The Rise of Spike the Dragon

Chapters

Chapter 1: Spike Snaps
Chapter 2: Into the Everfree
Chapter 3: New Friends Part 1
Chapter 4: New Friends Part 2
Chapter 5: New Friends Part 3
Chapter 6: The Truth
Chapter 7: The Last Time
Chapter 8: Too Late
Chapter 8.5: The Book
Chapter 9: Returning Powers Part 1
Chapter 10: Returning Powers Part 2
Chapter 11: Nubuatan & The Prophecy Part 1
Chapter 12: Nubuatan & The Prophecy Part 2
Chapter 13: Returning Powers Part 3
Chapter 14: The Time Has Come
Chapter 15: The Change & Recollection Part 1
Chapter 16: The Change & Recollection Part 2
Chapter 17: The Change & Recollection Part 3
Chapter 18: Radiant
Chapter 19: Bringing them Back
Chapter 20: Crystals
Scale Six: Sex Scene [Now Public]
Chapter 21: Fall of the Crystal Empire
Chapter 22: Training Starts
Chapter 23: Change of Plans
Chapter 24: Damage Control Part 1

Chapter 1: Spike Snaps

By: MasterBrony2012

I would like to thank Jorge Nagorski for Pre-Reading and Editing!

And a very special thanks to MC-W1SH for his help with the a revised build up!

DISCLAIMER: This is a non-profit fanbased work of prose. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is the property of Hasbro, and the reinvention of the lovely Lauren Faust. No copyright infringement is intended, please support the official release.

Chapter 1:

Spike Snaps

“SPIKE WHERE ARE YOU?!” a lavender unicorn yelled.

We are at the home of Twilight Sparkle and her faithful assistant Spike. Spike is a small baby dragon, with purple scales. His under belly, spines, and eyes that are a brilliant emerald green. He was assigned as to Twilight Sparkle by her mentor and ruler of the land Princess Celestia.

“I heard you,” Spike called from the upper floor of the library. He walked down the stairs so as to see Twilight, “What do you need,” Spike asked rubbing the back of his head.

“I need you to pack my bags for my visit to Canterlot,” Twilight said frantically rushing around the library floor looking for anything she may need.

‘Oh yeah that’, Spike thought in frustration, ‘I got woken up so early because of that message.’

Spike’s dragon breathing was altered soon after Twilight hatched him. He could use it to send and get messages that Celestia and Twilight exchanged. For him this could be a pain if he was sleeping or carrying out a conversation with somepony. It was one of the many things that annoyed him overall.

“Spike did you even hear me?” Twilight said, getting the young drake out of his trance.

“Huh…yeah whatever.” Spike said flatly.

He went up to the room he and Twilight shared and reached up her bed to get out a rather over sized suitcase. He loaded the usually thing Twilight forced him to pack whenever she left for Canterlot. Once he had tripled checked everything was ready, so Twilight wouldn't go crazy over not having a certain quill again, he lugged the suitcase down the flight of stairs to an angry looking mare.

“What took you so long? I have to leave now!” Twilight stomped a hoof out of impatience.

“Well maybe if you would have helped it would have been down faster,” Spike rebutted, blowing a puff of smoke and clenching his fist.

“I don’t have time for this,” Twilight said taking the bags.

Spike had been fed up with Twilight and how she pushed him around all the time. Even when he did everything exactly the way what she wanted him to, he never got any words of thanks from her. Spike was being used like some kind of rag, one that could be thrown away once it has outgrown its usefulness.

He thought back to the previous week...

Spike slowly opened his eyes when he heard Twilight calling his name. "SPIKE, GET DOWN HERE NOW!" She screamed.

Spike sighed, Twilight and her friends had just gotten back from Canterlot the night before. She had been too tired, as she put it, to do anything other than pass out on the floor. And that's just what she did.

Spike clambered out of his small basket and slowly walked down the stairs. He remembered the past weekend, he found a letter left by her, stating that she, her friends, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders had all left for Canterlot on an important assignment. Which really ticked him off. He was more mature than the Cutie Mark Crusaders. It was still a mystery to him why they wanted to bring them. If anything, the Cutie Mark Crusaders would just jeopardize the mission.

"SPIKE!" Twilight called again, even though the young drake was directly behind her.

"Jeez, Twi." Spike groaned as he covered his ears. "Care to tone it down a bit?" He asked.

Twilight spun around and faced Spike. "Spike," She said, as calmly as possible. "Do you care to explain this mess?" She said, motioning to the library floor behind, which was filled with mounds of disorganized books.

"Oh, yeah. About that." Spike said nonchalantly. "After you got home from Canterlot, you fell asleep at the bottom of the stairs, I had to carry you up and put you into your bed. I thought that you would stay there, but you didn't. You got up in the middle of the night and took all the books off of their shelves." He finished.

Twilight stared at him for a few moments, "Spike, tell me the truth. Why are all the books out of place. Did you do this?" She asked sternly.

Spike's jaw had fallen open. Twilight hadn't believed him when he told her what she had done last night. "Twilight! I am telling the truth. I saw you with my own eyes. You got up, walked down the steps, and proceeded to remove every book." Spike explained.

"Uh huh, so what you're saying is that I did this?" She asked, obviously getting frustrated.

"Exactly."

"Well, then." She said. "That is the biggest lie I have ever heard! I wouldn't do something like this. You know what I think? I think that you didn't do your chores over the weekend and this is what happened." She said motioning, once again, to the mess behind her.

"But, Twi..." Spike started to say.

"No 'buts'. I want you to clean up this mess right now!" She said, her voice gradually rising in frustration.

Spike finally gave in, "Fine." He said.

Twilight seemed to calm down a bit as she watched Spike start putting back the books.

While Twilight was relaxing with her morning coffee, Spike's mind was full of thoughts. Making me clean up her mess. Dumb Twilight. Hmmph, all I ever do is act as her slave. That last thought stopped his work. It was right, all he ever did was act like her slave. And what do all slaves eventually do? They revolt. And that is what Spike was doing right now. Revolting.

"Hey Twi." He called from the messy floor.

As Twilight walked out of the kitchen she started to get angry again. "Spike, I thought I told you to clean up your mess."

"No." He stated matter-of-factly.

"What did you say?" She asked him, her patience wearing thin.

"I said, no. I will not clean up your mess."

"And why won't you clean up your mess?" She asked.

"Because I don't want to.” He replied, his voice getting louder.

Instantly Spike was lifted up by Twilight's magic field and was carried off to there shared room.

"Put me down!" Spike yelled.

"Fine then," Twilight said dropping him onto the floor. "Well until you learn to behave you are on a time out."

Spike was rubbing him rump in pain, which instantly stopped when he heard what Twilight had said.

"You can't do this!"

"Watch me," She said closing and magically locking the door.

"Twilight! Twilight!" Spike shouted as he pounded on the door, "TWILIGHT!"

“STOP!” Spike roared, his eyes glowing bright.

Twilight turned around and was about ready to scold him again when until she saw the expression of pure hatred and rage. Twilight was a little startled at first but stood her ground.

“What do you want Spike?”

“I want you to stop treating me like a slave!” He huffed.

Twilight was aghast at this, never before had Spike been so enraged about anything.

“I don’t treat you...” She was cut off by a jet of green flames being shot at her. She yelp and jumped away as felt the heat from the flames.

Spike turned to face her and began to walk forward, his fist clenched. Twilight backed away until her flank bumped against the far wall.

“So you don’t classify leaving me here to do all the chores while you go out and have fun on adventures? Making me clean all the messes you make! Not even getting a ‘Thank you Spike’!”

Twilight was shaking slightly in fear of Spikes fury, "Spike, please calm down.” She said, quivering.

“Calm down?! Calm down?! I will not calm down! You and you're friends always take advantage of me! Rarity uses my feeling for her as a tool, to make me work for her so she doesn't have to! I don’t even love her anymore! I hate it when Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie me about my lack of wings! I hate it when Fluttershy just thinks of me as a BABY! Do you know how that feels?! Of course you don’t! You know what else I hate?! I hate how you leave me out of every single adventure you go on! Now more than ever! You brought the BUCKING Cutie Mark Crusaders! I am more mature than they’ll ever be! YOU ALL ARE THE WORST! THE ABSOLUTE WORST!!!!! "

Spike was shooting fire with every breath now. Twilight was laying on the ground covering her head with her hooves as the flames flew through the air around her. Every once and awhile embers would would burn her. She was practically crying at this point, praying to Celestia he would stop so she could talk to him.

Then was a moment of silence and all that could be heard was the heavy breathing of a little baby dragon. Twilight opened her eyes to see Spike, but all she saw him making his way for the door, he was leaving.

“Spike wait,” Twilight squeaked out grabbing Spike’s tail between her teeth, while trying to think of a way to keep Spike from leaving.

Spike felt his tail being tugged back by Twilight, “Let GO!”

*SMACK*

Spike’s claws made contact with the lavender unicorn cheek. The sound rang out through the library as Twilight fell to the ground. Twilight couldn't move for a moment, once she could she put her hoof up to where Spike had his her. She felt a warm liquid like substance leak from her cheek onto her hoof.

Spike looked at his claw with an emotionless expression, the red liquid oozed down in his claw at an extremely slow rate. It was blood, Twilight’s blood.

“Sp-Sp-Spike...”

Spike looked to the unicorn, “Consider that a warning. If you try to stop me or find me I will make sure you get more than a little cut.” With a flick of his wrist he flung the blood from his claw onto the floor next to Twilight creating a crescent moon.

And with that he walked out the door and closed it. Never looking back, never to return.

Twilight was left in the middle of the main floor of the library crying and bleeding. Thinking about what she could have done to prevent her number one faithful assistant from leaving. She cried until she couldn't cry anymore as she passed out...

Chapter 2: Into the Everfree

The Rise of Spike the Dragon

By: MasterBrony2012

I would like to thank Jorge Nagorski for Pre-Reading and Editing!

Chapter 2:

Into the Everfree

Spike stood outside the library door thinking about what he could do, and where he could go now that he had freed himself from the Twilight.

‘Can’t stay in Ponyville,’ he thought, ‘Somepony will eventually take me back to Twilight and then her and all her friends will try to talk some sense into me.’

He thought as hard as he could as to a place where he could be free of rules. He looked around and in the distance he saw the one place nopony ever dared to go,the Everfree Forest. His eyes lit up with hope of a new life as a powerful stand alone dragon. As he rushed to the forest as some ponies that passed Spike tried to greet him but were quickly ignored, as he moved on at a brisk pace.

He stopped just on the edge of the forest and took a deep breath and looked back on the small little town he once called home. “Goodbye Ponyville. This is the last time you will hear of Spike.”

He turned and made his way to the dense, dark, and evil forest. He never looked back never wanting to return to the pony that has caused him the most grief, Twilight Sparkle.

* * * *

Twilight had jolted awake, she looked at her surroundings to find it was completely dark. She tried to stand but was weak because of the amount of blood she had lost. She ignited her horn with the little energy she had in her and saw she was still in the library. It had been a few hours since the earlier events; she could tell for how dark it was outside.

She felt the side of her face with a hoof, and winced in pain. The scars had healed up some and weren't bleeding as they had been, but they were still sensitive. Once she was somewhat able to stand she made her way for the door.

“Have to...” She couldn't speak for the wounds had slowly started to open once again. She had to get help, and the nearest pony that could help, Rarity.

She slowly open the door and staggered through the now empty streets of Ponyville. She decided once she had gotten help she would round up the girls to head out and look for Spike. She would even go to the princess to get her help to find her assistant. As she slow limped to to the front door of Carousel Boutique, she thought about every thing Spike had said before he left her. She couldn't bring it all to the forefront of her mind for it was far too painful.

She knocked on the door lightly before collapsing again. She was drained both physically and emotionally, and couldn't move any longer. Not only moments after she had collapsed had the door to the Boutique opened.

It revealed a snow white mare in black night gown and a light pink mask with a 'R' inscribed in it.

"Who ever it is, I am dreadfully sorry but we are..." Rarity stopped as she looked down to see her friend unconscious on her doorstep, "TWILIGHT!"

* * * *

Spike wandered through the forest; not having a clue on where he was going. All he knew is that he was getting away from the Ponyville, the library, and Twilight. He had gone into the forest in rage, and with nothing but confidence that it was the best chores of action.

Spike heard a low, heavy growl come from the mass of trees to his right. “H-H-Hello? Is anypony there?” He asked the darkness in front of him.

The only response he got was a pair of glowing yellow eyes staring at him from the darkness. Soon after two more pairs of eyes joined the first, making Spike shake nervously. He backed away as the figures the stepped out of the shadows; they were Timberwolves, one of the many creatures that resided in Everfree. Creatures made of fallen trees that joined together in the shape of wolves, they are incredibly deadly.

“Oh-no…” Spike gulped.

Spike turned and hightailed as fast as his little Dragon legs would carry him. He duck under branches and hurtled fallen tree trunks, and tried his best to stay far ahead of the Timberwolves chasing him. He was running low on energy and they were gaining on him, he had to find some way to lose them.

‘I grew up in a library for Celestia’s sake,’he thought to himself, ‘I must have read something on woodland survival at one point or another.’

He tried to recall anything that could help him, but was drawn back to the fact he was still running for his life as a tree branch smacked him in the face. He could think about how to survive in the in the forest after he survived these Timberwolves.

He rounded a corner and was meet by raging rapids. He wasn't a good swimmer because of the size of his arms and legs. When he turned around to find another way he smelt the horrid sent of Timberwolf breath; they were now face to face with him backing him closer to the rivers edge. He looked between the wolves and the river behind him.

“Into the water I go!” Spike proclaimed as he jumped into the river and was washed downstream. The wolves gave chase alongside the river but soon gave up and turned away to find a new meal for they had lost this one.

Spike was struggling to keep his head above the water, yet, it was a losing battle. He held his breath on last time before getting completely submerged. He smashed against rocks and boulders as he went along. He popped out of the water again and looked to see that he was heading straight for a waterfall.

* * * *

Twilight shot up and screamed as she awoke from her nightmare. It had seemed all too real for her and she couldn't handle it. Nurse Redheart and Twilight’s friends rushed in as soon as they heard her scream. The Redheart began to check vitals to see if everything was fine, as Applejack, Rarity and the rest of the girls tried to calm her down as she flopped around like a fish out of water.

“Twilight, darling please calm yourself,” Rarity said.

“Twilight please stop,” Rainbow Dash shouted, “Get a hold of yourself.”

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” Was all she would answer them with.

After a minute or two more of struggling Twilight’s body went limp from the massive loss of energy. She laid back down on the pillow and began breathing heavily.

“Her heart rate is returning to normal,” Nurse Redheart said.

“That good to hear,” Fluttershy said from behind her mane.

Nurse Redheart smiled and made her way over to the door, “You all are welcome to stay as long as you wish.”

And with that she walked out to check on her other patients. Which left Twilight alone with all her friends who faces of happiness melted onto serious expressions of worry. None of them knew how Twilight ended up in her current state. Burn marks covered her body, along with three claw marks on her cheek, which had now become scars.

“Sugarcube, how did ya’ll end up like this?” Applejack asked.

Twilight sat up and looked down at her hooves as a single tear fell down her face.

“Spike...” she started.

“Spike? What about him?” Pinkie Pie asked while bouncing in place.

“He...”Twilight was having a difficult time getting her words out.

“Darling don’t tell me,” Rarity said stepping closer.

“He got so mad at me, I don’t know why. He started shooting fire he was so enraged.” Twilight was now full blown crying. “He was about to leave, and when I tried to stop he turned around and he...he...”

She was choking back sobs as she cried into her hooves. Everypony was in shock by what they had heard; they never expected Spike to lash out like that. And after seeing what he had done to Twilight, only confused them on what she, or they had done to get Spike to do something like this.

“Really? That doesn't sound like Spike.” Pinkie said.

“Why would he do something like this?” Rarity inquired.

“I don’t know,” Twilight whimpered, “But he was so mad he ran away. I don’t know where he is.”

After Twilight had calmed down some they all agreed as soon as she was released from the hospital they would start their search for the baby dragon. It wouldn't take for her to heal because the wounds were only minor and would heal on their own over time.

* * * *

Spike was scrambling to get to the rivers edge again as he neared the waterfall. It was a fruitless effort as he was instantly taken back down under the water.

‘Is this the end?’ Spike asked himself as he was sent cascading over the falls. And everything going black.

Chapter 3: New Friends Part 1

The Rise of Spike the Dragon

By: MasterBrony2012

I would like to thank Jorge Nagorski for Pre-Reading and Editing!

Chapter 3:

New Friends Part 1

Spike’s eyes opened slowly as he faded back into consciousness, “Ugh...”

He looked around and found he was on land, which mean he survived the fall. As his hearing returned he notice the falls were still nearby. He could guess from the position of the sun it would be getting dark soon, and if the Everfree wasn't dangerous enough during the day, the gates of Tartarus opened at night.

“Now would be a good time find someplace safe to sleep,” Spike said to himself. He noticed a familiar looking mountain in the distance. It was the same mountain he had run away into before and ran into a very unfriendly dragon. “Anywhere, but there.”

He wandered around the forest for a short while until he saw a massive collection of trees. He examined them to find the trunks and root made a little cave just right for his size, and by his luck there was nothing else inside.

Spike hunkered down for the night with a look of content on his face. Starting in the morning he would start his new life, his better life without Twilight Sparkle or the rest of her friends. Unknown to Spike he wouldn't be starting his new life on his own. For somewhere not too far away were 5 other creatures trying to survive on their own.

* * * *

Twilight was released from the infirmary late that day. The Nurse Redheart had told her to get some rest and not over exert herself. Twilight agreed to take it easy, after she had found Spike and patched thing up. She had a slight understanding of why he had stormed out, and she was heartbroken at the realization of it.

“Look everypony, Twilight is on her way,” Rarity said as herself and the four other mare trotted up to the lavender unicorn.

“I am so glad you are out of the hospital,” Fluttershy said from behind her mane with small smile.

“Glad to see ya up an’ movin’ partner,” Applejack said with her usually country accent.

Pinkie, who was bouncing around as usual with unnaturally large grin on her muzzle, said “I going to throw a ‘WELCOME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL PARTY’ right now!”

But before she would speed off, Rainbow Dash stopped her, “Pinkie I don’t think she would need a party for that.”

“What do you mean Dashie? Everypony deserves a party after getting out of the hospital.” Pinkie replied.

“Pinkie I think we have more important issues to deal with,” Rarity said, “We need to find Spike and figure out what has caused him to act like this.”

Twilight’s ears dropped and held her head low as she spoke up, “I believe I know why Spike did what he did”

Everypony stopped their conversations and looked to their dear friend waiting for an answer.

“What is it then darling,” Rarity said.

“Spike had said, or rather yelled, about how I have treated him like a slave. How none of us ever appreciated him and used him for our own purposes.” Twilight began to tear up as the memories of Spike’s rant replayed in her head.

‘YOU ALWAYS MAKE ME CLEAN UP ALL YOUR MESSES! YOU ALWAYS LEAVE ME BEHIND TO GO HANG OUT WITH YOU BUCKING FRIENDS. NOT EVEN CONSIDERING MY FEELINGS! REMEMBER WINTER WRAP UP? YOU LET ME FALL INTO A FREEZING COLD LAKE! I COULD HAVE DIED! I WAS LEFT ALONE AT THE GRAND GALLOPING GALA AND SPENT MY NIGHT AT A DONUT SHOP! PINKIE PIE AND RAINBOW DASH ALWAYS PLAY PRANKS ON ME! RARITY USES ME, I DON'T EVEN HAVE FEELINGS FOR HER, I GOT OVER THAT CRUSH A WHILE AGO! YOU ALL ARE THE WORST! THE ABSOLUTE WORST!!!!!’

She was about to break into a fit of tears but fought them back. She looked up to her friends, who all wore saddened expressions. Now that they all look back on it, they all saw what had caused Spike’s anger. Twilight went on to tell the girls exactly what Spike had told her, which caused them all to feel even worse about themselves.

“Maybe I did go a little overboard on the pranks,” Rainbow said rubbing the back of her head.

“I realize how much I worked him, and never acknowledged his feelings for me,” Rarity stated.

“I was the worst of all. Whenever we would go out and have fun I would always leave Spike behind to clean-up my messes,” Twilight said, “But we still have a chance to make it right.”

Twilight was now more determined to find Spike and do anything to make it up to him. Twilight looked to the others and saw the same determination she had.

“Alright everypony,” Twilight announced, “Our mission is to find Spike and bring him home.”

They all cheered, “Yeah.”

* * * *

After a few good hours of searching the group had yet to find even a hint to where Spike was. It was late into the night when they all regrouped at the library.

“I just don’t get it. Where could he have gone?” Twilight said hugging a pillow close to her.

They were all gathered around the living room table thinking if there was anyplace they haven’t looked. The had stayed within the boundaries of Ponyville and Sweet Apple Acres, but had come up empty hoofed.

“Well there is one place we haven’t tried,” Dash said looking out a nearby window.

“And where in tarnation would that be?” Applejack asked.

Fluttershy caught on to what Dash was saying almost instantly. “Oh no,” She said in a small and shaky voice, “you can’t mean the...”

“Yup, the Everfree Forest.” Dash said.

Everypony in the room gasp, save for Fluttershy just fell over as stiff as a statue.

“Why would he go in such a dreadful place,” Rarity inquired.

“Actually it makes sense that he would go there,” Twilight input, “That is one of the places no pony dares to go. It is a great place to run away to if you never want to see anypony ever again, or have anypony find you.”

They all nodded in agreement.

“We can’t go in there now,” Applejack said, “It is even worst to be out there at night. We just gonna have ta wait till mornin’. We just gotta hope the little guy makes it through the night.”

“But...your right,” Twilight said defeated, “You all can stay the night if you wish, but first thing in the morning we are going in there to save Spike. Who knows how he is doing right now, he is probably scared, cold, hungry...”

* * * *

“Wow, things are really looking up,” Spike said as he looked at the hole he dug in the tree made cave. Spike had tripped over what he thought was a rock when he walked into the cave. When he noticed it had a slight glow to it he just had to dig it up to find out what it was. It turned out to be the tip of a rather large Fire Ruby.

He rushed outside to get some fallen tree branches along with any small logs he could carry. Then lit the tip of one of the branches on fire and used it to get a fire going. Lucky for Spike the trees in the surrounding areas were a strangely fireproof, which meant he could start a fire in the tree made cave and not worry about lighting up the whole forest. Yet it took Spike longer than he thought to find logs and branches he could burn for a fire.

“Living in a library sure has it’s perks,” Spike said with a silly look plastered on his face, when he identified some trees whose wood would be a longer lasting fire.

He began a struggle to try to pull the massive gem out of the earth. It took some time but eventually he got it out and farther back into the cave for safe keeping. He covered up the hole and went back to sit by the fire. Just then he heard lightning strike just outside of the cave entrance. Then the light pitter-patter of rain could be heard, it was storming outside, but Spike wasn't worried, he was safe inside his cave.

“Hello is anything in there?” A voice said.

Spike searched for the source of the voice and found it to be coming from just outside of the cave. It didn’t look any bigger then him, so he didn’t really feel threatened by it.

“Yeah,” Spike called out, “Come on in, I won’t hurt you if you don’t hurt me.”

The figure jumped inside almost being stuck by a bolt of lightening. It landed next to the fire, and now that it was in the light Spike could make out what it was. It was another dragon, about his own age if not a year older. He looked exactly like Spike but with a different color scheme. A midnight black for most primary part of his body, and a crimson red made up his spines and his underbelly.

“Wow! Another dragon,” the new dragon spoke up, “I thought I was the only one out here?”

“Same here,” Spike replied. He was a little shocked that he would run into another dragon, he didn’t expect to find anything that wasn't trying to kill him.

“Oh, yeah, I forgot,” the new dragon out its hand for spike to shake, “My name is NightStalker, but you can call me Night if you wish.”

Spike reached out and shook his hand and gave a smile, “Nice to meet you, my name is Spike.” There was a loud clap of thunder which made both the young drakes jump in slight fear, “Maybe we should move farther back into the cave,” Spike recommended.

“Good idea,” Night said.

Thanks to dragons being fireproof, the two were able to pick up the burning sticks and logs and move them farther back into the cave. That is when Night saw the giant Fire Ruby, his jaw dropped and his mouth began to water.

“Wow,” Night said, “This must be the biggest ruby I have ever seen.”

“I know right,” Spike with a proud grin, “Found it buried in this cave.”

Suddenly both of their stomach growled, a sign it was time to fill up.

The both laughed for a moment, “Would you like to have some?” Spike offered.

“Really?” Night asked wide eyed.

“Why not? Your a friends and that is what friends do for each other.” Spike said with a grin. Being forced to write friendship reports constantly you learn a few things.

Night was ecstatic; they both jumped onto the ruby and proclaimed, “LETS EAT!”

After a few minutes of munching on the monster of a Fire Ruby the two fell asleep next to the still burning fire. They had made a very small dent in the massive Fire Ruby, but that just meant that it would last them a good while.

* * * *

Celestia’s sun rained down rays of warming light all over Equestria. Spike yawned as he awoke from his deep slumber, he looked over to the other side of the burnt ashes of the fire to that NightStalker was still there. Spike got up made his way out of the cave while trying his best not to wake NightStalker. He went out to the river bed and waded into the shallow waters and began to wash up. He might be living on his own in the Everfree, but that doesn't mean he has to stop taking care of himself.

He shook off the remain water before he went back to the cave. He found NightStalker eating a small piece of the Fire Ruby, he had another piece in his other hand and passed it to Spike who caught it in his mouth and crewed away.

“So...” Spike started, “How did you come to live out here in the Everfree?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Night said, “But I will tell you my story if you tell me yours.”

Spike nodded in agreement, it only made sense to share his own story. So for the next hour Spike told Night all about himself, from being hatched and raised by a unicorn all the way up to him running away. Night listen intently only stopping him every once in a while to ask a quick question. At the end of it, Spike had told him everything.

“So are you ready to tell me your story,” Spike asked.

“Yeah, but I haven’t done anything like you have. That unicorn you were talking about...Twilight was it...and all of her friends sound like real jerks for leaving you behind while going on adventure.”

“Well now I don’t have to worry about that anymore,” Spike said, “Okay its your turn now.”

“Well, the thing is I don’t know how I ended up out here. I have no memory of what happened before I ended up here, all I knew was my name.” NightStalker said a depressed expression.

Spike felt sorry for him, “Well, that isn't important anymore. We will survive out here together.” Spike stood up and marched out of the cave a shouted, “Soldier! Front and center!”

Night sped out of the cave and stood at attention with his chest slightly puffed out and his gut sucked in, “Reporting for duty sir!”

Spike smirked, “Are you ready to start a life?”

“Sir yes sir!”

“Are you ready to survive for all your years to come in this Celestia forsaken forest?”

“Sir yes sir!”

Spike relaxed and held out a fist, “Are you ready to be my new best friend?”

Night relax as well and bumped fist with Spike, “Sir yes sir.”

They smiled before marching off, “First things first, find as many sources of food as possible. We may have that large gem back at base but we need to have a food source just in case we are ever away from base for an extended period of time. That gem won’t last forever.”

“Understandable.” Night responded.

From a nearby tree another dragon was watching Night and Spike. He was slightly younger than them but he had been surviving out here longer. He had chocolate brown spines, and the scales along the underbelly matched his spines. The rest of his scales were unique camouflage green. And as far as he knew traveling with a group was safer than traveling alone.

He trailed after the two of them, seeing what their next move would be.

Chapter 4: New Friends Part 2