The Draconic Twins: Combat is Magical

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 14- Meet the Mother
Chapter 15
Chapter 13

Chapter 1 Author's Note

Hello all! This story was half inspired by The Sweetie Chronicles: Fragments story, and half inspired by, like, 90% of HiE fics and Displaced. I also may have gotten inspired by David Silver's Bind on Pickup, so go check it out! Starting at Chapter 4 he will be helping me out, so definitely hit him up!

Chapter 1

Ever have about 1,000 volts of magical electricity course through your body? No? Well take it from her, it's not fun. But that's how Spine woke up in Equis. Hatched by Twilight Sparkle during her entrance exam, right alongside Spike. Turns out, dragons and babies, or foals for the ponies, actually CAN talk as soon as they're born/hatched.

But enough about what was going on, I, the author, bet you're curious about why you should keep reading, right? Well that's a funny story...

"Meg, listen, I don't think it's gonna work out between us..." Her most recent ex said, breaking up with her over the phone no less. "Look, it's not yo-" *click*

"It's not you, it's me. Pah! If you actually believed that you'd be here to tell me in person, you ass..." Meghan Lee said, sniffling as she wiped away her tears again, "Well... Looks like teach was right. Again. God, when will I listen... that man knows how to judge people, I should know that by now..."

With a sigh, she got up, shot her kick boxing coach a text asking to drop by, and set out before they replied. Every time this happened, her coach seemed to always know how long to wait before having a cleared schedule so she could stop by and beat on some of his older, more sturdy, equipment. Her phone buzzed as she locked her front door, and she smiled faintly as she pulled it out, looking at the reply text telling her it was ok to swing by.

"Always can count on you, old man..." She said as she turned around and began her jog over to the gym. She was charged, emotionally, and she knew it would be stupid to drive in her vulnerable state. Almost got in a crash the first time, so she learned not to do that again.

After about a half hour of her jogging, she was at the back of the gym, doing a few laps around the building before she felt calm enough to not cry as soon as she saw the old Korean that had taken to teaching her, free of charge, after her first boyfriend dumped her right outside his door.

"You early today, Meeg'han," the old man said, deliberately butchering her name to get a light chuckle from her, "No one else here. Come, come. No point stay outside, have tea. Then, we teach, yes?"

With a sniffling chuckle, Meg nodded, always loving how simple the old man was in his ways. Always able to make her laugh with his funny accent and deliberate butchering of various names. Able to help her back up again with his tea and stories after each crashed relationship and burned bridge. Always willing to help her stand back up after each fall.

"How do you do it, seogsa...? How can you look at the pictures and not cry all the time...?" Meg finally asked, having drank a couple cups of his special calming tea.

"Hmm? Oh. I cry. I cry lots. Always hurt, when look at pictures. But important thing, is not to let sad control you," he replied.

Meghan smiled faintly as she listened to him, looking down at her hands, covered in protective bindings now, and clenched them. She needed to focus on something else, and that something was right in front of her, ready to take her sorrow and anger. With a cry that would make a valkyrie proud, she reared her arm back and swung at the punching bag, putting everything she had into the blow, and felt it give slightly.

By the time she had exhausted herself, Mr. Gi had left, taught some more to the students that were paying for lessons from him, and returned.

"Better?" He asked, holding out a water bottle.

Meghan looked up at him and smiled, panting in her adrenaline exhausted state, and took the bottle as she replied, "Much."

"I go close doors. Stay if want, but be safe if go, ok?"

Meg replied with a nod as she downed the life giving nectar, planning how to get into some kind of trouble on her way home, if for no better reason than to see how far she's coming under his private tutelage.

"I will, Mr. Gi. I promise not to start any trouble," Meg said after looking at his worried expression. The old man simply smiled and nodded, turning to head back up to his room above the dojo.

"Who knows...? Maybe it'll finally find me tonight...?" She whispered under her breath as she got up and made her way back home. But before she had gotten too far, someone decided to run a red light... the last things she heard and thought... was the blaring of a semi, and thinking to herself, 'That's not the right horn...'

She curled up, not sure how she got into the fetal position to begin with, but she wasn't about to argue if she were still alive. Then, it hit her. Thousands upon thousands of volts of electricity coursed through her body, forcing her to straighten out and scream in pain. And then, she saw a crack in the sky, the strangely dark sky. Armed only with her thoughts and training, she grit her teeth and reached for the crack...

And stopped. It was right there. Not several feet above her. Another pulse of electrocution. Another scream of pain. Her hand clenched and snapped out, breaking the crack wide open...

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!" A constant scream she wasn't fully aware of until just then reaches her ears, and it sounded oddly familiar...

'Wait... Why do I have claws? Why am I in a egg?!' "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!?!" Meg said, stunned by the new body she had. She looked like a dragon from the world of My Little Pony, but that was impossible... Wasn't it...?

"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!"

And that scream... Meg looked over, and froze. It was indeed Twilight Sparkle. She was having the surge that got her her cutie mark. And behind her was a coin ride version of Celestia surrounded by the fillies signature magical aura. Meg had one thought before the next pulse.

"Fuck."

Chapter 2

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 3 Author's Note

This is why I broke off the last chapter so early. I'll have the next one ready, hopefully, within a week. And try to guess the one shot series I'm taking bits from~. First person to guess it right, I'll dm you bits and pieces of the next chapter for you bounce back replies with. Might even give you a special chapter!

Chapter 3

Eons ago, before my sister and I were born, there were only two forces in this world. Chaos, and Harmony. Chaos released legions of malformed demons, intent on taking this dimension for their mad games-

"So Chaos and Hamrony are their own things? Interesting..."

"Spine..."

"Sorry!"

However, Harmony had other plans. The force of Harmony released raw magic into the realm, shaping it into the races we know today. Minotaurs, Kirin, Dragons, Griffins, and Ponies. The Diamond Dogs, Draconoquai, and Outland races were forged by the Chaos. However, these races and more were still young. Primordial and lacking the understanding needed to do what their creators demanded.

"The races rebelled, didn't they?"

"Only the Diamond Dogs, and Outland races. The Hippogryphs are actually ancient descendants of the Kirins and Griffins. Sea Ponies just appeared one day, so it is assumed they are the natural habitants, and of the last... Only Discord remains..."

"Must be sad..."

Back on topic, yes. The races rallied against the Chaos, and pushed it back, but not out. For without the Chaos, the Harmony was consuming the realm. Leaving nothing but unending day... For centuries the races would battle both Harmony and Chaos after this realization, until all sides came to an agreement. The gods of the realm would be made to direct the mortal plane, while Chaos and Harmony resumed their war in the shadows. Elysium, the home of the pure gods, and Tarsano, home the foul, were made that day. My sister and I were born a few more decades later, when a pact was made between the two realms, that further restricted their access. Now, only four gods walk this realm, and two of them are sealed away.

"If you don't mind my asking... When you said that Harmony released raw magic and forged the races... Does that mean...?"

"That each race on Equis is capable of magic? Yes. The Minotaurs and Zebras, I lumped them with ponies to keep things short, are shamanistic, allowing them to commune with the dead and create potions unlike any other. Griffins are capable of controlling the winds around them, to the point that some highly trained Griffins can cut solid steel in half using their magic. Kirins have the ability to... Let's just say they are the fiercest warriors you'll ever face and leave it at that.

"Dragons are able to eat gems and stone as readily as a pony eats apples and carrots. On top of that, they are also able to manifest their fire in highly unique ways. Why, this one dragon I know uses it to create glass art! And she does so by pushing her fire and her magic into the ground and shaping it into what she wishes before pulling it back into herself and digging the sculpture up.

"Now, that's not to say a Minotaur can't, or won't, use the same magic as a Griffin, but it would be highly difficult and they would need to have a natural affinity for air magic. But enough of this, we are bird walking now."

During those decades, the Pony races had fallen into despair, Chaos had taken hold and released the Wendigoes, and Harmony was waning. My sister and I rallied the three tribes and, with some heavy hoofed negotiating, lead them away from the frozen north. Those that refused to follow were swallowed by the darkness, and converted into the short tempered Yaks, the lethal Umbrum, and the hope filled Crystals, representing the fates of the Earth, Unicorns, and Pegasi respectively...

Those that followed, helped us set up in the new 'world' and forged the EUP Alliance. These few traveled far and wide to help us cultivate friendships and bonds, as well as help map out our new lands. The Griffins kept to their Aeries high in the mountains, the Minotaurs and Zebras to their savanna like plains, arguing every so often, and the Kirins had secluded themselves away. Sending out small parties to trade and learn of the outside world every few decades.

The Diamond Dogs lived in abandoned caves and in underground tunnels, while the Dragons occupied the sweltering hot volcanoes, using their natural heat and fires to keep the lands warm. It wasn't until another century afterwards that my sister and I finally had control over our Alicorn magic, and were able to control the sun and stars without magically neutering our Unicorns, our Ponies. Around then the Nature goddess from Elysium, Fluttershy, descended for the first time.

"Fluttershy is a goddess?"

"I... would've assumed you knew that, given how little you reacted to everything else..."

"It just... That's what shocks me the most, is the fact that there's a Goddess living amongst- HOLD UP! Are you saying Discord and Fluttershy might actually know eachother?"

Princess Celestia hummed thoughtfully for a moment before shaking her head and replying, "No. I highly doubt they do."

"Sorry, carry on."

The first time she descended there was an explosion of overgrowth, the forest you might know as the Everfree was the result of it. From there, she learned to reign in her divinity, and walk among mortals with nopony the wiser for it. Except for Luna and I. And the Zebras for some reason... When she learned that we knew she begged us not to tell. We consented on the terms that she would return to Elysium every hundred years or so, for roughly another hundred years.

Between Sombra and Discord, refer to official show lore for background.

It was during her third excursion that we heard of Sombra's rise. We asked her a few days after the agreement to aid us, but she said that she was in the mortal realm to escape the duties of being divinity. We relented after her temper flared and the plants nearly ate our chariot pullers. I believe it was when we finally fought the foul King that he had corrupted Luna's magic somehow, as it was during the end of Fluttershy's fifth return that Luna snapped and became Nightmare Moon. I didn't ask for Fluttershy's help this time, because I believed I could handle my sisters corrupted state on my own. I was wrong... I had to use the Elements of Harmony on her and banish my sister to the moon.

This is Fluttershy's sixth return to Equis, and I fear that my sister might soon return...

"And she will, Celestia. The day Twilight brings up that legend of the 'Mare in the Moon', shall be the day before the Summer Sun Celebration that Moony returns. Hope you don't mind me spoiling that little bit at the very least," Spine said, rubbing the back of her neck.

Celestia, for her part, simply smiled and shook her head, saying, "It is alright, little one. I was hoping I might be able to see her return, purified, on the day that we would celebrate together... I assume that from your choice of wording that I was wrong?"

"Yeah... Good news though, Twilight makes some friends down in Ponyville that'll help her purify her!" Spine said, hoping to cheer up the saddened alicorn. Celestia smiled a little warmer and nuzzled her in return.

"Come. I'm sure that your new 'mother' would like to speak with you."

"If you mean Sparkler, that's a hard pass from me. If you mean Velvet, then sure. I'll tag along."

"I mean Twilight Velvet and Night Light. I assume they will have some choice words for you swearing in front of their foal," Celestia cast a quick glance to the dragoness, smirking devilishly when she saw the poor hatchling shudder in fear. 'Oh this'll be so much fun to watch~!'

Chapter 4

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 5

Spine was quivering in excitement at meeting the minotaur that trained Shining Armor. At least, that's the vibe she got from how the Sparkle family treated him… Well, that, or the constant sneers and jeers at her being a 'lesser being' to the unicorn nobles.

The sounds of ponies young and adult clashing became more audible, other creatures mixed in with cries and grunts and the occasional yelp as dull thuds mixed in for a gentle spice of lively sparring and training going at full speed.

"So…? Where is he? I want to see the big guy already!" Spine asked, more than eager to see the minotaur.

Velvet pointed ahead to where a heavy warhorse, much like Shining Armor, but an adult, so even larger and more intimidating, was wrestling with a biped. Hooves struggled against hands and a glowing horn tugged fiercely as the two jockeyed for dominance. "You're getting better," grunted the minotaur, but it was over suddenly.

The pony was thrown to the ground with a loud thud. "But your footing's still weak. Work on that. You're closer." He offered a great hand to the downed student. "Up with ya."

Spine's eyes widened in surprise, suddenly very aware of how small she was as the pony took the offered hand. She said, staring at the seeming behemoth, "He's big… Um… Velvet…? What… what was his magic specialty, if it's ok to ask?"

"It's a special thing," she said, not seeming at all worried about the great minotaur that had already gone on to the next lesson. "He sees the big picture just as well as if he were looking at each part on its own. It makes him quite the teacher." She swiveled an ear back on Spine. "And quite the warrior when he used to do that."

"Well that explains why Shining was scared that he might hurt me…" Spine said as she shuffled slightly, even more aware that she might have just made a huge mistake.

"Oh, no, that power actually makes me feel safer about it." Velvet trotted right onto the training field, looking so confident she was not getting into trouble. "It's just what they do here. You're a little thing, no matter how big your head--" Or ego, she didn't say that part. "--may be. Any of the other fighters could hurt you badly, by mistake, but not him."

Spine relaxed as Velvet explained what she meant by saying he was a warrior. "Well… What do you think he'd want me to do if I wanted to become a personal student like Twilight is with Princess Celestia?"

"Oh, well, that's--"

She didn't get to finish her statement, the great warrior suddenly just as their side, catching a toppling warrior and roughly shoving them aside. "We have guests," he boomed, turning to Velvet. "An honored one, at that. What brings the mother of one of mine by? Did your other decide to join us? I don't see her." He leaned forward, examining Velvet and Spine. "Don't do it," he warned without explaining what he meant.

Spine gulped, nervous once more before asking, “D-do what…?”

"You were wondering, just a little, if you could win points by showing your moves." He waggled a big fat furry finger at her. "I appreciate the moxy. Not often I get to consider how I'll counteract such a young opponent. You're weak, and still slow, but the spirit, I could see that was true."

"I was telling her it was--"

"We can fix the other parts," he said, ignoring Velvet entirely. "But it will hurt. It will take effort, and you will hate me by the end of it." He flashed a grin. "Sound fun?"

Spine grinned maniacally before nodding, more than wanting to show what she could do then, going through several mental exercises to suppress her rising fear before responding with, “Well you haven’t seen someone like me yet, I promise you that much.”

"Reckon I haven't." And the hand came in, slamming into her little chest and throwing her back off Velvet, but another hand was right there to catch her before she fell more than an inch. "Miss Sparkle, it seems you've lost two children to me. I'll have to make it up to you someday." And he dropped Spine onto his shoulder like so much of a sack of potatoes. "I'll return her in one piece, hopefully better than I got her."

Velvet was left blinking, suddenly without a child, even if that one wasn't one of hers, technically. "Um… Wait, you're taking her? You only take fighters that can--"

"--She can," he cut off, walking off leisurely. "Good day."

Spine gasped as she recovered from the wind forcefully knocked out of her, then began to respond after a few minutes saying, “Fucking hell, that hurt… Gonna need to watch those fists of yours then.”

"The entire body of a warrior is a weapon." His right ear twitched towards her. "Just a matter of knowing which one is coming at you in a given moment. Right now, that isn't your focus." He dropped her unceremoniously on a cot. "Finish getting air in you, then we get to work. Your body is as important as your mind." He leveled a finger at her. "You ready to grow it?"

She nodded, more than willing to give it her all in order to learn how to use her magic. With any luck, he’d be able to help her out with it.
"Your mind is ready," he boomed out in laughter. "Let's catch the rest of you up. It's going to be boring, and long. Did I mention the hating me part? Wasn't an idle threat." He swept a hand across the large barracks that held enough room for a dozen warriors of various species. "First job, I want the floor sparkling. I should be able to eat off of it. I don't like it, you'll be eating off the worst spot, so don't mess up."

Spine nodded with firm determination, getting up to go find the cleaning supplies when a griffon approached her after the minotaur left, having never gotten his name.

“Hey, scat stain, get out of my barrack, and go back to your roc--” He didn’t get to finish as she immediately shot forward and planted an elbow firmly in his gut, forcing the wind out of him.

Though the wind was gone in a great oof, he had more. His wings spread with more power than they should have had, wind gusting out in all directions and forcing Spine back as if shoved. "Ha, little brat. Caught me off guard." But, he didn't ask why she was there again, moving instead past her to get to his bunk.

She relaxed, letting out a breath as she continued to go off in search of cleaning supplies.

Author's Note

Hey guys! It's still alive!

Chapter 6

He did not keep her on cleaning duty, that turned out to be a one time thing. He had other tasks far more appropriate for building stamina and strength. She helped dig ditches. She carried heavy bags of sand that she had helped fill in the first place, and she learned how to do proper dress drills and stand in formation. It was not a glamorous time, but it was a productive one, at least as far as he was concerned.

"Hey, Ace, mind passing the floor scrub?" Spine asked, talking to the griffon that had initially tried to bully her.

"Eat a dick!" Was his usual response to her talking to him. That, or challenging her. Today however, they had to work together, since they had started fighting without some creature to watch over the fight, and had gotten in trouble.

The door to the room slammed open, revealing their instructor with a snort. "Hey, tired of working out yet?" He was looking directly at Spine. "I have a real challenge for you. One I bet you're not ready for."

Spine smiled and stood, brushing herself off as she did before replying, "I'll take that bet. What do you need me to do?"

He hiked a thumb towards the hall outside. "I need you to face the fiercest enemy you'll ever face. They will know your every secret. They know your weakness. They know what you like." He clapped his hands together with a firm snap, the griffin looking away to busy himself with something else. "Are you really prepared?"

"Ha! You make it sound like I'm facing you this time around!" Spine countered as she began to follow him.

He steps to the side, allowing her to stroll out into the hallway. "Oh, you wish, little trainee. No, today you face yourself." He reached down and swatted her on the flat of her back. "It's your day off, and you have to fill it, because I don't like trainees loitering around, even on off days."

Spine stumbled forward, both from his hit and from the shock of what he had said. A day off? From trying to figure out her magic? Granted they hadn't been able to exactly force it out of her yet, and that was taking the heavy handed approach of life and potential death in an arena and barracks…

"I… I don't understand, a day off…?" Spine asked, confused as hell.

"Being a soldier doesn't replace being you." He leveled a finger at her. "A soldier with nothing to look forward to isn't much of a person, or a soldier. You've had your eyes set straight forward since you got here, enough of that. There's more to you than learning how to fight." Not that he had given much instruction on fighting, yet, insisting the weight training and general body conditioning were required first.

With a sigh, Spine nodded and quoted a wise old man from her previous life, saying, "'A soldier doesn't fight because he hates what lies in front of him. He fights because he loves what is behind him.' That kind of thing, right?" With another heavy sigh Spine nodded and started to head for the exit before turning around and calling back to him, "When I get back, I want to spar with you, dammit!"

"Tell you what?" He hiked a thumb upwards. "You go and enjoy the day, regale me with what you got up to, and I'll grant that wish. It'll be a fine time to see how that little body of yours is coming along."

She smiles and nods, more than eager to get started now, she rushed outside, giggling maniacally as she made her way through the streets to find Twilight and Spike, then to head for Mother and Father. 'Hope they don't mind me dropping by unannounced…' being the only thought she gave towards surprising them.

As she went out though, her thoughts turned towards that fateful day, so long ago… Spike had been able to stand right after watching her do it, but he wasn't able to speak like she did… was it because he was- "Oof!" Spine exclaimed as she ran into somepony, so lost was she in her thoughts, causing her to stumble back a little.

"Watch where you're going, runt!" Came the snappy reply that Spine associated with the other nobles of Canterlot. "If you tarnished my suit, I will have you exiled from Equestria back to where you belong!" Spine growled, a low threatening thing, before getting up, dusting herself off once more, and affixing the noble with her best death glare. Didn't work very well given how smol she was currently, but it did have the effect of making the noble huff and wander off.

"Fucking nobles… So. Where should I take sis out to first…? Maybe we should go visit Ponyville? Get her started down that path…? But if I do, that might- hold up. Different universe, different rules… Maybe I should do that…" With a plan in mind and a determination to see it through, she made her way to their parents house first in order to run it by them and possibly get some bits to pay for the travel. If she could time it right, then Pinkie would be there as well, which should spark Twilight to want to study how she does what she does.

"She's at magic kindergarten," reported Night Light, standing in the door, denying the possibility to use Twilight as a distraction. "Sorry."

"Welp… There went that idea… Maybe I could help around here for a bit then go play some pranks?" Spine asked, attempting to use how old she looked to her advantage.

"Well, I don't know much about pranks, but I already scheduled the chores for the day without you." He glanced over at a spreadsheet he had lovingly prepared. "Yep, on schedule!" He looked quite proud of himself. "You seem… self-sufficient for a foal your age. You could play?" He pointed to a park down the road.

Spine gave a small groan but nodded, before saying, "Alright. But if the guards come over because I was playing a couple pranks on Prince Blueballs, don't blame me."

Night Light looked genuinely confused, instead waving eagerly to his strange adopted child. "Have fun! Velvet will be delighted if you're joining us for dinner." The matter settled in his mind, he closed the door to keep his chores on track.

Author's Note

Boom! Another chapter down with the help of David Silver! Seriously, go check him out. He's an amazing guy

Chapter 7 Author's Note

Sorry for the wait guys! Life was kicking my ass, and I hadn't been able to get around to writing recently. But! I moved closer to work, so the walk is nowhere NEAR as bad as it was, and David poked me shortly after the move! Again, sorry for the long fucking wait...

Chapter 7

Spine jogged over to the park nearby, a small smile on her face as she scanned it for potential cohorts of fun. It took her a few minutes to find somepony young enough to not question why she wanted to play with them, but they looked familiar for some reason… Spine simply shrugged it off and wandered on over, smiling a little as she approached the blonde maned colt.

"Hi!" She said, already starting to regret her decision as her nerves began to work on her mentality.

The colt eyed her warily at first before turning to her and saying, "Yes, peasant? What do you want?"

'Aaaahhh, fuck… That's why he looks familiar…' went through Spine's head as she mentally face palmed at not recognizing Prince Blue Blood.

"First off, I'm not a peasant. Second, I was wondering if you wanted to be friends, but seeing as how you're too much of a self entitled prick, I might be starting to reconsider that…" Was what came out of her mouth before she remembered that Princess Celestia hadn't officially adopted Spike and her yet, so her making claims to such would sound preposterous and impossible.

"And why should I believe you, drake, when you're no older than I am at best!" Blue countered, a small smile tugging at his lips as he faked outrage that she would be so bold as to assume he was just another noble.

"Well… You saw that giant purple light from Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns a couple weeks ago…?" Spine asked, nervously rubbing the side of her neck.

"Mmm?" He inclined his head lightly. "Do you mean the colors in the sky? Quaint." His eyes widened faintly as he said the last word. "Auntie does love her demonstrations. Did it captivate you?"

"Heh… See, that light was actually what brought me here. Twilight Sparkle, I'm sure you've seen her or heard of her in the gossip mill from the maids? Yeah, she hatched mine and Spike's egg for her entrance exam… A-anyway, would you like to be friends…?" Spine mentally kicked herself as she fought to keep from panicking.

He stood up, sliding up to all four hooves as he looked her up and down before suddenly thumping her lightly on the shoulder with a thud of a hoof. "How droll! Such cheek." He smirked softly. "As if a little filly could hatch a dragon, it is to laugh." And that is what he did. "Still, you have amused me, very good, very good. For that, I will grant you the opportunity to have an audience with me, isn't that grand?" He leaned in a little. "Let's retire somewhere less drafty. I know just the place, this way."

She sighed before moving to follow the already retreating Prince, grumbling about how stupid Canterlot nobility was and how God awful this day was gonna be already. Though the place they wound up was not where she was expecting, that much can be said with confidence...

"Isn't it marvelous?" he gushed as he waved at what seemed to be, of all things, to be a comic book store. "You can get all manner of distraction here. Do you have a favorite?" He trotted right in past the shopkeep who just nodded with seeming recognition of the little noble. "If not, I've a few suggestions depending on your preference. Do you want to laugh, or gasp with alarm?"

She blinked in genuine surprise before smiling widely and said, "Let's hear you laugh then, Bluey."

"Bluey?" He quirked an ear back at her even as his little horn glowed, weakly snatching a book and lifting it up, bringing it towards his new companion. "What an odd title. Oh! Are we exchanging friend names? How lovely! Oh, dear, but I've none for you. What was your given name again?"

She winced, having forgotten that she hadn't told him her name yet. "My name is Spine and my… brother, I guess, is named Spike. Twilight Sparkle hatched me and Spike during a very large surge after that Sonic Rainboom, the 'lights in the sky'."

"Oh there you go with that again." He waved it away like it was a joke. "No wonder you asked for the comedic book." He pointed to the floating comic. "Now there's a yarn, Spinah." He looked perhaps unduly proud of his pet name. "It's about a diamond dog who doesn't actually know what a gem is. Poor blighter gets all sorts of shiny things, but never the one he's aiming for."

Spines lips curled faintly as she fought the urge to smile at the name. "Spinah…? A-anyway, next time you see Princess Celestia, there's a good chance there's going to be a purple unicorn fill with a starburst for a cutiemark with her…" Spine then opened the book and raised an eyebrow at some of the early jokes, not fully grasping the punchlines.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Blueblood was all too happy to explain the humor. "Oh, too right…" and he gladly went over the mistakes the poor diamond dog was making in simple pratfalls and what would be, to someone who knew the culture, easily avoidable mistakes. "Poor little fool. Oh! You simply must have it." His magic gently nudged the book towards her. "After you've read one, you'll be hooked. Why, I'd only read the first series. If you catch up, we can do the second together. Wouldn't that be a thing?"

She smiled widely, already eager to try and turn Blue Blood around from how he was in the show, and gave a single quick nod saying, "Oh, absolutely! I'll read them when I have time while training with Stone Wall!"

He raised a hoof high. "Put this book on my tab!" A distant noise of agreement came. Blueblood's pocketbook was a known factor. "Now what is this about training?"

"Oh, um… Stone Wall is a big minotaur, he trained Shining Armor and a few others. He runs the local boot camp I believe…" Spine said, trying her best to explain something she herself hadn't fully explored yet.

"A minotaur?" He arched a brow. "Great brutes, those. A camp?" He sat suddenly and brought his hooves together. "Mumsy refuses to let me go to a camp, says it's beneath me, really, as if I can't make up my own mind…" He glanced left and right, leaning in, voice dropping, "Give it to me straight, Spinah, I'd do famously, wouldn't I?"

Spine winced briefly, thinking back to Ace and how little Blueblood likely knew about fighting before responding with, "Umm… Maybe? I mean, he took me in only because he recognized my biggest secret with a single look. I'm not sure if you'd even survive a fight with Ace, a Griffon that seems to want me gone…"

"A fight?" Blueblood raised a brow high at that. "My poor dear, are they forcing you into barbaric tussles?" He bounced up to all fours. "I won't stand for a friend being treated with such disrespect!"

Spine snickered before laughing, a light tinkling sound similar to that of a singing crystal, before waving him back down. "Bluey, it's fine! I went to him to learn how I can protect those dear to me! I promise you, the only one 'forcing' me to do anything is Stone Wall!"

Blueblood's eyes widened. "Oh! Like a guard? You are training to be a guard?! How…" He curled an arm, hoof going to his chin in heavy consideration. "Honestly, I'm not quite sure how to think of that. Still, guards are an honorable position, so I will choose to praise you." He put the same hoof on each of her shoulders. "Go forth and be successful, dear friend."

She giggled and brought him into a hug, being careful not to mess up his suit while she did. "I will, Bluey. I plan to make it through this, no matter what. Now if only I knew how to summon my fire…"

"Fire? Oh, yes, dragon." His eyes darted up and down over his new friend. "That is hard to miss, isn't it? My magic is still shy to come to me, I imagine it's much the same. Keep practicing. I'll be casting grand spells, and you'll set fire to… whatever you plan to set fire to." He inclined his head with confusion. "What do dragons set fire to?"

Spine shrugged, pulling out of the hug as she did, and said, "Honestly? I have no idea. I was hatched just a week ago, so…"

"A week ago! Well, then I dare say you're already doing quite well for yourself, Spinah." He nodded with appreciation. "Now, the way I see it, once you know what it is you need to set on fire, it'll come to you." He reached for a book without touching it, his horn glowing as it floated the remaining distance. "That's how mine worked! I wanted something so very badly, and… it worked!"

Spine blinked in surprise briefly, then hummed as she thought about that, rubbing her chin in thought. "Maybe… Maybe I should dual Ace then…? He seems to enjoy trying to spear me with his ice…"

"Well, I claim no mastery with guarding duties." He inclined his head the other way. "But only one of you is an associate of mine, meaning you simply have to prove victorious. I look forward to hearing of the sound drumming you deliver."

"Don't worry, Bluey, I'll make sure to kick his flank!" She smiled widely once more as she said this, already enjoying herself before looking at the book he grabbed. "Say, what's that one about?"

"Oh!" He seemed surprised, as if he forgot he had picked it up to start. "This one's an adventure. One of my favorites, about a unicorn that has to fight all manner of beasts, alone, against the world. All very thrilling, not very humorous if that was the goal." He nodded at it appreciatively."

"Huh… not at all what I was expecting…"

"Oh, I know, one of my guilty pleasures." He nudged his shoulder against Spine's side. "But I do get a little thrill out of their antics, even if I have no particular desire to join them. Adventures of that sort are not for me. Now…" He put the book back. "I'll inform the shopkeep to let you have the next book after you finish that one."

Chapter 8

Spine sat back on her bed with a little smile, reading the book Blueblood had given her. She kept her arm in the way of it, lest others spot it and call her weak again. It was working perfectly.

"How was your day off?" Suddenly the minotaur's hand was on her shoulder. For someone so large, he had managed to sneak up on her without a sound. "Find something besides fighting worth doing?"

She yelped in surprise, spinning around to face her teacher while her heart pounded against her chest before replying, "Y-yeah… Sorry, you surprised me, is all… Found a book series and a few comics to keep me entertained, made a friend, walked around Canterlot and realized how much I hate nobles…"

His hand went out, catching the fluttering book on its way down. "Nobles are the ones that'll be paying your bits, chances are even, so keep disparaging thoughts a bit quiet, hm?" He gave a flap of the book, knocking it straight before sending it in an idle toss to land on Spine's bed. "Good. You did what I asked. You had a fun time, means you can work all the harder, knowing you'll get back to it."

She smiled widely and nodded, excited to both continue her training, as well as get back to her book. She blinked once before coming to a realization. "Oh good God, I'm becoming Twilight…"

He hiked a brow at that. "Your sister? She's far more cerebral from the reports your mom gives." He chuckled in a half chuff. "She doesn't hesitate to give them. Reading a book will not catch you up to her on that battlefield, so you're better off honing your own talents."

She nodded once in return, still looking farther down the line than the present, as that was what truly had her half worrying. "Hey, I don't think I've caught your name, despite basically living here for a couple weeks now…"

"Belay that." He grabbed a wooden sword off the wall, one of many practice weapons in easy reach. He lobbed it towards Spine in an underhanded motion. "Did you forget the last promise you got out of me? You did my part, my turn. You get a spar, one on one." He raised his fists, balling them with no weapon of his own. "You last for thirty seconds, I'll answer that."

She smiled even wider and nodded, careful to get up and keep him in her view. "Right. To the ring then?"

"You won't always be in a ring." He swung for her, but she easily jumped back. A purposeful miss? "Sometimes trouble finds you when you're not expecting it." He closed the distance, his greater height allowing him to devour the distance. "But you have to be ready for it."

She yelps in shock and dove between his legs, hoping to escape the giant, all the while silently screaming in anger that she still didn't know how to call on her draconic fire.

"Smart." He twirled on her, not to threaten with his great fists, but grabbing a pillow on the way and sending it flying at her face. "But you have to watch out in cramped places. Everything is a weapon."

She blinked, lashing out with a fist to knock it the pillow aside before leaping back to put a little more distance between them and try to lure him out to the center of the room. "True as that is…"

He slammed down on one side of a bed, causing the other to spring up just as she was about to pass by it. "That isn't the fire I saw in you before. You wanted this fight, now let's see some fighting spirit!"

She exhaled slowly, leaping through the gap between the bed and the bed frame, leading with an elbow into one of his knees.

He twisted with the motion, catching her in mid air into a twirl, the world spinning around her as he moved to throw her down onto the same bed they had begun fighting around. "That's more like it."

She used the bounce of the bed to spring up over him, one foot lashing out in a jump kick, trying to land at least one blow before he knocked her out like he always did. But his face was a calm smile, catching her lashed out foot and advancing her movement, causing her to spin backwards back onto the bed, his hand coming down on her chest to pin her there. "You just got slammed by Far Sight. Remember that."

She is left gasping faintly, her young body still trying to catch up with her training. "G-got it…"

He swatted her side lightly even as he got to nudging the beds back into place. "Good show, but you're only going to learn so much getting your flank handed to you. C'mon, let's show you what you did right, and what you got wrong."

She groaned and got up, holding the side he swatted just then, gently rubbing the stinging scales. "Right… So, I'm guessing I messed up when I tried to take out your knees?"

"Mmm? Nah." He threw down the pillow back into place. "That knee's given me aches for years. A fine place to target. You just thought I wouldn't think of it, and maybe that woulda worked, against someone else." He started for the exit without further preamble. "There's still a bit of hesitation in you, not sure what from. Could just be you're still growing. You are, afterall."

She winces at the remark, unaware she was still hesitant to fight due to her past life. Spine got up and hurried after Far, intent on listening to him. "I'm sorry about the restraint, sir… Just… I hated hurting others in my past life, but I had always needed a way to release my frustrations against the world… My last teacher was a nice one, let me use his equipment in the gym he ran… Would always listen when I broke down from someone I thought loved me winding up betraying my trust."

"I can train in any battlefield." He grabbed a sparring sword off a rack as they came into the main room. "But not that one." He pointed back at Spine with his wooden blade. "War's a terrible time to be heavy in the heart. Delay there can mean you won't get back to the people you care about. Is that what you want?"

She growled and batted at the wooden sword, snarling out her response, "Never. Far Sight, did I ever tell you what I was in my last life…?"

"You keep bringing it up." He kept the blade moving despite her swat, wobbling but a moment before it was even again. "If you weren't a hatchling badmouthing me, I'd laugh it off. Go on then, regale me."

"We were monsters in our own right. Burned down forests, flooded deserts, and destroyed cities with explosives so strong they would make the land they exploded over uninhabitable for several decades to come. We have driven countless creatures to extinction, almost killed off an entire culture for the simple idea of being even slightly different, and have enslaved others of our race for having darker skin than us. Humans are what we were called, sir. We were a race of warriors and murderers. We have tried for several years to suppress our--"

"--That's quite enough," he interrupted with a sudden swing of his wooden sword at her. "You think you're all that? I think you're a scared little kid that doesn't want to get hurt."

She grabbed the wood this time, yanking it towards herself in her slowly flaring anger, her claws digging into the polished wood as she did, snarling and baring her fangs.

He chuckled at her, still holding the sword despite her also holding it. "That's more the fire I want to see. Did I upset you? Good. Take it out. Remember that anger and put all the rest of it aside when you're fighting."

She turned into the blade, lashing out with her knee, aiming for his wrist. As soon as it connected though, she felt a warmth spread from her knee, and prepared for the sound of a snapping bone.

She was knocked back, staggering from the blow, but nothing broke. He wouldn't allow that. "Fight me," he commanded, the world going bright white as the back of one of his hands connected with her cheek. "Come on. You don't like what I said? Prove it." She growled and leapt forward, jabbing at him as the warmth leapt to her fist as she did.

He didn't speak, just shoving her back, frustrating her and denying her easy chances to beat on him. It was a dare, unspoken anywhere but the light of his eyes.

She returned that light, her anger slowly building as she continued to try and hit him until finally she screamed at him, jabbing from where she stood, fire leaping from her claws as she did.

He twisted with a faint wince. Perhaps he hadn't been lying about that knee, but he avoided the flames despite that. "What was that, a little spark? That all you have?" he coaxed and mocked at once, urging his student higher.

She stomped with one foot, the fire sending her leaping towards him as she reared back to strike with her fist, catching him in the chest as he staggered back, breathing just a little labored. From his knee or the blow was harder to tell, but he grit his teeth and pressed right back into the fight, cuffing her on the shoulder. "Feel that? Feel the heat?"

She growled, and lashed out once more, his words only being faintly registered in her mind. "What of it?" She snarled back.

"Hold onto that feeling." He shoved her back, his most common move with his too-young trainee. "And lean on it."

It was only then that Spine began to feel her foot slipping as the flames from her feet began to melt the stone beneath her. As she looked down, her rage evaporated into shock, then outrage, then back to shock as she realized her hate caused the initial spark to form and release her new draconic heritage. As she slowly began to calm down and regain control over herself, she examined the points of where her flames were leaping from, and realised that her original fighting style would be greatly enhanced by these embers. Both her hands, elbows, knees, and feet were able to exude this fire, though she herself was unable to directly control it, she could subconsciously manipulate it as she needed, testing them out against a few mental enemies.

His hand came down in a swat. "Don't go thinking you got everything. This is just a start. Learn what it feels like."

Spine leapt back, narrowly avoiding the hand as the fires vanished in a weak puff of smoke. She then glowered at her hands before mentally diving back into that flame, that hate, and reigniting them. She knew he was teaching her to control it now, probably always had been, and began fighting. Unlike before, though, she fought with him using her body, and the fires raging in her mind, threatening to consume her should she take one foul step… Now, her training truly began. Now, her story truly begins.

Chapter 9

Spine leapt out of the way as Ace shot several more icicles at her. This is the third time this week they've dueled, properly, and he had yet to let her get close enough to do anything to him since that first match where she showed she had the ability to summon her flames without going into a berserker-like rage, unlike when she first unlocked it three years ago now.

"Come on, Ace! Thought you were a Griffon of pride!" Spine taunted, smashing her flaming fist into one of the blades of flying ice, melting and shattering it as she did.

"Fuck off, brat! My fur STILL smells like charcoal from the first time!" He countered, flapping his wings again and sending another volley at her, even though he was starting to grow weary as his mana reserves began to run dry and his wings began to show signs of frostbite. An unfortunate side effect of using too much ice magic without a way to reheat himself.

Spine, as she had the last two times, leapt through the volley, effortlessly dodging through the deadly ice spears as she snuffed her magic out. Her draconic heritage gave her an innate resistance to fire magic, but if she used her fires for too long she would feel drained and her scales would be blackened from the exertion. That, and she wanted to save as much as she could so she could take him on when he finally came down at her with those annoying ice daggers of his.

With an annoyed squawk, he dove at her with his claws, coating them in ice this time to fight her claw to claw. The change in tactic caught Spine off guard at first, letting him land a hit in her stomach and knocking her up into the air. His domain.

'SHIT!' Spine thought, as she quickly summoned her fires to fight him as best she could. Ace leapt up after her and maneuvered around to slam both his icey fists into her back, sending her cratering back to the ground and diving at her prone form.

The sharp rapping of a bell caught them off guard.

Ace stopped just short of breaking the rules Far Sight had set down, flapping back a few paces and letting his ice, which had littered the field with how much he tried to pin Spine with icicles, melt away. Spine, for her part, rolled over with a groan, her back and stomach hurting her the most as she tried to get up, only to wince and gasp in shock as she felt a few scales crack and fall off from her gut. Luckily, she was shedding anyways so the fact they fell off was more from that than anything else. The cracking, however, was unfortunate, and unexpected, as she had intended to sell her entire first molt to a local blacksmith for a few extra bits.

She carefully gathered up her discarded scales with a defeated sigh and began making her way to the exit of the arena. As she left, she recalled that she had asked for a day off to go see her family later that day, and smiled widely.

"Wow, you were great!" Spike had his hands thrown into the air above himself. "You were all, bcoaw, roar!" He brought down his hands in a badly phantomed dive, his claws displayed. "And he was all, "No way, fwooosh!" He wiggled his fingers in an attempt to emulate coldness. "That was amazing!"

Spine chuckled and hugged her little brother still smiling as she did, “Yeah, well… When you spend a few years fighting with a griff, they tend to pick up on your quirks and techniques. Remember that, little bro.”

"Griffons learn your moves if you shove them off, got it," Spike took notes in a little pad, showing he'd learned far more from Twilight of the three siblings he had to select from. "Still, that was great! The way you were all jumping around like that. Didn't you get dizzy?!"

"Of course she wouldn't." There was Far Sight, joining them. "Your sister's a special case."

"Huh?"

"She's your twin, ain't she?"

"Well, yeah?" Spike rubbed behind his head, looking baffled.

Spine gently hit his shoulder with a laugh, “Well that’s what makes the three of us special, Spike. Twilight is a master of the arcane arts, Far Sight is still refining my fighting techniques, and you’re learning from the best of both worlds, right?”

"I'm doing my best." Spike brought his hands together in a little boyish clap. "I'm not that good though. You're, uh, I hate to keep saying it, but amazing!"

"She's an old soul," advised Far Sight. "What? Don't look at me like that. You wear it on your sleeve in the open, don't be surprised when an old hand notices."

"Sorry…" Spike inclined his head faintly. "What's that?"

Spine’s smile faded a little as she turned to Far, then to Spike and said, “I died in my old world. Twilight saved me from what comes after and brought me here, either on accident or on purpose, I don’t really know. But when someone says I act older than I look, just know that they’re right about it, and have a good laugh by joking with them, eh?”

That actually catches Far by surprise. "Huh, I more meant you were… I go for the reincarnation route, but didn't, uh, think it counted other worlds."

Spike was left even more gobsmacked. "Woah, my sister's from another world?! Neat!" He threw up his hands, easily sliding into deciding it was entirely a cool thing. "What's it like?!"

She looked to Far Sight with a knowing look before turning back to Spike, “It’s… A hard world. No magic, everyone’s always fighting, and ki- hurting others… It’s a bad world, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the bad place when you die here. It’s really not a place you want to go to at all.”

Far Sight brought down a vast hand onto Spine's shoulder. "It's easy to look back and say it's all good or all bad. Either way, that isn't here and now. Speaking of that, there are a few things you got wrong, and I bet you could name a few if I give you a chance." He grinned, eagerly awaiting her reply.

She cocked an eyebrow, then recalled her old teacher and smiled warmly, “Yeah… There is one person I knew back there that was fairly nice… His name was Gwang Gi and he owned a kickboxing school. I would always come to him when things were rough, or when my boyfriend at the time decided to break up with me from over the phone, a long range device used to talk and message others. Anyway, he was always there for me, whether it was a day or two apart, or even a few months in between, he always had a shoulder for me to cry on.”

Far Sight gently flicked his student right across the nose. "Glad to hear you've got some good memories in there, but I asked you a question."

"She didn't mess up anything!" enthusiastically cried Spike. "It was all woosh bkaw!" He pantomimed the fight as best he could, looking quite happy about it.

She giggled and nodded, “Yeah, yeah. I got pretty cocky, thinking Ace would still be the bullock he is and come at me with his old ice daggers. Not only that, I could’ve avoided more of the ice if I had used the earlier ones for cover rather than as ramps to land a few cheeky blows. Add to that, the fact that I’m shedding some of my scales right now, and I really shouldn’t have egged him on in the first place, right, teach?”

"That's a start," he rumbled. "But you're learning, and that's what it's all about. When things get serious, it can be hard to take a moment to really think about things." He pointed, one finger at either dragon. "That goes for either of you. You fighting for your life, it's hard to think 'how could I do that better?', why you gotta do it whenever you can."

"Woah." Spike busily scribbled more notes. That day was so educational! "Are you going to be my teacher like my sister?"

Far bellowed in laughter. "Little one, your talents do not fall in mine. You have a bright future, but it won't be these hands that shape it." He grabbed Spike by the sides and lifted him up with a squeak, tossing Spike right up into the air to catch a moment later, the little boy laughing with joy at the exploits.

Spine giggled at their antics before leaping up onto Far Sight’s head. “Hey, Far Sight, much as I love hearing little Spike laugh, we should probably get going. Mom, Dad, and sis are probably worried with sis being more worried about the schedule than anything else.”

Far gently let Spike slide to the ground. "Very well. As much as I delight in tormenting Spike--" He did not look tormented. "--I dare not risk the ire of that mare." Not that she had shown any hint of posing any real threat to him. "See you later. Good spar."

“Thanks, teach. I’ll be back tomorrow, right?!” Spine called out as she and Spike hurriedly ran off to find their parents.

Far waved at them for the brief moment before he was gone, apparently not arguing her claim, and soon out of earshot if not sight entirely. None stood between the scampering dragon youth and the freedom of outside. "I'm still amazed they let you learn here," noted Spike. "Don't you get scared?"

“On occasion, yeah… I do sometimes get scared that I’ll fail when you guys need me most…” Spine said as she told him her deepest fear for now.

"As if!" He waved the idea away like the nonsense he saw it as. "My sister's got a super old soul!" He was oblivious to how that sounded. "She can take on anything!"

Spine hit his shoulder, scowling faintly. “Rule one of talking to females, no calling them old.”

Spike blinked as he drew out his pad to make a note of the sage advice. "No… calling… mares old…" Sure, not quite right for a dragon, not that he knew the word for a female dragon. "You gonna show off your moves to Shining? I bet he'd love to see 'em!"

“Snrk! Shining Armor? The stallion that’s a master of shield magic? Nah, I’d never be able to touch that colt,” Spine said with a faint smile, even as she ran right into said stallion.

"Looks like you just did," came the good natured tone of the great stallion, smiling down at his little dragon siblings. "What are you two talking about down there? Mom thought I should check in on you."

"We're not late," complained Spike with a little pout. "I was just watching her fight, and she's great at it, like you are!" He pointed up at him as if accusing him of some wrong.

Spine snickered as she shoved Spike playfully, “Oh hush, you! Spike was saying I could take you on, Shining.”

Shining let out an equine snort. "You and Twilight both, huh? All my sisters dream of beating me some day." He buffed his chest with the flat of a hoof. "But you're going to have to train twice as hard to even have a chance."

Spike stuck out his tongue as the smug Shining Armor. "Mom said being sure of something is how you mess up. Actually, didn't your teacher mention that too?"

Shining shot Spike a sour look, but getting physical with Spike wasn't something he was about to do. "It ain't bein' overconfident when you know it's true," he huffed out.

Spine nodded in agreement as she said, "Indeed. I at least know that it won't be for a few years, at best, before I can beat you as you are now. But by then, you'll have gotten stronger as well, so it would've been pointless for me to train for how you currently are."

Spike rubbed behind his head with building confusion, his fingers working in the air as if working quiet mathematics. "So if you… and then… um…" He looked to his sister. "So how do you catch up?!"

"Simple. You train for how he will be, not how he is. Same thing for archery, lead your target," was her reply. "That aside, how's Twiggles? Last I heard she almost blew up another alchemy lab…"

Shining inclined his head. "Oh, you didn't hear? She's learning up a storm. She and that Moon Dancer filly won the science fair."

"She's been nuts about that," mused Spike, nodding vigorously. "Her study on the different, what was it, 'frequencies of creature magic' really turned heads."

Spine smiled warmly as she continued walking with her brothers. "Sounds like she's doing better now than back then. At least she didn't blow up the gymnasium this time, right?" Spine laughed merrily at the memory of that first fair, which Twilight had immediately been banned from using anything even REMOTELY explosive in her future projects after managing to get a little bit of sodium and water to somehow turn an entire gym black.

Shining shook his head. "We all have our moments, but she bounced back and then some. I'm really proud of her." He reached out and planted a hoof on Spine's head even as they moved. "Just like I'm proud of you. You're doing great, I hear."

"Yeah, well… Wasn't until earlier this week I learned how to tap into my magic without needing to be suicidally pissed off… Remind me to thank Bluey for that tip later, would ya Spike?" She said as she looked between her two brothers, their family just a few blocks away by this point.

Spike tilted his head, only to brighten into a big smile. "Oh, right! Blueblood! His butler came by with a big stack of comics for you." He spread his hands really wide to demonstrate. "I mighta read a few. You don't mind, right?"

Spine smiled and shook her head. "Nah. I don't mind! Hey, how is Mom and Dad doing…? I know I don't come home as often as I could…"

"Do I hear a little dragon," came Velvet's sing-song from the direction of further in the house, hoofsteps carrying her closer. "There you two are!" She spread out her hooves to accept the presence of her two dragon children.

Spine and Spike both smiled widely and ran into Velvet's open hooves. Twilight smiled faintly at seeing her family get together for another day while Spine gushed about how her training was progressing. Spike, in turn, kept trying to exaggerate how well she was in the sparring match, while Spine kept talking it back down, even going so far as to downplay how well it went.

"I wouldn't believe it," whispered Shining, not so well, to his dad, Night Light. "If she wasn't doing well, you know he'd send her packing."

Night nodded, though with less certainty. "That would be a little mean." Not a very stalwart hearted soul, he instead smiled at his gathered family. "But I am glad everypony's all together! Such a rare treat, and right on schedule."

Twilight clapped her book closed, drawing Spike's attention, and a raised eyebrow from Spine. "And if we plan to stay on schedule we should probably get going, right? Besides, it's been too long since me and my lsbff got to play together!"

Spine snorted as she tried to avoid laughing at how silly Twilight was being, and only just barely managed to succeed before retorting, "How'd the first science fair go again?" To which Twilight shot a weak beam of magic at Spine, who just stood there as the magic washed over her.

Spike crossed his arms. "Hey, no fair. Those zaps sting. How'd you do that?!"

Spine winked at him in response and was about to answer when Twilight interjected, “It’s because of how she hatched… Remember that story of how I got accepted into Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns? Well… As it turns out, she was the only one that wasn’t affected-”

“I was, just not to the level of everypony else in there.”

“-So that likely has something to do with it.”

Spike scratched at a cheek. "Huh, still not fair." Despite that, he dashed off to partake of games, ready to have a good time with the rest of the family.

Velvet came in with a big tray that wafted with tasty food, setting it near the center of things where anyone who wanted some could get at it. "Let the games begin!" she hooted, almost bouncing in place.

Spine smiled evilly as she picked up the one game that every family hated to see back on Earth… Monopoly. Twilight had the best money management, seconded by Night Light, but the one that everyone really needed to worry about, was Velvet, who was the most aggressive, and Spine, who was notorious for trading up from nothing.

Despite the various strong personalities at play, the family time was filled with laughter and calls as especially bad, or good, moves were made. The family bond was strong enough to survive a competitive board game, and the end of the session came with the one pony nobody expected with a smug grin on his face. "Finally." Long had he waited for that day.

Twilight inclined her head. "Wow… Good going, Shinie!"

“Can’t believe he turned my trade around on me like that!” Spine said with a hearty laugh.

Spike, who had been designated as the banker, smiled widely at his big brother.

Night Light looked over a spreadsheet with a thoughtful mumble. "Oh! Yes, if we want to be on time, we should be going now."

Velvet skewed an ear. "Already? My, how time flies." She rose to her hooves, turning as she did so. "I hope you're all ready for a treat for the senses!"

Spine cocked an eyebrow as she looked over to Twilight and Spike, both of whom were smiling in eagerness. “Um… How so…?”

Twilight sprang into the air, hooves pedalling a moment. "It's one of the magic times of year, why everypony got time off at the same time!" she exclaimed, bounding along with the others.

Spine hummed in thought, trying to figure it out when Spike decided to spill the beans, and rather loudly too. "IT'S HEARTHSWARMING EVE!"

Spine flinched away from her brother before fixing him with a slight glare as she said, "Don't yell in someone's ear, Spike. And what's so special about Hearthswarming?"

"What's so special?!" asked every single creature there, the entire family.

"The songs," started Twilight.

"The gifts," continued Spike.

"The regularly scheduled time together!" added Night Light with a solemn nod.

Velvet smirked faintly. "All fine things, but the best is throwing away the old. The entire city transforms, look!" She threw a hoof wide for Spine to behold the city, transformed for the holiday.

Spine's eyes went wide as she watched ponies, nobles and commoners alike, get together and sing various songs, help put up decorations and other Christmas time things. "It's a Christmas miracle… How have I never noticed this…?" was all Spine could say as she watched one noble who had slung insults at her earlier that week for not being a pony walk with a Griffon and an older dragon down the street, laughing and singing.

"Well you are a bit too focused on fighting, sis," came Spike's reply, a big smile on his face despite the snarkiness of it.

Twilight nodded firmly. "Even I have to put aside my study for days as special as this."

"Which we're going to miss if we don't get a move on." Night Light hurried his family along towards a gathering at a plaza, all number of creatures there of all varieties. "The show starts in…" His eyes scanned for a clock. "We have exactly enough time for one round of refreshments. Go!"

"Popcorn," eagerly shouted Spike, hand waving wildly.

Spine smiled widely as she held up a hand, and also shouted, "Popcorn too, please!"

Shining raised his hoof, "I'll take some punch."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Silly, that's not a snack."

"He didn't say snack. The punch here refreshes me every time. Check and mate."

Twilight scrunched her face, caught. "I'll take an oatdog."

Spine cocked an eyebrow at the pony pun, snickered briefly, then locked her smile down with a face full of popcorn while Shining sipped on his drink while looking away from his little sister to avoid laughing at her. Last time he did that, his mane turned to kelp.

The entire family had their snacks and drinks, and the crowd began to quiet as a pony strode onto the field. "Long ago, before there was an Equestria," she began narrating, and that was enough. Hooves pounded, hands clapped. It was time to see the quintessential holiday performance of Equestria.

Hours later, Spine was carrying Spike on her back, a small smile on her face as she followed her family back home. "This was fun… Um… I should probably explain that thing I said earlier… About Christmas…?"

Spike looked perplexed at the idea. "Never heard of it."

"Nor I," joined Twilight. "Something… more?" her attempt at using linguistics, failing entirely.

"Back on Earth there's this holiday called Christmas… My memories of it are fuzzy, slept since the last one I had, but everything that's happened today? It's like one big holiday movie- er… play. Everything that's gone on is the thing of fiction on Earth… folks putting aside grudges and hatreds and just… coming together…? Only time something like this happened was during a very dark time in their history, a time when the entire world was at war…" Spine shook her head to banish the ancient thoughts. "Sorry, long story short, I was surprised to see that the holiday was actually special here, and not just some marketing ploy to sell toys."

Night Light shook his head as he played vanguard for the family through the crowd. "Sounds like a Hearthswarming Tale, from the view of all the creatures enjoying it. Having a festive winter holiday must just be a universal thing."

"I thought you were still on the fence about that," nettled Velvet. "Now you believe her?"

"This is not a holiday for arguing," he countered with a serene smile. "And it's time to get home, enjoy some hot cocoa, and sing songs until we get tired."

Spine smiled faintly, "Yeah. Yeah, that sounds like fun! Anypony mind if I dip off to Bluey's later? I wanted to get him something earlier but didn't know enough about the holiday."

Chapter 10

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 11

A few more years passed, Spine blushing as she visited Blueblood, mostly from confusion, and it was now their 12th birthday. Or did Velvet call it a hatchday…? Either way, Spike wanted to have a round with Spine since the only thing he knew how to do with his flame was act as a messenger right then. He could feel that there was more to it than that, and he wanted to try his hand at how Spine got her flames to work. Fighting.

"Darling." Blueblood approached with a bright smile, clip-clopping in an easy walk. "You are looking especially radiant today, if you don't mind my saying." His compliments had become a bit more affectionate over time, though neither of them could really explain why. "But also distracted. Is something on your mind?"

Spine sighed in exhaustion and turned to him, a look of agitation on her face. "Spike wants to fight to try and see if he could copy me. Clearly, I'm more than a little hesitant to do, since Twilight and mom would both be more than a little… Aggravated since we'd be sparring in the garden…"

"He's just a foal." They were all foals. "Let him have what he wants so he gets past his little fascination." Blueblood looked confident in his reasoning, nodding sagaciously. "But if the venue is difficult, why don't you make use of the yard?" He directed a hoof to a nearby wall. "Barely anypony visits it. Just don't make too much of a mess and I hardly see the issue."

"Hmm… might work, but we'd still need to worry about the scorch marks…" Spine said, rubbing her chin.

At the mention of scorch marks, visions of spanked bottoms danced in his mind. "On second thought! Perhaps the interior of the storage shed. It's made of cement and metal, and only the servants go in there." Far less likely for a new mark to be noticed. So clever! Or so he hoped.

She smiled and kissed his cheek again. "Might be best, yeah. Thank you again for inviting me over, Bluey." She then hugged the colt in appreciation. His cheeks were dark as he wrapped an arm around her, hoof at the small of her back.

"A complete pleasure." Even if he wasn't sure why, he rather enjoyed those hugs when they came. "I would offer my support, but watching brutish violence isn't my thing." He realized his error and took a step back. "Not to say you're a brute. You make it look… classy." He was lying a bit. "But Spike…?" Blaming Spike, a tradition for the ages.

She giggled and shook her head. "My one question though, I didn't get you in trouble back then, did I…?"

"Hm? Me? As if!" Implying to the outside watcher that he probably did get in trouble, but wasn't about to admit it. "You just have a fun time, and I'm certain your little brother will realize his place." He chortled aristocratically, a hoof over his mouth. "Really, he hasn't had nearly the practice you've had."

She snickered and punched him lightly on the shoulder, shaking her head as she looked out to the field of the park they first met at. "He means well at the very least… Cut him a little slack, please?"

"Well, he is your brother." He nodded as if that just made sense. "So he must come from reasonable stock. I'll just have to have faith in his big sister to teach him what end is up."

Spine chuckled lightly and pulled him into another hug as she stood up and stretched. “Well… I’ll be back soon, ok? Turns out we don’t live too far away!”

Much as he wanted to enjoy the hug, properties were a thing. "We do live in the same city, do we not? You are welcome to visit any time." He inclined his head faintly. "Even with your brother. Or without…" His preference not that well hidden.

She smiled warmly and set off, making sure to take the butler and maid tunnels to escape Blueblood's parents. It would be the same way she would return, brother in tow. "He's letting us have a private place, where neither of our parents will get on our case."

"Wow, that's really nice of him." Spike was almost bouncing in his steps, giddy with excitement. "Thanks, for letting me try this. This'll be so much fun!"

She smiled at him and rubbed his head teasingly. "Just be sure you don't get caught by his parent's, alright?"

Spike ducked and looked left and right sharply. "I don't have the right clothes for this, but I'll do my best." He ducked against the wall, though nobody was in the hallway to even potentially see him, scooting along after his sister.

She shook her head as she chuckled, keeping her eyes and ears peeled, making sure they wouldn't be caught. Once she got to the shed, she knocked on it, hoping that Blueblood was in there... The door cracked open, its handle glowing with magic.

Spike got through first. "Oh hey." He waved at the unicorn in there. "You're, uh, Blueblood, right?"

"Prince Blueblood." He trotted around both dragons, head held up high. "I will close the door behind me and make sure nopony bothers you." Or catches wind of what he allowed.

Spine kissed his cheek quickly as she passed. "Thanks Bluey. I'll try to keep the char marks to a minimum, and help cleanup afterwards, alright?"

"Too right." And he was gone, the door closed behind him with a loud click that implied a lock.

Spine then turned to Spike, her expression hard and cold. "Right. First things first then. Anger is how I use my fire" Her fists ignited in purple flames.

Spike swallowed heavily, but did not retreat. "Anger…" That was not an emotion he was terribly in contact with. "Right. Get the blood moving. Get… in it." He balled up his fists as if ready to fight, no fires present.

She sighed, then charged at him, growling low and threateningly as she went all out on him, intent to show how difficult it was to copy her... He backed a step, bravado cracking as he swatted at her angry fists. Fortunately, at least he was a dragon, resistant to her heat, but that didn't make her punches any lighter.

But he hadn't given up, throwing himself forward instead of back and knocking into her in a triumphant moment. A moment that was quickly shattered as she brought her knee up and into his gut. Spine was not holding back any more than what she already was, and it was showing. She barely kept herself from kicking out after the gut check, but the twitch of instinctive rage was there.

He staggered back, but raised his fists, not giving up. "Get… flowing." He wasn't angry at his sister. But it hurt, and he wanted to win! He was, perhaps, arriving at the desired point from another angle. "C'mon!"

She smirked as she saw the heatwaves rolling off his fists and decided to switch tactics, launching herself at him with a flame propelled leap as she smashed another fist into his gut. "Give up, Spike. You'll never be able to copy this," Spine taunted, hoping to get him to lash out properly and ignite his flames against her..

"I'm not a wimp!" Not that anyone there had called him a wimp. His pent up regrets at the rest of his family being so martially capable welling up. "I can protect my--" He caught an incoming kick, looking as surprised as Spine was in that instant, his grasping hand flickering with angry fits of fire before she jumped away from him. "--self."

She smiled and relaxed, taking a deep breath to relax and regain her composure. "See how hard it is to light the flames I use now, Spike? Heh… Imagine how hard it is to control them," she said as she patted him on the shoulder before getting back into position. "Right then. Ready?"

"Yeah!" Instead of tired, his was entirely buoyed by his moment of success. He had done it, which meant he could do it again, better even! "Bring it."

Some time later, the door creaked open, allowing Blueblood to poke his snout in. "You all done in there?"

Spine was on the floor panting, the mana burn from the fight having caused her to collapse not too long ago. She held up a thumb in a sign that they were good, then rolled over with a groan. "You alive, Spike…?"

"Y-yeah!" He matched her gesture, though he was flat on his back as he did so. "I feel great!" So good he wasn't moving, but he had a big dopey smile on his face. "Never better."

"I see…" Blueblood glanced between the two dragons. Why did they have to be so… barbaric? He slipped inside and the door clicked shut behind him. "I'll get started on getting rid of the worst of the mess. It isn't as bad as you'd made me fear."

Spine chuckled and held up one of her claws. "We used these for the most part…" She then got up and helped him clean, kicking Spike in the side lightly to coax him to get up and out of the way at the very least.

"Hey." He pushed up to his feet, scrambling a bit to get upright. "I know how to clean." And he got to helping, putting his well-practiced skills to work. Soon the place was looking less like a fight had taken place in it. "Thanks."

"Think nothing of it." He went to give Spine a hug, one leg thrown over her briefly. "Did you two come to an understanding?" Alas, the two just shared a knowing look, leaving him without knowing. "I am going to take that as a yes…"

Spine laughed slightly and leaned forward to give him one final kiss. "Understanding? Yes. Of a sort. Though I will say this, don't let Spike figure out how you use your magic, or he might steal it from ya!"

Chapter 12

Now that Spike had managed to get a good grip on how to light his flames on his own, without being, as Spine jokingly called him on several times, a “glorified fax machine”, Spine took the time to teach him some basic moves from her past life. Standard throws, a few full body punches, very telegraphed stuff that only the newest of fighters would get hit by. Unless one was sparring, without magic, as they were now.

One had to walk before one ran. Spike was eager to learn. He had been just as eager around Twilight's books. Given a topic to absorb, he consumed it readily, greedily one might argue. He didn't have strength, or size, but he was learning and watching, and didn't like pain. One might think an aversion to pain would be a bad thing in any fighter, but it kept Spike alert for sources of that discomfort, making him a ready avoider of it.

“Come on, Spike! You can’t hit me if you’re always running! Or do I need to get Sis over here? She’d probably put up more of a fight than you!” Spine taunted Spike as she chased him, careful not to mess up their moms yard too much.

Spike ducked under one of her angry strikes. She was losing patience, and he knew it. Overextended and furious, it was too late to avoid a sudden one-two thump into the soft spot on her side, already bouncing away with laughter.

That he was having so much fun with it was perhaps the worst part. She huffed as she felt her anger and pride, both at him, flare up together. She growled as she lept, intending to tackle him and pin him down so she could teach him a lesson… Only to get tossed off to the side as he used her momentum against her.

Spike was still giggling. Fighting was as much a game as anything else. "C'mon!" he called. A game he loved to play with his big sister. "Can't scare me with your fire, gonna have to be more--" His words were cut off with a sudden need to yelp and duck to the side, her fist thumping him in the shoulder despite his best effort. Talking had risks.

"I can't scare you, because Mom is far more terrifying than anything I can do! Now stop running!" Spine growled out, some of her anger fading now that she finally got a punch on him. Not by much though, but it did.

"She isn't here," Spike pointed out. "So I'm still not scared of her." And out went his tongue as he darted in for a quick strike, only to be grabbed by Spine. His boldness had landed him in trouble, grabbed securely. "Hey!"

She grunted and proceeded to slam him to the ground, pinning him with his arm behind his back in a standard hold, preventing him from going anywhere. She then growled into his ear, "And why do you not fear her, when you live with her? And yet I do, but I bed at the barracks?"

"Because, uh…" He pulled and tugged, to little avail. "She's my sister, and I trust her? I'd say I trust you but that kinda hurts." He scrabbled his feet against the ground, trying to find purchase to get away. "And she reads a lot more."

Spine huffed, shaking her head as she realized he didn't see Velvet as their mom. "Not Sparkle, Spike. Velvet. She's the one I fear. More because she has the actual presence for it than anything, but you had better believe I don't want to be on her bad side," Spine explained, letting him up before he damaged the yard too badly.

Spike was blushing, oh right, mom! "Don't tell her I said that. She's uh… Oh…" He realized he was digging himself deeper. "She's like a big sister. And big sisters are… kinda like moms and… don't tell her I said that!" He waved his hands frantically at what was also his big sister.

She smirked and shook her head, taking a deep, slow breath, forcing herself to calm down and lock her fire firmly behind the door in her mind. "Think that's enough for now… And quit using hit and run tactics. Makes any competent team fight drag out, and enemies that are smart will turn on me or whoever we manage to fight beside us to try and lure you back into their range.""

"Yeah yeah." Spike clapped his hands together with a big ole grin. "Against something that's not a dragon, we got an edge, er, a fire. A fiery edge." He sliced the air with the end of his hand in a keen chop. "Thanks for showing me stuff."

Spine sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Of course he would miss the point. "And what do you plan to do against a unicorn? Or somecreature with fire affinity magic, since you and I would both be rendered moot by such opponents?" Spine asked through a growl, more annoyed than genuinely angered.

Spike twirled in place, arms out to balance. "I'll get better, not gonna happen in a day," he said in an expression of patience. "Have you seen how long it took before Twilight could do any magic?"

She huffed, barely suppressing the early memories of her after the sonic rainboom, a small smile forming on her lips before she could clamp down on it fully. "Yes, and as I recall, Shining, Mom, and Dad all said that she was suffering minor mana fatigue those few years. Hatching a dragon egg into twins is apparently hard enough with the right magical affinities. Next to impossible for somepony throwing raw arcane power at it haphazardly." She then looked at him pointedly.

"So I--" He hiked both thumbs at himself. "Will take my time and get it right." He nodded, clearly satisfied with his own logic. "Besides, I got great teachers, like you."

She smiled faintly, relaxing fully as she pulled him into a headlock, rubbing the top of his head with her knuckles while laughing. "And who do you think I'm learning from, eh kid?" She didn't want to see him get hurt, and while hit and run would work on the mindless monsters like Timberwolves, she didn't think it would work overly well against smarter enemies like Tirek when, not if, he reared his ugly mug.

Not that Spike could see the future, nor was he that worried about it, clearly. "Your super strict teacher. He's really good at his job, but lemme just say, kinda glad he's not my teacher." He laughed at the idea, dancing away from Spine. "You can keep him."

Spine smiled warmly as she shook her head, heading back inside. "Yeah, and Ace has been letting up these last few weeks, though I'm not sure why. No matter, you need to get back to Twilight before she has another fit about not finding some book or other, and I need to head off for the park to meet up with Bluey again."

"Have fun with your boyfriend." He burst into a parting fit of giggles, ducking into the house to find Twilight, lest she notice her favorite assistant wasn't where she needed him to be.

Spine blushed faintly, but couldn't find it in herself to argue the point. He was snobbish at times, but he knew when to do it so it came off as funny, rather than rude. She set off, head down as she mentally argued with herself to work up the nerve to tell Blueblood how she felt, brushing a claw over the brooch he had given her that day… and that was the tipping point. She'd tell him today! No more delaying it! And with that determination set, she hurried off, now even more determined to see him today of all days.

"Darling." He was at the door, a big smile on his face. "Always lovely to see you."

"Shall I draw a lunch?" inquired his butler from behind. "Your parents are expecting you shortly."

Blueblood frowned at the reminder. "That is correct. Just a little snack then." He gestured for Spine to come in.

She smiled and stepped in after him, happy to walk with him to the park. Gave her more time, afterall. "Thank you, Bluey… Um… Think I should meet them today…?" She asked nervously, blushing as she realized that she hadn't met them yet, not properly at least.

Blueblood swiveled an ear. "We have to set a date. If you're up for it, I'll get that going. All things at their proper time," he assured with aristocratic sureness. "Wouldn't do to surprise them."

"Surprise who?" A well-dressed mare stepped from around the corner. "Oh, you have a guest." Her eyes went to Spine, judging.

She bowed, sensing that this mare was nobility, likely Blueblood's mother. "I am assuming you are Bluey- erm… Blueblood's mother…?" She REALLY hoped she didn't just irritate somepony…

The mare inclined her head just faintly. "That would be I, Sharp Statement." She turned a hoof on their guest. "And who am I addressing?"

Blueblood quickly put himself between the two, a nervous smile worn. "Mother! We were actually just scheduling a meeting."

"Were you now?" Her eyes hadn't left Spine, calculating cooly.

Spine shuddered. Where Velvet scared her with her quiet fire and threateningly silent aura, this mare was cold as death itself… one wrong move and Spine had no doubt she would end the little drake before her... "S-Spine… From the Sparkle residence, Missus Statement… My Sister is Princess Celestia's personal student, my Elder Brother, Shining Armor, is in the Royal Guard and trained with Far Sight, who has been training myself for the last several years…"

Her features broke into a gentle little smile. "Oh, the Sparkles. Why didn't you start there?" She fixed Blueblood instead. "The head of the guard? And Princess Celestia's personal protege. That is a family worth knowing. Now, little one, how do you plan to catch up? I can only imagine it burns one at your age, to be so put behind by others in your family." She chortled, perhaps in a good natured way. "I would be beside myself."

She smiled, relaxing only a little. "At the moment, I'm training to be able to deal with any threats to my sister directly, Missus Statement. Thus, the reason I am training under the one who trained Shining Armor himself. I'm not training to be a shield spell specialist like he is though, since fire doesn't lend much dexterity in such fields," Spine said, trying to be diplomatic with the mare, since one wrong step could still easily see her end, and she knew it.

"Oh ho, a trained warrior? How… physical." She gestured a hoof at Blueblood. "Don't get any ideas in your head. He is not a warrior and if I see any new marks on him, I will be very cross. He is a fine filigree statue, and should be handled exactly as such."

Blueblood was a bright red as his mother spoke in his defense. "Mother! I can--"

"--Quiet." She popped a hoof in his mouth. "As I was saying, be gentle with him."

She bowed again, intent to do just that. "I'd be a poor bodyguard if I couldn't do even that much, Missus Statement. I'll be gentle with him, in the same way I treat my own sister… Though I do wish to ask you if I can…" Spine paused, briefly forgetting the word. "D-date…? Um… I think that's right…"

"My word!" But that wasn't Sharp, but Blueblood who was surprised at the question.

Chapter 14- Meet the Mother

Author's Note

Apologies for the delay. Got half way through this one and ran out of words with David, lol.Hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 14- Meet the Mother

After several weeks, dealing with Ace at the barracks and dealing with Shining Hoof, Spine’s nobile mannerism teacher, she relaxed across a table from Blueblood, blushing as she was dressed up in a sundress. “S-so… Um… How are your parents…?”

"May I present." He dipped his head, hoof going wide to point to a door just as it opened. "My mother, Sharp Statement." The noble mare stepped inside with a faint nod. "My father is indisposed. Responsibilities, you know. We can never be entirely free of them."

"As if we'd care to be." She settled in next to her son, eyes on Spine. Judging. "Now, hello. I hear you've learned quite a great deal. Would you care to demonstrate?"

Spine bowed deeply, giving a curtsy. “I would be more than pleased to, Madam Sharp…”

One could almost see the first tally mark being said. "Very good. Do have a seat, my child. Today is a grand day to enjoy one another's company for brunch."

Spine then sat down, smoothing out her sundress and crossing her legs, trying to be as proper as she could, still nervous. “Thank you, Madam Sharp…”

"This is a brunch," reminded the older mare. "Not an interrogation. You look… tense."

Blueblood leaned forward in his seat. "She's just overwhelmed by the presence of the family matron, mother dear."

"What fine words." Sharp booped him on the nose. "But I would hear her words, not yours, my talented little son."

“W-well, he’s not far off, honestly… I truly do not wish to disappoint you, Madam Sharp…” Spine answered, now even more nervous.

"If you would enter our family." Sharp leaned in, head over the table, well over the food. "You must be at ease. Refined without effort. You are a warrior, are you not? Surely you do not fear any attack from me." At least physically, Sharp Statement was outmatched easily.

Spine took a deep steading breath, letting it out just as slowly as she relaxed, letting the position become natural. She appeared to have relaxed as well, meeting Sharp’s gaze with her own now. “Sorry… Just… Where I once came from, Madam Sharp, Meeting the parents of one desired to court was, indeed, like that of an interrogation. On both sides…”

"Ah, this is true." Her horn glowed as she lifted a cookie to place on Spine's small plate, another moving for her own. "But it is my son that wishes to court you, not the other way around, is it not? That is the way of things. Really, a commoner courting a noble? How strange would that be?" Blueblood laughed nervously, but did not argue the assessment.

Spine shared the laugh, recalling what Blueblood had said several weeks ago. “Y-yes, how odd… I am sorry for causing you any trouble, Madam Sharp…”

"That all depends." She lifted the cookie she had just placed on her own plate, taking a delicate nibble from it. "Is the lady my son has set his eyes on able to comport herself? Let's see… Tell me more about yourself."

The brunch continued, tensely. The food was perfectly fine, but Sharp Statement's questions were less so, drilling into Spine's origins, and her motivations. "What do you see?" She inclined her head towards Blueblood. "Describe him to me, physically and mentally."

Spine looked to him, then back to her. “Being brutally honest…? When I first met him, he was a charming colt, though he came off a bit rude…" Blueblood huffed quietly, but kept his words to himself. "Though now that I’ve had some time to know him a bit more, I feel that was a front to turn down any potential gold farmers, if you will. Now though, I see a charming colt that would get along with others and one that would not hesitate to support those that he deemed worth his time, Madam Sharp.”

"And you." Sharp directed a fork that hadn't even touched a scrap of food at Spine. "You believe yourself worthy of his time. Why is that?" Blueblood opened his mouth, ready to butt in, only to have a hoof inserted lovingly. "Let her speak."

Spine looked down. “I didn’t want to bother myself with him when we first met… I thought he would be too much of a hassle to deal with, until he said I was joking about being somecreature related to Twilight Sparkle, let alone one that had come about this world in a rather unusual form… At first, I didn’t believe him worth my time, Madam Sharp." Sharp raised a brow high at the implications, but allowed Spine to continue. "But I thought, maybe, just maybe, I could help him remove that stuck up pride of his, or at least realize how rude he was being towards others when he did let it speak for him. It wasn’t until we had started playing together that I realized how I felt about him, and he about me… I have no illusions that if you willed it, I would likely never see him again.”

"It is good that you understand the situation." She moved the hoof that had been in Blueblood's mouth to his shoulder. "He is not yet a grown pony, and my word is the last in any matter regarding him. This is the duty, and responsibility, of any parent." She inclined her head faintly. "Surely your own have interceded in your own life when need be, hm?"

Spine blushed a little, but nodded as she conceded the point. “They do, Madam Sharp… And sometimes it’s annoying, though I can understand where they come from for the most part.”

"Then it should come to no surprise." She angled her head towards Blueblood. "You have spoken ill of him, as if you see him more of something you could make, rather than a thing to be admired as he is. Explain why I should be pleased by that."

Her eyes widened as she realized she had overstepped. "Ah… W-well… The way he was going, Madame Sharp, h-he would've been ridiculed, at best, and out right hated, at worst… I didn't mean any offense when I said it then, and I genuinely wish to see him grow," Spine said, trying her best to not anger Sharp any further.

Sharp set her hooves together, steepling them as a human might their fingertips. "You are assuming ownership." Her eyes darted to Blue. "Do you hear that? In her eyes, she is already married to you." Even as she chortled at the idea, Blueblood was darkening in shade rapidly. "Quite bold…"

"N-no! Nonono… I promise, I'm not…" Spine sighs as she leaned back. "I'm… I'm sorry, Madam Sharp… I didn't mean to come off in such a way… I just meant that I didn't want to watch Blueblood become hated by everypony outside of Canterlot…"

Sharp tapped her right hoof, just the edge, on the table. "Tell me and be honest. What are the positive traits you admire in him? What is he outside of a project you wish to sink your claws in?"

Spine blushed faintly as she replied, "W-well… He's charming, funny, and very easy to be around… N-not to mention the fact he has a good sense of humor, and taste for books…"

"Then allow me to give a bit of advice, dear." Her face came in closer, leaning over the table smoothly. "A spouse is not a work in progress. They will infuriate you. They will drive you mad at times. But this is what one gets, becoming involved with another person. They are not yours to shape. Even I, his mother, am limited in my influence." She suddenly glared at Blueblood. "But not by much," she sternly reminded him, in case he was getting ideas.

Spine nodded, still blushing. "Right… I… I'm sorry, Madame Sharp…"

"You are young." The hoof moved in to tap at Spine's snout. "Better to learn now rather than later, hm? That aside for the moment, if you were stuck with him just as he was, would he still be worth the time?"

She smiled and nodded as she replied, "Absolutely."

Blueblood looked quite happy about that answer, though he didn't try to speak again, 'lest he get a new taste of his mother's silencing hoof.

"Very good. Besides, we all have… traits… I feel certain, were I to ask him." She turned towards Blueblood. "He could name a few of yours he would change, had he the power. Go on."

Blueblood's ears twitched atop his head. "Oh, um… As much as I admire her fighting ability, I do not favor pain on my person. If that business could be left where it belonged, that would be nice. But it is her, as they say, passion. I don't want to get in the way of that."

Spine smiled and squirmed slightly as she heard him say that. "Thank… Thank you, Bluey…" Her eyes widened as she realized what she just said right then..

"Pet names," noted Sharp with a calculating gaze. "If I... No, we won't entertain that. This may continue, but I will be watching you." She tapped at that snout she already had under her hoof. "One thing about courting any creature is that you gain a new set of parents, for the good and ill."

Spine nodded as she knew what Sharp meant by that. "I understand, Madame Sharp… I'll make sure to avoid using that around the other nobility…"

"Private names for private moments." She smiled, a gentle expression. "That is what makes them special. Now…" She rose up to a full seated position. "I need to make one thing very clear. I will not tolerate any foals out of wedlock under my watch. Are we perfectly clear?" She looked between Blueblood and Spine with equal gravity.

A shame Blueblood had no idea what she was referring to. "Mother? I do not mean to contradict, but we are both foals. However do we avoid what we already are?"

Spine coughed into her claw, blushing profusely as she fully understood where Sharp was coming from. "Yes, Madame Sharp. I understand. And believe me, I would have waited until he, at the very least, understood what you meant before… offering such a thing to him."

She fixed her gaze on the smaller figure. Blueblood regretted that he was the target that time. "You are old enough to know what I speak of. You are almost an adult. It is time to approach things as an adult." She clopped the table firmly. "I will see this is addressed. "

Blueblood's pout was of no avail in changing her mind.

Spine winced slightly, feeling bad for having turned that withering gaze of a protective mother back on Blueblood. "Is there… Is there anything else you require of me, Madame Sharp…?"

"Follow my warnings, and remember that you are asking to join this family." She sat up, tall and proud. "Look like it, and act like it. If my judging bothers you, remember that countless others are doing the same. They're just being more subtle about it."

She nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself as she, too, sat up straighter. "I understand, Madame Sharp… If I may be honest…? The other nobility seems to enjoy showing me just how 'uncouth' a dragon is. Usually when I'm on the way to a store with my family during one of my days off from training with Sir Far Sight." She squirmed slightly to try and get her tail more comfortable in the dress she was in. "And then there's the lower nobility that don't want to believe that me and my brother are related to ponies. They usually try to cause trouble until they see big brother, Sir Shining Armor, standing with us. Would I need to fear worse retaliations for being with Blu-Blueblood?"

"You have entered their field of view." She pressed her hooves together. "Stand as if you belong. Act as if you belong, and learn to be there. You both have learning to do. Now, off with you." She gently shooed away both Blueblood and Spine. "Go along and play."

Chapter 15

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 13

Spine was shifting nervously in a chair in the library of the Bluebloods family, wondering just how badly she had messed up. After all, all she did was ask if she could date Blueblood… Was it the way she asked…? Maybe the timing… Must’ve been the timing.

"Miss?" A new voice, a very proper pony not trotting, rather walking with stiff formality. "You should be expecting me." When that did not appear to be the case, he inclined his head faintly. "I am the tutor they hired, to instruct you." He pointed at Spine directly. "Do you understand?"

Spine nodded, confused. “Yeah, but… Why? I don’t really understand what I did wrong…” She then got up to greet the stallion properly, holding out a hand to shake with him.

The hoof was pressed lightly against the hand, allowing it to be shaken as Spine desired, only to correct her. "Slower. There you are. A greeting is not a competition, but a demonstration of your sincerity. The masters of this house wish you to understand proper culture and civility."

She blushed a little. “R-right… So um… What else is there that I should likely take note of then?” She then let her hand down, thoroughly embarrassed.

"Don't be so stiff." An odd bit of advice, considering how rigid he seemed, perfectly upright. "Your posture, consider it, on some levels, depending on who you are with. While one should always endeavor to present reasonably." His horn glowed as he nudged at Spine's imperfect standing. "You need only be 'perfect' around your betters, which I am not."

She tried to relax, only to find her instincts screaming at her to stand back in her form. “And that’s likely going to take practice… Used to being with Master Far Sight. Very strict, you know?” She then rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed.

"Looking like you're ready to battle is not polite," corrected that tutor of manners. "Proper things at proper times. Now, you are of common birth." He could see her reaction. "If it helps, so am I. There are certain mannerisms expected when dealing with nobility and royalty, even more with royalty, but many are shared. Shall we begin?"

She nodded once, her eyes looking determined. “Yeah. Let’s get started.”

And so it began, Spine being drilled in how to say hello, good bye, or even ask for food to be passed along the table. All manner of, well, manners to get along with people of fine breedings without looking like an unwashed peasant. "Very good." The tutor nodded softly. "But we won't get through it all in one day. I look forward to meeting with you tomorrow."

She then relaxed, going back to her ‘battle stance’, and groaned. “There’s more…? Why the hay is there so much to remember…?”

He inclined his head. "I couldn't say the why. They developed over many years and help to avoid unfortunate… misunderstandings. You performed well, for your first day. I will inform the masters that this is proceeding apace. Good day." He dipped his head at Spine and turned to depart.

She bowed as well, nervous as to how well she had done for the surprise training to be a noble. Then she chuckled a little. “Gods.. Gonna be a Noble from olde times…”

The instant the door closed, it opened right back up, allowing a worried-looking Blueblood into the room. "They didn't do anything untoward to you, did they?" He zoomed over to Spine with a nervous smile. "Tell me you're alright."

She giggled and hugged him. “I’m fine, Bluey! Honest! The hardest part was dropping the battle stance I’ve grown accustomed to!”

He squeezed her in return for but a moment before backing away. "Ahem! Mother insists we… show proper decorum. Such embraces should be saved only for special occasions." He leaned in, glancing off. "I won't tell though if you won't." He liked dragon hugs! Especially from that specific dragon.

She smiled and nodded, shifting to her ‘noble stance’ as she was already going to call it. “Sounds like a splendid idea. Though… I am curious as to how she’d reacted when I asked to court you…”

He flipped his ears back. "She gave me quite the lecture… It is not appropriate for this to come to light in this fashion." He rubbed at his cheek with a hoof. "I should have been the aggressor, and brought it to her attention first. Only after securing her approval would I then approach you." He inclined his head. "Which is what she is going to tell anypony else is exactly what happened."

Spine snickered a little then nodded. “I suppose that makes sense… And what was all that about not letting someone entice you because of your station…?”

He coughed into a hoof, cheeks growing bright red. "She was worried you were… after my bits, and my station. I am a powerful pony." He sat up proudly at that. "That can attract those who have eyes on that power. Worry not!" He threw a hoof wide, grin brightening. "Even when you had full access to my wealth, you did not take advantage of the situation. I protected your honor from her."

She smiled warmly and bowed her head a little. “Well I don’t have a reason to go after your money, or station, Bluey… I mean, if anything, I should be guarding my sister from you!” She then giggled a little after giving him a playful wink.

He rolled his eyes softly. "As if she has a thing I desire. She may be a protege of the princess, but I'm related to her!" Sure, his connection was many times removed, but that clearly did not bother him at all. "So there."

Spine smiled again and leaned in to kiss his cheek, relaxing once more. “Well… Think she’s gonna want to talk to me…?”

"Of course." But he was already turning. "After you complete your lessons. On the bright side, she did approve of you receiving some from me." He looked over his shoulder at Spine. "Not the first bit of advice I've shared."

She sighed in relief. “Oh, thank Faust… I feel like you teaching me wouldn’t be anywhere near as mentally painful as the tutor… Though now I kind of want to go get some ice cream… You?” Spine asked as she produced her bit pouch.

"I would be delighted… but… mother has needs of me." He sighed dramatically. "We will meet again. You have to come for lessons, do you not? We will have opportunities!" He giggled with foalish cheer and trotted off to other things.

She smiled and nodded, hurrying to get back to the barracks just so she could get back with Blueblood. She was very excited and didn’t fully understand why...