Spreading Your Wings
By
Darkstone57
Evening time was coming to an end over Equestria as the moon started to rise into the sky. Ponies all over were either tucking themselves in or getting themselves prepared for nightly events that they had planned. But, for some others, be it personal problems or simply with nothing better to do, they simply sat in silence and in the crystal castle that belonged to the Princess of Friendship – there was one who was dealing with the former.
The castle was surprisingly quiet for a Saturday. Normally, it would either be; alive with sound of seven grown mares kindling their friendship over a get together. Or, three energetic beings of three different races would be living it up with their entertainment.
But, on this Saturday night, sitting in the chair next to the princess in front of the map of Equestria; a young adult drake was deep in a pensive mood.
Spike had grown quite a bit at the age of nineteen. No longer was he the little dragon that sat in the chair where his feet could barely touch the ground. Reaching his adulthood, his size grew four times of his youth, even dwarfing the size of Garble at the time Spike was young.
Over the course of his adolescence, his wings began to form from his back and grow large enough to carry him over great lengths in short times, thanks to his training with Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. His natural physique had changed from the slight roundness of his youth to more muscular standard where he overheard a few mares deeming him to be a hunk. His face became more robust with his growth too, along with it, his scales that trailed across his head and down his spine gained an edge to it too.
Despite this, he sat in the chair next to his beloved friends, with a clenched left resting against the side of his cheek as his eyes were transfixed on the item he held in his right claw – the heart gem he gave to Rarity as a present all those years ago.
With the mares out on a night on the town, he had the castle all to himself and though normally he would have been ecstatic to have Big Mac and Discord over for another gaming session, he couldn’t shake the questions that were plaguing and have been doing so for the past few nights.
All of them centred on what he held close to him in this very room. From time to time, his focus would shift from the gem to the chairs around him, one for each of the six mares who he had seen grow to something more as the years went on.
Whilst he was proud of them seeing his close friends accomplish great feats and seeing them overcome impossible odds there was one fact that bothered him more than anything as he looked once more at the gem he held carefully in his right claw – he was still in the same spot.
Even after these years, he was still helping Twilight with her daily routine and tasks that came up, still working to the bone to keep things neat and tidy in the castle and, after all this time, still pining after Rarity.
Spike tapped the gem with his claw tips harshly as he leaned forward and released an aggravated sigh once he placed the gem on the table.
Resting the back of his head against the crystal chair, for the second time this evening, he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts.
But, as the minutes began to drag on and on; the questions, that revolved around what he was doing with himself, kept swirling in his mind, more and more, only served to aggravate him. Bringing his gaze to the map once more, his eyes started to examine the map from corner to corner. He focused intently as he scanned lands and soon came to halt when he came across a place that gave him inspiration.
With newfound intentions, he leapt out of the chair, swiping the gem with him as he dashed through the doors of the castle with vigour until he came to his destination – one of the castle balconies.
Skidding to a halt, he turned his gaze upward as he took in the sight of nation’s capital under the sky of the Princess of the Night.
Spike crouched down, expanded his wings and then rocketed off upward with great ferocity.
Holding his arms ahead of him, his wings pulsed with consistent strong beats as he rose higher and higher up the mountain, confidence beaming from his features.
With a few more beats he even shot past the city of Canterlot and rose even higher, he passed a quick glance downward as he bolted past the castle and heard the feminine squeal from a surprised prince as Spike kept rising higher.
He turned his attention upward as he crashed through the clouds that formed around the mountain side in a blink and then before he knew it, as he flew the last layer of clouds, he was at the highest point of Canterlot Mountain.
With a striking spin he came to halt as he loomed of the peak, smiling as he began his descent.
As he touched down on the snowy terrain the chill of the cold ground sent a tingle up his spine which he welcomed. Placing his hands on his hips, Spike smiled contently as he took in the sight and let out a hearty chuckle as he spoke with his deeper, silvery voice that came with his growth, “The map has got nothing on this.”
All around him, beyond the clouds, Spike could see the lands of his home and beyond. The Smokey Mountains to the west, the Crystal Empire to the south and town of Rainbow Falls not far from there.
To see it all from this point, it was something refreshing for Spike and it made him realise one thing; there’s much more to the world to see.
When that clicked, he looked once more to the gem he held firmly in his right and thought once more about Rarity and his friends.
‘They’ve been on so many adventures both small and large,’ he looked up at the beautiful patterns of Luna’s sky, not before closing his eyes and taking a whiff of the mountain air, ‘Maybe it’s time I went on one myself.’
With a nod he began to walk to the edge as he thought of how they would probably react to his decision with a light chuckle, ‘I’ll always love those girls but this,’ He shifted his gaze to the horizon once more as he stretched his wings for preparation, ‘Is something I just gotta do.’
As the clouds began to clear around the mountain, showing the world below, Spike found confidence flowing through him as he rose from his spot. “Tomorrow is a new day and a new start!” he declared as he jovially dive bombed down the side of the mountain, heading for his home so he could get a good night's sleep.
Author's Note
A simple one shot for one of the best dragons around.
Constructive Criticism and Honest Opinions are appreciated. Take care, all.