Equestria is a wonderful and magical land that is dominated by three pony races. The hardy Earth pony, the magical unicorn and the swift pegasi. They share their homeland with many strange and some dangerous creatures, one of these races is dragons. Although really rare and pretty sure the ponies are happy for that little fact. You see, most ponies who have ever encountered a dragon, that pony has rarely anything nice to say about the encounter. The dragon species is mostly known from the ponies as the flying, fire-breathing dragon which whole growth is about to hoard as much gold and crystal it possible can. These dragons are more driven by brute force than logic, which means: if anyone dares go into their lair, be ready to face the dragon's rage.
Only one dragon separate from these brute dragons and his name was Spike and he has lived all his life with ponies and has been taught the joy of friendship. He did once succeed showing that different lifestyle to another dragon, showing her that friendship is better than being alone and forced to deal with everything on her own.
But other than Amber, strength was power for the dragons and they have no mind in changing that.
Spike was content with his life with the ponies he didn't need to be with the dragons. He has a purpose and he was pretty proud calling himself the number one assistance for his caretaker, friend and now also the Princess of Friendship. Her name is Twilight Sparkle and Spike was happy he got to live with her. He was content with his role, can even go so far saying he's happy with his life.
Still Spike sometimes feels a little, well lost. He has met many dragons through his life and pretty much all of them have shown to be more or less stereotypical treasure hoarding, the bad-tempered dragon you shouldn't come across. Why was he so different? Was he only this way because of he has lived with ponies? It does explain a lot but not everything, like.... oh his dragon code! Then again he invented that part himself... Maybe he should just see his personality is what differ him from other dragons, oh and that he can't fly either, not that he mind but he does wonder why he doesn't have wings like the rest and now that's he thought about it; could the other dragons also do magic with their—
"RUAAR!"
Pretty sure he wasn't the only one jumping at the roar followed by a geyser of— wait, blue fire?
It was coming from the Everfree Forest and Spike was pretty sure there does exist animals in that creepy forest that could produce fire, but that roar.. it sounded like.. a dragon. What was a dragon doing so close to Ponyville?!
"I better get Twilight." Spike decided, he's sure she has something to this upcoming problem.
Good news; Twilight did have a plan, bad news, that plan was going inside the forest and investigate... Spike did not really fancy that plan but he did at least feel a little safer as he and Twilight weren't the only ones. Rainbow Dash, the quick to action pegasi, Pinkie Pie the wonderful and bit hyperactive party pony and of course Rarity the beautiful dress designer unicorn.
The rest of the group were out to help Starlight Glimmer, Twilight's new apprentice was asked by her old friend Sunburst to assist him to babysit a certain alicorn baby at the Crystal Empire.
Anyway, back to the matter of hoof. Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie and Spike went into the forest, searching for what creature could possibly have made that pillar of fire not long ago. They did rather quickly find where it had been coming from, but there was no sign of the creature there could've been the source.
"That's strange." Twilight mused and walked over to a half scorched tree, clear sign someone has been using fire and from the heat still coming out from it, it hasn't been long where it got torched.
Rainbow went to investigate the tree as well, trying her best not looking worried as she hasn't fully gotten over the horror she felt the last time she was face to face with a dragon and wasn't planning to do it again anytime soon. It was only her pride that made her come in here.
Pinkie was pretty much not faced by the great signs of a fight at this clearing and carefree jumped around. To then trip over something and fall flat on her head which made the others turn to her.
At first, there was nothing the pink pony could trip over, but seconds later, much to everyone's shock and surprise; a figure appeared right beside Pinkie with its magenta feline eyes pointed right at Spike.
"Please..." The creature whispered weakly before passing out.
Spike couldn't remove his eyes from the other one, from the other baby dragon. This one was orange with magenta marking down the back, blue curved backward spikes, purple ears and blue belly. He only did when Rarity said heartbroken. "Poor thing..." And carefully levitated this orange baby dragon up from the ground, showing the cause of its weak state; several claw marks on its legs and belly.
Rainbow flew over to the white unicorn, whispering so only she could hear. "You sure we should be helping it? It is a dragon."
"A dragon that asked for help." Rarity return in a matter of fact. That was more than enough for her to help it not to mention: it was just as adorable as Spike.
Twilight eyed the new baby dragon, weighted her options but the answer was pretty much straight out "Let's get them back to the castle." And the group left the forest with their little found.
Back at Twilight's castle Spike helped to nurse this other baby dragon, which turned out to be a female back to her health. She slightly opened her eyes at nightfall to word her gratitude before she fell back to unconscious. Spike refused to leave this other baby dragon, not even after all his friends told him she would be fine. After the three others have gone home and Luna had raised the moon, Twilight brought the sick female dragon to Spike's room as she did not wish he should sit on the floor all night for her sake.
"Call or get me if there are any changes." She told him softly and left Spike's room. Pondering if she could get a little info from this female dragon when she woke up?
Spike was grateful Twilight let him has this responsibility and would make sure he earned it.
"Don't you worry." He smiled to the sleeping female in the basket. "I will stay with you all night!"
And moved his bed right beside the basket where he watched the female without the thought crossing him he should get some sleep as well.
The thought did cross him very early the next morning, he had stayed up all night and he sure could feel it. Still he refused and did his best making sure the female was comfortable and warm. She was a bit cold so he gave her his sheet and with his own belly growling for food, he decided to fetch some food for her as well. "I'll be back soon." And he quickly left, not wanting to leave her alone for too long.
About ten minutes later Spike returned with different kinds of food like pancakes, berries, gems and a few cakes. He wasn't sure what she liked so he took a bit of everything they had in the kitchen. "Sure you're hungry." He said and walked into his room, he chuckled. "I sure.... am—" He stopped startled at the door from the sight before him. Another dragon, this one bigger and seemly older as it has the same size as the bully to Gable, except this teen dragon was green with pale gold spikes with three of them curving forward on its head, the ears and belly were both orange, the teen dragon slowly removed its snout away from the female's forehead and turned its pale blue eyes towards him and because of his past bad experience with older dragon, Spike let out a scream that was loud enough to wake Twilight. The teen dragon lunged at Spike and with a strange grace, it landed between him and the door where it took its hand up in defense. "Calm down earth brother of mine." It said, voice making it somewhat clear this teen was male. The teen's choice of words haltered Spike in his panic— did this one just call him... brother? He couldn't help but stare dumbfounded at the teen.
The green dragon titled his head at Spike, seemly also confused at something. "What are you—"
"Spike?"
Twilight's voice called worried down the hallway, both Spike and the teen turned to the hallway. The teen quickly turned back to Spike with... wait was he scared? Before Spike could ask, the teen's scale turned transparent and disappeared from his sight, that trick both explained and shocked Spike of how the teen came into the castle without anyone noticing, it also creep him out knowing he would have no idea where the teen dragon would be.
"Spike what's wrong?" Twilight trotted over to the startled dragon with no clue they had an unwanted guest. Spike wanted to tell her, but he was in too much shock over what the teen had said those short seconds that he couldn't utter a single word. Oblivious and a bit confused over Spike's behavior; Twilight decided to check on the female dragon. She was still sleeping, but at least Spike has been so kind bringing her food. Twilight was happy Spike took good care of her, but she was worried she might have overlooked something big and wanted to be on the safe side.
"I think I will ask Zecora of a few pieces of advice what to do with our guest."
She explained and asked Spike as she left the room. "Could you keep an eye on her while I'm gone?"
Spike blinked several times before he got what she has said. "huh, uh um.." He glanced around for the other dragon but that one was nowhere to be seen. He wanted to tell Twilight about the teen dragon but from how it had been acting, he doesn't think that teen dragon was really any danger.
"Sure, just be back soon okay?" For if that teen dragon decides to attack, Spike doesn't think he can protect the female. Of course, Twilight did not know this, she chuckling rolled her eyes at what she saw a scared child behavior. "Of course." She nudged his head scales and left the castle.
With her out, Spike decided to stand firmly guard around the sickly female; more than ready to protect her from the teen.
"No one will get past me." Spike told himself and began walking back and forward before the sleeping female. "And if they try, I will—"
His words got cut short from the teen standing right beside him with faint amusement across his face. The teen's sudden appearance startled Spike so much that he threw the pan he has been holding as a weapon against the green teen dragon who, easily dodged it with a pretty graceful move. Both Spike and the teen stared at the pan falling to the floor about a meter away from them and just as the last echo faded away, the teen dragon turned back to Spike who went in full defensive. "I won't let you hurt her you, you..." He didn't have any mean words to call the teen, less so as he was pretty scared.
The teen dragon raised a brow and asked confused. "Why in the old magic fire would I harm my own sister?"
"Sis-sister??" Spike stuttered, quite taken aback that this was, well a worried brother.
"Oh."
Was all he could say and backed away so the teen dragon could get to his sister. The teen dragon went on four and while musing softly to the female.
"You better just be sleeping... " He sat his own head against hers and to both males relief, the young female opened her eyes and smiled weakly to the teen. The teen returned the smile but also looked like he was about to choke. "Hey, sis..."
"You're alright." She mused and unlike him, she wasn't afraid showing her tears. "I though—"
"I'm tougher than those stupid beasts. Don't you worry about me."
The teen softly interrupted her, he rose and turned his close to tearing eyes to Spike who felt like he shouldn't be around at the moment. The teen didn't seem to mind though and said with honesty in his voice.
"Thanks, for helping my sister. I'm Rhys." He pointed at himself and nodded to the female. "This is Topaz."
The female- Topaz simple nodded and Spike got the feeling that she might be a bit shy.
"I'm Spike." He introduced himself and no longer could keep this question back.
"Why are you two so friendly?"
This made both Rhys and Topaz blink in confusions forcing Spike to explain them about his past encounters with his own kind. He told them about the dragon Migration and how those teen dragons he met back then was pretty mean.
"They wanted me to destroy a defenses egg..." He said dully to Rhys who surprisingly has been listing to his tale with a strange patience.
"Sounds like you encountered our winged brethrens," Rhys remarked and now it was hit turn to explain for the confused Spike.
"Sky dragons do have quite a simple way of life and from mother has told me, they are a bit stupid but easy to anger."
"I'm not a Sky dragon?" Spike asked, although he more or less already knew the answer. Rhys and Topaz look way more alike to him than any other dragon he has encountered.
Rhys shook his head. "No, you are what we are: Underground dragon. As the name probably reveal; our kind lives underground."
"Where can I find the Underground dragons?" Spike asked excited, he might be able to meet some dragons he can really relate to! Get some answers of why he was handed to Twilight!
"Can I find them in the Dragon Lands?"
This time, Rhys looked a bit uncomfortable. "Not exactly..."
"What do you mean?" Spike asked confused, why wouldn't these dragons live in the Lands of Dragons?
Rhys scratches his neck before answering. "We... eh, we don't have a very warm relationship with the other dragon races anymore."
"Why?"
The siblings eye one another and with a nod from Topaz, Rhys asked Spike to sit beside Topaz and the teen dragon did a trick Spike thought only he could use. Rhys used his fire to summon a strange looking gem with its very complicated design and handed it to Spike, who... has no idea what to do with it and he doubts it is a good idea eating it.
"Um.. what do I do with it?"
Rolling his eyes with a chuckle, Rhys explained. "You use your fire, like this:" The teen pinpointed his fire at the gem which began light heavily up a light show of pictures appeared. "As you probably don't know anything about our history." Rhys took the gem from the slightly offended Spike. "I will start from the beginning."
**
Like the ponies, there exist three dragon races: the Sky dragons of strength, the Water dragons of endurance and lastly the Earth dragons which later got named the Underground dragons, they stand for Wisdom.
Before the time of the Two Sister, before the time of harmony between the three pony races, the dragons live in more or less peace with one another, but it was far from harmony. The word Harmony did not exist for the dragons, the only power in each of their form of life gave them respect from the two other races.
One day in the time of the Long Winter, a pony with the strength of flight like the Sky dragons, endurance against the snow like the Water dragons and held words of wisdom like the Earth dragons arrived in their land. This pony explained to the three dragon lords that he was an Alicorn and was searching for help to end this long winter and save his people.
The Sky king refused because he saw the ponies weak as they couldn't even defend themselves against a bit of snow.
The Water queen refused because she did not want the winter to end as her people like to constant test their endurance.
Only the Earth king agreed to help the alicorn, unlike the two other races he didn't really care about physical strength. But known for never help without a price the king only agree with one condition: the alicorn had to give them his magic. It was a high prize, but the alicorn agreed and sacrificed his magic to the Earth dragons, leaving him defenseless to protect his own people. The Earth dragon king held his promise to protect the pony race. He ordered his people to guide a handful of pony leaders to their own homeland there not yet has touched by the wendigoes winter, but the king hasn't planned that the three pony races sullen disagreements brought the wendigoes to the land and feared their promise to the alicorn would be their downfall. But then, in the blink of despair, three ponies, pegasi, unicorn, and earth pony newfound friendship weaken the windigos, created a fire just as strong as the dragon's fire and unknowable helped the dragons in defeating the creatures of ice and snow. The Earth dragons realized that these small ponies deserved their respect with their strength in united Magic and allowed them to stay in what the Earth dragons soon would call Lands of Harmony and would from time to time aid the alicorn's offspring in defending the land against harm.
***
"Equestria is the Ear- I mean the Underground dragons homeland?"
Spike asked not sure he should be awestruck or plain out shocked of this twist of the Heartwarming Eve, but that does not make any sense! "But if you have been around throughout the past. Why doesn't the ponies have any books about the Earth dragons?!"
"Because of our next agreement with the alicorns."
Topaz shyly explained and pointed up to the darkest picture from the gem's light. Spike felt a shiver down his spine from a rather familiar sight; black crystals hurting and even enrage the Underground dragons.
"A certain pony used powerful dark magic and turned the crystals, our food into poison, tainted our mind with mindless greed and that almost destroyed us."
"What happen next?" Spike asked again he knew this story and also has faced the unicorn who has been the cause of the dark crystals but it seems the story once again has been changed slightly from dragon to pony.
"The two new alicorns" Rhys took over and pointed at two alicorns Spike knew far too well stand before what he guess must be the dragon queen. "They asked for our help to defeat the Dark Gem Maker, and like their ancestor before. The queen gave them a deal they could not refuse, the deal was to remove every sign of our existence and speak a single word about us."
"It seems like they kept their words." Rhys remarked dryly to Spike before continued on this new story lesson. "Like in the past, the dragons beckoned their leader's call and aided the two alicorns to overthrow the Dark Gem Maker by banishing him to the depth of ice and shadows. Tales has it that because of the darkness from the gems tainting her mind, the dragon queen and her four generals banished the empire of crystals with words it would return along with its master and plunge the Land of Harmony into darkness once again. And that happed; the alicorns were on their own. "
"I thought Sombra banished the Crystal Empire." Spike softly pointed out, he's so confused... and yet something in this story ran a disturbing clang in his mind. He remembers one of the alternative timelines he and Twilight went through when Starlight tried stopping Rainbow's first Sonic Rainboom. One of those timelines was about Sombra coming to power, plunging Equestria into a war neither Twilight, him or Cadence were around to stop him. Could Celestial really not win it that time because she didn't have any alliance?
Rhys shook slowly his head-
"That pony was strong, but it wasn't that strong. Don't you think the two alicorns would've known a counterspell if it had been one of their own making the spell?"
Spike didn't have any answers for that. That thought never really crossed his mind.
The light in the gem faded and the pictures of the Earth dragons story disappeared as well. Rhys took the gem and with, "We should get moving." He took Topaz in his arms and left the room."I can't bear the thought if losing the trail again."
"Wait, where are you going?" Spike ran up beside the teen dragon, he didn't want them to leave, he got so many questions!
Topaz gave him a weak smile. "We're going home."
"Home? You mean the Earth dragons are returning to Equastia?"
Both of them nodded and Rhys suggested. "You should come with us, you are one of us after all."
That caught Spike off guard. He has never in his life thought he would learn so much about dragon history his own kind: the Earth dragons. He wanted to learn more, but... what about his pony friends? They were his family. What about Twilight? Could he just leave her? He did try it once, but she proved how much he needed her and the others when the other dragons were about to hurt him.
"I..." He stopped, much to the two others confusions but Spike just couldn't make this choice right in the moment. He needed time "I have to think about it."
"Alright." Rhys let out a small ball of fire which revealed another gem, this one smaller bit more easy in design. "This map should help you to some point, it's old and I don't know all the old nests are still around anymore but it's better than nothing. Good luck, Spike." And with that, the two left the castle, leaving pretty much no trace they had been here, just like their ancestors. Only one single gem told Spike that he hasn't been dreaming he has met, truly met one of his own kind.
He was an Earth dragon.