“What is contentment truly mean? I’ve been living among ponies for little over a year now and in that time I have learned more about them, the world, and myself than I ever imagined I would. My role has been to that of a hero, a defender of justice, a leader, and a friend. I’ve grown to accept these titles but I feel deep down that they are hollow and that there will be a time where I can’t live up to them… I bet you would have some choice words or advice about that kind of thing huh Em? I miss you so much but I’m… afraid to return home if it could mean that there’s a chance I may not be able to come back. True, while I been here it hasn’t been all fun, evil monsters, racism, and a sorceress who fired my arm but I have found things here that home just can’t provide. The only thing that I wish was here is you. I hope someday I’ll send this to you and you could find it in your heart to forgive me…”
Spike wiped his eyes as he cursed at the beeping sound that came from his left arm, or rather the smoking canister that was in his arm. As it turned out, his arm had been utterly destroyed when the sorceress struck it with her final blast and she left him with a reminder of their fight forever. Under the advice of the princesses and against the wishes of his friends, he agreed to get his arm removed and was given a replacement in the form of a robotic arm created by the best of Equestria. It was made of titanium which had been enforced with gold and gave him improved strength in his arm and even allowed him to cast magic of his own but it came with several prices. It was strong but heavy and would need constant upgrades until he died or it would get too small. Also, it would act up and even hurt him as ponies had mastered the tech but knew less about dragon biology and weren’t sure what the problems were.
‘All those eggheads and not one of them could tell me why my arm keeps trying to kill me in my sleep. Maybe they are controlling it.’ The biggest price of the limb came in two parts, one was that the arm needed a constant stream of magic to have access to all its features and the second part was the pony that agreed to give him magic. Twilight Sparkle was special, any pony could easily tell you that as they had all heard of her adventures and roles as the student of the princess herself and the element of magic. However, the girl was also special beyond all those titles and roles like when she would get so engrossed in a book that he would need to feed her and make her mouth chew. Then there were times where the two of them would just relax on a rainy day after all the chores were done and sit in front of the fire while making up stories, telling jokes, and talking about the fun in their pasts with those they love. Spike would never forget the night the two danced and tried to show off their singing skills.
Ever since the arm thing, Twilight had feared for the drake more than ever and has made it her mission to protect him at all cost. She agreed to give him all the magic he would need every day, rushing to him whenever she heard that infernal beeping. Rarity and even the princesses had tried to volunteer so Twilight wouldn’t have to deal alone but she refused their help. Both princesses did slip Spike two canisters which had their magic if he ever needed a power boost. Just as he guessed, the sound of running approached and Twilight burst into the room as Spike gave her a deadpan expression. She blushed a bit and rubbed her head at her overreacting again but she couldn’t help it, She had nearly lost him in the last fight along with the entire city of Canterlot. She promised that she would become stronger as to protect everypony but Spike was seeing firsthand how that was coming with sacrifices. She was always tired and couldn’t spend time with her friends as much.
“Twi, it was just another canister. It could have waited you know, no need to drop everything at a moment’s notice for me. We’re lucky you don’t cook, leave something on the stove and this tree could have gone up in smoke but I think with you cooking it would have ended that way no matter what heh.” Twilight pouted as she was putting her magic into a canister and made sure it was full before pushing it into his arm.
“I would have you know that Pinkie Pie is teaching me how to cook and that I am making great progress!”
“Going from burning water to being able to make an egg is great progress I guess…”
“...she said my sweet potato muffins were good you jerk.” Twilight turned away with her nose in the before he overdramatically fell on his back in mock anguish.
“Oh no! The princess dareth insulted me for my remark! What could this lowly handsome dashing young drake do to regain her favor!?” Twilight giggled at how over the top he was and tapped her chin with her hoof before smiling down at the dragon.
“Your princess has gracefully found the time to give you a chance to regain her favor. How does a visit to Sugarcube Corner sound? Your treat!” Spike smiled back and nodded.
“Fine, my treat but don’t think I know you just played along so you wouldn’t have to pay.” She stuck her tongue out playfully as she walked downstairs to put away her notes. He chuckled to himself and sighed before getting up and checking something that he had hidden under his pillow in his basket. It was a small box and inside was a set of claws that he was making for his arm, they were made from his own scales that had fallen off and diamond dust. He blew fire on them before putting them away, the mixture for the claws still needed pressure and constant heat until they were ready for use. He grabbed some bits that he had saved up and rushed downstairs where Twilight was tapping her hoof.
“Come on slowpoke, time to waste your bits!”
“My my Miss Sparkle, to see such an influential member of pony society bully a cripple is most distasteful.” Twilight rolled her eyes and bent down a bit as Spike jumped on her back, being careful with his arm to not hurt her.
“I don’t know Spike, I would never mess with a cripple but this is you sooooo.”
“It’s because I’m a dragon isn’t it? I’ll tell you something Miss Sparkle, we purple beings should stick together!” The two laughed at the horrible argument they were having and looked around Ponyville. The sky was a sweet blue with soft clouds here and there where the two knew Rainbow was resting on one. Fluttershy could be seen in the distance with a bunny on her head and a tortoise behind her. They walked over and waved a bit, Fluttershy looking up and happily waving back.
“Twilight! Spike! Let me introduce you two to Tank, he came to Ponyville looking for adventure! For the rush that the town has been getting since Twilight came!” Twilight and Spike looked down at the tortoise who was still slowly turning to face them.
“Riight… so how you been Fluttershy? I’m so sorry that I haven’t seen you so much since the gala....”
“I've been well and have been working on my self-confidence with the other girls so I can be a bigger help on our adventures. Don’t worry about it Twilight, we all know you’ve been busy and taking care of Spike can’t be easy. Just remember that your friends are there for you, both of you, and we are always open to talk to. Let’s go Tank!” Fluttershy slowly walked away with Tank in tow as Spike was in a glaring match with the small bunny on her head.
“I really don’t trust that guy.”
“Who? Angel? You still fighting with him? Fluttershy said that him dropping that vase on your head was an accident.”
“What about when I was sleeping over at Fluttershy’s and woke up in the oven? Or the time I was pet sitting him and I chased him into Fluttershy’s shed where dozens of traps were waiting! Or what about the time I was making a cake and it came out as a carrot cake!!”
“Coincidences Spike, Angel is not trying to kill you besides all that stuff couldn’t kill you, you’re an awesome dragon!” Spike grumbled but muttered that it was the intent that counted as he felt something stick in the back of his head, stopped by his scales. He pulled out a tiny sharpened arrow and turned where Angel was standing with a bow before disappearing from sight. He tossed the arrow aside and the two continued on their way before they were stopped by a pony that looked familiar to Twilight.
He was a brown earth pony with brown hair who had a rather large golden stopwatch around his neck, along with a scarf that had several colors. He was looking around and up and even under his own hooves once in a panic. Spike and Twilight shared a look and Spike shook his head but Twilight walked over to the pony. “Umm are you okay?”
“Hmm? Ahh, Miss Sparkle and the young dragon I heard so much about! A fellow lover of science and invention is what I’ve heard. You both are fine folk and wise for your respective ages. Allow me to properly introduce myself, I’m Time Turner but I prefer to go by my professional name of Doctor Hooves. Didn’t earn my doctorate those centuries ago for nothing you know.”
“Wow, you have a doctorate? Wait did you say centuries ago?” Spike questioned as Twilight just made a sign that the pony was crazy.
“Yes, when I was young I wished to understand the world around me on a far deeper level than even magic could show and so I dedicated my life to science and discovery! I was this close to finding the secret of instead of putting yourself in different points in time, you could force time to change you to any point in time. A wonderful theory until some unicorn would find a spell that simply would let him do just that. A rather large pain in my side magic has been over the years but I even found ways to overcome that! Of course, I would never leave my roots behind me which is why you see the form in front of you now.” Twilight and Spike were confused and somewhat in awe of the insanity and nonsense the pony spoke of.
“Riight, well we were wondering mister-”
“Doctor.”
“Doctor Whooves what you were looking for.”
“Hmm? Oh yes! I was looking for my closest confidant and colleague, the lovely Miss Ditzy Doo so I could reveal to her my latest invention! The Stop Watch!” He proudly shouted while holding up the watch around his neck while the two just stared at the seemingly ordinary device.
“Derpy? She is probably at Sweet Apple Acres, helping deliver the Apple’s new tractor that the princess gifted to them for Applejack and Applebloom’s help during the Katrina Siege on Canterlot. You could check there for her.”
“Thank you, Miss Sparkle, I truly appreciate your kind heart and adequate mind.”
“Adequate?”
“But I must be off!” Hooves galloped off to Sweet Apple Acres, leaving Spike and Twilight to stare after him.
“So Spike, anything you learned from that little exchange?”
“Never talk to a doctor of any kind and there are some ponies in this world weirder than the craziest of dragons.”
“Perfect now let’s go see one of those ponies.”
. . .
Pinkamena Diane Pie or Pinkie Pie was an anomaly to every scientific mind in Equestria and none more so than Twilight and Spike. They had seen up close and personal what she has been capable of but then something would happen and their view of her would change all over again. Her being able to bake for and serve twenty ponies all while singing and bouncing on top of a rolling ball was one of these things. At the climax of her song she spun on the ball and sent the rest of the orders out, exactly where they needed to go. Somehow, she even gave Spike and Twilight their orders even if they hadn’t told her them or even that they were coming.
“W-what? How did she?” Twilight questioned but Spike only took a bite out of his sapphire cupcake while giving her his bits and moved a finger against her lips.
“Don’t question it, just enjoy the sweet sugary goodness and let’s see how she’s been.” Twilight sighed and grabbed her sweet, taking a bite as they went into the kitchen. Pinkie seemed to be going on overdrive as the entire place was covered in food and ingredients and Pinkie was pulling out another batch of cupcakes. She seemed to be getting tired and Twilight helped put the frosting on the treats. “Pinkie are you okay? You look horrible.” Twilight hit Spike on the shoulder for his comment but Pinkie didn’t seem to mind as she relaxed a bit and smiled at her friends.
“Thanks, Twi, Thanks for the honesty, Spike. I’ve been doing all the work here since the Cakes have to keep going to the hospital, she is getting close to delivering the baby! I promised that I would and could hold over the business until then but it’s hard work doing it all alone.”
“You do know you can come to us right Pink? It’s just like when Applejack was doing the same thing, you’re no good if you’re always tired.”
“I know but you were taking care of Spike and you were so busy with your studying that I didn’t want to bother you with my problems too.” Twilight blinked and looked down, wondering just how much her friends must have been missing her and how blind she was to ignore them for so long. She glanced over at Spike who looked back at her and smiled before finishing his cupcake and slipping on a chef’s hat. She nodded and put one on herself before they looked back at Pinkie with determined expressions.
“Well, we’re here now and we aren’t leaving until all your orders for the day are all done!” Pinkie smiled and giggled before going off and coming back with Gummy also wearing a hat.
“Okay, so we have two hundred cupcakes to make team! I know it’s a lot but together we can do it and make the Cakes proud of Pinkie Pie! Let’s do this!!” the group cheered and went along following the recipes and Pinkie’s own advice and they were able to get the sweet’s done much faster with Spike’s fire breath and Twilight’s magic. Finally, several hours later they sold the last two muffins to Derpy and the Doctor who were both dressed in weird olden Equestrian clothes.
“Well I think that’s all done, we think you should get some rest Pinkie. Right, Twi? Twi?” Twilight shushed him as Pinkie was asleep with a smile on her face, Gummy slowly taking her on his back and walking her up to her room. Twilight smiled and the two cleaned up a bit before leaving and locking up the shop. “She must be going crazy, think of having a new baby introduced into your life!”
“Heh Pinkie has a bunch of sisters but yeah, I bet having a foal in your life who you can take care of and teach things too would be stressful but I wouldn’t mind something like that someday. A child to take my legacy and go beyond me, my mom always told me that I would inspire and succeed if I just held faith in myself.”
“Faith… a child… Dragons see children as ways of living on past our deaths, to have our names live on and gain more glory. We even make children leave after they reach their first molt, but being there and raising them into someone they would be proud to be… that sounds like a dream…” Twilight stared at the drake as he looked down and seemed to question whose way was better.
“I wouldn’t push away those I love after they began to become who they are but no one can have all the answers and if all your traditions and history said that this was the way you best help them then what parent wouldn’t take it? A parent must not only protect their own but trust that they can find the right path on their own.”
“A path of our own… that is what I came out to find and now I found you and my heart has opened to your love and friendship. I wish I could pay you all back, that I could stay right here. Exactly this way forever…” Twilight looked up at the evening sky and smiled softly.
“I don’t… I want to grow old and live a fulfilling life with you and my friends at my side through thick and thin. I know that it’s peaceful times like this that everyone wishes would last forever but we both know that they can’t, that we’ll be forced to fight again. While we can’t change that, we can enjoy what we have here right now. That is the truth to harmony.” Spike closed his eyes as he thought about all that they have been through and all that could still be ahead but felt Twilight and all those that he cares about would be by his side every step of the way.
“Thanks, Twi… I would like to face the future with a strong heart.”
“An unbreakable will.”
“And an unstoppable mind.” The two laughed a bit at the last part and stopped at Carousel Boutique where Rarity was heard groaning upstairs and a beep could be heard every minute or so. The two announced their presence but it seemed as though she didn’t hear them so they went upstairs and glanced into the bedroom. Rarity was there, glaring at a small chest that had a lock on it and tried testing out a different combination before the lock told her it was wrong and she would have to wait another minute before attempting again.
“I’ll show you to refuse me!” Rarity jumped back and attacked the lock with a blast of magic but the lock reflected the attack and it bounced around before striking Spike in the chest and sent back down the stairs. “Oops! I’m sorry darling!” Spike groaned back a response and climbed the stairs again while using a bit of his arm’s magic to spray water over his chest to get the soot off. “Oh Twilight, I’m so glad you’re here! Sweetie Belle had been keeping letters hidden from me! I think they are from that colt over in Canterlot that the three fillies met during the invasion. Every time that the mail has come she has been unusually giddy to grab the mail and would always put the letter she would get into this chest but she put some strange spell over it and I can’t open it. Please, I need some help.”
“Well I’d love to help you Rarity but that spell was one that I taught her now that she is getting to use her magic more. She asked me about hiding spells and I taught her that one, simple but really hard to break unless you are the pony that locked it.”
“Why do you care Rarity? I mean, Sweetie is a smart filly and probably just keeping in touch with a friend she made over in Canterlot. What’s the big deal?” Rarity slowly turned to the dragon as the lights shut off around them and Spike felt a shiver go down his spine as Rarity’s horn turned a soft blue and she began to walk towards the drake threateningly.
“Why… do… I… CARE?! That filly is my sister, my own flesh and blood. I care more about her than every gem in the entire world put together! If any colt dare tries to get close to her then I have to make sure that he is one of the good ones or he will see just how good I am at magic. No pony touches my sister or I will chase them down to the end of the world!” Spike was on his back and nodded in fear at the girl, holding his tail in his hands and shaking.
“N-noted…” The lights turned back on and Rarity was wearing a smile again as she trotted back to the chest and tried opening it again. Twilight used her magic to put him on her back and the two slowly backed out of the room before running off. They walked in silence, stilling think about what they had just seen and Spike opened his mouth before closing it and rubbed his tail.
“Remind me to never piss off a girl…”
“Yeah… not mention the last one you pissed off took your arm.”
“Ouch, still too soon.” The two talked some more, mostly Spike asking Twilight about Celestia and about stories of when she was a filly. “Hahaha!! You really used to burst into fire when you didn’t get what you want? Man, I feel so bad for Shining. So where’s that toy that you said you used to sleep with? Smartypants.”
“I still have it of course, but I should get him fixed up a bit.”
“So growing up all you had in terms of friends was Shining, Cadence, and a toy?”
“Hey! Smartypants just happens to be the smartest pony in Equestria other than Starswirl, Shining, Cadence, my parents, and the princesses so don’t diss him.” The two looked up to find they had gotten to Sweet Apple Acres and Applejack was taking a rare break with her hat over her face. “Hey AJ, taking a break?”
“Hmm? Hiya Sugarcubes, that there doctor tired me out with all his ramblin so Ah thought that Ah would take a small break. What you two doin out? Haven’t seen a hair or scale much of ya since the Canterlot business.”
“Yeah… Twilight’s been really busy with taking care of me and her studies, but we are going to be spending more time with all of you soon.”
“Good, Ah missed my favorite Dragon and Bookworm heh. Would ya like an apple?”
“Sure, sounds perfect.” Applejack took them around to the barn and gave them a few apples before Twilight helped used her magic and put a bucket of apples into a machine that turns them to juice. As the group was leaving, a familiar pony was standing on the hill that overlooks the farm. Spike perked up at the sight of the pony and rushed to her, giving her a hug which she jumped at until she saw who it was.
“Sundance! I haven’t seen you since I arrived in Ponyville!”
“Spike! I missed the little guy that I met on that train, yeah I haven’t been getting out much. I’ve been living in Mayor Mare’s place and going between here and Canterlot a lot so I can find more history on Ponyville and my family. I think I finally found someone that can tell me something but I still need one more thing before I go ask them.”
“Ah don’t mean to be rude but what brought ya to mah family’s farm?”
“Oh, you must be Applejack! I’m Sundance, a friend of Spike’s, and I wanted to talk to your granny soon if that would be alright? She has been around since the start of Ponyville and would have known my mother. I need to get something before meeting her but I hope that you’ll let me.”
“Well, Ah don’t just let any pony walk up and meet my gram but you’re Spike’s friend and seem like a nice girl so sure.” The sun seemed to shine brighter as Sundance smiled and thanked her. She glanced at Twilight and stared for a moment before apologizing and saying that she had to go, running off back towards town. Twilight and Spike waved bye to Applejack and kept going on their walk. They soon arrived near the CMC clubhouse and they decided to stop by, with Spike jumping down off Twilight and rushing to the house.
“Be careful Spike, I love those fillies but they tend to get caught up in things and I don’t want to see them go for a dragon-slaying cutie mark.”
“Don’t worry Twi, I got this. Everything is oka-” Spike’s sentence was cut short as he now was hanging upside down by a foot. His expression was unamused and he crossed his arms as Twilight trotted up to him and smirked. “Not one word.” The CMC rushed out at the sound of giggling and all laughed themselves as they saw who they caught in their trap. “Yeah, laugh it up after I get down please.” Applebloom nodded at Scootaloo who rushed inside before an ax came twirling out of the house and Applebloom expertly kicked it, impaling it through the rope holding Spike and into the tree. Twilight was staring shocked at the ax while Sweetie Belle softly put Spike down.
“T-that was an… Girls! I thought we said you were not allowed to use blades in your hunts!”
“Umm well, Twilight technically you said no knives… that is an ax.” Twilight glared at them and they sighed.
“We just didn’t want anything to attack us while we had a sleepover in here so We had the ax and set up the trap.”
“Yeah! There are Timberwolves, Bite-acudas, Cockatrice, and Cragadiles. We needed protection!” Twilight took the ax and sent traps everywhere around the house that would protect the group and be tied to Twilight herself so she would know if they were in danger. They all cheered and thanked her before going back to make more plans that Spike was sure he would get hurt in somehow. Finally, the starry night sky shone above them and the two stargazed a bit, Twilight showing Spike the constellations and telling him their official names. The two ended up just enjoying each other’s company in silence and content with that moment in time. The perfect end to a perfect day, it was only too bad that it would be short-lived. Two crimson eyes stared on from the shadows nearby with hate and jealousy, claws tearing into the tree beside the being.
"So that is the pony that is keeping him trapped here, well looks like I'll have to fix that."