“So Twilight, what is this Ponyville place like? I never got to see a real pony town, you know other than the city we nearly destroyed and the village we did destroy.” Spike asked the unicorn as she was moving the map again trying to make sure they were on the right path. Spike chuckled a bit with his arms behind his head as they walked, as smart as the pony was she had no sense of direction and with the trees blocking out the sun that couldn’t help.

“Okay first, technically the village was a multi-cultural hotpot of species so not a real pony village and second we didn’t really destroy Canterlot, just the castle which was your fault mostly, shield towers your fault again, and only parts of the city were ruined which was us both under the influence of your nature.”

“Which is why I said nearly and just not gonna take any responsibility there are ya?. Look I would just rather like to know what we’re getting into this time, you know, so we don’t end up doing something that will get us both thrown out of this place also.”

“Can you not be yourself?”

“Funny, we may make a comedian out of you yet Sparkle unless you meant that Ponyville just can’t handle my charm and presents.”

“Charm? You sure that we’re talking about the same dragon anymore? If I remember correctly the last week traveling with said dragon has only proven to me that he is… uncouth.”

“I take severe offense to that, or I would if you stopped using words I didn’t know!

“It means uncivil or ill-mannered.”

“I would have you know that I am a completely different dragon around cute girls of any species. I don’t discriminate against beauty, just psychology.”

“Oh yeah, then why aren’t you this completely different dragon with me?”

“What’s your point?”

“Screw you. Now if we’re being serious, I did a tiny bit of research on Ponyville before leaving Canterlot and found that it is a tiny village nearly off the map since it’s on the edge of the Everfree and the only big attractions are Sweet Apple Acres and the fact that Filthy Rich lives there who is one wealthy pony. Ponyville was founded by a small group of ponies that were looking for a better life than fighting the war on the main lines.”

“Wait I thought all ponies in Equestria fought for Celestia?”

“Well each and every official pony village does wave the flag for Celestia but there are plenty that mostly provide food or supplies and don’t have any fighters. How did you never learn about this?”

“All these years we’ve attacked ponies settlements of all kinds because our orders were that all ponies are monsters and are to be seen as enemies… It’s all that we were raised to believe… all those who lost their lives for nothing… ” Spike gritted his teeth as he thought of every pony that his kind must have attacked without reason over the years and ended up only looking down in anger and despair. Twilight bit her lip as she thought of how Spike was taking the blame for things that he couldn’t control and she reached out to him but pulled back. She didn’t know how to handle something like this, her specialty was acting from behind the scenes not helping creatures with their personal problems. Suddenly she realized that she was starting to feel bad as their bond made her feel his strong sadness.

“S-Spike… you’re blaming yourself for things that you not only had no control over but also things that your race may not understand. The way you explained your home it seems like all of the dragons are solely dedicated to the war… just like the princess. Here some ponies just are trying to live as peaceful lives as they can, a life I wish I could have had, but what you’re putting yourself through right now is called irrational guilt. It’s when you put blame on yourself for things you didn’t do. I know you feel bad but-”

“Twilight, my kind killed hundreds maybe thousands because they were simply living. What do you think I’m supposed to be feeling right now? I want to just say that I never did anything but we both know I almost became just like them… just a another tool in this stupid fight.”

“I helped frame the dragons!” She shouted as she teared up from their combined feelings of guilt and Spike stared at her in shock.

“You what?”

“I… ponies were growing tired and sick of the war, endless fighting would do that. They shouted for peace or at least a compromise that would make this end. They were losing morale… even my best friend who is a soldier wanted to just stop fighting. I was young and full of hate for all dragons after… after what some did to me. Seeing the problem was slowly raising I… suggested a solution…” Spike stared at the pony as she trembled and stopped walking. He stepped towards her but she pushed him away and faced away. “I said that we needed a big loss that would anger the public enough to fight again…”

“Twilight you didn’t…” He could hear her crying through the words as she must have buried this deep down.

“We had unicorns brainwash a settlement before destroying it while making it look like a dragon attack. We were trying to not kill any ponies but accidents happened and a family didn’t escape their home in time. The plan worked and we had an influx of new recruits after that… I saw then what I had let myself become… what kind of monster I was. Both of our kinds have done horrible things to each other and some unforgivable but we can’t let this be an endless cycle of pain.” Her eyes snapped open as she felt his arms wrap around her barrel best they could and he rubbed his face into her back.

“We both were used and now we have a chance to make things right, I can feel how scared you are but I understand how guilty you are and how much you are willing to risk to change.”

“H-how much?” She asked with a tiny voice that he never heard from the usually proud and confident unicorn. She asked as if she needed confirmation of the answer.

“Everything…” He held her close and the two were there for nearly half an hour when Twilight turned and hugged the dragon. They looked at each other and then blushed out of embarrassment. “So… Ponyville?” She giggled a bit while rubbing her eyes and set him down before walking a bit ahead and looking back with a smile.

“Ponyville… it’s small and for ponies that don’t want to fight, I doubt they even have an army stationed there. It’s pretty much where Canterlot gets a fair amount of its food from. We should be safe there from anything that is hunting you.”

“Then let’s see if we can get there by tonight, I don’t think we’ll be finding much food around here without going into the forest more and you and nature don’t seem to be great friends.”

“So I’m used to the great indoors! It is so bad to enjoy resting near a fireplace with a good book over camping out with a dragon and bugs!?”

“What’s a fireplace?”

. . .

“Okay my turn, I spy with my little eye-”

“I told you already we all have some pretty big eyes.”

“It’s how I was told to say it and there are others with way bigger eyes!compared to them mine are small.”

“Fine, just take your turn.”

“I spy with my draconic eye, something red.”

“Hmm, red huh?” Twilight looked away from the book she had been looking at and looked up to see apples were on the trees. “You suck at this game, it’s apples.”

“But which apple?”

“What?”

“Guess which apple it was I saw.”

“That’s unfair, do you see all them apples?! There’s like hundreds and I’m just supposed to pick one?!”

“Yes.”

“It’s illogical! If I said that I spy something green and it was the grass I can’t say to point out the blade of grass I spied.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Good.”

“But I can now pick an apple.” Twilight turned and prepared to lecture the dragon when he froze with wide eyes and she tilted her head before she turned and saw a sight that froze her blood. A young filly was standing there with a small basket of apples on her head. She had a yellow coat and a vibrant red mane with a large pink bow in it. Her orange eyes stared at Spike in fear and she trembled, waiting for the slightest movement or sign of an attack. Twilight has seen that terrified look before on young recruits who weren’t ready to face a dragon and would rather run.

“D-don’t run or scream please sweetie… he’s not like the others…” She took a step towards the frightened girl but her eyes stayed on Spike.

“Please…” The girl turned and ran screaming dragon and Spike looked away while his fists shook. “You said that I wasn’t to blame for what my race did… then why is it that ponies treat me like I am? Twilight this is what is always going to happen no matter where we go…” Twilight sighed and made Spike look at her.

“Yes, our first instinct is to either run or fight when we see a dragon. You will be treated like this until they see you as I do, as a big softie who can’t even play I Spy right. I’m going to go after her and try to give the village a heads up of who we are so you stay here.” Spike nodded and sit against a tree as Twilight smiled and ran after the filly. He kept his small smile until she was out of sight and he shook his head before grabbing an apple off the ground.

“So this is what we’re gonna have to do every time… did you see how scared that girl was of you?” Spike sighed and raised the apple to his mouth when something whipped it out of his hand. “Ow! The heck was that?” He stood and saw a pony in a Stetson hat staring at him with a rope in her mouth. She had an orange coat and a blond mane put in a ponytail at the end. Freckles and glaring green eyes caught his eye as he put up his hands. “Whoa whoa, let’s try talking this through!”

“Ya varmint scared my sister! Ah’m not letting ya take any more of my family!” Spike sighed as she rushed him and he put up his arms but she tossed the rope and caught it on his hand, pulling him to her as she reared and bucked him in the chest. He coughed and panted as she knocked the air out of his lungs. He felt her pulling on the rope again but he dug his claws into the earth, pulling against her and grabbing the rope and swinging her into a tree.

“I am not fighting you!” He ran only to feel something hit his back, looking back he yelped as an apple raced at him and barely missed his head. “Really? Apples?” He felt the rope fall on his neck and began to choke him as he pulled at it, but soon felt it tighten as the pony ran around a tree and pulled him back. Spike gasped and struggled against the binding in any way he could, a flame growing in his gut from the lack of air. He held his mouth shut before raising his head high and clawing at the rope which released him and he let the flame he had held back high into the air. Spike coughed and turned to see the girl buck him again but in the face this time. Spike was sent crashing into a tree and yelped as the girl jumped at him trying to hit his chest with her hooves but he moved and caught them before using his feet to kick her away.

He hid behind trees and started another flame in his throat to keep her away but noticed there was still too much of a chance that the whole place could burn if the fire was unchecked. He swallowed the flames and decided that running wasn’t going to help as she was faster and seemed to be talented with that rope. Close combat might work better for him.

. . .

Twilight was panting by the time she caught up with that filly who was still screaming. ‘W-where does she put all that energy… I need to work on my cardio…’ Twilight used her magic and trapped the girl in a magic bubble before leaning against a tree trying not to throw up.

“Oh no! Heeelp! Help me! The dragon put me in a magic bubble an Ah don’t wanna be eaten! Ah don’t taste that good mister! Ah swear! Ah’m too chewy! Too many apple fritters an apple pie!” The filly continued trying to run away even if she was just running in a sphere.

“I-I’m not gonna eat you! Spike isn’t going to eat you! We are just trying to find Ponyville and not cause any trouble.”

“Whatever ya say just don’t eat me please!” Twilight relaxed understanding that she was only scaring the girl more with her panicked tone and use of magic. She lightly erased the bubbled and slowly brought the girl over by her. She took a deep breath and spoke with a soft voice.

“Please… we are just trying our best and we don’t want to hurt any pony but if you scare everyone my friend could be killed. Spike is a good dragon and won’t hurt anyone if you would just give him a chance.” The little one uncovered her eyes and looked up at Twilight before tilting her head and looking around.

“Are ya sure? Ah never heard of a good dragon. My sis and granny always said to run if ya see a dragon!” Twilight smiled and nodded.

“I know that and so does he but we’re partners and we are trying to help ponies not hurt them. He may look a bit scary but he’s nothing but a big dork really. Please give him a chance.” She was cut off when she turned and saw a fireball rise into the sky and burst. “What the heck is he thinking?”

“Wait… if she heard me screaming… oh no!” The little one grabbed Twilight’s hoof and tried pulling towards Spike. “Hurry!! We have to get back to your friend!”

“What? Why the rush?”

“My sister is gonna kill em!”

. . .

Spike just remembered that he had lost every fight when he used to train at the Dragon Lands, he was never able to beat the bigger and stronger dragons and this pony would be able to even match some of them in strength. He would have to rely on buying time and dodging attacks as he wasn’t trying to hurt her and hoped that Twilight was on her way. He rolled when she jumped at him, denting the tree he had been hiding behind and swing her hooves trying to hit him. Spike ducked and jumped before tackling her and held her hooves against a tree but she used her tail to smack his face several times before he growled and bit it. He wanted to just keep her like that until Twilight arrived but the girl headbutting him off her and made him curse as he held his bleeding nose. He tried crawling away but saw a shadow over him.

“W-wait please! I’m not trying to make trouble! I’m just trying to help...” He held his nose and held out a hand out to the girl hoping to stop her but closed his eyes when the pony reared up and opened them when he heard a strange noise. She had been stopped by a shield and he turned to see Twilight panting. She used her magic and pushed the pony away from him as she ran over to see his wounds. The filly from before ran to the other pony and grabbed one of her legs. “Hiya Twi… for the record this wasn’t my fault. Heh…”

Twilight told him to shut up with a small giggle before fixing him up some and turning to the pony that was walking to them. “Applejack?”

“Twilight Sparkle? What are ya doing with this thing?” The filly stepped between the two and frowned at her sister.

“Sis ya attacked a good dragon! Spike here has done no bad and you hurt em!”

“A good dragon? Ya know there ain’t no such thing Applebloom.”

“She’s right Applejack, Spike here is my… assistant and is just trying to help me end this war. You said that if I needed it, I would have a friend here in Ponyville. Please help us.” Applejack stared at the two but then down at her sister, looking down in what seemed like shame.

“Ah’m sorry Sugarcube… Ah really am but Ah have a family to take care of and we been hurt by dragons before. Ya can stay one night in the barn but then Ah need ya to leave.”

“But Sis this is unfair!”

“Enough AB, we’re going.” Applebloom glanced at Twilight and Spike sadly before running to her sister and leaving the two alone.

“I’m sorry Twi…”

“No… this is just how things are. It wasn’t your fault. I forgot how hurt some ponies are and didn’t think of how bitter some would be to us. Come on, let’s get you to this barn for some rest.”

. . .

Applejack wiped her brow as night was coming and she looked over at her sister who was quiet and bucking the trees with anger. She knew that she was angry with her for not offering the two more help but she couldn’t. Not after what the dragons took from them. “AB… Ah think that’s enough. Ya can go back inside now dear.” She stopped and didn’t say anything as she pushed past her sister. Applejack growled and turned. “What do ya want from me AB?! To just forget what the dragons did?!” Applebloom turned with an angry expression but also a sad one.

“Ah never expect ya to forget them! Ah know how much it hurts ya sis but ya nearly killed a random dragon that didn’t do nothin! Ya taught me that Apples are the helpin sort! We do whatever we can if there is a pony that needs us well Miss Twilight needed our help and you said no! Ma and Pa-”

“Are not here anymore and who’s fault is that!?” Applebloom teared up and shook her head at her sister as she wiped her eyes.

“Not Spike’s… I wish Ma and Pa were here, maybe they would have given em a chance…” She walked away leaving Applejack alone with her words. Applejack took off her hat, holding it against her chest as she fought back any tears.

“Ah… Ah don’t know what to do…” She looked up at the darkened sky as two shooting stars flew above her head.

. . .

Garble flew as he and his small militia were on the way back to the Dragon Lands but as he traveled he saw a fireball burst in the distance. He stopped his group and told them that a dragon may need their help. He ordered that they land and rest before going out to check the location where the fire came from when night fell...

Author's Note

Hmm, I wonder if this chapter is rushed? I'm not sure but I hope you all enjoy and I hope to get the next chapter done way sooner. Real world stuff has been causing trouble with my writing time but soon I should have more hopefully. I am looking for editors for my stories as I realized that I should go back and fix mistakes I overlook. if anyone knows any I'd be thankful. I know there may be problems with the actions of Twilight and Applejack but remember what they lost and how hard having to face someone of the same race would be after such a thing. Anyway, thanks everyone for the support on my stories and I hope you enjoy what's next!