> Feeling of belonging > by LeafyApplejack1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > A dragon's decision > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was raining that day. The 14 year old purple dragon looked into the sky as another sigh left his scaled lips. "Why do I feel so alone nowadays with Twi and the others always in Canterlot?" He slowly walked through the rain thinking to himself on his way back to the big tree he called his home. As he walked in, Peewee cawed and flapped his wings in greeting. Spike walked up to his room as he turned off the lights and sighed. "Just another lonely night, alone at home." he thought to himself as he curled up in his blanket and closed his eyes as a single tear fell down his cheek. Morning came with a bright ray of sunlight through the window causing Peewee to wake up and to caw loudly waking Spike up. "Urgh... morning, Peewee" He groaned as he sat up and cracked his neck after popping his back. "Hmmm... Twi and the others should be back soon" he smiled excitedly as he got out food for his stomach, which was protesting loudly. He grinned as he thought about seeing Twilight and the others, and thought about the things they would do. "Maybe Pinkie Pie will even throw a party" he chuckled. Suddenly with a burp and a flash of green flame, a scroll appeared before him. With a confused look he grabbed it. "Why would Celestia send me a letter if Twilight isn't here?" he wondered. He opened the scroll slowly as he read. Dear Spike, I regret to inform you that Twilight and the others are caught up in their duty's in overseeing the preparations for this years Grand Galloping Gala, and I am afraid that they won't be coming home until next week; but I trust you can take care of things until they return. Best wishes, Princess Celestia Sadness quickly turned to anger as he threw the scroll across the room "I should have known, She always stays away!" He stared at the ground "Am I such a burden that she can't even write her own letter to me?!" Smoke blew from his nostrils in anger. "She always ignores me and reads her BUCKING BOOKS!" He threw his bowl across the room and roared. "We used to be so close! Twilight; what in the buck happened?! ...Too busy with your friends that you can't even see that your little brother's in pain?" he roared again; his anger resounded, echoing through the tree, scaring the young fillies that were passing by and shaking the tree itself. Peewee shrank back against the wall as Spike's anger quickly melted into depression. He went over and picked Peewee up and stroked him. "Oh, Peewee I don't belong here anymore" he cried, tears slipping down his face. As he cried, the pain became more bearable, and he sat up looking at the ceiling "This feeling... this need to belong... it will never be filled here..." he said, as he came to a sad but but determined thought. "That's it! I am leaving tonight! I don't belong here anyway, so I'm just going to leave and find a place where I do. The evening was late as the young dragon and his Phoenix made their way across Ponyville. Although he was determined in his decision, he couldn't risk taking Peewee with him, it was much to dangerous and long a journey so he decided to give him to somepony he trusted. Just then, a grey mare Pegasus came crashing down into Ponyville Park where he and Peewee had just arrived. "D-Derpy? Are you okay?" He asked, slightly shaky from her surprise landing. As he rushed to her side, the mare sprang to her feet grinning. "I'm fine Spike, I do this a lot" she said, turning slightly red from embarrassment. He chuckled and smiled slightly; "Well, I was wondering if you could take care of Peewee for awhile." Derpy cocked her head and frowned with sadness in her eyes "Sure thing Spike; Are you going somewhere?" Spike looked away and choked " I- I don't know yet Derpy, but I know I don't belong here... I just...need to go." Suddenly, he felt hooves around his neck . "Spike...please don't go... you do belong here." she said softly, tears forming too fast for her to hold back. Spike felt her tears on his scales and pushed her away gently. "Derpy I don't. I am shunned by Twilight and her friends. And most ponies don't talk to me or even acknowledge that I exist except, you." He said sadly. Derpy looked at him with sad eyes "Is there no other way Spikey?" His ears twitched as he heard his nickname, and turned away so he wouldn't be swayed by her tears. "Please take good care of Peewee for me, okay?" Without waiting for an answer he ran. From her, from his hate, from Ponyville, and from the place he once happily called home. Derpy stared dumbly after him as she was filled with sadness. 'Was what Twilight and the others doing really affecting Spike that badly?' she wondered to herself as she headed back to her house with Peewee flying above her. As she arrived home, her little filly came hurling out of the doors. "MOOOMMYYYYYYY!" Derpy laughed as her little Ditzy came bounding out and tackled her. "Hello, my little muffin." Durpy said as she laughed and nuzzled her. The little filly looked up with a pouting face "Momma where have you been?" "Oh I was visiting Spike; and guess what? We have a new pet for awhile. Say hello to Peewee!" Just as she finished her sentence, Peewee landed on her back and cawed as Ditzy looked at him in awe. "Whooooaaaaaaah!" Derpy smiled. "And he's coming with us to Canterlot tonight." Ditzy looked confused. "Why momma?" Derpy donned a sad look "Because we need to go see Twilight and her friends. We will get on the train tonight." Ditzy went upstairs to get ready as Derpy looked out her window "Oh Spikey, please be careful..." Spike felt bad about just running away, but he had to. He hated seeing mares cry, it was his weak spot, after all, and his resolve would have crumbled had he stayed. He stopped at the library to collect some bits so he had something money wise, and gathered his stash of gems into a sack before he left the tree. He looked up for a small while, looking at the grand library that had been his home all this time. Bitter tears of sarrow ran down his face as he ran out of town and towards the Everfree forest. "I'll go somewhere far, far away, I'll find a place where I belong" He said, slowing down as he approached the forest..."I have to stay on foot for awhile, the air would be to risky and I don't want anyone knowing where I'm heading" He thought to himself as he walked into the dark shadows of the forest. He shed a last few bitter tears. "Goodbye forever." > The bad news > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sun was shining bright above canterlot, as Princess Celestia looked out of a window upon her subjects. With Twilight and the others, Helping with this year's Gala, things were a bit easier to handle. She looked in the mirror, and Laughed softly at how stressed she looked. "My duty's as a Princess have taken their toll as of late, but no matter such is the life of a princess. A loud knock came at the door to her chambers. "Who is it" she inquired, thinking it to be twilight. Your Royal Highness, There is a Derpy Hooves along with a young filly, here requesting an audience with you" Came a royal guards voice. The name sounded quite familiar, as she was sure she had heard the name before." Send her in please" she said as she turned around, prepared to address the new comer. Derpy walked into the Princess's chamber with a little filly at her hooves, as she looked around in awe, and then saw the Princess and bowed respectfully. "Hello Princess, I am sorry if my timing is inconvenient" she apologized. The Princess smiled kindly "No need for apologizing I always have time for my subjects" She smiled at the little filly that looked at her in awe. Derpy straightened herself and smiled back. " I wouldn't ask for your time, knowing its near the grand gala Princess,but this is rather important,especially for twilight and i wish i had better news" she said with a sad look in her eyes. Princess Celestia,concerned with this stepped forward " What news have you brought for her derpy" she inquired softly. Derpy Looked at her with misty eyes and opened her mouth " Spike has left Ponyville, He left Peewee in my care but Peewee escaped i think to find his master... oh Princess i couldn't stop him. He was so hurt i could see it in his eyes" as she started to cry she stuttered. " He said Twilight and others shunned him, and never had time for him, and h-he doesn't believe he belongs in Ponyville anymore. She looked a the floor tears rolling down her cheeks, as her filly rubbed against her with misty eyes* Princess Celestia stood in shock at the news. What would she tell Twilight, oh she would be devastated and Spike....ohhh Spike. "Derpy i need to ask you to accompany me to the ballroom, where the others are gathered" She grimaced "We will tell them this news together, and will figure this all out." Derpy, wiped her eyes and looked at the Princess "Oh Princess what if Twilight goes after him, i mean i am not sure which way he went, he ran away so fast...oh Princess.." her eyes getting misty again" Celestia covered her with one of her wings "It will be ok little one, now come we must make haste". She turned and ushered Derpy and her little one out of her chambers and down the hall, "This was going to be harsh news for Twilight", Thought the Princess has they hurried to the ballroom. Twilight was happily humming a tune, as she walked around the ballroom getting stuff in order. "Rainbow i need you to fly up, and get some more ribbon near the ceiling please" she called. The rainbow colored pegusus, gave a quick salute as she grabbed more ribbon " you got it twilight ill make this place look 20% cooler in no time" She grinned as she took off toward the ceiling A white mare with a purple mane looked up in disgust "Oh darling the golden color of the room, simply does not go with blue ribbon". Rainbow Dash looked down and frowned "Up yours Rarity, Twilight asked me to do it, not you." Twilight sighed and turned around as the two mare's began bickering, and she trotted over to AppleJack and Pinkie Pie were making sweets. "Im tellin ya Sugercube, we need more apple based sweets in this here selection" An orange mare argued with an over excited pink mare. "But Applejack, I still say the sweeter the better, and whats sweeter then cupcakes" Pinkie Pie exclaimed while bouncing about" "I reckon they will appreciate more variety though Pinkie " Applejack insisted. Twilight decided then was the best time to speak up."Hey girl's how are the treats coming along, you know our guest's expect the very very best" she smiled at them both. "Oh Twi.. its coming together don't you worry sugercube" Applejack smiled at her. Twilight nodded and looked over to where Fluttershy was and smiled as she heard sweet and soft music from her bird friends. "Oh Fluttershy seems to be the only pony on track" she sighed and thought, "We can do this the Gala is not for 4 days it shouldn't be a problem. She turned around and her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Princess Celestia walk in "She trotted over to her and smiled at the princess" Hello Princess, don't you worry, everything is coming along well" Twilight chatted and then she saw Derpy behind the princess and donned a confused look. "Derpy what are you-" Twilight was hushed by her teacher. "Twilight we have to talk to you, and your friends" the Princess said with urgency in her voice. Twilight frowned but called her friends over. As they all gathered near the Princess, Derpy stepped up and took a deep breath. "I regret to inform you all that Spike left Ponyville the other day, and I do not know where he has gone." Surprised voices rose among the 6 and Derpy spoke again. "He came to me before he left, and told me that he felt you all have shunned him and he felt abandoned." Her eyes grew misty as she recalled the pain she saw in his eyes. Rainbow dash spoke up" How in the hay have we abandoned him?" Twilight snapped at her "Because we never take him anywhere rainbow..oh spike how could i have been so blind...leaving you alone at home all the time while i was always gone. Celestia Dropped a wing over Twilight and nuzzled her" Oh Twilight it is ok, you couldn't have known that he was feeling this way if he never spoke up." "But i should have, I should know him best!" Twilight moaned as she started to tear up. Derpy stepped up with a determined look on her face " Princess there is the matter of finding him and bringing him back,but i believe a group will only scare him so i suggest we find one pony to go after him" she said in a determined voice. Twilight, the Princess,and the others looked at her as Twilight spoke up through tears. "Derpy if he trusted to come to you before he left, it means he trusted you..if i went after him..he probably wouldn't listen,but he might to you" she sobbed. Derpy stepped back. "Y-you don't know that Twilight..and besides i have my little one to look after" she looked down at the little filly by her hooves. Princess Celestia Cleared her throat "Actually Derpy i was thinking the same as Twilight, I will watch over your little one while you are away if you would like Derpy" she said with a smile. The little filly looked up at her mom "Mom i want spike back..ill be fine here" she said trying to be brave. Derpy looked into her eyes and smiled "Ok my little muffin i shall get her back for you and everyone here. There was a resounding cheer,as the pony's surrounded Derpy and nuzzled her. Twilight looked Derpy in her eyes still crying" Derpy..please bring him back! Derpy nodded to her and looked to the princess " I don't even know where to begin Celestia " she said sadly The Princess smiled at her " I have an idea of where hes headed Derpy, we must give some supplies for your journey, tell me have you ever been teleported?" Spike wandered deeper into the Everfree forest,lost in his thoughts. "Where am i going to go, i have never really been out in the world before..at least not with out Twilight" he thought sadly. How could she do this to him, did she not know that she was ignoring him, and making him feel abandoned. He sighed and looked around and groaned audibly. He didn't seem to be making progress in his journey, the Everfree forest always looked the same to him, as he felt a spark of fear. what if he couldn't find his way out, then he would never find where he belonged. He panicked, and ran forward through bushes and suddenly cracked into something hard and fell. Looking in anger at what he had crashed into, his faced turn to an expression of surprise. "Zecora!"