“Knock knock Twilight, I’m back!”
Twilight heard her number one assistant entering through the front door of the Library, so she just came to greet him back; only she was in for a little surprise.
“Welcome back Spike; not that you’d been out too long. So how did things go at Sugar Cube Cor…?”
She suddenly stopped and looked behind Spike only to see a young unicorn filly nervously smiling back at her.
“Hello.”
Twilight knew something was up, “Um Spike, who’s this?”
Spike cleared his and smiled proudly, “Twilight, I’d like you to meet Dragon Heart. She just moved here… so to speak. We were hoping that maybe you’d let her… spend the night here?”
Twilight look a bit annoyed having something like this put on her plate all of a sudden.
“What, Spike? You were gone for more than 40 minutes, and in that little bit of time you met a new friend; now you’re expecting me to have someone sleep over here tonight at the last minute?!”
Spike folded his arms and looked at Twilight with contempt, “Well yeah; I just thought you would be generous enough to do it.”
Twilight rolled her eyes, “Oh yeah, and how would you think that Spike?”
“Well, because,” said Dragon Heart suddenly, “… I’m… an orphan.”
Twilight’s eyes grew wide in finding out the truth, “An… orphan?” Her eyes slightly dripped with tears of deep regret, “I’m… so sorry. I guess I should have realized the real reason for coming here right away.” She wiped the tears away and even floated a couple of tissues with her magic to blow her nose with.
Dragon Heart looked at her with such innocent filly eyes, “So… can I stay?”
Twilight looked at her and smiled graciously then looked back at Spike.
“Okay, but only because she’s an orphan in which I hate to say.”
Dragon heart walked into the tree and saw all the shelves that held rows and rows of many different books that held thousands and thousands of knowledge of Equestria’s history.
“Oh my,” said Dragon Heart, “You have a nice library here. You must have a book on everything!”
Twilight chuckled a bit, “I wish, but I don’t have books on everything. So, Spike said that your name is Dragon Heart, that’s a beautiful name. Where did you travel from exactly?”
“I… traveled from… umm… nearby… Canterlot? Yeah, Canterlot!” She felt so guilty lying to her new friends; especially Spike.
“Really,” said Twilight curiously, “Did you by any chance witness the wonderful wedding of Princess Cadence and my brother, Shining Amour?”
“That was your brother!?” Dragon Heart saw both of them together, but never realized that they were siblings.
“That’s right; there was a reason I was the maid of honor.”
What Twilight said next made Dragon Heart feel nauseous with guilt.
“So, if that’s the case, I’m pretty sure you witnessed the invasion of Chrysalis and her Changeling army.” Twilight sounded frustrated upon saying that which made Dragon Heart sweat constantly; she never knew she could sweat this much.
“Were you okay during that period of time,” Twilight asked. She was mainly concerned for her since she thinks that she was all on her own.
“Y-yeah, I was… fine,” answered Dragon Heart, “but why don’t you tell me how you felt about… the invasion.” She truly regretted asking for that.
“Well to tell you the truth, I was furious!”
“Uh-oh,” said Spike to Dragon Heart, “get ready for some good ol’ fashioned ranting.”
Twilight then continued, “I mean, I had a feeling that something was not right, but Chrysalis made look like a fool in front of my friends, Celestia, and my Brother; she almost ruined my friendship with all of them. And when I found out what her real plan was, I knew that I had to stop her no matter what it took! And her little Changeling soldiers were no different!”
Dragon Heart started to shake in her hooves upon hearing Twilight’s continuous rant, while Spike was sitting beside her eating a bucket of popcorn.
“I know they only follow her because she’s their queen, but it still makes them just as guilty. They stopped us from getting the Elements of Harmony and mocked us by turning into us while they were trying to take us down! Those Changeling were nothing but bad news, but that’s behind us now…hopefully. I don’t think I could take another Changeling invasion again!”
Twilight was too into her rant that when she was done she then noticed Dragon Heart’s body shaking with sweat continuously dripping down her fur coat; something was bothering her, obviously.
“Hey, Dragon Heart,” Twilight said, “are you… feeling okay?”
“Oh yeah, I’m okay;” responded Dragon Heart in a calm yet troubled voice, “just… a little queasy, that’s all.”
Spike tossed the bucket to the side for it was completely out of popcorn; he stood up feeling satisfied of his hunger and said, “Well after an experience like that, thinking about it can make you feel a little queasy.”
Twilight walked over to Dragon Heart after mellowing herself down; deep down she thought that maybe this homeless filly was sent here for a reason. She didn’t know what, but she knew there was something behind all of this.
“Well Dragon Heart, if you really are all lost and alone, I suppose you did come to the right place. If there’s anything you need just name it; plus tonight, you can sleep with me in my bed if you want.”
“Y-you don’t have to do that,” said Dragon Heart, “I can just sleep on a couch or something.”
“Oh don’t worry,” Twilight responded, “I insist.”
Dragon Heart just smiled and nodded in agreement, “You know, Spike was right about you.”
“About what;” asked Twilight, “for being an awesome plan organizer, or maybe for reading and remembering tons of knowledge…”
Dragon heart shook her head, “No, for being… such a good friend.”
“Aww,” said Twilight while nudging her cheek with her hoof, “that’s so sweet; thank you. Um Spike can I talk with you for a second?”
Spike looked at Twilight wondering what she wanted so suddenly, “Talk, about what?”
“Oh nothing much, just… ‘Us’ stuff.” Twilight lightly pointing her head at Dragon Heart.
“’Us stuff?”
“Yes Spike,” said Twilight in a slightly aggravated tone, “just come here for a sec.”
Spike obviously followed her order and went into the opposite room with her, “Hey uh… Dragon Heart can you give us a second?”
She oddly nodded her head, “Sure, take your time; I’m in no hurry.”
After Spike closed the door, Twilight made sure they weren’t close enough to the door for their guest to hear them by backing away from it as far as possible.
“Now what Twilight,” said Spike in an impatient matter, “She’s a nice pony, and you heard everything she said and I heard everything she told me and Pinkie at Sugar Cube Corner; don’t you trust her?”
“It’s not that Spike, I do trust her; it’s just that… I feel like there’s something more about her than she’s letting us know.”
“Like what; she lost her parents, she an orphan, and she been traveling by herself ever since. Now she comes by Ponyville and made some new friends, and more importantly… she met me.” Spike just sighed, “What else is there to know?”
Twilight just couldn’t stop thinking that something else was happening here. “It’s just seems like a weird coincidence that she came here, that she was at the Canterlot wedding and now she’s come here in Ponyville so suddenly, and she’s fallen in love with you! No offense, but what kind of pony literally falls in love with a dragon?”
“We’re not in love,” shouted Spike!
“Sure you’re not,” continued Twilight, “but most of all she seemed really tense and worried about the Changeling incident; but not tense as in scared or afraid but tense as in worry or guilt… like maybe she has a connection with the invasion somehow.”
“That’s crazy talk,” Spike exclaimed, “why would she have something to do with the Changeling incident? I’m telling you Twilight, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with her, I think you’re just over reacting; and again we’re j-just friends not lovers, heh.”
Twilight thought about it, and then she realized that maybe Spike was right, “You’re right Spike, maybe I am jumping to conclusions a bit too much; after all she is homeless and I should be a better friend because of that.”
“Exactly my point,” said Spike.
Despite not being near the door, Dragon Heart still heard everything; but upon hearing Twilight’s final thought she sighed with relief, “Thanks Spike,” she thought to herself, after all they wouldn’t understand even if they knew the real truth.
-----
It was now an hour after midnight and everyone was in bed, even Twilight Sparkle. Everything was silent, and even the tiniest scurrying sound of a mouse running across the floor could be heard. Dragon Heart was laying on the right side of Twilight’s bed asleep while Twilight was on the left; and Spike was in his little basket bed as usual. But for some reason he decided to sleep on the right side of Twilight’s bed near Dragon Heart instead of the left side like he usually does; hint, hint.
Suddenly the eyes of Dragon Heart shot open and she was wide awake; why? She sensed something that only she could sense and whatever it was it was coming from downstairs near the main entrance door. She slowly climbed out of bed and crept towards the stairs; unfortunately there was a small creek sound that partially woke up Twilight. She looked up to see Dragon Heart up and awake.
“Dragon Heart, ‘YAWN’ what are you doing up?”
Dragon Heart froze and spoke quietly, “Um… I was just… in the mood for some… m-milk. You guys do have some downstairs, right?”
“Oh yeah we do, ‘YAWN’ just make sure to leave the carton on the front shelf of the fridge so I can get to it easier in the morning.” Twilight laid right back down after that.
Dragon Heart sighed then slowly walked down the stairs and entered the front room where she could sense whatever was gaining her attention. She looked around and spoke out quietly, “Hello… hello… is any-pony here?”
“Hey, hey, over here,” said an unknown voice.
It came from the window near the left side of the front door. She came to it and slowly opened it only to see a full size gray rat looking up at her with a smile.
“Is that you,” the rat said, “’GASP!’ It is you, I knew it was you; thank goodness you’re not dead.”
Dragon Heart looked at the rat looking both confused and sleepy, “Um… ‘YAWN’ do I know you?”
“Don’t you recognize me? Oh wait, I guess you wouldn’t know since I look like a rat from first glance. It’s me, your guardian protector.”
Dragon Heart gasped silently when she realized who it was; she did recognize the green eyes, “#180? Oh my gosh, what are you doing here?”
“I was worried that you died, so I tracked you down to see if you were okay.”
Dragon Heart started to panic a little more than she already was, “Hey, I’m very impressed about your tracking skills, but I’m banished remember? Won’t doing what you’re doing right now get you… in trouble?”
“Oh don’t worry,” #186 said, “Chrysalis has no idea that I’m here; it was rather easy to deceive her in the state that she is in right now.”
Dragon Heart just shook her head knowing that #186 actually tried to deceive their queen.
“So… this is Ponyville, it seems pretty nice for what it is. So how well are things here?”
Dragon Heart decided that she might as well tell him while he was here, “Well, It’s amazing; every-pony that I met here was very nice and friendly, plus…”
“Every-pony,” said #186 suddenly, “My goodness, is their speech finally getting to you?”
“Oh cut it out #186, that doesn’t matter. This town is exactly what I pictured it to be and it totally proves my point. You see, after I left and was all alone I was almost out of energy and collapsed. But then I approached this town, and its positive auras started to surround me; so I allowed them to absorb within me and my strength came back faster than ever. The whole time I was here I joined a little filly crusading group, had some sweets and found hospitality. I even met some of the Elements of Harmony; they’re rather nice when you’re not fighting them. Everyone’s feeling for me has made me feel better than I ever did before. No-pony knows who I am yet, but right now I plan to keep it that way for as long as I can.” She suddenly got a little smirk on her face, “Plus… I found a… love interest.”
#186 gasped, “#457, who is he?”
“It’s none of your business for now; and in case you don’t know as of right now, my name is Dragon Heart.”
“Dragon heart huh,” said #186, “That’s a weird and peculiar name.”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s what every-pony says.”
#186 chuckled a bit, “That’s still a bit amusing.”
Dragon Heart frowned at his comment, “Oh shut up. You should go back now before you’re discovered; or found out.”
“Relax #45… I mean, Dragon Heart, I’ll be fine. Just make sure you’ll keep yourself safe and out of danger. You made me feel more at peace knowing that you’re still alive. If I lost you I… I don’t know if I could go on.”
Dragon Heart precipitated a few tears from her eyes upon hearing #186’s words. She kept on a tough face for him, “Who do you think I am? I’ll be fine, just like you’ll be fine… okay?” She still couldn’t hide her tears though.
He turned away to run off but then looked at her once more, “Take care… my lil’ sis.” With that he ran off into the dark of night.
Dragon Heart appreciated #186 risking his life just to see if she was alright, but she cared about him as much as he did about her; she wouldn’t forgive herself if anything happened to him.
“Maybe… I really will have some milk,” she thought to herself, “It might help me to relax and sleep better.”
-----
Pretty soon #186 transformed back and was flying back towards the nest with a huge relief off his shoulders. #45… I mean, Dragon Heart was safe and alive, and that’s all he needed to know to calm his nerves stay focused on his duties.
“Halt exactly where you are… #186.”
#186 suddenly stopped where he was when he heard that sinister voice. He didn’t even need to turn around right away; he knew that voice all too well.
“Heh, well I can’t say that I’m too surprised; you were always suspicious of me, weren’t you… #760? So tell me, did Queen Chrysalis send you?”
#760 smirked a bit because he had him right where he wanted him, “Why yes, I was sent by the queen; she sends her regards.”
“I guess even in her weaken state, I couldn’t fool her that easily. Oh well, what are you going to do.” He calmly turned around so that both of their eyes were facing at each other face-to-face.
“I tried everything to keep you from doing this mistake,” #760 stated, “I warned you constantly, but now you’ve gone and dug your own grave. I have strict orders to take you back in if your actions proved to be false.”
#186 wings buzzed a little, he was cautious of what could happen next, “Oh really, if I recall I am one rank higher than you. You really think you could catch me let alone fight me?”
“With the right determination; and besides, since these orders are under the queen your rank doesn’t really matter.” Both of them were in a squatting position looking at each other very coldly with their wings buzzing even louder. A fight was possible to ignite. “So are you going to make this difficult or are you going to come quietly?”
“You’re enjoying this aren’t you,” said #186 while smiling, “you were hoping I would do something foolish like this so you could give me my just deserts. Well go ahead, this is your perfect chance. Do your worst!”
#760 sneered at him as his horn started to illuminate a green shine and he started to bear his fangs, “With pleasure; and once I’m done with you, I’m letting our little traitor’s survival be known to the queen; don’t think I didn’t see your little conversation.”
“Leave… her… out of this,” #186 snarled.
“Why don’t you make me?”
Both Changeling soldiers charged at each other with bearded fangs and razor sharp claws hanging out; they then started to battle it out in the night sky. The impact sound of their fight was heard all around them.
Fortunately, anyone who heard just mistook the sounds as rumbling thunder… or at least a Pegasus pulling a late-night prank.