Crystal Empire: Same Day as Chapter 1

Spike, for lack of better words, had just been put on his ass. Sitting on the all white almost void of a floor that was the Hidden Staircase. Since his and Twilights adventure in trying to find the Crystal Heart, they had made quite the discovery. This Hidden Staircase was almost stopped in time. By Twilight, and The Royal Sisters combined assessment. A year in this room is almost 1 week and 3 days in the outside world. Spike chose this as his main area to train in as long as he would stay in the Crystal Empire for that fact. For his time here, and over the last 2 years, he was probably 6 years older. He wanted to do it continuously but the strain on someponies or somedragons body and mind is tremendous. Even he would do it, in natural world, 3 day intervals to not feel like death for 3 weeks and then have to recover for another 2. He learned that lesson the hard way.

The sudden knocking on the crystalline blue door separating him from the rest of the palace caught his attention, "B..be right there!" He called out. So with almost trembling purple claws Spike would get to his feet and headed for the door.

As he open it, there stood an almost worried Princess Cadence. Spike was now taller than she was even before using the room. He stood 6'2" and with his almost emerald green spines he would be 6'7". His body a tad on the lanky side, but with enough muscle to be a bit frightening. He affectively calls it a Runners Build. In his training he focused on Stamina, Fire Control, and Fighting. He luckily knew two Dragon Lords who were willing enough to share some knowledge and put it on paper. Brutality was the name of the game in many dragon styles, but, due to his pony upbringing, he made it a bit more soft and free flowing. When Ember, or a dragon emissary would come and mentor him that angered them a bit to see it used in a gentle state. Though he has never beaten Ember in a spar, he has beaten every emissary sent.

"Get out of there!" His hand suddenly enveloped in Cadence warm magical aura and he was pulled into the natural world, "Twilight and her friends come all this way to visit you, and you lock yourself in this Faust forsaken room for 3 hours? Really?" she spoke in an almost motherly voice. Cadence as absolutely stunning, her beauty had become well adored in her time ruling the Crystal Empire. Her overall demeanor and regality grown to nearly match that of Celestia and Luna, though she hasn't figured out the continuously flowing mane effect yet. "They can all come see you at once and you run off to a void? I swear Spike, the fact that you did that sorta ticks me off!"

"I'm sorry. I kind of forgot to be honest." he admitted a bit bashfully as he was practically dragged behind Cadence as she trotted along, he tried to stop her somewhat. "Whoa, whoa. What do you mean all at once?"

"All six of them are here, they even brought some friends. Rainbow brought along this griffin girl, plus Applejack and Rarity brought their little sisters." She turned to him and gave a small sniff. "And you need a shower. To your room and hurry! I don't know how long Shining Armor can hold them off with tales of his academy days." With a flash he was teleported to his personal room.

"So there I was, a baby hydra had just knocked out a couple of my squad mates, my lance half cracked, and this one unicorn Lieutenant guard had just gotten back from the bathroom and was extremely confused." Shining Armor was holding the attention of Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Apple Bloom. An over exaggerated story of something that may or may not have happened. "Then..."

"He woke up cause it was a dream that he had last week. He told me about it twice already and a few of the council members." Making the attentive ponies groan as they wanted to hear the ending to the ear catching story. Cadence gave a kiss to Shining Armors cheek as she rolled her eyes. "Telling stories that didn't even happen again darling? Starting to sound like an old war vet."

"To be fair, I have fought many hydras before. You should know seeing as one of those is where you fell for me." His mostly deep blue mane shook as he gave her cheek a nuzzle.

"Bleh! I didn't come here for a romance, I came here to see an old buddy. If I wanted this I would hang around Cranky back home. " Rainbow Dash, fastest pegasus pony in all Equestria spoke. Getting to her hooves she trotted away into the next room where Most of the other girls where. Almost bypassing the other girls as the spoke to each other or a staff member of The Crystal Palace, her eyes locked onto a griffin almost stuck in the corner silently watching. "Hey, Gilda! Let's go! Me and you, Crystal Palace, adventure. Besides, we gotta talk."

Gilda, the griffin in question, stood near the corner of the room. Her more muscular build having her stand out a bit, if the fact she was a griffin didn't. She looked over to the cyan pegasus and then to the other ponies enjoying their time here in the lounge area waiting on this Spike person. "I don't mind an adventure Dash but I don't know my way around this place. I mean hell, this is only my second time in a castle." she spoke.

Rainbow just waved a hoof and the words and gestured to herself in an almost proud bravado. "I know my way around this place just fine. Besides, I am tired of waiting and I know where his room is. Now let's go."

She gave a sigh and got up to her paw and talons before saying. "Sure. I'm tired of just sitting around anyways." She then went about sneaking out following behind the cyan mare. They weren't exactly covert about their departure but everyone was so distracted with their conversations or food to notice them leave.

It didn't take long for Rainbow to break the silence between them. "Why were you off in a corner by yourself? I know I kinda just threw this trip at you, but I want you to be included you know? I think of you as a friend and stuff." She was a tad awkward about it but that's how she felt.

"I get you Dash, I really do, but I just got to Ponyville and with you guys. Of course I am gonna still be a bit awkward about it." The hallways and turns had become an almost blur as she talked. Rainbow almost at a quick trot as she walked with her friend. The fact that they were currently climbing one of the spiraling staircases in the southeast tower. "I am still new and getting used to all the pony-isms, ya know? Pinkie is a very hard learning curve to get used to. That or why Twilight and that Pink one have both horns and wings. Or how Fluttershy basically commands the respect of wild animals but get scared when someone cuts her in a line. I just need a bit of time to get used to everyone, another surprise would probably rock me. I mean, here I am in a whole different kingdom to meet another pony.

Rainbow Dash gave a nod in agreement and understanding through the conversation. That was, until she heard the last part. Her ears went down and as they stopped in front of a large purple set of double doors and Gida turned to Rainbow Dash a bit confused, she said. "Oh, that's right, I never told you about what Spike is, just who he was."

Just as she finished that sentence, one of the purple doors opened and out came Spike. Gilda turned back to the now opened purple door to see a tall, and lean purple dragon looking down to her. A pair of emerald green eyes came into the sight of a pair of sunrise golden ones. In unison they said, "Who are you?"

Author's Note

Hey. 2nd chapter is out now. Still a bit of a novice writer so tell me what you think and how I am doing cause I know I have a habit of rushing things.

R&R

Chapter 3 is soon.