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// Her Best Friend 
// Story: Her Best Friend 
// by KiaraKovu123 
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Sun glistened and shone through a window in the Canterlot castle. Many books lay scattered about the floor. Books about everything, really. Math, science, history, architecture, and more. Books of all sizes and colors. They came from all over Equestria. Some seemed to be hundreds of years old, dusty and scratched up, some of the lettering enclosed had faded away over time. Some of the books were new; most of them included the latest mystery or adventure series that had a new edition. A small pony poked her head into the library. 
Her eyes glittered at the mass of books that were on the shelves, and then she looked to the floor. Her grin turned into a frown, she raised both eyebrows and slowly walked up to one of the books, studying it carefully. She closed her eyes and concentrated she knew that books should be arranged properly. She focused her mind on that and soon the books levitated off the ground, and off the shelves alike. They lined up in front of her in a fixed order. She smiled and opened her sparkling dark purple eyes. 
“History, on the first shelf.” At her command, the history books separated from the group, and they lined up neatly on a shelf. The Unicorn smiled, she loved to sort books. And even more, she loved to read them. Her concentration was interrupted by a knock at the door. She jumped and the books crashed to the floor. A small groan escaped from her lips. “Who is it?” she commanded in an agitated tone.
The door opened and a white Alicorn peeked in, she smiled at the young filly, whose eyes widened and a blush spread across her face. “I’m so sorry, Princess Celestia! I didn’t know--!”

The Princess giggled and took a few steps in. “Twilight, it’s perfectly alright. I know how frustrating it can be when somepony interrupts you.” A smile spread across her face. “I’ve had it happen but many, many times, dear.” Twilight chuckled nervously and smiled. The Princess continued, “I just came to tell you that you may keep your little dragon.”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Keep him? Oh, I’d love to! Thank you so much, Princess!” the young unicorn stood up and bowed. The Princess smiled.

“Well, come with me, Twilight.” She walked down the hall and the filly scampered after her. Twilight was eager to meet her new little pet. She’d feed him and wash him and teach him how to read and everything! It’d be so much fun! The Princess stopped in front of a large door and opened it. The two stepped inside and saw a gray pony staring down at a little purple-and-green dragon. The dragon, who was staring back up at her, had emerald green eyes and the most endearing expression on his face.
Twilight took a few steps toward him and the mare looked up at her. “Ah, you must be Miss Twilight Sparkle? Our new student?” Twilight nodded. “Ah, wonderful, Miss. This is the dragon you successfully released from his egg.” The pony, whom Twilight had identified as one of the Princess’s maids, motioned to the dragon.
Twilight stared down at him and he glanced up at her. A strange feeling crept over Twilight, as if she and this…creature, this…dragon, were really meant to be. Celestia, who was standing behind the two, spoke up.

“I see you two get along nice together. That’s good.” Twilight turned her head and nodded. The Princess smiled. “Would you like to take him back to your room?”

Twilight nodded and turned back to the dragon, who was sucking on his tail. A small giggle came from the young student. Her horn glowed and the dragon floated up onto her back. Stunned, the little reptile looked around and sat straight up, as if he’d never ridden on anything before. Twilight giggled. “Are you ok up there, mister?”
The dragon looked to her as if he understood, and smiled. He was only a baby, but Twilight knew he could understand her. “Would you like to see your new home?” asked the glad little filly as she walked down the hall at a steady pace, accompanied by her teacher. The little dragon’s eyes widened when he saw the great expanse of hall. He smiled.

Opening the door to the library, Celestia escorted Twilight in. Smiling, the Princess turned to her student, who was giggling and watching the baby dragon suck on his tail. “Now, Twilight, do you need me to help you with him?”

Twilight shook her head. “No thanks, Princess! I can do it!” she set the young dragon on the floor and he looked around. The little filly smiled up at her teacher. “I bet there’s a book about dragons somewhere in here!” the Princess smiled.

“I have no doubt you’ll find it, Twilight. I must be going, royal duty calls! I’ll stop by later.” With that she exited the room. Twilight turned to her dragon with closed eyes.

“Now, little guy--” she opened her eyes and he was gone from the spot he sat in a few moments ago. She gasped. “HEY!” Twilight spun around in a circle. “Little dragon! Come out!” she bit her lip and looked everywhere, she raced up a staircase and looked around. She could see the room much better from this elevation. She stood atop a table and searched, ever so carefully. She scanned every bookshelf but didn’t see him. “OH NO! If the Princess found out I’d lost my pet…she-she’d have me EXPELLED!” the filly gasped and leaped off the table. “Little dragon! Please come out!” she called, searching along the bookshelves. Then, from behind her, she heard a ripping sound. Whirling around, she saw her dragon, who had somehow managed to get a book caught in his spines.
“Oh, you!” she groaned and ran over, pulling hard with her magic, trying to get the book to come out. “I…think…I…” she flew backwards and crashed against a bookshelf, clutching the ripped book in her front hooves. “GOT IT!” A giggle escaped Twilight’s lips as she looked at her dragon, who looked at her with a surprised expression.
“How did you manage THAT?” she asked. The dragon blinked and grabbed his tail, then put it in his mouth and rocked from side-to-side. “Gee, you sure have sharp spikes!” Twilight smiled, and then stood up.
“And that’s what I’ll call you.” She walked over to her dragon and patted his head. “Your name is Spike! And I didn’t introduce myself, I’m Twilight Sparkle!” the dragon took his tail out of his mouth and looked up at her.
“T-Twi…light…” he said slowly. Twilight gasped and covered her mouth with her hoof.

“YOU CAN TALK!?” she exclaimed with a stutter. “Wow…you’re just incredible!” The baby dragon blinked. He didn’t know what that word meant, he could only say one word so far. Now, Twilight’s real test began: Taking care of a dragon.

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“Now, Spike. This is a bathtub.” Twilight set Spike down in the tub upstairs. He looked around, but said nothing. “I’ll give you a bath!” she switched on the water and levitated a book about dragons by her side. Looking through its contents, the filly saw there was nothing in the index about giving a baby dragon a bath. A frown crossed her face. “Well, I can figure it out for myself.” She set the book down and turned  the water to warm. The water reached up to Spike’s tummy and Twilight turned it off and grabbed the soap.
“Bath time, Spikey!” she rubbed the soap on a washcloth with her magic and scrubbed Spike’s spines. He seemed memorized by the feeling of it, and looked up at Twilight.
“Do you like that?” she giggled and washed him everywhere. After she’d rinsed him, she grabbed a rubber ducky, squeaked it, and put it in the water. Spike reached for it and grabbed it. It squeaked. A smile spread across his face and he glanced up at Twilight.
“A duck. That’s a duck.” She said simply. Spike grinned and squeaked the curious little toy, before setting it down in the water and watching it float around. Twilight smiled, and after a few moments, she unplugged the drain and the water vanished from the tub. Spike smiled and looked at her. She returned the smile and levitated him out of the tub and dried him with a towel.
He sparkled when she was finished. Twilight felt proud, she’d been the first mare ever to give a dragon a bath! Now, it was time for him to eat. But, what do dragons eat? She wondered. Twilight picked up the book and read about the diet of dragons carefully.
“You like gems?” she said, glancing over at him. He blinked as if he didn’t know what a “gem” was. She guessed he didn’t, since he had only hatched a few hours ago. “I guess you’re a little too young for gems…you don’t even have teeth!” at those words he shined her a bright smile, he had two teeth on the top, and two teeth on the bottom. They were tiny, but pearly white all the same. Twilight flinched.
“Is it possible that you’ve gained FOUR chompers in the last hour?” she asked him. He cocked his head, but didn’t seem to understand her. Twilight sighed. “I guess it is. I’ve never met a dragon before, so I don’t know much about them.”
Spike smiled and rocked back-and-forth, seeming to wait for Twilight to do something. She thought for a moment. “If you’re like a baby pony, you’d like milk, right?” Spike said nothing, and really did nothing to answer her. Twilight groaned. “How am I supposed to know? Ok, I’ll tell you what, I’ll go find some milk. But you have to PROMISE not to wreck any of my books, ok?”
Spike said nothing. “Ok, I trust you.” Twilight set him down in the library and ran out the door. She scampered down the halls and bumped into somepony, she yelped and looked up and the pony. “Oh, um, I’m sorry!” the pony turned around and Twilight gasped.

“Twilie?” his eyes lit up and Twilight hugged him.

“Shiny! Oh, I missed you so much! I’m so glad I found you! Guess what?”

The stallion looked down at his little sister and smiled. “Yeah? Lemmie guess, you passed your test?” Twilight nodded feverishly and grinned widely. “That’s awesome, Twilight!” he hugged her again.

“I passed and…notice anything different about me?” she turned to the side and smiled proudly. Shining Armor pretended to be stumped.

“I don’t…uh, you have a new mane style?”

“Nope!”

“New tail style?” Twilight laughed and motioned to her flank. “Twilie! You got your cutie mark!?” The filly nodded and a smile spread across her face.

“And I’m gonna live here to study! And, guess what? I got a baby dragon!” her brother’s eyes widened.

“A baby dragon?”

“Yeah! I was just gonna get him some milk from the kitchen!” said Twilight excitedly. “I don’t think I should leave him alone much longer…anyway, his name’s Spike!”

“Spike, eh? Well, I’d love to see him, but I’m on duty right now, Twilie.” Twilight shrugged.

“Ok. Maybe tomorrow?”

“Sure,” he smiled. “I’d love to!”

Twilight smiled and walked off down the hall. “See you then, Shiny! Love you!”

The Unicorn chuckled and waved. “Bye, Twilie!”

Twilight smiled and ran off down the hall, skidding to a halt in front of the kitchen, and lunging at the fridge. She pulled out some milk with her magic and poured it in a bottle. She then put on the lid. Exiting the kitchen with her magic levitating the bottle, she raced down the hall and entered the library to find Spike curled up in a basket, napping. He had a blue blanket draped over him.
Twilight smiled. That was her blankie, but she didn’t mind. She walked over to Spike and he opened his eyes and gazed up at her. “Morning, sleepy head!” she said in a sing-song voice. “I was only gone for a few minutes, but you must really be hungry!” Spike smiled and yawned, then leapt out of bed.
“I brought you some milk.” Twilight said, shaking the bottle with her magic. Spike eyed it and his stomach growled. Twilight sat on the floor and took Spike in her front hooves, cradling him like a baby. “Open up!” She levitated the bottle in front of his mouth and he grinned. He reached for it and started drinking the milk. He looked up at her and smiled. She smiled back.
“Do you like that, Spike?” whispered Twilight in a content manner. Spike finished up the bottle quickly and yawned. Twilight carried him over to his bed and set him down, then covered him up with his new blankie. “G’night, Spike.” Then Twilight picked up a book for a quiet night of studying. And she knew that Spike was more than just her pet.
He was her best friend.

The End