"Are you okay, Twilight?"
It had been the first time Rarity had dared to speak since the fight ended. The two had run in silence until they came across Pinkie sitting next to a sobbing Mumble. The earth pony had explained what had happened. Fluttershy had taken Spike home to treat him, while Applejack and Rainbow Dash had gone back to Ghastly Gorge to dig Thrash out.
Since then, the trio had walked in silence back to the library. The storm that Rainbow Dash had set up several days ago was scheduled for that evening, so grey clouds were overcast, adding gloom. Once they had gotten into town, a few ponies tried to pry them on what had happened to Spike. Twilight hadn't answered, leaving her friends to make apologies for her.
The lavender unicorn sighed. "I... I didn't mean to hurt him that bad. I'm not sorry I did it, but... I feel like I should be."
"Twilight, getting that violent is a traumatic experience, regardless of the reason," Rarity assured. "And you had no choice. That brute would have kept coming after Spike unless he was scared off or... we dealt with him. You were just protecting your child."
By now they were at the library door. "I guess you're right... I should be worrying more about Spike, anyway."
"Ooh! Now we can do something fun! Maybe we can throw a party and..."
"Tomorrow, Pinkie," Twilight answered, a bit more bluntly than intended. "Tonight, it has to be just me and Spike."
The lavender unicorn opened her front door and walked inside. Moments later, Fluttershy flew out from Twilight's bedroom, alerted by the noise.
"Oh good, you're back. I checked Spike over. He's a bit bruised up and he has some cuts, but nothing's broken."
Twilight let loose a breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding. "That's a relief. Has he said anything?"
Fluttershy just lowered her head and shook it sadly. "The poor thing just won't stop crying. I calmed him down a little, but he's so upset.”
A lump formed in Twilight's throat. She swallowed. "Right. You all better get home."
"But don't you want us to..." Pinkie began.
"No. This needs to be between me and Spike."
"I agree, darling," Rarity said. "We'll come by tomorrow and check on you."
"Okie Dokie," Pinkie agreed. "I'll go make sure Applejack and Rainbow Dash are okay first. See ya tomorrow!"
"Just so you know, Owlowiscious is looking after Peewee. And, um..." Fluttershy noted. She flew over to Twilight's mantle and picked up Spike's gift. "I think you might need this."
Smiling sadly, Twilight took it with her magic. Her three friends excused themselves and went out the door.
Sighing, Twilight began her trek upstairs, every step seemingly taking forever. She finally reached the top, where she heard the faint sobs of her baby dragon.
Taking one last deep breath, she opened the door. Sitting on her bed was Spike, a bit bandaged by Fluttershy's tender care, but still looking absolutely miserable. His head was cupped in his claws at first, but hearing Twilight come in made him look up. His eyes were red and bloodshot, and misty with tears.
"Hey Spike," she said gently. He didn't move. He looked at her, scared as to what would come next.
Twilight approached him cautiously. When she was close enough, she pulled him into a hug. He neither resisted nor accepted this. He was just neutral.
She released him and looked into his eyes. Tears were forming in her eyes as well. "Don't... don't go running off like that," she said, trying to sound stern, but failing miserably.
Spike still didn't respond, just looking at her as if he was about to be punished.
Twilight levitated the picture frame from behind her back and sent it to her bedside table. When Spike saw he froze, his eyes giving an expression like he had just seen Garble fly back into the bedroom.
"I really like the frame," Twilight said, as if it were an ordinary conversation. "You picked some good pictures for it. It's cute."
Spike just looked at her in sheer terror.
"Spike... is that what this is all about? You want me to be your mother?"
He was silent. Gently, she brought a hoof to his shoulder. "Spike... you can tell me."
After a moment, he nodded, ever so slightly.
"And why did you think I wouldn't want to be your mother?"
Now Spike looked less horrified and more nonplussed, as if the unicorn had just asked him what ice was made of.
"Come on, I want you to say what's bothering you out loud. It will help you feel better."
"...I let you down," he said quietly. "You needed me, and I... I..."
Twilight patted his head gently, encouraging him to finish.
"...I abandoned you. You stood by me after everything, but... I couldn't..."
He broke down, his sobs coming out anew. Twilight held him close, letting him use his tears. They stayed together for a long time before the dragon calmed down. Twilight let go and backed up a bit, levitating a handkerchief up to his eyes and drying them.
"Spike... when you thought I was wrong, how did you feel?"
He blinked. He hadn't expected that question. "I... I guess I felt... confused. Like... I was wondering why you would do something so unlike you." Then, suddenly, anger flowed into him. "I should have known something was up then! I shouldn't have doubted you! I shouldn't have just walked out on you! And even if I didn't believe you, I should have stayed with you, or tried to talk the others into forgiving you, or..."
Twilight gently put a hoof on his mouth. "Easy there. We can talk about that in a moment. Now, what were you going to do about it?"
"I was... going to go talk to you afterward about it."
"...And... did you still love me? Did you want me to be your mother?"
"Of course!" he said quickly. "I mean... I just... didn't know what to do."
She nodded understandingly. "Alright. So when it looked like I had made a big mistake, you were disappointed in me, but you still loved me the same?"
Spike fidgeted a bit. "I guess that's a good way of putting it."
"Alright. Now tell me: now that we know it's you who made the mistake, why wouldn't I feel the same way?"
Spike looked at her, a bit surprised.
"Spike... I promised you I'd never lie after your first day of school, so I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Yes, you could have handled things differently even if you didn't believe me. And I must say, I'm more disappointed that you tried to run from your problems rather than face them. You made mistakes, but that's what I'm here for. You're just a baby dragon. You're very wise for your age, but you still have a lot to learn. I'm supposed to make sure you learn from your mistakes, and it sounds like you have.
"And did you really think I would stop loving you over this, after all we've been through together? All those years I spent teaching you, reading you bedtime stories, working to get you accepted? Or all the good you've done for me, all the times we played together..." A mischievous grin crossed her features. "All the visits from the tickle manticore?" She wiggled her hooves toward him. Spike, in spite of himself, giggled at this.
"Did you really think I wasn't going to love you just because you did something wrong?"
Spike was silent for a moment.
Then, in a flash, he felt very, very stupid.
He cried again.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry for making you worry! I'm sorry for running away! I'm sorry you and the others got hurt fighting those dragons! I'm sorry! I'm such an idiot!"
Twilight wrapped her forelegs around him, pulling him into a tight hug. This time, he hugged back, letting loose days worth of pent-up emotion. She rubbed his back with her hoof.
"Shh, sh, sh, no more of that. I don't want you dumping on yourself ever again."
"But..."
"You're not an idiot, Spike. You were just scared and confused, that's all. Whenever you think about yourself, I want you to remember a few things."
"W... what?"
"How you always got perfect grades when you were tutored. Or how you wanted to be my assistant just to be around me. How you wanted to be a knight when you were little just to help ponies and dragons," she giggled, causing him to blush.
"Or how about when you took my fears seriously and wrote to Princess Celestia, even when the others blew me off? Or when you gave your fire ruby to Rarity just to see her happy? Or when you stood up to three dragons who could really hurt you to protect an innocent egg you didn't even know. And even today, you still put Peewee's safety above your own.
"You're brave, Spike. And kind, and smart." She was crying now too, but still smiling. "And... and you know what?"
Spike looked up at her as she smiled.
"I would be proud to call you my son."
Spike's eyes widened.
And then he threw himself back into Twilight, his cries coming out anew. Twilight just held him for a moment. She adjusted herself, sliding onto the bed and lying on her back, allowing her child to rest on top of her. Music seemed to drift through the air as she opened her mouth and began singing.
"Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to go to bed"
Spike’s cries seemed to increase at his mother’s lullaby. Twilight softly stroked him. Outside, the storm let loose, and rain poured down, but the two paid it no mind.
“Drifting off to sleep.
Exciting day behind you.
Drifting off to sleep.
Let the joy of dream land find you."
Twilight levitated the covers over them as Spike nuzzled into the crook of her neck even farther.
“Hush now, quiet it now, it's time to lay your sleepy head.
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed.
Hush now, quiet now, close your sleepy eyes.
Hush now, quiet now, my how time sure flies.”
Spike’s sobs were quieting. He was smiling now, for the first time in days.
“Drifting, drifting off to sleep the days excitement behind you.
Drifting drifting off to sleep let the joy of dreamland find you.”
Twilight kissed her son on the forehead.
“Hush now, quiet now, lay your sleepy head.
Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed.”
And so, they stayed that way for awhile, simply enjoying each other’s company. Before long Spike, exhausted from the days events, fell asleep. Twilight allowed him to rest. It reminded her of when he was an infant, always wanting to be by her side.
For right now, everything was at peace.
In an unknown location, sitting behind a desk, was the very same stallion Garble had spoken to days ago. He was dismissively tapping his hoof against the oak furniture while listening to another unicorn read notes off his clipboard.
“One of our field agents just reported in,” the navy blue unicorn stated. “I’m afraid the dragons never made it to Ponyville. Twilight Sparkle engaged them well outside the town.”
“Disappointing,” he said, sounding mildly annoyed.
“Indeed, sir. We’re halting production on the headline...”
“You’ll do no such thing,” his boss said, earning a surprised look.
“But... the dragons did no damage to the town. The other ponies won’t even...”
“You forget, we’ve kept tabs on the Bearers. The fashion designer, the baker, and the weather pony, they aren’t known for their still tongues. In all likelihood, the fact that those three went looking for Celestia’s little pet is going to be common knowledge within a day or two.”
“Would it be as effective as our original plan?”
“It might not be,” the crimson stallion nodded, “but ponies can be paranoid creatures, especially with the fears of the changelings about. Even the idea of a dragon attack can be enough to stir them up.”
Nonchalantly, he lifted something off his desk, levitating it in front of his face. “This will need some rewriting, and the ponies will require a bit more kindling... but our plans are hardly derailed.”
He tossed the paper back onto the desk. It was a newspaper, dated for the next day, with no story text, but a single ominous headline.
CELESTIA’S PET DRAGON CAUSES DESTRUCTION TO INNOCENT RURAL TOWN