Spike awoke he leapt off the bed, he looked around the room. His eyes widened as he realised it was much smaller than he remembered, he then felt something on his back fling outward. He turned around to see a pair of strong, draconic wings flaring out behind him.

Spike blinked in confusion “How?”

Sunset smiled as she walked into the room with Cloud trotting behind her “Dragons undergo growth relative to their hordes. I must admit I thought it would take longer to take effect.”

Cloud grinned “It’s time to show you how to use those wings. Follow me!” Sunset shook her head as headed upstairs, she would have loved to join them but other things were occupying her mind. She frowned as the report from the Creator’s Mansion Assault laid on her desk.

Meanwhile Cloud was hovering in the air above Spike “Now, first things first your wings are much larger than mine so you don’t need to flap them as often to stay aloft even accounting for you being larger than me. Now give them a flap.”

Spike with a flap jolted as he shot upwards, Spike panicked from the sudden movement as he continued to flap sending himself higher and higher, Cloud took off at full speed and blocked his ascent as he slammed into her. She took a deep breath “Spike, you need calm to down. You need to flap you wings slowly, for now let’s start off with gliding just hold you wings out and let the wind control your descent.”

Spike nodded and the two slowly glided towards the ground. Cloud frowned at Spike “Flight is not incredibly complicated but you need to trust your instincts. Your body know s what to do, just don’t think about it too much. Your wings will do what they need to do.”

Spike frowned “I thought flight would require more thought than that.”

Cloud shook her head “If you want to do the fancy tricks but for basic flight no. In fact is near impossible to any of that if don‘t you trust your own body’s instincts.” Spike took a deep breath and looked to the sky, with a single calm flap he was now in the air. His wings shakily flapping behind him as they struggled to keep him aloft.

Cloud Kicker smiled as she took to the skies “You’re getting it.”

Spike looked at the ground below before looking around “I’m flying, I’m actually flying!” Cloud smiled as his wings started to beat more regularly settling into a comfortable rhythm. She smiled as he started doing laps of Ponyville. Cloud soon joined him as the young drake discovered the joy of flight.

Two hours later they returned home only for Sunset to be standing there with a serious expression on her face. Cloud raised an eyebrow “Sunset why are you waiting for us.”

Sunset looked at Spike “It’s time I taught you how to defend yourself. We’re heading out to the Everfree.”

Sunset walked towards the Everfree, Spike ran up behind her “Why now, is it really that important?”

Sunset sighed “Spike, I am the student of Celestia and that means others are going to try to get me. Cloud has combat training but you have none, what if someone comes after you.” She then smiled at him “Don’t worry, I won’t push you like Dash unless you ask. For now it’s just the basics.”

Spike frowned “Have you ever thought of giving up this dangerous occupation?”

Sunset shook her head as they stepped into the Everfree “No, I’ve seen the horrors and I must stand for those who can’t stand for themselves.”

Spike frowned “I understand that.” He then looked around “Are we far enough in yet?”

Sunset nodded “I believe so.” She then turned around raising her hooves in front of her face “Now raise your claws in front of you.” He did as he was told taking up a relatively simple stance. Sunset raised an eyebrow “That is something I learned during my officer training, where did you learn it?”

Spike nodded “I watched when Cloud when she practiced. I figured that copying her style would do better than starting from scratch in case you ever decided to teach me.”

Sunset smiled “Well then come at me, now would be a good time for you to get some practical experience.” Sunset ducked as Spike’s claw narrowly missed her head “Impressive but I saw that coming.”

Spike gasped as he was sent flying with a swift kick, Spike growled as he flapped his wings taking to the sky “Stop holding back mum!”

Sunset rolled her eyes as she dodged a huge spout of green flames “That’s a bit ambitious Spike. This is your first day of training, we’ll work up to that with time.” The creatures of Everfree began panicking as the whole forest lit up in flames, Sunset sighed “Maybe we need to do this in the gorge?”

Sunset then lifted her claws and drew the flames into a massive orb throwing it towards Spike. Spike growled as she flew through the ball of flames, rushing towards Sunset delivering a flurry of blows which she causally dodged. Sunset frowned “I think we should stop, your more capable than I imagined. I will need to rework your training. Maybe you could even train with Rainbow, she will help you use your wings better in combat.”

Spike raised an eyebrow “So what now?”

Sunset smiled “Ice-cream.” The two returned to Ponyville unaware of the bug-like creature lurking in the Everfree watching them closely.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.