Spike The Brony Dragon

Winter Wrap-Up flew by in a flash. Twilight and I got upgraded vests for the occasion. Mine was a size too big, but I didn’t mind since I had a feeling I would grow into it by next year. Starlight joined the skating team this year, while Moondancer and Tyke joined the animal team in waking the animals. Also, Rainbow reunited with Tank once again.

Spring had arrived once more. My lack of allergies made me yearn for this season more than usual, that and the combination of warmer weather and blooming flowers.

Twilight, Starlight, and I were in the library. Twilight was shuffling some papers around.

“I have to say, Starlight, you’ve really come a long way since we first met,” Twilight said. “You passed your friendship lessons with flying colors.”

“It helps that I have a good teacher,” Starlight replied.

“Aww, I was just telling you what I know.” Twilight cleared her throat. “Anyway, since you’re doing so well, I thought I could provide a challenge for you. An exam, as it were.”

“What sort of challenge?”

“Rekindling a past friendship.”

Starlight’s ears dropped as her pupils contracted to the size of pins.

“What’s wrong?”

Starlight shook her head. “I…I’m sorry, Twilight. I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of challenge.”

“I know you and Sunburst didn’t exactly part on good terms, and that separation almost made you remove a town’s worth of cutie marks, but it’s not going to do much good if you keep distancing yourself from him.”

“Besides, you do realize it wasn't Sunburst’s decision to go to Celestia’s School, right?” I asked, looking up from my comic book. “He was forced there. He still cares for you, and I bet he’s willing to see you again.”

“Still, it’s been a long time since we’ve met. Can you imagine how awkward it’ll be to just walk up to his house and act like the whole cutie mark incident never happened?”

“Starlight, listen.” Twilight held Starlight's chin. “I’m not forcing you two to become best friends again after just one day. You should, at the very least, talk to him. Let him know how you feel.”

Starlight looked away, then back to Twilight. “Does it have to be so soon?”

“Well, since Cadance’s baby is due any day now, I was thinking we could also have you visit Sunburst while the rest of the girls help with the upcoming baby in the Crystal Empire. Speaking of which, they should be in the throne room by now. Why don’t you and Spike check?”

“Sure thing,” I responded.

As Starlight and I traversed down the hall, I recognized this episode. In the show, Flurry Heart would be born, but her antics would cause a blizzard, and the Mane 6 and the princesses would have to fix everything before the Crystalling, an event held for when somepony was born in the Crystal Empire. Starlight would also meet Sunburst again.

I hoped I could prevent the Crystal Heart from breaking, or at the very least Twilight’s potential spellbook. I could also convince the town to evacuate early before the big blizzard, which probably wouldn't be a problem because of my fame there.

Starlight and I entered the throne room just to see the rest of the Mane 6. They were all discussing the Crystalling.

“Frankly, I'm not exactly clear on all the customs and traditions of the Crystal Empire,” said Applejack, “especially when it comes to a Crystalling.”

“What’s a Crystalling?” Starlight asked.

“Well, that's just it, darling,” replied Rarity. “Princess Cadance and Shining Armor's baby is due any day, and we're still not sure. If only they had provided more information when they sent us that letter last week.”

“A Crystalling is a ceremony held for somepony's birth,” I said.

I then pulled out a vase and explained to the girls the details of the Crystalling, which was more or less like in the show. Basically, the baby is brought to the Crystal Heart, and everypony shares their love with the Heart, increasing its power.

“What do you mean it increases the Crystal Heart's power?” Starlight scratched her head.

“It makes the Heart able to protect the Crystal Empire more.”

“Protect it from what?”

“Any kind of threats, like blizzards, storms, or evil unicorns like King Sombra.”

“I thought Sombra kicked the bucket when we first restored the Crystal Empire,” Applejack pointed out. “What're the chances he'll show up again?”

“I have to agree,” said Rarity. “For him to show up on the baby's birth of all days would be nothing short of a coincidence.”

I know he doesn't in the show, but the way these girls are talking sounds like King Sombra will show up when Flurry Heart is born.

The next day, I saw Starlight staring out the window.

“What’s on your mind, Glimmer?” I asked. “Thinking about Sunburst?”

“Are you a mind reader?” She questioned.

“Just a good guesser.”

“I can't help it, Spike. I know Twilight told me things would be okay, but I’m still not sure. What if Sunburst doesn’t remember me? What if he hates me for being gone for so long?”

“Sunburst will not hate you, Starlight. If you want, I can come with you.”

“But what about the baby?”

“I think we’ll have enough time to see her or him afterwards.”

“Guys! Guys!” Twilight shouted. “Come quick!”

Starlight and I hurried to the balcony. Twilight leaned on the railing just as the wind picked up. A giant snowflake sailed through the breeze and landed on Twilight’s outstretched wing.

“The Crystalling Invitation,” I said. “Nice aesthetics, but they could’ve just sent the invitation the normal way.”

Twilight read through the invite. “Shining Armor's a father! I'm an aunt! We need to get the girls! Come on!”

The three of us gathered the rest of the Mane 6. We then took a train to the Crystal Empire. Some of the girls brought gifts for the baby. Applejack carved a crib, Rainbow Dash made a mobile, and Rarity sewed a soft blanket.

“I see you have your original mane style back,” I said to Rarity.

“Thank you for noticing,” Rarity replied as she twirled her mane. “Zecora’s potion worked wonders. However, I have thoughts of trimming my mane short again this year.”

Starlight and Twilight sat together on the other side of the aisle.

“I know you're still nervous about seeing Sunburst, which is why I made a few pointers in case you forget your friendship lessons.” Twilight took out a scroll. “Think of it as a formula sheet.”

The train stopped in front of the Crystal Empire Train Station. Shining Armor stood on the platform, looking like he pulled more all-nighters than a college student on finals week.

“Shining Armor!” Twilight ran up and hugged her BBBFF. “I didn’t know you were meeting us.”

Just like in the show, Shining Armor was happy to see Twilight, but his drowsiness and loopiness made it clear that his sleep schedule was out of whack ever since the baby was born. The girls agreed to help both him and Cadance out while Starlight and I would go to Sunburst’s house.

Starlight and I headed down the road. I avoided the path to my crystal statue since I knew she would try to stall for time. I had a few fans stop us for my autograph, though.

“I didn’t think you were that popular here, Spike,” Starlight pointed out.

“Yeah,” I replied. “I helped save the empire with Twilight and Cadance, and everypony who lives here praises me as their hero. I'll show you the statue after our talk with Sunburst.”

We arrived at Sunburst’s house. Starlight skimmed through the scroll one last time as she climbed the steps. I remember this was Starlight’s first lesson in the show, and that Spike put a little bit of pressure on her. Thankfully, this wasn’t her first, and I was Spike.

“Starlight, you’ve done well with your friendship lessons, so you shouldn’t let this one hold you back,” I said. “Plus, I can help nudge you in the right direction and provide some topics in case of any awkward silences or pauses.”

Starlight gave me the scroll. “Well, here we go.”

She lightly tapped the door. There was nothing but silence.

Are we too early? I don’t remember Sunburst going out for anything prior.

Starlight turned around, but I held up a hand. She remained in her spot. That’s when the front door opened.

“Yes?” An orange stallion’s snout appeared from the door.

“S…Sunburst?” Starlight asked.

“Yeah, I…Starlight?” Sunburst threw open the door. “Starlight Glimmer?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“M-my goodness! It’s been…wow, I….I never thought…I meant to…”

I walked up the steps.

“S-Spike. Uh, heh, hi.” Sunburst cleared his throat. “This is a surprise. Have…have you met…?”

“Hello, Sunburst.” I nodded. “Yes, I have. Starlight has been living with Twilight and me for a while.”

“Wow…I…I didn’t know that. I-I’m sorry. Do you…you two…want to come in? To my house?”

“Uh…sure,” Starlight awkwardly replied.

Sunburst motioned us in.

“So far so good,” I whispered to Starlight.

As we entered Sunburst’s domicile, Starlight looked around the room, taking in all the books and scrolls. Sunburst entered the kitchen to brew some tea.

“And I thought Twilight was the only one into reading,” Starlight said under her breath.

Then she noticed the picture on the bookshelf. The same one I saw last time I was in Sunburst’s place. She slowly walked over and stared at it for the longest time.

“He really did care for me…”

“I, uh, I made some tea.” Sunburst walked into the room with a tea tray.

Starlight quickly took her seat as did I. Sunburst poured us a cup each. When nopony spoke, I did.

“So, how have you been since my last visit?” I asked Sunburst.

“I’ve…I've been fine,” Sunburst replied.

Sunburst took a sip of his tea. I looked at Starlight and pointed my head to Sunburst. Starlight motioned me to continue. I shook my head and pointed to her. I wasn’t going to let this conversation be just between Sunburst and me.

“So…what have you been up to?” Starlight asked.

“Just…reading scrolls and books and…whatnot,” Sunburst replied.

“Heh, we can see that.” I looked around the room.

“What about you, Starlight?” asked Sunburst.

“Oh…uh, I’ve been studying friendship with Twilight.” Starlight rubbed the back of her head. “She’s…kinda the reason why I’m here…”

“So...the Princess of Friendship wants you and I to be friends again or something?”

“Heh, I know. Weird, right?”

“Uh, I don't understand. What happened to you after I was put into magic school?”

“What?! Nothing!” Starlight quickly refilled her cup. “I-I don't see what…”

“Starlight, just tell the truth,” I said.

“What if he judges me?” She hissed.

“Judge you for what?” Sunburst tilted his head.

“Let’s just say Starlight didn’t take your sudden departure so well,” I replied before being nudged.

“When I returned home, your dad told me that you ran away. Was there…more to that story?”

Starlight looked away. “Sort of…I may or may not have almost started a small club for ponies against cutie marks…theoretically.”

“Oh…?”

“B-but it never happened, thankfully! Spike helped me disband the group before things went too far.”

“Really?” Sunburst looked at me.

I shrugged. “Well, I was just wandering around the caves outside of her town when I found a stone to eat. I found out too late that Starlight needed the stone, but given what she initially planned to do with it, I did us both a favor.”

“Starlight…I…I’m sorry…” Sunburst put his cup down.

“W-Wait! Like I said before, I-I never went through with forming that anti-cutie mark cult!” Starlight panicked.

“Breathe, Starlight,” I reminded her.

“Oh, no, I meant I’m sorry I couldn’t try to find you sooner,” Sunburst clarified. “I’ve been wanting to ever since I failed magic school, but life…” He sighed sharply. “...no, my mom got in the way.”

“Believe me, I know the feeling of an intrusive parent,” said Starlight.

Good, they're finding common ground.

“So what brought you to the Crystal Empire?” Starlight asked.

“I got tired of living with my parents, so when I heard about the Crystal Empire returning, I left town and found a place to live here.” Sunburst held a scroll. “It wasn’t a bad place to settle down, and I've read spells in my spare time.”

“Can you cast any?”

“Well…not really.” Sunburst rubbed the back of his head. “I'm not really good at magic in practice.”

“Kinda makes you wish you had a pink unicorn who knew a thing or two about casting, huh?” I chuckled.

Sunburst looked at Starlight. “I kinda do.”

“Well, I think we should be going,” Starlight said. “We don't want to miss the Crystalling.”

“Ah, okay.” Sunburst checked the teapot. “I was running low on tea anyway. It was nice meeting you again, Starlight. I hope...huh?”

“What?”

“Is…is that snow?”

Sunburst pointed out the window. Snowflakes the size of quarters fell from the sky.

“That’s…not right,” Sunburst said as the three of us looked out the window. “I mean, the Crystal Empire usually gets a small amount of snow during the wintertime, but not this much. And during spring, no less.”

I gasped. “The Crystal Heart! Something must’ve happened!”

And I knew exactly what happened. The newborn baby shattered the Crystal Heart with her cry, and without it the Empire would be buried in the harsh blizzard.

“We gotta find Twilight and the others!” Starlight proclaimed.

“Right. Sunburst, you better come with us,” I offered.

“Me? What for?” asked Sunburst.

“Something tells me we might need you.”

Starlight, Sunburst, and I raced out of the house. The freezing wind felt like knives piercing my scales. No doubt Starlight and Sunburst felt the same way.

“Knowing Twilight, she's probably at the library!” I shouted. “Let’s hurry!”

We got to the library, praised it was less cold than outside, and went into the main room. We saw Twilight and Princess Cadance at a nearby table while Pinkie, Rarity, and Shining Armor were chasing a white alicorn foal with a purple mane and cyan diaper.

“Is that the baby?” Sunburst asked.

“It must be,” I replied. “Though their wings and horns look pretty huge.”

Pinkie immediately tackled the baby. The foal sneezed and burst a huge magic beam from its horn.

“Watch out!” I shouted.

I shoved Sunburst and Starlight out of the way and dove the other direction. The beam zipped out the room and smacked into a chandelier, shattering it into bits.

“That was close!” I sighed. “Are you two alright?”

Sunburst laid on top of Starlight. Both of them stared into each other’s eyes before they quickly and awkwardly got back on their hooves.

“W-we’re fine. We’re fine.” Sunburst said with tinted cheeks. Starlight had the same glow.

“Spike! Starlight! Stallion whose name we haven’t gotten yet!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Thank goodness you’re here!”

“What is going on here?” Starlight asked.

“You want the long or the short version?”

“Short.”

Pinkie then said rapidly, “The baby's an alicorn and she accidentally destroyed the Crystal Heart, but Twilight and Cadance just found a spell to put it back together and save the Crystal Empire from turning into a giant wasteland of ice and snow.”

“Oh.”

Good grief. Poof was somewhat less chaotic than her and he always made bad stuff happen when he cried.

“I just hope this will work,” Twilight said.

“Excuse me, your highness, but what spell are you planning to use?” Sunburst asked.

“The ‘Spell of Relic Reconstitution.’” Twilight handed him the tome. “You may see for yourself. Page 108.”

Sunburst flipped through the pages. “Uh, I’m sorry, Princess Twilight, but this won't work.”

Twilight chuckled nervously. “W-what do you mean it won’t work? It has to work!”

“This spell can’t restore the Crystal Heart alone; it's been around for millennia. You need to combine it with something else. Something unique to the relic itself. Something that strengthens it and provides it with power…”

“The Crystalling!” Twilight and I declared in unison.

Sunburst nodded. “Combining that spell with the light and love of everypony gathered for the ceremony, together with Somnambula's Weather Abjuration to clear away the snow…” Flurry Heart flew past him and he immediately ducked. “...and adding a little Fledgling's Forbearance for the parents...should curb the little one's power fluctuations.”

“You must be Sunburst,” Cadance said as she caught her daughter. “I have to say you certainly came at the right time. You must be quite the wizard.”

“Oh, I’m no wizard…”

“B-but he studied magic his whole life!” Starlight assured. “You should see his house!”

Shining Armor looked at Twilight, then to the baby, then to Sunburst.

“I had planned on asking Twilight to be our crystaller, but since it seems like she'll be busy...”

“I’d be honored.” Sunburst bowed his head. “I’ll get the spells from my home. You can come with me if you want, Starlight.”

Starlight nodded contently.

“I’ll find Celestia and Luna and tell them to meet Twily and me at the Crystal Heart,” Cadance declared.

“I’ll find the rest of the girls and stop the Crystal Ponies from evacuating just yet,” I offered.

“The rest of you should follow me to the castle,” Shining suggested.

“Like there’s any other place we’d wish to be,” Rarity pointed out.

We exited the library and back into the blustering blizzard. I dashed to the castle and towards the Crystalling stage where Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were.

“Spike, there you are!” Rainbow Dash zoomed up to me. “You’re famous here. Tell these stubborn ponies to book it to the train station before they all become snowponies!”

“We’re not leaving,” I retorted.

“Aw, don’t tell me yer on their side, too!” Applejack exasperated.

“It’s not that. The Crystalling will still go as planned; we've got somepony to help us restore the Crystal Heart. Trust me.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Fluttershy replied.

A short while later, Sunburst appeared from behind the curtain holding the alicorn foal, the latter of whom giggled whilst being in the former’s arms. Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Shining Armor, and Cadance showed up soon after.

“We’re ready for the Crystalling!” Pinkie clamored.

“But we must hurry!” Rarity looked behind her. “Even with Princess Celestia and Luna, the spell can only do so much.”

We all took the stage. The air was so cold I swore I felt my blood freezing up. Shining and Cadance gave their child a kiss on her face cheeks and touched horns, causing the foal to levitate into the air. Rarity handed Sunburst a case of crystal shards, and he picked the purest one.

“Citizens!” Sunburst announced. “May I present the newest member of the Crystal Empire!”

The scene played out like in the show. The citizens of the Crystal Empire bowed, emitting a cyan glow beneath their hooves that spread throughout the streets. Sunburst touched the ground with the crystal shard, and it absorbed the glow. He then raced into the curtains, hoping to restore the heart.

A shockwave emerged from the curtains and gave everypony plus me a crystal coating. A massive rainbow column pierced through the storm. The blizzard clouds dispersed as the air grew warmer. The foal floated back down as the crowd cheered.

“And you girls wanted to evacuate everypony,” I joked.

“Hey, don’t make us the bad guys here!” Rainbow rebutted.

Once the crystal skins vanished again, we all returned to the train station. I stood next to Shining Armor, who was holding the baby.

“I’m glad I could see the baby up close without all the crazy stuff happening,” I said.

Suddenly, the foal grabbed me by the snout and giggled audibly.

“Hey!”

“Heh heh, she’s got her uncle’s nose,” Shining Armor chuckled.

“You were waiting for that one, weren’t you?” I asked unamusingly.

The train arrived, and Twilight Velvet and Night Light appeared.

“You would not believe the crazy weather that delayed our train,” Night said. “Came out of nowhere.”

“But it was all worth it to see this peaceful little angel,” Velvet added. “Awww, so sweet. Come to your grandmare.”

“Peaceful now, anyway,” said Applejack.

“I suppose that spell really did the trick,” Twilight said.

Suddenly the baby inhaled like she was about to sneeze. The girls quickly took cover while I took a step back. Thankfully, the only thing that came out of the foal was a normal sneeze.

“We have Sunburst to thank for that,” Shining said.

“I hope he takes his role as crystaller seriously,” Cadance said. “Something tells me the baby will need a pony like him to look to for magical advice.”

Shining Armor handed the baby to his mother. When Velvet asked what they would name her, they decided on “Flurry Heart.”

The Mane 6 and I got on the train. Starlight gave one more farewell to Sunburst before joining us.

“So how did it go with Sunburst?” Twilight asked.

“Well, we talked to each other about what happened after we got separated, and we agreed to keep in touch,” Starlight replied.

“That’s good to hear. You may not have been best friends again, but at least you’re heading in the right direction.”

“You should give her a gold star for her efforts,” I suggested.

“If I had any gold stars, I would be sure she got one,” Twilight considered.

I didn’t mind this episode’s outcome. While nothing major changed, the Crystal Heart was repaired early and Starlight and Sunburst initially bonded a bit more than in the show. Also, Trotter's Tome of Reliquary was saved from Flurry’s stray blasts. I wondered if Thorax would still show up later on, as I still had no idea what happened to him or the changeling hive.

“So Flurry Heart is considered the first alicorn born in Equestria, right?” I asked.

“That’s what Princess Celestia and Princess Luna said,” Twilight replied.

“Is that because neither of them had a partner for the past millennium?”

“Well…Luna was banished to the moon at the time, while Celestia…er…” Twilight tapped her hoof on the seat. “You know what? That’s a good point. Why didn’t Celestia ever have a partner?”