//------------------------------//
// Spike 
// Story: Blood Ties 
// by bestponydash 
//------------------------------//

Twilight looked back and forth to the different beds her friends occupied. She listened for their snores and deep breaths. She looked down and could just make out Spike's small bed next to her, he was sound asleep. The princess of friendship slowly removed her covers and sat up, still listening for any movement however dim. She lifted herself up, carefully stepping over Spike, and placed one hoof after the other onto the ground; holding her breath all the while. It took several minutes but at last the final of her hooves warmed the frigid crystal floors. Twilight took a deep breath and set her sights on the door. She crept onward until she could feel the large doorknob in her grasp. The door swung open with no more than a faint squeal and Twilight placed her first hoof outside.

"[yyyyaaaawwwn]" Twilight whirled her head back and peered into the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest with every breath and her eyes widened. There was a rough waving of covers and then the room returned to silence. Twilight's breathing slowed and she continued out the door until she could safely close it behind her.

As the door closed, Spike was startled awake and yawned once more. He blinked his hazed eyes  and took a sleepy glance around the room; everypony was still in their beds, sound asleep, except for one that was. Spiked rose his head to get a better look at Twilight's empty bed, "Twilight?" he looked left and right but she was not in the room. Then Spike remembered what woke him and slowly dragged himself from his small bedding to the door, peeking outside. He could just get a glimpse of Twilight's tail as she disappeared around a corner. Now, Spike knew Twilight better than anyone so it shouldn't have been a surprise to him that she couldn't leave well enough alone and take the other princesses at their word. So, he figured he better follow her before she gets herself into any trouble. 

Unfortunately, as Spike turned the same corner Twilight did, she was nowhere to be found; she must have picked up the pace once she got away from the guest room. Spike rubbed his head for he did not have the path back to the dungeons memorized as Twilight no doubt did. So, he took his time, trying to remember which turns to take and which stairs to descend. But eventually he succeeded in finding the stone walls that painted the way; and not soon after did he find the guarded door of the dungeon that held this mysterious Lennox. 

Spike approached the guardsponies slowly as to not alert them, "Oh great, another one," one whispered, "Halt, who goes there?"

Spike stepped into the light so the guards could get a good look at him; He pointed to the door, "Is she in there?"

"Oh, Spike. Yeah, been in there for a few minutes now, said Celestia sent her."

"[sigh] Alright, I'll go get her." The guards nodded and opened the door for the young dragon. Spike walked through the darkness of the dungeon until he could make out Twilight's orb of light. He quickly made his way closer to the cell that held the strange pony, as well as lennox. But as soon as he got close, Spike began to make out what the two were saying to one another.

"No."

"Yes."

"No, she wouldn't. Celestia would never take a-"

"Dragon's egg."

"You're lying! Celestia is my teacher and my friend, she would never steal a baby!"

"What?," Spike whispered to himself. He kept listening.

"...Until Celestia arrived and caught the two of us standing over the case. When we confronted her, she replied with 'It is to secure our future.' "

"Stop, I'll not have you lie to my face about my own mentor!"

"Case...baby?" Spike whispered again; a few memories stered.

"When you saw his egg, was it green and purple?...I thought so."

Spike's eyes widened; Twilight had told him the story of her entrance exam and how she first met him. "My egg was green and purple, I was kept in a small case..."

Lennox continued, "When I first showed Luna the egg, she identified the inscriptions as those which can alter time. The egg was frozen in its current state until Celestia saw fit to hatch it."

"Time...magic?" His mind soared every which way, not knowing what to think. Were they talking about him? Could that be possible?

Twilight suddenly zoomed from the cell, but Spike was kneeling beside the door and Twilight did not notice him at all as she ran. Spike watched as his oldest friend collapsed on the ground in the middle of the room. He thought at first to approach her and try to make some sense out of all he had heard. As he took his first step toward her, Twilight stood up once more and bolted out of the dungeons. He was about to try and follow but before he could do so, "I know you were listening," said a scary voice from within the cell. 

Spike halted in his tracks and turned to the cell door, he slowly creaked it open and saw nothing but two glowing yellow eyes. "The very topic of conversation," Lennox said. 

Spike's heart rate doubled, "What do you mean? Who are you?" He demanded his answers as best he could and Lennox chuckled at the young drake. 

"Take a seat, young one...though, not as young as he appears," he laughed again, "I have a story to tell you, one that I am sure you will want to hear." And so, Lennox told his twisted version of the story to Spike in an attempt to turn the dragon to his aid; to make him see the "truth".

When he was done, Spike reacted as we all would expect, "You expect me to believe any of this? No, I've lived with these ponies my whole life; I know them better than anyone else."

"Do not be so naive; what reason would I have to lie to you? I am trying to help you, I want you to be able to get the revenge you deserve."

"Revenge?"

"For stealing you away from your real family For-"

"Twilight is my real family!" Spike interrupted in a scream, "I owe everything to her and she trusts Celestia. So, I trust Celestia."

"Are you sure about that part?" Spike's words halted, his eyes shook just a bit. "After I told Twilight this tale, she chose to believe it in only a few minutes, of course she needed one other pony to confirm my story, but that doesn't change the fact of the matter."

"You're lying, the princesses were right about you; you just want power."

Lennox sighed, "I can see you also need another to confirm all of this...very well. I'm sure your dear Twilight will investigate this to the fullest, so by all means, follow her. Learn the whole truth and come find me again once you have done so. I have a feeling both of you will see things my way soon enough."

Spike wanted to say more but he had no words to do so; after all, the unicorn was probably right about one thing. Twilight will get to bottom of this mystery, and he must know the truth. "Even if any of what you say is true, I will never turn against Twilight." And with that, Spike hesitantly turned to catch up to Twilight; to find the whole truth.