The dragon brushed his claws over the smooth, black wood of the Steinway made instrument. The gilded hall was beautiful, it's wide marble floor stretched far. He could picture a crowd, all dancing to the music put forth by a quartet. A smile formed on his face as he let his hand drift to the keys. He pressed down experimentally and a note rang out through the silence. It wasn't long, seconds in fact, before he found himself on the bench, his claws in place over the ivory keys. The piano was grand in more ways then one, he thought as he started to play. He felt like a piece of him had been returned after a long absence as his claws danced. Spike hummed quietly, not one for singling, but he knew the lyrics to this song by heart. What he didn't know was that he had a spectator.
The lunar princess couldn't help but let the music flow through her, drawn from her room at the inviting sounds of the piano, her video games forgotten. Her mane swished this way and that as she moved to the upbeat tune, if anyone had been watching she would probably die from embarrassment. But as luck would have it, no one saw her yet.
Spike could practically hear the dancing of his imaginary audience, their hushed cheers calling for him to continue. He saw, in his mind's eye, all his friends swaying to the music. Pride swelled in his chest as his imagination’s Rarity swooned in an over-exaggerated manner. He slowed his pace gradually until he was playing at a fraction of the speed, pressing down on the keys much softer and quieter. He was close to finishing the song.
The imaginary crowd applauded for him, he relished the feeling he got from it, even if it wasn't real. Spike felt happy, happiness was something he had been denying himself lately, and he loved that he could openly accept it again. That is, until he was shaken from his dreamy state by the sound of hooves meeting marble. It wasn't until that moment that he realized he had his eyes closed, at which point he opened them, and was greeted by the sight of Princess Luna making her way over to him. The blue mare came to a halt by the bench as he idly pressed keys to keep the awkward silence at bay. Of course, he didn't need too, as Luna spoke.
“I had no idea you played the piano.” Spike was rather surprised that, when she spoke, she didn't use Medieval Equestrian, but modern. Not surprised enough to let it show, however, he simply smirked, letting his pride grow.
“Yeah,” he began. “I learned it ages ago, but never got any real chance to use it. I'm a bit rusty.” He imparted modestly, and it was true. He didn't know anyone with a piano he could use, though he loved to play. But something else was bothering Spike, and if anyone knew anything about him, it was that he had a hard time hiding his emotions.
“Practice does make perfect.” She smiled at him, and Spike had to admit she was quite beautiful. Nothing on her sister, in his eyes at least. His gaze drooped, but he tried to smile anyway. Luna caught on to his inner plight at that sign, and a frown took her dazzling smile's place. “Is something the matter?” Spike didn't want to make a habit of dropping his problems on the royal sisters, he though he could handle them himself. But sometimes you just give in and let it out, he knew. So why not now, when she was offering?
“Okay, now, do we have everything we need?” The library was largely unchanged from the last time the Elements of Harmony had visited, though it lacked that tension that had plagued it before. Now, in it's place, was a determination that each of the mares seemed to share. They were going to get their dragon back one way or another as far as they were concerned.
Twilight Sparkle paced back and forth in front of the line of mares, each with their own saddle bags full of supplies. Each voiced their affirmations at her earlier question, they were indeed ready. Pinkie had the biggest grin on her face ever seen before, bouncing up and down in place. Her bags were full to the brim with party-related things ranging from confetti to balloons and even party hats. She wasn't messing around.
“Okay, everypony. Let's go get Spike back!” And with that, they were gone in a flash of purple.
In truth, Spike's heart ached. Not in the literal sense, but the emotional. Ever since he was small he had a crush on Rarity, and it had done nothing but grow over the years he stayed in Ponyville. Now, after so much time hurting, he had begun to question if he could love Rarity, or any mare for that matter. He didn't see himself as a monster, but he knew for a fact that he wasn't what a pony considered attractive. It was now, as he spilled his guts to Luna, that he was realizing things. Maybe he wasn't meant to live with ponies like he thought? He voiced his concerns.
“Sometimes I feel like I just don't belong, ya know?” His eyes were firmly set, staring at the floor. Luna quirked an eyebrow at this. “Like, maybe it'd be better if I just went away and found a cave, I could even start a hoard of my own.” He was grasping at straws, even he knew. A hoard? He couldn't do that, it wasn't in his nature. But that's just it, he realized. It was his nature, as a dragon, to be greedy and alone.
“Do you truly think that would be better?” Luna injected, she would put a stop to those crazy ideas of his.
“Everypony is afraid of me, if I weren't around then they would be able to go about their lives without worrying.” Spike fought back, his claws digging into the seat under him until they punctured the dark fabric. He was trying his damnedest to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.
“My sister and I do not fear you.” Luna spoke calmly, but the words rang in his ears as if she had shouted them directly next to them. The memories of the day were rushing back to him, all in perfect order. Flying to Canterlot, falling asleep on the bench and then awaking to the royal sisters, falling asleep again secured in Celestia's embrace, the pillow fight, everything. They weren't afraid of them, in fact they welcomed him. He couldn't help but grin at the thought, they cared about him. They must have, otherwise Luna wouldn't be listening to him complain, and Celestia wouldn't have let him stay.
Luna saw the effect her simple words had on him and gave him another of her smiles. “Feeling better?” She knew the answer already, but it wouldn't hurt to make sure.
“Better isn't even the word for it, Princess.” He wanted to hug her right now, but doubted it would be appropriate. She was still royalty, after all.
The guardspony outside the gates had grown used too a number of things. Attacks by otherworldly beings, magical pastries being delivered regularly, Princess Luna's desire, nay, demand for the latest and greatest of electronics, and a purple dragon walking around the castle grounds. What he wasn't used too was six pretty mares appearing out of thin air right in front of him. Of course, once he got over his initial shock, he recognized the mares. The Elements of Harmony were practically celebrities after everything they did. Assuming they were on royal business, he just let them pass without a word.
“Okay, girls, we need to find Spike or Celestia and then Spike.” Twilight ordered, they would set things right. They marched through the sprawling halls and corridors of the castle aimlessly. Twilight knew her way just as Spike did, but the whereabouts of their targets was another story.
Celestia strode through her hallowed halls, her mind in turmoil. Those thrice damned politicians had been giving her a hard time and worst of all her counsel was on their side for once. The object of their outcry this time had been the dragon now taking up residence in the castle. He had, apparently, slipped under their radar until recently and now that they saw him, larger then a stallion and scarier to boot, their natural defense of 'bitch until I get my way' kicked in.
The acting ruler, however, knew better then to give into their demands. She knew Spike better then them, she knew he wasn't dangerous. He was sweet, innocent, and hurting. The last thing he needed was some terrified, balding stallions calling him out on things he knew nothing of.
She had no real destination in mind, but walking helped ease her mind for some reason, always had. What she didn't plan on was running directly into a pink pony, whose saddle bags exploded into a shower of colored paper and miscellaneous props at the contact. Celestia was surprised, to be sure.
“Hiya! Hey, we were looking for you, Princess! Did you know we came to look for Spike? He's here, right? Where is he, is he asleep, is he eating, is he playing hide and seek. Oh, I bet that's it, isn't it? I love hide and seek! One time I hid in a closet for five hours, it was awesome!” Pinkie Pie's motor mouth ran on and on all in one breath until Celestia was sure she'd turn blue in the face.
“Hello, Princess Celestia.” Celestia was rescued by Twilight as Rainbow Dash pulled Pinkie a few feet away from the Princess by her tail, hoping it would shut her up. “Sorry to drop in unannounced, but we need to see Spike.” She was on a mission, and she wouldn't leave until it was achieved. Celestia could tell by her determined eyes.
“And that's why I don't eat cheese puffs while I game anymore.” Luna finished her tale, it was a story of laughter, tears, and cheese. Spike felt a bit desensitized by it, though. They had been talking for a while and it devolved into whatever they could think about at the time.
“Okay, my turn. So there I was, my weapon held high. My prey before me was distracted.” He started to recount his epic tale of pillow fighting glory. It was, however, not to be. As at that moment, the guests arrived. He heard them before he saw them, the sound of countless hooves clopping against marble. He and Luna turned their heads to see them, the Elements of Harmony and Celestia herself.
Spike's eyes instantly went to Rarity, and he locked them on her's. Rarity looked back, swallowing the lump in her throat. The fur on her neck stood on end, under his gaze she felt fear creep up her spine. She fought it, she fought it valiantly. But he saw it in her eyes, the terror she held in them. He was frowning, and she could swear that his lip was curling up ever so slightly in a sort of snarl. It disappeared when he turned his gaze from her to Celestia, his expression flipped from a grimace to a much happier look. They cantered over to the dragon and princess, each at their own speeds. Rarity was slowest, even slower then Fluttershy, amazingly.
“Spike,” Twilight started, looking up at him with her eyes full of sorrow. The dragon in question sighed, looking away from the mares.