Spike The Dragon Welcome to Gaia

In a flash of purple light Spike and Twilight, as well as their bags, find themselves on a platform out at sea. The only place where one could get to travel from Earth to Gaia thanks to the Rift being in the air.

"It took two dozen teleportation spells but we are finally here!" Twilight said with a proud but tired smile on her face.

Spike took a look around, surprisingly he found there weren't very many people about. He saw a few humans going about their business taking care of the platform and a few guard ponies nearby. All of which, were stallions, which made Spike wonder if Equestria and most other nations on Gaia were actually matriarchal like he had been told. Which made him question why were stallions the only guards he ever saw. He would have to remember to ask Twilight about that later.

He then noticed the antiquated flying deathtrap known as an airship, which he cringed at the thought of flying in. He remembered Twilight telling him many times, due to the large number of races that could fly and all the floating cities on Gaia, they had very strict laws on the designs for flying vehicles. Which made sense, you wouldn't want a kid getting sucked into a jet turbine or have a plane go through someone’s living room. Though all he could do was think of the Hindenburg incident. In spite of how many times Twilight had reiterated, that modern Gaia's airships, were just as safe as human planes.

It was then he looked up to see the very thing that caused him to be the way he is.

The rift.

Spike remembered reading that when the rift first opened, it was little more than a hole in the sky. One that allowed unstable magic to come across and create things. Like the magic-blooded, or the large number of talking animals around nowadays. While also allowing dangerous flying animals, like rocs, to come to Earth as well. Though that was in the past. The ponies had quickly built a giant floating mirror that kept animals, and most of the magic out of Earth while allowing ships to get past.

"Spike are you okay?"

He turned back to Twilight, "Yeah I'm fine, just looking around, by the way, shouldn't there be more people around here? With this being the only way to get from one world to another, I would think there would be a ton of people going back and forth between the two."

"I’m afraid there is not much travel between the worlds. A few scientists, engineers, diplomats, and people that help them come and go every few months. That's about it. There really isn’t any trades going on between the two worlds, and all attempts to start tourism have failed. Mostly due to some cultural differences. Which doesn't make sense if you ask me. Also, you will be the first one to emigrate from Earth!" Twilight said with excitement.

"Really? Wait what are those cul-"

"Princess Twilight it is good to see that you and your coltfriend have gotten here safely."

The two turn around to see that the one who cut off Spike was a guard stallion leading a group of other guard stallions, all who were bowing to Twilight.

"Please let me and my stallions to get your bags aboard for you your highness," The guard stallion said.

"Princess?" Spike spoke not believing what he was hearing, Twilight, a little red in face turned to face Spike then to the guards.

"Thank you sir, me and Spike will go ahead and board," Twilight grabbed Spike by the arm and hurriedly took him aboard the airship.

Once they were aboard she let go of Spike then asked, “Princess? You're a princess? Like one of the princesses that rule Equestria? Like the two who are basically gods that control the sun and the moon?" Spike asked, while still having a hard time believing his old friend and new girlfriend was a royal.

"Well, kind of . . . Spike, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I didn't want you to see me as a princess. I wanted you to see me as . . . me," Twilight answered sheepishly.

"I guess I understand why you did that, but still, you're a princess and I'm a nobody why wou-"

"Spike you're not a nobody, and anyone who told you that you are don't know what they are talking about. You're smart and always try to help others, despite how everything seems to go against you. And if it makes you feel any better I wasn't born a princess." Twilight said cutting off Spike.

"You weren’t then how did you become one?" Spike asked.

"I'll tell you about it on the way to our room, I'm a little tired," Twilight grabbed his arm and began walking.

"Well, Spike do you remember about the different kinds of ponies?” Twilight asked.

"Yeah, there six types of tribes in total; earth pony, pegasus, unicorn, breezie, sea pony, and alicorn," He said as they soon reached their room and Twilight started to open the door.

“And do you remember how I told you alicorns are different from the other tribes?" She asked, as she took him into the room.

"Well the other five tribes each have their own powers, are about equal in number, and the only way to be of those tribes is to be born of it. But the alicorns are not only much rarer and have the powers of all five tribes. Though most alicorns were of another tribe and then somehow became an alicorn. In fact, didn't you say your niece Flurry Heart was the first known alicorn to be born? Wait a minute, does being an alicorn have something to do with being a royal?" Spike asked.

"Yes and no, because alicorns are more powerful than a normal pony all alicorns in Equestria are adopted into the head royal house of Equestria house Solaris, there are other houses of non-alicorns who are descendants of the royals from the countries that joined together to found Equestria, but nowadays they don't have any real power," Twilight answered.

"I remember you telling me about the royal houses. If I recall you also said that some old agreement they made, is the reason why princesses and princes are the highest royal titles allowed in Equestria. Wait a minute, you said that your sister-in-law is also an alicorn? Which, would mean your older brother is a prince, so does that also mean your parents and your little sister Barb are also royals?" Spike asked while Twilight sat down on a couch and motioned for Spike to sit down with her, which he did.

"No, my parents are still unicorns and Barb is a dragon. Only alicorns, their herd mates and kids count as royals of house Solaris."

"I guess that makes sense, but I have to say that only makes me more nervous to meet your family and friends. I mean what are they going to say about you dating someone from another world who is just a nob-"

Twilight glared at Spike for what he was going to say causing him to stop his sentence and grin sheepishly. Twilight then pulled Spike in for a hug and rested her head on his shoulder,“Spike I don't think you have anything to worry about. I have told them so much about you. I’m sure they already know you, in fact, they realized my feelings for you before I even did," She said.

“Well I guess after everything you have told me about them, I could probably pick them out from a crowd. Despite never seeing them, so in a way, I suppose I already know them too," Spike said.

"That’s the spirit Spike! I just know they will all love you," Twilight said eagerly as she could in spite of her tiredness.

“I’m glad you think you so. By the way, is there anything more about Equestria's culture I should know about befor-" Spike looked down to see that Twilight had fallen asleep in his arms.

Spike smiled,"I suppose it’s nothing that can't wait until I meet them."

Not wanting to awake the smaller mare, Spike just held her and tried to sleep. From what Twilight said, it would be a long journey from Luna's Bay to where the Equestria side of the rift was and then on to Canterlot. Where the airship would finally stop.