The two Dragon-kin found themselves in a reading area off to the side of the foyer. Spike was sitting in one of the chairs, while Snow had found the floor comfortable enough. She had lain out in a semicircle, and kept her head more or less on Spikes level. They had moved here shortly after she had asked her question. Apparently he thought standing for a while would have been uncomfortable for her, which was silly of course, but rather than interrupt the drake, she just followed him when he went to the chair.
Snowfire listened to Spike speak about his life. The Little Dude could talk. It was actually making her uncomfortable in a way. In her experience conversations with drakes generally consisted of a variety of grunts, self congratulations, and the word ‘Dude’. They also rarely lasted more than five minutes. The fact that this little dragon was being so… open was also startling. He appeared to just say things about his past without thought. If she wanted to, she was sure she could come up with half a dozen blackmail appropriate things so far. She was almost positive that the same thought hadn’t even been a glimmer of an idea in his mind. Which meant either that Spike was being incredibly naive or that how she was raised was incredibly-
“-and the next time I saw her she had wings!” Spike had just said. For some reason that seemed like an important detail.
“Woah. Slow down. What was that again?” said Snowfire.
“Uhm, I was just saying that after she finished that spell she was gone with Princess Celestia for a bit, and she got some wings,” said Spike.
“So, is like, not being born with wings a normal thing for ponies?” said Snowfire,
“Well, I guess for unicorns and earth-ponies it is. Pegasi get born with wings, but the other types don't have them,” said Spike.
“But I thought you said Twilight was a Unicorn.”
“Yep.”
“You just said that non-pegasi don’t having wings.” said Snowfire. She was starting to wonder if the little Dude was pulling her tail.
“Uh-huh. Oh, I think I get it! She used to be a unicorn, and they don’t have wings, but after the thing -whats the word- she does now,” said Spike, tapping his chin in thought.
“So shes now what? A pegasus?”
“Ah ha, ”- Spike said, snapping his fingers -”I remember. Ascended! Twilight ascended. thats what it was. I think a ‘winged-unicorn’ is something else, actually. Twilight became an Alicorn.”
“... Your yankin my tail.”
“No honest. Princess Celestia, Luna and Candice even made Twilight a Princess too. you can ask her when she gets back.”
“No way.” Now she knew the drake was trying to put one over on her. She was back in familiar territory again, at least for the rest of this conversation. For some reason she felt a bit disappointed.
“I Pinky Promise. Everything I said was true.”
Snowfire rolled her eyes. The drake had overplayed his hand. She took a breath, gathering her thoughts. She was going to really start to poke holes in his back story. If form held true they would go back and forth for a while till she had thoroughly torn down his story. After a bit she might whittle down to some truth. Familiar steps for her, if draining and off putting.
Before she could verbally rip into the Little Dude the door to the library opened. “-Sure! see you back here in a few then Rainbow.” A purple pony called back out the door as she walked in. The mare had a dark blue mane with a pink stripe, and starburst style cutie mark on her side. she also happens to very apparently a set of wings and a horn.
The two dragons, moved off to the side as they were, were not in her direct line of sight when she closed the door. The pony was obviously deeply in thought but was meandering more or less towards a display that Snow had not paid much attention to. Having caught her eye, Snowfire saw that the display contained a single piece of jewelry. It was somewhat smaller than other examples she had seen as of late, but a crown was a crown.
“‘Everything’ huh?” said Snowfire, softly.
“Yup! Hey Twilight, We have company!” Spike called.
****
Thinking back on it, the thing that probably kept her from blasting the dragoness out through the wall had been Spikes happy greeting. At that moment, Twilights hind-brain was screaming at her that there was an apex-predator in her safe area with her. Her Instinctual center was also confused enough by the additional presence of what she considered to be her child making happy greeting noises. This caused a deadlock, and her hindbrain decided to boot it up to the next level of management for a decision. Thankfully her conscious mind decided to behave a bit more rationally and resisted the urge “stomp the threat flat” … at least until she had a little more information. She had a couple of quick cast spells readied, at any rate. In never hurt to be prudent.
The red and white dragoness was laying on the floor in the reading area of the library, while Spike was sitting across from her in one of the overstuffed chairs. Spike was waving his greeting, and the other Dragon was looking at her impassively. She had been standing there for the past few heartbeats, front hoof in the air, unmoving.
As smoothly as she could, which she was sure wasnt very smooth at all, she put her hoof down and approached the duo. The dragoness seemed disinclined to make any sort of move at her approach.
“Hello, welcome to the Golden Oak Library,” she said when she got within a good conversational distance. Her subconscious mind was informing her that she was well within snapping range, but she told that part of her brain to shove off.
The dragoness hadn't been holding perfectly still the whole time, but her movement had been slow and non-threatening, but at Twilights greetings, her eyes flicked over to Spike for an instant before moving back to her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Spike sitting there with a self satisfied smirk on his face.
“You’re a princess?” The Dragoness asked. Twilight blink-blinked at the abruptness of the question. Well, might as well get the big stuff out of the way first thing, she thought.
“Yes, I am,” said Twilight. The dragoness glanced at Spike again at that. The look filled with a meaning, but Twilight couldn't decipher what it was, and it was quick enough that Spike didn’t catch it. She wondered what that was about.
“...I ain’t bowing” The dragoness said. In her mind Twilight could imagine a surly teen pony saying the exact same, and she suddenly felt like she knew how to deal with the situation.
“Oh please don’t, thank you. That always makes me feel more awkward. My name is Twilight, and you must be Snowfire?”
“Yea, thats Me I suppose Princess” said Snowfire.
“Please, outside of anything ‘official’ just call me Twilight.”
“Err, alight?”
Twilight could tell the Snowfire was out of her depth. She could almost see the cogs free-wheeling in her head and had to suppress a chuckle. The dragoness was prepared to be on the verbal defensive, but lacking a clear attack had left her befuddled.
Snowfire may not have been what who she was expecting her to be, but the last few years had taught Twilight to adjust quickly. Snowfire had been approved of by Princess Celestia, so it didn’t really matter to Twilight if she was a pony, gryphon, or dragon. A changeling might have been a … problem, but that didn't seem like it was going to be an issue.
*SLAM!*
“Hey Twilight! Where is this monster were supposed to be kicking flank on?”
Twilight couldn't tell if she was cringing more because ponies kept slamming her door, or because of what Rainbow Dash had called out as she entered. The door had been receiving more than it’s share of abuse today. The little mare in the back of her mind added ‘check door hinges’ to her to-do list.
If Rainbow Dash followed form she would would momentarily be making an exclamation of some sort and charging Snowfire. She got ready to catch Rainbow with her telekinetic grab. If she caught Dash and held her off she could explain the situation...probably. She would have to be quick; she may have bent the curve for "Casting-Speed at Strength" when she last tested for it, but Rainbow was faster.
She was more worried about how Snowfire was going to react. She could control Rainbow, at least at the speeds she would be limited to while in the library, but if the Dragoness reacted violently it would be a challenge for her to prevent anypony from getting hurt. She could see that the fur along the Snowfire’s blaze had tensed and was on end. ‘Interesting’ a part of her noted.
...Any moment now...
A Blue hoof suddenly occupied her vision. She jerked back as it started to waggle itself. Her train of thought was completely tied in a knot.
“Yo, `Twi, you in there?” said Rainbow.
“That's the second time she just kinda has frozen,” said Spike.
“Abuh. What? wait-” Twilight started sputtering.
“Oh good, you were starting to worry me. Everything cool?” said Rainbow.
“-But. you dragon. Door, Flank kick-”
“...You thought I was just going to bust in here and start a fight?” said Dash, gesturing at Snowfire. Snowfire had appeared to relax slightly, and had eyebrow raised. Spike was looking back and forth between everypony trying to figure out what was going on.
“I would appreciate not doing that, actually,” chimed in Snowfire.
“Yes! No! I don't know!” Twilight could
“Come on `Twi, I don't just attack somepony `cuz their different, not unless they need it.”
“But but she's a dragon.” said Twilight. “How did you not?”
“So? So is Spike. Is this about the predator thing? I kinda don’t have a reaction to that anymore, “ said Dash. That caused Twilite to pause. “I used to spend a lot of time with a Griffin, you might remember her. Went by Gilda?”
“Yes. I remember. I’m sorry Snowfire, Rainbow. I wasn't thinking. That was awfully speciesist of me.”
“...It’s all good.” Snowfire said. The apology shocked the raised eyebrow off her face. She couldn't remember when someone had apologized of their own free will to her, especially because she didn't feel insulted in the first place.
“Yea. I got used to it that kinda thing happening when I hung out with Gilda. It’s cool.. Forget about it,” said Rainbow. Like that it was back to being a non-issue for the mare.“Anyways, I’m Rainbow Dash! Best flyer in Equestria. If you’re cool with `Twi and Spike, your cool with me.”
Rainbow held her hoof out, and Snowfire, decided she was already halfway down the rabbit hole, made a fist out of her front claw and bumped it. The multicolored mare reminded her a lot of one of her overly competitive clutch mates, but without constant the put-downs. These ponies could act strange, but at least it wasn't a mean-strange,Snowfire mused.
Snowfire was still in her ‘‘play along mode’ but her theory that this was all some sort of elaborate setup was getting less tenable every passing moment. Still, the idea that these ponies were acting in a genuinely friendly manner was alien to her. The running and the screaming when she had landed was normal, and soon should have been followed by name calling and possibly a show of force. Friendly conversation was doing uncomfortable things to her world view, and she was just reacting at this point.
“Uh...Good to meet you Rainbow, I’m Snowfire,” said the Dragoness, coming out almost like a question.
“Cool. So I bet you're the reason everyone's all running around in a panic.”
“Yea, I guess. It seems to happen around me.”
“Eh, I wouldn't worry about it. Ponies where I used to live would always act the same way when Gilda came around. I betcha the ones here in Ponyville will warm up to you before long,” said Rainbow.
“Oh yes, I’m sure they will,” interjected Twilight. “The ponies of Ponyville are actually very welcoming, they just don't ... startle well.”
There was a pair of matching snorts, but Twilight couldn't tell who they came from.
“Oh yea, Twi, that reminds me, I told everypony else to meet here, like you wanted,” Rainbow told Twilight.
“Everypony else?” asked Snowfire.
“The rest of our friends. This close to the Everfree we actually do get monsters that come into town, and my friends are I are kind of known as … troubleshooters I guess. ” explained Twilight, Rainbow nodding in agreement.
“Ah, more ponies? My stress level is kind of high right now…”
“Meh, don't worry about it, they're are all really cool,” said Rainbow with an accompanying ‘Yea!’ from Spike.
“Yes, they are all really nice. If you feel like you need space I'm sure they would understand, but as your host here in Ponyville I was planning on introducing you anyways,” said Twilight.
“Well…Alright. As long as none of em try and jump out at me or anything,” Snowfire said.
“Oki-Doki! Whatever you want!.” The voice from right behind them was totally unexpected, at least for Rainbow, and Twilight. Both were startled straight up and started flapping their wings instinctively, and for a few moments the air space inside the library was very busy.
Having seen her come in the front door, neither Spike nor Snowfire were caught flat footed. Spike himself had fallen over himself laughing immediately. The pink mare with the cotton candy mane was also giggling in a way that felt infectious, and Snowfire felt a smile break through.
“Thanks for the setup! I’m Pinkie Pie,” said the Mare as she bounced forward to hoofbump Snowfire.
“Anytime,and my names Snowfire.”
“Good one Pinkie,“ said Rainbow as she landed again, laughing. Twilight only rolled her eyes as she landed, but gave the Pink bundle of energy a smile.
“Pinkie pie is one of the friends we were just talking about,” said Twilight, shuffling her wings back into place. “Thanks for coming Pinkie, how are you?”
“ I’m super! I’m feeling mostly sane this time around too.” said Pinkie
“Uh…”
“Pinkies great, but we don’t question a lot of what she says. It’s safer, trust me.” Rainbow explained, with Spike and Twilight nodding in agreement. Pinkie giggled.
“Oh-kay.... Sure, why not, I’m only feeling part sane myself,” said Snowfire.
“Oh you're silly. We are gonna be great friends, I can tell! I knew I should have gotten a party ready. I felt a knee-twitch earlier, but Roseluck was hiding in my oven and wouldn't get out..”
“Huh… I was wondering where she had and hid,”said Twilight in a distant voice. Rainbow could only stare.
“There's… not something in the water around here is there?” The Dragoness asked.
“No, I tested for that. The current working theory is there might be something in the air that blows in from the Everfree. My research that direction has been inconclusive so far.”
“Or it could be Ponyville is a giant open air insane asylum they never tell anyone about! ...Why are you all looking at me like that?” said Pinkie. Twilight could only stare at the pink mare. The scary part was she could actually see it.
Rainbow fell over laughing, followed by Spike. Snowfire started to giggle but quickly stopped herself when she realized what she was doing. It didn't stop her from smiling however; the pink ones jokes may have been corny, but they were still funny.
****
Eventually a white pony, an orange pony, and a yellow pony showed up as well. They were introduced as Rarity Bell, Applejack, and Fluttershy, respectively.
The orange one, Applejack, had talked to her almost the least the whole evening. She had said enough to say her name, a few ‘eyup’s and ‘enope’s, and then had retreated to the far side of the library. That was fine with Snowfire. The cow-pony had actually come across as the sanest one of the bunch. It was comforting, for some reason, to know at least one of them had their hooves planted in reality.
Rarity had actually been interesting. She would have bet her left wing that wouldn’t have been how she thought of her later, but it did happened. The white pony had come in and introduced herself as a ‘fashionetta’, whatever that was, and had blathered on about clothing and style to her for a while. Oh sure, Rarity was quite good with sprinkling in the compliments.“Beautiful mane” and “stunning horns” her fuzzy butt. Snowfire knew sucking up when she heard it, and what exactly a dragon would do with clothing she had absolutely no clue. The most amusement she got out of the conversation that far had been discreetly watching Spike make eyes at the mare. Snowfire had tried to distract the conversation when she started talking about undergarments by asked about the mark on her hip.
That question had opened up a whole other side of the mare that Snowfire would never have guessed at. A Special Talent in finding large and tasty gems? Absolutely fascinating. They had joined in a lengthy conversation about technique and method at that point, as well as favorite cuts and colors. Rarity had even invited her to come with her on a dig she was going on, and Snowfire said she would consider it. Part of Snowfire had actually had decided that it wanted to go, but it had to convince the rest of her that it wasn't a set up and the ponies we all just crazy.
The storm that had been developing became apparent at that point, with rain starting to splatter against the windows. Rainbow had said something about a schedule that made no sense to the dragoness. Everypony else had gone ‘ahh’ like it made sense, so she kept her muzzle shut.
Snow felt kind of bad for the the last arrival. The little thing walked in, shook the water off, took one look at her, and bolted back out into the developing storm. Rainbow seemed as fast as she had boasted, but it still took her several minutes to fly down the yellow pegasus and drag her back. Even now, at the end of the the nights ‘festivities’ she was in the furthest corner she could get that was out of a direct line of sight.
Snow had even gone so far as to offer to leave and find a cave for herself for the night. She had no idea where the offer had come from, honestly she was more surprised than the ponies were, but it didn't feel like it was wrong to make. The others had all looked aghast at the idea, and supposedly even the one who was terrified of her had said something against it. Well, if they all wanted to be crazy and keep her warm, inside, and close, despite how afraid one of them was, she wasn't going to argue.
The evening had sort of meandered on at that point, as individual ponies moved between where the yellow one was and where Snowfire was laying. Twilight at some point had brought food to everypony, and to Snowfire’s surprise, she had received a pretty big gem. These ponies were trying to fatten her up or something, but she demolished the treat anyways. If a demi-goddess wanted to give you something, you said ‘yes ma’am, thank you ma’am” and took it.
Snowfire was starting to drowse while watching Spike follow Rarity around the room when Twilight had offered to show her to a private room in the basement she could use to sleep. Snowfire had accepted and followed. The room in the basement was actually pretty nice. It was was pretty large, warm, and dry. the bed was off course not build for her, but Twilight had pulled out several blankets and comforters from a closet and made Snow a nest on the floor.
“I hope this will be good enough for tonight. Im sorry I don’t have a large bed for you.”
“What? No, this will be fine, really.This is a better sleeping space than I normally have. Than I've ever had.” Snowfire had whispered the last part to herself.
“Oh… You're welcome,” said Twilight. She paused, seeming to want to ask a question,but did not know how to phrase it. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Yea sure, whats up?” said Snowfire, circling around the ‘nest’ nudging various blankets and pillows small increments.
“Well, you've met Spike, right? Silly question, you just spent most of the day with him… but, I guess its just that I’m worried about Him. Hes like a s- like a brother to me. I know who he is, but I know so little about what he is.”
“Ahh! So you're looking to get some info from the source? Ask away, I'll tell you true if I know it,” said Snowfire. Normally giving away information without clearly getting something in return was anathema, but she was ‘winning’ by a large margin in normal dragon terms already anyways.
“Thank you Snowfire.”
“Ehhh, it’s nothing. Um, you can call me just ‘Snow’ if you want. Getting called by my full name a lot makes me feel like I’m in trouble”
“Sure, I can do that Snow,” said Twilight, with a smile.” I guess my biggest question… We, ponies that is, don't have a very good understanding of how dragons age. I worry that something might be wrong with Spike, and we would never notice it.”
“Huh. Well, how old is the Little Dude?”
“It’s been twenty winters.” said Twilight. Snow whistled softly at that, which didn't do much for Twilight's anxiety.
“That actually puts him around my age.”
“What?! Really? But hes so little, and you are so big, and You have wings”
“Yup. About the same age. No lie. I don't know exactly how old I am, but I know to within a year or so.”
“If thats true, what could explain the massive difference in appearance?”
“Could be a couple of things. Lets see … how have his fights been going?”
“...Fights? I don't think I understand the question.”
“Wow, OK. So ’basics’ time I think. Now this is all just how its been explained to me, but it holds up as far as I know. A dragon actually ages in three different way, instead of just one like most other things. Only one of the ways a dragon ages is based on ‘Time’. That ones is mental maturity, and it can be held back a little by the others. Like, it gets slowed down, but not stopped, or something. Another way a dragon ages is by size. This is controlled by the size of their hoard or their ego or something… I’m not sure on this one. I have heard of some dragons shrinking after a rapid growth for whatever reason, but mostly the longer a Dragon is able to ‘grow’ temporarily the more they stay ‘grown’ permanently, size wise, if that makes sense?”
“I think I’m following you so far. You mentioned three ways, what was the third?” asked Twilight. Snow stopped turning in circles and flopped down into the ‘prepared nest’.
“Yeah. The third way a dragon ages is by fighting. Like real fights. The more, and bigger real fights a dragon gets into, the faster their body will mature towards an ‘adult’. It doesn't really affect mental maturity, or size, but things like wings, claws, horns, and other stuff won’t grown in without fights. It has something to do with the thrill and exhilaration of a life or death fight,” explained Snowfire. Looking at Twilight's poleaxed look, Snow winced. “Yea, I know. But for life out in the rest of the world its all ‘kill-or-be-killed’. You get mean and you fight, or you don't make it. Some hatchlings don’t make it very long because they just don’t fight. I’ve been told some eggs don’t ever hatch because they won’t fight out of the shell.”
“That’s a horrible way to live.” Twilight found her Inner Scholar chittering with glee, but at odds with her new Inner Mothers horror.
“Mhmm. I’m not going to argue with you on that. It is what it is, and that’s the way it’s always been. Did that answer your question?”
“I think it did. You've given me a lot to think about, Thank You.”
“Um.. Your welcome… and uh, Thank You.. for, you know, everything Twilight”
“It was my pleasure Snow. Sleep well.”