The bartender sighed as he wiped down another glass, the bright light from the sun had long since died and the softer shade of moonlight now seeped in. There were a few stranglers that he knew would stay until he forced them out. Stallions that were trying to avoid their wives, ones that were low on luck and just needed something to dull their pain, and others that just wanted to hopefully get lucky with the mares that were still out and needed a bit of liquid courage. The bartender rolled his eyes as he had seen enough to know what a pony needed by a glance and as long as they were paying then he didn’t much care about their problems. Something that caught his eye was the stranger that pushed open his door this late at night.

The stranger was a bit shorter than himself when he was on his hind legs and walked on two legs. A dragon by the look of the long scaly tail and large green spikes that protruded from his head and ran down his back. He wore a large hood that did a horrible job at hiding the spikes and was dyed a dark purple, almost black. A green cloth covered most of his face, except for the deep emerald eyes that glanced around before looking down. His coat was little more than a collection of rags that he must have sewn together and dyed the same purple shade as the hood. A collection of belts and packs hung over his chest and at his side. He had worn boots and thin gloves that hid most of his dragon heritage. He sat at the bar and tapped on it for attention.

“Sorry boy but there’s no law that I have to serve some fire-breather so you best just walking the rest of the way to Canterlot, those nobles have no care for dignity and only care for the money.“ The dragon sighed with smoke coming out of his nose.

“Look I’m not trying to screw you over or make a scene but I have been walking for a long time and all I want is a drink.”

“Your kind isn’t known for their care for words so I think you should just leave.”

“You really don’t want to piss me off pal.”

“Same to you buddy. I've dealt with your kind before and I didn't like what I saw back then and looking at you, things haven't changed.” The dragon cursed and clawed the bar before walking away and calming himself a bit before he really got mad.

‘Ponies like that are always the same but you know how the old saying goes right? Don’t go trying to burn a dragon, they tend to burn back.’ The dragon smirked as he thought back to those words and the one that taught him them…

. . .

A young dragon groaned as he was kicked to the ground and glared at the guard that did it. “On your feet scaleback!”

“Well, I would stay on them longer if you stopped being so pushy.” He muttered through the muzzle that was connected over his mouth before being pulled to his feet again by magic.

“When I want your opinion then I’ll force it out of you!” The dragon was walked to a large cell and the guard opened the door. “Get in.”

“Why I didn’t even do anything but snatch a few bits. I think you’re only mad because it’s more than you get paid in a whole day. Ha!” The guard hit him in the stomach forcing him to his knees and he coughed while grabbing onto the guard's side.

“Get in there, you rotten thief.” He used his magic to throw the dragon in the cell. “Ponies should know better than to walk next to your kind anyway.” The guard left as the dragon cursed and blew a raspberry in the guard’s direction.

“Jerk.”

“Heh yeah, old Ten Four is the most rotten guard they have in the city when it comes to non-pony races. He hates creatures like you and me.” The dragon turned to see a figure in the shadows of the cell, laying against the wall while blowing on a pipe. “So what’s your name, flame boy?”

“...Spike and yours?” The figure moved into the light, showing a tall orange cat with a torn red coat. He bowed and smirked at the small dragon.

“Very creative name you got there kid. I’m Capper Dapperpaws, a pleasure to meet ya though I wish it was under other circumstances.”

“Why they got you locked up here?” Capper stretched and sat next to the dragon while picking at lint that was on his coat.

“I’m a runaway aristocratic who found taking things from the richer and worst creatures of this world was far more fun than sitting around being one of them. Of course, my family couldn’t very well have their son making a mockery of their good name so they have sent everything they could buy after me.”

“And they finally caught up to you here?”

“Oh no, those mercenaries and bounty hunters are useless. I got arrested here when I got drunk and tried to hit on the local sheriff’s daughter. Though I think they figured who I was and are planning to take me home soon if I don’t escape soon.”

“Hmm… you need an extra hand to help you out?” Capper smirked and chuckled.

“Anyone could always use one of those, you have one in mind?” Spike smiled a bit at the joke and flexed his fingers.

“Two actually and I have something you may like.” Spike pulled a hand from behind his back and jingled a key on it that he had snatched from the guard when he had hit him in the stomach.

“Heh you sneaky little bastard, I think this calls for a feast of the needy.” Capper unlocked the door and led the dragon towards a window and carefully showed him how to carve glass with their claws without making a sound or shattering the glass. He made a hole and unlocked the window before they snuck out.

. . .

Spike found himself smiling while he thought back to his old friend and mentor, knowing the smirk the cat would have if he knew his thoughts. ‘What’s wrong Spikey? You missing your old friend? Cat got your tongue?’ Spike nearly snorted as he rolled his eyes, having heard that joke at least a hundred times. He walked around the town he found himself in, it was small but had a cozy air about it that only a place like that could have. Not for the first time, Spike wondered if this could be a place where he could settle down, but as blissful as the thought was, it shattered as he remembered he didn’t have the bits for something like that.

“Like you always said right Cap? All we need is one big score to establish our legacy, to finally put this behind us, and open the door to a new life where we aren’t treated like rats. Just one big score… well, I won’t find it in a place like this but before I leave.” Spike slunk his way back to the bar seeing a group of drunk ponies leaving and the bartender locking up before leaving himself. The dragon went to the lock and prepared a lungful of fire before releasing it on the lock, melting the insides enough for him to unlock it easily and entered. He took several bottles for himself and started drinking another before leaving and looking back at the bar.

‘Equestria deserves a better kind of crook, doesn’t it? One who sees the fun and challenge in what we do, we shouldn’t give in to hate and stoop to their level.’

“Sorry Cap… but I’m not you and I give back what rotten ponies like that gave me…” He thought about the ponies words and threw the bottle back into the bar before blowing a bit of fire on it. He sighed and walked out of town, ignoring the screams of fire and looked ahead at the two signs in front of him. One led to the capital city of Canterlot and the other to Maresaw. “Maresaw, where the rich live high and the poor are lower than dirt. Sure sounds like my type of place. Canterlot has a lot more stuff yeah but that place is more secure than anywhere else in Equestria and the princesses are there. Best I take from their foolish kin than from them themselves."

Author's Note

A rather short beginning to a short story. Spike came off as kinda a dick in this but seeing that he was treated like this growing up so I think he would get sick of it. This story will only have like five chapters and all will be kinda short as it really only shows his backstory and a single real theft. This is a much more traditional fantasy world but there will be things we see soon that are very mlp. I have other short stories showing the other characters and what their place is in this world.