> Springtime for a Drake
>  by Yinglung
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Spike I
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Dromon!”

A white-haired girl yelled desperately at his side, as the giant dragon laid prostrate on the ground, heaving difficultly. The wounds bothered him not, yet whatever poison that had tainted them had caused all his remaining strength to leech out.

He tried his best to maintain his composure and said to the assembled group of youth, who were looking at him with faces of dire concern. 

“My children, are you all right?” The dragon let out a groan of pain. “You all should leave at once, for they might come back to give me a final blow.”

The youngsters did not listen, however. The girl knelt down and cried. Her head was barely the size of the dragon’s eye, but he could see every typical Valyrian features of hers crunched into one unruly mess by her intense grief.

“We’re fine… but we’ll be here with you!” The girl said between sobs. “D- Dromon, don’t go yet! The world still needs you! Please, keep your watch over us as you have done for so many years!”

The dragon weakly smiled. “My dear Senelle, this is not true. Men… at least some of them, have since learnt to put aside their differences, and contributed together to the advancement of the common good. What happened today is but an odd episode that would merely be a footnote in history. Even if I am to go, what we have built together will still stand tall and proud.”

Senelle continued to sob as the other youth also put on mournful faces. The air permeated with sadness and grief, as they understood the dragon’s passing was going to be inevitable.

… So this is what my funeral would look like, the dragon thought. He wryly sighed. I am glad to be not completely dead in order to witness it.

The dragon could feel that his consciousness was dimming. His eyelids became heavier and heavier yet, but the dragon struggled against the dark veil, as he still wanted to make sure of one thing.

He coughed difficultly and said. “Children. Do not seek vengeance, for it will only breed yet more hate. Instead, bring about goodness and justice. I have lived long enough to witness the transformation of the world from barbarism to civilization, and the future is in your hands. Who knows? Mayhap I can gaze from the heavens and continue my watch, or mayhap I will be turned to bone and dust. If all of you tried to be upright, it would be honoring my memories regardless.”

The dragon felt light, and his mind started to wander. Death must have relieved my control of myself, he sighed.

The dragon dreamily chuckled with a weak voice. “Ah, how quaint, to be born under the purple, and die under the purple as well. Fate had certainly written my tales like an overly romantic bard.”

By the end of his sentence, the dragon’s once booming voice was reduced to one of small rolling gravels. 

He let out a quiet groan, as his vision completely faded. Even the pain from the poisoned ballista was dulled to almost nothing.

The dragon could still hear some panicked cries of ‘Dromon’ till the very end, but they all turned to shopworn murmurs.

His last thoughts were about his life. I’m no saint, he thought. But I strived to use my power to change the world for the better... This strange world… Even though it had been so full of pride and spite, and also tragedies, bloodshed and misfortune, a spring of peace still welled in at least a corner of the world. 

I liked to think that I helped. If so, then what more were there to regret?

Even if they could vanquish me, they could not kill an idea.

The idea of hope and progress shall reign, even in my death.
…

The dragon’s mind was floating through a primordial expanse of nothingness.

There was no sight, no smell, no sense of touch. 

Is this what being dead is like? He felt a bit bemused. Why is my mind still here? Shouldn’t it be dissolved into the merciful rest for eternity?

“…”

There was some noise.

This is strange, the dragon thought. There should not be any voice in here.

“Spike…”

A voice, so familiar and yet utterly strange, was calling the dragon’s birth name.

A flicker of amusement flared within the dragon’s mind. The spirits of the afterworld were trying to bring him over to the next life, he figured. Hearing his own birth name being brandied about was such a curious feeling, for no one dared to do that to him for a long while.

As the dragon wryly lamented, the voice was becoming yet louder.

“Spike, wake up! It’s morning!” 

“Huh?”

His senses came back to him all of a sudden, like waves of water filling up a hole in the sands.

Immediately, it felt strange to the dragon. He no longer emitted a towering presence. He had never felt so small and vulnerable for a long time.

The dragon looked around him. He was surrounded by a woven structure.

Upon a closer look, it was not a ‘structure’. It was a crib. He had not been small enough to fit in one since a thousand years ago.

The dragon glanced at his body and limbs. To his shock, he had shrunk to a tiny size. His wings, though tattered and crumbled, had still been capable of flight. And yet they were now gone. His claws, once a feared weapon on the battlefield, looked chubby rather than threatening.

Removing his small blanket, the dragon carefully looked up.

… No, this could not be, he gulped with disbelief.

“Seriously, Spike, how long do you plan to stay in your bed? We’ve got a lot of experiments to run today! I still have at least three predictions I hypothesized from the Corollary of Minute Magical Imbalance to test, and time is of essence!”

The dragon looked at the scene before him and was stunned completely still.

Meanwhile, the purple mare lowered her head and glared at him. 

“Spike, cook us some breakfast to eat. I don’t have a preference today, so just give me anything except you-know-what.”

Looking at his shocked expression, and the absolute stillness, she frowned and said again. “Are you alright, Spike?”

Instead of answering, the dragon could not help, but try to confirm everything was real with his own claws. He reached out slowly, until they touched her cheek. Like feeling the texture on a prized statue, his claws gently ran through her cheek and her mane.

“W- what are you doing, Spike?” 

She seemed a bit stunned by the dragon's behavior. He then realized that in her perspective, it must be quite bizarre for her dragon assistant to act like this all of a sudden.

The dragon quickly retracted his arm, and showed her a bright smile. Rumbling with emotion in his chest, the dragon uttered the name that he longed to say for a millennium to her face.

“Twilight.” 

The dragon gave the purple pony a big, heart-felt hug.

She looked shocked at first, and her body was a bit rigid. But she immediately softened and returned the hug.

After the intimate embrace, the dragon silently looked at the bemused expression of Twilight.

Dearie me, I had not seen a pony for a thousand years, the dragon thought. I almost forgot what one looked like. 

“Spike, did you not sleep well last night? I definitely sent you to sleep early last night.”

Twilight then smirked. “Aha, you must have a nightmare. Silly Spike, nightmare is not real. It’s nothing to fear about.”

“Twi, I dreamt that I was old.”

Twilight, however, looked mystified with his response.

“Spike?” She narrowed her eyes and looked at him in suspicion. 

The dragon internally sighed. He did not know at which point of his old life fate had decided to send him back to. 

If I must hazard a guess, he thought, then this is likely sometime after I was plucked from this peaceful world and reborn in the summer castle of the Dragonlords. 

The dragon studied Twilight’s reaction. It seemed that she did not think he was gone at all. Perhaps this was exactly the morning afterwards. 

How charmingly considerate for the weaver of destiny to do so, he sourly quipped.

His thoughts were interrupted, however, when Twilight suddenly asked aloud.

“… Spike, I told you to put away my gift set of pheasant quills a few days ago. Where have you put it?”

“… Seven hells.” The dragon muttered quietly under his breath. He might be called the Thousand-Year Dragon by some, but he had a snowball’s chance in the mouth of Dragonstone to remember minutiae like this from so long ago.

“Uh…” He hesitated and showed her a difficult expression. The dragon fervently searched his mind for the answer, or at least a satisfactory cover-up.

The dragon again shook his head imperceptibly. By now he was certain that it was no illusion or near-death hallucination. He had no intention at all to divulge any knowledge of that other world to Twilight or any other ponies, the princesses included. It was a world with a degree of brutality unintelligible to any of the peaceful inhabitants in Equestria. 

Even its dwellers were creatures alien in form compared to the quadrupeds predominant in Equestria, with their ape-like postures and clothes-donning customs. He grinded on his small teeth, thinking that this was the most trivial reason among many to withhold his tongue.

The dragon eventually decided on a half-truth. “I’m mortified to say so, but I forgot. I’m so sorry, Twilight.”

Twilight frowned and muttered something under her breath. She took note of the dragon’s response, but despite his worries, she did not take any action.

“Hm. Fine. We will look at this later. But first, we need to have breakfast first.”

He perked up somewhat. Food was like a constant in life. The sensory assault from some delicious dishes would cloud her intellectual need to make doubts. I hope, he thought.

Pushing aside the thousand thoughts for the world beyond, the dragon drew a long breath and said. “Certainly, Twilight. Allow me a moment and the breakfast will soon be ready.”
> Twilight I
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight narrowed her eyes, and she abruptly closed the book she was reading. Her mind could not focus on the writing at all. Spike was acting very strange this morning, she thought.

She closed her eyes and thought back to last night. Spike was on very good behavior. He stayed helpful and focused throughout their observation of the Purple Comet and other experiments. She sent him to sleep well before bed time as a thanks for his assistance.

However, Twilight could not help but think that the dragon she talked with was… off.

Maybe it was his odd behavior, and the way he talked. He sounded so overly formal and glib. His expressions and body language also looked unusual, with his apparent guardedness.

Twilight asked the dragon something that she made him recite numerous times. The quill set was a gift from Princess Celestia, so she had told Spike to absolutely keep it safe and remember where he put it, so that he could take it out quickly whenever she need it.

So when he couldn’t answer her, the purple mare felt quite suspicious and worried.

Did he hit his head in the night? Her mind raced through explanations. Did he accidentally drink some potion ingredients?

Or… Did he get replaced by those pod ponies like the novel I read a few months ago?

Twilight vigorously shook her head. She tried to clear her head, pushing away the baseless conjectures until she had the mind to properly discern them. 

Widening her red and puffy eyes, she set her gaze on the coffee grinder in front of her. Her brain cried out for some fuel before it could work on Spike’s strange behaviors and her other research projects.

Immediately, she grabbed hold of the apparatus with her telekinetic magic, and began to make her morning cup of coffee. 

She put the beans into the grinder, and lit her horn. Coffee aroma emanated immediately from the ground beans. 

She poured some hot water from the vacuum flask on her desk into the funnel. What I am doing must be sacrilegious to those coffee aficionados, she thought with wryness. The water is in no way hot enough. Nonetheless, she was not in the mood of getting downstairs to get boiling water.

As the purple mare was pondering coffee philosophy, she decided to check up on her research notes from last night. Then she thought about some old theorems and new conjectures.

Time flew by for the purple mare. By the time she paused for break, Spike was already holding a tray of food and drinks up to her room. It was then she realized that she had told the dragon to cook her some breakfast.

Twilight slightly frowned, as she preferred to keep the bedroom free of food smells and any distraction to her study and sleep. 

“Spike, I told you many times not to bring food upstairs. The smell is going to stay for ages! Don’t be such a messy dragon, okay?”

Twilight grunted again in dissatisfaction, until she realized that her tone seemed to be overly harsh and critical.

But instead of the watery eyes and puckered lips that she had expected, Spike simply readily apologized and flashed her a sheepish smile.

“My sincerest apologies,” He smartly bowed. “I tried to call you downstairs, but I heard nothing. I figured that you must be neck-deep in study. Do not worry, my good Twilight, today’s breakfast is not at all strong-flavored.”

He immediately lowered the tray and presented her the day’s breakfast. Twilight was originally in no mood for gourmet, and about to open her mouth and protest. 

However, the smell immediately passed through her nose and seized her by its sheer savory aroma. Her half-opened mouth uttered not a sound. She blinked her eyes a few more times before she regained her composure. 

“… Whoa, Spike. I have never seen you making these kind of delicate dishes before. What are they?”

Spike grinned with pride. “Glad that you asked! I toasted the thin breads slightly, and then covered them with butter, honey and blackberry preserves. I churned them into an even paste before applying them to the bread. And these are some soft-boiled eggs garnished with diced creamy cheese and steamed onion. Oh, and since you look a bit tired, I figure that some light mint tea will be refreshing and invigorating. They are nothing too fancy, but I hope you’ll like them.”

Twilight was still a bit unused to the formal way Spike suddenly spoke in, but her desire to taste the food in front got the better of her. She took a spoonful of the soft-boiled eggs. 

The texture is just right, she thought. And the cheese is not… for a lack of a better word, queasy. The creamy flavor blended in with the residual zing from the steamed onion, making the eggs much more interesting to the purple mare than usual.

She then bit into the thin breads. The fruitiness and flowery scent of the paste was refreshing, and the bread was toasted with the appropriate amount of crusty. She sipped at the mint tea, and it snapped her mind out of the morning grump.

All in all, this is a simple but quality breakfast, Twilight nodded with satisfaction.

Her mind, however, immediately turned to suspicious places. Hm, but Spike, bless his claws, never made such a good breakfast before. Where has he learnt to do these dishes? And why does he only choose to do them today?

Something is fishy, she narrowed her eyes.

Nonetheless, Twilight finished her breakfast swiftly, and Spike collected the dishes without making much eye contact with her.

She then grabbed her notes and quills and went down to the basement to prepare for the day’s research.

She calibrated the equipment and jotted measurements. However, Spike did not turn up as usual to help her studies. 

Twilight shook her head. I gotta check what he’s up to, she thought.

When she was again up from the basement, Spike was reading some books from the shelf.

She frowned. “What are you doing, Spike? You should not be reading comi-”

Her words stopped dead in the track, as she noticed that he was not holding a comic book or any action novels. Instead, it was an Equestrian almanac.

Spike widened his eyes as he hurriedly shelved the thick tome. “Twilight, I’ll be coming now. Sorry for my tardiness.”

“Why are you reading the almanac, Spike? You should have known most of the festivals and historical tidbits of our land by now.”

Spike sheepishly smiled. “… It’s a good thing to revise upon them once in a while, is it not? I shall come with you to help with your research right away.”

Twilight looked at him with a disbelieving glare. However, there was a muffled knock at the door, and she reluctantly broke off eye contact and went to answer the door.

It was Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus was sporting a worried expression, and she quietly but hurriedly pled. “Twilight, there's-- there's a horrible cloud of smoke coming out from the mountain.”

Twilight lightly gasped. “Is it fire?”

“No.” Spike called out from behind. Fluttershy and Twilight both turned, and saw Spike holding a scroll of letter.

He said with a complicated expression. “Princess Celestia had informed us that the smoke came from a snoring dragon on the mountain.”

“A... d-dragon?” Fluttershy’s eye shrunk to pin-sized.

“She called upon you six, the Element bearers, to encourage the dragon to sleep somewhere else.”

She raised her brows as she heard the royal decree. “All right then, we must inform our other friends and gather supplies quickly. We've got a long journey ahead of us.”

Looking at the teeth-clattering Fluttershy, Spike smiled gently. “Fluttershy, I gather that you might be somewhat concerned about the prospects of meeting a fully-grown dragon?”

Fluttershy nodded, and then shook, and then nodded again. “I- If I were to go, no one would be looking after my animals!”

Twilight grinned with a shrug. “Don't worry about your little friends in the meadow. Spike's got it covered while you're gone.”

Spike, however, did not readily agree as she expected. His expression was clouded with hesitation, but eventually he slowly nodded. “As you wish, Twilight.”

“Mhmm? Spike, are you worried that you’re not up to the task?”

Spike let out a breath and grinned toothily. “Not at all, Twilight. I just dearly want to reconnect with my draconic brethren. But since it was the royal will that specifically commands you six to go, but not me, I shall stay here and await your good news.”

A jarring sense again welled up in Twilight’s mind when she observed Spike’s outward behaviors. But we now have an urgent mission to take on, she frowned slightly. I might as well leave this for later.

Seeing no explicit objection from the purple mare, Spike again smartly bowed. “All the best to your journey.”

Twilight glanced at the dragon again one last time, then sighed and signaled Fluttershy to follow her out of the library.
> Fluttershy I
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mares' celebratory mood was abruptly doused, as Fluttershy hurriedly flew out of the Golden Oak Library, concern cutting deep on her face.

The setting sun was no longer clouded by black smoke. With her firm admonition, the yellow pegasus had successfully convinced the snoring dragon to move away.

Yet to her shock, none of her animals could be seen inside the library.

Fluttershy was certain that she brought the animals there and entrusted them to Spike before leaving. However, the tree house was so pristine, orderly, and above all, empty. It was eerie that there was almost nary a sign of anyone living there currently, having been cleaned up so completely. 

Flapping her wings with all her might, she streamed across the street, occasionally apologizing to the odd passers-by, and hurried towards her own cottage.

As she prepared to cross the small bridge towards her home, her pupils shrank to pins as a shocking sight entered her view.

A blazing pillar of orange flame shot out from behind the thatched roof. The nearby forest canopy was lit up as if it was under the midday sun. 

She sniffed the sooty stench in the air, and widened her eyes.

That has to be dragon breath, the same smell as we were on the mountain! 

Her palpitating heart skipped a beat. Fear seized her very being, as her mind went to the most worrying places. T- That red dragon! She thought. Was he lying? Was he merely putting up an act when I told him to move out? H- He can't be secretly plotting to take revenge on me and my animals because I told him off in front of everypony, can he?

Her breath stopped entirely at the worst possibility. Oh no, my animals!

The yellow pegasus summoned every bit of her strength and rushed forward. She frantically aimed for the small patch of grass behind her house, where the tongue of fire shot out.

But to her surprise, before she turned around the corner, a callow singing voice entered her ears first. She could not help but slow down and listen.

"Let the vivid tulips bloom,
clearing out the winter's gloom.
Give the daffodils a while,
they will bring us gentle smiles.

Make way, dour winter,
For the flowers of spring are here.
Make haste, cold winds,
And make way for our spring so dear..."

Fluttershy took in a breath. She was too concentrated on the sonorous singing and the curious lyrics. Realizing she had to investigate what actually was going on in her backyard, she overcame her lingering fear and popped her head out from the wall. 

On a rock in a distance sat the purple dragon assistant of Twilight. Her woodland friends sat in a circle around him, all paying rapt attention.

The dragon hummed. He let out a sigh, and suddenly shifted into a more wistful tone.

"I sing about the sweet spring,
In the warm breeze murmurs ring,
What have you in store for me?
What will 'nother morrow bring-"

Angel, the bunny rabbit in the crowd, suddenly jumped up from the crowd and made an exaggerated yawning motion. 

Spike made a sad smile. "Oh, I guess you don't like Flowers of Spring. Shame, that was an old classic. Alysanne sang it the best, I guess even a boy's voice doesn't cut it-"

Angel again interrupted the dragon's droning, and cupped his small paws around his mouth. He then repeatedly moved one of his paws to and fro from his mouth.

Spike chuckled. "Oh my, another fire breath? I don't think lil ol' me can make such a big fire twice in a row. My throat is dry as a rock from the red waste already."

Fluttershy looked on, and sighed a big breath. It appeared that the pillar of fire had nothing to do with the big red dragon, and was just Spike's handiwork. She was still a bit stunned that such a small dragon could make a blazing inferno like that, but she shrugged it off as her own lack of knowledge about dragons. Perhaps Spike brought the animals out of the library because he did not want to set it on fire? She pondered.

The bunny rabbit, on the other hand, grumbled after hearing Spike's words, and crossed his arms unhappily.

Spike threw his arms up with a defeated smile, and said. "Alright, alright. I can still sing, and I promise you this time I'll choose a song that's much more interesting."

The dragon tapped his chin as the animal friends looked at him expectantly. Angel, in particular, seemed unconvinced that a song would be in any way better than a fiery light show. 

Spike's gaze swept across his audience, and when it stopped at the face of the large bear, his mouth curved up into a big smile.

"Ah... That one would do!"

He grinned. "How about I sing a song about a bear wooing a beautiful maiden, hmm?"

Angel Bunny and the other woodland critters all focused their gazes on Harry, Fluttershy's best ursine friend. The bear looked completely flustered, but the bunny simply smirked at his expense, and roused the other animals to cheer Spike on.

Spike laughed, and promptly began in a rowdy tone. 

"A bear there was, a bear, a bear!
all black and brown, and covered with hair.
The bear! The bear!

Oh come they said, oh come to the fair!
The fair? Said he, but I'm a bear!
All black and brown, and covered with hair!

And down the road from here to there..."

As the song went more and more ribald, both the bear and the pegasus blushed glowingly in embarrassment. Finally, it was the yellow pegasus who could not bear it anymore, and hurriedly emerged from behind the corner.

"...But he lick-"

"S- Spike!" Fluttershy yelped as she approached him.

Spike stopped dead in the middle of his song and turned. "... Oh, my good Fluttershy. So you've come back safely, that's simply wonderful. I've-"

"H- Harry and I are just friends, like all the other woodland animals!"

Spike widened his eyes briefly, and then chortled. "Aha, the bear and the maiden are also just some unspecified bear and maiden as well."

Fluttershy let out another embarrassed 'eep', and promptly covered her own face with her mane.

"I merely jest, Fluttershy. Please do not take my song or my words seriously."

Fluttershy looked up. Spike's words were steady and strangely calming. With her mind returning to proper function, she let out a somewhat dissatisfied sigh and asked. "Spike, um, thank you very much for keeping my animal friends entertained. B- But why did you bring them away from the library?"

"Oh dear, the library was not really a place to keep so many animals in. For one, I know Twilight would dislike any resulting mess, especially if there is really any damage to her books. Also, a lot of games and activities that are suitable for our animal friends have to be done outdoor. Angel wanted to see my fire breath, and I figured that we might as well have a full-fledged campfire gathering out here. So after cleaning up the library, I followed Angel and his friends here to set things up."

He smiled. "I was about to do it after some ice-breaking activities, but since you're already back, perhaps I should hand the work back to you, our true animal expert."

Fluttershy softly sighed. "Spike, I appreciate your efforts very much, few ponies are so patient with my little animals. But... you should perhaps leave us a message, so that we know you've left with them."

Spike looked astounded, however. "Fluttershy, I'm pretty sure that I have stuck a big and striking note inside the library. It was on-"

The dragon's words were cut short by the abrupt arrival of a cyan pegasus. She dashed through the middle of Fluttershy and Spike, looped at a distance, and did a hard-landing on the muddy field nearby.

"Fluttershy, Spike! So you two really are here!"

"Rainbow, how do you know-" Fluttershy widened her eyes.

The cyan mare groaned aloud. "It was a silly mistake! It turned out that Spike did write a note telling us that he's bringing every critter to your cottage and pin it to the wall, but it was covered by a giant chocolate cake!"

"Y- You mean the one shot out from Pinkie's Party Cannon?"

"Yep. Pinkie felt a bit bad about it, and she's coming over as well. But of course I'm here first, cos I'm, you know-" 

Rainbow Dash winked. "... the fastest pegasus in Equestria!"

Spike nodded. "... Much ado about nothing, it seems. Regardless, I must still apologize for indirectly putting a wet towel over your celebration." 

He then offered. "How about this? Since we were about to have a campfire gathering anyway, you girls might consider continuing your celebration here."

"Huh?" Rainbow Dash tilted her head.

Spike grinned. "I do have a few tricks up my sleeves. At the very least, I can serenade you with my songs while you all chat and have fun."

"Huh, you really can sing-"

Fluttershy made a rare, emphatic interruption. "He really can, Rainbow. You should hear him sing as well."

Spike scratched his cheek, as Rainbow Dash looked back to her friend in surprise. "Well, if you say so. I guess that's alright by me as well. I will go back to the library and bring the other girls here."

After Rainbow Dash left again, Spike said diffidently. "Fluttershy, I again apologize-"

Fluttershy gently smiled. "No, Spike, I really think that your singing is quite pleasant to listen to. You must have a lot of practice, don't you?"

"Practice... I suppose you can say that."

Spike looked pensive for a while, and then smiled again. "Fluttershy, your voice are so silky and delicate. You should also be an excellent singer material yourself. Would you consider joining me in serenade later?"

The yellow pegasus immediately spluttered. "M- Me? In front of e- everypony? T- Th- That..."

Noticing the pegasus's reluctance, Spike nodded. "Well, if you don't feel comfortable, then-"

Drawing in a breath, Fluttershy said hurriedly. "N- No! I, um, I am fine. There'll just be friends, right? You've helped me tend to my animals, that's only a small thing that I can help you back with."

She then added with a smaller voice. "And y- you will be there nearby."

"Of course. I-"

Spike suddenly turned. Fluttershy looked to his back, and found a few animals, Angel included, that were urging him to continue with his campfire entertainment.

The yellow mare looked on, and said with a small smile. "I'd like to listen to more songs of yours as well, as long as it's n- not-"

Spike chuckled. "Naturally, no more bear and maiden fair. What about a song about travelling across the sea to a distant land?"

The pegasus nodded gingerly, and the dragon sat down on the rock again. Turning to look at the remaining blots of red on the horizons, he lulled. 

"Off we sail on a swan ship,
The deck wobbles, the waves rip..."
> Spike II
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spike walked inside a hallowed hall. White velvet draped over the unhewn stone wall, building up to an open dome at the top. 

Seven piercing pillars of gemstones sat in the middle, forming a vast half-circle. Within the circle, there were layers of cotton and fabrics, creating a gem-crusted lounge.

The small dragon was bemused. “Dragonpit…?”

He looked to the sky through the open dome, azure light showered on his face. He then walked near a wall and touched it with his small paw.

“What shame, such craft was no longer there for eyes to feast on.”

Walking around the hall, he muttered. “Dragonstone might be nice, but the renovated Dragonpit was a splendid work, pinnacle of men’s ingenuity… unlike the old caverns.”

Closing his eyes and letting out a sigh, he muttered to himself with a nostalgic smile. “Everything must go. Perhaps Aegon’s right, it was a bit unbecoming for me to-”

A blast of deafening roar drowned his own musing, almost sending him onto the floor with sheer tremble. He was not at all startled, however. He merely sighed with embarrassment apparent on his face. “I didn’t know I snored this loud.”

He turned to the center of the hall. A dragon, gargantuan in size, sat upon his throne. His purple scales were weathered, and the green plates on his back were sharp as blades. His eyes looked tired, and his face was filled with worry.

“… Or just sighing as usual. I should really cover my mouth sometimes.”

Despite the self-deprecating joke, Spike felt ill at ease, as he gazed upon his old self and became slightly overwhelmed with memories. He quietly turned again, this time towards a staircase downwards.

However, a small figure emerged from the stairs first. It was a little girl with yellowish-white hair and purple eyes. 

Spike stopped and raised his brows. He muttered with slight disbelief. “This girl… Calla…?”

She did not seem to see or notice the small dragon. She brushed by Spike’s side, and leaped straightly towards the old dragon in the middle of the hall.

Spike looked back again. The girl seemed eager to cheer up the severe-looking old dragon. She tried to get his attention by jumping up a bit, to no avail. Then she closed her eyes and began to sing.

“Hear, dragon of ages.
The young girl seeketh.
In thy gentle voice
Mayest thou show grace.
As I call on thee,
Thou my preserver.
I am thy pupil,
Thou art my mentor.

Spike, I call on thee;
For thee to hear me.
Bid me, prince of peace,
Thou my supreme need.
Ever I need thee,
Generous and great,
O’er all human woe,
City of thy heart.

Guard me, my savior.
Ever I need thee,
Through ev’ry moment
In this world so wide.
Comet-born, send me
Noble motives now.
Aid cometh from thee,
To my deepest heart.”

Spike’s breath almost stopped, entirely engrossed in the hauntingly beautiful song. 

After the girl stopped singing, the small dragon smiled longingly. “… Oh Calla, how I cherish you.”

Similarly, the dark clouds on the old Spike’s face had all cleared. He spoke with a gravelly voice. “Good morning, my good Calla. Your singing is ever so lovely. The sun is warm and the day is bright. Why do you not go out and play with your peers?” 

“Dromon, I want to hear more of your stories today!”

Slowly, the old dragon exhaled, emitting a gruffly sigh. “Calla, the tales of the old are but an old dragon’s mumbling. Your future lies not in here, but in your head, your hands and your toil.”

“I beg to differ, Dromon! Those who do not study the past are doomed to repeat it.”

The old Spike paused a bit, and then lightly chortled. Due to his enormous size, even a humorous chuckle sounded like two giant boulders smashing against each other.

“Calla, my sweet child. So what if you do study the past? Would you not be forced to stand by helplessly while everyone else repeat it?”

“Dromon.” The girl’s expression turned serious. “I know you are joking. However, having the mind to distinguish right from wrong is more important than having the means to exercise it. The world had suffered because our forefathers had chased power for power’s sake, and frowned upon people who sought power for what is moral, right and good as honorable fools.”

She sat at the base of the dragon, unconcerned that even a slight movement of the giant dragon could crush her in an instant. 

“The past is like a mirror, helping us look at our faults and blemishes in order to correct them. But this mirror is cracked and twisted, because it had been constantly shaped and molded by men with their agenda and biases. The least I could do is to ask widely, to ask always, and to ask those who lived as it occurred. This means asking you, Dromon. This way, I may draw my own conclusion and craft my own mental compass.”

“You are ever the orator, Calla. But I felt as if there is anything that the past teaches us, it is that we never have learned anything from history. Each period of time was distinctly special, the events contained within happened because of causes wrapping within other causes. In essence, every past event is as idiosyncratic as every individual person, that when we make consideration upon it, we are pretty much forced to consider its unique circumstances, and its own circumstances alone.”

“Dromon, I do not agree. Even among men, there are twins, triplets, and so on. Siblings and relatives displayed consistently similar traits. Likewise, while past events never repeat letter-by-letter in the present, evocative themes and refrains do occur. And these are the true nuggets of human nature. Something that are common, universal and constant about us, and something to draw wisdom, but not to ruminate from.”

The old Spike gazed long and hard at the tiny girl. And then he let out a roaring laughter. Calla brightly beamed, and did not flinch for a bit. 

“I suppose you earn it, Calla. Where in the whole Westeros can I find a child who can engage in a discussion on this level? Now sit tight, for I am about to tell you the story of the arrival of the aeromancers from Asshai, at the height of the Second War of Northern Independence…”


***


The scene suddenly rippled, and turned into a mere blur swiftly. 

With a shallow gasp, Spike jumped up from where he stood - and landed in a small blanketed basket.

The dragon looked around. The calming sight of Golden Oak Library entered his green eyes. 

“Calla… Why her?”

He eventually shook his head, dismissing the dream as some idle visions from the past. He leaped out from the basket and walked briskly towards the window. 

The sun was slowly being raised from the horizon by the solar sovereign of the land. Fresh air blew into the tree house and onto Spike’s face. He spent a short while absorbing the idyllic grace of Ponyville, before reaching to his belongings and beginning to pack up.

On the bed at the other side of the room, the purple mare groggily climbed up. Spike bit back a feeling of unease and sadness, and said. “Good morning, Twilight. Up so early?”

Ever since he returned to Equestria, he felt so close and yet so distant with the one pony who hatched him and cared for him in his young. Suspicion and doubt often clouded her words, and most attempts to reconnect with her simply fell flat.

He did not know why fate played such a joke on him. Of course, he knew full well that ‘why’ was perhaps one of the inanest inquiries as to mundane happenings, for the world never quite ran on the logic of mortals. Though, he quite firmly believed that what brought him to Westeros was also what brought him back to Equestria.

In any case, he was pleasantly surprised when Twilight got out of her bed and greeted him with a small smile. “Good morning, Spike. Let me do the breakfast for today.”

Spike quietly gasped, though his heart was dearly warmed. “This cannot do, Twilight. Didn’t you say my cooking has improved so much that you want to eat at home every day? With such glowing praise, I’m not going to squander a chance to cook for my dear Twilight.”

Twilight blushed slightly at the intimate address, and then quickly said. “No, Spike. It’s exactly because you’ve become such a good chef, I can’t become overly addicted to your cooking. You have to leave for Canterlot today, and goodness know when you would come back. That’s why I must get my hooves to the stoves to warm up. If I’m still content to be a Spike-food junkie, then Celestia helps me.”

The dragon and the mare looked at each other, and bloomed into hearty laughs.

After the laugh died down, Twilight quietly asked. “Spike…”

“Yes?”

Twilight gulped, and then became reticent again. Spike looked at her strangely, and was about to inquire further, but Twilight herself shook her head and quickly said. “… Nothing, I just want to ask if you’ve prepared enough. The dragons from Fillydelphia might be more settled down than their cousins elsewhere, but some of them might still be overly irritable. Please try not to offend the representatives, okay?”

“I have read up on their unique customs beforehand, and I shall be careful. Thank you very much for your kind concern, Twilight.”

Twilight nodded, and Spike added with a smirk. “I’m merely interested in what motivated the largely nomadic dragons to live a sedentary life… like me. And I would know well not to cause an incident, diplomatic or otherwise. The reason that Princess Celestia turns to me is perhaps my role as a token close dragon relation of hers. This should show them that the Equestrian royal court is truly inclusive.”

The purple mare, for some reason, again shifted uncomfortably, as if words were stuck in her throat. But at the end, she merely gave out a thin smile and said. “… Take care, Spike.”

“I will, Twilight. Take care of yourself too. I cannot wait to be back with you again.”

Twilight lightly jabbed the purple dragon with a wistful smirk. “Quit it with your sugar-coated words, young drake. You should get to the train station earlier, just in case. Let me cook up something nice and fast for you.”

Spike strapped his small bag to his body and nodded with a grin. “Thank you then, my good Twilight.”
> Celestia I
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Celestia returned to her chamber, and immediately leaned back onto her ornate fainting couch. She was content to take a rest after raising the sun mid-sky and doing some paperwork. 

The princess briefly revised upon the itinerary of the day, and reflexively magicked up her cup of tea, freshly brewed every day by the royal butler. 

However, her lips remained dry as she tilted the cup towards herself. Slightly frowning, she looked inside the content of the cup, and discovered that it was empty.

This is most strange, she thought. Is Praiseworthy sick? He'd never missed the morning brew before.

As she was about to stand up and called in somepony from the outside, a series of careful knocks could be heard across the room.

"Your Highness."

The polite but powerful voice of her royal butler passed through the thick wooden door. 

"Come in, Praiseworthy."

The smartly-dressed unicorn butler wordlessly opened the door with his telekinesis, and to her surprise, two figures came inside her chamber instead of one.

"Spike."

Celestia smiled at the sight of the purple dragon, as Praiseworthy swiftly lowered the tray of tea next to her. "You've come much earlier than I expected."

"I apologize for disrupting your rest, Your Gra-"

The purple dragon covered his forehead in apparent frustration, and corrected himself. "... Your Highness."

Celestia was a bit taken aback at the formal tone, but she did not show it overtly. She merely maintained her smile and said. "Not at all. It's great to see and talk to you again in person."

The dragon nodded briskly and said. "I've taken the earliest express train to Canterlot this morning. I dearly want to see you and Canterlot after... so long."

The white alicorn's lips curled up. "Spike, you've only gone to Ponyville with Twilight a moon ago."

"... Is that so?"

Spike slightly turned from her gaze. "It surely felt much longer than that."

Before Celestia could tease the dragon for his homesickness, Spike gave a quick glance to the butler pony nearby and said. "Your Highness, I-"

"Spike, you don't have to be this formal, even though we are no longer living together in Canterlot. You may call me Princess Celestia, just like before."

Celestia then waved Spike over, and offered a couch seat to him nearby. For reasons unknown to the thousand-year alicorn, the purple dragon looked glum as he complied. But he then quickly replaced the gloomy look with a smile. "I see. So Princess Celestia, I must again apologize, this time on Praiseworthy's behalf."

Celestia arched her brows. "What for?"

"He originally spotted me outside the castle, and would escort me directly towards your chamber. Unfortunately, the nosy me has noticed how strikingly knowledgeable he is, being the best butler in the land."

"Not at all, sir." Praiseworthy bowed slightly.

Spike shook his head with a grin. "So I've kept pestering him for news and events in Canterlot and beyond. Being such a brilliant steward, he's received me with impeccable manner and incredible patience. But by the time I've realized that he was going to brew the morning tea for you, and that I was being a bit of a bother, it had already grown a bit late. So please, don't think badly of Praiseworthy, he's truly an outstanding royal butler."

Rather than taking offense at the inconsequential lateness of the morning tea, Celestia was far more interested in the courtly way of speech and finesse the dragon was suddenly sporting. 

What happened in Ponyville in one single moon? She thought with curiosity. 

Regardless, Celestia smiled kindly. "Of course, I've always known Praiseworthy to be a brilliant butler. I would not have chosen him as the head steward of the royal estate otherwise. Serving my close relation is certainly more important than satiating my thirst."

Spike raised a brow, nodding back with a thin smile. Praiseworthy again bowed. "I'm greatly beholden to your mercy, Your Highness."

"Praiseworthy, you've done well to bring Spike here. You may go on with your other work now."

Praiseworthy silently nodded. He then backed out of the room, leaving the alicorn and the dragon with each other.

"Spike."

Celestia spoke up again. She thought to prod the purple dragon with some small talk first. "How's your ride to Canterlot?"

"It's excellent. Sitting in the carriage, feeling the morning air and watching the vivid landscape that rushed by. It's very refreshing... memorable even, in fact."

Celestia chuckled. "You sound oddly enthusiastic about a simple train ride, Spike."

"Sometimes it's the simple things that breed the most joy, Princess Celestia."

The solar princess took a breath and said with a thoughtful look. "... Isn't that the truth."

Spike nodded minutely after a pause. "If I might be so bold to guess, you probably summon me not only for the meeting, but also to know more about Twilight's life in Ponyville from my perspectives."

Celestia raised a brow. "... Spike, this is not only a bold guess, but a correct guess as well."

Spike said softly. "As someone who's close to Twilight, I understand how it feels if we must separate for a while. It's natural that you want some updates other than her friendship letters."

Celestia smiled with satisfaction, and Spike nodded. From his small bag he then took out a moderately-thick booklet.

The alicorn could feel a churning feeling in her stomach seeing another thick pile of papers so soon after processing documents all morning. 

Spike merely continued with complete seriousness. "Princess, to help you understand Twilight's life in Ponyville, I have prepared and documented with utmost care her detailed schedules, commitments, leisure activities and social interactions. All of them are itemized in detailed ledgers and painstakingly annotated in small letters under each page. It only contains a week's content, from the day you told Twilight and her friends to deal with the snoring dragon. But I trust that it should be a representative sample of her habits and predilections in the new place."

Celestia yelped internally. She called Spike in for some normal pony-dragon interactions. She would never in a thousand years expect to see an overly fastidious Twilight-clone, not least in the baby dragon.

Still, she tried to suppress her egregious eye-widening into a mere twitch, and said with the most gracious voice possible. "... Thank you kindly for your diligent work, Spike."

Spike did not reply at first. He gazed meaningfully at the alicorn, but before she spoke up, he burst into a series of laughs. "Dearie me, Princess, you've looked so horrified for a moment, I almost thought I've turned into a manticore all of a sudden."

Celestia then realized that the dragon was merely pulling her legs. Still, she was more amused than annoyed. However, she put up a poker face towards Spike with faux-irritation. "You're bold to play silly tricks on me, Spike. How long have you been looking up those big words, hmm?"

After a pause, Spike said with an apparent quizzical look. "... I didn't learn any vocabulary for this meeting in particular, Princess. You simply absorbed those big words after a long time being together with people much cleverer than you."

Celestia gave the dragon a wry smile, thinking nothing of his subtle praise. She simply flipped up the booklet, expecting to see mere blank or nonsense. Her eyes widened when she saw actual detailed descriptions of Twilight's activities on each page.

"Spike, so you did record Twilight's activities so meticulously... What for?"

A difficult look briefly flashed on Spike's face. But then the dragon quickly explained. "Sometimes, when you live with someone for so long, you've begun to take her for granted. Every now and then, you have to reacquaint with your loved ones as if they are as interesting as completely strangers. This way, we may truly learn to appreciate them at all times."

Celestia simply looked at Spike with quiet eyes.

Spike seemed to have taken her silence as discontent about his audacious jest. He sighed and said. "Ah, Princess, I admit that I was expecting an interesting reaction from you with this foolishness; If you take offense at that, then I apologize with all my heart."

Offering a defeated smile, he added. "As for the pamphlet, I wouldn't say there is one if I didn't actually write it. I simply can't bring myself to lie to a good, upstanding princess, not least about someone she cares deeply about. And even some drake like me knows that lying to monarchs of the land could have serious consequences."

"That's enough apple-polishing, Spike. You don't have to butter me up, because I don't begrudge you at all."

Celestia chuckled. "But you're of course right about the importance of honesty."

Spike smiled brightly. "Aha, let me be more honest then."

"Hmm?"

Tapping softly on the lacquer side table nearby, he said. "I also think it's a good idea to leave Twilight alone in Ponyville. A young mare like her could certainly use some alone time with her girl friends that she's just made, without having some obtuse male around... and me being the third wheel in general."

He scratched his head in thought. "Or come to think of it, the seventh wheel really. I can only hope that this would help her and her friends grow closer, and she would be a happier pony as a result."

This time, Celestia could no longer hide her look of surprise, and she looked at Spike with a firm nod. "That's quite an astute observation, Spike. It seems that my plan to feed three birds with one seed is exposed."

"I just feel so grateful with your care for Twilight, Princess. The friends she made in Ponyville are all good ponies. They are very worthy companions."

Celestia observed the dragon carefully, who's definitely grown much suaver and more observant compared to the last time she saw him. 

She was no stranger to sudden change in ponies or non-ponies alike, especially when they had to undergo a big shift in a new environment. While she was still a bit bemused how he had grown so guileful in a short period of time, she would not fault the dragon for his behavior. 

Perhaps that's the way he coped, some significant personal events, or even just some sort of natural growth. She was, somewhat embarrassingly, not that knowledgeable about the precise nature of dragon development. Still, she could not be happier to see the dragon mature in mind so quickly, not only for Twilight's but also for his own sake.

However, more pertinent on her mind was Spike's poise. She sensed a thin but persistent sense of melancholy in his words. Something that was out of place for a previously carefree baby dragon. Against all thoughts, this single fact troubled the white alicorn.

She caught onto a possible lead in his words and asked. "... Spike, is Twilight somehow unhappy?"

Spike widened his eyes, and for a moment he looked almost mournful. Eventually though, he said slowly. "It's not so much that she's unhappy, as she's unhappy with me... The breakfast was still great, though."

Slightly thrown off by the dragon's off-cuff culinary remark, Celestia regardless continued. "Did you two argue with each other?"

She said with a sagely smile. "Maybe I can help mediate your differences."

"There's no need, Princess. It's my responsibility alone, and I will patch things up myself."

He raised the cup towards the alicorn and said with some cheek. "What's there for me to learn, if our wise princess sweep in and solve the problem right away? Let this little dragon do his thing first, please?"

He doesn't want to talk, it seems, Celestia thought sadly.

She still smiled outwardly and said. "Very well then."

Spike again took out another pile of notes. This time it was much thinner than his records on Twilight's activities. 

"Princess, I have done my homework about dragons, and this delegation in particular."

Celestia raised a brow at the change of topic. "Oh?"

"If you wish for me to stay quiet, I'll definitely not overstep my marks. After all, the mere sight of a dragon by your side would greatly boost the image of inclusiveness of Equestria, and would certainly warm many a dragon heart."

"... That's what I'm aiming for, indeed."

"Princess, I know you to be an immensely wise pony, and your dealings are wise as well. The dragon race seems to have played a marginal role in Equestrian society. If they can indeed be persuaded to get warmer with ponykind, and even further integrate, then it would do tremendous good... Not only in terms of the city economy, but also for the image of Equestria abroad - especially to the great Dragon Lord in the east."

Celestia's soft gaze turned hard, as Spike continued. "His underlings, as I have discovered through research, sometimes brandish the fact that dragons living with ponies are almost segregated to badmouth us-"

Spike gave Celestia a cursory look, and suddenly stopped in the middle of his speech. He then said neutrally. "... Anyway, although it's a matter of course, I must still applaud your excellent move that might bring dragons and ponies closer together."

Celestia maintained her smile but kept silent. She was certainly flattered by Spike's words, but she also felt unease. She would never admit it publicly, but she was not that used to someone detailing her political shrewd so accurately and bluntly in front of her, not least because it was a drake that was a mere suckling in age compared to her. Spike was being unnervingly good at identifying and dissecting political matters for her comfort.

The dragon, on the other hand, flipped through the delicately written notes and continued. "Princess, I wonder if you might be so kind... to let me have some time with these brothers of mine by myself."

Celestia let out a hum of surprise.

"I long to meet all kinds of dragons in the world, but these Fillydelphian dragons are certainly a curious bunch. As far as I know, they prefer to keep it to themselves in their little town. I'm particularly interested in the reason why they settled down rather than roaming the land like their brethren. Perhaps it would shed some light on my way of life here as well."

"Oh."

The white alicorn gave out a smile of understanding. With his growth came the curiosity about his fellow kind, that was natural. 

"Then perhaps you don't need to ask them, Spike. I know why they're the only settled dragons in Equestria."

The dragon slightly leaned forward. "I'm all ears."

"The ancestors of these Fillydelphian dragons came from a far away land, much more east than the volcanic seat of the Dragon Lord. That's why they also have different cultural practices compared to the other dragons, despite their physiological similarity. They came... shortly after the banishment of Luna, apparently fleeing their homeland due to famine and invasion."

Spike mulled. "I presume that there were some sensitive reasons, as I have failed to glean anything related to their arrival from the records."

Celestia slowly nodded. "You... are not wrong. Back then, the Dragon Lord refused to take them in as refugees, because even though they're dragons, they didn't even speak Draconic or Equestrian. The Dragon Lord might become offended if we publicize this act of inter-draconic disunity."

Spike's expression was tumultuous. "And what might be the true reason for the Dragon Lord to do so?"

The white alicorn raised her brows. "From what I've remembered, he merely disliked their strange ways."

The doubt on the dragon's face cleared, replaced by a sad expression. "... Plain old fear of the unknown."

"Hm?"

Spike quickly waved his claws. "Apologies, I'm just mumbling."

"I see. So they then drifted helplessly to Equestria. Despite the language barrier, I have noticed that they're noticeably more... pliable than the other dragons. Therefore I agreed to take them in. After we spent great efforts in teaching them our language, they'd been granted charter for a plot of land some way away from the then-tiny Fillydelphia, and a treaty of friendship was signed. They have regardless kept true to their ways for centuries, up to this day."

Spike nodded and supplied. "So when Fillydelphia was merely a small seaside village, it was not a problem. But as the city ballooned into a metropolis, the isolated and unique Dragon Town became encased within other districts, and that's when matters become tricky."

He leaned back onto the couch and continued. "And even though the then Dragon Lord had refused them entry, it would be politically expedient for them to claim brotherhood now with fellow dragons living deep within pony territories, whether to extract gifts by honeyed words, demand tribute by threatening claws, or even recruit agents of intrigue."

Celestia wordlessly nodded. Although she still felt surreal by having an in-depth historical and political discourse with the small dragon, she must admit that it was refreshing to have someone who can hold this kind of conversation on the same level as her. 

"I thank you very much for your explanation, Princess. This is most illuminating to hear."

Spike smiled and waited for a response. When nothing came through, he said with a low voice. "Princess, I'm pretty sure this is why you choose this time to summon their leaders - this meeting coincides with the conclusion of their annual dragon boat race, meaning that they would be in a festive mood. This is a good opportunity to show that Equestria does welcome dragons, among other non-pony races, into the Equestrian society, and we're willing to celebrate their culture along with ours. While my presence as the first ever dragon courtier should be seen as a positive signal in itself, I think more can be done."

Celestia asked. "You mean...?"

"I can be more than a mascot."

The white alicorn was immediately uncomfortable. The reason for Spike's loquaciousness now became entirely clear - he probably wanted to show that he was perfectly capable of thoughtful diplomacy. 

However, she was more troubled that the dragon was so blunt about her implicit role for him. She quickly said. "You're much more than a mere token, Spike. I care about you as a dragon, no matter you're living in Canterlot or Ponyville."

The dragon looked surprised at the declaration, his resolve seemed jolted for the first time since he entered the room. He quietly took in a breath and said. "... Princess, you're much more than just a princess to me as well."

Celestia genuinely smiled. She was relieved that beneath the layers of couched platitude and diplomacy, the dragon still seemed truly fond of her on a personal level.

Spike's mood was visibly improved as well. "So Princess. Although time is tight, I have some suggestions regarding things that I can add, in order to make the reception better than it already is."

Spike took out a small piece of note and smilingly nodded. "Let's begin with the event rundown, shall we?"

Celestia looked at the emerald green eyes of the dragon, and grinned back with a curious look.

"My interest is really piqued, Spike."
> Twilight II
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight Sparkle was restless. 

She squirmed uneasily in front of a pile of dusty tomes. She flicked them open with her magic one by one, but could barely stay focused on any one of them. At the end, she simply smacked the topmost book with her hooves, then rested her tired head on it.

Like a bull in a china shop, suspicion rampaged savagely across her head.

Spike. 

She raised her head ever so slightly, and thought with narrowed eyes. What happened to him exactly?

To her, it all began one morning. It should be a run-of-the-mill observation of the night sky. However, her number one assistant seemed to have changed overnight. 

Although Princess Celestia used to hint at her less-than-stellar social skills, this fact did not escape her eyes. She had been his caretaker for so long. It was as obvious as a cream pie in the face. 

Obvious lapse in memory about things that he should know by heart, coupled with the occasional strange remarks. Gone were the irritating but also endearing antics, and the clumsy but also adorable helpfulness. 

He was now courteous but very cautious, even his steps looked reserved. He still was her responsible assistant, bordering on impeccable even, even offering surprisingly sharp insights that help her through certain research questions. 

Obviously tired by his daytime work, he still elected to sneak to the balcony at night, looking up to the sky instead of sleeping more, for reasons that he never explained clearly - because he always had a deviously smooth way to divert her queries to other topics. 

Regardless, he still professed great fondness of her, as he liked to remind her so frequently that it embarrassed her. However, when she peeked at him when he was alone, he always seemed so grave, sporting an ashen expression whenever he turned away from her gaze. Not even the most sullen old professor in the School for Gifted Unicorns was so grim.

It simply... felt weird. It was like her family had been replaced with a kind but enigmatic stranger. Be he even more helpful and understanding, that foreignness still seeped through his every action and every word, plaguing her mind.

What happened to her Spike? Or, was he really her Spike?

She could not quite point it out bluntly to his face, as he was always so polite and eager to please. She was about to ask him directly before he left for Canterlot, but when she groggily looked at his youthful face and smile, her heart softened again.

She cursed herself for merely postponing the problem and letting her doubt fester. However, now that Spike was away from her, it presented her with a unique opportunity to gather witnesses and garner their impressions. Even though she suspected the purple dragon, she would still feel bad if the kindly young drake realized her skepticism, and more so if it turned out to be a big misunderstanding.

"Why's she still not here? I told her to come at five, didn't I?"

She looked uneasily to the clock, and then trotted down to the entrance impatiently. She yanked open the door, and up came a startled pegasus.

"Eeep!" The yellow mare trotted back in fearful reflex.

Twilight widened her eyes. "F- Fluttershy? Oh dear, I was about to go out and look for you!"

Fluttershy collected herself and lowered her head. "I'm sorry, um, Twilight. My animals were a bit nervier than usual today, so I spent more time to..."

Twilight simply breathed out. "It's fine, come on in."

The pegasus nodded, and followed Twilight into the library. Twilight then waved her to a corner and sat herself and Fluttershy down.

"So Fluttershy." Twilight began plainly. "Do you remember why I invite you here today?"

Fluttershy's ears flickered. "Um... You want to ask something about... Spike, don't you?"

The purple mare breathed in sharply, and decidedly nodded.

The yellow pegasus, however, was a bit quizzical. "Twilight, not that I would question your judgment... But I don't quite understand what I would know more about him than you. I have only met him a moon ago, but you've been with him much longer than that."

Twilight knitted her brows. "No, Fluttershy. Your opinion would be very helpful, because I think that Spike has changed all of a sudden."

Fluttershy tilted her head. "... Changed?"

The purple mare placed her hooves on the pile of books on the floor, sighed, and began to explain her suspicions and doubts to Fluttershy one by one.

Fluttershy frowned lightly. She did not directly address or repeat Twilight's claim, but rather she asked. "So... it all began the morning after you and Spike stargazed?"

"Yes."

"Nothing unusual happened that night, right?"

Twilight shook her head ardently. "I have checked and rechecked the workflow that very night dozens of times! It's exactly the same as every stargazing session as we had before... Setting up the telescope, starchart and tables, sketching the shifting of constellations... Well, apart from the appearance of a small purple comet at the horizons. But comets that are unaccounted for in star charts are dimes a dozen, and we've seen those many times before."

"Hmm..." Fluttershy let out a perplexed sigh.

"Fluttershy, I asked you to come because you seem to have spent considerable time with Spike both before and after that morning."

"E- Eh? Have we?"

"Of course! For example, the impromptu fire pit party in your backyard, remember? You saw him sing to your animals, and then you two chatted alone for a while before we came. And before that morning, Spike sometimes helped me deliver books to your cottage... And you two talked for quite a while when you first met, no?"

"Oh, yes, now I remember."

Twilight immediately pressed on. "So what exactly did you see or hear back then?"

Fluttershy looked up in thought, and muttered. "Hmm. Spike was being a very nice dragon in general. Before you all came, he sang some more songs-"

"What songs?"

Fluttershy was slightly startled by Twilight's intense inquiry, she gulped, then fidgeted in silence. It caused the impatient purple mare to stand up and abruptly lean forward. "Say it, Fluttershy! What songs?!"

The timid yellow mare recoiled and shuddered. Only then Twilight realized her overly harsh tone, and sighed resignedly. "I- I'm very sorry, Fluttershy. I didn't mean to shout at you."

"I... I understand. Um... You're just very worried about Spike. I get agitated when my animals get sick as well." 

Fluttershy let out a small breath, and said with some red face. "When I arrived, he was singing a song... teasing me a- and Harry. B- But we're just friends, really!"

Twilight blinked. "Harry...?"

"He's a woodland friend of mine. He's a bear living near the cottage."

Twilight touched a hoof to her chin. Teasing other ponies so frivolously? She thought, this... is quite like Spike, actually. So he can indeed joke around carelessly. Am I really too paranoid?

Fluttershy then remembered longingly. "And then he sang more songs about distant travels. He sang of lands so wild; of peoples so strange; of love so sweet, and of heartbreak so glum... He sang about silent valleys, melancholic marshes, chilly ice plains, and snow-covered pine trees. It's so wonderful, and that's why my animals and I were a bit startled when you girls finally came."

She chuckled. "It's like those moving bardic tales from the olden days of pegasi. He must be very well-traveled, doesn't he?"

Twilight straightened with wide eyes, confusion evident in her tone. "W- Well-traveled? Huh? I... I don't think Spike's particularly well-traveled. We lived most of our lives in Canterlot, and he mostly stayed by my side as an assistant."

"Oh... Then, he must have a very creative mind and active imagination. His telling of stories through songs really brought them to life."

"Hum..."

Fluttershy then added. "Um, if you must say there's anything strange... He seemed to have spent a lot of time thinking what kind of songs to sing, and he shook his head all the time. Besides, he even stopped mid-song several times."

"Huh..."

Twilight took in the observation with knitted brows, and then cautiously asked. "I see. So Fluttershy, I ask of you. Do you think that, in your honest opinion, Spike acted differently when you first met him, compared to now?"

Fluttershy frowned, as she seemed to be deep in thought. "... I... I'm not sure. He looks somewhat more gloomy recently, but..."

"But?"

"I think there is another possible rea-"

A loud thunder cut off the shy mare's words, and caused her to recoil in fear again. Twilight immediately held the pegasus in her embrace, and looked out of the window - a large storm had begun outside the treehouse. "Gosh, I forgot about today's scheduled downpour. Fluttershy, have you boarded up your own cottage?"

"I- I did. I made sure everything's held tight and every animal friend of mine is in safe places before I came."

"Okay then. Excuse me for a real quick check around the lib-"

Her words were again interrupted, this time by some frantic knocking at the door. Twilight sighed, and trotted quickly towards the door. To her shock, the full array of her five new friends stood in front of the entrance, all looking positively disheveled.

The purple mare gasped, and immediately waved them inside the house, slamming the door tight against the strong winds. "W- What's the matter, girls? Why are you-"

"I am bucked to the ground by some stupid newbie in the weather team! Now my hooves and wings hurt as hay, and I'm out for the rest of the day!" 

Rainbow Dash promptly complained. A tattered leaf fell out of her multi-colored mane, while she massaged her hoof woefully.

Twilight winced. "Do you need some bandage or...?"

"Nah, I'll live. I had some... cushion. " Rainbow Dash tutted, then said with a vexed tone. "I'm so going to grill the backside of that... whoshisname...  after I-"

Twilight cautioned. "At least after you've got yourself checked in the hospital, Rainbow Dash. Falling from a great height is no joke, even for a pegasus."

"Okay, fine, nanny." 

Rainbow Dash flexed her wings drolly, but immediately let out a squawk of pain.

The purple mare rolled her eyes, then turned her gaze to Rarity and Applejack. They looked at each other, and the orange earth pony began. "Rarity and I were prunin' branches nearby as volunteers, when Rainbow Dash came crashin' down into the tree we're tendin' to."

"Applejack is right, darling. We're discussing how best to prune the tree in the town square, but since she won't agree to my carefully arranged way of-"

"Hang on now. It's only because of your prissiness, the rain came down before we prune one single branch-"

"Pardon? I'm not being prissy by trying to do things the careful way-"

Twilight's eyes twitched again. She switched off and directly skipped to Pinkie, who was holding a giant package on her hooves with the biggest grin she'd ever seen. The box was so big that it partially obscured her face, and it even had a little umbrella of its own on the top. 

"What about you, Pinkie? Why are you also here... and so messy?"

"I was delivering a package, when Dashie fell from the tree and onto me! When I saw that she was about to crush the package, I was like, 'Whoa, that will not do!', cuz the package is ultra rare sugar-sprinkled chocolate-fudged-coated super special-"

"A bit more concise, Pinkie."

"Okay! So I pushed away the package but I didn't step away in time, so Dashie fell onto to me and that's why there are branches in my mane!"

Twilight was surprised that the motormouth pink mare could indeed give a short yet informative summary, and she nodded minutely. "Well, at least you're not injured... So where're you delivering this package to, if it's okay for you to tell?"

Pinkie's grin became even bigger as if it was physically possible.

"Surprise! Ta-da! It's right here!"

She promptly lowered the package to the ground, and opened it with uncharacteristic care. It was then revealed to be a very delicately-designed multi-layered cake, consisting of colors of all kinds. In the middle were the six equine figures, and upon more careful look, each of them seemed to represent each of the present ponies.  Even the arguing duo of fashionista and farmer turned and looked with interest.

Applejack asked. "Whoa nelly, why did you make such a big pretty cake, sugarcube?"

Rarity nodded. "Yes, Pinkie. This cake looks marvelous! What's it for?"

Rainbow Dash added. "Yeah, is there anything special today that I missed?"

"Nopony is missing anything! I've just received a special order from the Golden Oak Library for this very special custom-made cake! And wow, I didn't even look at the weather schedule because Mrs. Cake and I spent a whole day making this one single lovely ginormous super-tasty cake celebrating our new friendship!"

Twilight widened her eyes. "Wait, Pinkie. I don't recall ordering any cake from the Sugarcube Corner!"

Pinkie Pie quickly said with a grin. "Easy peasy! That's because Spi-"

The pink earth pony suddenly push her right hoof into her own mouth in an abrupt motion, but the critical syllable had already been uttered.

"S- Spike?" Twilight's jaw dropped somewhat.

"Whoops, I said it aloud, didn't I?"

"Tell. Me. Everything." Twilight glared at Pinkie with a steely face.

"... The cat is out of the bag, isn't it?" Pinkie kept on grinning, but she was visibly slightly unnerved by her friend's interrogative tone. "H- He sold off his stash of gems and ordered this one giant cake for you before he left. He specifically requested the bestest cream, flour, milk, jams, fruits... um... everything for this cake! So it costed a pretty bit!"

"Aw, he's so sweet." Fluttershy smiled.

Rarity raised her brows. "Pinkie, you said he sold his gems?"

"Yup! Even the red rubies that he used to say he was reserving for very special occasion... which I guess this is the special occasion he's talking about!"

Rarity was surprised, and Twilight also did not look at all happy. The purple mare lowly muttered. "What did he say? How's today in anyway special?"

"Ehehe, I might've blabbed about Spike's name, but I Pinkie Promised him that I won't tell that to anypony... Not even you, Twilight!"

"Pinkie! I need to know that, now!"

"No way José!"

"My name is not José! And Pinkie, you have to-"

Pinkie, however, ignored Twilight's protest, and simply continued. "Spike trusted his secret to me, and losing a friend's trust is the fastest way to lose a friend..."

She extended her eerily elastic neck towards Twilight and gasped. "Forever!"

Twilight bit hard. She looked at the giant cake, and for a moment a dark thought crept up on her mind. Eventually, she elected not to ruin the hard work of the pink pony and her boss, and merely grunted. "... You're doing this for your friend, huh? I'm doing this for family!"

Pinkie's eyes went round, and Applejack immediately asked. "What's wrong with ya family, sugarcube?"

This time, Twilight forwent her reservation and repeated her worries and concern in one uninterrupted go. By the end of her impassioned speech, her friends all froze on the spots and looked at her with astonishment. 

Pinkie was the first to speak. Her expression was no longer mirthful or humorously dire; rather, she looked right into Twilight's eyes with a very serious look. "Twilight, that mystery you talked about aside, Spike has words for you on the cake."

The purple mare sharply turned. "But didn't you say-"

"He gave me a super-secret escape hatch from the Pinkie Promise. He said if you reacted badly to the cake, then I can tell you why he ordered it and what's so special about it."

"T- Tell me right away!"

"... The truth is, it's really nothing special. He just wants to give thanks to your care and let us all have a good time when he's away. He actually didn't want me to talk about him at all, because he didn't want to make this girls-only occasion somehow about himself." 

She let out a sad smile. "I was to gather everypony after I dropped the cake at your door. I thought that it's my lucky day when everypony is already around here. But, heh, I've blabbed his name out of excitement and ruined it, kinda." 

Twilight frowned. He was again showing the consideration and thoughtfulness she never saw in the old Spike. This both warmed her heart and troubled her, because it served to highlight her suspicion even more.

Rarity sighed and spoke. "Darling, I can't help but share some of your concern for Spikey-wikey."

"Rarity?"

"I too think that he is... acting a bit weird recently."

Twilight was strangely relieved that someone else confirmed her suspicion, and she said hurriedly. "Do tell, Rarity!"

"Relax, darling. It's nothing too out of ordinary... It's just that he's grown... how should I put it... a bit aloof."

"How?" Not only Twilight, but the other mares in the room also felt surprised. Spike's infatuation for Rarity had been so obvious, it came as a shock to hear that he gave his crush a cold shoulder.

"Now, now, I don't mean to demean Spikey-wikey, and he still helped me out whenever I called for his help. It's just that he was no longer-"

"Fawning all over you and worshiping you at your hooves?" Rainbow Dash teased.

"I- I don't- That's not what I meant!"

Rarity's face reddened somewhat. "He's been a perfect gentledrake recently... So perfect that he looked unreal sometimes. I also thought that he was saving up the gems for a going-out with me later, since I overheard him muttering to himself a while ago."

Fluttershy tugged at the purple mare and said. "Twilight, this is the other reason I was going to tell you earlier. I noticed that he was a bit, um, rigid in front of Rarity, and he..."

The yellow pegasus gave the white unicorn a timid glance, but she still said. "He might be transitioning-"

"I don't believe this is the reason. Rather, it's another symptom. Gems are his life, and giving them up just like that should be unthinkable for him! More importantly, one doesn't just disengage from a hopeless crush cold-turkey without acting all up! "

"What, do you have any personal experience to speak from?" Rainbow Dash joked.

Twilight's face grew red as an apple. "I- I- no, but still! That's commonsensical, right?!"

She crossed her hooves, and said through gritted teeth. "That's about enough evidence for me to conclude that he is not the same Spike I brought with me from Canterlot."

The assembled mares gasped. Fluttershy looked particularly disconcerted. "B- But Twilight, who else could he be?"

"I was pondering all possibilities when I was doing literature research in my library."

Twilight elevated a thick book in front of her with her telekinesis. It was written in archaic Equestrian, titled 'Proſcribed Enemyes of þe Kyngdom'.

"After he left, I've been looking for things that could've changed somepony or someone overnight, and I've come into this book by accident. In it many villains and enemies that once plagued the Kingdom of Equestria were recorded by royal decree."

She flipped open the book and stayed precisely on one page. "This is what caught my eyes."

The five other mares rubbernecked. Applejack muttered. "Changelings... whoa, what a terrifying critter, stealing love, draining them empty and such." 

Pinkie gasped. "They could've changed into anypony-"

Twilight interjected. "Not just anypony, but anyone."

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. "Twi, you can't be saying that..."

"I'm not a boastful pony, but it's a fact that we're bearers of the Elements of Harmony, targets to take down if someone plots to attack Equestria. And what's a better way to attack if the attacker poses as someone that we love and trust?"

Both Pinkie and Fluttershy spoke up at once. "Spike's not a spy!"

Recovering from the oddly stereo experience, Twilight said lowly. "Changelings are known to play to the emotions and needs of people around them to further their purpose... at least to steal love from them."

Fluttershy sighed. "I cannot and do not believe the Spike that chatted and sang to my animals was out to steal love and had bad intention of any kind. If he wanted to harm us, he had plenty of opportunities to do so."

Pinkie fervently nodded. "Spike really totes loves you, Twilight! He's so careful when he read over the ingredient list, nopony ever did that! And no one in Equestria can fake that kind of genuine smile!"

Doubts about her own suspicion again resurfaced. And he's not entirely forgetful about our past as well, she wincingly thought. Plus he's arguably become an even more enthusiastic and helpful assistant. The book doesn't say how perfect changelings can imitate their target, but this Spike can indeed breathe both regular and magical fire. I... I must've sounded a bit harsh and paranoid, but he... he is still not the Spike I knew, is he? 

Applejack said to the purple mare, who was disturbed by clear inner turmoil. "Well sugarcube, there's no need to jump to conclusions yet. Let us find a way to actually test him when he's back."

Rainbow Dash grinned. "Yeah Twi, aren't you all for science and testing and such? If so, then shine a light on his face with your magical doohickey or other egghead ways. Way better than to play trial in absence here."

Twilight said with some unease. "B- But he's now in Canterlot, right next to Princess Celestia! What if he really is a changeling spy? He could've-"

"I say, darling, there's no use panicking here and now."

Rarity sighed. "If anything happens in Canterlot, we can do little anyway, unless we can somehow blast our way into where Princess Celestia stores the Elements. I think we should put trust in the Princesses and the Royal Government's ability to deal with any crisis."

Fluttershy quickly added emphatically. "Besides, I'm still not convinced that Spike's a spy or in any way plotting to harm us."

Applejack said diplomatically. "Well, it depends on how it turns out when we go test him."

Twilight nodded slowly. "You're right. Anyway, girls, since this storm is not going anywhere, why don't you stay for a while and help me craft the best possible way to uncover his façade... that is, if he really is a phony, changeling or otherwise?"

Rainbow Dash immediately nodded with glee, eager to play a game of detective. However, others were less enthusiastic. Especially Fluttershy, who looked positively dejected, as well as Pinkie, who could barely hold her smile. 

The yellow pegasus suddenly raised her head and pleaded. "Twilight, can you promise me he won't be harmed even if he tu- turns out to be..."

Twilight heavily breathed out. "It's too early to talk about this sort of things. Even if he's a fake, he's on very good behavior otherwise, ordering us a cake and whatnot. I won't harm him unless he did something hurtful to my Spike."

The group fell into an uneasy silence. Eventually, the pink mare scratched her puffy mane and said with a shaky grin. "Hey everypony! Whether the Spike we talk and play with these days is really Spike or not, we still need to eat! And this cake is still a very tasty cake, be it ordered by a real deal or a fake!"

A loud groan emitted from Twilight's belly, causing her to blush slightly. "P- Pinkie's right. If the storm doesn't stop, we all might need to spend the night here, and we'd need to have dinner... Um girls, stay here and I'll grab some plates, and possibly cook something up as well."

As she trotted towards the kitchen, she gave one last glance to the blurred visage of Canterlot on the far horizon outside the window. 

So I finally spilled it all. I only hope this ends well. 

She shook her head to shake away the miring thoughts, and simply walked on.
> Spike III
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Busy royal servants cantered across the main hall of the Canterlot Castle, setting up the tables and exotic decors towards the last minute. The drapes of the hall were accompanied by arrays of curiously-shaped lanterns and delicate crafts of draconic symbols. 

Standing atop the staircase, the small dragon shook the cuffs of his trimmed sleeves.

It's been a while since I was fit for a proper piece of clothing. He mentally quipped. Almost as queer as the feeling of blankets.

A gentle yet authoritative voice then rang by his ears. "There's so much red and gold here, don't you think?"

The dragon turned to find Celestia smirking at him. "I'd thought that you'd like some purple and green instead."

"As much as I'd want to indulge myself." The dragon gently joked, then explained. "But to them, purple is a color of divine unknown, something that is far away and ageless. Red and gold, on the other hand, are simpler symbols of happiness and prosperity. Things that gets dragons and little ponies onto the streets... to sing, to dance, and to laugh."

Celestia raised her brows. Spike knew the princess was wise enough to understand the words left unsaid. As expected, she said smilingly. "Very appropriate, then."

Spike politely nodded, yet his focus was at the entrance. The ornate door creaked open, and in came two royal guards, who were leading a procession of guests. 

A saffron-colored dragoness with bright jade eyes crossed gazes with him, and was visibly surprised to see another dragon by the side of the princess.

So strange, yet here they are before my eyes. Spike suppressed his urge to scowl. The ersatz prodigies of Fourteen Fires, cladded in ersatz Yi-Tish attire, led with a dragoness with Yi-Tish colors.

He lowered his head in thought. The Fillydelphian dragons were different, yet so strangely reminiscent of the scions of the Golden Empire on his travels east. 

Dragons were undoubtedly symbols of Valyria in the world beyond. However, the Yi-Tish were no strangers to dragons as well. A Yellow Emperor once brought a Valyrian noblewoman, along with her dragon, to his Imperial court. That was a thousand years ago in Westerosi time, before his arrival at the Dragonlord's castle.

In his effort to prepare for these dragons' arrival, he had made sure not to draw unwarranted parallels by consulting multiple Equestrian records, especially since he was trying to inspire some confidence from the princess on this trip. 

But while some differences existed, it was how there were so many shared themes and traditions that amazed and perplexed him. Were these merely bizarre coincidences, or more?

He bit his lips. He searched for some rationalization, as he always did. Yet the same line of thoughts had led him nowhere. 

Ever since he was back, he had tried not to let what he had gone through tie him down too much. It might be a lifetime for him, but it was just a flicker of candlelight for everypony around him. And he cared about them, just as he cared about the people he once looked after.

However, the princess's invitation unsettled him. What he found about these dragons provoked him. He did not know how much of that was a mystery, and how much of that was his futile desperation for closure.

And I kid myself if I, of all dragons, say the past can be just put down.

While the purple dragon mulled, the other dragons behind the dragoness simply stared with amazement at the replica model of the Fillydelphia Friendship Arch at the entrance. It was an Eastern oddity among the fluid and dreamy architecture of the Canterlot castle, but the guests were simply too taken by the respect paid by the host. 

After the visitors entered the great hall, the guests seemed to be even more astonished to find a dragonboat model, modest in size but delicate in design, hanging from the ceiling. Rocking gently, the paper blades of the paddle frolicked in the breezes, as if the boat was airborne. 

"Spike?"

The dragon abruptly rose from his deep thoughts and turned. "Yes, Princess?"

"You went awfully quiet. Is there anything wrong?"

"Sorry. I was just deep in thought."

The solar Alicorn glanced at the dragon, and sighed sadly. "It might be a good thing for me to arrange a meeting between Twilight and you after all."

Spike was surprised that the princess brought up the matter with Twilight again. While the wise white Alicorn had mistaken the source of his concern, it certainly did not diminish the heartrending issue of his awkwardness with the purple unicorn. His glower deepened, and he put his paw to his temple.

"We can talk about this later." He finally said, hiding his heavy heart behind an unflappable look. "I must thank you again for everything. If not for you, Princess, no royal servant would listen to a small dragon blabbering about weirdly-shaped arches or thin rowing boats."

"If I don't see merit in your plan, I'd not agree to it in the first place. You've been too modest since you arrived, Spike." 

"Not at all."

"You should relearn to take credit where it's due." Celestia gently teased. "I still remember back then, you boasted about your first successful magical fire breath to me and Twilight... for a whole month. You were such a little ball of pride."

The dragon acknowledged with an amiable grin, releasing the tension in the air. However, he reflexively second-guessed her intention, wondering if it was again a probe to highlight his perceived changes. He then dismissed the thought, a bit frustrated that he ever thought badly of the kindly Alicorn, even in a moment of pleasant nostalgia.

Servant ponies began to spread out from the side, bringing out specially tailored exotic dishes of all kinds. Some were steamed, glittering in their milky white, and others were fried, red like dragon flame and rugged like their scales. 

Spike then noticed Celestia's small smirk. "I never knew my royal chefs can do these kinds of interesting dishes."

"It's Chef Gaspard's handiwork. He's certainly a cook of the highest calibre." The dragon dutifully explained. "Even when certain ingredients are not... readily available in Equestria, he suggested perfect substitutes based on my vague recount. Monsieur Gaspard certainly works magic with his claw and on our tongues." 

Celestia heartily laughed. "Gaspard. I should've known it's him. He's the culinary pride of Griffonstone, and obtaining his service should count as one of our greatest diplomatic achievements in recent years."

She then turned curious. "But Spike, how did you convince him to cook all these dishes for you?"

Spike asked with a faux-innocent look. "What do you mean?"

"Gaspard is no simple chef. He takes pride in creation of all dishes, which he sees as art. Not even I could order him to cook something specific... although that never stopped him from cooking something perfectly to my tastes."

"He certainly has a philosophy about how cooking should be done." Spike raised a brow with amusement, calling back to the eventful encounter in his mind. "The horror on his face when I told him to deep-fry some mashed clam in dough... I thought he might be the rare vegetarian griffon, but turns out that he was just aghast about the 'uncouth' way of handling food."

Celestia stared at the dragon with interest, seemingly wanting to know how Spike managed to convince Gaspard anyway. But before she could ask further, a red-suited pony pushed out a trolley from the kitchen, on which a octagonal tower of fire opal was arranged neatly. 

The dragon then gestured forward, signaling that the guests were coming up the stairs.

---

"Welcome to Canterlot, dragon representatives from Fillydelphia." Celestia's steady gaze swept across the dragons. "I trust that your journey here is smooth and peaceful."

"Your Highness, we thank you for the security you provided on our way here." The dragoness curtsied. "I'm Wilma, community organi-"

"Ehhh? Where is Princess Luna? I really want her autograph!" Another dragoness, visibly younger and with a slightly more pinkish color scheme, whined aloud. When everyone turned their glances at her, she promptly covered her mouth in embarrassment.

Wilma leaned in and whispered something quickly into the other dragoness's ear. Family. Sisters, perhaps? Spike surmised.

The elder dragoness then quickly turned and apologized. "Princess Celestia, I'm sorry for Mina's outburst. She's just longing to see Princess Luna, as she is quite her fan."

Celestia nodded. "No offense taken. Although she's not present in Canterlot right now, I'm sure Luna would have appreciated such kindly affection from our subjects."

The dragon then cleared his throat, and curtsied. "Hello, Wilma, Mina and everyone. I'm Spike, a dragon in the Equestrian court, and I join Princess Celestia today to offer you our warmest welcome."

Wilma gauged the smaller dragon, and returned a careful greeting. "I'm Wilma, community organizer of the Fillydelphian Dragon Town. We represent the good will of the Equestrian dragon community on this festive day."

"I see." Spike nodded. After a deliberate pause, he asked with a grin. "So... Have you eaten?"

The dragon entourage then looked visibly more relaxed, to Spike's satisfaction and Celestia's seeming surprise. Even the previously stoic Wilma broke into a smile. "We're going to, naturally. This is what we're here for."

Mina's laugh was even more cheery. "Of course we came with empty bellies! We heard that we have a proper royal lunch today!"

"That's great." Spike smiled. "Princess Celestia has worked hard to make sure that you all feel like home away from home."

"Thank you." Wilma curtly acknowledged.

Mina was more excited. "Everything is so nice! And wow, I've never expected we would see a Friendship Arch in Canterlot too!"

Wilma looked up with attention, and Spike said. "Yes, we in Equestria want to keep the friendship between ponies and dragons strong and sturdy, just like the Friendship Arch."

"We stand by our words, be it now or a thousand years ago." Celestia added.

The dragoness slightly tilted her head, seemingly judging Celestia's sincerity. It was when Spike stepped forward and interrupted. "Let's talk this over our meal, shall we? There is nothing that can't be discussed on a lunch table."

Wilma widened her eyes, but she nodded with her dragon companions. "Of course."

As they led the guests to the tables, Celestia lowly whispered to Spike. "... Why the insistence?"

"Yes?"

"You seem to be postponing the actual talk intentionally. Asking to talk over food and such."

"Oh. Food and drink is a bigger part in Eastern life than ours." Spike whispered back. "They don't greet each other by asking if they had a good day, but whether they've had their meals."

"Ah, no wonder. I'd always thought that was just a general fixation on food."

"Unlike their more domineering cousins from the Dragon Lands, those from further east seem to like to draw things out, and make everything out to be an elaborate ritual. Directness will be seen as desperation, instead of sincerity." 

"I wasn't fully aware that there is such a subtle cultural difference even among dragons." Celestia quietly remarked, as the first dish of the day was served.

Spike nodded, and then raised his cup to the guests with a grin. "Bon appétit!"

A rapturous chorus of cheerful voices replied in unison. "Let's eat!"

---

The crunchy voice of gem crushing reverberated around the lunch table. Informal chatter filled the air, as the guests and hosts mingled with cursory talks about their daily lives. 

Celestia patiently sipped her cup of black tea, while Spike leaned over to pour some yellow wine for Wilma and Mina. The elder dragoness nodded graciously, raised her glass, and signaled her younger sister to come on up as well. Mina, however, looked slightly hesitant. 

"Easy there." Spike chuckled. "It's true that Mina is a bit young to drink. So am I, actually. The yellow wine can be quite strong."

"Still, etiquette is etiquette-" Wilma coughed, and almost glared at Mina.

"A sip would do, a sip would do." Spike picked up a sweet roll, glittering in powdered sugar and stuffed with white alabaster, and tore it up. "We are like one big Equestrian family here around this table, and family don't have to stand on ceremony all the time."

Wilma let out a breath, and took a sip of the wine with a determined look. 

"So, if we're like family, is it also true that dragons... are as valued as ponies here in Equestria?"

"Of course." Celestia said after a glance from Spike. "Equestria might've started out as a federation of pony races, but she welcomes anyone that abides by her values of peace and harmony."

"I'm very glad to hear that." Wilma dried her lips with a towel. "I must say, from the bottom of my heart, this is honestly the most respectful and culturally sensitive reception we've ever seen yet from the royal government."

"You're very welcome. As Spike said, we want to make Equestria feel like a home for everyone."

"We're always grateful to you, Your Highness. You were the one who gave us a helping hoof, when we were driven from our lands and drifting across the Celestial Sea."

Wilma's smile turned into a slight frown. "But back in Fillydelphia, we sometimes encounter... unwelcome attitudes and restrictions."

"Such as?" Spike asked, knowing that this was the crux of the meeting.

"Speak at will, my dragon subjects." Celestia added.

Wilma hesitated, before nodding. "Ponies around us, bless their hearts, are mostly polite to us. But there has always been an unfounded fear that we're pyromaniacs." 

She sighed. "The city grew around us, and with that come its laws and regulations. Dragons are restricted from owning lands and homes outside of the Dragon Town, because some ponies feel that we would burn the neighborhood down, or scare their foals, or drive down the property prices."

"Is that legal?" Spike asked with an almost rhetorical tone.

Celestia looked thoughtful. She gazed at Spike long and hard, and then turned to the guests and explained. "... The constituent cities of the Kingdom of Equestria have wide-ranging power and freedom to make their own laws. Land use within the cities is certainly one of them."

Wilma too let out a sigh, as she quietly observed the solar sovereign's couched response. "Princess, while we appreciate the ample respect that you gave us, we'd love to see something more tangible. We're a growing community, and we are living like squashed sardines in a can, without being able to expand."

She worriedly added. "Our infrastructure is old, and most roads are unpaved. City officials claimed that they don't feel safe enough to come to maintain things. We huddle together in crowded houses, and the low-lying areas we live often flood. We're even mocked by our free-ranging cousins for keeping to our lifestyle, despite the living conditions."

"Worry not, Wilma." Celestia suddenly smiled. "Spike and I have already discussed the situation. He already suggested to me some remedies to mitigate it."

"You did?" Mina widened her eyes, darting quickly to and from the small dragon and the Alicorn. Even Wilma looked shocked, as her grievance had already been brought up by this unknown dragon in the court.

Celestia tapped Spike's shoulder, and he said with a reassuring tone. "It'd not be an easy task to change attitudes all of a sudden, and it would even be harder to change laws and regulations, especially in the Kingdom's constituent cities. But we can always start somewhere, with everyone's participation."

"Such as?" Wilma asked intently.

Spike inhaled, and began softly. "On the matter of misperceptions, mediation from a neutral third-party, coupled with some nudging in the public media, might prove useful building our case, that's why..."

---

The talk was surprisingly quick. As Spike patiently explained, whatever little objection from the delegation was artfully assuaged. Before long, attention was returned to the fine dishes on the dining table.

After the welcoming lunch, the guests were then led to the castle balcony, on which they viewed the Royal Guards fiercely rowing and drumming on the wide castle moat, competing against each other. The two hosts stayed behind, content to observe the satisfied guests from afar.

"Best of luck to your coming trip to Filly, Spike." 

Celestia offered the dragon an appreciative smile. "I'm so glad that you're here to tell me their concerns beforehoof and defuse them."

"Glad to help, Princess." Spike bowed. He briefly thought about what to look for in his destination that might help clearing his doubts. "I'm even gladder to be allowed to mingle with my kind as an aside. I'll adhere strictly to my given power as the special envoy to Fillydelphia."

"You have my full confidence after this showing of planning and preparation." 

Celestia then chuckled. "I also like how you dangle the prospects of meeting Luna in front of that young dragoness, while prompting them to focus on pony-oriented services. That certainly softened the elder sister a bit, and removed any of my lingering doubt of your persuasive skills."

Spike joined in the chuckle, but decided to keep quiet.

"So, with our official duty today coming to an end." Celestia then softly prompted. "How about we then resume our... earlier talk?"

Spike grew tense, a feeling that had been few and far between after he had grown. He suspected he was nervous of letting the princess know what made Twilight so agitated, and from there things would get out of control. 

Then again, if it all came to roost, the long-lived Alicorn was perhaps the one who would probably most understand him. If so, what exactly troubled him so greatly? He asked himself, almost like in vain. 

Sounds of padded horseshoes knocking on the hall floor approached them, and he turned to find Praiseworthy, the royal butler, again. The unicorn quickly curtsied. "Your Highness, Mister Spike."

"What might be the matter, Praiseworthy?" Celestia asked. "Is there anything that I have to deal with at the moment?"

"Not at all, Your Highness." Praiseworthy again curtsied. "I've only just picked up an apparently very urgent mail from Ponyville, directed to Mister Spike at the Royal Mail Center. I figured that it might be better that I brought to his attention as soon as possible."

Spike immediately straightened, as he asked. "Very urgent?"

Praiseworthy silently elevated the letter and carefully lowered it into Spike's claws. The dragon originally thought it strange that the urgency could be gleaned from an envelope, as even the most urgent express mails were presumably numerous in the royal castle. It was then he saw numerous conspicuous red markings of URGENT all over it, even in different fonts. So obviously Pinkie. He wryly thought.

He deftly opened the envelope, and within it was a letter clearly written by somepony else. It's from Fluttershy... Spike frowned, and the frown merely grew deeper as he read on.

"... Spike?" Celestia asked.

Spike abruptly raised his head, clutching the letter tightly. His frown cleared, making way for a look of determination. "I'm sorry, Princess. I must take leave for several days before my trip to Fillydelphia."

"Back to Ponyville, I assume?" Celestia said, her tone almost too understanding. 

"Yes." Spike was forthright. He deeply inhaled, and then turned to Celestia with a most serious look. 

"I have some unfinished... friendship lesson to deal with."