//------------------------------// // "Dear Friend" // Story: Spike's Pen Pal // by Phantom-Dragon //------------------------------// Dear Officials of Griffonstone, It is to my greatest delight to report that for the first time in history, that a griffon from your kingdom has been able to to get a Cutie Mark! The griffon's name is Gabby! We would love to have her over now and then, and with your permission, we would like to do a full-scale research project to document everything that has happened to her, and making it possible for non-pony creatures to get a cutie mark. Please reply soon! We would love to begin the project! Signed, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Dear Princess Twilight, I just wanted to say I'm very sorry about the confusions and for lying to you and every pony about my cutie mark. The truth is I made it up. I just didn't want to disappoint the famous Cutie Mark Crusaders. They've done so much to help me find my purpose in life, that I didn't want them to feel bad about themselves. Not after all the troubles they had gone through for me. I am truly sorry. -Gabriella of Griffonstone. Dear Gabriella of Griffonstone, I'm curious. Why did you even want a Cutie Mark in the first place? It's more reserved and exclusive to ponies only. Just wanted to ask, because it sounds to me you wanted to be a pony more than a griffon. Please write back when you have the time. Spike the dragon. Please don't laugh at me, or think I'm a silly, air head griffin, or something. I just wanted to find my purpose in life. Here in Griffonstone, it's so hard for someone like me to fit in. I know we griffins have a bad reputation for being so....unfriendly. But I'm not like that. I'm just a mail delivering griffin who likes to spread a bit of griffony sunshine cheers on my round. I'm more than willing to lend a helping claw to any old griffins in need. But none of the griffons actually cared though. So the more I tried to be nice to every griffins, the more I feel like I don't belong in Griffonstone. It wasn't until some of Twilight's friends, who go by the name Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, came to Griffonstone and I saw how they helped Gilda out and that was the first time I actually saw another griffon smiled. It was so amazing to see how a bit of help from two ponies can spread to a griffon, and later from griffon to griffon. I just thought the answer to my finding my purpose in life was getting a cutie mark. So that's the reason why I wanted to get a Cutie Mark in the first place. But in the end, it turns out I don't exactly need a Cutie Mark to find my purpose in life. I just have to be myself. And so, the Cutie Mark Crusaders officially made me their first ever griffon member! My brand-new purpose now is to help others and spread Cutie Mark Crusaders value throughout Griffonstone! It was AMAZING! P.S. You can just call me Gabby. Wow, that sounds great. Glad it all worked out for you Gabby. -Spike Thank you! By the way, are you really a dragon? Because I don't remember writing a letter to a dragon before. I didn't even know dragons could write back. -Gabby To answer your question. Yes, I am a dragon. Spike the noble dragon. Number One Assistant to Twilight. And The Brave and Glorious Savior of the Crystal Empire. That's me! I'm sure you've heard all about me. Anyway, as Twilight's assistant, it's always been my job to write letters for her, sending them with my fire breath and back again. It's a dragon magic kind of thing. -Spike You're a dragon and you are Princess Twilight Sparkle's Number One Assistant? Wow! That's so cool! How did you get that job? And how are you even Twilight's friend? I've always thought dragons are unfriendly towards ponies. No offense. Please write back soon. -Gabby P.S. I think it's amazing that you can send letters with your breath. I wish I can do that too! To answer your question, Twilight is more than my friend. She's my family! I was just an orphaned egg when Princess Celestia found me. I was so cold, that I didn't have the strength to hatch back then. It wasn't until later when Twilight entered Princess Celestia's School of Gifted Unicorns that she hatched me herself with her magic. Since then, Twilight and her family took me in, raising me like I was one of them, and learned a bit of magic. That's how my story began, and I'm still proud to be the dragon I am today. I wouldn't trade Twilight and our friends away for anything. -Spike P.S. No apologies necessary. I know there are some dragons who would give dragons like me a bad reputation. That sounds awesome! You sound awesome! It must be really hard for you growing up in Equestria than it was for me in Griffonstone. I mean, with you being a dragon, I'm sure there must be some times when some ponies had a hard time accepting someone like you as a friend. I don't mean to bring up some bad memories, but what was it like? How did you deal with it? Please reply soon. -Gabby I'll admit, there were a lot of times when I feel like I don't really belong in Equestria. Sometimes, every pony would be afraid of me, just because I can breathe fire, I have claws, and sharp teeth. It also doesn't help when some of my friends in Ponyville would compare me with some other dragons and say that I'm more a pony than these "mindless, fire-breathing, reptiles." I know they don't mean it, but it kinda hurts me a lot more than it hurts some dragons everywhere. I'm just a dragon growing up in a land full of ponies. I just did what I've been told to do. But there are some mistakes I've made in the past that have made it harder and harder for ponies to accept someone like me into their....society. And how I deal with it, I just, as Rainbow Dash would say, "Roll With It." In other words, I try not to let the bad things some ponies have said about me get me down. I just need to remember that I have friends by my side, and they've got my back, just like how I got theirs. And no matter what happens, we can get through them together. -Spike That's really great! I'm really happy for you Spike! You sound so amazing! I wish I could be like you. I think being someone else's Number One Assistant would be way better than being a mail delivery griffon. Not that I don't like my job or anything, but then I'd at least get to help someone out, with whatever problem they've got! -Gabby I hope you're not trying to steal my job. -Spike No way! I may be a griffon, but I'm not that greedy! -Gabby Me too! At least, not anymore. But I'd rather not talk about it. ^^; -Spike Hey Spike, You're amazing. You know that? I never thought I'd ever get the chance to meet a dragon who's actually very nice and a good friend to the ponies, let alone a hero, or someone I could be friends with. For so long, I thought every dragons in the world were just as bad as the griffins in Griffonstone. But I'm so happy I got to know a noble dragon like you. Please promise me that you'll never stop being such a sweet dragon. -Gabby Hey Gabby, I was thinking just the same about you. When I first heard how you were so determined to get a Cutie Mark, I thought you were crazy. But after I've had the chance to know you, I can say you're crazy in the good kind of way. And I promise that I'll never stop being that kind of noble dragon, if you'll promise that you'll never stop being that cheerful, loving griffon you are. -Spike It's a promise! -Gabby Hey Spike, I was wondering. When you're not too busy, we could maybe meet each other and hang out? I'd love to meet my new dragon pen pal. -Gabby Absolutely! How does this Friday, 12'o clock at the Ponyville Post Office sound to you? -Spike Sounds good to me! I'll see you there after I deliver Gilda's letter to Rainbow Dash! -Gabby