Spike! Royal Pony Protector! · 3:12pm Jul 4th, 2018
Of course, the dragons see Spike's position as Twilight Sparkle's Number One Assistant in a very different way.
At long last, the dragons seemed sated. If not sated, satisfied that they had consumed anything and everything that was remotely edible, save for the stone around them. Dim had destroyed the research he had found, including everything gleaned from the Spider Queen in yonder room. This would need to be buried again, the river rerouted, and forgotten about. Of course, it would be found again, for such was the stupidity of dimensional prisons tethered to primary reality. Of course, while it easy to be judgmental for this practice, Dim could think of no other, no better way of doing it.
“You’re barely standing.” The tall dragon, Prominence, her statement was annoying to the core for Dim, who listened with a sneer. She clucked her tongue, a maternal sound by any species’ standards, and made a gesture with her claws in Dim’s general direction. “Thod, go get him—gently! We’re getting out of here. We’ll fly up that shaft and you’ll carry him out of here.”
“Okay,” Thod replied, grinning his terrifying, toothy grin as he waddled to obey.
Whatever protest that Dim was about to muster died. Thod was a happy dragon—a big grinning happy dragon—and Dim found the idea of hurting his feelings abhorrent. The toothy teen seemed a bit simple-minded, but oddly kind—for a dragon. Both Thod and Prominence were looking better now, they had a little bit of colour, Prominence seemed a whole lot smarter after eating, and Dim was almost certain that they were regenerating in slow-motion even as he watched. Yes, new scales had appeared almost like magic, and he could see that new teeth were poking through their gums.
“Being around ponies for so long has changed us,” Prominence said while Thod lifted Dim from the floor. “I suppose being imprisoned with Thod has changed me as well. Thod, be careful. Mind those claws. This pony is far more fragile than most.”
Thod nodded while cradling Dim in a protective, scaly embrace.
“But you were held captive by ponies,” said Dim to Prominence.
“So I was,” she replied with a nod of her elongated head. “But I cannot help but feel these jerks were the exception, not the standard. Thod and I, we were welcomed into the homes of these ponies and treated with an extraordinary level of kindness. It is as Spike said it would be.”
“Spike?” Dim could feel a faint warmth in Thod, though most of the dragon’s scales were cold. The fire had been stoked though and he suspected that Thod would soon be quite warm.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle’s royal bodyguard.” Prominence grinned, revealing a gap-toothed smile. “Twilight Sparkle is an important pony princess, but she is fragile, as ponies tend to be. So much so that Spike is assigned to protect her, because dragons are naturally tough. Spike alone is trusted with this sacred duty, because even one baby dragon is a formidable defense. Spike is the Princess Protector, and the Pride of Dragonkind. Ember tells us to aspire to be just like him so that we can build a glorious dragon nation. So to follow Spike’s example, many of us have gone out to find helpless ponies to protect.”
“I see.” Dim knew social manipulation on a grand scale when he saw it, but said nothing about it. This was good, beneficial, this was a deed that would aid the world, not tear it apart. Yes, a little manipulation was fine and no one was being hurt by it, which made it okay.
“Say…” A shrewd look appeared in Prominence’s draconic eyes. “You’re a pony in need of protecting. You’re the softest, squishiest pony I’ve ever seen. If Thod and I can keep you safe from harm, we’ll gain a lot of favour with Ember.”
Dim saw right away where this was going, this dragon was being quite vocal about exploiting him, but he was okay with this. Mutual exploitation that was beneficial to both parties appealed to him in some fundamental way. In a rare display, Dim humbled himself. “I am weak and fragile.”
“Thod, we have a new pony project. Let’s get out of here.”
and that is how dim got two dragon pets/assistants/mercenaries.
It's called a symbiotic relationship, Dim. And yes, they are a good thing!
Yeah, we may snicker at the thought of Spike being Twilight's protector, but if anybody dares to hurt Rarity... Go Go Godzilla.
4894725
If nothing else, he's a self-wielding flamethrower with text messaging. That's not nothing.
4894725
Pony Tokyo quivers.
4894732 Yeah, best line in the new movie. "Hey, ain't you a fire-breathing dragon?"
I figure the dragons'll like dim. He's very good at fire.
This looks awesome. I need to catch up again.