//------------------------------// // Here be Dragons // Story: With Teeth // by TritiumAge00 //------------------------------// Chapter Eight Here be Dragons "You live in a tree?" Oh, this was too good. "I don't live IN a tree. My house IS a tree!" Twilight made it sound as though the difference should be obvious. Whatever it was she lived in, you had to admit it was an impressive sight. The town library too? Well you had to admit that made quite a bit of sense given Twilight's near manic obsession with knowledge. The door looked pitifully small as you made your way up to it. Like, stooping wasn't an option small. With a small spout of purple magic, Twilight opened the door and happily trotted inside, leaving you standing on the stoop. After a few moments, she returns with an eyebrow quirked in confusion. "Are you coming or what?" "Oh I would just love to join you, Twi, but there seems to be a little problem with your door. Emphasis on 'little." She looks at you like you have three heads. Rolling your eyes, you decide that a more visual approach might help drive home your point. "Door size." You bring your hand out to where said door reaches barely to your chest. "My size." You gesture to the top of your head, and repeat the process for emphasis. "Ah, heh heh, sorry, I didn't even think about that!" The unicorn rejoins your side looking decidedly embarrassed. "Let's see. This should only take a second or two." With an incredulous look, you cross your arms in confusion. "What, are you going to magic the door bigger?" Suddenly the house's entrance somehow begins to warp, reforming big enough to easily accommodate your height. Yet again, you find yourself at a loss at Twilight's magical mastery. "Do you have any idea how valuable your abilities would be back in my world?" Twilight blushes cutely at your admission as you step through into the house's main entrance. The now super sized door opens into a large and inviting library filled floor to ceiling with a dizzying volume of books. They all seem to be hardbound and of a very high quality. You whistle appreciatively. "Nice place you've got here, Twi." "Thanks! It's not too fancy, and I've only been living here for a few months, but I've put a lot of love into it so far." She gestures around herself at the various pieces of artwork tastefully adorning the abode. "It's really the little things that make the biggest difference for me. I thought I would miss life in Canterlot terribly, but this house is really starting to feel like home in its own way." You nod understanding the sentiment. "Home. It's been a long time since I've had a place that really felt that way to me. I had an apartment back on the outpost, but it was really only a place to store all my junk and stop by to spend the night once every few months. Just a place to sleep, not a home." "Well, until you can get a place of your own I'd really like it if you considered my home your home." "Thanks Twilight. That really means a lot to me." She waves a hoof at you dismissively. "It's no problem. Now come on, I'll give you the grand tour!" Twilight gives a little dramatic twirl and you can't help but laugh at the display. ------------------------------- "So you have this whole place to yourself?" The two of you have toured the first floor and basement of her home. You were amazed to find an exhaustive array of experiments and chemicals on display in the surprisingly large sub level. "Oh no. I live here with my assistant Spike. He's probably in the kitchen preparing lunch right now." "You have an assistant." "Uh huh." Doesn't every librarian/mad scientist need an assistant? "Named Spike." "Yep!" As if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Hey Twilight, good timing getting back. Lunch should be ready in just a minute. I made a lettuce tomato and cheese sandwich just how you like... it?" A rather portly but decidedly real, honest to God dragon has just sauntered down from the second floor. Seriously, why did you even bother being surprised anymore? "This is your assistant?" "Yep!" "Your assistant is a dragon?" Quite a bit smaller than what the term 'dragon' typically brought to mind. "A baby dragon." Ah, that would explain the size, wouldn't it? "Well of course he is." Spike looks you up and down in an appraising manner. "Well well, looks like the mysterious human you can't seem to keep quiet about finally makes an appearance." "Can't seem to keep quiet about me, huh?" You glance back at a rapidly reddening Twilight. "Oh brother, you have no idea. I mean the last time I saw Twilight this excited about something was when the Princess came to visit." You're getting more of a brother and sister vibe from their relationship than that of a manager and assistant. Spike beckons you over and you stoop down to meet his diminutive height. "Digging the hands by the way. Bit of a rarity around these parts unfortunately." "Yeah I've noticed." You can't help but smile at the dragon's infectious personality. "Also, between you and me", Spike leans in conspiratorially shielding his mouth with the back of a scaled hand, "I think Twilight might have a thing for you." "Oh really? What makes you say that?" "Just take my word for it. I've been living with her my entire life. If anyone knows what's going on in that head of hers it's me." He finishes poking himself in the chest with smug satisfaction. "Spike don't you have food to finish cooking?" Twilight asks with obvious irritation. "In fact, why don't you make another sandwich for our guest here?" "Yeah yeah, coming right up Madame Twilight." As Spike saunters by, he throws you a wink and utters, "See, what did I tell you?" Turning back to Twilight, you notice she's looking more fidgety than usual. "Funny kid." "Oh yeah, he's a riot," she intones with ten tons of sarcasm. "Well I still think it was funny." "You shouldn't encourage him like that." "I don't think he needs any encouragement from me." "You'd probably take that back if you saw what happened the last time he really got full of himself." "Oh? Sounds like you've got quite the story behind that one." "You have no idea. I swear it seems like ever since I moved here things have been nonstop crazy." She sighs and makes her way past you towards the stairs. "Are you sure you didn't just bring the crazy with you?" "Yes, I am quite sure I didn't bring the crazy with me!" Twilight tries to look serious in her defense, but can't keep it up, breaking into laughter after a moment. Thinking back on what Spike had mentioned you decide an experiment is in order. "You know you look quite lovely when you smile, Twi." Her laughter tapers off abruptly into a series of nervous sputters. "You're really easy to get riled up, Twi." She turns away from you with a wistful look on her face. "You know, you really shouldn't say things you don't mean." Well this was an unexpected reaction. "But I do mean it. Don't get me wrong. You're beautiful normally, but when you're smiling and laughing it's like your entire being is lit up from within." "You really mean that?" You can see a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I don't think anybody has ever said something like that to me before." "Hey, I might be a bit of a smart ass, but I'd never say something like that if I didn't mean it." Her glowing smile is back again, and the two of you find yourselves staring in companionable silence. It's a wonderful moment of peace. "Ahem. Sorry to interrupt you two, but lunch is ready." Queue wonder assistant Spike with some absolutely world class timing. Twilight is caught completely off guard and visibly jumps at the dragon's voice. "Ahahahaha of course it is!" She turns back to you wearing an entirely too large grin and laughing skittishly. "I hope you're hungry because I sure am!" "Pft. Yeah, talking always works up a crazy appetite for me too." The young dragon rolls his eyes so hard you imagine they might fall out of his head. You take it back. Twilight's assistant wasn't funny. He was hilarious! "Spike!" The purple unicorn leaves you to chase the now openly laughing dragon upstairs presumably towards the kitchen. Looking around, you smile, breathing deeply of the earthy smells of the obviously well lived in home. 'This is going to be pretty much okay,' you think to yourself as you ascend the staircase, guided by the sounds of your new housemates' bickering.