I’ll be fine reading my comic books.” He only answered opening the door, holding ten of his Power Ponies comics in his claw. Her mouth opened but she wasn’t willing to give up early, she remembered what Twilight said, so she couldn’t force him to do that if he wasn’t ready. After they entered she flew away looking for her book, finding it she laid down on the floor and opened it. “Okay, suit yourself.” Her answer made Spike looked to her in disbelief, like he heard something he didn’t understand, he comes closer to her and started to ask. “Really? That’s it? That easy?” Spike asked as if it was some kind of practical joke. “No lecture or disapproving face?” “Why would I do that? You think I’d be like Twilight and make you read books like her?” Rainbow Dash shrugged and continued to read. “You decided that you didn’t want to read so I won’t force you to do that.” “Actually, I was expecting you to act like her. She always makes my decisions hard. When I said I don’t want to read, it was like I destroyed her heart and everything she believes in, but this isn’t the end of the world, we already saved it too many times.” Spike said to Rainbow Dash, lying on the floor like her. He opened his comic book and started to read. One thing on Rainbow Dash’s mind was still bothering her, she needed to talk about it. "I thought you loved books like Twilight does." Dash said. Everytime she had visited the Castle he was always showing them books that held information about their missions. “Yeah, I know that, and that’s why all you girls have made the same mistake.” Spike snorted he pointed at all the books from the library. “Rainbow Dash, I only reads these books when Twilight needs my help with the myths, legends, and culture when she was out looking for threats, future lessons, or missions. And this includes looking up all the information like magic, monsters, and history. All of these things I do for her.” Rainbow Dash was still listening him, she sighed disapproving of his actions but kept listening as he continued to talk. “She doesn’t know but I hate to read these books. I’ve read more than two-hundred books only to help her, and I don’t understand many of these books. I’m not a bookworm like Twi is, but when she started with all of this I started to lose interest in the books, and every time she asks me to read one, I end up hating them even more.” Spike was pressing his comic books, he was tired of the same excuse, doing the same thing, and this made him hate every book.. The revelation made Rainbow Dash speechless, what could she say to somepony who only does something he hates to help one friend? And the most important thing, he never told anypony that he doesn’t like to read books, it was in that one moment he told the truth about his actions. “I never imagined you’d do that too only help Twilight. I have to say, Squirt. You are very good liar.” Rainbow Dash confessed, she was much surprised and slightly sad for him. “Thanks Rainbow, I do everything to keep my title of number one assistant. Even if it means doing things I hate, you know?” Spike said trying to force a laugh, but it had ended up sounding pathetic. “You can read your Daring Do book here, actually having company here would be great. If you need any help finding another book I will be more than glad to help you” Rainbow Dash was glad he still wanted to let her read there, maybe she could find out a way to help him with his problem. “Okay dude, I’ll be here, but prepare yourself because when I read Daring Do, I get excited and I make a lot of noise.” Rainbow Dash admitted, but warned him of her adverse reactions to the Daring Do stories. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, Dash.” Spike said, taking a seat on the floor and beginning to read his ‘Power Ponies’ comics. Rainbow Dash opened her book and began to read. It didn’t take long before she began to react to the story, letting out cheers of excitement every so often. Spike was more interested in her reactions, she was doing her best to make noise and garner his attention. It worked. Spike started to chuckle and tried to ignore her constant noise making, but after a few minutes of her cheers and yips, he became very annoyed and curious. But he would not let her reactions trick him into reading that book. She let out a surprised gasp, Spike tried to ignore it but the sounds got louder. They kept getting louder and louder until he noticed Rainbow Dash was practically screaming right into his ear. "Okay, Dash! What do you want?!" Spike had gotten angry after he found out she was purposely trying to annoy him with her noises. Dash needed an excuse and attempted to look around for one before spotting the comic in his claw with the number three printed on it. "Hey, Squirt. What are you reading?" She asked curiously, making the perfect distraction for him to calm himself down. "Well, I'm reading the ten parts of: The Journey of the Power Ponies." Spike said in a mock announcer voice, "It showcases the origins of the Power Ponies and the origin of the Mane-iac." Spike said excitedly, making it seem like the Power Ponies were the best thing in the world. "Woah, can I take a look at the Zapp story? I really wanna know what type of pony she is and how she got her awesome powers." Dash was genuinely interested to read about her comic here, she was after all Zapp for a day. Spike smiled at her and gave her part five of the Power Ponies comic arc, the one that included the Zapp origin story, they began reading it together. Spike was standing behind her, reading it over her shoulder and watching her reactions to the story, it was priceless when she had discovered that Zapp was the captain of an elite branch of the Royal Guard. When one accident made her fly inside of a giant storm, the multiple strikes of lightning that hit her body changed her and gave her the powers she has today. "Woah, that was awesome. She was like a Wonderbolt and then got struck by lightning and got her awesome powers. This totally makes her twenty percent cooler than she was before!" Dash was excitedly flying around the area they were reading in. Spike chuckled softly, watching her express her excitement. "Yeah, my reaction pretty much went the same way, minus the flying. I never imagined the others' origin stories, if you want to read them you can feel free to do so." Spike was happy to see at least one of his friends take an interest in reading his comics, it got boring when he was the only one who enjoyed the Power Ponies comics. "Alright, but I gotta ask you something, Spike. Can we read these somewhere else? Maybe near the fireplace, it'd be more comfortable to read there." Dash was telling the truth, being farther into the castle meant that it was much colder. Spike himself didn't exactly want to stay there for long periods of time. "Sure, lets get out of here." Spike got up from his place on the floor and started to walk with Rainbow Dash, as they passed through the doorway Spike turned to Dash. "Hey, Dash, I'm going to go make us some more cocoa in the kitchen, you can head on over to the fireplace and get comfortable." Rainbow Dash made her way to the fireplace and spotted Twilight making preperations for Heart's Warming, she was holding a couple of things in her magic and decorating the room. "Hey, Twi. Do you need any help with that?" Dash offered, flapping over to her friend. "No, I'm good, I'm just setting up the decorations. It isn't too hard to deal with. How's it going with Spike?" Twilight asked, looking to her friend. "He's alright, only needed to talk with a good friend like me." She stated smugly, puffing out her chest. Twilight let out a sigh of relief. "That's good, I was starting to think that he was upset with me for what happened earlier. But I'm happy he's feeling better now. Thank you, Dash. I'm going to finish taking care of the preparations for tomorrow, can you stay with him while I finish things up?" She asked as the nailed some decorations to the mantle using her magic. "And please, don't leave him alone with his thoughts, who knows what'll happen if you do." Rainbow didn't really understand what Twilight had meant by the last part, she decided to help watch over Spike anyways. "Sure, I can do that no problem. I'll make sure he doesn't think when I'm with him." She stated, unkowingly garnering a glare from Twilight. "Me and him are actually gonna read some comics near the fireplace, it's really cold in the library." She turned around and flew off before Twilight could say anything else. "I hope you can make him feel better, Dash." She whispered, watching her friend fly away. She turned aroudn and went back to decorating the room. Flying into the room with the fireplace, she made herself comfortable, wrapping herself in the same covers that Spike had done that same morning. She then decided that this was the perfect place to read Daring Do. Meanwhile, Spike was drinking his cocoa and walking to the fireplace, he found Dash enjoying her book wrapping in blankets. He watched her while she read, seeing her get excited and more animated the longer she read for. He raised his brow and became curious. "Hey, Dash. I have the cocoa." Spike said as he entered the room, taking a seat next to her and giving her her cocoa. "Thanks, Spike." She took a sip of it. "Dude, you don't know how much better this cocoa makes me feel." "I'm really glad you like it, I usually watch the snow fall while I drink it." Spike stated, walking over to the window and looking outside. Dash's eyes followed him as she became lost in thought. "Hey, squirt? Stop thinking over there and come sit near the fire with me. Don't you wanna finish your comics?" She asked. Spike turned to her and smiled. "Actually, I was gonna ask if I could join you." He said, surprising Dash, but making her happy all the same. "Sure, but what made you change your mind?" Dash asked, narrowing her eyes, wondering how he'd respond. "You know, you were interested in my comics and kept me company while I read them. So it's only fair if I return the favor." Spike said, taking a seat near her. Dash smiled widely at him. "Alright, I know how tired you are of reading books. But I will make sure this will be the most perfect book you've ever read." Dash said, hoping that he'd become more interested in books if she let him read with her. "Really? That's great Dash." Spike leaned over and looked at the first page of the book. "Daring Do has become trapped in the topical jungle and..." Spike began to read with Dash next to him, starting on the first page of the book like when she had been in the hopsital. As they both continued to read, Spike become more invested in the story. One pegasus with a broken wing trapped in a tropical jungle being surrounded by a tiger, black panther, lynx, cheetah, and, surprisingly enough, a white house cat. Spike chuckled at that part, reading to the part where Daring flees the cats and uses a vine to swing across a gorge. He was surprised to read that Daring Do had found herself in front of the ancient temple. "Woah, I can't believe she found the lost temple." Spike exclaimed, Rainbow Dash smirked and simply agreed with him. "Yeah, I had the exact same reaction when I was stuck reading this in the hospital." She remembered when she found herself actually liking the book and reading it day and night. "Okay, turn the page, I need to know what happens next." Spike quikcly put his claw on one of the corners and turned the page while Dash held the other side with her hoof. The book was something Spike didn't quite understand. He didn't like to read books, yet he found this one fun to read. He imagined Daring Do attempting to bypass the traps but still hitting them either way, imagining her facehoofing herself and using her hat to avoid arrows and darts. Finally, the moment of glory came. She was face to face with the legendary sapphire statue, she still needed to complete one last puzzle before being able to grab the statue. Spike held his breath as Daring Do solved the puzzle, stepping on the rat tiles and managing to bypass the trap. He let his breath out seeing she had to correct the solution, but looked over to Dash who was giggling. "What?" Spike asked, seeing her trying to hold in her laughter. "Nothing, you'll see later." Dash rolled her eyes, looking back to the book as they continued to read. She was finally in front of the sapphire statue and trying to find a way to grab it without activating the pressure plate underneath of it. Her hooves were shaking violently as she let out slow collected breaths, attempting to calm herself down. She ended up taking the statue in her mouth, without realizing she had just activated the trap. The temple was crumbling all around her and lava was begging to rise from the floor, cutting off her escape route. Spike realized if he were in that situation, he could just swim through the lava. Spikes' heart beat faster and faster, hoping she'd find a way out. Daring Do finally made her escape, air pressure launching her high into the sky and having her fall onto the floor of the jungle. Not five seconds later did Ahuizotl appear in front of her, stealing the statue from her, calling the wild cats from before to surround her. "Oh come on, what in the name of Tartarus is this?! Where did he even come from?! She literally just escaped from near death and he appears from nowhere and catches her?!" Spike shouted, causing Dash to burst out laughing, making Spike lose his position. "Sorry, I'm just. A bit surprised is all." "Don't worry, Spike. I won't tell Twilight you practically shouted right into my ear." She turned her attention back to the book and continued to read. Daring Do had become trapped in another room, she didn't have much of a chance at escaping this time, but she at least had to try. Using her hat, she flung it at the perfect angle, shifting a lever connected to the wall, freeing her from the traps, sand, spiders, and snakes. She took the advantageous opportunity and stole the statue back while Ahuizotl was distracted and using a vine to escape. After finishing the book, Dash smiled at Spike, who was gasping from the ending. "Woah, that was incredible. Daring Do is amazing, I never imagined the library would have these kinds of books." Spike was amazed by the story they had just read together. "Yeah, you know, Spike. I didn't like books either, many of them were super boring. But these kinds of books, with action, fantasy, and adventure. They changed my mind. I know you only read books to help Twilight, but if you need something to read when you get bored, come to me." Dash gave him a little noogie at the end. "Thanks, Dash. You really made me feel better about today." He replied, smiling at her. "Yeah, I know. I'm pretty awesome like that. But let me tell you this, every book of hers. Is 100% true." She told him, making Spike look at her in disbelief. "You really expect me to believe that?" "It's true, you can ask Twilight and the others, they'll all agree with me. But you need to keep this a secret." Spike rolled his eyes but decided to humor her. "Alright, you can count on me, I won't tell anypony that Daring Do is real. Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." He performed the motions associated with the Pinkie Promise. PrologueThe snow was falling lightly outside, the soft white flakes were falling on the day of the most celebrated holiday of the year in Ponyville. Looking outside from the window one can watch the snow falling and look on as the ground becomes covered in layers of fresh snow. Meanwhile, inside the castle laying on the carpet near the fireplace was a young purple alicorn who was reading one of her many books. She was alone but she had the feeling that something important was missing. She looked to her draconian assistant’s basket and he surprisingly wasn’t there. Searching for her assistant, Twilight got up from the carpet and started to go looking for him. Searching inside her castle she attempted to locate him. She checked the bathroom, the throne room, his bedroom, the library, and many other rooms that her castle held, but he wasn’t there. Just then, she caught a whiff of something that smelled absolutely delectable. She smiled to herself, finally knowing where he had run off to. Slowly approaching the kitchen she entered to see a little purple dragon with green spines who was baking something that smelled delicious. The little drake’s face was covered in flour but he was happily baking something to his heart’s content. “Happy Hearths Warming Eve, Spike.” Twilight said from the doorway catching him off guard and almost making him drop his utensils. “Whoa!! Hey Twi, you scared me a bit there. You nearly made me drop my baking utensils.” Spike said grinning, feeling very relieved that that hadn’t been the case. “But anyways, happy Hearths Warming Eve to you too, Twilight.” “So Spike, what are you planning to do today?” Twilight asked while approaching him, looking at whatever he was baking. “Oh, I was just making this cake and baking some cookies for today. Maybe make some eggnog for later on, and then just go watch the snow fall near the fireplace.” Spike cleaned his face with a nearby towel as he told her plans for Hearths Warming day. Twilight started to become anxious, she didn’t like to see her assistant and her closest friend do all the work for her. “Can I help you with something, Spike? I want to help you finish this soon, because I kind of want to have a chat with you.” Twilight asked making Spike look at her, his eyes riddled with confusion. “A talk? What do you want to talk about?” Spike asked trying to decipher his surrogate sisters intentions. “First: lets finish this, and afterwards we can talk about it. Here, let me help you with this.” Twilight said while approaching the granite island in the middle of the kitchen and catching his bowl of cream with her magic. Spike started to chuckle, making her stare to him in confusion. “What? Is there something on my face?” “No, it’s not that. It’s just that you’re assisting your assistant. That’s a good one” Spike let out a little laugh. “I hope you’re not trying to take my place as your number one assistant.” Twilight thought over what he was talking about, she couldn't deny that idea was funny, and start to giggle too, after that simple joke. “Okay, that’s a good one I must agree, but don’t worry. I won’t try taking your place as my number one assistant. I can be the number one assistant of my number one assistant.” Twilight joked in derision like him and they started to laugh, after facing so many problems and challenges, they still had their friendship and each other's company to help them deal with the boredom. When the laughing fit was broken, it created a silence between them. Spike smiled and brought the eggs and cream to Twilight. “Okay, my number one assistant, if you’ll help me by starting to make some eggnog for us and then after making it we can go and finally talk.” Spike remembered how Twilight gave orders to him and tried for the first time act like her, doing a great job. Twilight guessed the roles were switched for them, making Spike the boss and Twilight the assistant. Even if it was just for one day. “Okay? Is that everything you needed me to do, Mr. Dragon?” Twilight asked in a serviable fashion sounding like an assistant at his beck and call. “Come on, Twilight. I never called you Ms. Sparkle and much less your highness.” Spike said while rolling his eyes in her direction. “You know you only have to call me Spike, right?” Spike took the cake out from the oven and put his cookies in. Finishing this, he then put the cake over on the table and looked towards Twilight, who was starting to make the eggnog by herself. Spike smiled, watching her make the eggnog without his help. Taking his cream bowl it took a few minutes for Spike to ice the entire cake, he spread gems along one side of the cake for himself and put alfalfa along the other side for his friends to enjoy. “The cake is done.” Spike said as he let out a sigh of relief, noticing that Twilight had finished making the eggnog and was now tasting it. “Mmm! It’s perfect.” She said after sampling her eggnog proudly. “Okay, now we only have to wait for the cookies. So what do you want to talk to me about?” Spike asked while he put his pink, frilly apron on the counter and walked over to her. Twilight looked at him, but Spike was desperately trying to avoid looking her in the eyes. “Spike, how are you feeling?” She asked, he let out a small sigh, recalling how she had asked him the very same question just a few days prior. “It’s okay, Twilight. You don’t need to worry about me, I’m feeling fine.” Spike said showing some exasperation in his voice. “Spike, I know you’re lying to me. Please, just tell me what’s bothering you.” Twilight said, sitting down next to him and wrapping one of her wings around him in a comforting manner. Spike looked to her, he was nervous and trying to think of a way to weasel his way out of the interrogation, he couldn’t think of one. Letting a sigh of defeat, he walked to a nearby chair and sat on it, letting another sigh escape his lips he turned to Twilight. “I feel absolutely terrible, Twi. But I’m doing better than I was a few days ago. I thought I had finally gathered up enough courage to confess to Rarity how I felt. To see if I could get her to love me back. I needed to know if she felt the same way about me or not, or if she was just… leading me on. No matter what the answer was going to be, I knew that I needed to know the truth.” Spike’s posture and demeanor sagged as he continued speaking. “Well, I found out. Found out exactly what I wanted to. How Rarity truly felt about me. My crush, the mare I’ve been pining after for years, crushed my heart. Right into little pieces.” He sighed, pulling his legs up into his chest. “At least she tried letting me down easily. She told me that she saw me as a little brother. That’s good, I think. It still hurt though, more than I let her know. Knowing that me and her never truly had a chance together. It stings.” Spike said his claw pressing his chest, as if it were wounded. After taking a breath he exhaling a sigh of sadness “I’m trying to focus on my chores, to avoid thinking about that. Keeping my mind busy with the cleaning and the cooking helped me a lot to keep me from dwelling on it, so I’m still better than before.” He looked back to Twilight. “Thank you for asking, Twilight. This actually helped cheer me up a little bit.” Twilight listened her draconic brother with all the empathy she had, but inside of her heart she still had a strange inkling that there was something he wasn’t telling her. However, she knew she couldn’t just force it out of him, he’d tell her when he wanted to, not when she wanted him to. She remembered when she was studying with Starlight and Spike at the castle, he was destroyed, he didn't eat or drink all day long. She took care of him as much as she could the first day after Rarity had rejected him. She couldn’t remember seeing him cry that hard or for that long in a very long time. The second day the situation became worse, because Spike wasn't feeling himself, he didn’t show any feelings and acted like he lost every feeling he had. After a few days like this, she tried to get him to go outside, but he didn`t show any interest in going outside. Day after day Spike had changed a bit after Rarity said that they couldn’t be a couple, there was a good change however, she noticed her assistant was becoming depressed but still was trying to hide his true feelings from the others, making more chores for himself to avoid thinking of this. Twilight knew that doing this was unhealthy but wasn’t sure how she could get him to tell her what he was hiding. The timer made a sound signalling to them that the cookies were done. Spike got up from the table and walked over to the oven, pulling the cookies out and placing them on the nearby table. He took out a list and crossed off the final line of his chores, everything was done and he was ready to spend the rest of his day watching the snow fall gently down to the ground. “Hearths Warming meal? Check. Now, Twilight, if you don’t mind I have some snow to watch.” Spike was excited to watch the snow by himself, it's the perfect occasion for him finally watch the simple things in his life. However Twilight didn't share in his enthusiasm because she feared when he finally had time to himself his depressed thoughts would comes back to bite him in the butt, she needed to find a way for him to waste his time. “Hey, Spike? Why can’t you just read a book today? Maybe if you read a good book you will feel better and forgot what happened?” Twilight suggested, the books always helped her with all her personal problems, there was nothing that a good book couldn’t do, she remembered when she did read the entirety of Ponyville history, she had forgotten all of her problems and even her chores for that day. Which led to more problems being created. Spike looked to Twilight with a serious expression, like what she had said to him was the most ridiculous idea he had ever heard. Twilight attempted to figure out why Spike was looking at her that way, but after a few moments of silence he slowly shook his head and let out a sigh. “I know you are just trying to cheer me up Twilight, but I don’t think a book can do that for me.” Spike thought it would have been tempting if he had liked the idea in the first place. Twilight was speechless, Spike refused the idea about reading a book, was he crazy or something like that? Rarity destroyed his heart so hard making him turn to madness, why can't he just let the books help him? Her mind was running wild trying to comprehend what he had just said to her. “But you know? I liked the idea of reading something today, so I think that I will go and read my Power Ponies comic right now, thanks Twilight.” He walked out of the castle kitchen. “Wait, what?!” Twilight snapped out of her thoughts after hearing Spike tell her he was going to read his comic books. “But Spike, haven’t you already read your Power Ponies comics ten times? Don’t you think it’s time to try another type literature? Like our books?” “Nah, I’m okay. It’s not my fault that the Power Ponies are in hiatus until next month, so I will have to wait until then, and nothing better than reading it again.” He waved his claws like it wasn't important to him, but the more he tried to avoid reading the books, the more Twilight annoyed him into trying to. “But Spike, books are a good thing to read, they have adventure, fantasy, romance, comedy, we have a lot of books to read, Spike. Why can’t you just pick one to read, you will find out the books are better than comic books.” Twilight shut her mouth after realizing what she said. Spike turned around looking mad to her. “Say that one more time, and I will make you want to take that back.” Spike stated, making her glare seriously at him. “Make me take that back. That`s what I want to see you try, I said that books are better than comic books.” Twilight dared her assistant to make her take her words back. “Okay.” Spike sighed and walked around the kitchen, noticing one book he found on the floor, after reading the cover he showed it to Twilight, making her widen her eyes, noticing her defeat was coming. He was in front her looking at the book with a devilish smile. “So you wanna see me try? Okay, let’s see what we have here, The Tales of The Hearths Warming Celebration, Vol 2. This is your favorite, isn’t it?” Twilight knew she has to take that words right now, or something terrible would happen to her beloved book if she didn’t. “What do you think will happen if some dragon sneezes on this?” Spike pondered looking to her, he was going to sneeze on purpose and burn her favorite book. “OKAY SPIKE, OKAY, YOU WON. I TAKE THAT BACK, BUT PLEASE DON’T BURN THE BOOK.” Twilight begged Spike to not burn her favorite book. Spike was going to reply to the comment when one knock on the door far away from the room, was echoing all throughout the castle. “I guess we have a visitor, you don’t know how lucky you are, Twilight” Spike put the book on the floor and started to walk towards the front entrance. Twilight hugged the book with all her force, thanking whatever forces were helping her and let her book remain safe from Spike’s fire breath. The hug was ended abruptly when she looked around the kitchen and noticed all the utensils were disorganized, she let out a sigh and started to re-organize them, but also wondering who it was that came to visit them. Spike walked through the corridors, going the front door the knocks were becoming more powerful and quick. “I’m coming, hold on a second.” Spike finally stopped in front of the door and opened it letting a colorful burst enter the castle. The door closed and Spike flew backwards into the throne room. Spike fell from the colorful burst who was carrying him near the door, he was trying to understand what heck happened in that moment. “What was that?” Spike asked as he got up from the floor, he saw a cyan pegasus shivering on the floor, her mane nearly frozen white from the snow that had accumulated in it. He recognized this pony as Rainbow Dash, who was currently freezing right in front of him. “Rainbow Dash are you okay?” She only nodded but after that collapsed to the floor. What do you want? The heart's warming eve night. [Edited]Finally getting to read another book about Daring Do, they had been tired after reading the third book in the series and Spike was needing some time to rest before they started again. “Okay Squirt, what do you want to do now?” Rainbow Dash was planning to read another book with him, but it seemed that she didn’t want to read anymore. “I think I want to just watch the snowfall.” Spike was happy, but his tone made her a bit confused. “Dude, the snow will fall all day, you need to do something other than just staying there and staring out the window.” Rainbow Dash didn't understand how anypony could enjoy doing that. “Dash, I just need some time alone with my thoughts.” Spike said reminding her that Twilight had told her not to leave him alone with his thoughts. “Okay, and what if we stare at the snowfall together and talk about things?” Rainbow Dash hovered near him, looking out the window. “Things?” Spike didn’t understand what she was talking about. “Yeah ‘things’, like how your life is going, what you think about Daring Do, what you want to be in the future, those things y’know?” Rainbow Dash sounded strange and she wasn’t very good when it came to conversations, she secretly hated talking about things, but it was the only thing she could think of to get his mind off of other things. “Okay, if you really want to know, I really liked Daring Do, she reminds me of you: an adventurer, a warrior, a pony who loves life and lives for danger every day.” His argument made Dash blush, she attempted to hid her blush from him, but she couldn’t hide her smile. “You really think so? I mean, yeah, she’s awesome. But do you really think that I’m like her?” Rainbow Dash asked while he was watching the snowfall slowly outside the window. He turned to her smiling brightly. “Yeah, you’re amazing Rainbow, you did so many things to show the others how awesome you are, you became part of Wonderbolts, you use wings to fly every day, you sleep in the clouds, you can perform a Sonic Rainboom, you have countless adventures with our friends, yeah, your life is awesome, sometimes I envy your life.” Spike counted her victories with his claws, and confessed what he feels about Rainbow Dash, but hearing Spike say that he envied her lifestyle wasn’t something she imagined the little dragon would say about her. “You always can go on adventures, meanwhile I have to stay here, clean the castle, and organize the books, the only thing I can do is help Twilight research the monsters and villains she has to face.” “You can’t say that, what about the adventures you’ve been on?” Rainbow Dash had known that Spike had some adventures. “Dash, the only adventure I went on was the Dragon Migration, to find myself and find where I belong. And we both know that didn’t end well.” Spike said looking to her. Rainbow Dash then recalled that the entire situation had sorta been her fault, she had made fun of him by saying he wasn’t a ‘real’ dragon. “Sorry about that day Squirt, I didn’t know you were trying to find the answers to your life. I wasn’t thinking and how did you feel after that day” Rainbow Dash apologized for her actions during the Dragon Migration. “I don’t blame you Rainbow Dash, you opened my eyes, I didn’t know how they acted, I didn’t think they’d end up being jerks and a bunch of greedy guys. You saw when I became greedy on my birthday, if I was born there, what kind of dragon would I have been?” Spike asked looking to her, she felt worse than before, imagining Spike becoming that dragon again. “You know what, Spike? You’re an awesome dragon, you have your own powers, you can breathe fire, you send and receive mails from Princess Celestia, you have teeth sharp enough to crunch on gems with ease, that's dragon stuff in you, out of all the dragons, I think you’re the most awesome, and if you became that giant dragon again I think you can defeat all the Wonderbolts, including me.” Rainbow Dash joked making him smile and letting out a chuckle. “But anyway, we never imagined a little dragon like you could become a giant and awesome dragon like we saw on that day. And what about the time you became the Dragon Lord after winning that gauntlet thingy. That isn’t a great adventure that you could share with me?” “It’s not a long story, actually, it wasn’t much of an adventure to be honest. I know that I didn’t deserve to be Dragon Lord, I only did what I did to prevent Garble from attacking Ponyville if he won, I tried to get to the island, but I don’t have any wings. So my only option was to take help from the Dragon Lord’s daughter, Ember. She helped me and I helped her, we were a team. I knew that if I became the Dragon Lord, I’d have to leave Ponyville. I couldn’t do that. So I passed my title to her, and she became the Dragon Lord instead of me.” Spike told her his side of the story, telling her what he did there, and he didn’t sound like he was trying to impress her, but he wasn’t telling it good enough.. ‘Wait Spike, you did all this stuff, you became the Dragon Lord, not letting your worst enemy to attack us, became a friend of a Dragon Lord, and you still act like it wasn’t a big deal? What’s wrong with you?!” Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe what she was hearing, Spike had done great things and was acting like it was just another day of normal work. “You need to be more proud of yourself, Squirt. You gotta stop underestimating yourself. Why would you want to sound like a loser, Spike?” “I don’t know, I think because of the fact that I don’t have wings, or the way of I did that stuff, or maybe sometimes I think that I’m not a dragon.” Spike only answered making her look to him. “You know, when I went on that rampage, I noticed something, I didn’t have wings, for the Gauntlet of Fire you needed to have wings to reach the volcano and get past the other obstacles, look at me, I’m smaller than everything, if I had only a little of greed I had on my birthday, maybe I could have fought with Garble, but he flies. When I’m stuck on the ground, seeing your face when you fly. I imagine it to be the most wonderful sensation in the world, meanwhile everyday I think I don’t deserve such things.” Rainbow Dash was listening, she was going to say something but nothing came to mind, thankfully Spike finished his speech. “My dream was to become a hero, a hero who uses a sword like a knight, to go on the adventures, fight with monsters everyday, live and die for a fight, a hero who takes a princess and has the romance he waited for, but look at me.”Spike pointed to himself. “Can you imagine me being a hero, a knight or doing something like they do everyday? Can you imagine me having a single moment of glory? Or having the mare of my dreams? No! Of course not, It’s impossible for me, I’m not a hero, I’m not a knight, and I’m not a dragon!” He screamed as tears began streaming down his cheeks, she was afraid to say something wrong, she prayed to Celestia to switch places with Fluttershy because she would know what to do in this situation. “Rainbow Dash, who am I?” Spike only asked this simple question, it had been bothering him his entire life, had he pondered this question for months? She didn’t know. “And how’s my life going? Horrible, I told Rarity about my crush on her, but she told me she only sees me as a little brother, and that crushed my heart. Making me think, everything I did for her, it wasn’t good enough. I was being foolish this entire time. I’m really not worth it…” “Can you just shut up?!” Rainbow Dash cut him off making him stop, she couldn’t take it anymore, but after realizing what she said. “Sorry Spike, but this, is too much for me to handle, you didn’t let me answer what you asked, and everything that happened to you? Did you think about saying that to Twilight or to Fluttershy? They can handle this stuff better than I can.” “No, I didn’t talk to them about that, I only talked to you, because I know you didn’t need to answer or try to help me, just knowing what I’m thinking, it’s made me feel better, I know the others will try to help me, or try to say something to cheer me up, but I think that only by talking to the pony who I look up to, makes me feel better than trying to act and put on a fake smile.” Spike looked out the window at the ground covered in ice and the snow still falling slowly. Rainbow Dash admired the fact that Spike chose her to reveal his thoughts and worries to, he envied her life, he needed more than a friend like Fluttershy or Twilight, he needed somepony to look up to, she wouldn’t let him just give up. “Spike, I won’t allow you to just give up and become a loser, you envy the way I live my life. So I’m going to teach you how to be just like me, Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow Dash stated confidently, looking into Spike’s eyes and seeing a glimmer of hope. “You’ll really do that for me, Dash?” He asked, wiping tears from his eyes and giving her a smile. She was happy that he seemed to have stopped worrying so much, but there was still a long way to go. “Yes, first I will tell you what you have to change, stop acting like a loser, you aren’t one, so stop acting like you are, stop being afraid to live your life, yeah, bad things happen. But good things happen too. Leave the castle more, go outside and do something you love. You said you wanted to know how to use a sword? Well, start training on how to use one. Do the training outside, hay, if you want it, I can train with you. But you have to be determined to do this, because this will be hard and straining on you.” Rainbow Dash said looking in his eyes, she was determined to make his world change, not only to make him like books, but to like his life everyday and show him why the word awesome was in her dictionary. Spike was speechless, somepony wanted him to follow his dreams and was willing to teach him, making his life better and worse at the same time. Hearing this definitely cheered him up, but Dash wasn’t done yet. “And the most important part squirt: be proud of who you are and what you’ve done. You’re not only a dragon, you’re Spike, the dragon who was raised by ponies, who has the power of friendship with you, who makes friends with the Dragon Lord and Changeling King. You’ve created a lasting alliance with the dragons and changelings, you’ve saved the Crystal Empire, twice!, you have your own statue, a statue for Celestia’s sake! Nothing is more awesome than that, and that’s without saying you’re the number one assistant of Twilight Sparkle. You are better than many ponies and you need to value yourself, and break out of this shell you’re hiding in.” Rainbow Dash finished with her speech, explaining how he was acting and how he needed to change if he didn’t want to feel like a loser anymore. Spike was stunned, there were no words to describe how he felt, he never thought he needed to be thankful for what he had, but here he was throwing away his victories like they were nothing. He didn’t know why Dash wasn’t kicking his ass. “And I didn’t kick your ass only because you have so many good qualities, Spike. You are helpful, cool, kind, and loyal. You’ve never told Twilight the reason you hate books, if that isn’t loyalty, then I don’t know what is.” Rainbow Dash wrapped her hooves around Spike, letting him find his voice. “I never imagined you’d think that about me.” Spike was in shock as he looked up to the mare he admired and envied as she offered to help make his life more awesome. “But there is one thing you need to know Spike, you’ve always helped your friends with what they need and what they want, but we haven’t asked about you Spike? Ask yourself, what do you want?” Rainbow Dash asked this simple question, he never thought to ask himself that, he feared that his greed would awaken like it did on his Birthday. But Rainbow Dash knew about it, so why did she ask that? “Rainbow I…” Spike tried to speak but was interrupted by Rainbow Dash stomping her hoof. “Spike, what do you want? Tell all the world what you want. Show us that you’re better than your greed and decide what you want to do with your life, what do you want for your future, for yourself what… do… you… want?!” Dash screamed this part of her speech, knowing that Spike was better than that. Spike just stood in shock, it felt like his heart and very soul very on fire. He closed his eyes and looked inside of himself, asking what he truly wanted. “I want to be a hero, I want to be able to fly, I want to go on adventures, I want to experience everything life has to offer, I want what my heart and soul desire. But I will not become a rampaging beast like I have before, I want to be a better dragon, I want to be Spike the Dragon!” Spike suddenly found his voice, and screamed with conviction. Tears began to fall from his eyes, they weren’t sad tears, but tears of happiness. It felt like all of his problems had gone away. Rainbow Dash was proud of Spike, he needed that more than anypony, she’d already done motivational speeches for groups, but this was from her heart to him, freeing him from his fears and anxieties, but she needed to say one more thing, she approached him and touched his shoulder, his emerald eyes looked into her magenta eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I think of you Spike,what matters is what you think of yourself. You can still think like a loser, or you act like a winner. And one more thing Spike, I hate losers. You better not disappoint me.” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at him and Spike nodded quickly in agreement “That’s good, now, I’m starving, did you make something good to eat for us tonight Squirt?” Rainbow Dash asked opening the door, calling Spike to go with her. His stomach rumbled and he looked out the window at the night sky. He hadn’t thought they’d been speaking for hours. “Squirt, don’t make me have to ask twice.” It was clear Rainbow Dash wasn’t in the mood for waiting for an answer. “Sure, I had some cake and cookies prepared for us today. But you do realize it’s night already, right?” Spike said while walking with Rainbow Dash. “Hmm, nah, I’m just starving and I wasn’t thinking about that.” Rainbow Dash confessed proudly, ignorance was a blessing for her. This was what Spike needed to learn. While they walked past the corridors going to the kitchen but then they entered the castle throne room and found everything decorated and with all the candies and drinks Spike made in the morning with Twilight. “Wow, Twi. I can’t believe you did all of this by yourself.” Dash said, looking around the room with amazement etched on her face. “Finally you two are here, I thought you’d never leave that room.” Twilight said while eating a cookie and drinking eggnog. “Sorry about that, Twi. We read a few Daring Do books then we talked about some things.” Rainbow Dash said looking to Spike, making him feel a little guilty, but calming him too. When Dash looked back to Twilight her reaction was unexpected. “You and Spike read a Daring Do book?! And you didn’t call me?!” Twilight groaned in frustration, knowing Rainbow Dash and… Spike? “Wait? You just said Spike read a book?” Rainbow Dash only nodded at her, but never expected her smile to widen so much. She then received a powerful hug from Twilight. Nearly crushing her spine. “OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I need to know how you did that, what kinds of tricks you did to get him interested in reading.” Twilight used her magic to levitate a notebook to her to write on. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what she would say, but looking to Spike, he had decided to sneak away and get something to eat. Rainbow Dash wouldn’t let things finish this way. “Twilight, we have to talk…” That was a sentence Dash never thought she’d be saying to somepony like Twilight, but with the conversation she had with Spike. She knew she had to make Twilight see what she was doing to him. She told her everything that had happened that morning, telling her why Spike hated books, making her feel guilty when she explained his desire to help her although he hated books, told her about his breakdown and how he hated the way his life was going, and finally how she helped change his stance on books and his life. “That’s why I’ll train him whenever either of us wants to, because this will allow him to be more free and to follow his dreams, and not have him being surrounded by so many books.” Rainbow Dash concluded helping Twilight understand most of the feelings he was hiding from her, because she treated him like a child every time, which made him feel even worse about his life. “I really wish I could help with his problems, but I think leaving him in your hooves if the best option, I trust you Rainbow Dash.” Twilight knew if there were any time to trust her friends, it was now. “I won’t disappoint you.” Rainbow Dash said while her stomach rumbled, she needed to get a snack. Spike was holding his own slice of cake and had one for Dash as well. “Here, Dash. I knew your conversation would take a while, so I brought a slice for you.” Spike said looking at her while she began to eat her cake. After finishing her cake, she let out a content sigh. “Thanks for that, Squirt. I talked to Twilight and she said that whenever you or I want to train, she’ll let you off. I was being completely serious when I told you I’d make you train hard.” Rainbow Dash smirked cockily, the look she gave off made Spike excited and scared at the same time. “Sure, thanks for helping me, Dash. You don’t know how much you’ve helped me today.” Spike said while they were walking around the room. The night was perfect, eating cookies and slices of cake, while drinking eggnog. It was a great night to remember stories together, laughing at their jokes and talking about future projects in their lives. Celebrating the day with their friends and not alone. Spike stopped near the door, he was thinking about how one day changed his life, and the same day he carried Rainbow Dash by himself into that place, he learned a lot with her. “You won’t have anymore thoughts like that, right Squirt?” One voice asked him, making him look to his side noticing Rainbow Dash near him. “Oh, hey Rainbow, nah, I’m fine, I just thought when you... What are you looking up for?” Spike noticed Rainbow Dash looking up at something above him, and he decided to follow her gaze and noticed a mistletoe hanging over them. “Oh crap.” His voice made it sound like a joke looking over to Twilight who was smiling and giggling. “I know you two would make the perfect couple.” Twilight give a smile making them blush hard. “Twilight, this is a low blow. You did all the decorations and put this Mistletoe here on purpose knowing it would only be us three.” Spike was uncomfortable about what was happening to him. “Oh, come on, it won’t kill you, it’s only a kiss.” Twilight cheered them on, Rainbow Dash was quiet while Spike was nervous, but he knew what he had to do. “Rainbow, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, I know you came here to see your friends, and Twilight’s prank doesn’t need to be taken seriously, but if you really, really want to do it, I’ll have to ask you to wait..” Spike confessed making Rainbow Dash look at him, waiting for what she’d have to wait for, “You told me you don’t want me to be a loser, so if you want to keep this stupid mistletoe tradition, I’ll have to ask you to wait until I become a winner like you said to me.” Spike showed determination while sounding nervous. His commentary made her feel proud of him. “Okay Squirt, if you want to wait until you’re a winner, I will wait until you prove you can be one.” Rainbow Dash grinned at him, walking towards him. Spike was happy that he made her avoid that stupid mistletoe but hadn’t expected her to approach him. Rainbow Dash quickly grabbed his head with her hooves and kissed him on his lips, his mind went blank with shock, and he didn’t know what to think anymore, it was quick, but at the same time it felt like lightning passing through his body. It didn’t take long until she released him, his mind was blank, and the only thing he saw was Rainbow Dash chuckling. “Wha...What...Why?” Spike was trying to find the right words but he only stuttered in shock. Rainbow Dash simply winked at him. “You sounded like a winner a few moments ago, but this will be a little reward for the initiative, but the next time if you become a winner just like me, I will show you what’s the good part to becoming a winner. I’ll wait for you Spike, even if it takes weeks, months, or even years. I’ll make your life Tartarus if I need to, just for you to become a winner.” She said while walking away, getting more cookies and cake. “Twilight do you have another bed for me sleep in tonight?” “Sure, you can sleep in Starlight’s room.” Twilight was standing there in shock, her mouth was hanging open and she hadn’t believed what had happened, she was only messing with them, but perhaps she had already put them on the path to becoming a couple. “Good, hey Spike, just one more thing. You won’t tell anypony about that or I will catch you and make your life a living hell.” Rainbow Dash said, trying to scare Spike. However he was still in disbelief and wasn’t scared. “Rainbow, even if I did tell them, who’d believe that?!” Spike’s eyes were wide with shock, but only his mouth spoke logic, he still didn’t believe what had just happened, so why would other ponies? “That’s what I thought.” She kissed her hoof and threw a kiss in his direction, teasing him. “Happy Heart’s Warming guys.” “Happy Heart’s Warming Rainbow Dash.” Both Twilight and Spike spoke in unison. That had been the craziest thing they’d ever seen. Twilight was the second to go to sleep, she was eerily quiet, she didn’t have anything to say in that moment. The situation was so weird, neither of them dared to break the silence. Spike didn’t know what to do and he didn’t know what he’d have to do, but one thing was for certain, he wanted to go sit by the window and watch the snow fall like he had been trying to all day. Walking out of the room, he used his dragon flame to ignite the embers in the fireplace, waiting as the fire grew and the room became warmer. He opened the window and felt a breeze across his face. He imagined how, like a breeze, Dash came into his life and turned his world upside-down. He smiled all night long. This was the best Hearth’s Warming Eve he’s ever had.
Power Ponies vs Daring DoAfter collapsing to the floor, Spike was looking at her like his heart had stopped beating for a few seconds, she wasn't moving, and Spike assumed the worst. “Rainbow!!” Spike shouted in despair, he didn't think about what he was going to do, but his instincts had kicked in making him move to her side and wrap her hooves over his shoulder and pick her up, carrying her on his back. He knew where the fireplace was, so he didn’t have that far to go. After passing many doors he finally reached the one with the fireplace inside. He opened the door and carried Rainbow Dash over to the fireplace. He set her down in front of it, hoping it’d warm her up. Letting out a sigh of relief, he went into another room and took some blankets out for her. After laying them across her he noticed her smiling like she was enjoying the warmth. “Hey, Spike do you know who was at the door?” Twilight asks before spotting Rainbow Dash. She was going to say something else but decided against it. “Never mind. What happened to her?” “She was outside freezing, when I let her in, she just sort of fainted.” Spike said putting more blankets on Rainbow Dash. “Hey Spike, why don’t you make some hot cocoa for her? It will help her when she wakes up.” Twilight suggested to him, Spike nodded in agreement. “Got it.” Spike ran along to the kitchen, leaving Twilight and Rainbow Dash alone. Twilight stared at Rainbow Dash for a few minutes, before she noticed Rainbow Dash starting to recover. Her eyes widened slowly, after realizing where she was, she smiled at Twilight. “Hey Twi, how are you?” Rainbow Dash asked leaving the blankets. “I’m alright, how was your little nap?” Twilight asked narrowing her eyes. “Oh that, sorry to faint in your home. hum...” Rainbow Dash stretched and yawned. “Anyways, thanks for bringing me here.” “Actually, It wasn’t me who did that. When I came into this room, it was Spike who was putting blankets on you. He was the one who brought you in.” Twilight said giving all the credit to Spike. “Really, the squirt? How did he bring me here?” Rainbow Dash asked in disbelief, she couldn’t imagine how Spike had managed to carry her here. “I carried you here by myself, and before asking another question. I already carry your weight in books daily, so don’t act so surprised.” Spike sounded a bit disappointed and upset. He never liked it when somepony didn’t believe what he could do, but he knew this would always happen. Even with his friends. “Here, I brought you some hot chocolate to make you feel better.” “Oh thanks Spike, I didn’t want it to sound like I didn’t believe you. Thanks for your help, Squirt.” Rainbow Dash tried to apologize to the little dragon. “That’s okay Rainbow, you aren’t the first pony who did that, but I have a question for you. What the hay were you doing outside on Hearth’s Warming Eve?!” Spike really wanted to know why she was out that morning, on a day where it made more sense to stay home. She took a sip and let out a sigh of pure bliss. She was in paradise after taking a sip of the hot cocoa, her reaction made Twilight and Spike share a look, smiling at each other. “Okay, I was alone at my house and I really wanted to do something. I was like super bored, cause I read all my Daring Do books, so I left and decided to visit my great friends.” Rainbow Dash answered taking another sip, approaching them and hugging them. “Fluttershy isn’t home right?” Spike asked making her look at him like she was offended, but she sighed nodding. “She left a message saying she was staying with her family. I tried to talk to Applejack, but the Pinkie Pies’ family was there making a new ‘family tradition’ the last pony I wanted to visit was Rarity, that’s why I came here.” Rainbow Dash snorted like she didn’t like how the conversation was going. “I’m glad you choose to stay here Rainbow, Starlight decided to stay in the Crystal Empire to celebrate with her friend Sunburst, and it was only me and Spike, we’re making the preparations for Hearth’s Warming, and Spike was going to take a break when you came.” Twilight was happy to see one of her friends there to celebrate with them, but looking to Spike, he wasn’t excited like her. “Okay, so, if you don’t mind, Twilight. I will go to read my comics.” Spike said walking away from the door. “Spike wait, please, if you won’t read the books, at least read your comics in the reading section.” Twilight suggest, almost begging him to do that. “Urrrrgh, come on Twilight! Why are you still trying to do this? Fine, I will go there, but I will do only that.” Spike shouted and closes the door with a slam, leaving Rainbow Dash with her mouth agape. “What just happened?” Rainbow Dash asked, still trying to figure what she saw some seconds ago. Twilight sat down, sighing. “Spike had a terrible week, and when I tried to make him read a book to feel better, he said no. And that he doesn’t like reading books.” Twilight said trying to understand what she did wrong to him. “Woah woah wait, are you telling me, that your number one assistant, who helps you every day looking and finding books for you. Doesn’t like to read?” Rainbow Dash sounded weird when she said that, but that was really what she was thinking. “Yeah, I did everything to help him, but I don’t know why, maybe you can help me, Dash. Can you talk to him, you can try to make him to read a Daring Do book.” Twilight asked for her help to make him to read her favorite book, and nothing was better than helping her friend read a Daring Do book. “Okay, I will make him love to read books the same way you do, just one Daring Do will make him change his mind.” Rainbow Dash finished her cocoa and flew at high speeds around the library. Finding Spike quickly among the shelves. “Hey, Rainbow. You look better, going to read another Daring Do book?” Spike asked glad to see Rainbow Dash back in the air.. “Yeah Squirt, Daring Do is the best story in the world, maybe you should give it a shot.” Rainbow Dash approached him, winking. Spike went over his options before shaking his head in disagreement. “No thanks, I’ll be fine reading my comic books.” He only answered opening the door, holding ten of his Power Ponies comics in his claw. Her mouth opened but she wasn’t willing to give up early, she remembered what Twilight said, so she couldn’t force him to do that if he wasn’t ready. After they entered she flew away looking for her book, finding it she laid down on the floor and opened it. “Okay, suit yourself.” Her answer made Spike looked to her in disbelief, like he heard something he didn’t understand, he comes closer to her and started to ask. “Really? That’s it? That easy?” Spike asked as if it was some kind of practical joke. “No lecture or disapproving face?” “Why would I do that? You think I’d be like Twilight and make you read books like her?” Rainbow Dash shrugged and continued to read. “You decided that you didn’t want to read so I won’t force you to do that.” “Actually, I was expecting you to act like her. She always makes my decisions hard. When I said I don’t want to read, it was like I destroyed her heart and everything she believes in, but this isn’t the end of the world, we already saved it too many times.” Spike said to Rainbow Dash, lying on the floor like her. He opened his comic book and started to read. One thing on Rainbow Dash’s mind was still bothering her, she needed to talk about it. "I thought you loved books like Twilight does." Dash said. Everytime she had visited the Castle he was always showing them books that held information about their missions. “Yeah, I know that, and that’s why all you girls have made the same mistake.” Spike snorted he pointed at all the books from the library. “Rainbow Dash, I only reads these books when Twilight needs my help with the myths, legends, and culture when she was out looking for threats, future lessons, or missions. And this includes looking up all the information like magic, monsters, and history. All of these things I do for her.” Rainbow Dash was still listening him, she sighed disapproving of his actions but kept listening as he continued to talk. “She doesn’t know but I hate to read these books. I’ve read more than two-hundred books only to help her, and I don’t understand many of these books. I’m not a bookworm like Twi is, but when she started with all of this I started to lose interest in the books, and every time she asks me to read one, I end up hating them even more.” Spike was pressing his comic books, he was tired of the same excuse, doing the same thing, and this made him hate every book.. The revelation made Rainbow Dash speechless, what could she say to somepony who only does something he hates to help one friend? And the most important thing, he never told anypony that he doesn’t like to read books, it was in that one moment he told the truth about his actions. “I never imagined you’d do that too only help Twilight. I have to say, Squirt. You are very good liar.” Rainbow Dash confessed, she was much surprised and slightly sad for him. “Thanks Rainbow, I do everything to keep my title of number one assistant. Even if it means doing things I hate, you know?” Spike said trying to force a laugh, but it had ended up sounding pathetic. “You can read your Daring Do book here, actually having company here would be great. If you need any help finding another book I will be more than glad to help you” Rainbow Dash was glad he still wanted to let her read there, maybe she could find out a way to help him with his problem. “Okay dude, I’ll be here, but prepare yourself because when I read Daring Do, I get excited and I make a lot of noise.” Rainbow Dash admitted, but warned him of her adverse reactions to the Daring Do stories. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, Dash.” Spike said, taking a seat on the floor and beginning to read his ‘Power Ponies’ comics. Rainbow Dash opened her book and began to read. It didn’t take long before she began to react to the story, letting out cheers of excitement every so often. Spike was more interested in her reactions, she was doing her best to make noise and garner his attention. It worked. Spike started to chuckle and tried to ignore her constant noise making, but after a few minutes of her cheers and yips, he became very annoyed and curious. But he would not let her reactions trick him into reading that book. She let out a surprised gasp, Spike tried to ignore it but the sounds got louder. They kept getting louder and louder until he noticed Rainbow Dash was practically screaming right into his ear. "Okay, Dash! What do you want?!" Spike had gotten angry after he found out she was purposely trying to annoy him with her noises. Dash needed an excuse and attempted to look around for one before spotting the comic in his claw with the number three printed on it. "Hey, Squirt. What are you reading?" She asked curiously, making the perfect distraction for him to calm himself down. "Well, I'm reading the ten parts of: The Journey of the Power Ponies." Spike said in a mock announcer voice, "It showcases the origins of the Power Ponies and the origin of the Mane-iac." Spike said excitedly, making it seem like the Power Ponies were the best thing in the world. "Woah, can I take a look at the Zapp story? I really wanna know what type of pony she is and how she got her awesome powers." Dash was genuinely interested to read about her comic here, she was after all Zapp for a day. Spike smiled at her and gave her part five of the Power Ponies comic arc, the one that included the Zapp origin story, they began reading it together. Spike was standing behind her, reading it over her shoulder and watching her reactions to the story, it was priceless when she had discovered that Zapp was the captain of an elite branch of the Royal Guard. When one accident made her fly inside of a giant storm, the multiple strikes of lightning that hit her body changed her and gave her the powers she has today. "Woah, that was awesome. She was like a Wonderbolt and then got struck by lightning and got her awesome powers. This totally makes her twenty percent cooler than she was before!" Dash was excitedly flying around the area they were reading in. Spike chuckled softly, watching her express her excitement. "Yeah, my reaction pretty much went the same way, minus the flying. I never imagined the others' origin stories, if you want to read them you can feel free to do so." Spike was happy to see at least one of his friends take an interest in reading his comics, it got boring when he was the only one who enjoyed the Power Ponies comics. "Alright, but I gotta ask you something, Spike. Can we read these somewhere else? Maybe near the fireplace, it'd be more comfortable to read there." Dash was telling the truth, being farther into the castle meant that it was much colder. Spike himself didn't exactly want to stay there for long periods of time. "Sure, lets get out of here." Spike got up from his place on the floor and started to walk with Rainbow Dash, as they passed through the doorway Spike turned to Dash. "Hey, Dash, I'm going to go make us some more cocoa in the kitchen, you can head on over to the fireplace and get comfortable." Rainbow Dash made her way to the fireplace and spotted Twilight making preperations for Heart's Warming, she was holding a couple of things in her magic and decorating the room. "Hey, Twi. Do you need any help with that?" Dash offered, flapping over to her friend. "No, I'm good, I'm just setting up the decorations. It isn't too hard to deal with. How's it going with Spike?" Twilight asked, looking to her friend. "He's alright, only needed to talk with a good friend like me." She stated smugly, puffing out her chest. Twilight let out a sigh of relief. "That's good, I was starting to think that he was upset with me for what happened earlier. But I'm happy he's feeling better now. Thank you, Dash. I'm going to finish taking care of the preparations for tomorrow, can you stay with him while I finish things up?" She asked as the nailed some decorations to the mantle using her magic. "And please, don't leave him alone with his thoughts, who knows what'll happen if you do." Rainbow didn't really understand what Twilight had meant by the last part, she decided to help watch over Spike anyways. "Sure, I can do that no problem. I'll make sure he doesn't think when I'm with him." She stated, unkowingly garnering a glare from Twilight. "Me and him are actually gonna read some comics near the fireplace, it's really cold in the library." She turned around and flew off before Twilight could say anything else. "I hope you can make him feel better, Dash." She whispered, watching her friend fly away. She turned aroudn and went back to decorating the room. Flying into the room with the fireplace, she made herself comfortable, wrapping herself in the same covers that Spike had done that same morning. She then decided that this was the perfect place to read Daring Do. Meanwhile, Spike was drinking his cocoa and walking to the fireplace, he found Dash enjoying her book wrapping in blankets. He watched her while she read, seeing her get excited and more animated the longer she read for. He raised his brow and became curious. "Hey, Dash. I have the cocoa." Spike said as he entered the room, taking a seat next to her and giving her her cocoa. "Thanks, Spike." She took a sip of it. "Dude, you don't know how much better this cocoa makes me feel." "I'm really glad you like it, I usually watch the snow fall while I drink it." Spike stated, walking over to the window and looking outside. Dash's eyes followed him as she became lost in thought. "Hey, squirt? Stop thinking over there and come sit near the fire with me. Don't you wanna finish your comics?" She asked. Spike turned to her and smiled. "Actually, I was gonna ask if I could join you." He said, surprising Dash, but making her happy all the same. "Sure, but what made you change your mind?" Dash asked, narrowing her eyes, wondering how he'd respond. "You know, you were interested in my comics and kept me company while I read them. So it's only fair if I return the favor." Spike said, taking a seat near her. Dash smiled widely at him. "Alright, I know how tired you are of reading books. But I will make sure this will be the most perfect book you've ever read." Dash said, hoping that he'd become more interested in books if she let him read with her. "Really? That's great Dash." Spike leaned over and looked at the first page of the book. "Daring Do has become trapped in the topical jungle and..." Spike began to read with Dash next to him, starting on the first page of the book like when she had been in the hopsital. As they both continued to read, Spike become more invested in the story. One pegasus with a broken wing trapped in a tropical jungle being surrounded by a tiger, black panther, lynx, cheetah, and, surprisingly enough, a white house cat. Spike chuckled at that part, reading to the part where Daring flees the cats and uses a vine to swing across a gorge. He was surprised to read that Daring Do had found herself in front of the ancient temple. "Woah, I can't believe she found the lost temple." Spike exclaimed, Rainbow Dash smirked and simply agreed with him. "Yeah, I had the exact same reaction when I was stuck reading this in the hospital." She remembered when she found herself actually liking the book and reading it day and night. "Okay, turn the page, I need to know what happens next." Spike quikcly put his claw on one of the corners and turned the page while Dash held the other side with her hoof. The book was something Spike didn't quite understand. He didn't like to read books, yet he found this one fun to read. He imagined Daring Do attempting to bypass the traps but still hitting them either way, imagining her facehoofing herself and using her hat to avoid arrows and darts. Finally, the moment of glory came. She was face to face with the legendary sapphire statue, she still needed to complete one last puzzle before being able to grab the statue. Spike held his breath as Daring Do solved the puzzle, stepping on the rat tiles and managing to bypass the trap. He let his breath out seeing she had to correct the solution, but looked over to Dash who was giggling. "What?" Spike asked, seeing her trying to hold in her laughter. "Nothing, you'll see later." Dash rolled her eyes, looking back to the book as they continued to read. She was finally in front of the sapphire statue and trying to find a way to grab it without activating the pressure plate underneath of it. Her hooves were shaking violently as she let out slow collected breaths, attempting to calm herself down. She ended up taking the statue in her mouth, without realizing she had just activated the trap. The temple was crumbling all around her and lava was begging to rise from the floor, cutting off her escape route. Spike realized if he were in that situation, he could just swim through the lava. Spikes' heart beat faster and faster, hoping she'd find a way out. Daring Do finally made her escape, air pressure launching her high into the sky and having her fall onto the floor of the jungle. Not five seconds later did Ahuizotl appear in front of her, stealing the statue from her, calling the wild cats from before to surround her. "Oh come on, what in the name of Tartarus is this?! Where did he even come from?! She literally just escaped from near death and he appears from nowhere and catches her?!" Spike shouted, causing Dash to burst out laughing, making Spike lose his position. "Sorry, I'm just. A bit surprised is all." "Don't worry, Spike. I won't tell Twilight you practically shouted right into my ear." She turned her attention back to the book and continued to read. Daring Do had become trapped in another room, she didn't have much of a chance at escaping this time, but she at least had to try. Using her hat, she flung it at the perfect angle, shifting a lever connected to the wall, freeing her from the traps, sand, spiders, and snakes. She took the advantageous opportunity and stole the statue back while Ahuizotl was distracted and using a vine to escape. After finishing the book, Dash smiled at Spike, who was gasping from the ending. "Woah, that was incredible. Daring Do is amazing, I never imagined the library would have these kinds of books." Spike was amazed by the story they had just read together. "Yeah, you know, Spike. I didn't like books either, many of them were super boring. But these kinds of books, with action, fantasy, and adventure. They changed my mind. I know you only read books to help Twilight, but if you need something to read when you get bored, come to me." Dash gave him a little noogie at the end. "Thanks, Dash. You really made me feel better about today." He replied, smiling at her. "Yeah, I know. I'm pretty awesome like that. But let me tell you this, every book of hers. Is 100% true." She told him, making Spike look at her in disbelief. "You really expect me to believe that?" "It's true, you can ask Twilight and the others, they'll all agree with me. But you need to keep this a secret." Spike rolled his eyes but decided to humor her. "Alright, you can count on me, I won't tell anypony that Daring Do is real. Cross my heart and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye." He performed the motions associated with the Pinkie Promise.
PrologueThe snow was falling lightly outside, the soft white flakes were falling on the day of the most celebrated holiday of the year in Ponyville. Looking outside from the window one can watch the snow falling and look on as the ground becomes covered in layers of fresh snow. Meanwhile, inside the castle laying on the carpet near the fireplace was a young purple alicorn who was reading one of her many books. She was alone but she had the feeling that something important was missing. She looked to her draconian assistant’s basket and he surprisingly wasn’t there. Searching for her assistant, Twilight got up from the carpet and started to go looking for him. Searching inside her castle she attempted to locate him. She checked the bathroom, the throne room, his bedroom, the library, and many other rooms that her castle held, but he wasn’t there. Just then, she caught a whiff of something that smelled absolutely delectable. She smiled to herself, finally knowing where he had run off to. Slowly approaching the kitchen she entered to see a little purple dragon with green spines who was baking something that smelled delicious. The little drake’s face was covered in flour but he was happily baking something to his heart’s content. “Happy Hearths Warming Eve, Spike.” Twilight said from the doorway catching him off guard and almost making him drop his utensils. “Whoa!! Hey Twi, you scared me a bit there. You nearly made me drop my baking utensils.” Spike said grinning, feeling very relieved that that hadn’t been the case. “But anyways, happy Hearths Warming Eve to you too, Twilight.” “So Spike, what are you planning to do today?” Twilight asked while approaching him, looking at whatever he was baking. “Oh, I was just making this cake and baking some cookies for today. Maybe make some eggnog for later on, and then just go watch the snow fall near the fireplace.” Spike cleaned his face with a nearby towel as he told her plans for Hearths Warming day. Twilight started to become anxious, she didn’t like to see her assistant and her closest friend do all the work for her. “Can I help you with something, Spike? I want to help you finish this soon, because I kind of want to have a chat with you.” Twilight asked making Spike look at her, his eyes riddled with confusion. “A talk? What do you want to talk about?” Spike asked trying to decipher his surrogate sisters intentions. “First: lets finish this, and afterwards we can talk about it. Here, let me help you with this.” Twilight said while approaching the granite island in the middle of the kitchen and catching his bowl of cream with her magic. Spike started to chuckle, making her stare to him in confusion. “What? Is there something on my face?” “No, it’s not that. It’s just that you’re assisting your assistant. That’s a good one” Spike let out a little laugh. “I hope you’re not trying to take my place as your number one assistant.” Twilight thought over what he was talking about, she couldn't deny that idea was funny, and start to giggle too, after that simple joke. “Okay, that’s a good one I must agree, but don’t worry. I won’t try taking your place as my number one assistant. I can be the number one assistant of my number one assistant.” Twilight joked in derision like him and they started to laugh, after facing so many problems and challenges, they still had their friendship and each other's company to help them deal with the boredom. When the laughing fit was broken, it created a silence between them. Spike smiled and brought the eggs and cream to Twilight. “Okay, my number one assistant, if you’ll help me by starting to make some eggnog for us and then after making it we can go and finally talk.” Spike remembered how Twilight gave orders to him and tried for the first time act like her, doing a great job. Twilight guessed the roles were switched for them, making Spike the boss and Twilight the assistant. Even if it was just for one day. “Okay? Is that everything you needed me to do, Mr. Dragon?” Twilight asked in a serviable fashion sounding like an assistant at his beck and call. “Come on, Twilight. I never called you Ms. Sparkle and much less your highness.” Spike said while rolling his eyes in her direction. “You know you only have to call me Spike, right?” Spike took the cake out from the oven and put his cookies in. Finishing this, he then put the cake over on the table and looked towards Twilight, who was starting to make the eggnog by herself. Spike smiled, watching her make the eggnog without his help. Taking his cream bowl it took a few minutes for Spike to ice the entire cake, he spread gems along one side of the cake for himself and put alfalfa along the other side for his friends to enjoy. “The cake is done.” Spike said as he let out a sigh of relief, noticing that Twilight had finished making the eggnog and was now tasting it. “Mmm! It’s perfect.” She said after sampling her eggnog proudly. “Okay, now we only have to wait for the cookies. So what do you want to talk to me about?” Spike asked while he put his pink, frilly apron on the counter and walked over to her. Twilight looked at him, but Spike was desperately trying to avoid looking her in the eyes. “Spike, how are you feeling?” She asked, he let out a small sigh, recalling how she had asked him the very same question just a few days prior. “It’s okay, Twilight. You don’t need to worry about me, I’m feeling fine.” Spike said showing some exasperation in his voice. “Spike, I know you’re lying to me. Please, just tell me what’s bothering you.” Twilight said, sitting down next to him and wrapping one of her wings around him in a comforting manner. Spike looked to her, he was nervous and trying to think of a way to weasel his way out of the interrogation, he couldn’t think of one. Letting a sigh of defeat, he walked to a nearby chair and sat on it, letting another sigh escape his lips he turned to Twilight. “I feel absolutely terrible, Twi. But I’m doing better than I was a few days ago. I thought I had finally gathered up enough courage to confess to Rarity how I felt. To see if I could get her to love me back. I needed to know if she felt the same way about me or not, or if she was just… leading me on. No matter what the answer was going to be, I knew that I needed to know the truth.” Spike’s posture and demeanor sagged as he continued speaking. “Well, I found out. Found out exactly what I wanted to. How Rarity truly felt about me. My crush, the mare I’ve been pining after for years, crushed my heart. Right into little pieces.” He sighed, pulling his legs up into his chest. “At least she tried letting me down easily. She told me that she saw me as a little brother. That’s good, I think. It still hurt though, more than I let her know. Knowing that me and her never truly had a chance together. It stings.” Spike said his claw pressing his chest, as if it were wounded. After taking a breath he exhaling a sigh of sadness “I’m trying to focus on my chores, to avoid thinking about that. Keeping my mind busy with the cleaning and the cooking helped me a lot to keep me from dwelling on it, so I’m still better than before.” He looked back to Twilight. “Thank you for asking, Twilight. This actually helped cheer me up a little bit.” Twilight listened her draconic brother with all the empathy she had, but inside of her heart she still had a strange inkling that there was something he wasn’t telling her. However, she knew she couldn’t just force it out of him, he’d tell her when he wanted to, not when she wanted him to. She remembered when she was studying with Starlight and Spike at the castle, he was destroyed, he didn't eat or drink all day long. She took care of him as much as she could the first day after Rarity had rejected him. She couldn’t remember seeing him cry that hard or for that long in a very long time. The second day the situation became worse, because Spike wasn't feeling himself, he didn’t show any feelings and acted like he lost every feeling he had. After a few days like this, she tried to get him to go outside, but he didn`t show any interest in going outside. Day after day Spike had changed a bit after Rarity said that they couldn’t be a couple, there was a good change however, she noticed her assistant was becoming depressed but still was trying to hide his true feelings from the others, making more chores for himself to avoid thinking of this. Twilight knew that doing this was unhealthy but wasn’t sure how she could get him to tell her what he was hiding. The timer made a sound signalling to them that the cookies were done. Spike got up from the table and walked over to the oven, pulling the cookies out and placing them on the nearby table. He took out a list and crossed off the final line of his chores, everything was done and he was ready to spend the rest of his day watching the snow fall gently down to the ground. “Hearths Warming meal? Check. Now, Twilight, if you don’t mind I have some snow to watch.” Spike was excited to watch the snow by himself, it's the perfect occasion for him finally watch the simple things in his life. However Twilight didn't share in his enthusiasm because she feared when he finally had time to himself his depressed thoughts would comes back to bite him in the butt, she needed to find a way for him to waste his time. “Hey, Spike? Why can’t you just read a book today? Maybe if you read a good book you will feel better and forgot what happened?” Twilight suggested, the books always helped her with all her personal problems, there was nothing that a good book couldn’t do, she remembered when she did read the entirety of Ponyville history, she had forgotten all of her problems and even her chores for that day. Which led to more problems being created. Spike looked to Twilight with a serious expression, like what she had said to him was the most ridiculous idea he had ever heard. Twilight attempted to figure out why Spike was looking at her that way, but after a few moments of silence he slowly shook his head and let out a sigh. “I know you are just trying to cheer me up Twilight, but I don’t think a book can do that for me.” Spike thought it would have been tempting if he had liked the idea in the first place. Twilight was speechless, Spike refused the idea about reading a book, was he crazy or something like that? Rarity destroyed his heart so hard making him turn to madness, why can't he just let the books help him? Her mind was running wild trying to comprehend what he had just said to her. “But you know? I liked the idea of reading something today, so I think that I will go and read my Power Ponies comic right now, thanks Twilight.” He walked out of the castle kitchen. “Wait, what?!” Twilight snapped out of her thoughts after hearing Spike tell her he was going to read his comic books. “But Spike, haven’t you already read your Power Ponies comics ten times? Don’t you think it’s time to try another type literature? Like our books?” “Nah, I’m okay. It’s not my fault that the Power Ponies are in hiatus until next month, so I will have to wait until then, and nothing better than reading it again.” He waved his claws like it wasn't important to him, but the more he tried to avoid reading the books, the more Twilight annoyed him into trying to. “But Spike, books are a good thing to read, they have adventure, fantasy, romance, comedy, we have a lot of books to read, Spike. Why can’t you just pick one to read, you will find out the books are better than comic books.” Twilight shut her mouth after realizing what she said. Spike turned around looking mad to her. “Say that one more time, and I will make you want to take that back.” Spike stated, making her glare seriously at him. “Make me take that back. That`s what I want to see you try, I said that books are better than comic books.” Twilight dared her assistant to make her take her words back. “Okay.” Spike sighed and walked around the kitchen, noticing one book he found on the floor, after reading the cover he showed it to Twilight, making her widen her eyes, noticing her defeat was coming. He was in front her looking at the book with a devilish smile. “So you wanna see me try? Okay, let’s see what we have here, The Tales of The Hearths Warming Celebration, Vol 2. This is your favorite, isn’t it?” Twilight knew she has to take that words right now, or something terrible would happen to her beloved book if she didn’t. “What do you think will happen if some dragon sneezes on this?” Spike pondered looking to her, he was going to sneeze on purpose and burn her favorite book. “OKAY SPIKE, OKAY, YOU WON. I TAKE THAT BACK, BUT PLEASE DON’T BURN THE BOOK.” Twilight begged Spike to not burn her favorite book. Spike was going to reply to the comment when one knock on the door far away from the room, was echoing all throughout the castle. “I guess we have a visitor, you don’t know how lucky you are, Twilight” Spike put the book on the floor and started to walk towards the front entrance. Twilight hugged the book with all her force, thanking whatever forces were helping her and let her book remain safe from Spike’s fire breath. The hug was ended abruptly when she looked around the kitchen and noticed all the utensils were disorganized, she let out a sigh and started to re-organize them, but also wondering who it was that came to visit them. Spike walked through the corridors, going the front door the knocks were becoming more powerful and quick. “I’m coming, hold on a second.” Spike finally stopped in front of the door and opened it letting a colorful burst enter the castle. The door closed and Spike flew backwards into the throne room. Spike fell from the colorful burst who was carrying him near the door, he was trying to understand what heck happened in that moment. “What was that?” Spike asked as he got up from the floor, he saw a cyan pegasus shivering on the floor, her mane nearly frozen white from the snow that had accumulated in it. He recognized this pony as Rainbow Dash, who was currently freezing right in front of him. “Rainbow Dash are you okay?” She only nodded but after that collapsed to the floor.
What do you want? The heart's warming eve night. [Edited]Finally getting to read another book about Daring Do, they had been tired after reading the third book in the series and Spike was needing some time to rest before they started again. “Okay Squirt, what do you want to do now?” Rainbow Dash was planning to read another book with him, but it seemed that she didn’t want to read anymore. “I think I want to just watch the snowfall.” Spike was happy, but his tone made her a bit confused. “Dude, the snow will fall all day, you need to do something other than just staying there and staring out the window.” Rainbow Dash didn't understand how anypony could enjoy doing that. “Dash, I just need some time alone with my thoughts.” Spike said reminding her that Twilight had told her not to leave him alone with his thoughts. “Okay, and what if we stare at the snowfall together and talk about things?” Rainbow Dash hovered near him, looking out the window. “Things?” Spike didn’t understand what she was talking about. “Yeah ‘things’, like how your life is going, what you think about Daring Do, what you want to be in the future, those things y’know?” Rainbow Dash sounded strange and she wasn’t very good when it came to conversations, she secretly hated talking about things, but it was the only thing she could think of to get his mind off of other things. “Okay, if you really want to know, I really liked Daring Do, she reminds me of you: an adventurer, a warrior, a pony who loves life and lives for danger every day.” His argument made Dash blush, she attempted to hid her blush from him, but she couldn’t hide her smile. “You really think so? I mean, yeah, she’s awesome. But do you really think that I’m like her?” Rainbow Dash asked while he was watching the snowfall slowly outside the window. He turned to her smiling brightly. “Yeah, you’re amazing Rainbow, you did so many things to show the others how awesome you are, you became part of Wonderbolts, you use wings to fly every day, you sleep in the clouds, you can perform a Sonic Rainboom, you have countless adventures with our friends, yeah, your life is awesome, sometimes I envy your life.” Spike counted her victories with his claws, and confessed what he feels about Rainbow Dash, but hearing Spike say that he envied her lifestyle wasn’t something she imagined the little dragon would say about her. “You always can go on adventures, meanwhile I have to stay here, clean the castle, and organize the books, the only thing I can do is help Twilight research the monsters and villains she has to face.” “You can’t say that, what about the adventures you’ve been on?” Rainbow Dash had known that Spike had some adventures. “Dash, the only adventure I went on was the Dragon Migration, to find myself and find where I belong. And we both know that didn’t end well.” Spike said looking to her. Rainbow Dash then recalled that the entire situation had sorta been her fault, she had made fun of him by saying he wasn’t a ‘real’ dragon. “Sorry about that day Squirt, I didn’t know you were trying to find the answers to your life. I wasn’t thinking and how did you feel after that day” Rainbow Dash apologized for her actions during the Dragon Migration. “I don’t blame you Rainbow Dash, you opened my eyes, I didn’t know how they acted, I didn’t think they’d end up being jerks and a bunch of greedy guys. You saw when I became greedy on my birthday, if I was born there, what kind of dragon would I have been?” Spike asked looking to her, she felt worse than before, imagining Spike becoming that dragon again. “You know what, Spike? You’re an awesome dragon, you have your own powers, you can breathe fire, you send and receive mails from Princess Celestia, you have teeth sharp enough to crunch on gems with ease, that's dragon stuff in you, out of all the dragons, I think you’re the most awesome, and if you became that giant dragon again I think you can defeat all the Wonderbolts, including me.” Rainbow Dash joked making him smile and letting out a chuckle. “But anyway, we never imagined a little dragon like you could become a giant and awesome dragon like we saw on that day. And what about the time you became the Dragon Lord after winning that gauntlet thingy. That isn’t a great adventure that you could share with me?” “It’s not a long story, actually, it wasn’t much of an adventure to be honest. I know that I didn’t deserve to be Dragon Lord, I only did what I did to prevent Garble from attacking Ponyville if he won, I tried to get to the island, but I don’t have any wings. So my only option was to take help from the Dragon Lord’s daughter, Ember. She helped me and I helped her, we were a team. I knew that if I became the Dragon Lord, I’d have to leave Ponyville. I couldn’t do that. So I passed my title to her, and she became the Dragon Lord instead of me.” Spike told her his side of the story, telling her what he did there, and he didn’t sound like he was trying to impress her, but he wasn’t telling it good enough.. ‘Wait Spike, you did all this stuff, you became the Dragon Lord, not letting your worst enemy to attack us, became a friend of a Dragon Lord, and you still act like it wasn’t a big deal? What’s wrong with you?!” Rainbow Dash couldn’t believe what she was hearing, Spike had done great things and was acting like it was just another day of normal work. “You need to be more proud of yourself, Squirt. You gotta stop underestimating yourself. Why would you want to sound like a loser, Spike?” “I don’t know, I think because of the fact that I don’t have wings, or the way of I did that stuff, or maybe sometimes I think that I’m not a dragon.” Spike only answered making her look to him. “You know, when I went on that rampage, I noticed something, I didn’t have wings, for the Gauntlet of Fire you needed to have wings to reach the volcano and get past the other obstacles, look at me, I’m smaller than everything, if I had only a little of greed I had on my birthday, maybe I could have fought with Garble, but he flies. When I’m stuck on the ground, seeing your face when you fly. I imagine it to be the most wonderful sensation in the world, meanwhile everyday I think I don’t deserve such things.” Rainbow Dash was listening, she was going to say something but nothing came to mind, thankfully Spike finished his speech. “My dream was to become a hero, a hero who uses a sword like a knight, to go on the adventures, fight with monsters everyday, live and die for a fight, a hero who takes a princess and has the romance he waited for, but look at me.”Spike pointed to himself. “Can you imagine me being a hero, a knight or doing something like they do everyday? Can you imagine me having a single moment of glory? Or having the mare of my dreams? No! Of course not, It’s impossible for me, I’m not a hero, I’m not a knight, and I’m not a dragon!” He screamed as tears began streaming down his cheeks, she was afraid to say something wrong, she prayed to Celestia to switch places with Fluttershy because she would know what to do in this situation. “Rainbow Dash, who am I?” Spike only asked this simple question, it had been bothering him his entire life, had he pondered this question for months? She didn’t know. “And how’s my life going? Horrible, I told Rarity about my crush on her, but she told me she only sees me as a little brother, and that crushed my heart. Making me think, everything I did for her, it wasn’t good enough. I was being foolish this entire time. I’m really not worth it…” “Can you just shut up?!” Rainbow Dash cut him off making him stop, she couldn’t take it anymore, but after realizing what she said. “Sorry Spike, but this, is too much for me to handle, you didn’t let me answer what you asked, and everything that happened to you? Did you think about saying that to Twilight or to Fluttershy? They can handle this stuff better than I can.” “No, I didn’t talk to them about that, I only talked to you, because I know you didn’t need to answer or try to help me, just knowing what I’m thinking, it’s made me feel better, I know the others will try to help me, or try to say something to cheer me up, but I think that only by talking to the pony who I look up to, makes me feel better than trying to act and put on a fake smile.” Spike looked out the window at the ground covered in ice and the snow still falling slowly. Rainbow Dash admired the fact that Spike chose her to reveal his thoughts and worries to, he envied her life, he needed more than a friend like Fluttershy or Twilight, he needed somepony to look up to, she wouldn’t let him just give up. “Spike, I won’t allow you to just give up and become a loser, you envy the way I live my life. So I’m going to teach you how to be just like me, Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow Dash stated confidently, looking into Spike’s eyes and seeing a glimmer of hope. “You’ll really do that for me, Dash?” He asked, wiping tears from his eyes and giving her a smile. She was happy that he seemed to have stopped worrying so much, but there was still a long way to go. “Yes, first I will tell you what you have to change, stop acting like a loser, you aren’t one, so stop acting like you are, stop being afraid to live your life, yeah, bad things happen. But good things happen too. Leave the castle more, go outside and do something you love. You said you wanted to know how to use a sword? Well, start training on how to use one. Do the training outside, hay, if you want it, I can train with you. But you have to be determined to do this, because this will be hard and straining on you.” Rainbow Dash said looking in his eyes, she was determined to make his world change, not only to make him like books, but to like his life everyday and show him why the word awesome was in her dictionary. Spike was speechless, somepony wanted him to follow his dreams and was willing to teach him, making his life better and worse at the same time. Hearing this definitely cheered him up, but Dash wasn’t done yet. “And the most important part squirt: be proud of who you are and what you’ve done. You’re not only a dragon, you’re Spike, the dragon who was raised by ponies, who has the power of friendship with you, who makes friends with the Dragon Lord and Changeling King. You’ve created a lasting alliance with the dragons and changelings, you’ve saved the Crystal Empire, twice!, you have your own statue, a statue for Celestia’s sake! Nothing is more awesome than that, and that’s without saying you’re the number one assistant of Twilight Sparkle. You are better than many ponies and you need to value yourself, and break out of this shell you’re hiding in.” Rainbow Dash finished with her speech, explaining how he was acting and how he needed to change if he didn’t want to feel like a loser anymore. Spike was stunned, there were no words to describe how he felt, he never thought he needed to be thankful for what he had, but here he was throwing away his victories like they were nothing. He didn’t know why Dash wasn’t kicking his ass. “And I didn’t kick your ass only because you have so many good qualities, Spike. You are helpful, cool, kind, and loyal. You’ve never told Twilight the reason you hate books, if that isn’t loyalty, then I don’t know what is.” Rainbow Dash wrapped her hooves around Spike, letting him find his voice. “I never imagined you’d think that about me.” Spike was in shock as he looked up to the mare he admired and envied as she offered to help make his life more awesome. “But there is one thing you need to know Spike, you’ve always helped your friends with what they need and what they want, but we haven’t asked about you Spike? Ask yourself, what do you want?” Rainbow Dash asked this simple question, he never thought to ask himself that, he feared that his greed would awaken like it did on his Birthday. But Rainbow Dash knew about it, so why did she ask that? “Rainbow I…” Spike tried to speak but was interrupted by Rainbow Dash stomping her hoof. “Spike, what do you want? Tell all the world what you want. Show us that you’re better than your greed and decide what you want to do with your life, what do you want for your future, for yourself what… do… you… want?!” Dash screamed this part of her speech, knowing that Spike was better than that. Spike just stood in shock, it felt like his heart and very soul very on fire. He closed his eyes and looked inside of himself, asking what he truly wanted. “I want to be a hero, I want to be able to fly, I want to go on adventures, I want to experience everything life has to offer, I want what my heart and soul desire. But I will not become a rampaging beast like I have before, I want to be a better dragon, I want to be Spike the Dragon!” Spike suddenly found his voice, and screamed with conviction. Tears began to fall from his eyes, they weren’t sad tears, but tears of happiness. It felt like all of his problems had gone away. Rainbow Dash was proud of Spike, he needed that more than anypony, she’d already done motivational speeches for groups, but this was from her heart to him, freeing him from his fears and anxieties, but she needed to say one more thing, she approached him and touched his shoulder, his emerald eyes looked into her magenta eyes. “It doesn’t matter what I think of you Spike,what matters is what you think of yourself. You can still think like a loser, or you act like a winner. And one more thing Spike, I hate losers. You better not disappoint me.” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at him and Spike nodded quickly in agreement “That’s good, now, I’m starving, did you make something good to eat for us tonight Squirt?” Rainbow Dash asked opening the door, calling Spike to go with her. His stomach rumbled and he looked out the window at the night sky. He hadn’t thought they’d been speaking for hours. “Squirt, don’t make me have to ask twice.” It was clear Rainbow Dash wasn’t in the mood for waiting for an answer. “Sure, I had some cake and cookies prepared for us today. But you do realize it’s night already, right?” Spike said while walking with Rainbow Dash. “Hmm, nah, I’m just starving and I wasn’t thinking about that.” Rainbow Dash confessed proudly, ignorance was a blessing for her. This was what Spike needed to learn. While they walked past the corridors going to the kitchen but then they entered the castle throne room and found everything decorated and with all the candies and drinks Spike made in the morning with Twilight. “Wow, Twi. I can’t believe you did all of this by yourself.” Dash said, looking around the room with amazement etched on her face. “Finally you two are here, I thought you’d never leave that room.” Twilight said while eating a cookie and drinking eggnog. “Sorry about that, Twi. We read a few Daring Do books then we talked about some things.” Rainbow Dash said looking to Spike, making him feel a little guilty, but calming him too. When Dash looked back to Twilight her reaction was unexpected. “You and Spike read a Daring Do book?! And you didn’t call me?!” Twilight groaned in frustration, knowing Rainbow Dash and… Spike? “Wait? You just said Spike read a book?” Rainbow Dash only nodded at her, but never expected her smile to widen so much. She then received a powerful hug from Twilight. Nearly crushing her spine. “OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I need to know how you did that, what kinds of tricks you did to get him interested in reading.” Twilight used her magic to levitate a notebook to her to write on. Rainbow Dash didn’t know what she would say, but looking to Spike, he had decided to sneak away and get something to eat. Rainbow Dash wouldn’t let things finish this way. “Twilight, we have to talk…” That was a sentence Dash never thought she’d be saying to somepony like Twilight, but with the conversation she had with Spike. She knew she had to make Twilight see what she was doing to him. She told her everything that had happened that morning, telling her why Spike hated books, making her feel guilty when she explained his desire to help her although he hated books, told her about his breakdown and how he hated the way his life was going, and finally how she helped change his stance on books and his life. “That’s why I’ll train him whenever either of us wants to, because this will allow him to be more free and to follow his dreams, and not have him being surrounded by so many books.” Rainbow Dash concluded helping Twilight understand most of the feelings he was hiding from her, because she treated him like a child every time, which made him feel even worse about his life. “I really wish I could help with his problems, but I think leaving him in your hooves if the best option, I trust you Rainbow Dash.” Twilight knew if there were any time to trust her friends, it was now. “I won’t disappoint you.” Rainbow Dash said while her stomach rumbled, she needed to get a snack. Spike was holding his own slice of cake and had one for Dash as well. “Here, Dash. I knew your conversation would take a while, so I brought a slice for you.” Spike said looking at her while she began to eat her cake. After finishing her cake, she let out a content sigh. “Thanks for that, Squirt. I talked to Twilight and she said that whenever you or I want to train, she’ll let you off. I was being completely serious when I told you I’d make you train hard.” Rainbow Dash smirked cockily, the look she gave off made Spike excited and scared at the same time. “Sure, thanks for helping me, Dash. You don’t know how much you’ve helped me today.” Spike said while they were walking around the room. The night was perfect, eating cookies and slices of cake, while drinking eggnog. It was a great night to remember stories together, laughing at their jokes and talking about future projects in their lives. Celebrating the day with their friends and not alone. Spike stopped near the door, he was thinking about how one day changed his life, and the same day he carried Rainbow Dash by himself into that place, he learned a lot with her. “You won’t have anymore thoughts like that, right Squirt?” One voice asked him, making him look to his side noticing Rainbow Dash near him. “Oh, hey Rainbow, nah, I’m fine, I just thought when you... What are you looking up for?” Spike noticed Rainbow Dash looking up at something above him, and he decided to follow her gaze and noticed a mistletoe hanging over them. “Oh crap.” His voice made it sound like a joke looking over to Twilight who was smiling and giggling. “I know you two would make the perfect couple.” Twilight give a smile making them blush hard. “Twilight, this is a low blow. You did all the decorations and put this Mistletoe here on purpose knowing it would only be us three.” Spike was uncomfortable about what was happening to him. “Oh, come on, it won’t kill you, it’s only a kiss.” Twilight cheered them on, Rainbow Dash was quiet while Spike was nervous, but he knew what he had to do. “Rainbow, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, I know you came here to see your friends, and Twilight’s prank doesn’t need to be taken seriously, but if you really, really want to do it, I’ll have to ask you to wait..” Spike confessed making Rainbow Dash look at him, waiting for what she’d have to wait for, “You told me you don’t want me to be a loser, so if you want to keep this stupid mistletoe tradition, I’ll have to ask you to wait until I become a winner like you said to me.” Spike showed determination while sounding nervous. His commentary made her feel proud of him. “Okay Squirt, if you want to wait until you’re a winner, I will wait until you prove you can be one.” Rainbow Dash grinned at him, walking towards him. Spike was happy that he made her avoid that stupid mistletoe but hadn’t expected her to approach him. Rainbow Dash quickly grabbed his head with her hooves and kissed him on his lips, his mind went blank with shock, and he didn’t know what to think anymore, it was quick, but at the same time it felt like lightning passing through his body. It didn’t take long until she released him, his mind was blank, and the only thing he saw was Rainbow Dash chuckling. “Wha...What...Why?” Spike was trying to find the right words but he only stuttered in shock. Rainbow Dash simply winked at him. “You sounded like a winner a few moments ago, but this will be a little reward for the initiative, but the next time if you become a winner just like me, I will show you what’s the good part to becoming a winner. I’ll wait for you Spike, even if it takes weeks, months, or even years. I’ll make your life Tartarus if I need to, just for you to become a winner.” She said while walking away, getting more cookies and cake. “Twilight do you have another bed for me sleep in tonight?” “Sure, you can sleep in Starlight’s room.” Twilight was standing there in shock, her mouth was hanging open and she hadn’t believed what had happened, she was only messing with them, but perhaps she had already put them on the path to becoming a couple. “Good, hey Spike, just one more thing. You won’t tell anypony about that or I will catch you and make your life a living hell.” Rainbow Dash said, trying to scare Spike. However he was still in disbelief and wasn’t scared. “Rainbow, even if I did tell them, who’d believe that?!” Spike’s eyes were wide with shock, but only his mouth spoke logic, he still didn’t believe what had just happened, so why would other ponies? “That’s what I thought.” She kissed her hoof and threw a kiss in his direction, teasing him. “Happy Heart’s Warming guys.” “Happy Heart’s Warming Rainbow Dash.” Both Twilight and Spike spoke in unison. That had been the craziest thing they’d ever seen. Twilight was the second to go to sleep, she was eerily quiet, she didn’t have anything to say in that moment. The situation was so weird, neither of them dared to break the silence. Spike didn’t know what to do and he didn’t know what he’d have to do, but one thing was for certain, he wanted to go sit by the window and watch the snow fall like he had been trying to all day. Walking out of the room, he used his dragon flame to ignite the embers in the fireplace, waiting as the fire grew and the room became warmer. He opened the window and felt a breeze across his face. He imagined how, like a breeze, Dash came into his life and turned his world upside-down. He smiled all night long. This was the best Hearth’s Warming Eve he’s ever had.
