Just before morning Twilight stood in awe in the cave beneath Canterlot. If Celestia was to be believed these were the original caves in which the founding ponies of Equestria had discovered the Fires of Friendship. Twilight had known Celestia for many centuries now and though she could be manipulative and leave out important details, Twilight doubted she would bother to lie about something like that. This connection to Equestria's past tingled her old librarian sense, she never got tired of learning. Mostly though, it made the sight before her seem more appropriate.
Before her a great purple dragon with green spines was sleeping. Yes, this is where he should be, at the heart of friendship, surrounded by his friends when he wakes up.
“When is he going to wake up? It feels like its been a hundred years already!” Rainbow Dash kicked a few of the scattered gems near her feet for emphasis.
“Rainbow, it has been a hundred years.” said Rarity “Oh, I do hope our little Spikey-Wikey will remember us.”
“Of course he’ll remember us. From his perspective he just went to sleep a little while ago. Now, if my calculations are correct as soon as the sun rises Spike should wake up.” Said Twilight with a little nod and a satisfied smile.
Princess Celestia took this as her cue. “I shall see to it my faithful student.” Twilight cringed slightly at her old appellation. She still had not forgiven Celestia entirely, not yet. Is she was being honest with herself Twilight would admit that she would have brushed off such a minor thing years ago before she had become an Alicorn. But that was the point, she had time now. Time enough to treat her friends with love and respect. Time enough to treat them like adults capable of making the correct choice.
Pinkie decided that now would be an excellent time to interrupted Twilight’s serious train of thought.“Oh I hope he’s going to love his waking-up-from-a- hundred-year-dragon-nap party!” Bouncing around the cave, it was all she could do to not conjure a party cannon then and there.
Just as Pinkie looked ready to burst the first rays of Celestia’s sunlight reached the sleeping dragon causing his eyes to flutter open slowly.
“How are you feeling my number one assistant?” Twilight beamed
Spike smiled at his most prized title. Inwardly Twilight thought of Celestia. Perhaps it was time to let bygones be bygones.
“Twilight!” The dragon bellowed. Lifting up the purple Alicorn in the palm of his claw, Spike gave Twilight a long nuzzle. After a few moments Spike realized that they were not alone. “Ah.... You guys didn’t all have to be here when I woke up …. I mean its great to see all of you... oh, this is a bit embarrassing.”
Everypony chuckled a bit at this. Spike blushed as he stretched the century old kinks out of his body.
Yawning the last of the sleep out of his eyes Spike asked the first question he always asks “So, what is the plan for today Twilight?”
Twilight would make sure she would always be deserving of his loyalty.