Spike grinned with contentment as he looked out at Canterlot from the balcony of his old room. He had spent a week in Canterlot after explaining to Twilight in a letter how much he was missing Celestia. Twilight understood and told him to take all the time he needed.

It had been a perfect week, full of laughter, games, and sweets of course. He would play with Celestia when she had her short breaks, help train the guards with his fire breath, wander around Canterlot, eat with Donut Joe, visit the Sparkles, Play games with Luna when she would wake up, and at night Luna, Celestia, and Spike would huddle up together and share stories over some hot chocolate.

He sighed and wiggled his nose as a snowflake landed on it. He looked up to see the pegasi were gathering the clouds to prepare Canterlot for Hearth’s Warming. Spike had nearly forgotten the holiday with so much happening. He still had a bit more work to do with his second book, maybe he should release it for the holiday?

“Spiiike, I sure hope you aren’t ogling any ponies from up in your ivory tower.” Celestia joked as she entered his room, much of her fatigue and pent-up emotions all gone after spending more or less a week with her family. She felt so good that it almost hurt to see Spike’s suitcase but the drake couldn’t stay with her forever. He had family waiting and she had taken him for long enough.

“Oh come on mom, this is your tower. If I wanted to ogle, I’d ask you to make me one of my own.” He chuckled and walked over to her. “Thanks for letting me stay though, I think we all needed a break.”

“That we did. Do try to not overwork yourself, Spike. Twilight and her friends would ask the same.”

“I know. They can be a handful and a half but I’m used to it. With Hearth’s Warming coming up, Twilight usually relaxes around this time of year. I’ll come back for New Moon’s Eve.”

“We’ll be waiting.” The two shared a hug, a yawn coming from his doorway and Luna stood, rubbing one of her eyes.

“Don’t think you’ll get away without a hug from me mister.” Spike chuckled and ran over.

“Never! It was really nice to spend time with you, Auntie Luna…” The two embraced and Spike grabbed his bag. “Oh and Spike, one more thing.” He looked back at the two as Celestia and Luna shared a look. Celestia smiled kindly.

“If you ever need to tell us anything… anything at all. We’re always just a letter away.” Spike shivered at the sweet way she spoke those words. He nodded and promised to write before leaving. After a bit, Luna smirked.

“I’m amazed you held your cool.”

“Oh Luna, if he was the only one to punish once the truth comes out I may not have but Spike isn’t alone. I have a certain niece of mine to see soon as well. Do you want some breakfast?”

“Thought you’d never ask. Though sister if I may… I think you did a good job with him.” Celestia smile and shook her head.

“Who he is, is his own achievement. I just helped.” She turned and walked away, pride in her words.

. . .

Spike raced toward the station, having been distracted by Minuette, Lemon, and Twinkleshine. He got so caught up in their discussion that he heard the train’s whistle and he promised to meet them in Ponyville later before rushing for the station.

“Wait! Wait! I’m supposed to be on that train!” He shouted but managed to arrive just as it left and he huffed.

“Mister Spike? Did you miss the train?” A pony asked as he walked up, it was a station pony that Spike often said hello to. He nodded and sighed.

“Yeah, I got caught up in a conversation. It was my fault.” The pony had a look of pity as he fixed his hat.

“Should I… call them to come back? Are you in a rush?” Spike shook his head.

“No, I was eager to get home sure but I can wait for the next train. Could you do me a favor though? I want to walk around Canterlot so can I put my bag down here?”

“Of course! Anything for a friend of a princess.” Spike saluted the stallion and left his bag before leaving the station and wondering what he could do. He had already walked the city a lot over this last week but then something came to mind as he pulled out his necklace.

“Spike has already been through Canterlot… but Emerald hasn’t.” He rushed into an alley and after a moment, came flying out, enjoying the breeze against his mane as he flew high into the sky. He went through the sky, spinning and showing off like a certain mare taught him to. The sight from the castle was always one of the best in the kingdom, but Spike now say that wings were a nice substitute. Being a pegasus, he flew high up and through the snow clouds, looking down at the land of Equestria. “Wow, it’s so… amazing. I think I can see the Dragon Lands from here.”

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?” Spike looked down to see a team of Pegasi. “We’re setting up seasonal snow! You can’t go breaking the clouds!” Spike rubbed his mane.

“S-sorry! I’ll go back to town!” He dived through the hole he had made and had planned to pull up at the last second like Rainbow would but he underestimated how thin the walkways were when not on the main path. Pulling up, he ws able to keep from the ground but his speed made it hard to fly higher. He had to twirl, dodge, and jump. Avoiding ponies, a set of moving ponies holding a glass window, and mother with her carriage. He sighed and laughed as he had managed to get through but then slammed right into the side of a moving truck.

“Ooo that sounded expensive. Who… are you okay?” Spike fell onto his back and groaned, his mind barely registering the voice until a face appeared in his sight.

“Rar…ity…?” Rarity tilted her head and frowned.

“Yes? Do I know you?” Spike rubbed his head and made sure his necklace was in good shape. “Sir, are you okay? That looked like a bad crash.”

“I-I’m fine! Really!” He got to his hooves and nearly tripped but played it off by trying to look cool and leaning against the truck. Rarity smirked a bit, seeing right through him but allowing the topic to pass.

“So how do you know me, mister..?”

“Emerald. Emerald Flare. I’m a friend of Twili-” He was cut off by her gasp as she leaned closer to him, making him back up.

“You wrote one of my favorite books! My friends mentioned meeting you! You are just as cute as they say.” Rarity added with a grin that made Spike blush.

“They think I’m cute?”

“Did you have doubts?” Spike shrugged and looked around.

“What’s going on here?” He followed to the end of the truck and he was struck silent as he saw mover ponies putting new furniture into what looked to be a smaller version of Carousel Boutique. “Carousel Boutique? Are you… moving?” His voice was shaky as he was worried that she would be leaving Ponyville.

“Oh no! This is just an expansion of my business. Canterlot is the home of fashion for the entire kingdom after all so it would be nice to have a home here. My main building will always be in Ponyville.” Spike sighed and nodded. “But I’m surprised you know about my business. Ooo! Please tell me that you are in need of some clothes Darling! I have grand ideas that would go so well with your coat and mane. Luckily I have a good friend with a similar look so I know what works best with purple and green.” Not having any better excuse to know her, he nodded.

“Y-you got it in one shot! I’m hoping to buy an outfit for a… book tour?” Rarity smiled and fluttered her eyelashes.

“Ooo would this tour be to introduce your new book?”

“...Yes?” She looked eager and began to note off what she would need and asked him for his measurements. Already in her element, she seemed ready to go into her new store to begin working but realized it wouldn’t be ready for a few days and she chuckled.

“I may need to head back to Ponyville to get the outfit ready,” Spike promised to mail her his measurements and he bit his lip.

“Uhh… if you aren’t that busy at the moment… would you like to go grab a donut with me? Canterlot has a place that sells the best ones around.” Rarity looked interested and after a bit of thinking, she nodded. The two walked off, Rarity asking questions revolving around his writing and asking him how it felt to be famous. He turned the question back to her, she was the hero out of the two of them after all. It was strange to hear Rarity talking about herself like they were meeting again for the first time but it was nice in a way. She was always happiest when she got to talk about her likes, her family, and her ever-rising goals.

“Oh! Donut Joe’s! I’ve indeed been here before after a dreadful night. We also met when I happened to be on a train with him and my friends… I uhh didn’t make the best impression then…”

“Oh, Joe doesn’t keep grudges. Don’t worry about that. I’ll be paying so get what you want.” Spike said as he opened the door for her. Rarity smiled but put her nose in the hair, flicking her tail as she walked past him.

“Quite the Gentlestallion but I can’t let you do that. I can pay for myself. Thank you though.” Spike rolled his eyes with a chuckle. She was stubborn when she wanted to be. He followed her in and the two got a box of donuts to share. Rarity impressively kept up with him as he ate, smirking a bit as she got some chocolate on her face.

“I think some pony missed Breakfast?”

“More like my sister burned it. Tell me, how do you end up boiling toast?” Spike frowned.

“Uhh… you can’t?”

“I see… Maybe she is better at magic than I thought…” Spike reached over and wiped her mouth with his hoof, making her blink and blush a tiny bit. “O-oh uhh thank you.”

“Anytime.” In the distance, a whistle was heard and Spike’s eyes widened. “Except now! I have to get to the train. I’ll send those measurements soon as I can!”

“O-Oh! Have a good day Emerald!” Rarity waved as Spike jumped into the air and shot off toward the station. He went into a restroom and came out as Spike, buying a ticket and boarding the train as it took off toward Ponyville. Spike had decided to take himself a nap as he waited but the train didn’t make it longer than ten minutes before an explosion was heard and they screeched to stop.

“Oh, this can’t be good…” Spike heard a scream and he rushed to the next cart which was actually armored. He peeked in to see a group of masked ponies wearing red suits and gold goggles ordering bits and for the collection of gems that were being transported. “Oh Celestia, what to do what to do?!”

“Make sure no one is in the next car! Gather everypony and send them to the back of the train.” Spike heard hoofsteps coming closer. Slipping on his necklace, he leaped onto the roof of the car just as two masked ponies came out.

“Gotta say, this is the easiest job yet.”

“Yeah well, it’s way easier when you have a boss who is a master at stuff like this. Rough Diamond was uncatchable until those Element ponies and the magician. With her back on the streets. No diamond is safe.” As they left, Spike peeked out and wondered what he should do. Looking at his hooves, he stood up and his wings flared open. He didn’t have time to call his friends. This would have to be done alone.

His first move was getting the train moving again. He flew to the engine and found the Engineer tied up with a masked pony standing guard. Thankfully his eyes seemed to only be focused on his captive so he barely had time to turn as Spike divebombed into him. He untied the conductor and told him to start the train in exactly two minutes before hiding as more would come.

Going after the two masked ponies from before, Spike turned back into a Dragon and collected several chucks of coal. He went back to his car and saw the two ponies were inside. He blew flames on the coal chucks, making them glow red and saw they were on the edge of coming apart. Spike opened the doors and threw the chucks, blowing flames at them and making them explode over the two, blasting them back and he punched them like he was back on Applejack’s farm.

“Three down.” The train began to move and Spike turned back into Emerald, timing this just right and jumping on the train rooftops while making noise. Another masked pony came to check what was happening but he had just flown to to the roof as Spike jumped down. “Heads up!” The Pegasus was hit by the top of a tunnel and comically landed on the tracks once the train had moved on.

“Hey, I’m pretty good at this hero stuff.” Just as those words came out, Spike was hit in the head by something heavy and nearly knocked off the train. He rushed into the armored car and the masked pony followed, a bag of look on their bag.

“Do you know how much good idiots are worth nowadays? I suppose it doesn’t matter. You got them out of the way so the take is all mine it seems.”

“You won’t get off this train.” The pony unmasked themself and it was a mare with a black mane and blue coat.

“I’m Rough Diamond. I always get away. You on the other hoof!” Spike quickly found himself outmatched as the mare used the bag to slap him around, shaking the car. Spike groaned and looked at the car they were in, he kicked one of the display cases at her before removing his necklace and showing his true self. The mare was in shock. “H-how did you?” Spike began to blow fire all around, the car’s metal walls and doors trapping the heat and soon the mare was sweating as she panted and looked for a way to escape.

“What’s wrong? Can’t take the heat?”

“Can you?” She pulled a bomb out and Spike’s eyes widened as she lit the fuse. He cursed and rushed to save her, kicking the bomb and opening the door for when the bomb went off but only smoke flooded the car and Spike was left coughing as Rough walked out the door he opened. “Nice try Dragon. I’m curious though about that trinket of yours! Till next time!” She rushed out and soon found a place to jump off the train. Spike groaned and crawled out of the car, going back to his and allowing himself to fade out.

. . .

Spike stirred and woke back in his bed in the Castle of Friendship. He struggled to remember what happened but then he heard his door open. Applejack walked in and saw he was awake. “Hey, Aj.” She nearly dropped the plate she had on her head and set it down before rushing to his side.

“Spike! Are ya okay?”

“Sore and a bit stiff but I’m alright. What happened to the train? What happened to me?” Applejack explained that when the train arrived in Ponyville, all the passengers were taken out safely. The masked ponies were caught and they explained that they were stopped by a pegasus. The description matched that one author pegasus and Rarity mentioned having seen him heading for the train. Many think he must have gotten on the train after seeing trouble but he wasn’t there after it landed.”

“Sounds like he’s in trouble…” He looked around for his necklace, seeing it by his bedstand. He really hoped Twilight or Starlight didn’t see it. Rarity and Rainbow had also seen it around Emerald’s neck.

“Ah doubt it. He was credited with savin the ponies onboard thanks to the Conductor. It is sad they got away though with the treasures. Anyway, that’s the talk of the town. The girls and I have been taking turns taking care of you for the last two days. Doc says that ya breathed in a lot of coal smoke, regular smoke, and took a mighty good wallop on your head.”

“R-right… I hit it against the train wall. I was trying to think of a way to help.” AJ smiled and petted his head.

“Spike, you’re worth more than any shiny rock. Don’t go getting yourself all hurt otherwise, Twilight or Starlight may lose it. You should have seen how worried they were… how worried we all were…” Spike reached out and smiled at AJ.

“Sorry… I’ll be more careful. Promise.”

“I’ll hold you to it partner.” The two shared a smile and she shared her meal with him before letting him sleep and going to tell Starlight and Twilight he was alright.

Author's Note

HOLY MOTHER OF CELESTIA. Who would have thought this story would return? I didn't. Still I'm glad it did. I miss writing for mlp here there. I just been writing my first official book so busy all around. Still I wanted to thank people for reading my stories and shit most even got to thousand views! Awesome. Oh I also went back to fix a lot of mistakes in this story so rereads would be way better.