//------------------------------// // Congratulatons, You Grew Wings // Story: Maintaining Harmony // by DiabloGuapo //------------------------------// The next morning, Twilight Sparkle awoke in her bed. She yawned and stretched her legs, and felts something nestled against her side. She looked down and smiled at the sleeping baby dragon at her side. He hadn’t been awake since his wings sprouted from his back yesterday. Twilight knew he would be frightened and confused from the trauma from the event, so she had laid him beside her in her bed last night for comfort. She reflected back at the time when they still lived in Canterlot. When he was a really small dragon, he would sneak into her bed and curl up against her when he would have a nightmare. Twilight didn’t think much about it then, but with him at her side at the moment, those memories pulled at her heartstrings. To be honest, she missed it. The front door knock, and a voice called from behind it, “Hey, Twilight. Are y’all awake yet?” The voice belonged to no other than Applejack. The door opened, and the farm pony entered, and it sounded like there were others following her. “We’re up here,” Twilight called to her visitors softly enough to not disturb the sleeping dragon. Hoof steps echoed as the group walked up the stairs to the bedroom, and the group led by Applejack came through the doorway. The other Bearers of the Elements of Harmony and the Cutie Mark Crusaders stood at the foot of Twilight’s bed. “Well, would y’all look at that. He really did grow wings,” observed Applejack. “Aw, yeah! Welcome to the ‘wing club’ big guy,” cheered Rainbow Dash. Applejack shushed the blue pegasus, seeing that Spike is still asleep. Fluttershy went closer to Spike to take a closer look. “Oh, I hope the poor dear is alright. When the girls told me what had happened, I was so worried.” “I think he’ll be okay, Fluttershy,” Twilight reassured the yellow pegasus. “Has he awoken since yesterday?” Rarity asked, staring at the dragon with concern. “No, not since I came to get him.” Rarity didn’t like that answer. “Oh, I do hope that he wakes up soon.” “Don’t worry, Rarity,” said Applejack, placing a hoof on her shoulder. “Ah’m sure he’ll wake up soon. Growin’ wings can’t be the easiest thing to do. He’s probably just tuckered out.” “He better wake up soon, ‘cause we got to throw him a ‘congratulations, you grew wings’ party!” Pinkie exclaimed. Her voice caused the dragon to stir. The others got quiet and watched the dragon intently. The dragon slowly opened his eyes, blinked a few times, and yawned. “What happened?” Spiked asked groggily. He looked around, and then he felt something different. He looked back, noticed his new wings, and bolted up wide awake. “Woah!” “It’s okay, Spike,” Twilight said as she took ahold of his shoulders to calm him. Spike did calm down a bit, but he still was staring at his wings. “I guess this explains that itch you had.” “I’m so relieved that you’re okay, Spike,” sighed Rarity. “Yeah, we were so worried yesterday,” Sweetie Belle said. “We walked in and you were groanin’ and moanin’,” added Apple Bloom. “Then those wings popped out of ya, and blood went everywhere!” exclaimed Scootaloo. Spike recalled the “groanin’ and moanin’,” but doesn’t quite remember the wings spraying blood everywhere. “Yeah, I thought you were going die, or something,” Sweetie Belle meekly remarked. Spike looked at everypony’s worried faces, and frown at the fact that he was the cause of such a fuss. “Don’t worry, I’m fine,” he said. Then he looked back his wings and flapped them a bit, testing them out. They didn’t exactly look like they could get him airborne yet, but he decided to test them out. He took a few steps away from Twilight as to not hit her with his wings, and flapped them as fast as he could. Like he predicted, he didn’t take off like Rainbow Dash would, but he did rise a few feet off of the bed. After a few seconds, it felt like his wings were on fire, and he fell back to the bed, exhausted. “Woah, take it easy, Spike,” said Rainbow Dash. “Don’t try to do too much too soon.” “She’s right, Spike. You’ll need to get used to them first,” stated Twilight as she got out of the bed. “Yeah, yeah, I know. I just wanted to test them out,” explained Spike. “So, are you up to a party?” asked Pinkie expectantly. “Are you kidding? I’m always up for a party!” This caused Pinkie to cheer and pull her party cannon out. “Then let’s get this party started!” declared the party pony, launching confetti and steamers all over the room with her cannon. The group laughed as they commenced with the “congratulations, you grew wings” party for the young dragon. As the others laughed and ate cake, Rarity walked up to Spike. “Spike, may I have a word with you?” “Of course, Rarity. What is it?” Spike asked. She motioned for them to step inside the kitchen so that they could have a more private conversation. He followed the white unicorn into the kitchen, and when they were alone, he noticed she looked troubled. “What is it? What’s wrong?” “I just wanted to make sure that you were okay,” she explained, still with serious look on her face. “I said I was alright. Honest, I am,” he tried reassure her. “Yes, yes, but still. That whole fiasco yesterday really had me scared. All of that blood…” “Did… did I really bleed everywhere like Scootaloo said?” he asked, a little embarrassed. “She was exaggerating a bit, but yes, there was some blood. To see my Spikey-Wikey bled like that and to be in some such pain, I didn’t know what to do or what was happening.” Spike felt guilty to see her that troubled because of him. “I don’t remember what happened after my wings came out. What happened after I blacked out?” “I had Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom gather some water and some wash clothes, and I sent Scootaloo to fetch Twilight while I cleansed the blood and the fluids off of you,” she explained. Spike blushed with shame and embarrassment at the thought of Rarity cleaning him up. “Twilight then arrived and she brought you home. From what I understand, you remained unconscious from the time you grew wings until just a few minutes ago.” “I’m sorry that I put you through all of that,” apologized the dragon. Rarity smiled and wrapped a foreleg around him, bringing him into a hug. “I’m just relieved that you’re okay.” “Did I make a mess?” “A little. I did get some blood on me, but I cleaned everything up.” “It’s okay, no harm done.” “…Is the dress okay?” Rarity laughed at his remark. “Yes, the dress is okay. Let’s go get some cake.” They headed back to the party. As Spike entered the room, he froze. His cheeks swelled, and then he let out a belch of green fire. A letter bearing Princess Celestia’s seal materialized from the flame. “Hey, Twilight!” Spike ran over to the unicorn with the letter. She took it from him with her magic, and began to read it. While she read it, her friend surrounded her, waiting to hear the message. As she read the letter, her eyes widen with surprise. “It’s from the princess. She says that we have to report to her immediately!” Twilight summarized. Her friends looked at each other with confused expressions.