Home far away

Spike consumed the lessons the women gave. Spending another few hours just practicing. He was able to tear through a quarter of the book wall that Rarity had placed on the desk although he still couldn't control the amount of magic he poured out. After the third fire extinguishment they decided future lessons would be better handled outside.

"I'm so happy to see you having the same thirst for learning as your grandfather did Darling. Truly solidifies you as his heir." Rarity complimented with raised hands in a praying form near her cheek.

Place a book down on the desk Spike smiled softly, a tinge of sadness in the corners of his eyes. "I'm also glad but... I don't exactly know the man. I mean obviously he must have been a great guy with how much everyone talks about him but well..." He replied, looking over the study room in thought. "I honestly can't remember a time meeting grandpa and like. Why didn't he pick me up earlier? He clearly knew where I was with how a letter got to me with all the documents." He sighed, tapping the desk slowly.

Twilight adjusted her glasses, the light catching the surface. "We can not answer as to why he never contacted you before. He was open with us about a lot of things but even then there were certain secrets or mysteries he wouldn't share no matter how trusted the person he could have confided with was." She answered, picking up a few books they had finished. Slotting them back into their spots she turned back to her new master. "But if you want I can tell you a story about him if you'd like?" She offered.

Spike perked up at this offer. When Rarity voiced her own agreement with the idea he couldn't help nod, gesturing for Twilight to start.

Clearing her throat Twilight raised a finger. "One of my best memories is when he helped me finally break through into king level magic." She began, a far off look in her eyes.

Master Drake, are you absolutely sure this is a good idea?" A little Twilight questioned, fidgeting in her spot atop a large mountain overlooking a valley full of trees. "Princess Celestia says this kind of magic shouldn't just be thrown around without proper planning placed first." She continued, gripping the purple dress that hung to her knees. Her foot slowly dug circles on the ground in black buckle shoes.

A late middle aged man straightened out his back with a grown. "Bah! What does that old canary know?" The man challenged. "You can't make an omelet without flipping a few cows!" He shouted.

"It's breaking a few eggs mister Leandros. Besides, my magic always goes crazy whenever I try this level of spell. I need my limiters." The young Twilight corrected, stepping over to a table that had been set up. On it were cuffs with heavy looking chains that ended in sharp barbs.

Snapping his fingers, the table and its contents disappeared. "You don't need those horrible things. You'll never grow as a witch if you don't get rid of crutches like that. Besides!" Leandros said, thumping his chest. "If anything goes crazy you got one of the best show stoppers around. Now step up to the plate Sparkle and show me some fireworks." He soothed before encouraging her to approach an actual baseball plate.

Slumping her shoulders Twilight trudged up the plate, kicking at a rock next to it while hanging her head. Raising it once more she went to argue. "But Sir!" She yelled.

"No buts missy. You're one of the most powerful witches ever born with a pool of magic that would put even some God-born to shame. This is a gift you need to take hold of and run." The man shot down the argument. Looking to the young girl his expression took a much gentler tone. Kneeling down to her level he placed a heavily scarred hand on her shoulder. "Listen Twi, you remember the first thing you ever said to me?" He asked, smiling softly at her.

Looking the man in the face Twilight looked over his features. A well built chin, spiky green hair that had faded in some spots, and twinkling eyes that carried seas worth of kindness in them. After looking him over she blushed slightly, turning her face to the side as she pouted in embarrassment. "Please teach me how to become a mage that can control her powers..." She mumbled quietly.

Chuckling at her antics he smiled more openly. "And have I led you astray at any step up to this point? Have I ever failed to bring you back when you went crazy?" He questioned further.

Kicking a foot slowly Twilight shook her head. "No...You helped me all the way to wizard so far." She muttered, looking out towards the valley.

Standing up Leandros gave a pat on her head. "And I'll keep doing my best till we can get you to demigod. Hell if I can help it might even aim for god level." He encouraged, stepping next to her. Reaching a hand out, palm facing downward he instructed her "Do as I do. Feel the magic build up and when it's at the right amount release with the image of what you want it to do like all the times before." With the coaching out of the way he turned his palm upwards where then a ball of fire appeared. Tiny and easily only the size of a golf ball. Soon though it extinguished but the man remained calm. After a moment passed he snapped his fingers. A second later a quarter of the valley erupted into flames as an explosion of fire spawned out of the air. Smiling in contentment the man turned to twilight. Bowing while gesturing in the direction of the valley he said "Now you try."

Twilight blinked slowly at what he had done before gulping. Stretching her hand outwards Twilight focused as instructed. Pooling the magic in her hand she could feel the magic move through her body. For a moment she felt it go wild and fear gripped her. Glancing at the Drake standing next to her, she took a quick note of his calm posture and air. It influenced her, calmed her own heart. The magic stabilized until she felt it was where she needed it. With it she shut the ball away and...

Snap

The entire valley engulfed in flames as the fireball went off, scorching even halfway up the mountain they were standing on. In a panic she dropped to her knees in front of the man, dirtying the front of her dress. "I'm so sorry. I failed again and couldn't control it! Please don't punish me." She begged, her mind running wild with what might be done to her.

A single laugh, then a chuckle, finally developing into an uproar of laughter from the man as he swung downwards to scoop up the little witch. "Bravo! Magnificent! Absolutely splendid my dear!" He shouted in joy. "You just skipped over king and performed a demigod level version of the spell. I knew you had talent but to just skip straight ahead is shocking in the best way possible." He continued to compliment.

"I? Wah? Huh?" Twilight mumbled, slowly passing out from lack of magic. Soon she felt a warm sensation fill her body as she was shifted into a princess carried by the man.

Chuckling once more the man's voice was now much more quiet. "I suppose I should have at least expected this outcome from it though. Rest well dear. You have more achievements to collect." He instructed, looking out to the cratered valley. With a smirk he tapped the tip of his shoe on to the ground, a green spark coming from the contact. As a portal came to life and he walked through, anyone watching could have seen the valley filling with life once more as if no damage had been done to it.

"He helped me break through so many hurdles. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be in the position I am now. It's why I am more than happy to serve the Drake line with everything I have." Twilight finished, smiling softly.

Spike sat silently, enthralled by the story. "Sounds like grandpa didn't hold back his feelings." He thought to himself. He jumped through when a small alarm went off near him.

Pulling a phone from a breast pocket Rarity clicked something on the screen. "My apologies Darling. It seems it is time to join the other group to see their side of things." She said with a nod towards the sitting young man. "If you'd like I can organize these books back into their place." She suggested.

Waving a hand Spike stood up from his chair. "Nah, no need. I'll keep reading them tomorrow." He brushed off, moving for the door. "Whelp, thanks for teaching me even if I've been messing up so far." He thanked them with an awkward smile as a flash of the events prior flashed through his mind. He scurried out of the room heading for the backyard to join Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

Rarity and Twilight looked to each other with small frowns. Each had noticed the shift in his mannerism. "Well, can't expect to repair things fast now can we?" Twilight sighed.

Patting her friend's hand after crossing the room Rarity gave words of encouragement. "Keep showing him our true selves and eventually the wounds will heal. We've already made the first steps after all."

Spike pushed open the doors to find the garden in pristine condition. Not a weed in sight and not a rose out of place. Walking through it he found Pinkie Pie except with one little issue. "WHY ARE YOU SO SMALL!?!" He screeched in shock at the half pint Pinkie Pie. She looked to be at his hip or lower when originally she stood about to his mid chest.

"Oh hiya Spikey! Just needed to make better access to the lower bushes is all." Pinkie happily replied, skipping over to him. Another Pinkie walked into view carrying a bucket full of trimmings. A third walked around Spike while holding a hedge trimmer. Each was the same size but he could tell they were in the Outer slime form. "Something the matter Spikey?" One of the mini Pies asked, cocking their head.

Looking at the three Spike looked away while taking breaths before turning back. "Um, no...just wasn't expecting this so got a bit surprised." He answered, scooting slowly around the three Pinkies before speed walking away towards his target.

The three Pies looked to each other in confusion before shrugging, going back to cleaning the garden.

Spike sprinted for the training ground, jumping down the stairs into a mixed landscape, skidding to a stop while wheezing heavily. Gripping at his knees Spike gasped for air while a shout called out in front of him. "Strike! You lose!" As his mind registered the words a steel ball rushed past his head, embedding itself into the concrete wall behind him.

"Huh?" He said softly, looking up to see Applejack and Rainbow rushing towards him at full sprints. Looking behind himself at the still spinning steel ball he could only repeat himself. "Huh?" His knees giving out from under him.

"Boss!" the two cried out, reaching him in a flash.

"Speak to us Boss!" Applejack yelled, shaking the dazed young man aggressively. "Oh hell, what am I gonna tell the others?" She worriedly said.

Rainbow Dash gave a small squawk "You? What about me? Flutters' will turn me into hot wings if we don't wake him up." She said, flapping her arms wildly like wings.

Spike slowly woke back up to see the two arguing over him still being shook rapidly. "Co-could you s-stop shaking me." He struggled out, trying not to bite his tongue.

The two looked to him in relief, stopping the shaking to instead help him step back up. "Sorry about that Boss. Just weren't expecting you to arrive so soon. Normally your old man would show up closer to four so you're a bit early." Applejack apologized, stepping away after brushing Spike off.

Stepping away from her a little to handle himself he looked back at the now still steel ball. "Care to explain why that's there now?" He questioned, gesturing at it with a thumb.

"Oh that's easy! We use that to train our stopping power." Rainbow answered, walking around the young man to pull the ball out of the wall with one hand. "Your grandpa would toss these at us or vice versa to train our ability to stop fast moving objects without physical ability." She explained further, tossing it easily into the air.

"Could I see that for a sec?" Spike requested, holding out his hands to hold it. Rainbow smirked as if knowing something as she placed it in his hand. "Whoa!" He cried out as his hands dropped quickly when the orb entered his grasp. A thud came off the ground as it quickly connected. "The hell? How much does this thing weigh?" He asked, looking to the two laughing Outers in shock.

Clearing away any laughter Applejack picked up the piece. "Well this here is about fifty pounds of steel and tungsten. Though it's one of our lighter ones we only use for warming up." She answered, tossing it between her hands. "Biggest one we got is about five hundred but that one's more for tacklin' and moving across the field." She added nonchalantly.

Spike's jaw hung open before shaking his head, gripping his temples. "No, no, don't think too much about it. This is just another one of those different world different rules things." He grumbled loud enough for the two to hear. "Ok, how about we move on to training instead. I imagine you both have a plan to help me survive this new world lifestyle better." He continued, looking at the two.

"Ya already know us so well Boss." Rainbow teased, moving across the landscape to a circle drawn in the ground. "You already have some experience but also said you haven't had a real fight before. Though I suppose that's changed now to one fight since yesterday." She pointed out, tapping a foot against the ground. "Just so you know each of the servants know how to fight hand to hand in a few different ways. It's just me and AJ who went for a security specialty." She added.

Walking up to the circle Spike took note of the slabs of concrete that jutted out of the ground around them. "How exactly strong are you all naturally?" He inquired, watching as Applejack walked up to one of the slabs. He watched silently as she calmly placed a fist an inch away from it. He noticed only a small twitch in her form before the slab crumbled into dust.

Applejack didn't even say anything as she smiled sweetly towards the once again collapsed young man.

Dragging himself back into a standing position he wandered slowly into the ring. "Please don't kill me." He begged slightly towards the sadistic grinning Rainbow.

"Of course Boss. Can't get you ready to face those stronger than us if we kill you." She soothed, cracking her knuckles.

Raising a shaking hand first Spike asked "So out of all of you are the strongest?"

Applejack tore a new slab from the ground to replace the destroyed one. "Ah, that's easy. It's Shy. That girls a walking mountain when she gets into it. Basically no real dropping her if she's in her Outer form and fed up on ether." She casually replied.

"Alright champ we are gonna start simple. I'm gonna toss you around and you just need to get used to it ok?" Rainbow coached, getting into a stance as she slowly approached the frightened young man.

Gulping Spike raised his fists like he had learned in boxing. "G-got it..." He got out before the collar of his shirt was grabbed and his world turned upside down. "Oh. Would you look at that it's starting." He blankly thought as the ground connected with his back.

Pain, agony, torment even. That is what Spike felt. It had been a few hours of being tossed around by the two with a break finally at the end by Fluttershy bringing snacks. When Spike crawled slowly towards her she immediately scooped him into her lap and healed his bruises. Eventually she ended up massaging his shoulders while slowly feeding the tired man with small sandwiches. "Feeling better?" She asked, smiling at the man.

"mhm." He mumbled childlike through a sandwich.

"Gotta say Boss, you certainly can take a tossing." Rainbow complimented, wiping the sweat off her chest after she had taken off her shirt to reveal a sports bra underneath.

Tearing his eyes off her abs Spike looked around the garden. "Have you guys gone to town recently?" He questioned, looking between the three.

"Actually been meanin’ to visit the family for a bit. Wonder if Mac is handling the farm work well?" Applejack replied first, looking off into the distance.

Swallowing the rest of the sandwich Spike patted his legs before hopping up. "Whelp, I think I've had my butt kicked more than enough today. How about we go into town? Need to get used to others and what not." He suggested.

The three gained happy expressions but they dampened when each took notice of his slight shaking. "You know Master, you don't have to force yourself into uncomfortable spots. We all recognize that work still needs to be done before you trust us again but if this is too much you don't need to for our sake." Fluttershy pointed out gently.

The other two gave nods of understanding as well while hiding their own discomfort at being reminded of the gap between the Master and themselves.

Clenching a hand into a fist Spike glanced around before slumping his shoulders. "Honestly I still have problems accepting this life and being near you all. I'm trying to keep professional so as to make things smooth and gaining some amazing things like using magic are a plus but... god just thinking back on that night with how intense everyone was it just.... It scares me to face them again." He admitted, spewing out his concerns.

Fluttershy reached out but stopped halfway. Pulling her hand back she nodded. "We mean it when we say that we are truly sorry about what we put you through and that if we could change what happened we would." She began, hanging her head. "But..." She started to pick up only to trail off quickly afterwards.

Applejack stepped forward, taking off her hat. "What Shy means is we would do anything to fix that blunder no matter the cost and that you don't need to push yourself or hide your feelings just to keep some face of professionalism. We fucked up plain and simple. No ifs ands or buts about it." She took over the talk easily, her green eyes staring intently at Spike's emerald pair.

"Your grandpa wouldn't force us to do things we didn't want to do so it's only fair we hold the same care to his grandson." Rainbow added, peeking around Applejack's form.

Looking at the three Spike sighed, slumping his shoulders further before straightening himself out. "Tonight let's go into town. I can hide in fear all day but I can't see another's side of the story if I never face the person." He said, pulling on an awkward smile.

The three nodded before suggesting they all get cleaned up. Fluttershy would tell the others the plan and they could head as a group into town. With the plan in motion they walked through the gardens, Spike taking care to look over a few purple roses with a green inside.

"Let's hope nothing crazy happens in town." Spike mumbled, stepping into the hallway of the mansion. The sun setting slightly behind the tree line, lighting up the area through the windows and casting his shadow down the hall.

"God I'm so uncomfortable."Spike thought to himself. The limo had arrived faster then he had anticipated ruining any chance to gather himself before heading out. Now he was pushed in the middle with Flutteshy and Applejack on either side of him while the others sat scattered along the seats, chatting amongst themselves. "Uh, you girls don't have to sit so close to me if you don't want to." He said, glancing at the two larger women.

"Nonsense Master, this position helps me serve you at the most efficient speed." Fluttershy brushed off smoothly.

Giving a snort Applejack looked out the window. "Goin' into a place fresh for ya means security has to stick close. It's what we did for your grandfather." She pointed out, throwing an arm over Spike's shoulder. When she felt him tense up she sheepishly pulled her arm back. "Sorry Boss..." She mumbled, frowning at causing him discomfort.

Leaning forward to make a little room between himself and the two Outers Spike couldn't help as his leg bounced up and down. "I-It's fine. Just gonna pop into town, get a meal and then come back. Simple and easy." He waved off, clearly setting his mind as the lights of the town appeared. Sighing, he rested his head in his hands, just listening to the girl's chat.

"I do hope Sweetie Belle has been running the shop well. Though I suppose that depends if the other Crusaders came over to visit." Rarity said, flicking through some images on her phone.

Rainbow gave a laugh. "If Scoots and Bloom showed up I wouldn't be surprised if the place is a warzone now. Especially since Sweetie tried cooking." She added, slapping a knee.

Pinching her nose Rarity rested her head backwards onto a window. "Ugh, don't remind me. I love the girl with all my heart but how does someone burn water? I mean even Pinkie and Fluttershy couldn't teach her any recipes." Rarity whined, breaking her perfect image for a moment.

A chuckle from Spike drew everyone's attention. Covering his mouth he waved. "Sorry, just sounds like sibling troubles, am I correct in guessing?" He spoke out after gathering himself.

Nodding at the question Twilight flipped a page in her book. "Correct. Sweetie Belle is Rarity's little sister. When Rarity is at the manor Sweetie Belle handles the Carousel Boutique. While Apple Bloom is Applejack's younger sister. Then you also have Scootaloo which is Rainbow Dash's adoptive little sister." She answered. "They make up a group called the Crusaders rushing around to find what they are good at. But so far they have found a hundred and twenty seven things they are bad at since starting the group." She added.

"Little sister huh?" Spike quietly thought aloud, resting his chin in a hand. "Wish I could have such a nice connection like that." He said, a tinge of envy in his voice.

Pinkie looked at the thinking man with a questioning expression. "Do you have siblings Spikey?" She asked innocently.

A frown quickly took over the young masters face. "Yeah, just not as well liked as your guy's are." He slowly replied.

The others looked to each other at how he had replied before the limo pulled to a stop next to a park. "We're here Master Spike and Co." The driver said into the cabin.

The group shuffled out of the vehicle into the cool evening air. People moving around stopped to stare as Spike finally stepped out. "Whelp, let's get some food. I'm famished." Spike ordered, putting on a smile to hide his thoughts. He began to walk down the street, the others walking behind him with their own thoughts taking over their minds.