Knowledge of the Ancients

Spike went about his daily duties in the Library, as he normally would on a Thursday. He cooked breakfast for Twilight and himself, took out yesterday's trash, organized the returned books back into their shelves, and swept the floors. It had been seven years since he returned form the Great Dragon Migration, looking for the meaning behind being a dragon. He had grown considerably in that short amount of time, becoming close to the size of Big Macintosh. As he grew, so did his thirst for knowledge, becoming an egghead himself and reading in his spare time. He had read almost every book on the library shelves in those years past and was in the last few sections.

He had finished sweeping the floor for the third time that day and set the broom back in the closet. He went back to the shelves of books and skimmed the titles, skipping over the ones that he had already read throughout the years. His eyes fell onto a book that he had yet to read and grabbed it from the shelves. Looking at the book, he began to smile.

"This oughta be good," he chuckled. He sat down on the sofa in the main room and opened the book. "The History of Dragons: Everything That is Currently Known About Dragons and Dragon Culture," he read aloud. He turned the page and read silently.

Twilight emerged from the basement of the library with a chemistry book floating behind her. She heard mumbling coming from the main living area and peeked around the corner. Spike's nose was smoking, small black plumes coming from his nostrils, as he read another book. She walked around the corner and placed the chemistry book on a desk that was close by and went over to see what was bothering her assistant so much.

"Spike!" she yelled, gaining the adolescent dragon's attention. "You know I don't allow smoking in the library," she scolded him.

Spike looked away from the book and closed it, making a loud banging sound as he did so. "I know, I know," he ceased making the plumes of smoke and unceremoniously threw the book onto the table. "How can you have this in your library!?" he asked angrily.

"What are you talking about?" Twilight lifted the tome in her magic and read the title. Her features changed into one of realization and knowing. She set the book back down on the table and sat next to her assistant on the sofa. "I see now. You don't' like what was written in there do you?"

Spike shook his head. "Why do ponies have to paint us as big, terrifying creatures that hate everything except Gems and ourselves?"

"Because we don't know much about dragons, Spike. You must understand that these books are fairly recent and with the dragons being so secretive of their history, we don't have a decent source of information."

Spike's features softened at her answer and leaned back against the couch. "I guess I understand. But, there has to be more out there. Ruins, inscriptions, anything!"

"I know, but there just aren't any. At least not that we have been able to find," Twilight said, trying to console the dragon. Twilight thought for a moment and picked up the book again and held it out to Spike, who grabbed it reluctantly. "Why that book?" was all she asked.

"I..." Spike thought for a time. "I wanted to see what was written about Dragons and see if I could relate to any of it. But it looks like I don't. I'm not big, I'm not mean, and I don't eat ponies. I'm nothing like what a dragon should be."

Twilight hugged him as best she could, while sitting on a couch and let go after a few seconds. "You're not what a dragon should be, but you're the dragon I'd hoped you'd be."

"Thanks, Twilight," Spike said, smiling. "I think it's time for me to cook us up some dinner." He got up and went into the kitchen.

Twilight placed the book back onto the shelf and picked up a parchment, quill, and an ink well. She went over and placed them on a desk and began to write.

2

Celestia sat on her large golden throne and waited for her time on the throne to end for the day. She had finished talking with nobles and delegates from the surrounding nations, much to her relief. She got up and walked around the courtroom, looking at the stained glass windows that marked the landmark events in Equestria's history, from the defeat of Nightmare Moon to the freeing of the Crystal Empire. A small smile dominated her features as she remembered everything that had happened. She had not been able to contact her student very often anymore as the Dragon Kingdom was becoming a greater problem than usual.

As her reminiscing and contemplation of the world's problems continued, a scroll materialized in front of her with a bright purple flash. Celestia picked up the scroll and read its contents.

Dear Princess Celestia,

It's been a while since I've sent you a letter and I apologize, but this is important. Spike has become infatuated with finding out what it means to be a dragon again and is frustrated by what the historians have said about them. I thought he would have dropped this topic after he went to participate in the Great Dragon Migration. I don't know what to tell him and I don't want him to be angry at me for the explanation that I may give about dragons.

I need help with an explanation about the history of Dragons that won't make him upset. If you can find the time, I hope you can help.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle.

Celestia rolled up the scroll and looked over her shoulder.

"Prepare my chariot!" she ordered, to which the guard in the room bowed quickly and left. Celestia smirked a little and looked at the closed scroll again. "I can help, but Twilight's not going to like what I can offer."

3

Celestia's chariot landed gracefully on the ground by Twilight's library. Celestia stepped off and knocked on the door. The wooden door creaked open, revealing the adolescent Spike; who did a double take when he saw Princess Celestia at the door.

"Princess!? What are you doing here?" he asked quickly.

"Twilight requested that I help her with an urgent matter. Is she here?" Spike nodded and moved aside so that Celestia could walk inside. She strode past him and stood in the middle of the library. "Would you please get her? I'm afraid I neglected to announce my arrival."

"Yeah I can get her." Spike left the room and descended the stairs down into the basement.

Celestia's ears perked up when she heard crashing and banging coming from the basement. A few seconds later the basement door swung open and hit the adjacent wall, almost knocking it from the hinges. "PRINCESS!?" she shouted, slamming to door on Spike's face as he came up after her; making him fall down the stairs. "Wha... Why are you here? I would have set up a welcome party or a..."

Celestia's hoof made contact with Twilight's mouth, silencing her. "I didn't announce my arrival for that very reason, my student. Now what is it you need help with, about Spike?"

Twilight calmed herself down as Celestia removed her hoof from Twilight's mouth. Spike opened the basement door again and walked into the room, rubbing his nose.

"Spike, can you give the Princess and I some privacy please? Our conversation needs to be private," Twilight said.

"Yeah. Sure." He went up into his room on the second floor. The two Princesses waited in the main room until they heard Spike's door click shut.

Celestia was the first to speak. "Now, what's the problem Twilight?"

"Spike has gotten curious about the history of dragons again. I hoped he would accept what happened when he was younger and let it go." She began to sniffle, and rub her nose and eyes.

"It's only natural that he has become curious again Twilight. He's gotten older and has also gotten wiser, Twilight." She placed a wing over her student. "I can help him find what it is he looking for, but the knowledge does not lie with me. It is possessed by an Ancient Dragon."

Twilight looked up at her mentor. "A... A Dragon?"

"Yes. He is very old and very wise. If Spike can reach him, he may be able to discover what it is he wants to know."

"Then, I'll go with him," she said, hopeful.

Celestia shook her head and pulled Twilight closer to herself. "I'm sorry Twilight, but you cannot go with him. He needs to do this on his own. It's time that he found his own way in the world."

"But I... I don't want him go by himself."

"He needs to Twilight. I know what it's like to let somepony you care about go out on their own, but it has to be done sometime. Spike's time has come. You have raised him exceptionally well and you will have nothing to worry about. He will be fine." She released Twilight from her grip. "Now, you need to be the one to tell him what is happening."

"How will he know where to go?" Twilight asked, still teary eyed.

"I will leave the only known means of reaching the dragon with him before he leaves. It is up to him, however, to decide if he wishes to go. But you cannot persuade either way, despite your bias to keep him here. You need to let him make the decision." Celestia turned towards the door and opened it completely. "Send me his decision and I will prepare what he needs, if he decides to leave."

Celestia closed the door and was gone before Twilight could protest. Twilight stood there still, crying silent tears that left invisible trails upon her face. She turned to go upstairs and tell Spike what had transpired.

4

Spike stood outside the library, a backpack resting in-between his wings. Twilight was standing next to him, trying not to grab him and hold him there. The whole town appeared to be in the small vicinity of the library, even the Princesses were there. Celestia walked up to Spike and levitated an old scroll to him. He grabbed it with his claw and opened it.

"What is it Princes?"

"If you follow this map, you will find what it is you are looking for, but do not lose it. This is the only copy of this map left, so try not to lose it," she directed him, smiling.

Spike looked around at the mass of ponies that had come to see him off. "Thanks everypony for coming! It really means a lot to me!" he shouted, as to be heard across the board. He heard a few stray "Good Luck's" and "Come back soon's." He turned to say good bye to his friends.

Few words were exchanged between the dragon and the six ponies, but hugs were given and a tip of the hat from Applejack, as-well-as a box of cupcakes from Pinkie Pie. Rarity gave him a ruby from her private collection of gemstones, which he promptly tried to give back, but kept after Rarity's insistence. Twilight's farewell had been a heartfelt and loving affair, as she hugged her dragon of a son. She held herself together as she let go of Spike's large, scaled body and said her final goodbye.

"I'll be back soon. Promise," he told Twilight as he lifted himself into the air and flew off into the distance.