When Junior returned from exploring the tree, Spike had already stopped worrying about what Junior said and treated it as if it was a joke. Sitting at the table, Spike placed a couple of gems onto the table and asked if he wanted one. When Junior questioned as to why he'd want one, Spike tossed an amethyst into his mouth and began crunching it into tiny particles. From the inquisitive look on Junior's face, Spike laughed and began talking about dragons and how they eat. Pretty soon, the pair began to talk about other things, mostly about their origins, each noting small similarities between the two. Both were born to a group of people that were not their species, and they were raised as family by them. Both of said groups of friends get in all sort of conundrums, and they've both seen some rather unique things during their relatively short lives.
"[This is so strange... It's weird how much you and I are alike...]" Junior noted after Spike had finished telling him how Twilight looked after him like a little brother. "[We're from completely different worlds and yet it seems like we're one and the same."
"It's kind of been that way for the Reds and Blues, too. Twilight and Church are both critical thinkers and are leaders. Rarity and Simmons are both focused, work oriented ponies. You got Sarge and Applejack, the hard workers who are also really a bit too prideful for their own good. Then you have Caboose and Pinkie, the happy-go-lucky ponies. Fluttershy and... well, her and Grif might really be the only ones that don't fit together, but Tex insists that he's actually more understanding and hardworking than he seems... And then there's Rainbow Dash and Tucker who both competitive and kind of arrogant in some ways. No offense," Spike coughed.
"[None taken.]"
"I mean, I don't know, it just seems weird to me. And it can't be just a coincidence that they're both the Elements of Harmony and the Elements of Chaos..." Spike trailed off. Shaking his head clear of those thoughts, wanting to make sure Junior didn't feel like he was ignoring him, Spike cleared his throat and looked to Junior. "So, did you get the chance to meet the other ponies?"
"[Hm?]"
"The ponies you spent a long time with on the train?" Spike suggested lightly. "Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash?"
"[Oh, right. Them. No, I didn't get a chance to talk with them.]"
"Well, you do only speak dragon," Spike chuckled.
"[No, it's not that. Even with the language barrier, they're still afraid of me. I'm sure they know I wouldn't do anything to them, but my looks aren't too appealing to them, I'd imagine.]"
"Just give it some time. They were worried about the guys too, but they warmed up pretty quick to them. They're really nice and accepting, no matter what you are," the small dragon said simply. "And I'm sure as long as I'm around, I can be your translator, so I can tell them things you want them to hear."
"[I suppose Tucker can do that as well...]"
"Tucker speaks dragon?"
"[It took him a while to learn it, but yeah. He was our translator for when we talked to the humans about peace. As for me... being born of both human and alien, I could understand both languages, as you probably know, but my vocal chords restrict me to my own. I've tried learning how to speak like them, but it is pretty difficult,]" Junior grunted roughly. "[Speaking of... I know this may seem like it is out of nowhere, but do you know how we speak the same language? An alien from one world, a dragon from the other... It just doesn't seem like we should be able to converse like this.]"
"You know, I would have asked, but... with Church, Caboose and the others, you kinda have to just accept things without explanation," Spike chuckled as he balanced the sapphire on the tip of his tail. "But I guess it's kinda the same on their end, y'know? They're not used to magic and flying with wings, we're not used to soldiers and aliens."
"[You seem pretty okay with the fact that I'm an alien, though,]" Junior noted curiously.
"Pft, Twilight's brought me on some pretty ridiculous adventures. I've kinda seen a lot," he chuckled lightly, tossing the gem from his tail to his claw. "I mean, when the first guys came in, I was nervous around them. Especially Church. He seemed a lot ruder than the other five when I met them. But I guess that's why Celestia had him stay with Twilight. He was the one that needed to learn about friendship the most, and that's the reason Twilight was sent to Ponyville in the first place. When you get to know what he's been through, well..." Spike let out a sigh and bit the gem in half. "You kinda wonder how he's as nice as he is."
"[You'd be surprised at how many of the people we think are bad have just been twisted by their past,]" the alien said quietly. "[And anyone can become evil, it just takes the right kind of push. Do you know what I'm talking about?]"
"Yeah, because I almost was," Spike murmured. Junior gave him a curious look and Spike let out a sigh. "Well, maybe not evil, but I almost went full dragon mode on Ponyville." Junior continued to look at him. "Right, sorry, you don't know about dragons. You see, dragons pretty much all start out like me. Small, kinda nice... but we have a... what do you call it... something that's like a fault..."
"[A vice?]"
"Yeah, that," Spike confirmed with a nod. "And this vice is, like... dragons really like treasure. The bigger your treasure mound, the bigger you grow. But the more you grow... the more vicious you get. I got violent as I tried collecting everything in Ponyville for myself... and I came pretty close to hurting people. People I care about." Spike bites his bottom lip before letting out hoarse breath. "And back then, I didn't really know a lot about dragons. Since then, I've been reading most of the dragon stuff in here." Spike waved a claw at the books around them. "Habits, the language, the different species... any bit of info helps if it means I won't get into that situation again, y'know? I even tried living with dragons for a bit, but I didn't like it very much. Didn't feel like I belonged there, like I was just trying to live with them because I never really felt at home here."
"[Because you didn't look like them. You didn't act like them. You felt like an outcast. But then when you spent time with your species, you felt like things were off. Then you realized that 'your people' are the ones who love you,]" Junior said with a nod. "[We really do have a lot more in common than I would have bet on, Spike.]"
"Heh, I guess so," Spike said with a smile. Glancing at the window, Spike noticed a familiar group of five colt and fillies making their way past the library, one of the fillies holding a sign for the circus that was to be coming to town in the next few days. An idea popped into his head and he smiled wryly at Junior. "Hey, Junior. You seem smart and stuff, but I just realized... Hanging around the Reds and Blues as they fought, to being kidnapped, to being the go-to alien of your species... You never really got to experience what it was like to be a kid, did you?"
"[I suppose not... Why?]" Junior asked slowly.
"Well, I just saw a few friends outside, and I'm thinking we can give them a little scare," Spike said, rubbing his hands together.
"[Go on...]" Junior said, leaning forward as Spike began outlining a small impromptu plan.