Oblivion sat in the trench with the mares as they waited for the dragon migration to begin. He sighed as time slipped past him and the others talked quietly amongst themselves. Sasa purred at his side as she kept glancing back and forth from one side of the sky to the other. He watched carefully to ensure that the mares were far enough out of the way that they would not be spotted by the dragons that were going to sky-high above them.
“Anything?” Sasa asked him as she looked over at him.
“Nothing.” He replied as he shook his head. He went to say more as something caught his attention in the distance.
The Witcher was quiet as the dots in his vision grew in size. He looked at the mares to see Rarity still on top of the trench. His magic lit and he picked her up and set her into the trench with them. The white mare looked at him as he pointed his horn to the far right of them. Beside him, Twilight spun to look where he was pointing and her eyes went wide at the sight of the growing dragon presence in the skies.
“Wow.” She whispered. “Think they can see us?”
He could hear the nervousness in her voice as he nodded. “Most likely.”
“What?” She asked him as fear crept into her eyes.
“We are not what they are after. So long as we do not draw attention to ourselves then I am sure that they have every reason to ignore us completely.” He assured her.
“Oh… Okay.” She replied and went back to watching the dragons overhead.
Farther to his right he heard Rainbow Dash scoff loudly. “Is flying all they are gonna do?”
Her tone was derisive as she waved a hoof dismissively at the horde of dragons. Almost as if they had been waiting for her comment several of them released a blast of fire that stretched for over a hundred feet. He glanced to the side and saw Rainbow had been silenced and now looked suitably nervous. He snorted at her and she cast a look to him as he looked back at her.
“And your opinion now?” He asked her, his tone flat.
“Well… I mean… Yeah. That was pretty impressive.” She admitted as a sheepish look went over her features. “The phrase ‘fierce’ comes to mind now that I think about it.”
“And quite formidable.” Rarity added as she watched the dragons as they continued to fly.
Pinkie nodded as she spoke. “And super-duper-scary.” She added.
“Yeah. We dragons are a force to be reckoned with.” Spike crowed from his place by the refreshment cart.
Rainbow barked a loud laugh and looked at the baby dragon. “Yeah, right, Spike. That's one of the scariest aprons I've ever seen!”
Applejack and Pinkie joined in on her laughter as Spike looked more upset. “What's wrong with wearing an apron? You won't be laughing when you spill blueberries all over your scales— feathers. That's one tough stain!”
“One tough stain against one lame dragon.” Rainbow laughed further as she rolled back on her haunches.
“You leave him alone, Rainbow Dash! Spike's style is unique. He doesn't have to look like other dragons.
“Or act like them,” Twilight added as she listened in.
“The way they act is going to be vastly different from Spike.” Oblivion added in. “They exist in a very different type of world than he does. Of course, behaviors are going to be different.”
Spike looked at him with a thankful expression as Rarity opened her mouth to speak. “My little Spikey-wikey is perfect the way he is.”
“I don't act like other dragons?” Spike asked as he looked down at his small claws.
“Oh, not even close!” Pinkie laughed.
“But why would you want to, Spike?” Applejack asked him as her laughter faded.
“Yes. You've got something those dreadfully fierce dragons can only dream of.” Rarity assured him.
“What’s that?” Spike asked her.
“Family for one thing.” Oblivion said but his opinion was drowned out by Rarity’s reply to Spike.
“The cutest widdle chubby cheeks! Ooooo!” Rarity said to him as she squished his cheeks under her hooves.
Spike pulled back from her and looked horrified by what she had said. “Cute?! Dragons aren't supposed to be cute! Right?”
“Oh, sweetie, you are turning the most delightful shade of red. It is most becoming.” Rarity said to him as she chuckled.
Spike threw his apron onto the ground and stormed off with a noise of frustration. Oblivion said nothing as the others all made comments about how Spike walked away and he threw his arms up in aggravation as they went back to watching the migration.
“Opinion?” Sasa asked him as the dragon went inside.
“Hmm…” He said nothing back to her as the baby dragon’s spirit was a bit down but not enough to draw the attention of the World Spirit under his command.
Oblivion was getting ready for bed when a flash of azure flame heralded the arrival of a letter. His magic gripped it as he saw that it was from Twilight. She asked him to come to her house to help her with Spike. He sighed as he had been expecting something to come off the comments from their friends. He looked at Sasa who nodded and hoped off the bed. He led her down the stairs and out the front door and broke into a gallop to head into town to join Twilight at the library.
He pushed open the door to find Twilight scrubbing her hooves over her face as Spike lamented about not knowing anything about himself. She saw him and her eyes pleaded with him to step in and help.
“I don't know! For the last time, Spike, you were given to me as an egg. I don't know who found you or where they found you.” Twilight said to him as he grew more frustrated with her.
“That’s all you know?” He raised his voice a bit as he addressed her.
“Easy Spike.” Oblivion said as he closed the door behind him. “WE understand you’re frustrated, but taking it out on her is unacceptable.”
Spike looked sheepish at the admonishment from the stallion. “Sorry, Twilight.”
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s okay. Why don't we do some late-night research? See what we can find out.” She said as her horn lit and she began to pull books off the shelves.
“You’d do that?” Spike asked the mare as she put the books around them. “You too, Oblivion?”
“Of course.” The black stallion picked up a book on top of the closest pile to him and his claws opened it.
Oblivion closed the book her had been perusing and a deep sigh escaped him. “Nothing here.” He said as Twilight closed her book with a rough snort and shook her head.
“Nothing.” She said as she pushed the book aside. “Nothing in this one either.”
“Nothing at all about dragons? This is getting ridiculous!” Spike nearly shouted but a look from the Witcher kept his voice down.
“I know! It's hard to believe, but ponies know next to nothing about dragons. They're too rare and too scary to try to talk to or study!” She said to him as she looked at Oblivion. “What about where you’re from?”
“Witchers tend to avoid them by principal.” He admitted. “I know Geralt has met one and he was able to shapeshift and speak easily with him. I think. I heard the story of that dragon many years ago so do not quote me on its accuracy. But so far as I know where I am from we have monsters that are similar to dragons but not as large.”
“Like what?” Spike asked, his tone imploring. “Small like me? A baby dragon?”
“No. What I am thinking is called a Forktail. Here a moment.” He said to him as his horn summoned his sketchbook. “I think I have a drawing of one.”
He searched the book and found what he was looking for after a few minutes of looking. He turned it around and held it in front of Spike for him to look at. “That is a Forktail.”
Twilight walked over to look as well and she cringed at the drawing. “Can they be talked to?”
“No.” He admitted with a shake of his head. “They are particularly nasty but beatable. Witchers do not tangle with dragons if it can be avoided at all costs. They are very old and very intelligent so far as I have heard. Ponies avoid them out of pure fear.”
Spike's shoulders slumped as a knock sounded from the front of the library.
“It’s okay, Twilight. I'm gonna discover who I am if it's the last thing I do!” Spike declared as the front door opened.
Rarity and Rainbow walked into the library and Oblivion early chuckled when they didn’t bat an eye at the disarray of the library.
“Good morning.” Rarity addressed them as she saw Oblivion and Sasa there as well.
“Morning Rarity and you as well Rainbow.” Oblivion addressed them both as they came into the library.
“Ya wanna join us for breakfast?” Rainbow asked.
“Yes. I’m famished.” Twilight said as she got to her hooves and Oblivion nodded.
“Count me out. I need to get an early start.” Spike declared as he moved around for a few minutes to gather things to him.
“Early start?” Rarity asked him.
“Yes! I'm going on a quest of self-discovery! I need to learn what it means to be a dragon! And the only way I'm gonna do that is to join the dragon migration!” He shouted out as he hefted a small back and stick to his shoulder.
“Where did he find those?” Sasa asked as Oblivion gave a sight shrug at her question.
“Spike, that's nonsense talk! I know that you're a dragon, but those dragons mean business! They're big, and tough, and scary...” Rarity said to him as he watched her.
“And I'm small and meek... and I like to wear aprons. See? This is exactly why I need to spend time with them.” Spike explained.
“All I'm saying is that you could get hurt,” Rainbow explained.
“Darling, this time I do have to agree with Rainbow Dash. I don't want those big, ugly, nasty dragons to hurt one little scale on your cutesy-wutesy head!” Rarity informed him.
“I’m sorry but I’ve made up my mind,” Spike said as he walked toward the front door.
Oblivion moved to cut him off and came to stand in front of him, preventing him for leaving. He said nothing as Spike looked up at him. The Witcher looked up to see what Twilight was thinking and she walked up to them.
“Hold it for a second.” She said and they all remained still.
“Don’t tell me you’re okay with this?” Rarity asked her.
“Yes, Spike. I couldn't answer your questions. My books couldn't either. I understand why you want to look elsewhere. I truly believe you need to go on this quest. And we have no right to stop you.” Twilight said to him as she hugged him close.
A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he moved out of the doorway. “Perhaps you will find what you seek. But do not forget what is behind you either.” He advised the baby dragon.
“I won’t. I promise Oblivion.” He addressed the Witcher and a wide smile went over his features as Twilight set him down in the doorway.
Spike toddled out the door and the four ponies watched as they waved and once he was out of earshot Rarity leaned toward Twilight and spoke through her grin. “We’re following him, right?”
“Of course.” Oblivion replied from behind them as Twilight agreed.
Oblivion said nothing as he looked at the disguise that Rarity had created for them. “Now Oblivion dear you’re going to be in front. You’re too tall for the middle or back end.”
“Right.” He said as he moved into the space with their head and it settled onto his shoulders. “Are we sure that is going to be enough to not get us caught?”
“It’ll be perfect dear. You worry too much.” Rarity said to him as Rainbow and Twilight hopped din behind him and Rarity took up the back end.
Oblivion slowly walked forward as he waited for the others to fall in behind him and get their strides to match him. His magic lit as wind and rain buffeted the group and he made sure the costume withstood the elements. Twilight patted his hip in thanks as he kept them heading in the right direction. Rarity had ensured that the eyes of the costume would allow the black stallion to easily guide them. He had left Sasa behind and assured her he would bring the baby dragon home in one piece.
“There they are.” He whispered to the three mares.
“Hmm?” Twilight asked as she reared up to look and her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the dragons. “Oh by Celestia. There’s so many of them.”
He said nothing as she went back into her place behind him and he scanned the area and quickly regained sight of their baby dragon. Rainbow began to flap her wings and Oblivion found himself having to try to adjust to her as she moved.
“Rainbow if you fly any further I will ground you myself. We are a ground dragon… So be grounded.” He growled back to her as she leaned on his hip.
“Oh… Right.” She said as she went back to the ground. “I’m telling you guys. We will never pass for a real dragon.”
“Oh pish-posh. This costume is fabulous. One of my best creations.” Rarity replied, her voice affronted at the implication by the Pegasus.
“We'll never pass if they hear five voices coming out of one dragon! Now come on, let's go!” Twilight said as she tugged Oblivion's tail to tell him to walk forward.
Oblivion bit back a sigh and he walked them forward to rejoin Spike who seemed to have found some dragons closer to his size. Oblivion joined them and they didn’t give their costume much of a look and ignored them for the most part.
The red dragon leaned down to look at the smaller dragon. “Well, if you weren't just hatched, how come we haven't seen you around before?”
“Oh, well, y'see, I live in Ponyville and…” Spike began to explain.
“Hahaha! Ponyville? That explains it! I knew there was something vaguely pony-ish about you! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were part pony!” The red dragon laughed as Spike looked uncomfortable.
“No! I’m all dragon. See?” Spike leaned out and gave as much of a roar as he was able.
Oblivion managed not to cringe at the small sound.
“Or maybe you’re a pony in a dragon suit?” A purple dragon laughed and draped their arm around their costume's neck.
Oblivion quickly realized some acting was going to be needed. “Hilarious.” He replied as he willed humor into his tone. Behind him, he heard Twilight gasp.
The dragon let go of him and Oblivion said nothing as he rotated his shoulders. He glanced back to find Twilight and the others looking horrified. He said nothing in reply as they looked nervously back and forth for a moment before Twilight came up to his hip and spoke to him in a whisper.
“Any way you can be less… monotone?” She asked him.
He didn’t say anything back to her and simply looked at her. “Such as?”
“I didn’t think so.” She admitted and went back to her place.
Oblivion looked ahead as the dragons began to burp fire. He looked over his shoulder as Twilight looked even more nervous. The brown dragon burped loud enough to rattle Oblivion's ears and he was forced to cringe down a bit or the flames would have caught the costume on fire. He looked down at them and found them to be looking at him and he quickly realized it was his turn.
“Here goes nothing.” He whispered as his horn lit.
Azure flame poured from the mouth of the costume the dragons all backed up as he let the flame fade and sent a bit of smoke out of his mouth to try to appear more legitimate. The group of them cheered and the purple one once again hung his arm over his neck. Twilight looked up and she barked several laughs from within the costume. The dragons moved onto Spike as he glanced back at Twilight and gave her a slight nod. Spike belched out a flame and a letter appeared in its wake. The red dragon picked it up and opened it.
“From the desk of Princess Celestia. Dear Spike, please te– Ha! Get this, guys! Spike's pen-pals with a namby-pamby pony princess!” He laughed as he wadded up the letter and tossed it over his shoulder and it fell into a pool of lava.
Oblivion said nothing as Twilight looked horrified. “What if that was important?”
“Let it go.” He whispered back to her as he focused on what the dragons were saying.
“Maybe tail wrestling will be more your speed.” The red said to him.
Oblivion watched as two of the dragons looped their tails and began to try to knock each other down. Oblivion looked back and Rarity quickly understood.
“Will have to risk this to make sure they don’t hurt him,” Twilight said to him from her place behind him.
He nodded in agreement and stepped forward. “I challenge Spike to a tail wrestle.” He growled, disguising his voice as best he could.
They looked at him, almost as if they saw him for the first time. “Who’s he?” The red asked.
“I think he’s Crackle's cousin.” The purple replied.
Oblivion looked where they did and a dragon who bore a strong resemblance to them roared out from their place on a rock. Once that was figured out the teenage dragons seemed to agree and Oblivion moved them into place to allow Rarity to tail wrestle Spike. Rarity kept her hoof in the tail and it wrapped around Spike's much smaller tail. They made a few noises to show they were fighting and then Oblivion looked back and the others all dropped to the ground with him to show that Spike had won against them. The teenage dragons stared for a moment before they began to cheer. The red dragon lifted Spike by his tail and declared him the winner.
“I can’t believe that worked.” Rarity admitted as she looked up at Oblivion who gave a slight shrug.
Spike looked around them and puffed out his chest a bit. “Alright, who's next?”
Oblivion nearly cursed as Spike was acting cocky. He wasn’t the only one who noticed. The red dragon pointed out a new challenger for him and Oblivion watched as Spike was thrown to the side with very little effort by the other dragon. He rolled his eyes as Spike came walking back to them. The red dragon picked him up and walked him to the top of a hoard of gems and stood him at the top.
The red patted Spike for a moment before a look came into his eyes. “So, Spike, you haven't exactly proven yourself as a dragon yet, have you?”
“But I get an A for effort right?” Spike asked.
“Huh, maybe. Let's see how you do in this next contest.” Garble said as he pushed Spike from the top of the hoard and let him fall to the ground. “King of the hoard!”
Oblivion watched as the dragons all rushed the gem mountain and Spike began to crawl his way up it. Oblivion looked back and the mares nodded in silent agreement. They’d find a way to get Spike to the top. One of them approached Spike and Oblivion slammed his chest into him and knocked him to the ground. Oblivion and the mars were able to avoid falling with him by keeping all of their hooves planted. Oblivion allowed them to slide down the hill for a few feet to make it look like they had slipped and fallen, allowing Spike to get to the top. Oblivion watched as Spike got under the red dragon and his spines came up underneath him and knocked him and the dragon he was grappling with off balance and sent them down to the bottom of the mountain. Spike was now the only one on the top of the mountain.
“King of the…” Spike began to shout as he slipped and fell to the bottom of the mountain as well.
Oblivion heard a quiet groan from Twilight behind him and he looked up to the sky for a moment before he approached them once more. The red dragon approached him and scoffed.
“Looks like this is another fail for you, little Spike. Can't wait to watch you fail at lava cannonball, too.” He jeered.
“Cannonball… What?” Rainbow asked.
Oblivion looked down at the pool of lava under them and he knew that they were at a point where they could not help the baby dragon. He looked over his shoulder and Twilight came forward as much as she was able to and saw what he was seeing and nodded in agreement with him.
“Spikes on his own this time.” She whispered to the others who also agreed and they backed up and out of line.
Oblivion trotted them down to the pool and he ensured they were far back enough to avoid getting hit by the molten earth. He looked up as Spike came to the edge of the rock above them and jumped. A loud smack sounded out as Spike belly-flopped onto the pool of lava. The teenagers all groaned at the impact and surrounded the little dragon.
“Ugh... was I... that bad?” Spike asked as they stared at him.
“No, dude, that was awesome! No pony could live through a belly flop like that! You're one tough little dragon.” Garble told him as he picked him up out of the lava and then dropped him back into it with a small splash.
The group got out of the lava as one of them issued a trumpeting sound through his nose and the dragons all straightened their tails and made a pathway that reminded Oblivion of ceremonies back on the Continent. Spike reached Garble and Garble put his tail against Spike on one shoulder and then to the other, knighting him in a fashion.
“Spike, by belly-flopping so hard, you have proven yourself worthy. I hereby dub you 'rookie dragon', and will now perform the initiation ritual.” He picked Spike up and rubbed his spines with his hand roughly. He set Spike down and the small dragon tottered on his feet for a moment. “Now let’s party dragon style!”
The dragons all cheered and began to eat the gemstones of their hoard and Oblivion looked at the mares who all looked greatly relieved.
The four of them watched as the dragons lazed in the large crater and Spike smiled as he laid among them.
“Man that was a great party.” Spike said, his voice calm and content.
“Great? Huh, maybe by Ponyville standards. Stick with us, Spike. We still got plenty to teach you about being a dragon.” Garble said back to him.
“I'm not going anywhere. The way I feel right now, I could hang out with you guys forever.” Spike said as he looked around him.
He heard the mares all gasp from behind him. He looked back and their faces were a mix of shock and horror at Spike's proclamation.
“Spikey-wikey is going to stay with these awful dragons? Forever?” Rarity said as she looked up at the black Unicorn.
“This is terrible!” Twilight gasped out.
Rainbow shook herself for a moment before she looked at Twilight. “I should have stopped him when I had the chance.”
“No, Rainbow Dash, this is all my fault! I encouraged him to go!” Twilight informed her.
“We can handle this.” Oblivion said back to them. “In time he will realize that he belongs at home, not out here. He is only seeing that fun that he is having now, not how it will be when the fun ends.”
“Y'know, Spike, I think you just might be ready for a real dragon raid,” Garble said as he hauled himself to his feet as the dragons around him began to cheer. “There's a nest full of phoenix eggs nearby, and we're gonna swipe 'em!”
Oblivion was quiet as he listened to the cheering dragons. “I can’t help but think this is a bad idea.” He whispered.
“Aren’t you psyched to go?” The brown dragon asked the small dragon and slapped him to the ground.
“Oh yeah I’m, I'm excited. I mean, I'm psyched.” Spike replied to him as the dragons all nodded in agreement.
Garble began to flap his wings. “Alright then, let’s fly!”
Oblivion was quiet as Spike cast a glance to his back to find there were no wings and his face seemed to light up as the others took to the air. “Uh, sorry, guys! I guess I'll meet you back here at the crater! After the whole raid thing's over? We'll hang then!” He began to turn away when the brown dragon came back and lifted him into the air.
“Shit.” Oblivion cursed as he looked in the direction they had been flying. “We need to follow them.”
“On it!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she threaded her wings through two small holes in the costume and tried to fly.
Oblivion felt himself falling forward with Twilight and Rarity being dragged behind her. His hooves were [pushed forward and he found they were being propelled forward by Rainbow's attempts to fly. The lava pool loomed ahead of them and he spun them around and dug in his claws as his magic reached out and pinned the mare’s wings to her sides.
“Can you not try to kill us?” He asked the mare as she fell against his hip.
“But they took Spike!” She argued.
“WE can’t fly.” He argued back, his tone sarcastic.
“But…”
“We will just have to hoof it.” Twilight added in and the others nodded as Oblivion led them forward and up the side of the crater.
Oblivion led them at a pace he felt the others could easily keep up as they drew up on the four dragons. Oblivion could hear them shouting for Spike to smash something. The closer he got he could see a ruined nest of some kind. He assumed they were asking him to smash an egg. As they drew up behind Spike the dragons were now acting more hostile toward the baby dragon.
“I said no.” Spike said to them, his voice firm.
“No one says no to me.” Garble snarled.
Spike backed up several steps and bumped into the pony’s costume. They tossed it off of them and Spike's eyes went wide as he saw the mares and Oblivion now standing with him. The black stallion said nothing as he was now the only one to stand face-to-face with the dragons at their height. Spike backed up a step as he ended up between Oblivion's front hooves.
“Ooh, scary, hehe! Spike, are these namby-pamby ponies your friends?” Garble asked as he sneered.
“Yes, they are. And they're better friends than you could ever be. Now, if you don't back off, you'll see what us ponies do when confronted by a huge group of jerky dragons.” Spike said as he stepped forward and prodded Garbles belly.
“Oh yeah? And what is that?” Garble asked as he snorted smoke into Spike's face.
“Umm…” Spike backed up until he hit Oblivion's hooves.
“Back Spike. This is mine.” The Witcher said as he summoned one of the blades from the band on his leg.
The teenager’s eyes widened at the sight of the azure flame and the crystal blade. “Not afraid of that.” The brown one growled.
“I’m not asking you to be afraid.” Oblivion deadpanned. “I’m showing that I am ready to fight for him if I need to.”
Garble advanced on him and Oblivion cast a glance back and Twilight nodded. He pushed Spike back to his hind legs and then slammed his front hooves down and sent Aard rolling over the ground ahead of him. The three dragons were all rolled backward and Oblivion spun on his heel and the group of them took off running. Their hooves thundered over the packed dirt as he came to run in the center of them. He looked up at Twilight as her horn lit and he could see that she was trying to teleport them. His own horn was lit and he channeled more power into her horn to help her. He looked back as the flying dragons were catching up with them.
“Now Twilight!” He shouted.
Her horn lit and he felt himself being pulled as her magic covered them and they vanished in a moment. He felt the ground coming toward him and he threw out his forelegs to keep from face-planting into the dirt. He looked up as Twilight groaned in front of him. He stepped forward to help her stand. Spike turned back to them and Oblivion could see the egg still clutched in his claws.
“Phew, that was a close one. Thanks, you guys.” Spike said to them, relief in his voice.
“Of course. What are friends for?” Twilight said to him as Oblivion ensured she was back on her hooves and could hold her weight.
“You're more than friends. You're my family.” Spike said to them as tears welled up in his eyes.
He ran up to them and hugged each of them as they held him in return. Oblivion said nothing as Rarity gave a happy noise as she hugged the baby dragon. He held him and the dragon nuzzled his neck and set him on the ground.
“Anypony know where we are exactly?” Rainbow asked as she looked around her. “Where did you put us Twilight?”
“We are just outside of the Everfree.” Oblivion supplied. “I know where we are.”
“Can you lead us back into town?” Twilight asked him, he could hear that she was tired from teleporting them.
“I can lead us back.” He assured them and took to the front to lead them back into Ponyville.