The snow crunched beneath the dragon and the EarthWalker’s feet as they made their way down the trail. As they walked, Spike looked over to his smaller companion. Tricky resembled his mother, the Queen EarthWalker, by having orange scales with some purple on his back and on his frill. He wore bronze bracelets around all four of his ankles and a necklace to signify his status as a member of the royal family of his tribe.
Spike then remembered the communication stone that Slippy had given him before the Warp Stone had transported him to the top of Ice Mountain from ThornTail Hollow. He looked down at the blue stone on his left wrist and pondered on how to activate it. He extended a claw and tapped the blue stone to see if that would have any effect. His question was answered and stone set in the wristband started to glow a bright blue and a transparent image of Slippy’s head appeared over it.
“Slippy here,” reported the Unicorn. “I see you figured out how to work the communication stone.”
“Well, you should have given me instructions before I left,” Spike responded with a snort.
“I thought it was obvious,” the floating green head shrugged.
“Who are you talking to Spike?” the prince asked.
“A member of my team,” Spike answered.
“Who was that?” Slippy also asked.
“That’s why I called. I’ve found Prince Tricky,” Spike reported.
“That’s great! I’ll tell Captain Pepper.”
“Yeah, you do that, but tell him that it might take awhile to hike down the mountain. The Warp Stone Express doesn’t exactly offer round trip deals.”
“Oh, I see. When do you think you’ll be back?” Slippy asked. Spike looked up at the setting sun, judging the amount of daylight they had left.
“I’d say tomorrow,” Spike estimated. “We probably won’t make it very far at night in this cold. We’ll set up camp and continue in the morning.”
“Gotcha,” Slippy acknowledged.
“Anyway, how’s the queen holding up?”
“She’s still sick, but she’s stable. From what we can tell, it’s nothing serious. She’s just kind of out of it. We would give her something, but we don’t know what kind of medicine or remedies they have here and Peppy doesn’t want to risk giving her pony medicine. Who knows how dinosaurs would react to it?”
“We’ll figure something out when I get there with the prince,” Spike reassured.
“In the meantime, stay safe. With the Diamond Dogs running about, you can’t be too careful. Slippy out.” The mechanic signed off and his floating head disappeared. Spike looked up to observe his surroundings. All he could see at the moment was a stone arch spanning over a pit. Even from a distance, Spike could tell it was a magma chamber by the rising steam and how the air shimmered above the pit. As they approached the natural bridge, Spike’s suspicions were confirmed when they saw the glowing red magma below. It made sense that there would be magma vents here because there was an active volcano just next door to this mountain.
“Wow, that’s hot!” Tricky commented as a puff of stream shout out from the pit near where he was looking over the stone arch. The heat didn’t bother the dragon, in fact he wouldn’t mind taking a dip in it, but it was way too hot for the dinosaur.
“Yeah, let’s move on. Maybe we’ll find…gah!” Spike frozen in his tracks and nearly fell down as another wave of pain shot through his back.
“You okay?” Tricky asked, startled by Spike’s sudden reaction.
“Yeah… just give me a second…” Spike strained through gritted teeth. He breathed slowly in and out as the pain faded. After recuperating, Spike made his way across the bridge to where Tricky was waiting for him.
“What was that?” the concerned dinosaur asked.
“I’m not sure,” the dragon admitted. “My back’s been acting up all week. But we can’t worry about that now. Let’s move on.”
Tricky dropped the issue and ran alongside Spike as they went through a pass in the mountain. Spike wasn’t sure exactly where this trail was leading them, but Tricky seemed to know where he was going. At least the trail was taking them down the mountain. As they came to the end of the narrow pass, they saw that snow had blocked the exit
“Where does this pass lead out to?” Spike asked as he looked up at icy roadblock.
“There should be a frozen pond on the other side that leads to a river,” Tricky explained.
“I guessing that river leads south to ThornTail Hollow.”
“That’s right,” the EarthWalker explained. “But there’s a tunnel that will take us to the Hollow quicker. It’s just down by the river.”
“A shortcut,” the purple dragon summarized. “Nice. But first, we’re going to have to get pass this snow.”
“How about we dig through it?” Tricky suggested. “I love digging!”
“I’m pretty good at too. Alright, let’s get digging.” The two travelers dove in and started working away at the wall of snow. Spike used his claws to rake away clawfull after clawfull while Tricky used his stubby legs along with his horned beak-like face to burrow into the pile. With the funnel shape of his frill and head, he was like a living drill. Spike was surprised to see how effective the small dinosaur was at digging. He was almost good at it as Spike was. They made quick work of the compacted snow and were soon on the other side of the now cleared pass.
“Whew, that was a work out,” Tricky panted as they observed their handiwork.
“I didn’t know that EarthWalkers were such great diggers,” Spike stated.
“Nah, just us young ones,” the young dinosaur dismissed. “We EarthWalkers are bashers. If any bad guy shows up, we bash them up!” The dinosaur then waved his frill around enthusiastically, acting as though he was fighting an enemy. From the cleared pass, they could see the frozen pond. By the pond, there were a couple of Diamond Dogs sitting by a campfire. Tricky saw the dogs and started to charge. His little demonstration of “bashing up” bad guys had gotten himself all worked up and overly confident. As he charged, he shouted, “Let me at ‘em!”
“Wait, no! Tricky, get back here!” Spike shouted as he ran after the overzealous youngster, but it was too late. The small ceratopid rammed into the back of one of the sitting large canines. The impact caused the dog to be knocked to the ground, but it also bounced Tricky back, who sat on his haunches as his head spun. Tricky shook his head, clearing it of the stars that were dancing around it, and saw the faces of two growling dogs.
“Uuhhh… oops,” the prince sheepishly said at the glowering dogs. The bipedal dogs wearing shoulder pads and helmets raised their clubs, ready to strike the foolish dinosaur who had assaulted them. Tricky clenched his eyes shut and braced himself for the impact of the club, but it didn’t come. Tricky’s eyes snapped open when he heard the dogs grunt in pain to see that Spike had tackled the dogs before they could take a swing at the prince. The two Diamond Dogs and the dragon crashed onto the frozen pond and slid on the ice. While they slid, the dog underneath Spike was subjected to a barrage of punches to the face. The other dog tried to rise to its feet, but was having a hard time trying not to slip. When it finally did regain its footing it raised its club to hit Spike, but the dragon’s tail swept its feet from under it, sending it crashing back down onto the ice with a yelp. After Spike figured that he had beated the fight out of the dog beneath him, he got up and allowed the two to run away yipping like frighten Chihuahuas. Tricky ran up to Spike side and cheered, “Yeah! You better run! Wow that was awesome Spike!”
Tricky’s excitement was cut short when he saw Spike reprimanding scowl and the dragon shouted, “Tricky are you crazy!? Just leave the Diamond Dogs to me!”
“Okay okay, I’m sorry,” the dinosaur apologized, ashamed of himself. Spike just sighed and shook his head.
“Forget it. Just don’t go running off like that anymore.” I swear, he reminds me of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo when they were the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“I promise.”
Again, just like the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike thought to himself. Looking back at the sky, he noticed how dark it was becoming. “We better stop here for the night.” He then looked over and saw the small campfire the Diamond Dogs had built. “Over there.”
“This?” Tricky asked disapprovingly as they walked up to the tiny pile of smoldering twigs. “This will never keep us warm. Don’t those dogs know how to make a fire?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll take care of it,” Spike said as he went over to a fallen tree and broke off some branches. He piled the limbs together and warned, “Stand back.”
The young EarthWalker scooted back and the dragon took a breath. He then exhaled a blast of green flames which ignited the pile of branches and created a decent fire.
“Ooh, cool!” Tricky said as he admired the dragon’s talent. “It must be awesome being a dragon!”
“Yeah… sometimes…” Spike said to himself under his breath as he sat down by the fire. He remembered how the ponies in the dinner in Fillydelphia had run him out. He remembered how those investigators had pinned the blame for the legendary Dracula’s killing spree in Ponyville. He remembered all the looks he would get when he and Rarity would go out together. Rarity… He reached into his pack and pulled out the mare’s fire ruby necklace. As he stared at its faceted surface, his thoughts were filled with concern for the mare he loved. What happened to her? Where was she? Was she safe?
“What’s that?” Tricky asked, snapping Spike from his thoughts. Spike looked up from the necklace and at the dinosaur he was escorting. Spike exhaled deeply from his nose and put the fire ruby back into his bag.
“It belongs to my marefriend,” Spike answered.
“Marefriend?” Tricky repeated, unfamiliar with the Equestrian term.
“The special lady in my life,” Spike clarified.
“Oh, your girlfriend, I’ve gotcha. So, who is she?”
“Her name’s Rarity. She’s a snow white Unicorn with a mane like amethyst and eyes as clear and blue as a crystal lake,” he described her with longing smile on his face. A sad frown appeared on his face when his concerns returned. “She’s somewhere on this island.”
“Is that why you’re here?” Tricky asked sympathetically.
“Actually, it’s probably the other way around,” Spike remarked.
“Huh?”
“I’m a wanted criminal where I come from,” Spike confessed with a small laugh.
“You are? That’s so cool! Whatcha do? Whatcha you wanted for?”
“Murder,” Spike coldly answered, grimly recalling how he was falsely accused. Tricky’s eyes widen and he immediately became less thrilled about being around Spike. Seeing the dinosaur’s reaction, he quickly explained, “Don’t worry, I didn’t do it. They pinned it on me because I’m the only dragon living in a nation of ponies.”
“Oh, I see. So, what happened?” Tricky asked, easing up again.
“It’s a long story.”
“We’ve got time,” Tricky replied with a shrug. Spike nodded and began to tell his story of how the Vampire King rose from his grave to terrorize his home. As he told his tale, he explained to Tricky who his friends were. He also told him of the adventures they went on and how they saved the world many times. He even told him of his adventure in the parallel world of Trotina. As Spike finished his story, Tricky just stared at the dragon with amazement and awe. “Wow, you’re like some sort of hero or something.”
Spike chuckled and said, “Hero? Nah, I just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Are you kidding? You’re awesome! I mean, just back there you whipped those dogs like nothing. You’ve fought monsters and helped save the world!”
“I guess you really don’t think about it like that when you’re actually there. When I was in those situations, I didn’t see myself as a hero. I just did anything I could do to stay alive.”
“Well, I think you’re cool,” Tricky told the dragon and then yawned.
“It’s getting late,” Spike said when he noticed how tired the ceratopid was. “Get some sleep. We head out first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, okay then. Goodnight Spike,” Tricky yawned as he curled up by the fire.
“Goodnight Tricky,” Spike said back to the dinosaur, but he was already out like a light. Spike smiled and then reached back into his bag and pulled out Rarity’s necklace. “Goodnight… Rarity.”
As Spike put the necklace back into the bag, he noticed the communication stone on his wrist was glowing gold. Curious, the dragon looked carefully at the magical stone and tapped its surface.
“Hello Spike,” a deep voice said from the stone.
“Master?” Spike asked, recognizing the voice of the ancient dragon.
“It seems you were successful in finding the Queen EarthWalker and even managed to find her son.”
“How did you know that?”
“I have been carefully observing your journey by means of a scrying stone that I have in my lair,” the elder dragon explained. “I am also using it to communicate to you through the scrying stone that Unicorn gave you.”
“Oh, that was Slippy.”
“How is your back? Is it still afflicting you?”
“Yes master,” Spike answered. “Master, you seem to know what it is. What’s going on with my back?”
“Your wings are growing in,” explained the elder dragon.
“M-my wings!?” Spike exclaimed and then looked over to Tricky to make sure he hadn’t woken him. Tricky snorted and rolled over, but remained asleep. Spike then continued in lower tone, “My wings? I’m growing wings?”
“Indeed. From what I can tell, they will emerge soon.”
“What’s soon?” Spike asked, both shocked and excited from the news that he was going to have wings.
“There is no way to be certain, but once the growth pains begin it only takes a few days or weeks. How long are the intervals between each wave of pain?”
“It varies, perhaps around a half an hour, but no longer than an hour.”
Spike’s master was silent for a moment and then said, “It sounds as though it is almost time, maybe even tomorrow. I warn you, when the intervals are only a minute or so apart, be prepared. Growing wings is an extremely uncomfortable process. You will want to be alone when it happens.”
“Why is that?”
“Trust me; it is better for you to be alone when it happens.”
“Yes master,” the apprentice responded.
“Tomorrow you will return the EarthWalker Prince to his mother. After you do so, return to my cave and I will help you as much as I can.” With that, the stone stopped glowing gold and returned to its normal blue color. Seeing that their conversation had ended, Spike looked back to the campfire. The burning wood crackled and popped and Tricky was quietly snoring. As Spike lay down, another wave of pain shot through him causing him to arch his back and to seethe in discomfort. He lay motionless until the pain eased away and then tried to rest comfortably on his side. It was probably a good idea if he didn’t sleep on his back.
I hope they grow in tomorrow. I can’t wait to be able fly, Spike thought. Although, Master made it sound like it was really painful. I wonder what’s going to happen. The dragon then closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep.
*****
Princess Celestia sat on a large cushion in her private chambers in Canterlot Palace. Outside her balcony, she could see her sister Luna’s moon glowing in the night sky. The white Alicorn with the ethereal mane that resembled the auroras sighed with a heavy heart as she reflected on the week’s events. An ancient evil had risen from its tomb and had killed some of her subjects and harmed others. To make matters worse, this evil was once her sister’s great love. The entire ordeal had left the younger sister distraught and withdrawn. Celestia had ordered her guard not to let Luna know what was happening for her own good, but soon after discovered that she found out anyway. Celestia tried to reach out to her, but Luna has been avoiding everypony.
On top of all this, Twilight Sparkle’s surrogate son, Spike the dragon, was now missing. Celestia cared for all of her subjects, but Spike held a special place in her heart. The solar princess had personally cared for his egg ever since it was discovered, alone and abandoned by the dragoness that laid it. When Twilight Sparkle hatched the egg, the young unicorn filly was given the hatchling dragon to care for. Since Celestia’s prized pupil was still just a child, she had helped her raise Spike until Twilight was old enough to care for him by herself.
There was a knock at the door and Princess Celestia responded by saying, “Come in.” One of the large double doors opened and Princess Twilight Sparkle entered. “Ah, my dear Twilight. Please, come have a seat.”
“Thank you Your Highness,” Twilight said. Even though it has been a few years since the lavender mare with the indigo mane with the pink stripe in it had become an Alicorn and a princess, she still addressed Celestia like she did when she was still her student.
“You don’t have to call me that,” Celestia said with a small smile.
“Sorry, force of habit,” Twilight said back with a small smile of her own. They then both laughed a little, having repeated this conversation many times before. The smaller Alicorn nestled up against the larger one on the cushion and they greeted each other with an affectionate nuzzle.
“I take it there is no news regarding Spike’s whereabouts,” the white Alicorn guessed. Twilight confirmed her assumption with a disappointed shake of her head. “Have faith, we will find him.”
“I can’t believe this is happening again,” Twilight lamented. “The last time something like this happened, we thought he was dead. I… I was so scared that I would never see him again. I can’t let that happen again.”
“He’s alive, I assure you,” Celestia comforted the smaller Alicorn as she placed a white hoof on top of Twilight’s lavender hoof. “I’ve been sending him letters, but he isn’t responding to them.”
“But why? Why isn’t he responding to them? He’s innocent! He can come home now!” Twilight cried, tears starting to form in her eyes. Celestia shushed her troubled friend and stroked her hoof soothingly.
“I don’t know why, but I’m sure there must be a reason.”
“Can’t Luna find him with her dream walking?” Twilight asked hopefully.
Celestia frowned sadly and answered, “I’m afraid my sister hasn’t spoken to anypony since Dracula was slain. She’s very hurt by what happened.” Twilight nodded with understanding. She had been made aware of the connection between the Vampire King and the Princess of the Night and decided not to press the issue.
“I just want him to come home,” Twilight stated as she sighed disappointed. “He means so much to me. I may not be his real mother, but I love him as my son.” Celestia then carefully eyed her former student. She pondered on whether if it was the right time or not to tell her the truth.
“Twilight, there is something I need to tell you,” Celestia carefully started. Twilight looked up at the taller mare with tears still forming in her eyes. “About Spike…”
“Yes? What about Spike?” Twilight expectantly urged her to continue. Celestia’s brow furrowed as she thought of how to form her words. She figured she might as well come out with it. She’s already started, might as well go through with it.
“Spike is your son.”
“…Huh!?” Twilight exclaimed in utter confusion.
“Spike is your real son,” Celestia repeated.
“But Celestia, I was just a filly when he was given to me as an egg. There’s no way I could be his real mother! Plus, I would have remembered laying an egg!”
“Allow me to explain,” Celestia said in attempt to calm the shocked Twilight. “Spike’s egg was never meant to hatch. It was discovered abandoned in a cave. I decided to keep it and care for it because I had a plan. Did you ever wondered why hatching a dragon egg was the entrance exam to my school?”
“I remember hearing that it was just an aptitude test to gauge new students’ abilities and that it was supposed to be impossible to pass,” Twilight recounted what she had heard.
“Yes, but I knew that someday some little pony would be able to. The reason I used Spike’s egg as an entrance exam was to find you. Yes, because the only pony who could hatch the egg was the pony was destined to bear the Element of Magic.” A look of shame and regret came to the white Alicorn’s face. “I’m sorry to say, but you becoming my personally student, you meeting your friends, and even Spike’s birth was all a part of my plan to find six ponies to wield the Element of Harmony to save Luna from Nightmare Moon. Even though I had good intentions and did it for the greater good, it doesn’t change the fact that I have manipulated all of you.” Celestia closed her eyes and bowed her head. “I am sorry.”
Twilight smiled and it was her turn to comfortingly nuzzle her fellow princess and said, “You have nothing to be sorry for. I already figured this out. If not for you, I’ve never would have such great friends or Spike. I am grateful for what you have done for us. But what does this all have to do with Spike being my real son?”
“As I said, Spike’s egg was dud. The genetic material was there, but there was no life in it. The surge of magic you unleashed during your exam breathed life into the egg and formed a perfectly healthy baby dragon. Your magic, your very essence of life, runs through his veins. You are just as much his mother as the dragoness who had laid his egg.”
“So, he really is my son,” Twilight whispered as tears of immeasurable joy ran down her face. There was a knock at the door, interrupting the tender moment. Celestia called for whoever it was to enter and a messenger pony came in carrying a letter.
“Excuses me, Your Highnesses, but an urgently has just arrived.” The messenger delivered the letter and the princesses gasped when they saw it was from Rarity.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I have found a lead on Spike’s location here in Fillydelphia. He has left with a mercenary group heading towards Krazoa Island to the east. As I understand, it is an island inhabited with dinosaurs. I have been informed by one of the inhabitants that the island is in peril. I am leaving with him to see what I can do to help and to see if I can find Spike there. Please send assistance as soon as possible.
Your faithful subject,
Rarity
After reading the letter, Princess Celestia turned to the messenger and ordered, “Send for Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy at once!”