“And that’s how it all unfolded,” Twilight Sparkle said to Princess Luna whilst pacing back and forth within the Golden Oak Library. She stopped only briefly to sigh. “He’s been hiding under my bed since this afternoon, and he hasn’t come out since. I know it hasn’t even been a full day since his greed induced rampage, but I’m worried about him. He won’t even say if it’s related to that, or if it’s something else. I wish I could stay and try to coax him out, trying to get him to talk to me. But I already promised Pinkie Pie I’d hang out with her this evening.” She glanced out of a library window, and could see the setting sun indicating that she didn’t have much time.
Princess Luna, for her part, remained a silent observer as she took in all the information. Twilight had reached out to the princess of the night very recently for help, and Luna wanted to know as much as she could before acting. She had only been Spike’s dragonsitter once before, in the immediate aftermath of the same Nightmare Night where she’d made her public re-debut. There was still much about the little dragon that she was just getting to know about, including the uncertain relationship and bond he shared with Twilight (they clearly had a bond that was like family, but what exactly it was was unclear).
“I don’t want to leave him all alone,” Twilight lamented. “After that huge rampage he went on, I just know he’s going to be having trouble coping with it,” She groaned, kicking at the ground. “Why did I agree to hang out with Pinkie tonight? Why did I ‘Pinkie Promise’ her I wouldn’t decline no matter what? Surely, even she would understand that this is one promise that has to be broken.”
Princess Luna just smiled as she finally spoke up, gesturing a hoof to the troubled unicorn. “It’s alright, Twilight Sparkle. I am more than used to helping young ones deal with their personal demons. You made me Spike’s dragonsitter for a reason. I will take care of him. You deserve to unwind after what you’ve had to deal with. I can sense that that rampage was as much trouble for you as it was for Spike. Go have a good time with Pinkie Pie. Everything will be under control here.”
Reluctantly and hesitantly, the unicorn agreed. “Alright. You’d probably be better at helping him deal with any nightmares he’ll have tonight anyway,” She headed for the front door, though not without adding. “If you can, make sure to tell him that I love him, and that I’m not mad at him over the growing incident. I know now that he couldn’t control it.” And with that, she departed.
Now alone in the library, Luna wasted no time in tending to her troubled charge. She immediately trotted upstairs to the small bedroom just off to the side and near one of the library’s windows. Sure enough, peering under the bed, she could just faintly make out the outline of something (or someone rather) hiding there and shaking not unlike a leaf.
A soft yet miserable tone of voice suddenly spoke up ever so faintly. “Twilight, please…I don’t want to hurt you...”
Now, Luna knew from experience that refusing to discuss your feelings and problems didn’t make them go away, it only allowed them to linger. “Dragon youngling? It’s me.”
Spike immediately recognized that voice, it was a voice he had heard once before during a more carefree time. And it was a voice he felt much nicer about, because it belonged to somepony who hadn’t been there when he’d grown to giant size and gone on a destructive rampage. He knew she would not judge him the way others might (even if they said they wouldn’t). So he slowly crawled out from underneath Twilight’s bed. Sure enough, he found himself pulled into the warm and friendly embrace of Princess Luna.
Gently nuzzling the baby dragon, Luna smiled and relaxed her overall posture. She began to cradle Spike within her hooves not unlike he was an actual infant. “It’s okay, Spike,” She spoke softly and sweetly. “Twilight told me everything about that greed incident. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
The little dragon sniffled a bit in spite of his attempts not to do so. “You weren’t there when Twilight took me to Zecora. You didn’t hear what Zecora said: All dragons grow big when they start getting greedy,” His eyes went wide and he shuddered, recalling memories he’d been trying his hardest to ignore. “Because I’m a dragon, that means I’m going to grow up to become a horrible monster!...Maybe even worse…”
The night princess quickly shushed Spike to calm him down. “You’re just a little boy, Spike. A child. That’s true no matter what species you are. I’m sure someday you will grow up big and strong, like all children do. And it won’t be because you start being greedy again. It was one mistake, and it’s one you clearly regret. I know you won’t let it happen again. And neither will Twilight or any of your friends.”
That was enough to get Spike to relax just slightly. He couldn’t really explain why, but something about the way Princess Luna was speaking to him and handling him had a calming effect on him. It made him feel safe, secure, and above all else cared for. Princess Luna had been around longer than he had, she had to know more about dragons than what little Zecora had shared. Surely, she was right when she told him that he would never again become such a greedy monster.
Smiling, Luna loosened her grip and set Spike down on the floor. Her tone of voice became just a touch more serious. “Well, there is one other thing I wanted to discuss with you, dragon youngling. Twilight told me about another incident, one that happened early in the afternoon, right after you returned to normal. I heard her side of the story, and the side of the story from those who were involved in it alongside you. But I want to hear your side of it, just to be sure I’m not missing any important details. So please tell me about it.”
Sighing, the baby dragon started thinking back to that time. “Like you said, Princess Luna,” He began as he gathered his thoughts and tried to recall. “It all started earlier this afternoon.”
Whilst still surveying the damage he had caused during his earlier rampage, Spike noticed something as he made his way through Sweet Apple Acres. It was Scootaloo’s scooter, sitting on a patch of grass. He could remember having fought with Scootaloo over it, trying to take possession of it despite knowing how much it meant to her. What was worse was that not only Scootaloo, but also Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had tried to fight Spike and prevent him from stealing said scooter. Yet it had only been when Twilight distracted him with a broom that he’d stopped trying to steal the scooter.
Yet apparently, it had been hastily abandoned anyhow. No doubt, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had all been in a panic, frenzied rush during Spike’s greed induced rampage. Of course Scootaloo would’ve left her scooter behind by accident.
That gave the baby dragon an idea. Bending down, he carefully picked up the scooter from the grass, stood it upright as best he could, and started trying to shine it with a small rag he’d found nearby. It would go a long way towards showing the Crusaders how sorry he was for everything he’d done to them.
However, Spike’s attempted gesture did not go unnoticed. The CMC happened to spot him from their clubhouse nearby, and saw what he was trying to do.
“Spike, what are you doin’ with Scootaloo’s scooter?” Apple Bloom was the first one to yell out, getting the little dragon’s attention and causing him to flinch. She didn’t mean to sound rude or unkind, she was more curious than anything else.
Spike froze, dropping the scooter to the ground as he did so! “Oh no!” Was all he could bring himself to say as he saw the Crusaders approaching him one by one, coming down from their clubhouse. He had wanted to fix up the scooter and make it look good again, then leave it for the CMC to find after he had left. Now his plan was ruined. Yet it was only once they drew near to him that he found the courage to speak up again. “Look, I know what you’re gonna say to me. I just want you to know that I’m sorry for what I did,” He calmly apologized and turned his back to them. “I…I understand if you never wanna speak to me again after this.”
Rather than respond with angry words or shouts, however, Apple Bloom just latched onto Spike and hugged him tightly. “Now that’s just crazy talk, Spike. You’re an honorary Apple, just like Twilight. That makes you family, no matter what anypony else might say! And family forgives each other, especially for things that ain’t really their fault.”
“Yeah!” Sweetie Belle chimed in with her own sentiments while joining in on the hug. “Who else would help me in Rarity’s workshop and keep me from getting bored to death while doing so? No one, that’s who!”
Scootaloo was the last one to join, hugging a bit more tightly than the others and stating simply. “No matter what, we’ll always love you, Spike! Now and forever!” As she spoke, she didn’t notice her fellow Crusaders slowly letting go of Spike, leaving Scootaloo as the only one still hugging him.
Spike, unaware of this development due to having closed his eyes, just hugged Scootaloo back. It was only once he heard Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle snickering and giggling that he realized what he was doing. Both he and Scootaloo went wide eyed and started blushing from embarrassment.
Unfortunately, the happy, friendly mood was suddenly rudely interrupted as a pair of troublesome rich fillies came upon the scene. They appeared to be all but repulsed by what they were seeing, both making gag faces as Diamond Tiara remarked loudly for all to hear! “What are you blank flanks doing socializing with that… that…monster?!”
“Yeah!” Silver Spoon said with a humph and a swish of her tail! “Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten what he did to the town today! It hasn’t even been half a day yet, and it’s all anypony’s talking about!”
Immediately, Apple Bloom frowned and marched up to Diamond and Silver, eyes narrowed as she told them. “Beat it, Diamond Tiara. And Spike is no monster. He’s just like us.”
Diamond rolled her eyes in disbelief. “Hey, it’s not my fault you cutie mark losers are making yourselves look even more pathetic than usual. Stooping so low as to befriend that dragon,” She delivered the last line with a cold hiss, before continuing to taunt. “Oh, if only I had a camera. Your names and faces would be all over town, nopony would ever want to associate with you blank flanks ever again.”
Scootaloo trotted over but a second later, her eyes narrowed as well as she shouted! “Hey, you leave Spike alone! He’s got more honor than the likes of you two! And Princess Luna of all ponies respects him enough to watch over him! Whaddya say to that?!”
Diamond Tiara just raised an eyebrow. “Is Nightmare Moon a good enough defense? She was bad enough to be banished for a thousand years, after all. Or are you suggesting Princess Celestia should do the same thing to Spike?”
Spike’s face turned bright red with embarrassment, and he became flustered even as he tried to explain. “P-Princess Luna isn’t Nightmare Moon anymore! She’s changed… really! If she was still evil, would she be allowed to be my dragonsitter?”
A realization seemed to creep over the rich fillies as a result of Spike’s statements. Suddenly, they sensed a new angle of attack to consider. “Oh, so it’s not a rumor after all. You’re so pathetic you even need a princess to babysit you,” Diamond declared with cruel delight. “That’s both sad and pathetic.”
And Silver started to tease. “Does the widdwe baby need his bwankie befowe his nap?” She began making exaggerated cooing noises, laughing as she did so. “So he doesn’t get cwanky?”
“I’m Twilight’s number one assistant! I can easily take care of myself!” Spike protested. He felt sorely tempted to raise a claw at the two fillies, but decided against it. They were just trying to get under his scales, and he wouldn’t give them that pleasure. Besides, if Twilight were here now, he was sure she’d tell him to just ignore the bullies.
Yet the taunting and tormenting only grew worse. Diamond and Silver refused to back down or back away. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, delighting in their cruel and merciless taunting.
“Gosh,” Diamond Tiara declared as she put a hoof to her chin. “The only pony stupid enough to even think of the idea of a dragonsitter has to live in a tree!” And she then remarked in an exaggerated tone of voice. “I can only imagine how that went!” Clearing her throat, she added. “DUUUHHH!”
And Silver Spoon added in a voice that was clearly meant to be a mockery of Princess Luna’s tone! “Hire THEE! THY PRINCESS COMMANDS IT!”
Upon hearing those words, something snapped inside of Spike! “YAAAUGH!!!” He roared and tried to lunge for their heels!
“NO!” The Crusaders all shouted at once as they grabbed hold of Spike and refused to let him go!
“Take that back, you hear me?! Take that back!” Spike tried to break free, but no luck.
“Don’t listen to them!” Sweetie Belle pleaded with Spike. “It’s just what they want!”
But Diamond trotted up to the little fighting dragon as a sinister smile spread across her face. “No, this is what I want!” She swiftly kicked Spike in the stomach, the impacting knocking him into the trunk of a tree nearby! Then she and Silver laughed themselves silly at the sight of Spike’s helplessness.
The CMC were shocked and appalled by the act! They couldn’t believe anypony could be so cruel!
Meanwhile, as the bullies kept on laughing, Spike got to his feet. He didn’t seem to be hurt that badly, but he was clearly upset if the narrowed eyes and the tears were any indication! “Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha! Go ahead, keep laughing, see if I care!” He snapped. “I shouldn’t have come here anyway!” And with that, he walked away with his head hanging down.
Scootaloo, for her part, just clutched her scooter as she and her fellow Crusaders watched Spike slowly slink away in sadness. She didn’t know what she could say or do in this situation to make things better.
The flashback ended for Spike right as he finished speaking. It was clear that the pain and the wound still hurt despite how much time had passed.
Princess Luna was silent for a moment, then she looked at Spike and said to him. “I’m honored that you admire me so greatly, dragon youngling. And I don’t need you to fight my battles for me. Rest assured, I will be paying both of those fillies a visit tonight if I can. They will have a lot to answer for.”
Spike sniffled, sadly questioning. “What’s the point of trying to fix things if I’m just gonna be remembered for all the times I messed up?”
The night princess just smiled. “That’s never stopped me, Spike. Besides, I’ve had help on that front. I am fortunate to have known ponies willing to give me a second chance,” She added. “Do you know what a dragon is?”
“What do you mean?” Spike asked.
“A dragon is an embodiment of truth: Of absolute truth.” Luna answered. “And… in this way, some of those ponies that express such… positivity…” Pausing slightly as her words began to echo ever so faintly, Princess Luna soon resumed. “Don’t come to know of the depth of themselves. That one who acknowledges that they struggle, that life is complicated, that their feelings are complicated, they don’t have that depth. And it is very valuable, and it is a service that you do for others: To know yourself, to give yourself appreciation, to know that you are truth at the very core of your being. You’re a fire of truth, and I appreciate you so much. And I see myself in you, my dear Spike...my dear youngling.”
When she was finished speaking, the princess planted a loving and tender kiss on Spike’s forehead. He blushed a bit, but was still filled with warmth and happiness as he hugged Luna’s neck tightly, sharing in the embrace.
Then, as Luna held Spike close on Twilight’s bed, the little dragon started to feel sleepy. Soon, he shut his eyes and began to breathe easily.
Luna couldn’t help but beam at the adorable sight. “Blessings to you.” Smiling, the princess set Spike down atop the bed proper. She began to think back to what the young dragon had told her: About his friendship with the Crusaders. And it made her feel something. “Maybe… I’ll have to visit their dreams someday.” She thought to herself.