What Happens Here

It had been 6 months since his father had come back, and Spike could not be any happier. His father had shed so much light on things he had been somewhat lost about, such as his size, how to fight, and magical fire arts. He remembers asking his father Storm about them and being the somewhat multi-tasker his father was, he tackled them all. Gilda had been all for Spike learning how to fight, Twilight was more interested in fire magic of course, and Celestia wanted them to bond. The rest of his friends were just happy to see him happy.

Flashback 5 months ago

"Our height is apart of the great balance of life. I mean look, yea I know you told me about the whole birthday thing but that was just uncontrolled dragon rage. What dragon rage does is that it gives you amazing growth and strength from greed, anger, or pure focus and stamina. It takes a lot out of you though, in pure power it can't be beat, the drawback is its speed. I mean unless its from focus or stamina, but no ones done that in nearly 1200 years." Storm spoke as he sat next to Spike. They often trained in or near Ghastly Gorge because it was mostly uninhabited and mostly fireproof.

Spike, was laying on his back breathing hard from the spar they had just been through spoke. "And who was that? Sounds like a badass, or some sort of super dragon."

"Your grandpa would have loved to hear you say that." With a small laugh he continued. "Torch may be an ass but his father wasn't. He was humble, liked to hear of different ideas from his peers, unrivaled in his humility, and amazing on the battlefield. Maybe that's why my mother, your grandmother, loved him." Standing up, he lifted Spike to his feet."Now come on, I told you to practice the offense magics. Show me how far you've come.

"Alright, I think I really got something with this one." Letting out a stream of fire and smoke onto his arms, he focused the power of the flames into his claws, which he has pressed against each other. The green flames burning brightly around his arms feeding to his claws. "You might want to move dad, I haven't perfected this. I mean I did it on small levels but I'm trying it on a more massive scale." The mass in his arms shining bright as he pointed them forward towards a boulder.

Getting behind Spike Storm said cautiously, "Uhh, son you may be putting too much into....." He was cut off by a small but scream from Spike.

"Yaaah!!"

He released the mixture of magic and flame forward in a magnificent green blast. The beam that was flying from his claws absolutely obliterated the boulder it was aimed at, leaving a crater in its place, and kept going. The beam that was fired left everything in its path vaporized or in a small fire. As it met the canyon wall it sent a shockwave of rock and sediment flying in all directions as it ended. Spike, breathing hard, smile on his face, and muscles straining to keep him standing turned to his father, who stood with his mouth agape. "H..h..how's that?!"

Still there getting over his shock, sputtering out. "I..I know I taught you energy projection but, where in all the gods of any mortal plane did that come from?!"

"Well, I had trained a lot with my fire before you came but I had no stamina. So, I dipped into the well of magic I naturally have and used it to mix and propel it forward. That, took a lot out of me." Falling to one knee, he started to wheeze a bit. "I got that idea from a comic I got when me and Twilight visited Japony when I was young. Some alien, I think his name was Pickle or something called it Light Grenade. Oh, I need a break."

Flashback end

That memory warmed him as the carriage grew colder, the griffon in his lap snuggling closer. On their way to the Chrystal Empire because Storm didn't believe it existed anymore. Celestia had joined them, she believed Storm wanted to see one of his sons achievement. Spikes mother and father had gotten their own cart, in front of Spike and Gildas. His parents had been getting together well, Celestia had made him a royal vizier, and Storm in turn made Dry Shot his assistant. She was in the cart behind them, with Twilight and his friends as they had been getting together quite well. Especially with Twilight, but that was neither here nor there.

Knocked out of his thoughts by the trains whistle, he looked outside to see the train slowing down in a small train station/depot. Crystal ponies were one thing, the ponies of Equestria that decided to make towns farther north were another. They were passing through one such town, Marestanson, about 50 minutes outside Vanhoover. The weather outside not bitter cold, but not temperate either. Spike looked to the thermometer on the wall that show 55 degrees, most likely the high for the day. Expecting to reach The Crystal Empire in about 40 minutes.

Movement in his lap made him look down to Gilda, "Hey, what happened? Where are we?" She said, moving off his lap and standing to stretch.

Over the intercom a voice spoke, "Sorry for the delay, seems there's some blockage on the tracks. Marestanson did experience a storm a day or two ago, seems some trees have fallen onto the track. I will get more information soon, I again apologize." he hand hung up.

Spike looked to his mate, "Wanna go explore? Might be a while before we get rolling again." He stood and began his own stretch, then walked to the door of the car.

"Sure, I am a little hungry, so lets try some local food." Her stomach proving her point, as she followed. "Though I have always wanted to ask, how do you eat gems? I licked an amethyst once and I tasted grape soda."

"Dragon teeth, duh." That got him a punch to the shoulder, making him giggle. "Why do you ask?"

As they exited the car, she said. "Dunno, the thing Breakthrough said the whole, you may gain each others traits thing is in my head a lot."

"Oh?, how so?" Looking around at the ponies, and stores of the town. Some mares looking his way with blushes on their faces.

Getting on his back as a show that he is hers Gilda answered. "Well, a few months ago when AJ kicked me into that tree, I should have broken something. I mean, the girl kicks trees to get apples off, I just got right up and kept walking. Plus I didn't really feel it, might have gotten a dragons vitality. I've seen you just tank some hits over the years just for relevance."

Spike stay silent as he walked, this was something he didn't have an answer for. Though he couldn't even speak as he looked into the town. There was so much still to think about, but for now, he was just gonna enjoy life how it is. A family, friends, and a beauty of a woman with him."