Tyrants Path

Chomper was dozing off on Spikes back. On his "fathers" back, make that. His eyes struggled to stay open as his head bobbed a bit, struggling to stay awake, the little hatchling yawned squeakily, not hearing Fluttershy and Twilight giggle at the hatchlings antics. Chomper suddenly sat up, shaking his head, then gave Spike a throaty chirp, wondering where his father was taking him.

"Remind ya of somepony?" Applejack asked Twilight, making the bookish Princess smile at the sight.

"Make that somedragon." Rainbow Dash said as she rummaged through Applejacks shed.

"I remember the night we watched the shooting stars, he could barely keep himself awake on the way up." Twilight spoke, the dragon turning back and frowning a bit.

"Not in front of the kid. I don't want him hearing any embarrassing stories about me just yet."

"Then you better help us dig this hole. We would ask Twilight, but she seems more interested in Chomper than helping us." Rainbow Dash spoke, Spike grabbing Chomper, waking the young hatchling, and setting him down in front of Twilight.

Twilight gave the hatchling a smile, the youngster giving her a wide stare, confused at his "aunt". He looked back at Spike, giving a throaty chirp, which Spike only scratched his scalp. "Stay here with your auntie Twilight. She won't bite..." Spike looked up at Twilight and flashed her a teasing grin, "Though, she may try to put you to sleep with her study materials."

Twilight puffed her cheeks out, her wings rustling, making Spike chuckle. He walked out to the spot, giving a soft eye at the padded footprints of the Saurolophus in the dirt, his eyes narrowing at the prints. He kept walking, following Applejack and Big Mac, the stallion humming softly.

"So, you and Fluttershy..." Big Mac said, making Spike look at him, quirking an eyebrow.

"Dontcha even try, Mac! You'll give Bloom a new idea fer a new love potion."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Big Mac mumbled out, Spike scratching his cheek as he wondered what they were talking about. "Don't ask."

Twilight leant down and peered at the little hatchling, it yawning and curling up, watching his draconic adoptive father walk out with the two strong ponies. Chompers eyes fluttered down, before suddenly raising back up, the hatchling trying his hardest to stay awake. Twilight pulled out her notes and a quill, writing down what she saw, drawing diagrams of the youngster.

"Wasting no time, I see." Fluttershy said as she sat down next to Twilight, the hatchling perking up at her voice. Chomper gave a happy chirp towards her and scampered over to her, nuzzling into her and giving a happy, throaty croak. "You are such a little cutie, Chomper."

"He imprinted a Spike, right?"

"Yes, and we fed him some fish earlier." Fluttershy said, rubbing the hatchlings back as he curled up beside her, giving soft snores when he finally fell asleep. "I...had a talk with Spike. He'll need to learn how to hunt for them both."

Twilight stopped writing and shot up, staring at the pink haired mare in surprise, Fluttershy seemingly not noticing her stare. "Fluttershy...are you crazy?!"

Spikes head shot up as he heard the yelling, his face, hands, and arms covered in dirt as he stared at her, Bic Mac and AJ pausing for a moment to stare at Twilight as well. The alicorn mare just smiled sheepishly and lowered her voice, the three returning to digging soon after. Chomper jumped at the yell and scrambled under Fluttershy, frightened at the sudden bit of noise, Fluttershy leaning down and nuzzling into the hatchlings head.

"Are you crazy? Spike has never eaten meat before! He barely even chews on bones!"

"Twilight, the little guy is a carnivore." Fluttershy said, the hatchling sitting down under Fluttershy, dozing off, trying its hardest to stay awake. "We cannot teach it to be a vegetarian, and he needs to eat meat. He has also printed on Spike, so Spike needs to teach him."

"But Fluttershy-"

"Twilight." Fluttershy spoke, her voice cutting off the princess in the process. "Spike is a dragon. He is the closest thing the hatchling has to a parent right now. Spike needs to learn how to hunt so he can grow healthy, and the hatchling needs to learn how to hunt so he can survive."

Twilight sat there and stared at the notes she was taking, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Fluttershy was right, as she often was when it came to animals and other creatures. Fluttershy put a hoof on Twilights shoulder, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I don't like it, but, you're right Fluttershy." Twilight finally said, Fluttershy scooping up the young Tarbosaurus and setting him on her back, the youngster sleepily nuzzling into his "mother". "I have no clue how the youngster will react to an adult of its species if it imprinted on Spike."

"If this hole does not contain the beast, let us hope he is not ready for a feast." Zecora said, making Twilight jump in fright, before peering back at the zebra mare, smiling sheepishly. Zecora peered at the hatchling curiously, before rhyming, "Why, my dearest Fluttershy, what is that babe that has caught my eye?"

"This is Chomper." Fluttershy said, the hatchling just nuzzling into his mother more, his fluffy feathering keeping him comfy from the soft breeze blowing by. "He hatched yesterday, from what we can tell. He is the little one of the creature that attacked recently."

Zecora raised an eyebrow, before peering back at the hole the others were making, Applebloom running up and hugging the zebra, the shaman smiling and petting the young mares mane. "Perhaps that is why it pressed the attack, it may have wanted it hatchling back."

"Spike found the egg after the creature attacked." Twilight said, putting her notes in her bag, smiling at them. "Speaking of, I should probably help them with the hole."

"Remember; we need the hole to have a natural source of water, plenty of room to move in, and to provide enrichment for the animals!"

The Tarbosaurus rumbled noisily as he walked through his territory. He made it back to the nest, giving a saddened sound at its emptiness, his tail waving back and forth. The egg may have been snatched whilst he was patrolling, or perhaps the small ones took it as revenge, he did not know. What he did know was that he was very upset and would be getting revenge.

He walked towards the edge of the forest, hissing a bit as he watched the toen, the small mammals moving around, busying themselves. He opened his jaws and released a throaty rumble, before returning to the trees.

Soon.