In the middle of night they were at Sweet Apple Acres, hunting beetles.
"Apple Bloom, I can't believe you brought us to here to hunt beetles," Spike said with disbelief.
"Trust me, when will you find your first beetle, you will never want try another thing!" Apple Bloom said this like she was excited.
"I don’t know, Apple Bloom, maybe tomorrow will be awesome to do this, but now it’s dark and I want to sleep,” said Scootaloo.
"Yeah, let's go to sleep and tomorrow we’ll try again,” said Sweetie Belle. "Say something Spike."
"I believe in you, Apple Bloom," Spike said, making the others open their mouths.
"Right, better we separate and look away. Scoots, ya go with me, and Sweetie, you and Spike will be there. Let's find these beetles!" Apple Bloom was smiling.
"Alright," said the others girls as they separated.
After minutes looking away, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo found their beetles and caught them. Scootaloo enjoyed it a little after she caught one. And when they were going to the see the others, something in front of them made them stop.
After some minutes looking away, Spike and Sweetie Belle were looking in the trees, as if they found something.
"Spike, why did you agree with Apple Bloom to find this beetles?" asked Sweetie Belle, tired.
"Because she was the last one to offer something for me to try. She would be upset if I didn’t agree with her. And maybe these things will be strange, but I liked everything we did today," Spike said, looking to Sweetie Belle.
"You are a good friend, Spike!" Sweetie Belle said with joy.
"Look, I found it." Spike pointed at the shining beetle. "Wow, Apple Bloom was right, they are better in the night, looks like gems in the trees."
Spike started to climb the tree.
"Be careful, Spike," cautioned Sweetie Belle, looking to him.
He was getting closer to the beetle when he heard screams from Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.
"GIRLS!" Sweetie Belle screamed with despair. "Spike, they need our help!"
Spike didn't respond, he only broke a branch and took it with him.
"Let’s go!" He said, running to the screams.
After miles of running, they saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo trying to dodge a Timberwolf.
"HELP!" Apple Bloom screamed with all her voice.
Sweetie Belle tried to do something, but Spike ran to the Timberwolf, breathing fire on the branch. He pointed it at the Timberwolf.
The Timberwolf attacked Spike, but he used the burning branch and hit him in the heat.
The Timberwolf stepped back after his attack.
After this, Spike breathed fire on the grass and made a line.
"Don't you dare cross this line, or I will show you what I am capable of." Spike breathed more fire, making the Timberwolf run away.
When the Timberwolf left, Spike walked over to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle.
"Are you alright?" He asked with worry on his face.
"I’m okay. But Spike, you saved our lives. And you make an awesome pose. Like a hero or knight!" Scootaloo was admiring him.
"I’m with Scootaloo, Spike, you are our hero, and how you did you do that?" Apple Bloom pointed to the burning branch, but as soon as she did, the branch burned to ash.
"Oh, I am a dragon, so I am a fireproof. And when you were in danger, I took the first thing I saw and put it on fire," he replied.
"You can become a Royal Guard someday, Spike. Ponyville needs somedragon like you. We don’t have much security here," said Apple Bloom, hugging him. Scootaloo hugged him too. Sweetie Belle still had her mouth opened, but joined the group hug. But after the hug, she saw something more incredible.
"Girls, why do I feel like my rump is on fire?!" Spike asked in panic, looking to his back.
And a green little fire was burning on Spike’s flank.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Spike was feeling so much pain on his butt. But he saw the green fire was shining a lot, and it was on his whole body.
"That is…" Sweetie Belle said.
"It’s must be…" Scootaloo said.
“It is!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “SPIKE’S GETTIN’ HIS CUTIE MARK!”
The shining stopped, and Spike saw an emblem on his flank. It was of an opened book with a burning green fire growing and a sword in the book.
"Woah," the CMC said, looking to Spike.
Spike didn’t believe it. He had a cutie mark, and an awesome cutie mark. He didn’t stop looking at it. Neither did the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
After several of minutes looking, the CMC screamed, “YOU DID IT, SPIKE!”
"No, we did it! We have to have a party!" Spike said, proud of themselves. "But first, we need to rest and do this tomorrow.”
"TO THE PALACE!” the CMC screamed.
"Wait, the palace? Why?!" Spike asked.
"We want to wake up and get a head start on the party!” replied Apple Bloom. “Now let’s go!” The CMC started pushing him.
"Well, I can’t fight this. Let’s go."
After getting to the palace, Spike prepared a few beds for his friends. And before he went to sleep, he wrote one message.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Today has been the best day of my life! I thought it would be impossible for me to get a cutie mark. But my friends showed me I was wrong. I will tell you tomorrow. I GOT A CUTIE MARK, PRINCESS! PLEASE CALL EVERYPONY!
Yours with a Cutie Mark,
Spike
After sending the message to Princess Celestia and climbing into bed, he soon fell asleep.
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Apple Bloom was dreaming about all that happened in that day. She was dreaming she was playing with Bungee Jump, when she saw Princess Luna flying there.
"Princess Luna, what are you doing here?" asked Apple Bloom as she fell.
"Hello, Apple Bloom. I am here to talk to you about what happened with Spike today." Luna was worried but she was showing a smile.
Apple Bloom giggled and stopped falling in her dream.
"Okay, but we need to enter Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Discord, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Starlight, Shining Armor and even Princess Celestia’s dreams first," Apple Bloom said with a big smile on her face.
"What? Why?" Princess Luna was curious about what Apple Bloom wanted.
"Because before he slept, he made me promise to him, I’ll bring everypony to him. Let's go, Princess!" Apple Bloom said anxiously.
Princess Luna didn’t say anything, but smiled and went to gather everypony.
After some dreams later, everypony was in the hallway, whispering about why they were there. The Cutie Mark Crusaders asked for silence.
"Alright, everypony is here. Princess Luna, open the door to Spike’s dream, please," Scootaloo said, looking to Luna.
After Luna opened the door, they saw a large room with many chairs and Spike sitting in front of a screen.
Spike looked up with a good smile.
"Hey, everyone! I was waiting for you all! Come on! Come inside!" Spike said, clapping his claws.
Everyone walked in and sat in their chairs. As soon as they sat down, they each were holding a bucket of popcorn.
Looking to the screen, a giant picture of Spike’s cutie mark appeared, shocking the entire room. The words,
“One of the Best Days of My Life” appeared on the screen.
And after the cutie mark, the screen showed Spike’s nightmare from the night before, the morning he wakes up, and when he was bored before the door knocked and he saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Everything in the movie was showing them what happened. The bungee jumping, the skydiving, him making new friends, and his fight with the Timberwolf. Everypony cried, laughed, and were excited about his adventure in one day.
They looked to his cutie mark.
"Here is my cutie mark." Spike showed his cutie mark to the room, proud of himself.
Everypony got up to congratulate him.
Spike didn’t look back and Princess Celestia pulled him into a powerful hug.
"My baby dragon has his own cutie mark! I’m proud of you, Spike." Celestia said with a big smile and letting some tears out of her eyes.
"Thanks, Princess Celestia, but this hug is squeezing me into two. Please take it easy."
After his comment Celestia let him go and look in his cutie mark.
"You have a pretty cutie mark, Spike. Do you know what your cutie mark is?" Celestia asked with a smile.
"I don't know,” Spike admitted. He narrowed his eyes at the cutie mark. “Hey, waitaminute. How did I get this cutie mark? What did I do to get it?”
“I think it looks like a cutie mark for a Royal Guard!” pipped up Scootaloo. She gasped. “Could Spike be a member of the Royal Guard?!”
"I don't think so," said Luna, hugging Spike and congratulating him. "The cutie marks of the Royal Guards have shields.”
"Because it isn’t a Royal Guard cutie mark." Shining Armor appeared, looking to the princesses and Spike. "Hi, little bro, congrats on fighting off that Timberwolf.”
"Thanks big bro, but do you know what my cutie mark is?" Spike asked him.
"Of course I know. Remember the times when we were young and Twilight’s dad told us some stories? Remember the story of the two brothers?" asked Shining Armor with a smile.
"How could I forget, we always…oh…" Spike understood what was going on. "So I’m…”
"That’s right, Spike! Congratulations to being the first Knight of Equestria!" Shining armor said loudly, everypony turning to Spike.
"Knight?!" Celestia and Luna exchanged glances.
"Yes,” Shining Armor said. “A long time ago there were two kinds of warriors: The Knights and the Royal Guards. The Royal Guards have a shield as a part of their cutie mark, and they serve and protect royalty. But the Knights have a sword as a part of their cutie mark, and they serve to protect and honor citizens, friends, and their loved ones. The Knights seized to exist years ago, and becoming one is no easy task. You need seven characteristics to be worthy of becoming a Knight," Shining said, looking to everypony.
"What are they?” everypony, including Discord, asked.
"Courtesy, kindness, honor, honesty, courage, loyalty, and justice" answered Shining Armor. "And after what we watched here, Spike has proven he carries all seven of these characteristics in his heart. You are Knight Spike. And one thing about the Knights, there is only one sentence to describe the relationship between them and the Royal Guards.”
“And what is it?” Spike asked, looking to Shining Armor
“‘They may be of different factions, but they are of the same family,’” Shining Armor said with a proud smile.
"SPIKE DESERVES A PARTY!" Pinkie Pie screamed with excitement.
"We’ll have the party tomorrow. We’ll even invite Spike’s new friends!" Celestia hugged Spike again.
"I am a knight. I can’t believe it!" Spike said with disbelief in his voice.
"We can!” said Twilight, beaming. “You’ve always had it in you, Spike. You just didn’t look hard enough.”
“So, Spike, what kind of Knight are you going to be?” asking Shining Armor.
"I don’t know,” admitted Spike. “You said I will live to protect and help my friends. Maybe being the Knight of Friendship is enough for me," Spike said, looking to Twilight, the Princess of friendship.
"You make me proud of you, little bro. Because of your new Knight status, I’m going to have to train you with a sword, teach you the basics of being a Knight, and teach you the Knight Code. I’ll have to visit often, but it’ll be worth it, wait till you see,” Shining Armor said.
"Really? Thanks, Shining!" Spike said, hugging Shining Armor.
After some planning, the party was to be set for tomorrow. Discord gave Spike a hug and a sword, but it would only be with him in his dreams. The Mane Six all squished him into a big group hug, congratulating Spike’s achievement. Starlight managed to hug him when he got out of the group hug.
"Congratulations, Spike! This must be really exciting for you!" she said, looking at him with pride.
"Thanks,” Spike said. “It really is! I never knew something like this could ever happen to me. Hey, when are you coming back home?”
"Tomorrow morning. Now that you have your cutie mark? I’m eager to get back home as soon as possible!” Starlight said.
After this, she disappeared, along with Discord and Shining Armor.
"Where did they go?" Spike asked Princess Luna.
"They went back to their dreams. They need some time to rest after knowing what’s happened, Spike. Even you," Luna said with a smile and pointed to the Mane Six.
"I’m so sorry we made you so sad! We didn’t know you missed us that much!" Fluttershy apologized with a melancholy expression.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy! I’m a Knight now, and I’ve got a cutie mark!” Spike said, cheering her up.
"Put awesome in there!” said Rainbow Dash. “You’re some kind of legend, Spike. You will use some sword in the future, save a lot of ponies, and be awesome!" Rainbow Dash was excited about the idea of Spike being a knight.
"Yeah, but it’ll be pretty hard. I need to learn and understand a lot of things about being a Knight," Spike pointed out.
"But don’t you worry ‘bout it, Sugarcube!” said Applejack. “Ya got us by your side. And if we need you, you’re always there to help! Now’s our time to help you!”
"Thanks, everypony." Spike looked to them and hugged them again. After this, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack disappeared, leaving three more Elements of Harmony.
"Spike! YOU DID IT!" Pinkie Pie bear-hugged him. Spike did his best to breathe. "I’ll organize the party, of course! Even though I’m going to be there late. But I’ll have Princess Celestia help and you’re going to have the greatest party EVER!”
"Thanks, Pinkie! I know it’ll be amazing!" Spike said, escaping the hug. When he looked up, Pinkie was gone
He turned and saw Rarity, beaming.
"My knight!" Rarity said, smothering Spike into a hug.”Oh, Spike, I’m so proud of you!”
"My lady!" Spike said and raised her hoof to kiss it.
There was a pause of silence, and they burst out laughing. After a few seconds of chuckling, Rarity gasped.
"Darling, you’re going to need armor! But not to worry, I’ll have the best armor made for you! It’ll be quite stylish and of course, it’ll have gemstones---It’s going to be absolutely fabulous!" she said, looking to him, as if imagining him with armor. "You will protect everypony and keep yourself fabulous at the same time!"
"I can’t be surprised that you want to make me armor," Spike said, looking to her.
"Tomorrow, I’ll start designing your armor! I’ll see you tomorrow, Spikey!" Rarity said, giving him a kiss on his check. Spike blushed and fell back onto the floor.
Rarity giggled and disappeared, leaving Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Twilight the only others left.
Twilight’s head was dropping. Spike walked over to her. “Twilight?” he asked. “Are you okay?”
"I’m sorry, Spike. I didn’t even think about how you felt when the girls and I go on missions. I didn’t think you’d be lonely. How long are we gone?” Twilight asked him.
"Not too long, Twilight. But you don’t have to worry anymore! Once I start training and learning about being a Knight, I can go on missions with you! Like I said, I’m going to be the Knight of Friendship so I can watch over and protect my friends!" Spike said to Twilight, proud of himself.
Twilight managed to smiled. "Yeah, you’re right, Spike. When we get back home, I’m going to find all the training books and books about knightship that I can find!." Twilight said, proud of him. "We don't have a Royal Guard, but we have you. I couldn’t be more prouder than you."
"I love you, Twi." Spike hugged her and watched as she disappeared.
After this, Spike looked to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were talking to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia.
"What are you talking about?" Spike asked with curiosity in his voice.
"The princess are thanking us for helping you find your cutie mark," Apple Bloom replied with a smile on her face.
"It was a pretty hard mission, but we pulled through in the end!” Sweetie Belle said, looking to Spike with a hopeful smile.
"Yeah, we didn’t give up! We did everything to help you find your cutie mark, and now you’re a Knight! Give us a call whenever you need somepony to train you!" Scootaloo said, smiling at him.
"Yeah, I will do that. Thanks for making this the most awesome day of my life! I’ve actually got a purpose in life now!" Spike said to them with a sincere smile on his face.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!" the Cutie Mark Crusaders screamed, soon disappearing.
Spike turned to the princesses. "Alright, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Thanks for getting everypony here! I’m really glad you two came and saw what happened."
“Spike, when you wrote to me, I wanted to raise the sun again to see you. But I remembered you were tired and needed to sleep. But thankfully, my sister saw fit to reach out to me in my dream,” Princess Celestia said.
She smiled. “Especially since I wouldn’t have been able to wait all night.”
Princess Luna smiled. “It does pay off to control dreams,” she said.
“Now, now, Luna, don’t get too big-headed,” Celestia said.
Luna smirked. “Only if Spike doesn’t,” she said.
“Well, I must be off,” Princess Celestia said, giving one final hug to Spike. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
She smiled at Spike. “Congratulations, Spike. I’m very proud of you.”
And then Celestia disappeared back to her dream.
Luna smiled at Spike. “You deserve a special dream tonight, after today’s activities,” she said. “Tell you what. I’ll help you with a dream for tonight, anything. What dream do you have in mind for tonight?”
Spike whispered something in her ear.
"Oh, you really are excited about this, aren’t you? Okay, here we go," Luna said, her horn glowing. And suddenly, Spike was wearing armor and holding a sword. He sat in a chair in Twilight’s room. Twilight was sleeping soundly.
“Sweet dreams, Spike,” Luna said, smiling once more. Then she disappeared.
Spike fought to stay awake. He waited for danger, locking the door. Waited…waited…
"Finally, I will be living my dream," Spike said as he put on his helmet.
"Long live Knight Spike," he said to himself before falling asleep.