Which day were you born for?

by StaeNight

Chapters

To you forever
That Mother's Day
Meeting and Reunion
The dream of hearth-warming eve
The Aspiration of Clouds

To you forever

Celestial Year 994

"Twilight, Twilight..." Spike tugged at Twilight Sparkle's hoof.

"I'm hungry," the little dragon pointed to his rumbling stomach.

"Oh, really? I thought you just finished eating some gems."

Twilight put down her homework and picked up Spike, gently stroking his head.

"Did you eat all the gems in the storage cabinet?" Twilight used her magic to check the cabinet next to Spike's play blanket. It was empty.

"It looks like we need to go out and get you some food," Twilight said, standing up and placing the little dragon on her back. "Who could resist such a cute little dragon?"
Spike blushed and hugged Twilight's neck tightly.

The evening market street in Canterlot wasn’t too crowded. Most of the ponies there were unicorn nobility. The luxurious restaurants with their expensive prices and high-end food deterred the average pony.

Twilight walked along the street with Spike on her back. The ponies they passed gave uneasy looks at the dragon, an unusual sight in the capital of Equestria. The nobles of Canterlot considered dragons to be dirty reptiles. In fact, they discriminated against any non-unicorn creature.

Twilight ignored the stares and trotted towards their destination—the donut shop at the end of the commercial street, Donut Joe’s.

Donut Joe was a loyal and hearty unicorn known for his delicious donuts, a talent reflected in his cutie mark.

When Twilight was little, Shining Armor often took her to Donut Joe’s.

Over time, they became familiar with Joe, who welcomed them warmly and occasionally gave them extra donuts.

His shop was small and simply decorated but popular with the local children. Some nobles also brought their children there for Joe's famous donuts.

"Good evening, Joe," Twilight greeted as she pushed open the door, the bell ringing to announce a new customer.

"Oh, Twilight, long time no see! You haven’t been around much since your brother joined the army," Joe said, busy packing donuts for another customer.

"Yes, my studies have kept me busy, and I’ve also been taking care of this little dragon. He's hungry, so I thought I’d get him some donuts," Twilight replied with a hint of embarrassment as she approached the counter.

"Of course, but I need to finish this big order first," Joe said, placing another tray of donuts into the oven.

The unicorn mare next to Twilight wore a hood, sunglasses, and a starry cloak, looking quite odd. But in Canterlot, where fashion trends changed daily, such attire wasn’t particularly unusual.

"Can I help you? I've always wanted to know how you make such delicious donuts," Twilight asked curiously, placing Spike on the floor.

"Sure, come on in," Joe said, opening the counter door and inviting Twilight inside. Spike stood on his tiptoes at the counter, watching them.

"Do you need a hand, little dragon?"

Spike thought the voice sounded familiar but more mature than he remembered.

"Okay," Spike replied in his baby voice.

The mysterious mare used her magic to lift Spike onto the counter, seating him across from her.

Her hood was pulled low, and Spike could only tell she was a purple unicorn. Her dark sunglasses made Spike feel a bit uneasy.

"Your life is destined to be extraordinary, my little dragon. Remember these words," the mare said seriously.

"What does 'extraordinary' mean?" Spike asked in his innocent voice, looking at the stranger with wide eyes.

"You’ll understand when you grow up. It's your destiny." The mare patted Spike's head before turning to Joe. "Joe, please give all my donuts to this dragon." She placed a bag of money on the counter and left.

"Sure thing, ma'am. Have a good night," Joe called after her with a smile.

"Wait, why did she give us her donuts?" Twilight asked, puzzled.

"Maybe she likes you two. And judging by her attire, she seems quite wealthy," Joe said, not thinking much of it. He was just following a customer's request.

After getting a large batch of donuts from Joe, Twilight took Spike back to their home in the castle. Spike had eaten donuts the whole way back and was now too full to walk.

Twilight lived in a tower within the castle since Princess Celestia took her on as a personal student. She shared the space with Spike. The cylindrical tower wasn’t very large but had two floors.

The first floor had a circular carpet strewn with toys and stairs on the right wall. Under the stairs were several cabinets of varying sizes and a magical fridge.

To the left of the entrance was Twilight’s desk and bookshelves filled with books. The second floor was the bedroom, with a large bed and a small bed near the window, clearly belonging to Twilight and Spike.

There were also bookshelves and an astronomical telescope on the balcony for Twilight’s stargazing studies.

"You little glutton. I need to get back to my homework. Play here for a while, and go to bed if you're tired, okay?" Twilight placed Spike on the carpet. The little dragon lay on his back, too full to move, and let out a burp.

Twilight put away the remaining donuts and returned to her desk, using her magic to pick up her quill and resume writing her new paper.

"Twilight, what does 'extraordinary' mean?" Spike asked, remembering what the mare had said.

Twilight paused her writing and thought for a moment. "Extraordinary means being better than most ponies in certain fields. Why do you ask?"

"The lady with the sunglasses told me, 'Your life is destined to be extraordinary.'" Spike, full and tired, struggled with his words. "Will I be an extraordinary dragon?"

Twilight put down her quill and approached Spike, placing her hooves on his shoulders. "I don't know, Spike. But I do know that you are a very, very special dragon."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Twilight gently hugged him, stroking the scales on his back. "Whether you're ordinary or great, you'll always be my special little dragon."

Spike hugged her tightly. "I love you, Twilight."
"I love you too, Spike. It's getting late. Let’s get you to bed." Twilight pointed to the clock on the wall; it was almost ten.

Spike nodded. Twilight carried him upstairs and placed him in his small bed.

"Goodnight." Twilight tucked Spike in and waited until he closed his eyes before heading back downstairs.

"Oh, I still have nearly half of this paper to finish. Looks like it’s another all-nighter,"

Twilight sighed. Taking care of a dragon at her age wasn’t easy, but she never thought to complain. He was her responsibility.

The quill scratched on the paper, and before she knew it, it was midnight. Moonlight poured through the castle windows, illuminating much of the tower.
Tonight was a rare full moon. Twilight looked up at the view outside. From her tower, she could see most of Canterlot.
She gently pushed open the window, letting a cool night breeze carrying a faint floral scent wash over her. Her gaze swept over the castle’s tall walls and out to the night-lit Canterlot.

In the outer city, moonlight glinted on the quiet cobblestone paths, occasionally broken by a dog's bark. The inner city was ablaze with lights, like a river of stars.

Lanterns swayed in the market, and laughter and music emanated from taverns, giving the city an enchanted, warm feel.

It was very late. Twilight yawned, her paper finally completed. She tidied her desk and quietly climbed the stairs.

As she reached the bed, she heard Spike's moan. Perhaps the moonlight was too bright, as the little dragon woke up, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Are you awake, Spike?" Twilight asked softly, turning to sit by his bed.

"Mm, Twilight, the moonlight is too bright," Spike said, his eyes wide open in the moonlight.

"Maybe I should have drawn the curtains," Twilight said apologetically. Her magic pulled the curtains closed.

"Are you still tired, Spike? How about I read you a story?" Twilight had three years of experience caring for the little dragon and knew what to do.

Spike nodded immediately. Despite being three years old, he rarely got bedtime stories from Twilight.

Twilight used her magic to grab a book from downstairs. Its cover had a violet flower and the title "The Village Hero: The Story of Night Blossom." The author was anonymous, which Twilight found odd, as she didn't remember seeing this book on her shelf.

Twilight began to read.

"In a faraway village, there was an earth pony girl named Night Blossom. She lived with her parents and younger brother.

She was ordinary in appearance, quiet, and hardworking, always taking care of her brother and helping with the farm chores.

She was kind, diligent, and quiet, a pony as ordinary as could be, rarely noticed by others.

Her days were simple: feeding the livestock, cleaning, and taking her brother to and from school.

Her days repeated, simply and routinely, and she was content with this life.

Her brother worked hard and soon got into a famous earth pony university to study physics. The news spread throughout the village, and their parents held a celebration for him, with drums and festivities.

In the village square, her brother received congratulations from every pony, proudly standing on the podium and telling his story.
Night Blossom was happy for him but also felt a bit lost.

Compared to her brother, she was so ordinary. She envied him and wondered what it would feel like to be so admired. She grew tired of being ordinary.

But soon, the feeling passed, and she continued with her life.

After her brother left, she had more free time. Sometimes she would pause, sit under the apple tree, occasionally flipping through a book her brother had given her, or looking at the distant sky, pondering questions she had never thought of before.

Yet, she still felt happy. Her brother wrote to her every week, and her parents cared about her, though not as much as they did about her brother.

One day, as usual, Night Blossom was reading her brother's letter under the apple tree. The sky suddenly darkened.

When she looked up, it was covered in thick clouds. A storm was coming. She needed to get home quickly. Running along the path, rain poured down on her, and the sounds of wind and thunder mingled.

It had been a long time since such a heavy storm had hit. A loud noise in the distance caught her attention—a tree, struck by lightning, was floating down the river.

The recently repaired dam was already groaning under the pressure of the rising water, and it seemed like it wouldn't hold much longer against the impact of the tree.

Night Blossom changed her direction without a second thought and ran straight towards the dam. She had to stop the tree from hitting the dam. She found a rope near the dam, tied it to the floating tree, and then to herself, trying to pull the tree to shore.

But the swollen river wouldn't yield to this ordinary pony. They fought against each other, the surging water tugging at the tree and at Night Blossom on the shore.

She struggled to pull the tree towards the bank, every step an ordeal. She persisted for nearly twenty minutes. One end of the tree was almost touching the shore.

But then, nature's fury whipped up waves that pulled the tree and Night Blossom into the river. She struggled in the water, using her last bit of strength to swim to the riverbank, waiting for an opportunity.

She clung tightly to a small tree passing in front of her. The river kept battering her body, and branches floating from upstream hit her stomach and legs, causing her such pain she almost lost consciousness. When she could last sense anything, she heard the sound of approaching hooves.

Thus, Night Blossom saved the entire village. On that day, she was no longer ordinary. She ended her life with greatness.

At her funeral, she seemed to hear the pastor's praise: "Heaven intended to destroy this village with a storm and flood, but it gave rise to a pony to stop it." Her epitaph read: "June 7, 824, she was born for this."

The story ended, and Spike was almost asleep. Twilight kissed his forehead. As if speaking in his sleep, Spike whispered, "Twilight, what was I born for?"

"For every day, my child," Twilight said softly.

Twilight climbed into her bed and soon fell asleep.

"You've never forgotten what she said, have you?" the Rainbow Dragon asked impassively.

"Maybe. But that doesn't mean anything," Spike replied.

"Then let's continue," the Rainbow Dragon said, unhurriedly.

Author's Note

If you find any problem,please let me know

That Mother's Day

In the Celestial Year 997, the images slowed down, finally stopping on Mother's Day.

"Spike, Spike, wake up." Twilight Sparkle shook the little dragon sleeping in his basket.

The dragon woke up, rubbing his eyes wearily. "What time is it?" Spike asked.

"It's five in the morning," Twilight pointed to the alarm clock by the bed.

"Five o'clock?! I didn't get enough sleep. I was helping you study Star Swirl's book until eleven last night," Spike grumbled, upset that Twilight had woken him up so early.

"I'm sorry, Spike, but we need to get up early today. We're going back home," Twilight apologized with a smile, sitting down next to his basket.

"Huh?" Spike was confused, not understanding what Twilight meant.

"Don't you know what day it is today?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.

Spike shook his head, still puzzled.

"Today is Mother's Day, Spike. It's the day when all ponies show appreciation for their mothers. So, we're going home to see her. I even prepared a Mother's Day gift," Twilight explained, hoping the little dragon would get up and get ready.

"You mean we're going to see Mrs. Velvet?" Spike sat up, still feeling groggy.

"Uh-huh. Shining Armor will be there too," Twilight nodded.

Spike lay back down, pulling the covers over himself as he complained, "Really? It only takes us twenty minutes to get to your house. It's still early. You're always over-preparing. Besides, it's still dark out. Mrs. Velvet is probably still asleep." Twilight's tendency to wake up extra early for special occasions was nothing new to Spike.

Twilight glanced out the window at the dark sky, then chuckled awkwardly. "Is it? Hey, go back to sleep for a while."

The little dragon buried his head under the covers and soon fell asleep again. Twilight, however, couldn't sleep. She lay in bed, still worrying if there was something she hadn't prepared for, and picked up a new book, *The Tales of Star Swirl*, to pass the time. This was her usual way to spend the early morning hours.

The annoying alarm clock rang at eight o'clock sharp. Spike sprang up and slapped the clock with his paw, silencing the bothersome noise.

The little dragon sat there, dazed for a moment, still half-asleep. After a while, he opened his eyes and noticed that Twilight was not in bed. "She must be downstairs," Spike thought, pricking up his ears to listen to what Twilight was doing.

"Sssss—" It sounded like oil sizzling. Could Twilight be cooking? Spike found it hard to believe, given her cooking skills, but the smell of burnt pancakes wafting through the air confirmed his suspicions. He rushed downstairs to stop her before she caused any serious damage.

"Twilight, are you making pancakes?" Spike called out as he descended the stairs.

"Yes, but I might need some help," Twilight replied from the kitchen, frantically trying to put out a small fire in the frying pan.

"Please don't blow up the kitchen. Let me help you," Spike said, rushing into the kitchen to turn off the stove. Sure enough, the pancakes Twilight was levitating with her magic were nearly charred to ash, resembling a culinary disaster.

"Didn't you say you would never touch kitchenware again after your last cooking attempt?" Spike asked, taking the frying pan from Twilight and dumping the burnt pancakes into the trash.

"I thought you were too tired yesterday, and since you weren't up yet, I wanted to make you some pancakes," Twilight laughed awkwardly, not at all concerned about her predicament.

"Alright, let Chef Spike take over. A cooking genius like me learned to cook in just two days, whereas somepony still needs my help after two months," Spike teased as he began preparing the ingredients.

"Show-off," Twilight rolled her eyes.

"Don't be jealous. Go freshen up, and I'll call you when breakfast is ready," Spike smirked.

"Breakfast is ready!" Spike announced as he placed plate after plate of food on the table. The delicious aroma made Twilight's mouth water.

"I made green gem pancakes for myself, and regular ones for you. And there's hot oatmeal with milk," Spike set the breakfast in front of Twilight.

Without a word, Twilight picked up a pancake and started eating. "These are delicious. It seems my little dragon really has the potential to be a great chef. You could own a pancake stand when you grow up," Twilight joked.

"I don't want to sell pancakes. That sounds boring," Spike said dismissively.

"Then you could be a restaurant owner. But don't eat all the customers," Twilight laughed.

"When I grow up, I'll eat you first," Spike retorted.

"I'll give you all the gems you want. Just don't eat me," Twilight pretended to beg, then burst into laughter.

Spike's face turned red with anger. "Hmph, I won't make you pancakes next time."

Seeing that he was upset, Twilight stopped teasing him. "I'm sorry, I won't joke about it anymore. How about I show you some gems to make it up?" Twilight used her magic to fetch a box from upstairs and pulled out a necklace. The chain was gold, adorned with three purple stars. "Isn't it pretty?" Twilight asked, showing it to Spike.

"It looks nice. Is it for me?" Spike's anger dissipated at the sight of the gems.

"Of course not, you little glutton. This is a Mother's Day gift I had made for Mom. Don't the stars look like her cutie mark?" Twilight pointed to the three stars.

"They smell delicious, definitely," Spike drooled over the gems.

"You'll get to eat some gems at Mom's house," Twilight quickly put the necklace away, worried Spike might try to eat it.

"Really? Mrs. Velvet has lots of gems?" Spike's eyes lit up.

"Mom and Dad went to the Azerite Gem Mountain last time and brought back a bunch of gems. You'll have plenty to eat," Twilight giggled.

"Today's Mother's Day. Didn't you prepare a gift for your mom?" Twilight asked, thinking of another playful joke.

"My mom?" Spike was puzzled for a moment before realizing. "Don't think you can trick me into giving you a gift!" He believed Twilight was teasing him again.

"Not me, Spike. Your legal mom," Twilight explained seriously.

"Legal mom?"

"Yes, after you hatched, since I was still young, Princess Celestia became your legal guardian," Twilight tried to keep a straight face while munching on pancakes.

"The—The Princess? Does that mean..."

"Yes, if you give her a gift, she might make you a prince," Twilight grinned widely.

"Really? A prince with endless gems," Spike began to daydream.

"Prince, here are your gems. Eat as much as you like," Spike imagined himself sitting on a gem-encrusted throne, chuckling.

Watching the little dragon daydream, Twilight couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Haha, silly dragon, the Princess won't do that."

Spike's daydream was interrupted by Twilight's laughter. Feeling embarrassed and angry, his face turned bright red. "I'll never believe your nonsense again," Spike muttered, focusing on his breakfast and ignoring Twilight.

After breakfast, on their way home.

"Spike, I'm sorry. Please talk to me," Twilight apologized to the little dragon on her back.

"You have to promise not to tease me again," Spike replied in his coldest voice.

"I promise. I won't tease my adorable little dragon anymore," Twilight turned to give him a pleading look.

"I forgive you," Spike said, hugging Twilight's neck from her back. Despite everything, Spike had only Twilight as his family, so he couldn't stay mad at her for long. As Spike grew older, their relationship evolved from caretaker and ward to something more like close friends who occasionally bickered.

Twilight carried Spike and her saddlebags through the bustling streets, with Spike still holding on to her neck. Passersby cast curious glances at him, as he was the only dragon in Canterlot. But Spike no longer minded. He had a home, and he had Twilight by his side forever. As they traveled, Spike thought about all the times Twilight had taken care of him and decided he wanted to give her a gift to show his gratitude for raising him all these years.

Thinking about the necklace Twilight had given Mrs. Velvet, Spike had an idea. He could make a necklace for Twilight. Being a dragon, he could carve gems with his teeth. All he needed was to find a suitable gem at Mrs. Velvet's house and then buy a chain. It was settled.

At Velvet's house, Twilight's mother warmly welcomed them. Shining Armor was also there. They sat by the sofa, sharing their lives with each other. The ponies chatted happily, while Twilight's father, Night Light, was in the kitchen preparing lunch. Spike seized the opportunity to slip away.

"Gems...gems...where would they be?" Spike left the living room, exploring room by room.

"Could they be in the kitchen? But ponies don't eat gems." Spike sniffed the air and caught a whiff of gem fragrance. Following the scent, he walked into a room and bumped into a pony.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you," Spike said, sitting down with a thud.

"It's alright. Are you hungry, little dragon?" Night Light asked, helping him up.

"Mr. Night Light, thank you, but I'm not hungry. I smelled gems, so I came to check it out," Spike said, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Still saying you're not hungry? Twilight told me you'd be here today, so I brought some gems to cook something for you. Wait a bit and taste my cooking later," Night Light laughed heartily, a gentle and generous pony.

"Um, Mr. Night Light, could I have just one gem first?" Spike asked nervously. He hadn't visited Twilight's family often, and even though they had helped take care of him when he was younger, they still felt somewhat unfamiliar to him.

"Oh, they're over there. Help yourself," Night Light said, pointing to a box on the right. The box was full of gems, just as Twilight had promised. At least in this, she hadn't been exaggerating.

Spike rummaged through the box, picking out several purple gems. He chose two of the right size, swallowed one, and held the other in his hand.

"I have something to do. See you later, Mr. Night Light," Spike said, dashing out.

"Don't forget to come back for lunch!" Night Light called after him.

"Kids always like to run around," he muttered to himself as he returned to the kitchen.

Spike ran to the yard and began carving the purple gem with his teeth.

An hour later, Spike had finished his work. The irregularly shaped purple gem had been sculpted into a perfect six-pointed star, though it still bore the marks of his teeth. Despite that, Spike felt it was perfect.

"Now, I just need a chain. The jewelry store should have some," Spike said to himself, determined to complete his plan. He opened the gate and headed out.

Mrs. Velvet's house was in the bustling city center, and jewelry stores were everywhere in this fashionable metropolis. In less than ten minutes, Spike found one.

"Rarity's Fine Jewelry. I like the name," Spike said as he entered the store.

Because it was Mother's Day, the shop was quite crowded. Several sales ponies were busy attending to customers, and no one noticed the little dragon.

"Why are there so many ponies?" Spike felt a bit overwhelmed. How was he going to get the shopkeepers' attention to buy a chain?

Spike tried squeezing through the crowd, attempting to get noticed, but after a long time, he still hadn't succeeded. Feeling frustrated, Spike sat down in a corner.

Just then, a purple glow snatched his gem from his grip. Spike turned and chased after it, only to see the gem land in the hooves of a pony outside the shop.

The pony wore a cloak adorned with stars, a hood, and sunglasses, clearly trying to conceal her identity.

She pulled out a golden chain, threaded the gem onto it, and completed Spike's necklace.

Spike ran up to her, reaching out to grab his necklace back.

"Give it back!" Spike shouted.

"Shh! Don't be hasty, little dragon. Do you remember me?" the mysterious mare asked.

Spike looked at her. Her figure and familiar voice sparked a memory. Could it be Twilight? But why would she dress like this?

"Who are you?"

"Remember the mare who bought you donuts when you were little?" the mare hinted.

Spike recalled that afternoon when a mare with a voice similar to Twilight's had given him a bag of donuts. Her strange attire brought back the memory.

"I really like your necklace. Will you give it to me?" the mare asked.

"No way! This is a gift for Twilight," Spike refused.

"What if I trade you this?" The mare pulled an old, slightly yellowed book from her saddlebag. It looked ancient.

"This is Star Swirl's original journal. I'm sure Twilight would love it," the mare offered the journal to Spike.

Spike quickly flipped through the journal. It indeed appeared to be Star Swirl's original diary, containing details that weren't in modern versions. Spike, having studied Star Swirl's writing with Twilight, was convinced it was genuine.

"If Twilight doesn't like it, you can come back here and get your necklace," the mare promised, seeing that Spike was tempted.

Spike looked at the diary in his hand, then at the necklace. "A necklace can be made again, but there's only one original diary," he thought.

"Deal, but you have to keep your promise," Spike decided.

"Of course. Do you want me to take you home?" the mare asked kindly.

"No need. My home isn't... far," Spike began to say, but before he could finish, he found himself teleported to Mrs. Velvet's doorstep.

"That mare is so weird. She can't even let a dragon finish speaking," Spike muttered angrily.

"Wait, how did she know where I live?" Spike suddenly realized.

"Spike! Where are you? Come have lunch," Twilight called from inside.

No time to think about it now. Spike hid the diary and went inside.

That evening, Twilight and Spike returned home.

"So, did your mom like the necklace?" Spike asked.

Twilight, who was framing the photos they had taken with the family and Spike, smiled proudly. "She loved it. She said it was the most precious necklace she owns."

Spike felt a pang of regret for trading away his gift.

"Uh, Twilight, I have something for you too," Spike said, a bit shyly.

"Really? I thought you said you weren't giving me a gift," Twilight laughed, turning to face him.

Spike pulled out the ancient diary. "This is Star Swirl's original journal. I hope you like it."

"Star Swirl's journal! The original! Oh my gosh, where did you get this?" Twilight's eyes lit up as she eagerly flipped through the pages.

"That's a secret. Heh," Spike said, relieved to see her so happy.

"This is incredible. It contains so many things modern ponies don't know," Twilight exclaimed.

"Of course, it's the ori—" Spike began, but Twilight pulled him into a tight hug.

"Thank you so much for the gift. I love you, Spike," she said, holding him close.

"I love you too, Twilight. Happy Mother's Day."

In the castle of the Everfree Forest, the mysterious mare took off her hood and put on Spike's necklace, admiring herself in the mirror. Not only did she sound like Twilight, but if Spike had been there, he would have realized she looked exactly like Twilight as well.

The scene paused, and the dragon seemed to remember something, a memory of the pony he had a special connection with.

"Don't you think that book was more than just a gift? As I said, she's been influencing you in various ways from the beginning," the Rainbow Dragon, Vord, questioned.

"She's doing it all for Equestria. If it's necessary, I will understand," Spike replied, still trusting her deeply.

"Sometimes what you see isn't the truth," Vord shook his head, switching the memory in the crystal ball to another day.

Author's Note

please tell me,if you find any problem.

Meeting and Reunion

Celestial Era 1001

On the train from Ponyville to Canterlot.

"Shining Armor is getting married and he only just told me. Has he forgotten about his sister?" Twilight stared out the train window, resting her face on her hoof, still upset about the wedding.

The little dragon sitting next to her, Spike, dared not speak. He had never seen Twilight this angry before.

Twilight's new friends from Ponyville were different. Fluttershy chatted with the chirping birds on her hooves, Rarity was daydreaming about becoming a Canterlot fashion icon, Rainbow Dash was bragging to Pinkie Pie and Applejack about her plans to perform a Sonic Rainboom at the wedding, while Pinkie listened excitedly, and Applejack sat quietly, watching her friends chat. Everyone was excited about the upcoming wedding.

"Spike, why don't you come sit with us?" Applejack noticed Twilight's mood and wanted to give her some space.

Spike cautiously poked Twilight, seeking her approval.

"Go ahead and join the girls, Spike. I'm fine, don't worry about me," Twilight agreed, but it was clear from her tone that she was in a bad mood.

"Come on, Spike, sit over here," Applejack tapped the seat next to Rainbow Dash, signaling Spike to sit there.

"Hey, come over here. Not every dragon gets to sit next to the greatest Pegasus of all time," Rainbow Dash beckoned Spike.

The little dragon wobbled over and sat next to Rainbow Dash.

"Twilight seems really upset," Spike said, still worried about her.

"Don't worry, sugarcube. Everypony gets like this sometimes. She'll feel better once we get to the wedding," Applejack reassured him, and Rainbow Dash added, "Yeah, just imagine the awesome Sonic Rainboom at the wedding. That'll get everypony excited."

"And the party, woohoo!" Pinkie Pie suddenly jumped in front of Spike, confetti bursting out from nowhere.

"Oh darling, you've lived with Twilight for so long. Perhaps you could tell us more about Shining Armor?" Rarity was pulled out of her daydream by the commotion.

"Yeah, kid, tell us about the groom. What's he like?" Rainbow Dash was curious too.

"Uh, sure," Spike began to recall. "Shining Armor was Twilight's best pony friend before she came to Ponyville. He's a white unicorn with a blue streaked mane, and his cutie mark is a shield with a six-pointed star. He's really strong, able to chase off bullies with a single hoof. Like Twilight said, he's her 'BBBFF'—Big Brother Best Friend Forever. They were inseparable.

Shining Armor always dreamed of becoming a soldier, and when I was three, he joined the Royal Guard. After that, Twilight saw him less often. When we got the assignment from the Princess to come to Ponyville, Shining Armor personally saw us off. That was a year ago, and it was the last time we saw him."

"Darling, isn't there something missing from that story?" Rarity wasn't satisfied with Spike's tale.

"Yeah, Sugarcube, you haven't told us how he met the bride," Applejack prompted.

"Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!" Pinkie Pie added.

"Sorry, but I don't know any Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. In my memory, Shining Armor had a great relationship with Aunt Cadance," Spike explained.

"Why 'Aunt' Cadance? Is she old?" Pinkie bluntly asked.

"She's about the same age as Shining Armor, but she took care of Twilight when she was little and helped look after me too, so I call her Aunt Cadance."

"Aunt Cadance is a very kind pony," Spike continued. "By the way, she's also an alicorn, known as the Princess of Love."

"Ooh, Princess of Love. So she must be really good at taking care of kids," Pinkie speculated.

"Of course. She's the best foalsitter in Canterlot. She only took care of me for a few days, but having her around was really lucky. Before I met Aunt Cadance, I thought no pony in Canterlot liked me. But she told me every pony deserved to be loved, and that includes dragons. It was the first time I felt love from somepony other than Twilight," Spike replied.

"But darling, if Shining Armor had such a great relationship with her, why did he choose Princess Mi Amore Cadenza as his bride?" Rarity asked.

"Maybe, I don't know, a lot must have happened in between, I guess," Spike shook his head.

The train gradually emerged from a tunnel, and the piercing sound of the whistle echoed. Sunlight streamed through the windows again.

"Look, we're almost at Canterlot," Daisy jumped into the air, pointing out the window.

"Can somepony explain the bubble around Canterlot?" Applejack pointed to the pink shield outside.

"Oh! I know, I know. That's to prevent a Changeling invasion. But it'll break in a couple of days, like a balloon, pop," Pinkie started to act crazy again.

"Darling, what's a Changeling? How do you know that?" Pinkie always left everypony puzzled.

"I guessed. Woohoo!" She bounced away.

"So, when we get to Canterlot, you guys help with the wedding preparations, and I host the bachelor party, right?" Spike asked.

"Party!" Pinkie Pie suddenly popped out of nowhere again, complete with confetti.

"Pinkie!" everypony called out.

"Oh, sorry."

"Of course, Sugarcube. We'll come to your bachelor party," Applejack straightened her hat.

"One question?"

"Yes, darling?"

"What's a bachelor party?"

...

That night

"Twilight, I think you might be a bit too attached to your brother," Applejack accused.

"I'm not overly attached to my brother, and I'm not deliberately against Princess Cadance. You're all too busy helping to notice that there shouldn't be this wedding at all!" Twilight angrily knocked over the drinks on the table.

"Twilight," Spike tried to comfort her, but the unicorn had already turned and left.

"It's alright, sugarcube. Let her be alone for a bit," Applejack reassured Spike.

The five ponies quietly cleaned up the table and finished their dinner.

"Spike, do you need me to walk you back to your room?" Rarity asked.

"We still have to rehearse for the wedding, but maybe you should get some sleep."

Spike agreed.

Rarity carried the little dragon on her back and took him to his and Twilight's room.

"Goodnight, dear," Rarity elegantly waved to Spike before gently closing the door.

Spike smiled and waved back at his goddess, but his smile quickly faded. Now, Spike felt an indescribable sadness, maybe even regret. He was still worried about Twilight, not understanding why she was so unhappy with the wedding when everypony else was so excited. He couldn't comprehend why Twilight was so stubborn.

The little dragon lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, blaming himself for not comforting her. Maybe he wasn't a good friend, maybe he hadn't fulfilled his responsibilities as a friend.

The clock on the wall ticked away, and the moonlight slowly crept in through the window. It was already ten o'clock at night, and Twilight hadn't returned yet. Spike was getting anxious.

"Maybe I should go find her," Spike decided.

He pushed open the door and ran out, just in time to meet his friends.

"Hi, Fluttershy, hi, Pinkie. Hi, everypony," Spike greeted them. "Why are you back so late?" He noticed their drooping faces and their apparent unhappiness.

"Just, uh, had a little mishap," Rainbow Dash forced a smile.

"A mishap? Where's Twilight?" Spike looked behind them, not seeing Twilight.

"Sugarcube, it's like this. Twilight may have gotten a bit out of control, and Princess Celestia asked her to stay in the hall and reflect," Applejack explained, trying not to upset the little dragon.

"Darling, maybe I should stay with you tonight. Twilight might be there all night," Rarity suggested, trying to make him feel better.

"Actually, you can come to my room," Fluttershy offered, her voice getting quieter.

"Pick me, pick me!" Pinkie thought it was some sort of competition.

"No, I want to go find her," Spike pushed past the ponies, wanting to run out.

"But Spike..."

"No buts, I have to go," Applejack was about to stop him, but Spike interrupted her.

Seeing his stubbornness, they didn't try to hold him back.

Spike ran out.

Having just quarreled with Twilight, the five ponies felt awkward about following him.

"It's so late, he'll be alright, won't he?" Fluttershy asked.

"Don't worry, the castle is full of guards. With the Royal Guard watching, everypony is safe," Rainbow Dash tried to alleviate her concerns, "When I was his age, I could fly around the Everfree Forest alone."

Huff...huff...huff... Spike ran towards the hall. Who knew what could happen if Twilight was alone? Spike quickened his pace, running down the garden corridor. He could already see the shadow of the hall.

"Ouch!" Spike ran straight into a suddenly appearing pony, and they both fell to the ground.

"Who dares bump into this princess?" The pony flipped onto her side, stood up with her forelegs on the ground, and looked very angry.

Spike, seeing stars, struggled to sit up, realizing it was Princess Cadance in front of him.

"Aunt Cadance! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," Spike quickly apologized.

Cadance noticed her outburst

and quickly changed her demeanor. "I mean, it's alright. Why are you out running around at night?"

Luckily, no pony had seen her outburst.

"I'm looking for Twilight. I heard Princess Celestia asked her to stay in the hall and reflect. I'm worried about her," Spike explained.

"Oh, you're looking for my future sister-in-law? Yes, she's in the hall," Cadance tried to sound friendly. "But you can't see her right now."

"Why?" Spike asked.

"Because... because..." The alicorn struggled to find a suitable reason. She couldn't lock up Spike again, or she'd be exposed.

"Because I asked her to prepare a secret surprise for the wedding tomorrow. Yes, she can't let anypony know until it's ready," the alicorn put on a big, fake smile.

"But my friends said Princess Celestia punished her."

"That must be a cover story. After all, it's a secret," Cadance explained hurriedly. She couldn't let Spike find out that Twilight was already locked up.

"Um?" Spike looked at the flustered Cadance. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, he chose to believe her. After all, when had Aunt Cadance ever lied to him? "I see. Then maybe I'll apologize to her after the wedding tomorrow."

"That's right, good boy," Cadance breathed a sigh of relief, patting the little dragon's head.

"Aunt Cadance?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think Twilight will forgive me?" Spike looked at her with a pitiful expression.

"Such a cute little dragon, she certainly will," she answered vaguely, knowing nothing about the little dragon.

"Is Twilight very important to you?" Cadance wasn't sure if she should ask this question.

"She's my family," Spike told her. "Although Shining Armor, Velvet, Night Light, and you will be too, it's different. She's the most special. I don't want her to be sad. She was very strange today, and I just stood by and watched."

"Oh." Cadance didn't know what to say. She suddenly felt sad. She was about to destroy this child's family, and she didn't know how many families she'd destroy tomorrow for her people.

"Can I walk you back?" Cadance offered.

"Really? Of course! Everypony says you're busy with the wedding. I've wanted to talk to you, but I didn't dare," Spike was lifted onto her back by Cadance's magic.

"I've always wanted to thank you for taking care of me when I was little. Although Twilight wasn't there, you made me feel not alone at all, Aunt Cadance," Spike hugged her on her back.

"Is that so?" The alicorn tried to pretend she knew what he was talking about.

"You took me out to play, introduced me to other ponies, made friends, told them dragons aren't dirty or scary, bought me donuts, put me to bed. You made me feel loved by another pony for the first time. You're the best foalsitter in the world," Spike was grateful to see her again.

Cadance suddenly stopped, stunned for a moment, and whispered, "We aren't either."

"Aunt Cadance, what did you say?"

"Oh, nothing. I said, thank you," the alicorn continued walking. "Would you like to be my ring bearer?"

"Really? I'd love to!"

...

Tomorrow, tomorrow, it would all end. She would no longer have to endure this torment, no longer have to pretend.

But she was a little afraid. How would she face him tomorrow?

The day of the wedding

Just as Princess Celestia was conducting the fake Cadance's wedding, Twilight arrived in time with the real Cadance, exposing the demon's disguise.

A burst of green light revealed the fake Cadance's dark face.

"Yes, I am Queen Chrysalis of the Changelings. My duty is to find love for my subjects. Equestria is the place with the most love I've ever seen, so today, it will become my feast for my people."

"No, you won't!" Princess Celestia stood up.

"Shining Armor may be unable to cast his protection spell, but you've foolishly exposed yourself," the princess's majestic voice echoed in the hall.

"I will protect my subjects from the Changelings!" The white alicorn charged forward, her horn clashing with the black, decayed horn of the Changeling Queen.

Two powerful forces collided, and the princess representing light and the sun leapt into the air. Her terrifying talent for controlling the sun gathered immense magical energy in her horn. Everypony present was fortunate to witness their ruler's true power.

The blinding light of the white alicorn's magic was like a sun, and the storm-like magical energy shot at the dark creature on the ground, determined to purify everything.

Chrysalis was not to be outdone. Green Changeling magic erupted from her horn, and the ancient power of the Changelings clashed with the holy light magic.

In a violent explosion, the most unexpected outcome occurred: the sun had set, and the princess convulsed and fell to the ground. The love energy absorbed from Shining Armor helped Chrysalis defeat the ruler of Equestria.

"Princess!" The girls ran over, surrounding her.

Twilight never expected things to turn out this way. Her beloved mentor was now lying injured before her.

"Find the Elements of Harmony and use them to defeat Queen Chrysalis," the princess gave Twilight her final instructions before passing out.

"Hahaha—who would have thought Shining Armor's love for Cadance was so strong? I am now the most powerful in Equestria," Chrysalis laughed wickedly.

The girls took the opportunity to run out, sprinting towards the room where the Elements of Harmony were stored.

"Run as far as you can," Chrysalis pointed to the sky outside. Her Changeling army had already broken through the castle defenses.

"I've dreamed of this day since I was a child," Chrysalis approached Cadance.

"You won't succeed. Twilight and her friends will stop you," Cadance gritted her teeth, ready to surprise her with her horn. But Chrysalis dodged easily. She was too strong now, and her enhanced magic made her reactions much quicker.

"I think you should stay put." Chrysalis's horn glowed with magic, a beam fixing Cadance in place. "Don't worry, I'll enjoy you later. Hahaha—"

Her Changeling forces had already entered the city. A squad of guards entered the hall, awaiting her command.

"Put her in a cocoon," Chrysalis pointed to the fallen white alicorn. She couldn't let her escape.

"Your Majesty, we caught a dragon," two guards brought the little dragon forward.

Spike had been paralyzed by fear since the fighting started. The guilt over Twilight, the fake Cadance, Princess Celestia's defeat, and the Changeling forces chasing the girls—it all happened too suddenly, like a nightmare. He clung to Shining Armor's leg, hoping he could protect them again, but he was now under the queen's control.

"Put him down," the queen ordered, approaching him.

"Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. You did nothing wrong, they did," the queen lowered herself, lifting Spike's chin with her hoof, making him look at her.

"You destroyed my home!" Spike suddenly burst out, raising his claw to strike Chrysalis.

Chrysalis's green magic instantly restrained him. "This isn't your home. Ponies will never see a dragon as family, just as they once treated us Changelings. We faced only discrimination and oppression!"

"What?" Spike's eyes widened.

"Ponies have the greatest resources: the sun and the moon. They control the most land in the world, the sky. They control the weather, the seasons. Do you know why only they have such power, while other races can only live as their dependents?"

"They took everything from us, including everything from your dragon kind. They became the rulers of the world, and we barely survived."

"Come with me, little dragon. I'll take back what we lost." Chrysalis gently lowered Spike from the air.

"No, ponies are kind. They couldn't have done that!" Spike didn't believe her.

"Think about how they treat you! Besides Twilight, do any ponies respect you or love you?"

Spike remembered the strange looks, mockery, and bullying from ponies in Canterlot.

But he saw Princess Cadance next to him.

"My friends do! And you hurt them!" Spike shouted angrily.

"Spike, no!" Princess Cadance spoke, afraid he would provoke Chrysalis.

"You should worry about yourself!" Chrysalis's magic sealed Cadance's mouth.

"You'll understand!" Chrysalis turned away.

"Guards! Watch him, but don't harm him."

"Yes!"

Chrysalis looked out the window. Most of Canterlot's ponies had been captured. Her subjects would have an endless supply of food. She was about to seize the sun from the ponies, restoring the Changelings' former glory. It was everything she had dreamed of.

"Your Majesty, we caught them," a squad reported, bringing back captives.

"Excellent, you may go feast," the squad eagerly went out to plunder.

"How interesting, Twilight always suspected my actions, yet you chose to doubt her," Chrysalis circled them, mocking.

"I'm sorry, Twilight. We should have believed you," Applejack was the first to apologize. "Sorry!" The other ponies followed suit.

"It's not your fault. She fooled everypony," Twilight didn't blame them.

"I certainly did, didn't I?" Chrysalis turned her back to the window, continuing to enjoy the scene of the war.

"This day is perfect..."

...

Voiceover:
But weakness and ignorance are not barriers to survival, arrogance is.

Because of Chrysalis's arrogance and overconfidence, Twilight had the opportunity to secretly release

Cadance. A small spark grew into a blaze, and the true love between Cadance and Shining Armor finally expelled her and her forces. So close to success, she missed her chance and fell into the abyss of failure...

On the eve of the real wedding:

"Twilight, I'm sorry. I'm an unqualified friend." After Chrysalis's defeat, Spike finally had a chance to apologize to Twilight.

"It's okay. I know you care about me," Twilight hugged him.

"Besides, we won in the end, didn't we?" Twilight released him with a smile.

"Yeah!" Spike wiped his tears and smiled back.

"Are you ready for a real wedding?" Cadance joined them.

"Aunt Cadance!" Spike ran to her side.

"Spike, the sweetest dragon I ever took care of. Do you want to be my ring bearer?" Cadance hugged him with a smile.

"Of course, as long as you don't invade Canterlot."

Laughter erupted. They were all amused by the little dragon.

...

The real wedding took place as planned, without disasters or destruction, only joy and happiness. The sacred ceremony celebrated the Princess of Love achieving her dream of true love and defeating the demon that tried to steal it.

After sending off Cadance and Shining Armor in their wedding carriage, the ponies began Spike's bachelor party.

"All the ponies at the party, let's have fun! All drinks and food are unlimited. I hope everyone enjoys the party," Spike grandly announced the start of the bachelor party.

Here, strangers became friends, seeking new beginnings. Old friends reunited, celebrating their enduring friendship. Whether by chance or invitation, everypony added their unique light to the party.

Pinkie Pie randomly grabbed ponies in the dance floor, Rarity was eyeing some noble, Fluttershy stayed shyly near her old friends, and Rainbow Dash and Applejack started another drinking contest.

And our party planner, Spike, was bragging about the party's success to his favorite pony.

"By the way, Spike, do you know what a bachelor party is?" Twilight asked, recalling Spike's question on the train.

"Of course, it's a party for single ponies," Spike swaggered, waving his drink around, sitting at the bar, not at all gentlemanly.

"Wrong. The purpose of a bachelor party is to help ponies find their other half," Twilight sat beside him, holding a cider in one hoof, watching him.

"Oh, it's all the same. It's still a party with food, drinks, and fun. Pinkie told me so," the little dragon stopped swirling his drink and took a sip. To the unknowing, he might have been drinking some fancy wine.

"Fine, our little dragon knows best," Twilight didn't want to argue with him.

"In Equestria, there are more mares than stallions, so many ponies won't find their other half. So, having a party with food and fun is the best way," seeing Twilight didn't mind, the little dragon became serious.

"I didn't know our little dragon was a great sociologist," Twilight giggled.

"Though I'm talented, I don't want to be any kind of 'ologist'. Studying this and that would be boring," Spike swelled with pride again at Twilight's compliment.

"What do you want to be when you grow up? Stay my little assistant forever?" Twilight asked.

"What's wrong with being your assistant? I could ride on your back and adventure across Equestria."

"When you grow up, I won't be able to carry you anymore."

"Then I'll eat less and not gain too much weight."

"Really? Then all the ice cream at home will be mine," Twilight grinned mischievously.

"Hmph! No eating then," Spike turned away, striking a haughty pose, but he accidentally noticed a pony outside, looking hungry and cold.

"Looks like somepony needs help. I don't have time for you," Spike jumped off the stool and headed outside.

"Excuse me, do you need help?" Spike approached the pony, politely asking.

"I..." The blue pony seemed a bit shy.

"Are you hungry?" Spike carefully asked.

"Yes."

Seeing the pony nod, Spike led him inside.

"Pinkie, could you get some food for our hungry friend?" Spike called out to Pinkie.

"Got it. With Auntie Pinkie here, nopony will go hungry," Pinkie disappeared in a flash.

"Isn't there already a pony here?" Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"Blah blah, I don't need your help," Spike stuck out his tongue at her.

Within seconds, Pinkie dramatically brought a mountain of food and drinks for the hungry pony.

After wolfing down the food, the pony seemed full, sitting on the ground, still silent.

"You seem like you haven't eaten in a while. Are you in trouble?" Spike continued to show concern.

"..."

"You can tell us."

"..."

"Alright, if you don't want to talk, that's fine. By the way, I'm Spike. Nice to meet you. What's your name?"

The pony finally spoke, "Th—" He seemed nervous.

"Th—? What?" Spike asked.

The pony looked at the ground, then at the dragon before him, thinking. "Thorax, yes, I'm Thorax," he managed a small smile.

"Hello, Thorax. We're friends now."

"Chrysalis's words were not unfounded. The Changelings were not always like this," the Rainbow Dragon stared at the paused scene.

"But it wasn't the ponies' fault," Spike said.

"You still prefer to believe the ponies, don't you?" The Rainbow Dragon had anticipated this.

"Maybe you're just biased towards 'her,' because she fulfilled your long-held wish," the Rainbow Dragon used his magic to switch the scenes on the crystal ball.

"Look at this."

Author's Note

This chapter isn't perfectly written, but I'm mainly trying to get the reader thinking about why the ponies have almost all the resources of Equestria while other creatures not, and the next chapter will be better than this one

The dream of hearth-warming eve

**Celestial Era 1002: The Fourth Princess of Equestria**

**Twilight’s Parents’ Old Home:**

"Spike, hurry up and get yourself ready. We need to head to the annual Canterlot Royal Political Summit soon," Twilight's voice echoed from the dressing room, reminding Spike, who was still at the dining table, stuffing his face with food.

"Coming! Just let me finish this last pancake. We can't waste it."

Today was a significant day in Equestria's political landscape. Princess Celestia had notified the newly crowned Princess Twilight of the summit two weeks ago. Twilight and Spike had been preparing for it diligently, as it was Twilight's first time attending as a princess. She had conducted extensive research, prepared numerous contingency plans, and rehearsed potential speeches. Spike had stayed up late with her for many nights. After all, who else could claim the title of "Number One Assistant"?

Three days ago, Twilight and Spike arrived in Canterlot. They visited her parents and prepared for the event. Today, Velvet had prepared a sumptuous gem feast for Spike, which made him reluctant to leave the dining table even as it was time to depart.

Twilight stood before the mirror, tidying her mane. Although she was never good at dressing up, she aimed to present herself clean and neat for the summit, where all the royals and nobles would be present. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of them. After fixing her mane, she donned her crown and royal gold boots. Twilight looked stunning, albeit lacking some royal grace, but that could be cultivated over time.

"Spike!" Twilight called as she stepped out of the dressing room.

"Your Number One Assistant reporting for duty. Your wish is my command," Spike suddenly appeared from nowhere, bowing to the princess.

"Are you ready?" Twilight looked at the little dragon before her, dressed in a tailor-made tuxedo from Rarity. Although he was only eleven, Spike's maturity far surpassed that of other ponies his age, though his height hadn't grown much, barely reaching Twilight's chin when standing.

"Always ready to go!" Spike saluted like a royal guard.

Twilight chuckled, covering her mouth. "Alright, Spike, no need to be too formal."

"Hehe, you're a princess now. As your Number One Assistant, I need to be formal," Spike said proudly.

"At least not in front of me. You know I don't like it when my friends act like that," Twilight said as she lifted Spike onto her back. They were ready to go.

Walking through the bustling streets of Canterlot, they arrived at the palace gates. The guards respectfully opened the doors, welcoming them inside. The palace was a place of splendor, with gardens where Equestria's elite mingled. Inside, the corridor leading to the main hall was filled with Canterlot's nobility. Some of these ponies' ancestors had helped found Equestria and were granted titles. Others were leaders of the unicorn tribe. These ponies enjoyed their ancestors' honors and held high status in Equestria, even the princesses had to give them some respect.

"Hello, Princess Twilight!" An orange male unicorn stepped forward to greet Twilight, followed by two other ponies.

Twilight recognized them. This was Duke, the Duke of Maretonia, with his wife and daughter. Their family had aided the royal family many times. Twilight was thankful she had researched the attendees beforehand.

"Welcome, Duke Maretonia, Duchess," Twilight politely bowed.

"You don't need to do that, Princess Twilight. We are but humble servants. Your accomplishments fill us with admiration," the Duke bowed back.

"Sorry, I'm not quite used to it," Twilight smiled.

"Oh, what's that?" The Duchess noticed the creature on Twilight's back.

"This is Spike, my assistant," Twilight replied.

"Number One Assistant!" Spike jumped down, bowing to the Duke and Duchess. "Nice to meet you, Duke Maretonia, Duchess."

"Oh my, is he a dragon? How can a princess have a dragon as her assistant?" The Duchess exclaimed.

"Hey, what's wrong with a dragon being an assistant to a princess?" Spike felt offended.

But the Duke ignored him. "Forgive our rudeness, Your Highness, but dragons are known to be dirty and greedy creatures. I fear it might tarnish the sanctity of the royal family."

"Yes, he's a dragon, but he's been with me since he was born. He's different from other dragons, very well-mannered," Twilight quickly explained, pulling Spike back to her side with one hoof.

"Your Highness, we mean no harm, but a dragon is still a dragon. In Canterlot, they're not welcomed and could harm your image. If you don't mind, my daughter could serve as your assistant," the Duke suggested, pointing to the young mare beside him. Her name was Light Glow, and she had recently been admitted to the Unicorn School for Gifted Ponies with excellent grades. Twilight had read about her.

"No, thank you. Spike is doing just fine. Thanks for the offer, but we must be going now," Twilight politely declined.

"Let's go, Spike. We need to get inside," Twilight gently nudged Spike, who took a moment to respond before following her. The Duke and his family respectfully bowed as the princess left.

"I'm sorry, Spike. I apologize for the conversation just now."

"It's okay. It's not your fault. Anyway, Canterlot nobles are always like this," Spike said angrily. He thought being the assistant to a princess would earn him some respect.

"I'll talk to Princess Celestia about this. At least to make the nobles less prejudiced against you," Twilight promised.

"Please state your name and identity. After verification, you may enter," the two royal guards at the main hall's entrance blocked their path.

"I'm Princess Twilight Sparkle, invited by Princess Celestia to attend the summit. This is my assistant," Twilight answered.

The guards bowed to Twilight, allowing her through. But when Spike followed, they stopped him.

"Gentlemen, he's my assistant," Twilight explained.

"I told you earlier," Spike complained.

"Sorry, only royalty and nobles are allowed inside. He must stay outside," the guards insisted.

"Please, Princess Celestia knows me. She will allow me in."

"Sorry, even if Princess Celestia knows you, you need the nobles' consent. And clearly, you cannot enter," the guards were firm.

"Please, I need my assistant for the meeting," Twilight continued to plead.

"Sorry, Your Highness, this is our duty. Please don't make it difficult for us," the guards remained unmoved.

"Spike, I'm sorry. I didn't expect this," Twilight comforted him.

"It's okay, Twilight. I'll stay outside. I don't need to see those nobles' faces anyway," Spike crossed his arms, clearly angry. He had had enough humiliation for one day.

"I promise I'll talk to the princess about this," Twilight reassured him.

"Go on, Twilight. Don't worry about me."

Twilight gave Spike a final hug before turning to enter the main hall.

"Sigh," Spike leaned against the nearby wall, getting angrier as he thought about it.

"He will only tarnish your image," those unsettling voices echoed in his mind.

He had saved the Crystal Empire. Even if they hadn't heard of him, should the princess's assistant be treated like this? Or was it just because he was a dragon?

"Spike, I've told you many times. I don't know where your egg came from, nor do I know who your parents are!"

He had lived with ponies since birth. He didn't know what real dragons were like. He lived like a pony. Why couldn't they see him as one? He had tried to find his kind and migrate with them, but they were cruel and violent. Spike didn't want to be like them, so he chose to live with his pony friends.

"I only see a dragon lying. You're not the dragon I liked anymore."

Twilight was his family. Being her Number One Assistant was his pride. But now, Spike felt that the title was an insult. He was just an assistant and nothing more, not even a member of their family.

"You're a dirty dragon!"

Sometimes Spike felt he was still in King Sombra's door. He had never left. Once proven useless to Twilight, he would be cast away.

"Spike, leave! I don't need you anymore."

He was an orphan. Orphans, once useless to their foster families, risked losing their homes.

So, Spike worked hard, striving to be the best assistant. He woke up early to make breakfast for Twilight, helped her study during the day, and stayed up with her at night. He was only eleven but never felt like he had a childhood. Sometimes he wondered if Twilight truly loved him or just used him until she found other friends. He missed many adventures and even Twilight's birthday, though they later apologized.

Sometimes, he wished he had been born a pony, with a normal family, loving parents. For other ponies, it was normal, but for him, it was a luxury.

The sun was about to set, its rays turning Spike's cheeks red. He realized he had been lost in thought for a long time. Those toxic words and humble fantasies finally stopped echoing.

"Never mind, Twilight should be coming out soon," Spike thought, though he wasn't happy.

Finally, the hall doors opened slowly, and the nobles poured out, discussing the meeting.

At the end of the crowd, Spike saw Twilight talking to Shining Armor, now a prince of the Crystal Empire.

"Twilight!" Spike ran to her.

"Oh, Spike, you must have waited a long time," Twilight hugged him.

"Long time no see, kiddo," Shining Armor ruffled his head.

"Hi, Shining," Spike greeted him.

"We didn't

expect Shining Armor to come today," Twilight smiled.

"Cadance was supposed to come, but the Crystal Empire is still rebuilding, and she's too busy. I had to take her place," the white unicorn admitted.

"We should have told you we were staying at our parents' house these past few days," Twilight placed Spike on her back as usual.

"I just arrived in Canterlot yesterday. Princess Celestia arranged a room for me in the palace. I wanted to visit Mom and Dad, but I got caught up with some old comrades yesterday," Shining Armor chuckled.

"How's life in the Crystal Empire?" Twilight had so many questions.

Twilight and Shining Armor chatted all the way, the siblings hadn't seen each other in a long time, and Spike was naturally left out.

Spike lay on Twilight's back, wanting to talk to her, but those voices came back.

"You're just an assistant."

He was just an assistant. What right did he have to interrupt the conversation between a princess and a prince? To get the princess to comfort him, a little dragon?

"Twilight won't comfort me," Spike thought, lying on Twilight's back, tears welling up in his eyes.

He turned his head away from Shining Armor, trying to control his sobs.

...

"How has your stay in Canterlot been?" Shining Armor finally asked about his sister's life.

"Great, Mom and Dad prepared rooms for us. They even made a sumptuous gem feast for Spike today," Twilight said happily.

"Really? Spike, are you eating all my gems again?" Shining Armor chuckled.

"Remember when he almost ate the gem necklace you were going to give Cadance?" Twilight teased.

"Spike?" Twilight noticed his silence and called him.

"Mm..." Spike tried to keep his voice steady.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm... I'm fine," Spike's voice trembled. He didn't want to trouble them.

"Are you sure?"

Spike clung to Twilight, fearing he might lose control. He sobbed quietly, wiping his tears with a claw, not letting them fall on Twilight. He said nothing more.

Twilight noticed his distress and stopped asking, not wanting to make him more uncomfortable.

"You know you can talk to me if something's bothering you," Twilight said one last time before resuming her conversation with Shining Armor.

"He gets like this sometimes," Twilight explained.

"Kids' emotions are unpredictable. It's normal," Shining Armor reassured her.

...

"This must be one of your most painful memories," the Rainbow Dragon sneered.

"That incident did trouble me for a long time, like a thorn in my mind. But what does it matter? Are you going to mock me?" Spike crossed his claws, feigning indifference.

"As I said, this made you start wanting something. Your dreams told me the answer," the Rainbow Dragon waved a claw, changing the crystal ball's scene to a few months later.

**Celestial Era 1002: The Day Before Hearth's Warming Eve**

"Spike, tomorrow Mom and Dad are coming to spend Hearth's Warming with us. Shining Armor will bring Cadance too. Are you sure you want to attend Applejack's hearth gathering?" Twilight asked. Every year, she and Spike spent Hearth's Warming together. She didn't want Spike to spend it away from her.

"Yeah, I accepted AJ's invitation. The Apple family gathering welcomes everypony. I've heard about it for a long time. This time, I want to see it for myself. Besides, the Apple family is huge, and AJ is the host this year. It's a rare opportunity," Spike said, lying in his little bed, waiting to sleep.

"But we always spend Hearth's Warming together," Twilight sat up, still unwilling to let go.

"We have plenty of chances to spend it together, but opportunities to attend AJ's family gathering are rare. You can spend tomorrow with your family. I can spend it with my friends. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo are also going to AJ's," Spike continued, justifying his actions.

"Alright then," Twilight turned off the light, feeling a bit sad but unsure why.

"Goodnight, Spike. Sweet dreams," Twilight closed her eyes, wishing him goodnight. She didn't know what was wrong with Spike, but she knew that in such situations, showing too much concern might make things worse.

"Goodnight, Twilight," Spike closed his eyes too. He didn't want to avoid spending Hearth's Warming with Twilight and Cadance, but he always felt like an outsider with them. He couldn't remember when he started feeling this way. AJ's gathering, though family-oriented, was much larger, with many friends from Ponyville attending. Spike thought it would make him feel better.

It was getting late. The little dragon and the alicorn gradually fell asleep.

"Spike, sweetie, wake up." Twilight's call came from downstairs. Because it was a holiday, Twilight was making breakfast today, although her breakfasts were never that good.

Spike opened his eyes and yawned. The winter sun shone through the window. Today, he was going to AJ's family gathering. He clearly remembered last night's conversation.

"Coming," the little dragon washed his face and went downstairs.

Seeing Spike coming down, Twilight couldn't wait to lift him into his seat with magic.

"Hey, I can come by myself."

"I know, but Mom can't wait for you to try today's sapphire pancakes," Twilight placed a plate of pancakes in front of him.

"Mom? Velvet is here?" Spike asked, confused.

"You mean your grandma? She'll be here by noon," Twilight obviously misunderstood him.

This confused Spike even more. "What's going on today?" he thought. Although he had always considered Twilight his mother, he had never called her "Mom," nor had she ever referred to herself that way. Maybe it was because of yesterday?

"Twilight, you don't have to try to keep me. I promised AJ I'd go to her gathering," Spike thought he had found the problem.

"Spike, what are you talking about? Aren't we going to AJ's gathering together? Your grandma and your uncle and aunt will be with us," Twilight's gentle eyes looked at the little dragon.

"Twilight! Stop pretending. You're not my mom!" Spike slammed his fist on the table.

Twilight was startled by his sudden outburst. "Spike? What's wrong?"

"I said, you're not my mom! I'm not your son, not your brother. I'm just your assistant, a dragon who works for you and lives in your house!" Spike shouted, letting out the words he had kept inside for so long. "I'm just your assistant! I wake up early to make breakfast, fetch books, clean the library. But I'm just a kid. I don't even have my own time! And you? When I'm at home doing chores, you're out picnicking, adventuring with the girls. You didn't even tell me about your birthday in Canterlot. I just stayed home preparing a party for you for nothing. Really, I'm just an assistant! You give me food and shelter. I'm willing to work for you. That's all we have. Now, please stop meddling in my life!" The little dragon poured out his grievances, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Unexpectedly, Twilight rushed to hug him. "Spike, what are you talking about?" Twilight's voice was almost a sob as she tried to stop her tears. "You've always been my child. I love you, Spike. Mom always loves you. Really, I never abandoned you. We went to see the Wonderbolts in Cloudsdale, watched your favorite movies in Canterlot, and had picnics with our friends in the Everfree Forest. Don't you remember?" Twilight said as she brought their photo album, showing Spike each picture. "And my birthday, don't you remember? I took you to Canterlot."

Twilight flipped through the album, showing pictures of her and Spike, solo photos of Spike, and group photos with friends, from Canterlot to Cloudsdale, Ponyville, from baby Spike to his current age. Every significant event had photos of Spike. But these memories didn't exist in Spike's mind!

This can't be real! Twilight never took him to Cloudsdale, never took these many photos. Spike struggled in Twilight's embrace, trying to break free.

A terrifying thought entered his mind: this wasn't his world, at least not reality.

Spike stopped struggling in Twilight's arms, letting reason take over.

Seeing her child calm down, Twilight relaxed her grip. She kissed his forehead gently.

In his memory, Twilight had never kissed him like that. Spike blushed, staring blankly at her. Then he noticed the necklace she was wearing, the one with the glowing purple six-pointed star.

"Twilight?"

"Mom is here," the purple alicorn answered softly, stroking the little dragon's back fins.

"Where did you get that necklace?" Spike thought of a point to verify.

"It was your Mother's Day gift to me. You made it when you were little. That's when I realized how much you meant to me, so I've always worn it. Don't you remember?"

He had made her this necklace, but he had used it to exchange for another gift. She couldn't possibly know about it. Now Spike was sure this wasn't some prank. This wasn't his reality.

"Um, sorry, Twilight," Spike organized his thoughts, starting to apologize. Even though she wasn't his Twilight, and he didn't know what this world was, his heart told him he couldn't hurt her for something they didn't do.

"It's okay. Mom forgives you," Twilight wiped away her and Spike's tears, giving him a smile.

Spike's heart ached again. His Twilight hadn't been this kind to him since moving to Ponyville. He couldn't help but cry again.

"Spike? Why are you crying again?" Her voice was full of concern.

"I... I," Spike sobbed, bury

ing his head in her mane. He didn't know how to face her. Should he tell her he didn't belong here?

"It's okay. You don't have to say anything," Twilight patted his back, gently holding him.

In his mother's warm embrace, the little dragon gradually calmed down. Whether he belonged here or not, he decided to keep the secret and find a way back when he could.

"Do you feel better now, sweetie?"

The little dragon nodded.

Twilight glanced at the clock. It was almost eleven. They had wasted a lot of time that morning, and the gem pancakes were cold.

"Are you still hungry?"

Spike touched his belly. Despite not eating, he didn't feel any hunger.

"I'm not hungry," he finally spoke after his emotional upheaval.

"It's late, son. We need to go to the train station to pick up your grandparents," Twilight released him, placing him on her back.

He had never been called that. He always wanted a real family, even following a group of bad dragons to find his origin. "Okay, I can eat later."

Twilight quickly tidied the table and carried the little dragon out.

Walking to the train station, a gentle breeze blew. Despite it being winter, the weather was exceptionally nice today. The sun shone brightly, and ponies on the road greeted the new princess and the little dragon on her back.

The little dragon sat on Twilight's back, carefully observing Ponyville and every pony they passed, finding nothing strange.

"Is it just between me and Twilight that's different in this world?" Spike muttered.

"Spike, we're almost there," Twilight pointed to the crowded platform ahead.

"So many ponies."

Because it was Hearth's Warming, the train station was bustling, with many ponies either picking up their relatives or taking the train to celebrate elsewhere. Also, with Applejack's family gathering, it would soon become even more crowded.

Applejack had been waiting by the station for a while. She was responsible for bringing her family members to the farm.

Seeing Twilight and the little dragon, Applejack waved.

"Good afternoon, Twilight and little Spike."

Twilight noticed her, squeezing through the crowd.

"Nice to see you, AJ. We're here to pick up some relatives too."

"My cousin Braeburn's train is arriving next. Your parents' train will be here in a few minutes," Applejack informed Twilight.

"Glad we weren't late. My little dragon was giving me a hard time this morning," Twilight joked, making Spike blush.

"Spike, did you upset your mom again?" Applejack walked over and patted the little dragon's head.

"I... I didn't mean to," Spike didn't know how to explain. He couldn't tell them he didn't belong here.

Seeing the little dragon's red face, Applejack laughed. "It's okay. Little Apple Bloom often makes trouble and upsets me, but as long as you know your mistakes, you're a good kid."

It wasn't what she thought, but Spike could only nod in agreement.

The train's whistle sounded from afar, about to arrive.

"My cousin's here," Applejack shouted to Twilight, trying to be heard over the whistle.

"Go get them. See you tonight," Twilight shouted back.

As the train arrived, many ponies rushed forward, some to find their relatives and help with their luggage, others to board the train.

The train stopped, and passengers with large bags poured out. Applejack spotted her cousin in the crowd.

"Hey! Cousin Braeburn, over here!" Applejack waved.

Braeburn arrived with his parents and cousins, handing his parents' bags to Applejack.

"Welcome to Ponyville, everyone," Applejack smiled.

"We can't wait for the gathering, AJ. This year you're the host. Let's see how you do," the cowboy pony said.

"Haha, I'll take you to the farm. Two princesses will join us tonight," Applejack led the way.

"Princesses? AJ, you sure know how to impress," Braeburn said.

"We're friends," Applejack adjusted her hat, smiling bashfully.

"We're off, Twilight. See you tonight!" Applejack called back.

"See you!" Twilight watched them leave.

"Is that Princess Twilight?"

...

Ten minutes later, the Crystal Empire's royal train finally arrived with a whistle. Guards disembarked first, welcoming their princess and prince, along with their parents.

Twilight and Spike stood on the red carpet, waiting for them.

The royal train attracted many onlookers. Cadance wasn't a common sight in Ponyville.

But unlike expected, the royals didn't emerge in crowns and gold adornments. Instead, they wore scarves, devoid of royal decorations. Cadance led, followed by Shining Armor and their parents.

"Cadance, Shiny, Mom, Dad!" Twilight hugged them one by one.

"We're here, dear," Velvet said, her voice carrying the tone of a middle-aged lady.

"How have you been, Twilight? We missed you," Night Light said.

"I'm doing great, Dad. I missed you too," Twilight replied.

"Let me see my little nephew," Shining Armor used magic to pull Spike over, ruffling his head.

Spike had hoped they wouldn't notice him since the royal train arrived. They always felt familiar yet distant, making him feel out of place. But in this world, they truly were his family, leaving him at a loss.

"Ahem... Nice to see you, Shining," Spike finally managed.

"What's wrong? Shy to see us?" Cadance laughed, looking at Spike.

"N... no, Cadance," Spike felt overwhelmed by the adults' attention.

"Spike, you should call her Aunt," Twilight corrected him.

But the Princess of Love didn't mind. "It's okay, Twilight. He rarely sees us."

"Dear, take us home first," Velvet gestured to the surrounding crowd.

"Oh, sorry, Mom. I'll take you to Golden Oak Library," Twilight led the way.

Cadance signaled the royal guards to carry the luggage and follow Twilight.

Spike tried to climb onto Twilight's back but was intercepted by Night Light.

"Let me carry you, my little grandson."

Spike reluctantly let him lift him onto his back, feeling very reserved.

"When you were little, I carried you every day to buy you food," Night Light reminisced as they walked.

"Really? Hehe, I don't remember," the little dragon felt awkward.

"Of course, you probably weren't aware then," Night Light then started the typical grandparent talk.

"When you were little, you were chubby, like a little meatball, always nibbling on things at our house."

"I remember when he almost chewed your and Mom's picture frame," Twilight added.

"Speaking of that frame, it's made of rare gems I found while exploring years ago," Night Light boasted.

"Dad, here we go again," Shining Armor sighed, predicting his father's story.

"I remember being in a remote place far from Equestria, called the 'Valley of Dreams.' Legend says once you enter, you never come out," Night Light's story always thrilled him.

"Dad! You made it out," Shining Armor said, impatient with the story.

"You silly colt, if I didn't make it out, how could I be special?" Night Light glared at him.

Everyone laughed. They chatted all the way to the library.

Twilight ushered them into the first floor. Because it was Hearth's Warming, she had set up a table, a fireplace, and borrowed sofas from Rarity's place, arranging everything for a cozy gathering. The guards placed the luggage inside and returned to the Crystal Empire on Cadance's orders.

Night Light and Velvet suggested cooking lunch for their children. Twilight and Spike sat on the rug near the fireplace, while Shining Armor and Cadance took the sofas. They chatted casually.

"Is this what family feels like?" Spike felt the warmth of the fireplace, looking at his "family," pondering. He wondered if he had given Twilight the necklace, would his world be like this?

He stared at the fire, lost in thought. If he had done that, would his Twilight have treated him so well? The little dragon remembered what he said that morning. In his world, he was just an assistant.

The fire suddenly dimmed.

"Spike?" Twilight noticed his daze.

Her call snapped him out of his thoughts, seeing her concerned face.

"Is something on your mind?" The purple alicorn asked gently.

"No, I was just..."

"You know you can tell me. I'm your mom."

The little dragon saw the concern in her eyes. He couldn't lie to her. Spike would eventually leave this place. He didn't know where this world's Spike was. He was stealing her love, like a shameless changeling. It wasn't fair. She deserved to know the truth.

"...Twilight, what if... what if I told you I'm not your Spike?" He trembled, finally voicing his thoughts.

"What? How could you not be my Spike? There's only one Spike in this world, and that's you, my child," she thought he was joking.

"It's true," the little dragon gave her a determined look. "I don't belong here. I woke up this morning and found myself here. I never gave you that Mother's Day gift, nor am I your child. In my world, I'm just another assistant to you."

The fire dimmed further.

"Spike, whether or not you gave me that necklace, it doesn't matter. I've always loved you, not just as an assistant."

The world around them grew darker, light and sound fading. First, the kitchen sounds, then Cadance and Shining Armor's conversation, until only the fire remained.

The surrounding scene was swallowed by darkness, leaving only the fire, the dragon, and the purple alicorn.

But the alicorn seemed unaware of the changes, continuing forward, hugging Spike. "I will always love you. You are my child."

... I."

The fire's light extinguished completely, leaving only the glowing six-pointed star on her chest.

"No, don't leave me." Spike felt fear as the world faded away.

"I'll always be with you." The alicorn released her hug, swallowed by the darkness.

"Don't leave me, Twilight, Twilight!" Spike reached out, trying to grab her but couldn't move.

"Spike, Spike?"

"Mom!"

Spike sat up abruptly from his bed, finding himself in tears.

"Spike, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Twilight sat by his bed, concern in her eyes, wiping his tears with a hoof.

Spike looked at her, dazed. It had all been a dream.

"I... I dreamt of my mom."

"Oh." Twilight paused, her sharp insight and understanding of Spike told her she had figured out what was troubling her little dragon.

"How is she?" Twilight asked cautiously, not wanting to hurt him.

Spike looked down, avoiding her eyes. "She's perfect"

"Family, yes," Spike admitted.

"She gave you what you wanted. In return, you had to help her with some things," the Rainbow Dragon said.

"I never thought there was anything wrong with that," Spike still didn't understand what he meant.

"I've explained, your actions weren't driven by your will," the Rainbow Dragon continued.

"Now I'll tell you how her actions will make Equestria worse."

Author's Note

I am not very familiar with the family customs of Westerners, including their way of addressing and interacting with each other. I am only writing according to what I am familiar with. If there are any errors, please point them out

The Aspiration of Clouds

Year 1002, Summer

Twilight said I would never have wings. I could never fly like her...

Knock, knock! The sound of knocking came from downstairs in the library. I quickly put down my comic book and went downstairs to open the door.

Greeting me was a pony with a rainbow mane. It was Rainbow Dash, one of Twilight's best friends. In my impression, she was a tomboy, competitive, and always in the sky. I motioned for her to come in and closed the door behind her.

She was holding two books and flew around the room as if looking for something.

"Rainbow, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Where's Twilight? I need to see her," she asked urgently, stopping in front of me.

"She went to Cloudsdale for some Wonderbolts meeting about ceremonies or something. She'll be back in the evening," I told her.

Her ears drooped a bit, but she remained energetic.

"Oh, well, I'll return these books first." She handed me the books, "All About Pegasi" and "The Secrets of Clouds," two scientific books Twilight had lent her. I didn't know when Rainbow became interested in these.

I took the books and skillfully climbed up the bookshelf, placing them neatly in the correct spots as Twilight required.

"I can use dragonfire to notify you when Twilight returns," I said to reassure her.

She hovered in the air, seemingly wanting to say something.

"So, uh, what are you doing today?" she finally asked, curious about my daily life. Though I often appeared in her view, she didn't know much about me.

"Today? Just the usual, reading comics, doing chores, and handling some library work," I replied after a moment's thought.

"Why don't you go out? You know, take a walk?" she suggested, flapping her wings a bit awkwardly.

I didn't understand her meaning. I often went out with Twilight, strolling around Ponyville. Today, with Twilight not at home, I could stay in and read comics all day. Why go out?

"I have a lot of work to do. With Twilight not here, I need to take care of the place," I explained.

"Oh, bye, little guy." The flapping of wings slowed down as she turned to leave through the window.

I went upstairs and picked up my comic again, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw a rainbow outside the second-floor window. It was Rainbow Dash, waiting for me to notice her.

"Hey!" She waved a hoof at me.

"Hi, Rainbow. Anything else?" I approached the window and asked.

"Uh, do you want to go to Cloudsdale?" She asked hesitantly.

I raised an eyebrow. Did she want to take me out? Cloudsdale was a place I always wanted Twilight to take me to, but for various reasons, I had never been.

I looked at her serious eyes and then at the comic in my hand.

"Maybe I can put things down for a while," I said.

The cyan pony suddenly got excited and rushed in, lifting me into the air.

"Awesome."

Realizing her behavior, she pretended to be serious, "I mean, no problem."

She put me on her back. Despite her tough exterior, her back was soft and comfortable. Maybe ponies' backs were generally comfortable, but I didn't know. I had only been on a few ponies' backs.

We set off, flying out of the window. She flew fast and steady. The cool wind hit my scales, and I watched the buildings below get smaller and smaller. I saw the Golden Oak Library become a tiny patch of grass, the green orchards like a lawn, and the vast Everfree Forest like a prairie. As Rainbow Dash ascended, clouds drifted past us. I felt a sense of "freedom" I had never experienced before. Twilight had flown with me many times, but she had never taken me this high. Her flight was different from Rainbow's. Twilight flew towards her goal, while Rainbow seemed to enjoy the flight. Even though I was just sitting on her back, I could feel it—a feeling beyond words.

"Rainbow?"

"What's up, kid?" she answered.

"Why did you suddenly want to bring me here? I know you know I've always wanted to come, but why today?" I voiced my initial doubt.

She looked back at me and answered, "Because I wanted to bring you here. It's that simple. I don't want you to be stuck in the library."

We passed through the clouds. The town was out of sight, replaced by endless clouds, and Cloudsdale was ahead. I could vaguely see the iconic rainbow colors.

Cloudsdale was a giant floating cloud city, the largest Pegasus settlement in Equestria. Twilight had told me it was older than Canterlot. The massive weather factory there produced various rain clouds, storms, and even lightning. They almost controlled the weather everywhere in Equestria—except for the Everfree Forest. That mysterious place seemed beyond ponies' control. For centuries, many master magicians and physics professors had set foot there, but none could unveil its secrets. Maybe it was truly "forever free."

Besides the weather factory, most of Cloudsdale was residential. Since it floated in the sky, it couldn't produce food. Aside from advanced industry and technology, there was hardly any agriculture. Pegasi had to trade with earth ponies for food to survive.

Rainbow Dash landed on a large cloud at the edge of Cloudsdale. This was a massive cloud that could support the weight of thousands of pegasi. Unlike terrestrial cities, Cloudsdale was made up of many floating cloud islands, with aerial routes connecting them. This plaza was on the outermost edge. Maybe Rainbow deliberately landed here to give a clear view of Cloudsdale's entirety, with almost no obstructing buildings.

Since I had no wings and no magic to walk on clouds, I had to stay on Rainbow's back.

Rainbow pointed ahead and asked, "Where do you want to go first?"

I had many choices: the nearest Rainbow Factory, Cloudsdale's most iconic place—Pinkie said the rainbows there were edible and tasted spicy; the city center of Cloudsdale, where pegasi lived and entertained, with skyscrapers made of clouds, unique cloud parks, and their proud Pegasus Industrial Museum, which Twilight had probably visited; and further away were scattered cloud islands, some private residential areas where Rainbow's home might be, and some small factory zones. I noticed a larger cloud with only a few buildings and mostly open space. I asked Rainbow, "What's that place?"

She told me it was the Wonderbolts' training base. She had passed their exam and would soon join them, feeling proud.

"Twilight is probably there for the meeting," I thought. "Maybe I should find her and tell her I'm here."

"Can we visit there first?" I asked Rainbow.

She shook her head, "No, kid, that's our last stop."

Rainbow clearly had her own plan.

"Then let's go to the Rainbow Factory first." I had to compromise.

Rainbow carried me to the part of the plaza closest to the factory. From there, we could see a bridge leading to the Rainbow Factory—a road entirely made of clouds, probably for pegasi who couldn't fly long distances yet.

But she didn't take that road. As I said, she was always in the sky.

We flew along the path into the Rainbow Factory.

Despite its name, the factory mainly produced rain clouds. We entered the main workshop, where clouds were sent in on conveyor belts, beaten and shaped into fluffy, water-absorbent forms, then sent to the assembly workshop. There, water from the ground was distributed into each cloud. Depending on their size and rain requirements, different amounts of water gave them colors ranging from white to black—the more water, the darker the cloud.

Some specially processed rain clouds were sent to another workshop to be filled with lightning. Many ponies questioned the purpose of filling clouds with lightning, but this ancient process was still respected and continued as if weather control was a sacred, age-old ritual.

"Can I touch them?" Although Cloudsdale was full of clouds, these rain clouds were different from construction clouds—they were soft.

"Of course." Rainbow went straight to an unassembled cloud, stopped it on the conveyor belt, and pushed it to her side for me to observe.

These clouds were strange. From a distance, they looked like fluffy cotton, but up close, they were just dense fog. I reached out to touch it, but my claw went straight through, as if it wasn't there.

"Kid, only pegasi can touch them," Rainbow explained.

"Is it related to flight magic?" I asked, feeling a bit dejected.

"Don't be sad, kid. You'll grow wings someday. You're a dragon, and dragons are cool, right?" She comforted me, pushing the cloud back onto the conveyor belt.

I watched it get beaten, filled with water, and become a qualified rain cloud, then sent to the next workshop, destined for the appropriate place.

"But Twilight said I..." I started but stopped, fearing she'd laugh at me.

"What did Twilight say?" she asked.

"Twilight said I would never have wings." I lowered my head.

She turned to look at me and chuckled, "It's not about wings, kid. You're a dragon, and dragons are cool, even without wings."

"Really?"

"When you grow up, you'll be big and mighty, and you'll breathe fire. Your dragonfire even has special magic—other dragons don't have that. It's like how unicorns and pegasi are different." She pointed to her wings.

"We have wings and can walk on clouds freely, but unicorns can do it with their magic too."

I remembered Twilight telling me how she took her friends to visit Cloudsdale.

"But I don't know if dragonfire magic can

do that," I said. I wasn't sure what my future held as a dragon raised by ponies.

"Before I did the Sonic Rainboom, I thought it was just a myth. But if you believe in yourself, the future is in your hands, kid." She gave me a determined look.

We left the main workshop of the Rainbow Factory and arrived at another famous site—Cloud Sea, where thousands of clouds awaiting processing were lined up, endless like the ocean.

We had to cross it. Rainbow ran and jumped on the clouds, hopping from one to another, then gliding for a while. She could have flown over, but I knew she enjoyed it.

Looking at the boundless Cloud Sea, I also wanted to jump around like Rainbow—though we were already doing that, I was on her back. Rainbow was free, but I wasn't.

This place was magnificent. If the clouds we saw on the ground were pretty pictures, the Cloud Sea was a grand sculpture made of thousands of clouds. Some looked like waves, some like giant ponies, snakes, ships, and carriages, telling an epic story—this was a paradise of imagination.

I touched each cloud as we passed. Though they all dissipated at my touch.

The breeze and clouds brushed against my claws. I enjoyed them. This scene made it seem like my claws were moving fast, creating smoke, like a meteor.

Rainbow gradually sped up, and the cloud ribbons on my claws grew longer, like ropes.

I felt an illusion, maybe. I had no magic and couldn't touch the clouds, but now I could increasingly feel their presence.

Until a few seconds after falling, I realized what a monster it was.

The ropes on my claws suddenly tightened, throwing me off Rainbow's back. Rainbow, a professional flyer, quickly turned to chase me. But the ropes, like a living creature, pulled me towards their master at an unbelievable speed.

The ropes accelerated, and so did Rainbow. The wind roared past me, loud enough to make my ears ring.

I had heard of sonic booms and seen them—but never witnessed their speed. The howling wind, torn clouds, and even Rainbow's voice calling me fell behind.

Then I saw the most stunning rainbow explosion of my life—the rainbow energy gathered around her, a loud bang, and the chains on my hands were cut by the explosion. Dizzy, I felt myself falling.

The sky's clouds were blasted open into a rainbow ring. I saw the chain's owner—a giant serpent made of clouds.

Rainbow was flying desperately towards me, and the serpent madly chased her.

Have you ever experienced going from hell to heaven and back to hell? It sounds complicated, but the situation was—Rainbow caught me, and the serpent swallowed us.

It was a long, long darkness. I thought I was going to die. Rainbow held me with her forehooves, then sped up, kicking the serpent's belly frantically, hoping to break through its prison-like body. I couldn't see her expression—maybe she was desperate, maybe calm. Besides the sound of hooves hitting the cloud walls and my heartbeat, I felt nothing. It was a grey, silent death. I started feeling drops on me—maybe Rainbow's sweat, maybe her tears, or the serpent's stomach juices.

I didn't know if I should be scared. I felt I wouldn't die, thinking of the many adventures and close calls. I knew I wouldn't die. I thought of her, Twilight. She would come, right? I knew she would.

Suddenly, the serpent started rolling, twisting as if in rage. Rainbow hugged me tightly. We bounced around in its belly. Who angered it? Twilight? It was possible. Rainbow's sonic boom must have attracted attention. Just as Rainbow curled up, protecting our heads, preparing for a battle with the serpent and our rescuer, it... ended?

The clouds making up the serpent's body began to disintegrate and scatter. Light shone through, and I saw Rainbow's face again. She was smiling.

The serpent's remains gradually dissipated. I climbed onto Rainbow's back, and we looked around, searching for our hero. I saw a purple figure flying rapidly toward us—it was Twilight.

"Twilight!" Rainbow and I shouted in unison, waving.

"Spike, Rainbow, I came as soon as I saw the sonic boom. What happened? Are you okay?" Twilight asked, concerned.

"We were playing in Cloudsdale when a serpent suddenly appeared and grabbed Spike. We got swallowed. Luckily, you came and defeated it," Rainbow explained, gesturing in the air. "If it weren't to save Spike, I'd have kicked it apart."

I nodded in agreement.

But Twilight looked puzzled, "Serpent? It wasn't me. When I arrived, I only saw its remains."

"What?!" Rainbow exclaimed, "Who else could be this powerful? That serpent was disintegrated before it even fought."

"Maybe Princess Celestia?" I wondered, looking around for any pony.

"Princess Celestia is in Fillydelphia for a meeting today. She couldn't be here," Twilight said.

"Wow, who else could be so strong? I thought the serpent would be blasted apart by magic. But our rescuer didn't use violent magic," Rainbow marveled.

"From what I know about magic, to deal with such a monster, you either kill it with magic or reverse it. This sounds like reverse magic—something created the monster, and someone reversed it," Twilight guessed.

"Anyway, it's good you're okay." She checked us again. Then the crazy pony shouted again, as if remembering something, "Spike! Who let you come to Cloudsdale without my permission? Do you know how dangerous it is for you here? What if you fell..."

I didn't dare speak. She was my guardian pony, after all. But Rainbow spoke up, "Twilight!" She interrupted, "I made him come. Blame me."

Twilight was surprised but still angry, "What if something happened to him? Did you think about that?"

"He came because I wanted him to! You always keep me in the library. I know it's to protect me. But I want to go out and adventure like you. I know I don't have wings and might never have them. But I can't stay in the library forever. I don't want to stay there forever!" I shouted.

"You said I'd never have wings, but you're wrong. My friends are my wings. Rainbow didn't let me get hurt, just like you always protect me. You came to Ponyville, made many friends, had many adventures, became a princess, and got wings. But I'm still the same little dragon. I know I shouldn't blame you, but I do... I..." My claws clenched into fists, hitting my head uncontrollably. Part of me wanted to shut up. I shouldn't say these things, especially to Twilight. But I couldn't stop. I knew it would hurt us, but I had to say it: "Sometimes I hate you for leaving me... You're the closest pony to me. I... I just want to be part of your life, to be with you. Please, believe in me, okay?"

Twilight listened to my words, stunned. Her expression changed from anger to calm, then to sadness: "Spike, I'm sorry. I never considered your feelings. I... I was just worried about you. I'll let you go out. But at least tell me next time, okay? Because I really worry about you."

Princess Luna once told me, "The more someone loves us, the more we hurt them." I never wanted to hurt her, but seeing tears in her eyes made me extremely sad and regretful. I knew she was confining me, but she also loved me.

I jumped from Rainbow's back to hug her neck, not caring how high we were: "I'm sorry, Twilight. I made you worry again."

"Twilight, actually, I wanted to ask you something today," Rainbow said on the way back.

"Hmm?"

"The Pegasus's body structure doesn't explain their weather-manipulating ability, right?" I had never heard Rainbow speak so academically.

"Did the books I lent you say that?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, they said the only explanation is that Pegasi are given magic at birth, like cutie marks," Rainbow replied. "But the book doesn't say where this magic comes from."

"Rainbow, I'm glad you're interested in this. But even Princess Celestia can't explain where that magic comes from," Twilight said, appreciating Rainbow's interest despite not having an answer.

I suddenly remembered a book and interjected, "Twilight, didn't Star Swirl's journal mention this?"

"Thanks for the reminder, Spike. But I haven't forgotten. That part is incomplete and heavily encrypted with magic. Without seeing the whole thing, we can't conclude anything," Twilight shook her head.

Since I gave her Star Swirl's journal as a gift, she had been studying it day and night. Reading it was difficult, with ancient Equestrian text and complex magical encryption protecting some secrets. After two months of non-stop research and my help, we could only read the non-encrypted parts. We couldn't decrypt much of it, and Twilight gradually lost interest.

Rainbow was curious again, "What does it say?"

"It says many things, Rainbow. Mostly Star Swirl's adventures, some about Equestria's origins, and a bit about the Tree of Harmony. But all parts about harmony magic and the Tree of Harmony are magically encrypted. The readable part only mentions that the origins of the three tribes' magic are related to harmony magic," Twilight explained.

"Wow, that sounds like the temple inscriptions in Daring Do. The builders always wrote secrets in unreadable ways," Rainbow added, "Hey! Maybe we can follow the journal like Daring and find clues. Like an adventure."

This cyan pony always loved adventures.

Twilight looked at me. I knew she never thought of doing that. Before coming to Pony

ville, she mostly read books and did experiments in the city. It wasn't until she came to Ponyville that she experienced a few adventures.

"You know, Rainbow, Twilight thinks it's a good idea." Before Twilight could speak, I knew what she wanted to say as her number one assistant.

"Thanks, Spike. But I'm not mute." Though I sat on her back, I could imagine her rolling her eyes.

Near Ponyville, Rainbow and Twilight began descending.

"I'll notify the girls now." Rainbow said and zoomed away.

"Um, Twilight, I was wondering if I could..." I didn't finish before Twilight said, "You can come, Spike."

"Really? Thanks, Twilight." I hugged her neck.

"But Spike, you must stay with me at all times."

"Deal!" As long as I could join the girls on adventures, I didn't care.

Looking back, that spontaneous adventure was one of the most important turning points in my life and Equestria's. Ward was trying to remind me of more things I had forgotten or didn't care about. Once again, he manipulated the memory ball, revealing the world's memories...

Author's Note

this story is wirtten in Chinese, I translate it into English, so if you find some problem,feel free to let me know.