On the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration, Spike discovers all of Ponyville has been trapped in a deep sleep by an unknown enemy. What's more, even he himself is falling victim to the spell. Fortunately, the Princess of the Night is wide awake, even when she sleeps.

After years of being the runt of the litter (despite having no siblings), Spike finally comes into his own and starts to grow up and mature. The result is a unique bit of magic all his own, or so the theory goes: He awakens one morning to find words hanging overhead that call him [The Gamer], along with powers that let him 'live life as though it were a game'.

How he decides to handle all of this, and where things go from there? That would be a spoiler, and you all know how we feel about spoilers around here...

Frequently asked questions will be answered from time to time, and those answers linked here for the curious:
The First FAQ

When their mother brings home an abandoned purple hatchling, and introduces him as Spike, the newest member of their family, both Garble and Smolder are more than thrilled. Garble even vows to be the best big brother he can be for Spike, no matter what he does or fails to do.

Does he really need to act like a pony?

An alternate universe where Spike is raised by Garble's family.

Featured on 2/26/2020! Thank you everyone!

Edited by VoxAdam

Cover art drawn by Doodle-Mark

Old cover art Cover Art drawn by boskocomicartist for SpikeSmolder fan, used with the commissioner's permission.

Ponies are dangerous. At least, that's what everydragon says. They even stole his brother's egg years ago. So why are these ponies being so nice to him?

Expect elements of Comedy, Adventure, and Sad from time to time.
Sex tag added for somewhat blunt discussions about the birds and the bees.

Featured: 5/25/2014
Reason: Smeg knows. Love you anyway though!

Don't feel like reading this before jumping to the sequel? No worries, this blog post will catch you up to speed in about 2 minutes.

Now with a Spanish Translation: https://www.deviantart.com/spaniard-kiwi/art/Un-nuevo-dragon-1-11-923167089

Have Spike take the C.M.C.'s on a tour of Canterlot so that they don't interrupt Braeburn's ceremony? It was such a simple solution, but even the best laid plans can go awry. Now, Luna and Applejack must contend with some unfinished business from the princess's past as Twilight deals with the fears and concerns of two little fillies... and two little dragons.

A crisis with a strange creature pulls the Mane Six and Spike out to the edges of the Hollow Shades Forest by Fillydelphia. What they expected to find was a baddie needing a beat down, not an ancient with knowledge of Spike's heritage.

Against their wishes, Spike runs away with the Nature dragon to a realm far from the reaches of civilization.

The image used is called Legend by Kaytara on deviant art.

Prereader is RadicalDishonesty

Featured on 10/22/2014!

Spike decided to pack his things and disappear completely to get a fresh start on life, under the name of Jack Drake. When his past comes back to haunt him, will he be able to keep up the facade? He makes his own business as a private investigator. When the Mane 6 hire him, what's his case? Why did they come to him of all people?

(Credit for the cover image goes to Pia-Sama)
(Featured on 1/10/2019 at 2:30 am)
(Edited by The Faceless Maker, be sure to give them some love!)

Spike's new wings had caused him quite a lot of unwanted popularity in ponyville especially among his closest friends. After a tiring day he lays down for a long nap but his dreams are soon interrupted by an uninvited guest, one who has some urgent information regarding spike's long lost past, along with an offer that only comes along once in a lifetime.

sequel's up now!

This story is a sequel to the dragon's den dream

two weeks after being offered the contract, spike decided to accept it and return home to meet his birth-parents; not just for him but so that he may protect all of his friends. unfortunately neither twilight nor the others see it that way and will be willing to go through tartarus and back to retrieve their friend. worse still, spike's new noble dragon friends would do the same to ensure that he arrives at the vlemm enclave. And when certain members of royalty get involved not just from equestria, but the other kingdoms as well. Then there will be enough chaos in the land to make discord shed tears of joy.

cover by bluewolfartista

This story is a sequel to Dark Magic

Dragons, concerned about the pony-drakos alliance, come to Equestria to talk. Although an attempt on Spike's life changes everything, bringing tragedy with it.