//------------------------------//
// Chapter 56: How A Young Dragon Grew Up 
// Story: Children of Harmony 
// by Pinkie Pie Sweets 
//------------------------------//

One rainy afternoon, Sakura, Ruby, and both of their siblings are are in Ruby's house with Spikes while Twilight And Rarity had to Canterlot. Sakura, Ame, Yuki, Dragon Ruby, Silver Dragon, and Rainbow Prism are bored in Ruby's bedroom, while little Tsubasa is taking a nap in his playpen. They sigh as they watch the rain crashing down from the outside.

Ame lies down as he says, "I'm bored. We should do something fun and not do nothing."

"But what can we do," Yuki asks.

"Yeah. We played some of our board games, cards, and some of our toys," Silver says.

"And I think we played with everything," Rainbow Prism agrees.

The door to Ruby's room open to reveal Spike. He then notice that the ids are either sitting on the floor or on the bed looking like couch potatoes.

Spike becomes curious and asks, "What wrong kids?"

"We're bored Spike," Ame answers.

"There's nothing to do," Silver Dragon adds.

Yuki sits up, and asks, "Nothing for us to do."

"Now kids, I'm sure there's something for us to do. I was able to come up with was to play when I was a little dragon," Spike says.

"I guess," The young twin colts says.

Spike chuckles and says, "You two sound a lot like me when I was little. That is… until the incident that made me a grown dragon early."

The kids sit up and look at Spike with confused looks on their faces.

Ruby asks, "What do you mean dad?"

"Yeah Spike, what do you mean?" Sakura adds.

Spike rolls his eyes feeling a bit embarrassed, "Well, let's just say that I ended up becoming a full grown dragon early, and never fully get to experience the rest of my young dragon hood.

"How," The four young kids asks.

Spike simply smiles, and says, "How about we make some lunch and then I'll tell you kids the whole story."

The kids nod their heads agreeing to have make some lunch and then here Spike story. Sometime later, the kids along with Spike are having some peanut butter and zap apple jam sandwich, with some popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, and some hot chocolate. Spike is sitting on the couch holding Tsubasa while the kids are sitting on the blanket on the floor having lunch.

Silver smiles as he asks, "So dad can you tell us the story now?"

"Yes daddy, tell us," Ruby begs with a smile.

"Please!" Sakura and the others begs with sparkles in their eyes.

Spike chuckles and says, "Okay children, I'll tell you the story… It all started two years after what happened to Twilight, and it was also a week after I got my new wings…"

Before Spike can continue, Yuki asks, "Spike, how did you get your wings."

"That's a story for another time," Spike answers while his cheeks are blushing.

Ruby whispers to Sakura, "My had had to go through a kind of molting experience."

"Did you had to go through it too?" Sakura asks.

"That's Correct, and that's how I was able to have the ability to turn myself more dragon like t will," Ruby replies.

Then Spike says, "It all happened one day when Fluttershy invited us to join her for a picnic…"

Around eighteen years ago, the girls and Spike are having a picnic in the open field. As usual, Rarity is wearing some of her fine pink hats. Rainbow Dash is reading a Daring Do book, while they have lunch together. As the girls eat, Spike is the only one who is not very hungry. He puts his gemstone down and face the open field. He still can't stop think about he only pony who is missing from their group. The girls notice Spike sad feeling and know what is the matter with him.

Fluttershy hugs Spike and sadly asks, "You still miss her, don't you?"

"Yeah…" Spike answers as he sadly nods his head.

Then he adds, "It's just not the same without Twilight around."

"Yeah. It seems a bit empty without Twilight being here," Rainbow agrees.

Applejack sighs and says, "I know what you mean. But there's nothing we can do until the gate opens in the next eighteen years."

Rainbow groans, and says, "That will take forever!"

"Waiting's no fun," Pinkie agrees flopping her face to the ground.

Spike sighs and says, "And you want to know the worst part… is that part of this is our fault. If we would have at least give Twilight the benefit of the doubt we would have been there for her."

Spike then begins to cry. Rarity gives him a hug and rub on the back to make him feel better. The girls agree that they really miss Twilight and feel responsible for what happened to her. Without know what kind of world she's in or if she's alright, it's hard for them not to worry.

Just then, the girls and Spike begin to a strange rumble sound coming from the direction of the Everfree Forest. Knowing where the noise i coming from, they all hurry to figure out where the strange noise is coming from. They search around where they hear the noise, ut so far, nothing.

Spike looks around as he asks, "You guys heard that noise, or is it just me?"

"I heard it too," Applejack says, twitching her eyes.

"I heard the noise too, and it was loud and scary," Fluttershy adds, shivering in fear.

"But where is it coming from," Rarity asks looking around.

Just then, they star to hear the strange rumbling sound again. And it's getting louder, and louder, and louder. It's so loud, the ground begins to shake. Just then, something rise up from the ground. The creature is about ten feet tall, and it looks like a giant skunk. Unlike a normal skunk, one is a bright red color with pink stripes on the back, tail, and pink stripe in the middle of his face. The skunk creature growls at the girls and Spike, they friends screams in fear and runs away. Sadly the skunk is right on their tail.

As they run, Rainbow scaredly asks, "What… what is that thing?"

"It looks like a giant skunk, but they're not big, red, and pink," Pinkie replies.

Spike turns to Fluttershy and asks, "Fluttershy, you're the animal expert. Do you have any idea what that thing is?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know what it is at all," Fluttershy answers, and it's not good news.

The girls continue running as fast as they can. Spike ends up tripping and falls into nearby bush, and the skunk till chases the girls to the end of the there's no way to get out, by running or flying. The skunk creature lifts its tail and launches a strange pink orb at the girl. When it explodes, the orb unleashes a large amount and stinky pink smoke. Then he giant skunk runs away.

When the skunk is gone, Spike is able to get out of the bushes and look to see the smoke is clearing. Fearing the worst, Spike runs to the girls to see if they're okay.

Spike scaredly asks, "Girls, are you alright?"

So far the girls hasn't answer, which is making Spike more worried. Luckily the smoke has been cleared up, but Spike gasps in shock to see what has happened.

A small voice sounding a little like Rarity answers, "I think we're alright Spiky whiskey.

"Are you kidding?! I stink," The young filly sounding like Rainbow Dash angrily shouts.

"Uh, why do y'all sound like you're little fillies," The voice sounds like Applejack asks.

Spike shudders as he tries to answer, "B-b-b-b-because… because… you are little fillies!"

The mares look at each other and gasp to see that they are little fillies again. The girls screams in fear of being little kids again. Spike is still in shock to see that the girls are turned to little fillies again by this strange skunk.

Little Applejack exclaims, "Wha-what happened to us?"

"We're little fillies again," Little Rainbow Dash scaredy remarks."

Young Fluttershy tries to hide her face behind her hair as she asks, "What are we going to do?"

"Yeah. We can't stay like this. Although, I did sometimes wonder what it i'll be like to be young again. Even though I'm grown up now and…" Pinkie says beginning to ramble.

But cuts off when Spike suggests, "Maybe Princess Celestia may know something about this. I'll send her a letter when we get back to the library."

Agreeing to the idea, Spike takes the new fillies back to the library without any harm coming to them. Luckily, they are able to get to library back okay. Spike sends the letter to princess Celestia explaining that has happened, and wait for her to respond. Spike takes care of the little fillies since they can't take care of themselves now.

In no time at all, Princess Celestia arrive at the library with a book that has the answer they need. Princess Celestia turn the book to he page where the strange red skunk is, and is showing the girls what it is.

Spike questionably says, "An Aging Skunk?"

"Yes. I always thought it was just a myth, but it looks like they're very real. Aging Sunk has a two different kind of smell. The one that hit the girls was the pink youth smell, and it's not very pleasant, Princess Celestia explains.

Then Spike asks, "Is there a way to reverse it?"

Princess Celestia nods her head, and explains, "There is another smell which is the opposite of the pink youth smell. The old age smell. It's a red orb with a peculiar sweet smell that makes them grow up, and it cancels the pink smell's effects."

"Then a do is get that skunk and get him to spray us the old smell," Spike says with glee.

The young fillies nod their heads with a smile agreeing to the idea.

However, Celestia warn, "You need to be careful while around that skunk, Spike. The red smells is permanent when it gets on someone. Even when you succeeded getting the girl age back to normal, if you get sprayed, you'll grow up without being able to change back."

Spike and the young fillies nod their heads, and agree to be careful. After packin a few supplies, the gang begin to travel back to the Everfree Forest to find the Aging Skunk.

Flashes back to the living room when Spike is telling the kids the story.

Sakura asks, "So there's a skunk that causes you to change our ages depending on the smell it sprayed you with."

"That's correct," Spike answers, nodding his head as he holds Tsubasa who is asleep.

Then Ruby suspects, "And judging what happened, you must have got sprayed with the red smell."

"Spike giggles, and and, "I'll explain to your kids the rest of the story, okay."

The kids nod their heads agreeing to listen o the story.

"Alright, the girls who are turned into fillies, and myself, begin to make our wait to the Everfree Forest," Spike narrates.

Back to the event eighteen years ago, Spike along with the girls who are now little flies are heading to the Everfree Forest. Young Fluttershy feels scared being in the forest, so pike and young Rainbow Dash make sure he is close to them.

Feeling shy, young Fluttershy asks, "Um Spike, are you sure… um, that you want to come with us. You, my, well, remember Princess Celestia's warning."

"I know ya, but I feel that it's right to tag along with you. It wouldn't be right to et little fillies like you going in the forest alone," Spike says with a smile.

Just then, he hears young Pinkie Pie asks, "I'm Spike, can you help me?"

Spike turns to see that little Pinkie has caught her hair in one of the bushes. Spike helps untangle the branches form Pinkie's hair.

He escort Pinkie to the others as he says, "Now stay close, we need to find the skunk before any other Everfree animals comes along."

The young fillies nod their heads agreeing to the idea. They continue walking down the trail. Along the way, Spike has to make sure the young fillies stay out of trouble, and out of danger's way.

Just as they get further down the forest, they begin to hear rumbling noises again, just like before. And it's getting louder, and louder, and louder.

Young Fluttershy hides behind young Applejack as she scaredly asks, "What going on?"

"I'm thinkin that crazy red varmint is here," Young Applejack suspects.

"I think you're right, Applejack," Young Rarity says with a worried look on her face.

Just then, the giant Aging Skunk pops out from the ground, and starts to run away.

Young Rainbow Dash shouts, "After it!"

Young Rainbow Dash flies after the skunk while Spike and the others run after her. The skunk is running very fast, and it's making it hard for the girls and Spike to catch up with it.

Tired, young Rarity says, "That creature is too fast for us."

"Howin thunderation are we going to catch up with it?" young Applejack asks.

Spike tries his best to think on how to get the skunk to spray them. Just then, he remembers on how the skunk corners the girls in the first place, and how skunks reach when they get scared.

Spike turns to the girls and says, "Girls, we need to corner the skunk somewhere so it can spray us."

"How are we going to do that?" young Pinkie Pie asks.

"I got a plan, but we're going to need Rainbow Dash to help us out," Spike answers.

Right on cue, Rainbow Dash flies back to the others, and says, "I lost that stupid skunk."

"Don't worry Rainbow, Spie has a plan," Rarity says.

Spike nods his head, and answers, "Right, now huddle up."

The girls and Spike for a circle, and Spike whispers his plan to get the skunk in one place.

In the forest, the giant aging kunk is walking around the forest until it find itself a river. The skunk begins to drink the water from the river. As it drinks from the water, strange creatures begint to get close to it. Sensing trouble, the skunk turns to see three leaves creatures with glowing yellow eyes. He skunk becomes scared and runs away, the three creatures follow after it.

Spike, Fluttershy, and Rarity follow them. The three leaf monsters are Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie in disguise, and are able to lure the skunk into a canyon. They then come across a dead end. With that, The four girls gather around the skunk, but for some reason Rarity isn't around. Spike runs down the canyon to see that Rarity has her foot caught between som rocks.

Spike runs over and asks, "Rarity, are you okay?"

"Not really, I'm stuck and my hoof hurts," young Rarity sadly answers.

Spike know that there is no time for Rarity to simply run back. Spike break the rocks setting Rarity free, and carries her all the way to where the skunk it.

Rarity scaredly whines, "Spike you can't,if you do that you'll be permanently become older."

"I know, but it's the only way for you to bet big again," Spike says.

Rarity is supposed to that Spike is willing to make the sacrifice. Where the others are, the girls take their disguise off, and ready for the skunk to launch. Just then, the skunk sprays a red orb and it will make them older. Spike then dives into the scene with Rarity and the smell has been exposed to everyone. The skunk jumps over and runs way.

When the red smoke clears up, the girls look at themselves to see that they're back to normal.

Pinkie happily cheers, "Yay! I'm big again."

"Alright!" Rainbow screams with pride.

"Yee haw!" Applejack cheers.

Rarity looks around as he asks, "But where's Spike?"

The girls look around and wonder where Spike is. When the last bit of smoke disappears, they look to see Spike on the ground. Bu they are shocked to see what has become of him. Spike looks at himself to see that he is bigger than he usually is.

Spike quietly says in shock, "I'm… older."

Spike looks at himself to see that he is bigger, and taller, his wings are also bigger too. He's around the same age as the girls.

"Oh Spiky whikey!" Rarity sadly says, and runs to Spike.

Rarity hugs Spike, and Spike hugs her back. The girls hug Spike too. Now that Spike is older, there is no way for him to be turned back to his younger age. The girls agree to help Spike adjust to his new grown up body, and hopefully the princesses can help him out.

The story then ends with the hug, where Spike is sitting on the couch while the kids are on the floor.

Spike Ends the tory saying, "And that how I became a grown dragon earlier than expected."

When The story has ended, Sakura and the other kids are here amaze yet shocked to hear the story ending like that.

Ame begins to speak with a shocked expression, "Wow, that… that must have been rough for you."

"Yeah dad. You sacrificed your chance for childhood to help our mother and the others get back to the right age," Silver Dragon sas looking stunned.

Rainbow Prism turn his head to Silver, and says, "Maybe so, but if it wasn't for dad's sacrifice and courage, you, me, and Ruby wouldn't even existed."

"I guess you're right," Silver reluctantly agrees.

"That skunk must have been a huge problem for you guys to handle," Sakura replies.

"Yeah. I'm surprised you were able to take it on, seeing how big it is," Yuki agrees.

Spike giggles, and says, "Yes, I know. But honestly, we were able to take that skunk on, and things worked out for everyone."

"And I'm guessing that over time after the incident, you and mother fell in love, got married, and have the three of us," Ruby replies, with a giggle.

"I agree, but that is another adventure, and another story for another time," Spike says.

Then Ame asks, "Can you tell us how you got your wing?"

"Of course, but let's put these dishes away, and we'll see,"Spike says, as he gets off the couch.

Sakura looks out the window as he says, "Can we hear the story after cleaning? Because the raining is still pouring hard outside.

Spike and the others look outside to see that Ponyville is still experiencing the rain outside, well more like a storm.

Then the young kids asks, "Can we hear the story?! Please!"

Spike chuckles with a smile, and answers, "Sure, but let's clean up the dishes first, and then I'll tell you the story."

"Yay!" the kids cheer.

Ruby and the others leave to the kitchen with the dishes so they can hear the rest of the story. Spike and Sakura who is holding Tsubasa are the only one left in the room.

Before heading to the kitchen, Sakura politely says, "Um Spike."

"Yes Sakura?" Spike questionably replies.

"Was it… hard for you and the others when my mom wasn't round? You don't have to tell me, I was just asking?" Sakura sadly asks.

Spike sighs sadly, and admit, "I do admit, it was hard for all of us when you mother was trapped in the other world, and all all regret not listening to her."

Sakura can see the sad expression on his face, and can tell that he feels terrible for what happened to her mother.

Then Spike smiles at Sakura, and says, "But things end up turning out good. We were able to get your mother back… and we get to meet you and your brothers and sister. I only wish I could met your father."

Sakura smile back and says, "If you did, I'll bet dad would be very happy to meet all of you,"

Spike and Sakura hug each other, then let go to head back to the kitchen to help clean up.

The kids help Spike take care of the dishes, and help out with little Tsubasa. When they are done, Spike sits on the couch while the kids including the baby is sitting on the blanket on the floor waiting to hear the story. They are going to know how Spike ends up with his own pain of wings

Spike begins to tell the story saying, " It all started when Rarity and I were going to Whitetail Woods to visit my little phoenix friend Peewee..."

For the rest of the day, Spike explain to the kids about his molting season and how she ends up getting himself into trouble. Luckily, at the end of the story, Spike ends up with his own pair of wings.


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