Author's Note

Hope everyone's doing ok, sorry for being slightly late but I was feeling down and decided to finish this chapter today instead of yesterday but don't worry about that because I'm feeling better now.

Though enough about me you guys have a chapter to read and I won't hold you guys up.

So like always comment what you liked or disliked and I'll either do whatever I can to improve or either read over what you guys commented since that's literally one of the only things I look forward to after making these.

See ya next time!

Operation Successful?

Falkors POV

"-p," I faintly hear something say as I start waking up.

"-Up," I hear again as I start to flutter open my eyes allowing them to focus on the figure In front of me revealing-

"WAKE UP!" Aesthyr screams out as my eyes widen In surprise and I hastily sit up.

"I'M UP! I'M UP!" I yell out as I try to catch my breath, "Jesus, did you have to scare me like that?" I asked slightly irritated

"Well I mean If you wanted I could kick you awake, that might have worked better," She said grinning as I rolled my eyes.

"Anyways why I am back here?" I ask out loud

"Wowwww, you know If you didn't want to see me you could just say so and not be an ass about It," Aesthyr said as my eyes widen In shock.

"N-No that's not what I meant at all I just me-," I'm suddenly cut off from my attempt to explain myself as I see Aesthyr laughing out loud.

"Y-Yeah, yeah I k-know hatchling I'm just yanking your tail," She said catching her breath as I now felt annoyed.

"Anyways I don't know as much as you do but while we are here why not catch up for a bit?" She suggested

"..Yeah why not," I said as she took a seat on the sand next to me as we sat In silence for a bit.
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"So..." She starts before going quiet.

"So what?" I asked as she looked unsure.

"I, I know that I shouldn't rush you but when are we going to see Luna?" She asked

"I know that you have stuff you want to do, especially concerning that little hatchling you seem to want to watch over," She said grinning causing me to blush In embarrassment before her grin fell.

"But It just, I wo-"

"Hey, don't worry about It, we can go now," I said as she looked over at me In shock.

"R-Really!?" She asked In shock.

"Yeah, besides you have a point anyways," I said standing up, "You've waited long enough anyways," I said offering her a hand as she looked on In shock as she took It.

"Thanks." She said sincerely

"I'll get you to Luna, don't worry," I said as I started to feel everything around us shake.

"Guess It's time to go, huh?" I said

"Yep, make sure to hold up your end of the deal," She said acting distrustful.

"Don't worry, I will," I said before everything turned black.

As soon as I started waking up I could feel something underneath me as I shuffled around trying to determine what It was before giving up and resorting to opening my eyes as the first thing I see I get lost in peering into red-orange eyes belonging to Ember.

"Hey there, finally awake huh?" Ember asks as I finally wake up causing me to snort at the unintentional joke.

"Yeah, I sure am now," I said causing her to blush a little bit before I started making my way to stand up.

"Easy now, you just got done fighting Viserion a couple of minutes ago," She said as my eyes widened before cringing at remembering what I did to him.

"Oh, uhh, how, how Is he doing actually?" I asked

"As fine as somedragon who got their eye ripped apart can," I hear him say behind me before he walks In front of us revealing the damage done.

"And before you start getting all feely weely as you do with your family and Princess Ember don't." He said

"Good, cause I wasn't going to, not after the shit you tried to pull back there," I said angry over that shocking him a bit before I make my way over to him.

"Also, let me make this clear for you," I said before grabbing his throat and shoving him back Into the wall causing a crack to appear behind him as I saw the air leave his lungs from the impact.

"I've dealt with your shit for 7 years now and as much as I was annoyed dealing with It nothing ever came out of It so I didn't care about It that much but let me tell you something," I said baring my fangs.

"If you EVER try some shit like that again just for a fucking fight," I said squeezing my grip more tightly as I get closer to him, "Next time, I WILL finish the job, got It?" I questioned finished with what I needed to say.

"G-go t I-It," He barely gets out before I let go of him as else drops to the floor gasping for air.

"Good," I said leaning down near him, "Now get the fuck out of here," I said calmly as he hesitantly nods before his wings popped out and he takes to the air getting further and further away from us.

Turning around I'm met with varying shocked faces of everyone present ranging from slightly shocked but also intimidated by the ponies, slightly shocked but surprisingly not anything else from Spike, completely shocked by Garble and Smolder with their jaws dropped, and Ember just staring at me wide-eyed while also slightly blushing for some reason.
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Pretty sure that's nothing to worry about.

"Uhh, sorry about that everycreature just had to, make sure of something." I awkwardly said

"Yeah I'll say," Smolder said walking up while looking at me with slight awe, "I've never seen you act like that, ever, was kinda cool to see that from you." She admitted

"Well I don't know If cool Is the word I'd use for It," Rainbow said

"Well, good thing we weren't asking you then huh?" Ember said causing Rainbow to narrow her eyes at her.

"A-Anyways, now that the crisis has been averted I just want to say thank you Falkor, really, for helping Spike and also protecting us as well," Twilight said sincerely

"Well, you're welcome then, I guess," I said not knowing how to respond.

"U-Um Falkor," Spike started as I looked down to see him twiddling his fingers while looking away nervously away, "Are, you ok now?" He asked hesitantly which confused me until Aesthyr said something.

"He's probably wondering why his nice friend that helped him so far just violently ripped out another living creature's eye," Aesthyr explained as I inwardly facepalmed.

'Ohhhh shiiiit, right, I wasn't thinking clearly and just did something that would traumatize any kid as well,' I thought to myself as I remembered how much I'd just fucked up.

"Yeah, I am now Spike, I'm sorry you had to see what happened and also see me like that," I apologized as he hesitantly nodded his head.

"D-Don't worry about It, It's fine," Spike said which immediately caused me to frown as I picked him up and put him under my arm causing him to cry out In confusion.

"I'm going to talk with Spike In private for a bit," I said as I pointed In the middle of the crater I fought In earlier, "We'll go down there so you can keep an eye on us alright?" I questioned as Twilight gave a hesitant nod while the other two looked unsure but didn't object as well.

"Alright, be back In a bit," I said popping open my wings and softly making my way down before grabbing Spike and setting him down as he looked embarrassed when I did.

"Well that's a new low for me," Spike said sarcastically as I got on one knee and softly gripped his shoulders.

"Spike, I want you to listen to me ok?" I questioned as he looked up at me surprised.

"Uh, y-yeah ok," He said slightly stammering at my serious look.

"I just want you to know what you said up there," I said gesturing with my thumb, "Please don't say that again," I said as he looked confused.

"What? That It was fine?" He questioned

"Yes, that, you don't have to pretend to be ok with what you just witnessed just for my sake, In fact I don't ever want you to do that ever again ok?" I questioned

"But why not? I only said that so you know I wasn't bothered by what happened," He said twiddling his fingers.

"Except you were, weren't you?" I said as he looked down towards the ground giving me my answer as I let out a sigh.

"Spike you shouldn't hide how you feel about things just because you think It'll make me happy that just makes me worry," I admit causing him to look up at me In shock.

"W-What? Why would that make you worry? I said that so you wouldn't worry," He asked even more confused and slightly annoyed.

"Yes, you did, but because you said that I'm more worried about what you didn't say," I explained causing his eyes to widen, " 'How does he really feel? Was he scared? Was he disgusted? Was he scared of m-' "

"NO!" He shouted In slight anger shocking me from his outburst.

"I would never be scared of you, never!" He said resolutely as I looked down at him with a sad smile.

"Never say never, though like I said earlier I would never know that, because instead of telling me how you really felt you tried reassuring me that what you just witnessed was fine, when It wasn't," I explained as he looked away clearly conflicted.

"Spike, don't get me wrong I do appreciate that you care about me so much that you want to reassure me, but that's not your job too, It's my job as the older creature to take care of you and make sure you never have to witness or deal with something like that, and I failed," I admitted

"But Falkor that wa-"

"It wasn't completely my fault, yes, but I still could've tried bringing him somewhere so that way you wouldn't have to get front-row seats to that gruesome scene either," I said cutting him off.

"But we aren't living a what-if we are living with the aftermath of an unfortunate situation," I said

"Well, slightly unfortunate," Spike said causing me to look down at him In confusion, "You didn't, uh, kill him, and you also protected us as well so, yeah slightly unfortunate," He explained causing me to smile.

"Heh, good point, though I feel like we've gotten off topic of what I wanted to say," I said as I let go of him causing him to look back up at me.

"From now on, I want you to tell me or anycreature else how you really feel about something, no matter how mean you may think It sounds, It'll be better for everycreature If you share your true feelings rather than you hiding them, ok? That's how things get worse, not better," I said as his eyes widened before he looked back down at the ground In thought.
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"I, was scared, that you were going to kill him, Spike admitted after a while before quickly looking up, "But I wasn't scared of you! Just, scared you would do something you would regret," Spike clarified as I ruffled his fin-like appendages.

"Thank you for telling me how you really feel about what happened.....and I'm so sorry you had to witness that, I'm truly sorry," I said as sincerely as I could.

"I- well I guess according to you It's not fine, but I don't care, I'm just glad you're back to normal anyways and as much as I didn't like what happened I can also understand that you didn't want to do that, that's why you told the others to prevent you from doing It as well right?" Spike asked as I nodded.

"Right, I'm all down for a good fight every once In a while but he went too far that time by going after the creatures I cared about, though I never want to kill anycreature unless It's necessary, that's why I'm glad I could count on them when I needed It," I said looking back up towards where the others were before looking back at him.

"I'm glad we could have this talk, Spike, really," I said sincerely as he smiled.

"I am too, I wasn't really sure how to think after what happened but, I am glad you helped me figure out how to," He said sounding grateful as I ruffled his fin-like appendages again.

"No problem Spike," I said as he suddenly began looking nervous, "What's wrong?" I asked concerned

"W-Well It's just-"

"Hey, hey, take your time, think about what you want to say and then speak ok? No need to rush It." I said slowly as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath before exhaling.

"Falkor, I have two things to ask for If you don't mind," Spike said sounding nervous again I gave him my full attention.

"Go ahead," I said as he took a few seconds.

"CANIBEYOURFRIEND?" He shouted out quickly stunning me for a second before I registered what he said as a smile took over my face.

"I think I would like that, If you don't mind of course?" I asked sarcastically as his eyes widened In shock before smiling brightly.

"Of course not! I would love to have as one!" He said excitedly causing me to chuckle.

"Alright friends then," I said offering a hand only for him to ignore It and instead charge into my stomach and hug me.

"Friends," He said shocking me with his actions before I slowly wrapped my arms around him reciprocating the hug as well.

We stayed like that for a good while until he started backing up making me let go before he looked at me more seriously now.

"I, still have one more thing to ask you," He said as I nodded causing him to close his eyes and take another deep breath before looking back at me.

"Can you teach me how to fight?" He said sounding serious which shocked me from the whiplash of his previous question to how he's acting now.

"No," I said sounding serious which caused him to look heartbroken.

"What!? Why not!?" He asked desperately as I stood up and crossed my arms.

"Because you're still a hatchling, and besides what would you need to fight for?" I questioned

"I don't want to learn how to fight just because," He said before looking away despondently.

"When we were back In that cave when Twilight and the others got revealed I got scared, and not because I was standing In front of somepony who could've hurt me and my friends although that also scared me, but I was scared because I knew that whatever happened next there would be nothing I could do about It," He explains looking down at his tiny claws.

"After you stepped In and helped I realized how, outmatched I was there, how useless I felt knowing that I would have to sit there and deal with whatever happened next because I was too weak to stop It, that If I wanted to be strong I would have to be mean as well and I would never want to, leaving me stuck In this hopeless position," He said causing my heart to break at how he felt before he looked away and off to side.

"But then when I saw you, somepony who was so nice to me and caring towards others, yet still able to defend the ponies you care about and not having to lose anything to do so," He said before looking straight up at me as I could see the desperation mixed with the determination of being able to protect the ones he loves In his eyes.

"So please Falkor, I-I know I'm asking a lot from you and I know we just met, but, I would never be able to ask Twilight or her friends when all they would do Is tell me not to worry about It as they go and risk their lives leaving me behind to hope for the best, and I doubt any other dragon would be nice enough give me the time of day either." He explained

"You're the only one who not only knows how to fight but also treats me as somepony instead of somepony you need to protect, so, please Falkor, will you teach me how to fight back?" He pleaded desperately as I felt conflicted about the choice.

'On one hand I wouldn't mind teaching him since I do agree that If he knew how to actually help out and hold his own then maybe the others wouldn't consider him a helpless kid that needs to be protected all the time.' I thought to myself

'But on the other hand, he's just a kid! He shouldn't be worrying about how to fight against creatures that would want to kill him, he should be worrying about what kind of ice cream he should get tomorrow.' I think to myself

'And that's exactly how everyone else thinks when It comes to him which Is why he came to you specifically,' I pointed out to myself as I inwardly groaned.

'Besides what's to say he can't do both? It's not like he has to give up his childhood forever in exchange for knowing how to defend himself,' I also pointed out to myself.

'Plus If anyone deserves not to be left behind and overshadowed It's Spike,' I concluded to myself as I looked back down at Spike who was also looking back desperately at me as I sighed.

"Ok, I'll teach you to the best of my abilities, how to fight," I said as he looked on In shock before charging at my legs and hugging them as much as he could.

"OHTHANKYOYTHANKYOYTHANKYO-"

"BUT!" I yelled out interrupting him as I gently pulled him away, "When I do you have to promise me that you will only fight back when either A: Somecreature Is threatening somepony you care about or B: If Somecreature attacked you first, other than that you should have absolutely no reason to fight anycreature, understand?" I questioned as he nodded up and down.

"I understand completely," He said seriously as I nodded.

"Good," I said before smiling, "Now how about we join the others their probably wondering what's taking so long," I suggested as he nodded before I crouched down and let him get on my back before we flew off and went to join the others.

'Alright Aesthyr, hope you're ready for this long-awaited reunion,' I thought to myself slightly amused as we approached the others.