Twilight blinked away the ash, slightly spewing from the volcano. It was exceedingly sweltering from inside. Sweat immediately started trickling down Twilight's face.

“Ember?” Twilight called out.

Dragon Lord Ember was the leader of all dragons. Twilight often met the dragons for royal negotiations.

However, it wasn't Ember who discussed negotiations with Twilight. Ember sent her son, Prince Spike of the Dragons, to handle it instead.

Twilight and Spike’s relationship had been very professional at first, but it had gradually become more friendly. Soon, the pony and the dragon looked forward to the visits. They began to exchange letters back and forth. Twilight used the magic from her horn to send the letters and Spike used his special ability to message through his fire breath.

Spike was the only dragon who believed that ponies and dragons could be friends. Even Ember was skeptical of Twilight when she came to visit.

“Ember!” Twilight repeated. “Are you here?”

“Yes, Princess Twilight,” Ember called back. “Give me a moment.”

Ember flew out using her small, but graceful wings and landed in front of Twilight to greet her. “Good to see you back around our parts. My son is waiting for you in the back of the volcano.”

“Great!” Twilight exclaimed. “Thank you for letting me visit. It's an honor.”

Twilight bowed respectfully to Ember which Ember returned. Then, Twilight made her way to the back of the volcano, eagerly.

“Spike!” Twilight repeatedly called his name until his voice was heard.

“Twilight!” Spike called back.

The two close friends ran over to each other and embraced. Twilight let herself melt into the embrace. She didn't get to see Spike very often, so she cherished every moment she got to spend with the young prince.

“So, did you bring the treaty?” Spike asked, playfully winking at Twilight.

Twilight giggled and nodded, levitating the treaty over to him. Spike used the quill Twilight had brought to sign his name before passing back it to her. After getting the treaty back, Twilight signed her name. When their relationship was still on a professional basis, they’d actually discuss, but when it turned into friendship, they just pretended to. They’d use the extra time to play or read.

“So, we still have three hours,” Spike declared. “What do you want to do this time? We can go gem hunting again like we did last time or I can show you the Gauntlet of Fire!”

“Actually, I brought a book,” Twilight said.

Spike’s spirits lifted up. He loved to read with Twilight. “I hope it's one that you wrote!” He loved to read other books with Twilight, but he loved the original stories that Twilight wrote even more. They were always so enchanting and full of imagination. They took Spike on adventures he never got to go on.

“Not this time,” Twilight said with a giggle. “But this book was very special to me when I was a young filly. 'Magic and Mystery’. It's Star Swirl the Bearded’s biography in the form of an adventure story.”

Spike’s interests were captured. Twilight would ramble about Star Swirl’s amazing accomplishments for hours on end. Because of this, Spike could answer almost any question about the old warlock that you could possibly think of. “A Star Swirl adventure story! Cool!”

Twilight opened the book and scooted closer to Spike, so he could see the book. The two friends would take turns reading the paragraphs. Twilight started them off, “Star Swirl trekked through the mysterious terrain. The only light came from a waning crescent moon. He turned to his student and personal protege, Clover the Clever. 'Clover, I think we’re lost’ Star Swirl claimed.”

Spike cleared his throat and continued from the next paragraph, “'Don’t worry, teacher’ Clover replied with confidence. 'I know where we're going. We’ll be back to Canterlot by morning’.”

Twilight continued, “'I’m not so sure about that’ Star Swirl told her. 'How can you see the map in this thick darkness?’”

“'Have faith in me, dear teacher’ Clover said. 'I know what I’m doing. But we must be stealthy. The last thing we want is to get caught---”

“What's going on in here?” Ember demanded, entering the small cave in which they were reading.

“Mom!” Spike cried. “I mean, hello, Mom. What brings you here?”

“What is the meaning of this?” Ember asked, anger bubbling up from inside of her. “I sent you two back here to discuss a peace treaty!”

“I'm sorry, Ember,” Twilight said. “We’ll get right on it.”

“All you two are telling me right now is that you don't want peace!” Ember chided. “Spike, I expected so much more from you!”

“What?! But I---”

“And you, Princess,” Ember continued. “You’re here for the future of your subjects and ours. You may leave now and return home.”

“But I just got here,” Twilight protested. “We haven't finished yet.”

“You're obviously not focused today,” Ember said.

Twilight gave in and gave Spike a hug before grabbing her book and rushing for the exit. Spike cried out for her, “Twilight, wait! Don't go!”

Ember put her claw on his shoulder. “Let her go.”

Spike wrenched free. “No! You sent my best friend away early! I only get to see her one or two times a year!”

“Best friend?” Ember was starting to get extremely upset. “You're supposed to be on a professional basis with the royalty of visiting kingdoms.”

“But Mom! It's not fair!” Spike protested.

“It's completely fair,” Ember said through gritted teeth. “She's a pony! Dragons and ponies aren't friends!”

“Just give her a chance!” Spike pleaded. “Ponies are kind!”

“Spike, listen to me!” Ember roared, losing her temper.

Spike flinched in fear, his heart thumping rapidly. His mother had never spoken to him that way before.

“Spike, I’m so sorry,” Ember said with a sigh. “But I need you to listen to me for once. I don't want you to speak of being friends with her again. It's just… not what we do. It's been a law for a long time now. Please?”

Spike glared at her, barely nodded, and stalked away.

Twilight arrived at her castle and shut the door with a sigh. When she made her way over to her throne to sit down, she opened her spiral notebook and began to write a letter to Spike:

Dear Spike,

I am so sorry that I had to leave earlier than normal. I'm unsure of when I will be back to discuss another treaty. I don't know if your mother wants me back anytime soon. In the meantime, please keep me updated on the events happening in the Dragon Lands.

Your friend,

Twilight

Twilight let out a sorrowful sigh as she sent the letter off to Spike. She hoped for a response soon.

Author's Note

Yes, I wanted to test out my shipping skills with TwiSpike. After all, it's been awhile since I've written anything based on it.