Author's Note

This is my first new story in a long while.

Please let me know what you think.

Sludge Faces the Music

Sludge woke up from his nap in Spike's bed with a self-satisfied grin, his fat body bending and twisting the bed as he got up. After some stretching, he decided to take a warm bath.

The bathtub, despite being built for ponies, fit him just right. He stepped into the bath, not noticing the bath water his bulk was splashing all over the bathroom floor. He let out a euphoric sigh as he felt the warm water along his scales. He leaned back, thinking happily about how his hard work was finally paying off.

After so many years of pulling small-time thefts and cons, things were finally going his way. He had a steady gig pretending to be some young drake's father.

He almost pitied the little brat. After all, he had been raised by a bunch of dumb, soft ponies. It was inevitable that he would become as dumb and soft as them.

Hey, it wasn't their fault they were so stupid to not fall for his tricks, and too weak to resist his thefts. In his mind, the purple drake wasn't much different then a pony. It was the fault of the pony princess for making that drake so...pony-like.

After 20 minutes, his stomach rumbled. The warmth of the tub couldn't get rid of the discomfort he felt in his belly. Groaning, he rose from the tub, splashing even more bathwater onto the tile floor. He looked at the mess and shrugged, knowing Spike would just clean it up. He put on his bathrobe and went back to his new bedroom, but not before swiping a cupcakes from one of the cupboards. He opened the bedroom door to find the purple drake packing a suitcase.

" Hey! What's going on, son," Sludge said, once again putting on a pretense of fatherly love. He began eating the cupcake.

"Twilight doesn't like having real dragons in the castle, so I told her we're moving out," Sludge, immediately began choking on his cupcake.

"You what," he almost bellowed after clearing his throat. Just as he was about to object further, an orange dragon- Sludge barely remembered her name as Smolder-flew in through the window.

"Spike," Smolder said enthusiastically, "I found the perfect cave where you two can live! There aren't even any comfortable rocks inside!"

"That does sound perfect," Spike said cheerfully.

"No it doesn't," Sludge said. He paused, barely restraining his burning chagrin. I-I mean, uh, I'm not sure I fully demonstrated all the ways a dragon would live here."

"But, we're not going to live here anymore, so it doesn't matter," Spike said, his grin becoming less and less friendly. Smolder's grin becoming more and more smug.

"It matters to me," Sludge bellowed. He paused again, and checked his temper. "I want to make sure you have all the knowledge you need."

"But I do," Spike said, warmly grabbing Sludge's paw. "Dad, you've already shared so much."

"This bed is much too soft," Spike sang. "Just take that silk robe off," Smolder flew down and snatched off his robe, to his chagrin.

"We can't be dragons living here," Spike sang. Spike and Sludge eyed the pillow, and the two began fighting over it. A tug of war took place with Sludge on one side and Smolder and Spike on the other. After a few minutes, Sludge let loose a grunt of frustration, releasing the pillow.

" Stop! I'm not your father," Sludge bellowed in anger.

"What?" Spike said in quiet shock.

"I just said that to get in on this sweet castle life," Sludge said smugly.

"So, you pretended to be my dad," Spike said, his eyes almost watering.

"Now-now-now-now-now, don't look at me like that, kid. I did what any dragon would do," Sludge said, without a hint of shame in his voice.

"No, you didn't," Smolder said, giving Sludge a glare and pointing a claw at him.

"Hey. I saw an opportunity, and I took it. That's what dragons do," Sludge continued.

"Is that so," an unseen female voice asked. "You think that's what dragons...do," the voice the continued, sounding almost like an icy chill.

"Who's there," Sludge said, looking around the room with some apprehension. Spike and Smolder were giving him smug looks. "Show yourself!" No one responded. Sludge's face twisted into fury. "Tell me where you are or so help me-," Sludge heard a whooshing sound in the corner. Appearing out of nowhere was the pink pony princess giving him a cold look and-

Sludge felt a lump at his throat seeing the Dragon Lord before him. The blue dragoness was far shorter then him, but the look in her red eyes was sending a chill down his spines.

"Dragon Lord Ember," Sludge said, trying to sound genteel. He awkwardly bowed. "To, uh, what honor am I owed this-,"

"Interesting," Dragon Lord Ember said with a click of her tongue," you're nice and polite to me, but you didn't bow for Princess Twilight." She finished with the same icy chill

"Well, I uh," Sludge stammered.

"Oh no, its OK," Ember said with a wave of her palm, "not giving courtesy to pony folk it what dragons do," Ember continued, her cold voice having developed an edge.

"That's not what I-," Sludge stammered.

"As is lying to a young drake about his heritage and using him as your servant apparently," Ember said while walking toward the adult dragon, the tempered anger in her voice struggling against the calm apperance." Sludge began backing up, feeling smaller then the teenaged dragon lord. Twilight narrowed her eyes, while Spike and Smolder watched with some amusement.

"It's not what you think," Sludge stammered, feeling nervous sweat run down his face.

"The same drake who ensured that I would succeed my father as Dragon Lord," Ember continued, narrowing her eyes.

"What," Sludge said with dismay, turning his head toward the drake who kept giving him a smug grin. He turned back to the Dragon Lord. "He helped you?"

"Oh yes," Ember said, a warm smile appearing on her face, as he looked toward the purple drake, who returned it. "I get your shock. I thought he was a wimp too," Ember continued, a small blush appearing on her face. "But if it wasn't for him trying to be my friend, I would've drowned and lost. He even gave up the power of the Bloodstone Scepter, just because he didn't want to leave his own pony friends." Twilight gave Spike a warm smile too, while Smolder gave Spike an affectionate pat on the back. "Which means that I care a whole lot about the little guy," Ember said, turning back toward Sludge with a cold gaze. "So I get...a little upset when some-dragon uses him."

"C'mon Madame Dragon Lord...sir," Sludge said, trying to put on a casual tone. "What I did wasn't that-," Dragon Lord Ember flew right into his face, her face twisted into a snarl. Sludge began shaking, his attempt at sweet-talk dying in his throat.

"Not that bad," Ember said, her calm voice becoming a growl. "I think the Princess would disagree." She flew backward, the pony princess trotting toward the fat dragon.

"Sludge," Twilight said, her voice sounding crisp and professional. "By claiming a false parental relationship with Spike, and then using that relationship for personal gain, your actions constitute fraud." Twilight levitated some document in her magical grasp. "This is a copy of a report I made to the Royal Guard in Canterlot. I'm expecting them to respond with a warrant for your arrest." Sludge began shaking with fear. The Princess gave Sludge a wide smile before returning to her more professional look. She levitated another thick stack of documents..

"Out of curiosity, I sent numerous letters to various branches of the Royal Guard all across the kingdom with a description of your likeness to find proof of your heroism. Instead I found... quite a few complaints," Twilight continued. She pulled one form. "A report from two months ago saying two farmers near Whinnypeg had their chickens stolen by some overweight, green dragon with purple spines." Sludge stared dumbly at the lavender pony. The Princess pulled out another report. "A report by a noblemare near Vanhoover saying some overweight green dragon was taking bites out of her house." Sludge grew even more still. "A report from a baker near Trottingham saying a dragon had faked an injury, only to fly away with her baked goods."

Princess Twilight kept reading all the collected reports. With each report, Sludge grew more still, Ember grew more and more furious, and Spike and Smolder grew more and more amused at Sludge. Twilight put down the stack, having read the last of the reports.

"Mr. Sludge," Princess Twilight said, her eyes becoming hard even as her professional tone remained. "I'm going to have to ask that you come with us to Ponyville's local jail, because-," Twilight paused as Sludge started frantically flapping his wings, hyperventilating as he tried to pick his fat body off the ground. After some effort, he took off out the window.

"He's getting away," Smolder and Spike shouted in unison. Smolder was about to take off after the slob, but was stopped by a tap on the shoulder from Ember.

"Don't worry," Ember said to the orange dragon with a happy smile, "he won't be getting far." Spike looked at Twilight who gave him a reassuring look.

Sludge desperately began flying away, breathing harder to stay airborne as he struggled to keep himself from falling.

"Why did I have to eat so much," Sludge said to himself with both frustration and anger. "I could barely stay in the air already, but now-," he paused to see two white male pegasi dressed in Royal Guard uniforms hovering in front of him and giving him cold looks.

"Sludge," one of the ponies said. "I order you, by the authority vested in me by the Canterlot Court, to escort yourself to Ponyville jail." Sludge shook with fear. While he could easily break a pony in two, he didn't have the energy to do so while trying to fly. He turned his tail and flew in the other direction.

"You'll never take me alive, ponies," he yelled. Suddenly, two other beings flew in front of Sludge, forcing him to stop.

Both of them were male dragons-one green with orange spikes, the other blue with red spikes- wearing armor and helmets made out of thick stone. They were young adults, only a decade or so older than Dragon Lord Ember herself, and half of Sludge's age. They were slightly shorter then Sludge. However, they had considerable muscle underneath their scales. The fact that they were wearing stone armor only showed off their incredible strength. Both of them were giving Sludge amused looks.

"We could take you alive," said the green one with composed amusement.

"Or we could take you the other way," the other dragon said with more wild enthusiasm. Sludge stared dumbly at the two dragons. He knew that only one of those dragons would be enough to bring him to the ground. He looked behind him, seeing the other white ponies flying around him. Sludge became aware that he was completely surrounded, with no easy way of escape. With a sigh, he bowed his head, silently admitting defeat.

******

Sludge had been sitting inside Ponyville's jail for a few hours, his anxiety growing with each minute. As the town was not known for criminal activity, the jail was small. Sludge couldn't fit into any of the cells, so he was made to sit on the floor, shackles made from thick rock tied around his legs and wings. Some old pony in a sheriff's hat sat watching him in a rocking chair, not saying a word.

A metal door opened with a squeak. Sludge looked up and saw the green dragon walking toward him, his helmet gone, but his armor still on his body, looking at him very intensely.

"Sludge," the green dragon said in a professional tone that didn't mask the contempt in his eyes. "We are going to move into the interrogation room. I am going to remove the shackles. Any attempt to escape will be met with excessive force. Do you understand?" Sludge didn't respond. "Demonstrate to me that you understand." Sludge gave a small nod. The green dragon pulled out a key, and the shackles were removed. Sludge was lifted up off the ground by his shoulder, and dragged toward the interrogation room. He barely fit into the chairset up. The green dragon, being more lean in size, was able to better fit in the pony sized chair.

"First off all, my name is Malachite," the green dragon said. "You've really built a reputation in these pony lands," Malachite said with false cheer. "You, Sludge, claim to speak for dragons. Can you comprehend how your thefts and scams make dragons look to ponies> Especially to ponies who've never met dragons?"

"Look," Sludge said, his voice almost whimpering. "I know what I did was wrong. But, ponies have it so easy, and its rough for dragons."

"A true, independent dragon builds his life through his own labor and takes pride in roughing it," Malachite said, his professional image almost drifting into a glare. "He does not mooch off the kindness of others, without giving something back in return. Nor does he scam a young drake who can barely fly." Malachite slammed his forearms onto the table without losing his clam, the vibrations spooking Sludge.

"Now, you're not the only dragon to pull scams and thefts," Malachite said calmly. His face drifted into unmistakable fury. "But never before have I seen a dragon exploit a young drake, not to mention an important figure in dragon-pony relations! Not to mention some-dragon the Princess considers a younger sibling! Your actions not only affect him, but threaten the continued peace between our species!" Sludge let out a whimper of panic. Malachite let out a sigh, his calm returning.

"The Dragon Lord seriously considered sending you to the mines for at least a century to teach you a lesson. And I would be lying if I didn't say I was partial to it." Sludge let out a squeak of terror. "However, Princess Twilight has insisted on taking on your punishment."

"Where is she sending me," Sludge said meekly. "To a dungeon? To exile? Exiled to a dungeon?"

"You are going to be sent to live in her castle," Malachite said.

"What," Sludge said with disbelief.

"For the next 12 months, you will spend your days working in the School of Friendship, paying off the damages you've incurred," Malachite said. "And you'll spend your nights taking friendship courses, and make friends among the ponies of Ponyville."

"That's it," Sludge said, staring dumbly at the dragon.

"I was surprised too. Princess Twilight wasn't happy with you exploiting her adoptive brother. But she tells me she has forgiven other creatures for a LOT worse."

"Really," Sludge asked.

"She told me that some crazed mare snuck into a palace and stole her crown in a plot to seize the throne," Malachite let out a wry smile. "Princess Twilight told me that she punished the mare," Malachite let out a small chuckle. "By telling a bunch of ponies to be her friend." Sludge's jaw dropped. "Oh, and some community service."

"That's crazy," Sludge uttered.

"I thought so too, although I would never say those words out-load to a princess," Malachite said in an amused tone. "But she told me the mare turned her life around, so I guess I can't argue with the results." Malachite narrowed his eyes again. "But understand this. Do not mistake her mercy for weakness. She has chosen to give you a chance that you probably don't deserve." He leaned into Sludge. "I am warning you not to break her trust, or the trust of the ponies you encounter. Your actions reflect upon dragonkind. Put one claw out of line, and you will be sent to dig out gems for 100 years." Malachite leaned back into his chair. "Do you understand?"

Sludge let out a nod of understanding, feeling some horrible feeling line his gut. It wasn't fear or apprehension. It wasn't hunger. But it made Sludge bow his head.

******

Sludge walked into his room, collapsing into his bed from exhaustion. His soiled janitor uniform showed how he spent a whole day doing grunt work: cleaning, mopping, washing, laundry, moving heavy objects. All the while some guard pony was literally hovering over him, making sure he didn't slack or put it only the bare minimum. The students at the school walked by him, giving him some nasty glares.

His room, while not luxurious and quite barren, was adequate. Because of his size, the Princess had two sets of beds joined together. Thinking about his reasonable conditions would normally fill him with pride, but now he felt sick for some reason.

"Why would they do this for me," Sludge thought. "Why are they giving me a home and food." Just as he was about to rest, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it, and saw the same Pegasus guard.

"Sludge," the white pony said in a sharp military voice. "You are to report for a friendship lesson." Sludge looked at the clock in confusion, and then back at the pony.

"But it isn't even night time," Sludge said.

"Mr. Sludge," the pony said, giving him a stern look. "I strongly recommend you report for your lesson." Sludge didn't argue, walking toward some room while being escorted by the pony Pegasus. The Pegasus pointed to the door with a foreleg. He opened the door, and saw Spike and Smolder in some kind of mess hall, staring at him with wry grins. Behind them was some rectangular object covered with a blue cloth.

"So, what's going on," Sludge said nervously. He found himself somewhat uncomfortable with looking at the drake he conned.

"We're going to give you what you deserve," Smolder said what he assumed was a vicious grin.

"Exactly," Spike repeated. Sludge bowed his head, for some reason not having the energy to argue.

"Alright, let me have it," Sludge said with shame, "I deserve worse."

"Close your eyes," Smolder said. Sludge was confused, but obeyed the order anyways. "Stick out your paws." He did, and felt something dropped into his paws.

"OK, open them," Sludge said. He opened them and couldn't believe what he was holding.

A lime-green cake, with purple frosting. The cake had "Good Job On Your First Day," written in frosting. Sludge looked at it, completely dazed.

"Well, what do you think," Smolder asked, in a more excited tone.

"You made this," Sludge asked, for once not knowing what to say.

"Well, Pinkie Pie did," Smolder said. She then gave a pat on the back to Spike. "But it was his idea." Sludge looked at Spike like he was in a trance.

"Why," Sludge asked, his tone having lost its gruffness.

"Why what," Spike asked. Sludge gently put the cake down and looked at the two young dragons with a fragile glare.

"I lied about being your dad," Sludge almost yelled. "I used you for food", his boisterous voice becoming a quiver. "I-," he paused as both Smolder and Spike ran up to his legs and hugged them. What little composure he had fell apart, and the big dragon began weeping. The young dragons only hugged him tighter.

"I'm sorry," Sludge said in between sobs. "I'm sorry."

"Its OK," Smolder said, her voice low and soothing.

"No its not," Sludge said, sounding utterly forlorn.

"Hey," Spike said, releasing the grown dragon and backing away. "You think you're the only one who's let greed turn them into a monster." Sludge ceased his crying, but his eyes still watered. "I've let greed turn me into a monster too. I hurt other ponies too because of it. And it took a good friend to get me to stop." Smolder also went back toward Spike, giving the young drake a pat on the back.

"Since I came here," Smolder said more cheerfully, "I've learned that friendship is something that every creature, dragon or pony, can enjoy."

"Here at the School of Friendship, any creature can learn its lessons," Spike said.

"And one of those lessons is forgiveness," Smolder said. "You worked hard today, which proves you've earned it." Sludge wiped his eyes and let out a genuine smile.

"Spike, Smolder," Sludge said in a quiet solemn voice. "Thank you so much." He looked at the cake and back at the young dragons. "I know I am not your dad but... I was wondering if you wanted to share this cake with me." The two dragons let out proud smiles.

"Sure," Spike said.

"We'd love too," Smolder said. The three dragons began setting the table, getting utensils, and carving up the cake.

Inside the cafeteria, Twilight watched, using an invisibility spell to stay incognito, as Sludge graciously cut pieces from the cake, and served the two young dragons before he served himself.

"I'm so proud of you two," Twilight said to herself, watching Spike and Smolder share a warm conversation with Sludge.