//------------------------------// // Fatherly suspect // Story: Welcome Home Father // by Applefai //------------------------------// I looked at both Ember and Smolder inquisitively and asked, "What makes you think that." I asked to sure if they were serious or not. "It's only a hunch based on appearance, but Gaius has the same color of fire breath as you, almost identical skin color, and you have the same color eyes." Ember said to me. "I'll admit, he does share identical characteristics, but I don't think so, if anyone can find out for sure it'll be Twilight." I told them before we returned to the fire. Gaius was curious to what we were talking about and inquired to what we were talking about. "If you three don't mind me asking, what were you talking about." Gaius asked with much politeness and respect for our privacy. We told them of what we thought and a grin spread across his face, he gave a slight chuckle and spoke. "'Tis a nice thought, but a father I am not, I never even had a wife nor egg, but I did always think I'd make a good father." Gaius spoke with a hint a remorse. Ember and Smolder still being skeptical and really believing Gaius to be my father asked if he'd be willing to take a DNA test with me to at least examine all the evidence. Gaius reluctant at first pondered the proposal as if he was weighing his options, but after awhile agreed to take the test and come to Ponyville to take it. Before heading off we put out the fire and went outside the cave to see that hours have passed as we saw the sun setting over the mountains painting the sky in red, orange, and blue as dawn slowly became twilight. We spread our wings and took to the sky, our wings sliced though the air as we soared though the the heading towards Ponyville as the twilight soon became night and the only source of light was the full moon in the night sky. ------------------------------------------ When we got into Ponyville almost everypony had settled down for the night, save one pony who's been up worrying about her number one assistant and who she'd come to regard as a son, and one of her students. She was pacing the castle halls when she heard the door creak open and saw me walk in, before I knew it I was locked in an embrace. "Oh, Spike. Do you have any idea what time it is? I was worried sick about you I figured you'd be home by then, and Smolder your friends were really worried sick about you when the night started to fall." Twilight said almost hyperventilating when she spoke. All I could say was "sorry Twilight, time just got away from us when we found an easy to miss cave." Twilight just sighed softly and took a deep breath, she then put a hoof on my shoulder and spoke gently. "It's ok, Spike, I was just worried about you, at least you were with Ember and Smolder." It was around this time Gaius came into the castle and introduced himself. "Hello, Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, I'm Gaius." Gaius said as he bowed and introduced himself Twilight being the pony that she is let out a small giggle and said "it's a pleasure to meet you Gaius, but please you may call me Twilight, if I may ask, how do you and Spike know each other. Gaius took a few seconds before answering and finally said "The cave Spike speaks about is my home, he and his friends came in looking for gems and I happed to start up a conversation. I did not consider it trespassing, I enjoyed the company." Twilight listened with intrigue and eagerness until she finally said "that's good, Spike does have a healthy sense of adventure, I'm just glad it all turned out all right this time. So what brings you to Ponyville Gaius?" Twilight asked the dragon looming above her. Gaius rubbed his head second guessing himself on if it'll show any results and then spoke. "Well, Spike and his friends based on circumstantial evidence thinks that I may be Spike's father, but I'm not sure so I agreed to get a DNA test just to be sure." Gaius said. Twilight looked on with a spark in her eyes, but a understanding of Gaius' privacy and said "I'll be more than happy to run the test, but only if you want to Gaius." Gaius looked into space deep in thought before answering "I'll be more than willing to take the test." Gaius said as he took his claws and cut of a lock of his hair and gave to Twilight. Twilight then looked at me and told me she'd need a DNA sample from me to compare the results to, I gladly took a cotton swab and swabbed the inside of my mouth and gave it to Twilight. She then took the samples into her lab and got to work on the DNA test. Gaius and I watched as Twilight put the samples through a microscope and other scientific devices to determine whether or not Gaius was my father. While we waited Gaius wanted to know more about me and my life with the ponies, which I kindly told him. I told him how Twilight hatched me and how she raised me, I told him about how I've come to think of her as a mother because of how she came looking for me when I ran away and how she was there for me when I found out the dragon who claimed he was my father was just using me to live a pampered life. Gaius looked at me with anticipation to hear more, but interjected to tell me something about family, he told me "Family is not always limited to blood, but also bond, the bond you have with Twilight is the same as any mother and child, I'm glad that you have a parent that cares for you so much. Upon telling me this Twilight comes to us with the test results with a look of excitement and sadness.