//------------------------------//
// Kindle's Key 
// Story: The Runaway: Journey to Tambelon 
// by Hope Caster 
//------------------------------//

There was no day more loathsome than April the Sixteenth. Tirek awoke at around four in the morning, cursing the world for his numerous misfortunes. He was hoping to have himself and Spike ready to leave his mother’s mansion before dawn, mostly to avoid Rarity or Selina, the latter whom would cry as she begged for Spike to stay. He was in no mood for such things like crocodile tears (as he was never in any mood for inconveniences).

While Tirek would never care to admit it, he was more miserable today than he usually was. It didn’t help that no matter what anyone did, April the Sixteenth filled his nephew with sorrow. It irked Tirek that Spike was not feeling some false misery, such as a stubbed toe, a mild hunger, or a child in need of a nap, but true misery, something the boy not ought to know of just yet.

Though the centaur knew a great many things, he was ignorant of any way for him to truly help Spike. Not without he himself opening up that is. And if he did that, there was no way he could maintain a relationship with the boy. What depressed him further was knowing that there would always be a hole in the boy’s heart, partly because the centaur was a selfish lout. Perhaps it would shrink as he grew, but it would always be present.

Tirek let out a sigh as images of a pink dragoness flashed through his mind. Part of him desperately wished that Kindle were with him. She’d know what to do, she always knew what to do as far as Spike was concerned. It was likely because she was the exact opposite of him, sweet and gentle, with a honeyed voice and a sharp wit. He recalled how she took all her hardships in stride, never once complaining, crying, or feeling sorry for herself, at least not to anyone’s face. She had an uncanny ability to rise above such things, if not for her sake, then for the sake of her son. As far as Tirek was concerned, there was no better mother in the world than Kindle Solaris. Not that people like his mother could see that.

Tirek immediately banished the thoughts of Kindle from his head before the memory of his mother’s insult could sour his mood. Tirek was about to go and retrieve Spike when the space between his horns ignited with a dim light. He instantly recognized it as Sendak’s doing, as he trusted no one else, except Kindle, with direct contact. A mist seeped out of the aura, carrying with it several pieces of torn paper. They swirled about as they followed the stream of mist before coming together and forming a rolled-up scroll. Tirek scowled at the piece of paper, knowing from the ribbon and seal that it was not a letter from Sendak, but rather a letter from Scorpan sent through Sendak.

The centaur unrolled the scroll and gave it a quick readthrough. His blood began to boil, while at the same time he felt a great deal of relief. He himself would be able to forget about this miserable date, however, there was still a feeling of worry for his nephew. His usual plan was to have Spike study his hardest until he was so tired he was unable to keep his eyes open. However, with this letter from his brother, he wasn’t going to be able to make sure that happened. Instead, he would need to rely on his mother. Tirek shook his head as he imagined the heartache his Nephew would soon suffer.

The centaur made his way to his mother’s room and gave her door a gentle knock. The door opened, and Haydon glared at her son, her dark expression made even darker by the light of her candle. She looked horrid. Her hair was a complete mess, she had dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, and she looked about as miserable as Tirek felt daily. She’d gotten little sleep in the last few hours, mostly for what she said at dinner and how it hurt Spike, and partly because of Rarity’s encounter with the thief. Her mood was also not helped with the knowledge that it was April the Sixteenth, though she was mostly worried for Spike as she cared little for Kindle.

“Tirek, what do you need?” Her voice was low, and she said every word with a growl. Gargoyles tended to growl when annoyed, in hopes of frightening whatever was annoying them off. 

Tirek held out the scroll for Haydon. She read it as quick as she could, before smiling. She had been worried that Tirek would take Spike home early today, but now she would have Spike all to herself.

“There is a village in dire need of help, and you smile? Typical. So long as you get your way I suppose.”

“Oh, Tirek, I’m not smiling because of that. I’m just so proud that you’re jumping at the chance to help a village. The fact that I get to keep my grandson a few days longer is just a happy byproduct.” Haydon knew that the village had nothing to worry about now that Tirek was going to help. It was a town to the west of the city called Bishop’s Lake. There had been an infestation of parasprites, nasty little creatures that ate countless crops and other food. Normally, the beasts of the forests took care of their ever-expanding population, but they were adorable vermin. It was all too common for a small girl to try and keep one or two as a pet, which would allow it to reproduce indefinitely. 

While Bishop’s Lake had a few citizens that could normally handle the pest, an unfortunate event befell them. The parasprites had mistakenly bitten into and destroyed most of their instruments, and they now required the help of a mage. And, as it was well known, there was no greater mage in Arcania than Tirek. Tirek would make quick work of the vermin and would return in no time to pick up Spike. She hurried past her son and pulled on his wrist to follow. Tirek did so, but only after shutting his mother’s door. There was a slam so soft, that it echoed through the hall but carried no further. Unfortunately, it was powerful enough to awaken Spike.

The dragon crawled out of bed, rubbing his eyes as he went to investigate the noise. The room and hall were dark, but the parted clouds allowed for the moon’s light to seep into the mansion, allowing him just enough light to see. Spike snuck to the edge of the hall and waited. He heard murmuring downstairs, obviously his Grandmother and Uncle. They shifted from topic to topic, none of their musings interesting Spike in any meaningful way. He was just about to turn and go back to bed when something his grandmother said caught his attention. 

“You’re going to run him ragged. Don’t you think he should at least have today off?”

His uncle spoke up. “And have him do what? Ruminate on his mother, waste energy wallowing in pity? Today is the one day that he should keep his mind off her.”

“Tirek, you think every day is a day he should keep his mind off her.”

Spike furrowed his brow as his claws clenched. He already knew that his uncle and grandmother recalled the day of his mother’s departure, but it still burned him that they would sometimes play dumb. There was no point in confronting them about it, they would predictably deny it, or yell at him in his uncle’s case. The mere thought of his mother brought a small aching in his chest that he wished would cease. Wanting to remember fonder times, he silently marched to the western hall. It was darker there, so he felt his way until he came to the room near the end of the hall. Despite knowing it was a room he should avoid, Spike entered.

It was a pleasant, familiar room. Even in the dark, he could still make out everything. Golden yellow wall paper from Equestria covered the walls. There were two wardrobes, one on each side of the bed, from Griffon Stone, a vanity from the far-off kingdom of Anugypt that sat across the foot of the bed. Finally, hanging from the wall, above the bed’s canopy, was a portrait of the dragon lands. Mountainous, bleak, a bit terrifying, the portrait seemed to display a wasteland that only the condemned would travers. The only thing that all these items had in common was that they belonged to his mother. 

Before he was born, his mother would often travel to distant lands for his grandfather, and it was during this time she would pick up an amenity or two before returning home. She always told him that it was the dragon in her that drove her to collect such luxuries, urges she taught him to quell early in his life. (Being a dragon, these urges would sometimes spring up, but Spike was sure to squash them quickly with a little help from his uncle.)

Spike took a seat on the foot of her bed and let out a sniffle. Countless memories of his mother rushed into the forefront of his mind. They ranged from her telling him stories about fairies and dragons, to singing him soft lullaby’s when he had trouble falling asleep. Some memories were of her comforting Spike when he’d had a small nightmare or was harshly scolded by his uncle, who was then scolded by his mother. Finally, there were memories of her journeys. He would always wait at the front door for her return, and she always returned. 

The aching in his chest became more severe as tears began to well in his eyes. He crawled onto the bed and curled into a ball. “You didn’t come back,” he whimpered, wishing he had a picture of his mother to talk to. “You promised me that you’d be back before I knew it.” He named countless petty grievances he had with his mother in his head in a desperate attempt to feel anything that wasn’t sorrow, but nothing helped. Tears began to stream down his face as his soft sobs filled the room. “Where, why did you even have to go?” He asked, wishing the room could feel as warm as it once did. All he felt now was a bitter chill that hung in the air. As his sobs filled what remained of the night, Spike once again fell asleep.

It wasn’t until a lark sang that Spike woke up. His body ached, his eyes stung, and his head was spinning. He did his best to move but found himself only able to shift about. This was not do to any physical disability, he simply lacked the motivation to do much. He lay on the bed, gazing at the vanity thinking of what might happen over the course of the day. There was likely going to be a generous amount of arguing strewn throughout, accompanied by his usual routine. His uncle would yell at him, his grandmother would spoil him, Rarity would make sure to spend time with him, while Selina begged and whined for someone to tell her why everyone was acting so strange today.

It was only when he saw his mother’s key laying on the vanity that he sat up. A sudden wave of dread washed over Spike. If the key was out, then someone had gone through his mother’s things, possibly even stolen something. In a panic, he quickly grabbed the key undid the locks on both boxes. When he opened the jewelry box, a tune began to play. His mother often played it for him whenever he had trouble sleeping at night. It was this very reason that they called the song the Dragon’s Lullaby. He recalled that there were lyrics to the tune, but he’d long forgotten them. 

He went through each individual piece of jewelry and accessory, recalling who gave it to his mother or where she said she obtained it. He was relieved to find that everything, from necklaces to her hair accessories, were accounted for. Many would question why a dragon with no hair collected hair clips and other useless trinkets, but it was simply because Kindle liked collecting small charms whenever she traveled, especially when said trinkets were jeweled or sparkled. It was the dragon in her.

After locking everything once more, Spike fell to the floor and lightly chuckled to himself, embarrassed by his overreaction. He didn’t know what he expected to find missing. Rarity and his Grandmother had no need for his mother’s belongings. Perhaps he was just worried. Her trinkets were one of the few things he had left of her, and the thought of them going missing was unbearable. To think that seeing such a small key would make him worry so much. Perhaps this was why his family never let him near it.

He stared at the key for a short while until he came to a sudden realization. He was holding the key to his mother’s lockboxes, and her wardrobes. The only fathomable reason that it would have been left in the open was because someone left it on the vanity by mistake. Part of him thought to hurry to his grandmother, uncle, or even Rarity, and return it before he could get in trouble, however, another part of him advised against it. 

The key gave him the ability to go through his mother’s belongings, reminisce clearly about days before she left. He always did wonder what she kept in her wardrobes, as she nearly always kept them closed while he was up and about. It wasn’t as if he would be breaking any rules by looking. The contents in the wardrobes were technically his, as he was his mother’s only child. All his brothers and sisters were only half-siblings, sharing the same father, and so it stood to reason that anything and everything his mother owned was rightfully his. Of course, this all hinged on the mutterings of Tirek and Sendak, and their discussion of wills and what to do with Kindle’s belongings.

After a short debate, Spike decided on a compromise. Tonight, he would quickly look through the wardrobes and then return the key to either his grandmother or Rarity, claiming to have found it sitting out in the open, noticing it as he stumbled groggily. This would mean he would need to spend time in the room again. An easy thing to make happen. He did miss his mother after all, and the room did help with that feeling.

For now, he needed to keep the key hidden. The dragon gripped it close to his chest and quickly left for his room. It was mere luck that Rarity was still sleeping soundly, as she was normally up by this hour. What Spike couldn’t have known was that, had it not been for the unicorn’s trip to the prison late last night, she would have likely caught him coming out of his mother’s room. In fact, it was thanks to Rarity that he had even obtained the key. In her sleep deprived state, when putting away the jewelry that Rainbow Dash had stolen, she had mistakenly left the key on the vanity after redoing the locks on the boxes.

Spike heard his grandmother hum somewhere in the house but heard nothing from his uncle. He quickened his pace, worried the centaur might happen upon him. Spike came to his room, entered, and climbed into bed as fast as he could, hiding the key under his pillow. Not ideal, but it would have to do for now.

Not soon after the door opened. “Spike?” His grandmother asked, as she entered. Spike tensed as he slightly turned his body away from his grandmother. He heard her let out a sigh before feeling her sit on the edge of his bed. He felt her place her hand on his arm. “I understand if you don’t want to talk. I’d be cross with me to if I were you. I just get annoyed when it comes to your uncle and your mother. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said those things. You’re uncle’s probably right, she’s probably on her way home right now.” She gave his arm a slight squeeze before standing up. “Just rest okay? I love you, Spike.”

Though he knew that it was wrong to do so, Spike was infuriated by the apology. Part of him wanted to be angry with his Grandmother for what she called his mother, but it was just like her to apologize first thing in the morning. She didn’t even try to push his boundaries and basically ordered him to relax, knowing how miserable the day would be for him. It was nearly impossible for him to be mad at her.

Spike followed his Grandmother’s advice, not because she told him to, but rather because he wanted to and stayed in bed allowing himself to mentally prepare for the day. The air around him was unusually cool, making his blankets and mattress both warm and comfortable, almost lulling him into another bout of sleep. Not surprising as dragons often loved to sleep.

It was only when the smell of breakfast reached his room that Spike was stirred from his contentment. He could smell eggs, bacon, and even hints of pancakes. Spike quickly changed out of his sleepwear, and into his day clothes: a shirt and his scribe robe.

‘The key should be safe for now’ Spike thought as he left his room. His family had little reason to go through his belongings, if they did, well, he only prayed that it was his grandmother or Rarity that found it, and not his uncle. As Spike made his way to the dining hall, he wondered what he would find in the wardrobes. Clothes more likely than not, but he couldn’t help but wish for something of value, perhaps a clue to where she’d went, or why. ‘Like that would happen.’

He entered the dining room to see a bounteous feast waiting for him. His sister was already there with Rarity, both of whom ate pancakes drizzled in syrup. For him, there was a plate of eggs (sunny side up, his favorite), a few pieces of toast browned and given a dollop of butter, bacon, and a tall cup of juice. Rarity mean while enjoyed a cup of coffee, another beverage that Spike was averse to. His Uncle also despised the taste of coffee, and only drank it before heading out to talk with Spike’s father.

“Much too tired to deal with that bastard today,” Tirek would say as he grimly sipped from his mug. “I don’t know what’s worse, him or this swill.”

Rarity would tell Spike, when he echoed his uncle’s sentiment (he changed the language as not to offend), she would say, “I stayed up too late last night doing work is all. Need a little pick me up. And you should tell your uncle to buy kirin coffee beans. It’s much better than the mud that comes from Arcania or Equestria. Tastes heavenly.” Depending on the day, Rarity might add a pinch of milk or sugar to her drink, something that Spike thought that it needed much of.

The dragon took a seat, thankful that his uncle was nowhere to be seen, not out of spite, but because it meant more food for him. Before he could take a bite of his breakfast, Spike looked towards Rarity. Memories of last night played in his head, and he felt a twinge of guilt for the way he spoke to her. Worse, he worried that she’d taken it personally. While he had a right to be angry, his anger and sorrow was no excuse for such rude behavior, especially towards someone as kind as her. “Hey, Rarity, about last night-”

“Don’t fret, Spike,” she said, giving him a reassuring smile. “All is forgiven.”

“Thanks. By the way, I heard some loud noises last night, I didn’t know what it was but-”

“Oh, that was just me,” Rarity said, with a small giggle. “I saw a spider in my room and made a small ruckus. Fortunately, your Grandmother gave me a hand. You know how I get.” Seeing Spike almost instantly believe her made her both glad and disappointed. How shallow and pathetic was she that her being frightened by a spider was believable? At least it was better than the truth. She could only imagine how frightening it would be for him and Selina to know that their home was invaded.

“You know, if you ever need help, you could always get me,” Spike said, puffing out his chest. “Spiders are nothing to a dragon!”

Rarity rolled her eyes while Selina giggled to herself. Almost everyone Spike cared about knew he had a crush on Rarity. Selina normally liked to tease him about it, making kissy and mwah sounds every so often, usually when he bragged about himself in some way. This would normally result in Spike yelling at her, who would then be reprimanded by Rarity. Though she loved her brother, she relished the chance to tease him. Unfortunately, her Grandmother had ordered her to be as nice as possible to Spike today, so her teasing was out of the question. If she fell out of line, then she’d lose her new dress that Rarity had made.

“I know a mighty dragon such as yourself could handle those nasty things,” Rarity began, half joking, “but it was late, and I know your uncle. He was likely to have you up before dawn for some ungodly reason. Makes me thankful he’s gone for the next few days.”

“Wait, he’s gone?” Spike asked, almost standing in his seat.

“No one told you? I thought he would have woken you up and given you a list of demands, or at the very least your grandmother would have said something when she checked on you.” Rarity mentally shrugged before explaining to Spike what had happened earlier in the morning. “He’ll be back the day after tomorrow, barring anyone keeps one of the vermin. On the plus side, we get to keep you for a bit longer.”

“Oh.” Spike didn’t know exactly how to feel knowing that he’d be staying at his grandmother’s. Knowing he could spend time with Rarity excited him. Yet, for Tirek to leave today, there was a bit of anxiety growing in his chest. Rarity detected that something was amiss, and quickly went to give him a hug. 

“Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be back before you know it.”

Spike smiled and seemed to nestle into her hug. Even Selina got up and joined in, though she didn’t understand it. She was thrilled to know that her uncle had left. Perhaps Spike was just too nice and didn’t know any better. 

Breakfast went quickly after Spike cheered up, and soon Rarity was collecting the plates and bringing them to the back to clean. Spike was about to go to his room and wait out the day, when his sister came up from behind him and gently tugged on his robe. Before she could even say what she wanted, Spike instantly remembered. He’d promised that after he finished studying, he would play with her the following day. Spike let out a sigh as he turned to his sister. 

“What do you want to play?” He asked, unable to think of an excuse not to keep his promise. There came an excited, high squeal as Selina grabbed her brother by the hand and led him through the mansion. Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. He wanted time to pass quickly, and there was no doubt Selina had endless amounts of games waiting to be played. In fact, it may have very well been what she was naming as she dragged him through the mansion. All he would need to do was bear through everything until tonight.

They played hide and seek first, and then when Spike proved that he was better at it than her, despite letting his sister win a few rounds, they moved on to Snakes and Ladders. Spike was terrible at the game, as he had some of the worst luck in the world while playing it. After a string of losses, as his sister kept landing on ladders, Spike was just about to win during the fifth round, only 5 squares away from the top of the board, until his dice came up with snake eyes, and he landed on a snake that was tattooed with the word Pride. He was sent back to the tenth square near the start of the board. His sister, who had been lagging quite a bit behind her brother, landed on a ladder that was marked with the word Humility. She was taken up towards the eighty-fourth square. On Spike’s next turn he rolled a twelve, and subsequently landed on another snake marked wrath, sending him back to the second square. He swallowed a scream and handed the die off. After Selina rolled a twelve, Spike conceded the game and they moved on to play something else.

Their fun lasted until lunch time, where the children were treated to the leftovers from last night. The children did not complain though, as their grandmother could make even leftover’s delightful. Haydon managed this by cutting the steaks into thin strips, perhaps an eighth of an inch and drizzling a homemade sauce onto each one of them. After making sure each piece was coated nicely, she put them in a skillet that had rested on a flame for about a minute or two prior to the steak’s additions. It normally took no longer than three or five minutes for everything to be heated and served. There were no complaints from Selina, who was given the dessert that she missed the other night.

Haydon did not stay for long though. She disappeared as soon as they were served, going off into some other room. Under normal circumstances, Rarity would have said something to Spike, gently encouraging him to forgive Haydon. Rarity showed most loyalty to her employer after all, kind woman that she was. Perhaps too kind. Haydon wanted Spike to forgive her on his own terms and discouraged Rarity from interfering. Forgiveness was not forgiveness when coerced.

After lunch, Selina dragged Spike to the Library, where Spike read from several books, mostly about legends and fables, to entertain her. Part of him knew that there was likely something his uncle wanted him to do while he was away, but Spike could wait a day before starting. It was only when Rarity came to fetch them for dinner that they put their books away and went to the dining hall. Spike allowed himself a smile. He just had to make it through dinner, and he was home free. He would retrieve the key and go to his mother’s room to rummage through the things she left behind.

Haydon and Rarity came in and placed a similar meal from last night on the table. Fruit and a salad, some for them, mostly for Rarity, but there was something else that was brought out, a mustard glazed pork tenderloin. Spike’s mouth nearly fell open, as he leaned forward, tempted to spear the meat and steal it all for himself.

While forgiveness couldn’t be coerced, Haydon had no gripes about nudging him towards it with his favorite meal. Spike often wanted his grandmother to teach him, but she would always leave out a key ingredient or two, just to make sure he had to come back home when he wanted his favorite meal. Everyone was served in a matter of seconds, with Spike receiving a larger portion than everyone else.

The meal was mostly quiet, though the children ate happily and drank as much as they wanted. Rarity had brewed some tea earlier in the evening and added some honey and lemon to the pot. It was mostly for Selina’s benefit, but they didn’t mind. After they had eaten every speck of food and the tea pot had run dry, Selina retreated to her room, escorted by Rarity. The meal had made her a bit drowsy, and so, even though it was only about seven in the evening, it would not be long until the little gargoyle was snug in bed, dreaming of things that would no doubt put a smile on her face. 

Spike stayed behind to help his grandmother with the dishes. He would dry and put away what his grandmother washed and scrubbed. The atmosphere was thick as they did their parts, with Haydon looking between the dishes and Spike. “You’re being unusually quiet today,” Haydon said, hoping that Spike would speak to her. She received a half-hearted hmm in response. Her smile fell as a pang of sorrow began to spread through her chest, like a bucket being filled with too much water. “Spike I’m-” She fell silent as two arms wrapped around her lower body, and her Grandson’s head buried itself in her dress. “Thank you.” 

Spike returned to drying the dishes. “She left today,” he said, hoping that she would talk about it with him.

Haydon looked down, her eyes shutting as she tried to control a spark of rage. “She did. I can’t imagine how that must feel for you. Spike, you know I love you, right?”

“I know, I just miss her. I know you don’t like her, but it still sucks! Selina talks about her mom, and Dad, like they’re the best things in the world, and I get Uncle Tirek.” 

“Spike, I know your uncle isn’t the kindest person in the world, he’s overbearing at times, and he doesn’t even attempt to smile, but I know for a fact that he loves you. He just has trouble saying it. And before you say it, I know he pushes you too hard, but that’s just his own, very special way of letting you know he want’s what’s best for you,” Haydon said, trying to keep the conversation positive.

“That’s what mom always said.” Spike could feel his stomach knot as he readied his next question, knowing that it was going to violate her trust. “Grandma, this might sound strange, but can I stay in her room tonight?”

Haydon froze for a moment. “You want to stay in your mother’s room? Why? It’s so musty in there.”

“I just think, maybe it’ll feel like she’s still around.”

Haydon chewed the inside of her cheek as she mulled over the request. Was it the right thing to do? They had just had someone break into that very room, though Rarity assured her that the only reason it happened was because it was empty, surrounded by empty rooms, a ripe spot for a thief to enter. What happened if it made him feel worse as the night went on? Though not the best thing, she could comfort, maybe even coddle him a bit, and lightly suggest avoiding the room. Perhaps, if it would help Spike, she could talk about Kindle, maybe have a long discussion about her, in plain terms. She felt sick to her stomach just thinking about that conversation. Perhaps, this was a chance to do some good for Spike, and if he wanted to talk about Kindle the next day than perhaps it was time for her, them, to unpack that together. 

“I’ll let Rarity know you’ll be sleeping there tonight,” Haydon said, after carefully considering her options. “Just make sure that you’re the one that makes the bed. She may be my handmaid, but that’s no excuse to be rude.”

Spike smiled and gave his grandmother another hug. Yet, despite his joy, he couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty. After all, a lie by omission was still a lie.

After drying the last dish and utensil, Spike helped his Grandmother put everything away. When the last cabinet was closed, he left for his room while Haydon went to check on Selina. His sister would keep his Grandmother busy for a time, allowing him to get the key to his mother’s room safely. 

Making sure his door was closed, Spike took the key out of its hiding place and put it in his robe’s inner pocket. It would remain there until he came to his mother’s room and hid it again. He left his room, taking with him his favorite pillow, and made his way towards the west hall. He came to his mother’s room, only for the door to swing open revealing Rarity. She seemed panicked for some reason, something that worried Spike.

“Spike?” She asked, surprised to see him. “What are you doing with a pillow?” 

“I asked Grandma if I could stay here tonight. It makes me feel like mom is still around,” Spike answered, truthfully. There was no point in him hiding that information, as his grandmother would no doubt confirm it.

“Oh, I see. Well, have a nice night then.” Rarity was satisfied with the answer, continued on her way. “Oh, Spike, do you know where your Grandmother is? I need to chat with her.”

“She’s with Selina-”

“Thank you!” Rarity hurried to the eastern hall and rushed into Selina’s room. 

Selina was snug in her bed, in her night gown, with Haydon recounting a tale from her younger years. The elder gargoyle lifted a finger, directed towards Rarity, signaling for the mare to give her a moment so she could finish her story. She was recounting the time she met her late husband, and Selina was enthralled. Not surprising, as the girl adored romance stories of all types. By the time She had finished her tale, Selina was sound asleep, clutching her toy dragon close as her breath raised and lowered the covers.

Haydon gave Selina a kiss on the forehead and left the room with Rarity in tow. “What is it? Did Spike need me?”

“No,” Rarity responded. She swallowed a growing lump in her throat, and suddenly blurted out, “I lost the key to Kindle’s room!”

A sudden chill fell across the hall as Haydon, without turning to face her handmaid. Pointed to a random door. “Get in there now.” Rarity did as commanded and Haydon followed, shutting the door behind her. “You lost the key?” She asked, glaring at the unicorn.

“Well I thought I put it away last night, but I think I was so sleep deprived that I made up a memory of doing so. I retraced my steps everywhere! I searched in Kindle’s room, my room, the foyer, I would check the guard house, but you only gave me the key after I returned so-”

“Give me a moment!” Haydon demanded. She began to pace the room, muttering to herself. It was too much of a coincidence for the key to go missing and to have Spike want to sleep in Kindle’s room that very same night. “Go to Spike’s room and search everywhere! I need to have a talk with my Grandson.”





“Where is it?” Haydon asked, throwing the door to Kindle’s room open.

Spike sat at the vanity, reading a storybook from his mother’s bookshelf. There were countless other books but most of them were things that disinterested the dragon. “Where’s what?” He asked, looking at his grandmother through the mirror. He knew she meant the key, but he had to stay calm. Any hint that he had it would surely cost him dearly when his uncle returned.

Her glare only hardened. “Spike, look me in the eye. Where is it?”

Spike took a small, almost unnoticeable breath, turned around, and looked his grandmother square in the eye. “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Fine, I guess it’s the hard way. Give me your robe, now!” Haydon began to go through the punishments she could rain down upon her grandchild when she found the key in his possession. Dessert? Gone. Leisure time? Tirek would seem merciful compared to her. Rarity? She would need to take a paid vacation the next time he came over. 

Spike stood up, slipped off his robe, and handed it to his grandmother, keeping a cool demeanor about him. His grandmother rummaged through his pockets and found nothing. She looked under the bed, the wardrobes, the vanity, in the vanity draw, the pillow cases, under the mattress and under the pillows. Finally, when she pulled back the covers she found a Romance novel that no boy should be reading.

“Spike, what on earth is this?!” She cried. 

“It was mom’s favorite book,” Spike explained. “I thought I would read it later tonight. She said I could when I was older. I thought since it’s been nine years-”

“You need to be a lot older for this!” Haydon shouted. She put her hand over her mouth and took a deep breath. “Spike, I’m sorry if I seem emotional, but I need to know, do you have your mother’s key?”

“Wait, did you lose her key?” Spike asked. He seemed to become saddened as he looked toward his mother’s jewelry box. “So, if I wanted to listen to that song later tonight, I can’t?”

“It seems so, but it’s not lost just misplaced. I’m sure Rarity will find it later. I’m sorry for snapping at you. I thought that, since you wanted to-” Haydon shook her head. “I’m sorry.” Before leaving, she took the book and put it back on the shelf. “You are not allowed to read any of those!” She warned.

Spike nodded, and Haydon left after telling him how much she loved him. How foolish was she for thinking that spike could be so disobedient? Perhaps Rarity had left the key somewhere so meaningless and unimportant, that neither of them had thought of it just yet. She was silly to doubt him, absolutely silly. She closed the door behind her, leaving Spike alone.

The moment the door shut, Spike let out a soft sigh and fell to his bottom. The fact that he’d stayed in control was nothing short of a miracle, though he did feel guilty for lying to his Grandmother. Not to mention the trouble he’d likely gotten Rarity into. Thanking the heavens for his fortune, he quickly took a few books from their resting place on the shelf and took the key from its hiding place. It was a trick his mother had inadvertently taught him when hiding small letters that she never sent off with a courier. No one ever thought to look behind the books on a bookshelf. Then there was the novel that he had no interest in reading. Haydon wanted to find something, so Spike made sure that she had something to find.

Spike blew out his candle and waited until the light in the hall had vanished, signaling that Rarity had gone to sleep. In the time that he waited, there was no yelling that he could hear, so it was likely that there was little conflict outside a stern warning to find the key. Once he was certain that no one would catch him, Spike lit his candle and made his way towards the left wardrobe. Taking a deep breath, he inserted the key and gave it a turn.