Author's Note

It's time.

Special Movie: A Dragon's Heart (Gauntlet of Fire AU)

Spike began to pick himself up off the floor of the cavern.

"How pathetic..." Garble said. "To think I was actually scared of you."

"...You should be." Spike said.

In the purple dragon's mind, everything had began earlier that day. And today had started out so perfect.

Earlier that day...

Spike has come over to Rarity's place just in time to catch both Rarity & Smolder about to leave for the nearby mountains. "Need more gems for your outfits, don't you Rarity?" Spike asked.

"That and some for Smolder too. Your welcome to come join us." Rarity said.

"Doubtless you'll join though." Smolder said.

"You know me well." Spike said. "Besides, some dragon's gotta keep those Diamond Dogs in check."

"Trust me, they better not have forgotten about you." Smolder said.

"If they have, I'll just give them a reminder." Spike said.

"Of course you will." Smolder said.

"Daylight's wasting, lovebirds. Let's go." Rarity said. The trio began to climb the mountain soon enough.

Produced on Fimfiction.net

And published by Rob Snowden

Presenting a very special movie like no other...

My Little Pony: The Draconic Sister -
A Dragon's Heart

"Look whose back in the mountains. It's you lot." A pack of Diamond Dogs had assembled quickly.

"You sure you want to mess with us?" Smolder asked.

"Oh please. What do we have to fear from the likes of you?" The Diamond Dog leader asked.

"You should've remembered me." Spike said. "Perhaps you need a reminder."

"And what's a welp like you going to do about it, hmm?" The Diamond Dog Leader asked.

Spike grinned. "Glad you asked." He then easily went Spikezilla.

"...Oh...right, forgot about that..." The Leader said. "IT'S A GIANT DRAGON; RUN!"

The diamond dog pack soon ran like cowards before Spike returned to normal. "Really wish I didn't have to do that so much." Spike said.

"Maybe one day, you no longer will have to whip out your Spikezilla form." Smolder said.

"Why does everyone keep calling it that?" Spike asked.

"Sorry Spikey; Discord's little name for that form has stuck like glue." Smolder said. Suddenly, she and Spike began to glow, and it irratated them both.

"Ugh...what is this?!" Spike exclaimed.

"Sis...I think we may need Twilight's help." Smolder said.

"I was thinking the EXACT same thing." Rarity said before quickly grabbing the dragons and getting out of there.

However, the diamond dogs had noticed the glowing. "...That glow..." The leader said. "If that means what I think it means, then we're all in big trouble if the wrong dragon wins."

"Yeah. We may not like ponies, but dragons are worse." A diamond dog pack member said.

"So what are you thinking boss?" A second pack member said.

"We make sure one of those two wins. Better to deal with the devils we do know, then the devils we don't. At least then we can work out an arrangement." The leader said.

"That's why your the alpha male, boss." A third pack member said.

Rarity had unexpectingly interrupted tea time between the Princesses, who had explained that what was going on was the call of the dragon lord. Seems that the Gauntlet of Fire challenge was being issued. Initially, niether Spike nor Smolder wanted anything to do with this, but then Spike overheard Garble saying something he had to tell Smolder.

"My so called brother wants to do what?!" Smolder exclaimed.

"He said he wants to declare war to the ponies unless they specifically hand you over. I don't trust him to keep to his word though." Spike said.

"You and me both. Spike, you've got to stop him from winning. At all costs." Smolder said.

"I do have you-know-what." Spike said. "Times like this, I'm glad you were raised by Rarity."

"Tell me something I don't already know." Smolder said.

"Well when the fire here glistens off your scales, you look fantastic." Spike said. "Maybe there's a dragon here who wouldn't want war against the ponies." Spike then ran off.

"...Flatterer, smart, courageous, and practically a knight in dragon's clothing...am I the luckiest girl around or what?" Smolder said.

It didn't take long for Spike to catch up to Garble, and then the two began to have a fight. Though, the red dragon used his size to his advantage.

"Runt, you just don't get what I want." Garble said.

"What you want puts a lot of lives I care about in danger. Including that of your own biological sister." Spike said.

"I doubt you even have a single biological sibling." Garble said.

"Maybe I don't. But my adopted siblings, Twilight & Shining Armor...well, if either of them were in danger, I wouldn't hesitate to try and rescue them. But what your doing? That's not like that." Spike said.

"I'm making sure my biological sister can learn the ways of the dragon kind." Spike said.

"So? Doing things this way isn't the right way." Spike said.

"Your so niave. Shouldn't expect anything less from one so young." Garble said. "Enough talk. I won't let anyone stand in my way. I don't care if my sister is sweet on you, I won't hesitate to hurt you."

"You think she'll appreciate that at all?" Spike asked. Garble winced at that, and said nothing. "...Thought so."

"Just move. Now. I really don't want to have to hurt you." Garble said.

"Not unless you can promise me you won't do anything you might regret." Spike said.

"Tch. My sister just doesn't know what's best for her. Still, at least I can tell you care a lot for her. I'd actually be glad to call you family." Garble said. "You've got a fire in you, kid. Your just so niave that it's sickening me."

"I won't hestiate to protect those I care about. Don't test me." Spike said.

Garble growled and swung his tail at Spike; making the purple dragon hit a nearby wall. "Ow..." Spike said and then fell to the floor. But he was breathing. Spike began to pick himself up off the floor of the cavern.

"How pathetic..." Garble said. "To think I was actually scared of you."

"...You should be." Spike said. Without warning, he then unleashed his Spikezilla form.

"Oh you've GOT to be kidding me." Garble said.

"RUN; IT'S SPIKEZILLA!" A dragon suddenly said.

Nearby, the diamond dogs saw Spike turn Spikezilla against Garble. "Heh heh...that red dragon should know when he's beaten. That purple dragon whelp just put the fear in most of the other dragons." The Alpha Dog said.

"He going to be dragon lord though. You okay with that boss?" One Pack Dog asked.

"Better him then someone like the Red Dragon there." The Alpha said. "Wait...what's this?"

A blue dragoness was looking at the scene, not fleeing like most of the other dragons. Spike had met her earlier, her name was Ember, daughter of the current dragon lord Torch.

T-there's no way...it can't be...can it? Ember thought to herself.

"You. Shall not. Pass!" Spike said.

"I still don't understand how your able to do that in order to protect those you care about." Garble said. "But I won't let you scare me this time. Let alone stop me. You may be big, but your not as strong as I am."

Garble's statement turned out to be false, when he was easily flicked away. "Try saying that again." Spike said.

"How...have you gotten this strong? You seem so scrawny normally." Garble said.

"Been working out. A lot. Your sister seems to like it." Spike said.

"Seriously? Do you have to keep bringing her up?" Garble asked. "But you'll have to kill me to stop me this time."

"Not going to happen. I've got a better idea on how to handle you." Spike said before grabbing Garble and throwing him out of the volcano altogether.

"Dude, that was some throw!" A Pack Dog said.

"Hmm...right into a nearby lava pit too. Soft landing, AND he'll won't get injured that badly." The Alpha dog said. "Now we just got to worry about this blue dragoness."

Speaking of, Ember soon approuched Spike. "Dang, you got aim." Ember said.

"You again." Spike said.

"Heh, interesting that you can do that. We should really talk later." Ember said. "You don't want to leave your pony siblings, do you?"

"No. I won't allow harm to come to any of the ponies I care about, let alone my adopted family." Spike said, still in his Spikezilla form.

"That's all I need to know kid. No...not kid. Spike, right?" Ember asked.

"That's my name." Spike said.

"Well then Spike, come find me later. You and I...we have some things to talk about. Not going to steal you from this Smolder chic though. She's lucky your you. Trust me on that." Ember said.

"What are you even getting at?" Spike asked.

"Tell me something: How do you view the ponies from Ponyville? Do you consider them your treasure?" Ember asked.

"They aren't things to be owned. But I will protect them if that's what your getting at. Without a second thought at that." Spike said.

"That's good. Great even. And it only makes our need to talk later all the more important." Ember said. "You can trust me on this: There's no way in the world I'd ever think about doing anything against your wishes."

"...I have your word?" Spike said.

"Dragon's honor." Ember said.

"...Fair enough." Spike said.

The next day in Ponyville...

"Can't believe that Spike did that." The Alpha Dog said.

"But, we are spying on him still." A pack dog said.

"...So I was right..." Ember said, examining the egg Twilight hatched.

"You know about where I came from?" Spike asked.

"Something like that. We'll have more to talk about soon, Spike." Ember said. "But know this: You won't have anything to fear from me anytime soon." She added. "So, see you around." Ember then left.

"Wonder what that was about?" Smolder asked.

"Not sure, but something tells me I can trust her. Not exactly sure why." Spike said.

"Oh wait, forgot to ask something." Ember said, coming right back. "Would you mind if I brought some gems from the dragon lands next time I come to visit? There's some there I doubt you can find in Ponyville."

"You'd do that?" Spike asked.

"For you and your girlfriend? I'd gladly go out of my way for that." Ember said and then left for real.

"Think we're beyond dating status at this point though." Smolder said. "Your a real great dragon Spike."

"Your one heck of a dragon too, Smolder." Spike said. The two then began to kiss passionately.

"Hey Twilight, wasn't that the new Dragon Lord that just--" Flash said, but then noticed the two dragons kissing. "...Should we let them have their moment?" He asked.

"We should." Twilight said and left with Flash.

Meanwhile...

"...And your certain it's him?" Torch asked his daughter.

"One hundred percent, without a doubt." Ember said. "He's got the same genes we do. Heck, he's even got that heart of gold."

"...Who would've guessed all this time, your lost brother would be being raised by ponies?" Torch asked. "Have you told him yet?"

"No. Not yet." Ember said. "Way too soon. I don't want to upheave his entire life view right now. Better he doesn't know yet."

"That's fine. I understand. He's been doing great for himself so far. Why bother him so soon after you just became Dragon Lord?" Torch asked.

"Better we withhold this information until a later date and time." Ember said.

"Indeed..." Torch said.

To be continued?