//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Dragon Knight // by Spideze //------------------------------// The Dragon Knight Chapter 1 By Spideze ITALICS = Thinking/thoughts PONYVILLE "Ugh...and to think i would always complain about cleaning the Golden Oak library!" Ever since the Castle of Friendship appeared Twilight has done nothing but add more and more books to her collection, unfortunately with her trying to always help Starlight with her friendship lessons i'm left to clean and reorganize the castle alone. "And...there that's the last book for the top shelf, i think this dragon deserves a gem," Spike giggled to himself as he climbed off the old, slightly worn ladder and made his way to the castle's kitchen as he hummed a light tune. As Spike made his way into the kitchen he couldn't help but miss the old comfy feel of the Golden Oaks library over the new crystal empty feel the new castle holds. A tear threatened to side down his cheek as he remembered the events of Tirek destroying the library, anger washing over his body and he slammed his fist against the pristine crystal table, his hand aching in response. "Agghh if only i had grown up sooner, maybe the library would still be standing." A few months after Twilight and the others accepted Starlight into the group spike had started going through subtle changes in his body, he became stronger with more noticeable muscles, that Rainbow Dash went on to tease him about, he became more mature and wise seeming to gain knowledge he had not cared about before and finally one day he surprisingly shot up to 6 ft 2 standing just slightly taller than his mom Celestia. Spike brushed the thoughts away and proceeded to walk over to the shiny cupboard, mentally stopping himself from ripping everything shiny out and putting in comfy wooden ones, his train of thought stopped when he heard the front door fly open. "Spike, i'm home! Where are you Spike?" "I'm in the kitchen Twilight," Spike shouted back returning to his hunt for juicy gems. "You would not believe how hard it is to try and help ponies around town when Starlight and Trixie constantly practice new spells all over Ponyville! You finished cleaning for today right?" Twilight asked walking into the kitchen seeing her number one assistant rummaging through the cabinets presumably looking for gems,Twilight giggled slightly looking at her assistant's antics. Spiked laughed at the thought of Starlight and Trixie learning and trying new spells at Twilight's expense. "Yes Twilight i did everything you asked of me." "Clean the bedrooms?" "Yes" "clean the bathroom?" "Yes Twilight..." "wash the widows?" "Twi-" "re-organize the bookshelves?" "Twilight I-" "alphabetize the books, make the beds, do the dishes replace the-" "TWILIGHT"–Spike picked up the surprisingly light alicorn and help her up to his face. keeping his snout just inches away from his– "Twilight i did everything you asked of me like i ALWAYS do so please stop freaking out and put faith in your number one assistant," Spike smiled confidently at Twilight as a pink tint formed on her otherwise lavender coat. "Heh, sorry Spike it's just that I've wanted to organize and clean this castle for weeks but with Starlight always doing either friendship lessons or learning some new type of magic I've been really busy, i haven't even been able to hang out with the girls much," said Twilight pouting as she searches her mind to when the last time she properly hung out with her friends. Twilight looked up to the now much taller Spike as he sat her down and flashed her a look of sadness, "Look Twilight i know you have been busy with Starlight but trust me i can handle cleaning the castle, though i do think it would be much better to hire so service ponies, not that i mind cleaning and helping you out but...I'm older now Twilight it would be nice if i could go out and hang out with people or just relax, i kind of want my own life you know?" "Hmm i guess that would make things easier for the both of us around here...and that would allow us to hang out more and make me stress out less, but i don't want ponies to think i am snobby or force them to work for me," Twilight had never liked being treated like royalty, always feeling like she just wanted to be treated like a normal pony, and who could blame her? Being treated differently never feels good, and after all Twilight has seen how ponies treated Celestia differently and she always felt bad for her mentor, even if she did treat her differently herself. Spike laughed and petted his best friend on the head messing her silky hair up in the process. "Twilight ponies clean as a job and maybe even have it as a special talent, plus if you hire some ponies from Canterlot i am sure the would be happy to clean the smaller castle compared to Canterlot," Twilight grinned a heart warming smile at him and shook her head as she turned around to head out of the kitchen. "Ha ha alright Spike come lets go to Sugarcube Corner and get some gem crusted cupcakes!" Laughter and cheers could be heard out throughout the castle. MEANWHILE ELSEWHERE Deep inside a dark and cold cave nestled deep towards the back was a shadowy figure sulking on the cold slick surface. "They...THEY TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME"-images flashed in the pony's mind- "no, that DRAGON took everything from me! I WILL get my revenge!" Laughter could be heard to any unlucky creature walking by. SPIKE'S POV "I don't know how Pinkie does it but she makes the best darn cupcakes in all of Equestria," I really should see if pinkie will give me that recipe. "Mmm tell me about it Spike i could easily eat her cupcakes all day!" Twilight proclaimed excitedly with a ear to ear grin Spike couldn't help but look at Twilight with a wide grin as he thought to himself. That smile of hers always melts my heart, it adds to her already natural beauty and... Spike stopped his walking and froze instantly as he frantically searched his own head and looked at Twilight. Did i really just think that about Twilight? I mean sure she is beautiful in her own nerdy way but how could i have said that so easily, Twilight basically raised me! "Spike? Spike are you okay, what's wrong? Twilight looked at Spike with worry in her eyes as she slowly approached the dragon taking not of the distant and freaked out look he had on his face and the now visible sweat running down his head Okay spike okay calm down, so you called her beautiful it meant nothing other than a statement or fact and plus she didn't hear me so it's all okay just calm down...even with saying that i don't feel much better, maybe i should- "SPIKE" "Huh what?!" Spike looked around in nervous panic has he heard a scream, soon realizing it was Twilight floating up to his face looking at him with panic in her eyes and nervousness evident on her face. "What is it Twilight is something wrong?" "I should be asking you that! You just spaced out and stopped walking, you had a clear look of panic and worry in your eyes, is everything okay Spike?" said Twilight in a concerning tone, floating closer to spike's face Spike's heartbeat increased as Twilight neared his face, instinctively taking a step back and flashing her a weak smile. Oh NO, i can't possibly tell her what i was just thinking can i? Darn it Spike calm down before you make her freak out! "Uh yeah Twilight i am fine don't worry i just uh...freaked out because i couldn't remember if i turned the stove off or not yeah heh heh," Good one laughing nervously like that she will totally buy that you dummy. "Spike we are closer than anypony else i know and i trust you more than anything, so if it's something bothering you tell me please" Twilight shot spike an almost motherly smile. Spike looks around for a way out of this and sighs knowing he can't get around not telling her what he was thinking. "Okay Twilight look i wa-" "AHHHH SOMEPONY, HELP!" Twilight looked at Spike with a worried expression while Spike grew very serious and bolted towards the screaming in a full sprint with Twilight flying close behind, both having the same thought in mind Please be okay