Arc 2: The Seeker - Chapter 1: Nothing Much To Lose
Spike was looking out of the window of the speeding train. Celestia's sun had began to set in the west as Luna's moon was beginning the rise in the east. The little dragon looked eagerly to at the moon and the multi-colored sky as the train rushed to the east. Inside of the car, only a few were riding with the dragon, four of them were seated near Spike.
"You really seem excited, Spike," a familiar voice spoke to the dragon.
Turning to the voice, Spike replied, "Well, duh I am, Twilight, how can I not be! I'm finally going to figure out more of what it means to be a dragon!"
Twilight Sparkle, who was sitting on the same bench seat on the train as her assistant, playfully pulled Spike closer to herself and away from the window, "You're already a dragon Spike. The only thing you need to really worry about is getting some rest. The train takes a day to get to Manehatten."
"That's not what I meant. What I mean is that I will finally get to learn more about dragons. I've only had that one real encounter with other dragons, and we all saw how that turned out," Spike recalled the event.
A different voice spoke up, "Yeah, we saw those dragon jerks, but don't worry about them, you're nothing like them, squirt." Spike looked up just as a light blue hoof came down on his head and roughed him up. It was Rainbow Dash who was sitting in the seat behind Spike and Twilight.
With a laugh, Spike looked up to see Rainbow Dash above him, "Haha, well thanks for those words. Why are you coming with us again?"
Rainbow Dash draped herself across the back of the seat and continued talking, "Are you kidding? The moment Twilight here said that she was going on an adventure, I had to join in on this! My only complaint is having to take a train like this though."
Spike looked from Dash to Twilight, "For real?"
Twilight sighed with a chuckle and a shrug, "She insisted."
"What can I say?" Rainbow Dash smirked, "Adventure is my middle name!"
"Your full name is Rainbow Adventure Dash?" Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.
Rainbow smiled proudly, "Yeah, yeah, I know I'm rad."
The small dragon rolled his eyes until he saw the two Apple siblings in the bench seat across the aisle from them. "What about you two? You ponies don't have to come with us, ya know."
"Ah know! But ah always wanted ta go ta Manehatten at least once. Applejack did say it was quite an amazin' city! Besides, yer mah friend Spike, ah'm more than happy ta come with ya an' help ya out!" Applebloom spoke enthusiastically.
"You really wanted to come with us? Not like we know what were going to find though," Spike asked the yellow filly.
Applebloom's smile was almost too big for her face, "Ah know, but that's the fun part, right? Only Celestia can know what we'll find! Who knows, ah might get mah cutie mark!"
Before the little pony began to bounce throughout the nearly empty car, Big Macintosh placed his hooves on his little sister to hold her down.
Twilight gave a smirk to the red stallion, "Let me guess, you're just here for supervision for Applebloom?"
Big Mac smiled and winked, "Eeyup."
Spike laughed a bit before turning to all of the ponies with him, "I really am at a loss for words. Just, thank you so much for coming along with me and Twilight on this trip. It really means a lot to me."
Twilight patted Spike on his scaly head, "Of course, Spike. You're not just a dragon to us, you're our friend as well as family."
"Thanks, Twilight. Everyone, thanks," Spike said again as he yawned.
Smiling, the purple unicorn gave a hug "It's still a day's trip to Manehatten, we all should get some rest."
The small dragon was the first to nod as he leaned his head again Twilight's body. He looked out window to the now darkened world that was on the other side. He blinked a few times before he quickly drifted off to sleep.