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// Chapter 1- Diamond Cove 
// Story: The Lone Warrior 
// by Silver Butcher 
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Spike was exhausted as he made his way into Diamond Cove, He had made a few teleportations jumps on the trip home and had managed to arrive almost a full day early, leaving enough time for him to go home and sleep before his meeting with Emerald, the Town itself was fairly large and was set up around the crescent shape of the cove, at the midpoint of the cove was a rounded doc, and along it's two curved edges where sandy beaches, Spike snuck into the town under the cover of the moonless night using the rooftops, knowing full well that the Diamon dog's patrolling the perimeter of the town would raise the alarm if they saw him. He slowly but surely made his way to the center of town where his cottage was, upon arriving he enveloped himself in fire and used it to go under the door and get him inside without opening the door.

Spike's cottage was medium-sized and had two floors. The first floor had a rocking chair, a Couch made up like a bed, and a small lamp with some books in case he got bored. It also had a small kitchen with a fridge filled with booze and gems and an assortment of other foods he typically didn't eat, along with a few bottles of Honey in there in case he wanted to add some taste to the gems. 

There was also a closet full of letters from the main six, Celestia, Luna, Cadence Shiny Armor, and Flurry Heart. While most all of them had been opened and read a fair number of Flurry Hearts lay unopened, all of them had a heart sticker on them indicating to Spike that there was a love letter inside, he had stopped reading them after his third year in the Frozen North. 

On the second floor, there was simply a small bathroom and a large bedroom. He had a bed, lamp, more books, and a shelf, with pictures from all who had sent him letters. He hadn't had any communication with them past letters for the past two decades and had so far failed to inform them of his missing arm.

Spike took a few steps into his home and decided he didn't want to risk waking his homes only other resident in the event they were in, and instead made his way into his living room, leaving his cold cloak on an empty coat rack and flopping onto his couch bed, before snuggling up in the blanket and getting nice and comfy before nodding off.





Spike was awoken gracefully when he was smacked in the face with a Pillow, "No," He complained as he rolled over sleepily "Let Daddy sleep," Spike's attempts to escape failed when yet another Pillow assaulted him, knowing she would eventually flip the couch Spike gave in and got up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, as he got up a tray was set on his lap and he looked down to a brown salad with a lot of white berries on them.

"Frost Berry salad," A voice said, Spike looked over to his adopted daughter Iron Heart, she was a fully grown mare at the ripe old age of 23 and Spike hadn't seen her wearing anything other than her enchanted armor since he had given it to her for her sweet 16, Around her neck was a long red scarf, and around her waist, she wore a red skirt over her armor, the armor looked to have many weak spots as it didn't fully cover her knees and shoulders, it lacked a helmet and the area from the shoulder armor to the armored gloves left her biceps exposed and her gloves were only metal around her elbows.

To most, she looked to have many a weak spot to get a good stab in, while in truth her armors only weak spot was hidden beneath her scarf, it was heavily enchanted so it was light for the wearer but heavy to all others, the shoulder, knees, and the area between her biceps had charms around them to repealed attacks and those thinking foul thoughts, these charms where also around her neck and formed a dome effect around her, giving her a magical helmet, the gloves looked to be simple clothes but being hit by them would hurt more than being hit with any other part of her armor. Resting on her back was A enchanted Red Sword Handle that would expand into a Greatsword whenever She needed it.

"I hate Frost Berries," Spike declared proudly as he took the fork and started eating the bitter fruit salad that made his mouth cold.

"Sorry old man but it's either that or fish, And I can't eat fish,"

"I hate Fish," Spike replied stubbornly as he continued eating his icy cold plate of bitterness, "I want Gems and some booze,"

"And I want to finally kick your ass in a fight because I've gotten stronger than you, not because you let yourself go,"

"I only eat a handful of meals every few days," Spike replied smartly "Not a lot of pit stops from town to town, that's why so many stay in the Frozen North you know, cause they can't fucking leave their home towns,"

"That and some of them are wanted criminals back in Equestria," Iron Heart passed Spike a mug full of heated water and he drank it down quickly.

"Alright I gotta go meet a lady down by the docs, If I'm not back soon then I've been kidnapped by the ocean,"

"Sounds fun," Iron Heart said as she took his plate and mug and tossed them in the large pile that was filling the sink, Spike got up and retrieved his cloak before teleporting beneath the door and was instantly met with a swarm of Diamond dogs excitedly waiting for him, once he was spotted he was very quickly mobbed by his loving people.

Iron Heart Left the cottage a few minutes after Spike and found him walking away from the Diamond dogs covered in slobber and snickered at him but said nothing as she joined him in walking to the Docs to meet with Emerald Star