//------------------------------//
// Chapter 01: The Start of the Journey 
// Story: Spike's Trials 
// by OrpheusDefense 
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	Keep running, don't stop just keep running! Those fear induced words kept running through Spike's head as he pushed his body beyond what even he thought he was capable of as he heard the growls and crunching of branches of his pursuers told him he was not out of danger. Only now did he really question his choice in going through the Everfree Forest instead of using the road. The first week into his journey was fine; sure a few bumps on the road are bound to happen, but nothing he couldn't handle. Timberwolves never gave him any problems, dragons were their hazard and to hunt one was asking to be turned into a burning pile of twigs; however, the packs that lived deeper in the Everfree were made differently than those living on the edge of the forest. Not only were they twice as large and smart, but they also had mud mixed in with the usual sticks and leaves which suddenly turned Spike from a danger to them to a tasty meal for their stomachs. So the tiny dragon quickly picked a random direction and fled as fast he could, the timberwolves quickly giving chance deeper into the wood. "This was the dumbest idea." He panted out to himself, cursing his horrible luck and any gods he could remember at the moment for putting him here. His body started to ache from all the cuts and wounds accumulated in his mad dash, which now started to cause his body to begin to slow down despite his will wanting to push further. In an act of desperation, he tossed off the pack he brought with him to hopefully not relieve some undue stress in keeping his mad speed, but to also trip up the predators behind him. Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect causing him to stumble and crash head first into a boulder his tunnel vision caused him to miss. 

The second his body hit the ground he knew it was over, he could already feel his consciousness failing along with his body shutting down. The tiny dragon's thoughts went to his friends and the fact they'll never learn what happen to him, to never see them again thinking he abandoned them."Sorry girls, guess this is where my....story... ends." He managed to get out, a weak attempt at letting them know his fate. Suddenly he feels a great warmth and a bright flash of light before darkness consumes him. 





Spike soon realized he wasn't dead from the fact he can feel the soreness of his body recovering, the warmth and crackling of a fire, and the smell of fish cooking. With some effort the little drake managed to get his eyes to open to see his wounds have been tended, a claw to his head told him his head wound was also bandaged as well. "About time you woke up whelp," A gruff spoke up, "glad to see you refused to give up the ghost as some would say." It finished with a deep belly chuckle. After managing to sit up, Spike soon realized he was laying on a pile of cloth, he turned to see another dragon sitting on a log on the other side of a fire pit between them; a ring of fish on sticks cooking over the flames. The copper color scaled dragon looked about the same height as Garble and his cronies if the younger one had to use as a reference, but once look at their eminence colored eyes told Spike that the drake before him was much older. It felt like looking into the eyes of Celestia herself, holding much wisdom and experience that only a creature can only receive by living for centuries. The purple dragon also noticed he, well he sounded male at least, wore clothes; not armor like Ember wore. The dragon wore a simple pair of pants and a poncho that looked well worn yet taken great care of despite its age. "Are you done checking me out whelp?" The copper dragon asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice. 

"Uh, sorry uh," the younger of the two stumbled out as he looked up at Luna's night sky, "so what happened to the timberwolves?" Spike finally managed to get out, much to the amusement of the still unnamed dragon. His response was the taking a stick and poking the wood in the fire showing the remains of a wooden, wolf skull. "Whoa." Spike breathed out as his eyes widen in astonishment. Another awkward silence formed between the two as they just looked at each other; one in awe the other calculating. It was the purple-scaled one to finally break it while rubbing his claws nervously, "So, I'm Spike." 

With a low chuckle, the older dragon grinned, "Well that's better than whelp. I go by Jack, Jack Knife." He introduced himself with a bow. 
"Jack Knife?" The assistant of the Element of Magic asked, one brow raised as if saying 'what's the story behind that?'. 
Once more Jack chuckled as his eyes became unfocused and ran a claw against the fabric of the poncho, "The one who gave me that name stated that I, and I'm quoting her, 'Jackknifed right into one of their barrels' when I passed out while flying over their home." Both of the dragons burst into laughter at the anecdote. Once the laughter had subsided the atmosphere felt lighter, "So Spike, mind answering an old dragon's curiosity by telling me why you're out here in the middle of the Everfree being chased by overgrown weeds no less?" Concern soon filled Jack as he felt Spike go from cheerful to downtrodden. 

Spike was quiet for a few moments, pondering if he should or shouldn't confess to the dragon before who was really a complete stranger that he only just met. But even if it was only for a few minutes, Jack had shown him that not all dragons acted like what he has seen so far. "You'll probably think it's silly but I'm on a journey. I guess... you can say I'm trying to find myself." His green eyes fell onto the crackling fire as he decided he might as well explain it all. He told how he recently felt like he was tied to his friends, that anything he really tried to do himself without being asked would be disastrous when he could normally do it with great ease; he even gave examples of situations that proved his point. Spike spoke out on how he felt like a comic relief sidekick to the Elements, and even though they told him that he was far from that he felt otherwise. Sure they tell he was a hero when delivered the Crystal Heart and stopped the giant ice block during the Friendship games, but he honestly felt that he was just hand held through those events and was just given the credit. He even went on about his experience with his fellow dragons and how he was disappointed on how many acted. All the while Jack listened, never judging or even cracking a smile. Once his little companion finished, it was Jack's turn to talk. 

"So you want to find where you belong, correct? To find yourself and perhaps get stronger for it?" Jack asked, receiving a nod from Spike was his reply. "There is nothing wrong with trying to find oneself, Spike. I was like you, many centuries ago. I was tired of how are kind acted and wanted to find the answers." 

"Did you?!" Spike asked, hope in his voice and eyes. 

With a smile, Jack nodded before pulling one of the sticks out and start to eat the fish at the end of it. "I did, I found what the old Dragon Lord try to hide from all dragons to make their position that much more powerful than it actually is." He pulled another and handed it to the little drake who was eagerly awaiting what was going to be revealed. "I met the King of Dragons, a being older than our world itself. I had found him by sheer chance and asked for his teaching, only to be first be tested first. Once I passed his trials he taught me what it meant to be a dragon, to not let our greed control us and how to tap into the power he gave all dragons." He pointed behind the purple dragon who turned and gaped at the sight. Where once a boulder was barely anything left, smoke still coming off the smooth surface showing some with extreme heat had blown clear through it. "I have learned to control it and use the greed we have to keep me at this size, and not once have I heard the call of the greed since. I have learned that a dragon's horde does not need to be physical or about jewels and other trinkets, my personal horde is gaining knowledge. I have no doubt that our Lord can do the same for you Spike, however," a stick with a cooked fish occupied Spike's vision before he took it, "the question is do you want to take Lord Bahamut's trails? If you do I can only show you the way, you must undertake them alone." With his peace spoken Jack went to a tree and sat against it before quickly getting comfortable, "You can give me your answer in the morning." And with that the copper dragon fell to sleep, ending any kind of conversation till he awoke. 

Spike looked at his fellow dragon sleep as he thought about what he was just told. The position his friend Ember held was false, there was a King of Dragons named Bahamut, he can learn and train under this... his Lord if he can complete his trails. But he would have to do it alone, he looked over his bandaged body and quickly remembered the previous event with the timber wolves. Looking back at the now ruined boulder, he recalled all the time he was useless, to even being a hindrance to his friends. He knows they don't see him as such, that he was equal to them. But then why was he left behind while they go on adventures? He then recalls all the villains they had faced and his claws clenched as a rage he did not know he had started to blaze to life at thought of them coming to hurt his friends. He made his choice when he first wrote that letter and left it for Twilight to find on the Friendship Map, now it was time to write up another one and hope Jack would fulfill a request. "A horde doesn't have to be physical or trinkets huh?" He mumbled to himself as he ate his meal, he was hungry after all. 





Jack let out a large yawn as he returned to the waking realm, only to see the younger dragon cooking a stew over a newly made fire. "Smells good." He mumbled out as he made his way to the fire, catching the attention of the chief who smiled. 

"Hey Jack, breakfast is just about ready," Spike stated happily as he dished out the stew in a bowl he had from his pack, glad that it was only singed from whatever Jack did to save him. Handing the filled bowl to his companion who started to sip from it, humming in delight from the taste, he served himself a bowl. "After we finish, can you do me a favor before I go take the trials to meet the King of Dragons?" 

The question stopped Jack in tipping his head back for another sip before looking at the small dragon, going over what he just heard. "Are you sure this is what you want Spike? While not deadly, the trials to just meet him will push you to the point of breaking you, and the training should the King of Dragons into being a pupil will make those look like a walk in a garden." He stated as blunt as possible, not wanting to toss his new friend into the fire without fair warning. 

Spike was quiet for awhile as he looked down at his stew, thinking over his choice. It wasn't long before he looked directly into Jack's eyes, his own filled with a fire that nearly caused Jack to bulk; the young drake unknowingly bringing up memories of how Bahamut looked at him the first time he gazed upon the King. "Yes, I need to get stronger. Last night I realized that while I need to find out who I am, I wanted strength to help my friends. No, I need the strength to protect them. Looking back at all our enemies we've faced I've realized that I need to be strong enough to stand my ground not beside them, but in front of them. They represent everything that I love in this world, they are more than my horde, they're my family. I won't let anything harm them!" He stated plainly, his voice filled with conviction and fire in it, though Jack could feel some rage in there when the purple one mention nothing harming his frie- no, his family. 

It was Jack's turn to stare at Spike in awe, the drake's declaration moving him in a way he only felt in the presence of Lord Bahamut. With a smile, he gave his reply, "So what is this favor, friend?" He asked, what else could he say after that? Who was he to deny his fellow true dragon in obtaining what he needs? Truly, there was much Steel in Spike. 

Smiling at being called a friend, Spiked reached behind the log Spike had chosen to sit on and held out an envelope, "I was hoping you'd stop by Ponyville and give this to Twilight personally. I also wrote down for her to grant you access to the library we have in her palace as a reward for doing this for me. Since she was Celestia's student before being a princess she should have some tomes or books that can read to add to your horde of knowledge, friend." 

With a chuckle the copper dragon took the message and placed it in his own bag, "I was heading in that direction anyways. Now, let us eat and then I'll give you what you need for your journey to go as smooth outside of unforeseen events." With a nod of his agreement, the two new friends fell into small talks as they made their way through the delicious meal, both knowing it will be a long time before they would see each other again. 





It didn't take long for the two drakes to put away their small camp, Spike's wrappings were either removed or replaced in the case of the head wound and one on his right arm from a particularly deep scratch. "You're going to need these two items for your journey my friend," Jack stated as he pulled out a opened up a map, "this here will lead you to the path for each trial and also where you can see our Lord all four trials are complete." He handed it to Spike who became mesmerized when he saw a red line appear leading to what looked like a mountain range. "The second is this." Reaching around his neck, the older dragon pulled off what looked like a black box attached to a string, opening it revealed a glass orb with a compass needle hovering inside of it. "This compass has two special features the first is this," motioning for Spike to place the map on the ground he placed the compass on top which quickly pointed in a direction that was not north, "place it on the map will set you back on the correct path you need to take so you can never get lost."  

"That's really cool," Spike exclaimed in excitement before looking back up at Jack, "but what's the second thing it does then?" 

Jack had a smile on his face at the question, "It'll point you in the direction at what you desire the most, and I can figure out what that would be, or whom it would be." He chuckled at seeing the young drake blush. "The map was made by the King himself using his own scales, he then enchanted to 'trick' the compass in thinking the user wants to go through the trials." Again Spike was in awe which nearly had the older drake want to laugh out. Jack then placed the compass around Spike's neck. "I wish you best on your journey my friend. I can guarantee it will test you in ways you won't expect, but I truly do believe you will succeed in it." 

The statement filled Spike with confidence as he nodded before holding out a claw, "Same to you Jack, can you let my friends know what I am doing as well? Just, don't tell them where I am, like you said I need to this alone." He asked, knowing how his friends would react when they would what he was going to do. "Um, also they might try force it out of you so.... please don't hurt them too much?" He added bashfully. Jack just chuckled as he nodded while he took the offered claw and gave a firm shake. With that done Spike quickly made his way in the direction the compass and map had pointed him in, quickly disappearing into the dense foliage of the forest. 

Jack stood in the clearing looking at the direction his newest friend dashed off in for several moments. "You are just like your father Spike, I can see him in you so much it is surprising. I've done what I was allowed to do my part, the rest is up to you and that conviction you have." He stated to the space around him before he shoulder his bag.  "Ponyville huh," he turned towards the direction of said town, "I wonder if Miss Smith is still there, I miss her pies." Just before he opened his wings to take flight he pauses and looks up at the clear sky, and wonderful sounds the forest provided. It would only take him a day to fly to Ponyville while a week on foot if he didn't stop. "… I'll fly tomorrow. It'll give him more time just in case his friends have a way to follow him. Plus it's too nice to fly right now." He reasoned to himself out loud before grinning. So unflexing his wings, placing his claws in his pockets he started his slow pace towards Ponyville. Whistling a tune as he went.