“Hey, Twilight… are you still awake?” Twilight nearly jumped at the sound of Spike’s voice. She had thought the dragon had fallen asleep as he had been silence since Applebloom had brought them some apples earlier. He had thanked the filly for the food but she could see his smile had been forced. His fight with Applejack and her reaction to him had hit the dragon to his core, finally understanding how he was seen through pony eyes. Twilight could feel his conflicted emotions swirling inside like a tornado.

“Of course I am… I was just getting in some late-night reading. It has always helped me relax after a long day. I thought you would have wanted to rest after today. It’s been hard on you.” Spike didn’t answer right away and Twilight turned in her makeshift bed of hay to look at her companion. He was laying in a bed of scorched hay as he said the warmth reminded him of home and he resembled a ball as he hugged his tail and legs close to his chest.

“Is this how they’ll always treat me? Like a monster? I know I’ve done bad things but how do they expect me to prove I’m different if they always think I’m some kind of unchained beast?! I’m trying to be… better… To stop this struggle and put this world in some kind of peace. That’s our goal right?” Twilight bit her lip as he ranted. She had never been the kind of leader the soldiers would go to for personal advice, better she left that to her brother or Cadence. They weren’t now though and she could feel through their link the uncertainty and conflict raging in him.

“Exactly. We both made mistake and decisions that we wish we could take back but part of life is learning to accept those mistakes and moving past them.”

“What if the mistakes are too great? What if we can’t just forget them…” Spike’s eyes popped open as he felt something soft rub his back. He turned his head and saw Twilight smiling down at him gently.

“Then we rely on those we care about to help us through them. What do you say, Spike? Do you trust me?” He stared deep into her eyes and slowly a tiny grin graced his face.

“Do I really have a choice? You’re stuck with me and vice versa.” He looked down and turned fully to face her, getting on his knees. “We dragons have an unspoken rule to never really show our deeper emotions. They are seen as a weakness, as a pony thing but maybe we were wrong. I’m scared Twilight, what if we can’t change anything?” That question haunted Twilight as her overactive mind focused on it and thought of all the ways they could fail, but she put a hoof on his shoulder. The two stared at each other’s eyes with the chain appearing between them. She felt a strange surge of hope as she grinned.

“Come on if we can’t find a way to change things who could? I mean we got my brains and your table manners. Heroes in the making.” The two shared a laugh and Spike glanced at the book she left open.

“So what were you reading?” Twilight’s cheeks flared up a bit at the mention of the book and she rubbed the back of her head with a hoof.

“N-nothing really just some of the umm classics.” Spike raised an eyebrow as he could usually sniff out a lie but with Twilight a baby could see when she lied.

“Riiight well as a dragon I’m not too sure what the classics are so why not read some of it to me?” Twilight backed away from the dragon and shook her head.

“N-no! It’s a dusty old book I’m sure you’d hate it!” Spike smirked now sure that the mare was hiding something from him. He dramatically sighed and closed his eyes.

“Hmm, maybe you’re right.” Twilight sighed in relief until she was tackled and the two rolled on the ground with Spike using his tail to grab the book. The mare yelped and struggled against him using her magic to push him off her while he opened the book and read a paragraph. Silence reigned as Twilight saw a deep red blush appear on his cheeks. “Sparkle, this is filth!! You have lost some of my respect.” Twilight looked down and tapped her hoof on the ground in shame. “But… I am interested in pony… literature so maybe I’ll just forget about this for now.”

“Thank you thank you thank you!” Twilight hugged him as he patted her head and lightly pushed her off with her book. The two laughed as they heard another voice giggling nearby. They opened the barn door and popped their heads out to see Applebloom giggling and looking sheepish at being caught.

“Oops…” Spike and Twilight smiled at the filly and the dragon dramatically stepped out of the barn.

“Looks like we have a spy Twilight, I think she needs to be… eaten!” Spike took exaggerated steps towards the tiny pony who shrieked and tried to run away only to be grabbed by Spike and he began to tickle her and playfully make chomping sounds.

“Nooooo it’s over for the great spy Applebloom!” Twilight shook her head at the dragon and filly’s act before she thought she saw something in the night sky. She narrowed her eyes and felt her soldier sense ringing in her head.

“Spike, get Applebloom in the barn. Now.” The dragon turned to argue but saw something in her eyes and he obeyed the order, grabbing the filly and taking her into the barn. Applebloom asked if something was wrong and Spike shook his head.

“Don’t worry about a thing, Twilight might have just seen a shadow or something. She’s a soldier so they get jumpy at everything. Just wait here and we’ll check it all out.” Spike walked back to Twilight and crossed his arms. “So what are we looking at?”

“I saw a shadow, something that could fly. It seemed big but it’s gone now so it could just be some passing Roc or…”

“Dragons.” Spike and Twilight shared a look before turning back to the apple orchard.

. . .

Applejack sat in front of a tree that seemed to be made of an apple and pear tree twisted together. She sighed and took off her hat, putting it down on the ground.

“Hiya pa… ma… Ah’m sorry I haven’t come to visit since last time. Ah just been so busy with Bloom and the farm and granny and… No… Ah’m lying to myself again. Mac told me that Ah need to stop this. Ah been drownin myself in work tryin so hard to avoid comin here to see ya. It’s why Ah came at night so Bloom wouldn’t follow… This damned war took ya and Big Mac from us! Those dragons did! Ah hate em! Ah hate em all but… earlier Ah nearly killed one. He didn’t fight back really and Ah thought he was mockin me but a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle ran to his side to protect em. They said that they are workin together to try and end the war for good. To make a place where all creatures could live together... just like the one ya told me stories about when Ah was little...”

Applejack felt tears prick at her eyes as she remembered her parents making up stories about a better world. They had been dreamers who believed that there was good in everyone no matter who or what they were. Applejack used to be like them until the day they came home in boxes. They had tried to help a lost dragon egg but the hysterical mother took the kind act as robbery. The fight left both sides injured but Bright Mac and Pear Butter had won but they allowed the dragon to live as the egg would need a mother. Sadly, their injuries took them before they reached home. Their bodies had been found by some ponies who brought them home along with a few letters that they had written after the fight in case they didn’t make it. Applejack’s own letter laid unopened as she couldn’t accept yet that they were gone and would never come home.

“Ah hate dragons… Ah hated you for leavin! But now… seeing Twilight and that dragon Spike Ah think his name was… They made me want to believe that they could do it. That they may be able to end all this pain but Ah don’t know if Ah’m ready to move on. If Ah can help them with their goal. Bloom, Granny, they still need me but somethin in my heart is tellin me that my place is beside Twilight and Spike. Ah can’t forgive em for what they did to ya but… Ah want to…” She cried openly as the heat of the tears burned her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Soon enough, she felt a small hoof on her back and she opened one eye to see Applebloom crying beside her. “B-Bloom…”

“It’s okay… Ah know it’s been hard on you. Ah hate seein ya always keepin in all your pain. With Big Mac gone ya been lonely with no one that understands ya… Ah’m sorry sis for not talking earlier.” Applebloom’s apology was answered with a hug as the two cried out their loneliness.

“And Ah’m sorry for not being there for ya AB… Ah know this all been hard on ya too. Why did ya leave the house? It’s late for a filly.”

“That would be our fault.” Applejack turned to see Twilight and Spike standing nearby. They looked far from the weak and tired travelers she had met earlier, both wore serious expressions that only screamed one thing to Applejack. Danger was close. “We didn’t want her to leave the farmhouse but when we didn’t see you there Bloom told us there was only one place you could be and she wouldn’t tell us the way insisting to lead us herself.” Twilight explained with her horn glowing dimming.

“Why did ya need to find me?”

“Dragons are nearby we think. They must have seen the fireball from our fight earlier and considered it as a dragon calling for help. Applejack, I know you don’t like or trust me but I know you love your home and family. If the dragons find out that ponies live nearby or that the apples here supply ponies then they’ll burn down everything. There’s no time to get more help so we are hoping that you’ll let us help protect your home.” Spike walked to the farm and reached out a clawed hand. “Please let us prove to you that we’re the good guys.” Applejack stared at the hand, this was her chance to either accept what her heart wanted against what her mind demanded.

“Please, Sis…” Applebloom begged and Applejack looked back at her parent’s tree feeling a strong breeze rub against her face. She closed her eyes taking in the breeze which smelled like apples and pears, and something else. A scent she had nearly forgotten. She opened her eyes now burning with determination. She took the hand and shook it with her hoof before putting back on her hat.

“Ah been stubborn and unfair to you two. If ya wanna help Ah’d surely appreciate it.” Spike and Twilight smiled big before the unicorn stepped up.

“Thought you’d never ask now I’ve thought up a plan…”

. . .

Garble sent his small team of three out to go see if they could find anything and if they saw any ponies he gave permission to burn on sight. The leader sighed as he was left alone, things have not been going well for the dragons with the assassination attempt on the pony princess failing and he had heard Ember’s attack to get back that traitor failed. The dragons scouts have even been ordered to refrain from killing ponies as the kingdom was on high alert. Garble growled at the thought of Spike, he never trusted that weakling and had wished he was there to end him himself. That runt always acted like he was better than him because Ember and the dragon lord took pity on him.

“Sending all your forces away and leaving yourself defenseless, you never learn.” Garble turned at the voice and saw the very figure he was cursing right there as if by magic. “Garble how nice to see you.”

“Traitor, come to die?”

. . .

“Cinder, have you noticed anything wrong with Garble lately? He seems to be losing his edge.” One of Garble’s dragons asked as they walked through the darkened orchard. Cinder growled at the dragon, her emerald scales and ruby spines glistened in the moonlight.

“He lost a friend not too long ago and the Dragon Lord just assigned his sister to the Princess’s own team. A team that barely escaped Canterlot not too long ago. He’s not losing his edge he’s just stressed.”

“Well if he can’t handle this kind of work I’ll be happy to take over for him.” The dragon barely had time to gulp before Cinder’s claws were at his throat.

“Talk like that again Ash and you’ll start living up to your name for once.” Ash was a tall dragon with dark eggplant shaded scales that looked black. His spines were an electric yellow.

“Enough you two, something is weird here…” the third dragon said coming between the two. “Let’s just look around and get back to Garble, I heard rumors of the forest near here having a curse.” Ash rolled his eyes.

“Oh please, a curse? What kind of curse?”

“It’s said that the forest has a guardian who can control the entire thing, a kind of magic but for stronger than what normal unicorns can do. Some kind of bat-like creature from all the stories I’ve heard.”

“I think you’ve been eating too much of this pony food, you’re losing your touch Flare.”

“Curse or not, take a fly-by and then we can go back to Garble and head home.” Cinder’s order wasn’t followed as Ash and Flare stared at something behind her. “Ugh really? What now?” She turned to face an Ursa Minor that roared at her and swiped at her but she moved away. “An Ursa?! Here?!” The creature roared again with a beam of magic coming from its mouth this time.

“Look out Cinder!” Flare pushed her out of the way as the beam struck his back and turned into an electric restraint that sent the dragon to the ground. He groaned in pain and opened his eyes to a tiny filly in front of his face. “A… pony?”

“Nighty night bad guy.” Applebloom whispered before using one of the Apple family’s famous bucks right on his face, even though small a hit like that to the face would put down many a creature. Twilight made sure that the Ursa illusion was blocking the other dragons’ view of Applebloom as she put down Flare. She grunted as she felt her magic weakening from overuse of holding the large illusion and attacking. She sent Applebloom away to hide as the Cinder attacked the bear as it swiped at a scared Ash only to find her claws to go through the illusion.

“Wait… We’re being played! This is a trap!” Ash opened his eyes just as a whip made of electricity grew from Twilight’s horn and wrapped around his neck tightly. He coughed and struggled while pulling at the whip before she sent an enormous surge of power to it and the shock singed his scales before he fell unconscious. She could have broken his neck with the whip but Spike insisted on keeping every creature alive. “You rotten ponies… always with the tricks!” Twilight faced Cinder and frowned. The dragons always wanted straight out brawls of strength when they clearly had the advantage, no the ponies always tried to make sure to use any and all tactics that allowed them the upper hoof even if they were dirty.

“All’s fair in love and war right?” She blew fire out at Twilight while she used her magic to collect the flames and blast them back at the dragoness. Cinder dived down through the flames, moving up and slamming her head under Twilight’s chin and using her wings to push the pony into a tree. Cinder rushed over and grabbed her throat beginning to squeeze.

“Leave her alone ya big bully!” Cinder turned her head as an apple smashed her face and she dropped the unicorn to wipe her eyes. Twilight coughed and aimed her horn at Cinder before an eruption of dragon fire burst from the horn and smashed Cinder into a tree. “Ya okay Twilight?”

“Yeah… thanks for the save Bloom now let’s go back to your sister and Spike.”

. . .

“Traitor, come to die?” Spike frowned and the two slowly began to circle each other.

“No, not my goal here. I’m gonna beat you and send you back home with your tail between your legs.” Garble snarled at the younger dragon.

“You? Beat me? After all the years of war becoming a traitor to your kind is what finally made you grow a backbone? No, you were never a real dragon just a fake that was pitied by the Dragon Lord and Ember.” Spike smirked a bit.

“Jealous much?” Garble growled and rushed at Spike swiping at his head but Spike ducked and used his tail to wrap around the arm, headbutting Garble as he shook Spike around. Garble slammed Spike into the ground several times before the tail softened its hold and he fell. Spike rolled as Garble tried to stomp on him before he blew a fireball at Garble’s face before he was only pushed back a step.

“Hmph, wanna see a real fireball runt?” Spike stood and put his arms up as Garble shot a huge ball of fire that blew Spike back against one of the apple trees. He lowered his arms just as Garble’s foot connected with his chest, impaling his spikes into the tree he was against. Spike coughed, trying to regain his breath, pulling against the tree to free himself. Garble put his claws at Spike’s throat. “What made you think for even a moment that you could beat me? You were nothing but a disgrace to your kind and family. Don’t worry though, Ember will still have me by her side.” Spike glared up at Garble and spit at his face.

“You can insult me all you want… but you will never have her.”

“And who is gonna stop me? You?”

“Nope… us.” Spike smirked and pointed a claw upwards making Garble glance up just as two hooves smashed his face into the ground. Spike chuckled despite the pain. “Ow, that looks like it hurt.” Garble left his head to see Applejack rearing her legs back and they bucked him just as he was about to blow fire out at her. Applejack turned and pulled Spike out of the tree.

“You okay Spike?”

“Yeah, thanks Applejack.”

“Don’t thank me yet dragon, this isn’t done yet.” She was right Garble was one of the strongest teen dragons that they had and he proved that by getting back up even when a few of his scales looked cracked.

“Damn ponies, I’ll turn you all to ashes!!” Spike ran in front of Applejack and grabbed Garble’s hands, holding the dragon back for a moment before he started being pushed back. “You think you can help them?! That this can end with both of our sides alive?!”

“I know it can and I will not stop believing! None of us will!” He dug his claws into the ground and shouted. “Now Applejack!” The farmer rolled between the dragons’ legs and kicked Garble in the back, Spike let the momentum push him on his back before he used his feet to kick Garble off him and into the air. Applejack rushed over and jumped on Spike’s feet, just as he kicked again sending her into the air after the dragon.

“No creature will ever hurt my family again!” Applejack grabbed Garble around the neck as the dragon sunk his claws into her legs trying to pull her off. She gritted her teeth but held on as she twisted them and they fell back to the ground making sure to not let his wings expand. The two smashed down causing a cloud of dirt to burst. Spike ran in to see Applejack still standing on top of Garble who was fully out. He looked over her wounds and helped her walk just as Twilight and Applebloom rushed from the woods.

“Are ya okay sis?!” Applejack smiled at her sister and nodded trying to flex an arm.

“Course Ah am no dragon can beat an Apple. Ah just need to rest some is all.” She turned to Twilight and gave her a single nod. “Thank ya for protecting my sister.”

“No problem she helped me out actually too. Spike behind you!!” Spike’s eyes widened before he tossed Applejack at Twilight and turned while letting out a torrent of fire from his mouth which hit a fire blast from Garble. The two put more and more of their flames but Garble’s flames were getting closer. Twilight had caught Applejack with magic and gave her to Applebloom seeing that Spike was losing the battle. She rushed to his side and used her last bit of magic to blast at Garble’s flames. The struggle was evenly matched until Garble saw something through the fire and magic, a blue chain had appeared between the two and as it glowed the magic from Twilight and fire from Spike swirled and became one stronger blast which pushed him back as he finally ran out of fire.

“N-no! It’s impossible!” He put up his arms before the fire and magic hit him full force and he was finally put down for good, letting out a single groan before Applejack kicked him in the head once more just in case.

. . .

Garble woke the next day with his head feeling like it was hit by a mountain. He looked around at his still sleeping team and wondered what happened but strangely found he was unable to remember.

“Home, we’re supposed to be going home.”

. . .

Spike was up the next day early, carefully moving a claw through Twilight’s mane, the unicorn had been drained dry of magic and was exhausted, especially after modifying the dragon’s memories and teleporting them away. He was amazed at how strong Twilight was and smiled a bit at the simple thought that she trusted him enough to sleep with him near.

He set her down and walked over to the Apple Family’s house where Applejack was sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. She was bandaged in places where the fall and claws had affected but still gave the dragon a kind smile.

“Shouldn’t you be resting?”

“Apples aren’t the kind to take laying down easily. Ah wanted to thank ya Spike and apologize for before.” Spike waved off her apology.

“It’s fine I know it wasn’t easy to trust me.”

“No, but Ah should’ve given ya a chance like Bloom did.” Spike opened his mouth to object but was silenced as Applejack held up a hoof. “That’s why Ah’m gonna help ya and Twilight. If ya sure about wantin to stop this war there may be a place we can go that may have a way.”

“Where?”

“The ancient castle that is deep in the Everfree Forest.”

Author's Note

I am still alive!! I'm so so so so so sorry for the long waiting on this and all my other stories I just went through a rut and have been so busy with my new job. I plan on getting chapters for the Dragon Alchemist and Rockabye Dragon out real soon! I hope you all like this chapter and the new cover art I had done by the great Alexis C.