Ch 7 the Meal
Luna sat stunned in a pile of magically conjured gems and jewelry, a line of smoke billowing from the chest plate of her draconic transformation. Fortunately, dragons had been avoiding death for millennia, from both ponies and other dragons, and evolution had left them with nearly impenetrable thoracic plates, a trait the changed Luna currently shared. So, when three faces appeared above her, one orange, one yellow, and one blindingly pink, worry and fear etched deep in their faces, Luna was able to voice her opinion on the turn of events quite lucidly. “… What?”
They all sighed at the word, proof they hadn’t inadvertently killed the Princess. (Celestia would have been piiiiiisssssed.) Luna-gon shook her head to clear her thoughts, and returned to an all-fours standing position. “That was quite unexpected.” She said, more for her own benefit than that of those surrounding her.
“Yer tellin’ us, Princess!” whooped Applejack, who was ecstatic now that all apparent danger had passed.
“Yeah!” added Pinkie “I mean, who’s ever heard of a dragon using lightning?” Wow, so that was what she got out of that? Really?
“Actually, pink one,” replied Luna, slightly miffed at the apparent lack of concern for her safety, “Tis quit a common trait among water dragons.”
“That makes sense.” Commented Fluttershy. “Fire won’t do much good under water, no matter how hot it is, but electricity would be conducted very easily.”
“Wow, now who’s the egghead?” said an eves dropping Rainbow Dash from above Spike.
Fluttershy blushed and tried to hide behind her mane, but Luna-gon only chuckled. “Tis quit the astute observation, little one, though water born dragons do not usually have wings, and tend to be longer and thinner in appearance.” They were also quite common in Neighpon and China, though Luna felt that tidbit could be added later. “But back to the matter at hoof, is he alright?” she addressed Twilight with this, who nodded with relief.
“Yes, he’s just really tuckered out.” Luna nodded, and said they should probably bring him to town and give him something to eat.
“Uhm, Princess?” Fluttershy asked meekly. Luna-gon turned to her curiously, motioning for her to continue as she needed. “Well, I don’t mean to be rude, and you of all ponies could look however you wanted, I suppose, but if it’s not too much trouble, could you maybe-turn-back-to-a-pony-now?” the last few words were rushed, as though she was afraid it might hurt to say them.
Luna, though, was by no means offended, and had actually forgotten she had changed in all the commotion. She flapped a bit to indicate she needed some space, then proceeded to bath herself in a gorgeous, if frightening, black flame she spat forth. Once all was said and done, she stood tall, once again the Pony Princess they all knew, but something had changed since before the transformation.
“Oh my goodness!” exclaimed Rarity, prompting them all to make little exclamations of their own. Luna followed their gaze to her large necklace and was surprised to see it had been burned and was cracked nearly in half, the once marvelous jewelry now an unusable husk.
“The boy shall be quite formidable indeed!” she crowed, now slightly less confident in her draconic transformation. A quick spell, however, saw the piece magically replaced in short order, the act reminding her to swiftly return and send the pile of jewels back to the royal treasury. That treasurer was such a stickler, Luna would never have heard the end of it had she forgotten.
In no time they had made it back to town, and with the escort of a pair of newly arrived Lunar Guards, as well as the Solar Guard from before, made their way to a local restaurant known for its hearty portions. Managing to get an entire corner of the restaurant to themselves, one without windows through which unwanted eyes could spy them. The Guards were positioned in front of the table while they ordered their meals, Luna opting for an impressive six full size hay-burgers. (All present decided to avoid telling her that Twilight could down a cool fifteen after an average study session.)
It was here that Spike awoke, surrounded by those closest to him, and with four fully loaded trays of hay-fries ready for him. In between wolfing them down, he managed to speak to them. “Hey girls!” he called cheerily, once again his cherubic self. “How are you? It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever.” This got him a cheer, a laugh, and a huge group hug, from the bottom of which he could be seen blushing his bewildered little dragon face off. (Hey, Rarity may have been his crush, but the others were no slouches in the cutie department.)
After a brief, and notably watered down version of the events of the past week, Spike immediately began checking himself out, focusing immediately on his new leathery appendages. “Cool!” he exclaimed “I’ve got wings! Finally!” he wrapped himself in them excitedly, hugging them affectionately.
“Heh, yeah!” said Rainbow, “and I bet I can teach you how to fly, too! Feathers and skin can’t operate that differently.” She rubbed her chest proudly, as though it had been decided long ago.
Twilight giggled at her antics, but fervently agreed. “And just think Spike!” he cocked his head at her. “We can learn together now!” this put him over the edge, as he whooped out loud, and accidently let a jet of emerald flame loose. No-pony was hurt, and the building was fine, but it still startled them all.
“Whoa,” he said nervously, “that’s gonna take some getting used to.”
The others merely nodded, and it was obvious the Guards had taken a fervent interest in the living furnace that sat so close to their charges. Luna and Twilight merely batted at them, indicating it was fine, and they returned to their duty, albeit a bit nervous now.
Fluttershy decided to probe Spike himself on recent events and asked “Spike? What do you remember from the process?”
Spike thought for a bit, and finally said “Not too much.” He said, somewhat cryptically. “I kinda get the impression I wasn’t really myself for a while, and the fight at the end is actually kinda there- hazy but there.” He leaned on the table and asked Twilight “Was I really acting all mean to you?” he seemed genuinely sorry, despite it not being his fault. She nodded, but smiled sympathetically. “And was I really gone for a week?”
Luna took this one. “Indeed, young drago, though the process was only meant to take a miniscule three days. Thou hath shown many unique signs in the past few days.”
“Drago?” asked Twilight.
“Hm? Oh, yes.” Luna hadn’t remembered to explain the proper names of the dragon lifecycle to Twilight. “A newborn dragon is a whelp, but now that Spike has completed his chryssaling, he is considered a drago, a mid-pubescent youngling. In a few short years he will experience a sudden, and somewhat painful growth spurt, and will then be considered a vestigial drake, or terragon, and shortly after he will be a full drake, allowed to mate a dame and have a clutch and nest of his own.” Twilight listened intently, not only to commit it to memory for Spikes sake, but for the pure love of new information.
Spike, however, had a question of his own. “So a female dragon is a dame, huh?”
Luna giggled. “Indeed, young Spike.” She leaned in on him mischievously. “Interested in the fairer sex, are we now?”
“I guess.” He shrugged. He had liked Rarity for a long time, but this felt different. Another thought came to him them. “But since we’re on the subject, who was the dame I fought in the cave?” Luna straightened out immediately, sensing a disturbance in the force. “I can’t remember much about who she was, only that she was like god-tier hot.” You could hear a pin drop. Even the Guards, who had not been present, sensed something wrong with the comment.
It began with Rainbow, slow and low at first, then spread to the others like wildfire, a deep and uproarious laughter, all at the expense of the Princess of the Night. Spike was notably oblivious to the cause, and sat bewildered, only asking his follow-up question once the laughter had leveled out a bit. “Hey Luna, Are you blushing?” they all looked to the Princess, who was indeed blushing for all she was worth. “Cuz you kinda look like Twilight right now.” It took a moment to register, but once it did, the laughter started anew, and even the less disciplined local Guard gave a chuckle. (In the coming years, Spike would have numerous inappropriate dreams about that dame, always interrupted by a strangely flustered Luna.)
“Well,” Luna called suddenly, straining to be heard over the laughter, “Wouldst thou look at the time?! We hath been apart of our duties for far too long, and needs must return, post-haste.” She had her snout lifted haughtily in the air, as if she was offended, but it was obvious she was just trying to hide her purple dyed face. “And we do believe it is time our sister learned proper study habits, as well as what not to do with a dragon egg.” She finished a bit darkly, then made her way outside, stopping only to give a slightly embarrassed and tired wave to the seven at the table behind her, who had all stopped laughing long enough to say goodbye and offer thanks. Only Spike noticed what was wrong with that statement. “But,” he said, unheard “there aren’t any clocks in here.”
Twilight stood and followed her out, and was surprised to see her boarding a royal carriage, one bearing the lunar insignia. “What?” asked Luna. “Twas left over from our original visit for tea.” Twilight shrugged, accepting the answer.
“Anyway,” Twilight said, “I really appreciate everything you’ve done here, princ- I mean Luna.” she quickly corrected herself. “You didn’t have to go out on a limb like you did, and we all really can’t thank you enough for doing so, me and Spike especially.”
Luna gave her best warm smile, an unusually successful attempt, and responded. “Oh Twilight. We art the best of friends. Tis only natural that one would be willing to go the extra ell for thee, hm?”
Twilight nodded, agreeing whole heartedly, and waved goodbye as the carriage pulled into the sky, bound for Canterlot.