Spike longed for years to have a family of his own. With Twilight's help, he applies for adoption.
Can he succeed in the trials of parenthood?
Can his daughter survive the life of royalty?
Can the royal coffers endure the doting of three zealous aunts?
Set seventy years after the end of Season 3.
Featured on Equestria Daily!
Cover art by EZTP also featured on Equestria Daily! [#3]
Additional supplemental art provided by MelonDraws, spokenmind93, EZTP, EifieChan, Ayemel, and Ninny, with more to come in the future.
Edited by the amazing Shahrazad
*Note*: [Sex] tag added for the use of innuendo and mention of the topic in later chapters. No 'on-screen' content included.
This story's update frequency is incredibly sporadic, but I promise, no matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, this story will reach completion. (Update 12/28/22: YES, I PROMISE I'M STILL WORKING ON IT!)
SPOILERS IN THE COMMENTS!
Aw! I'm really looking forward to seeing more of this! Soon, I hope
You got me hooked with this already. Heartbreaking to know that Spike finally married the love of his life, but tragically she is gone.
Maybe with him adopting Cotton Candy, that could fill that empty space in his heart.
quite the good start to the story, nice hook. i wonder though what or who started the great fire of Canterlot 9 years ago. please tell me it wasn't spikke
Interesting, very interesting
I can see those two getting along. People judging them for whats on the outside instead on the inside.
24.media.tumblr.com/a257ad5165644b1f79354634dfdee284/tumblr_mqo61uYbwk1rj6vd5o1_400.png
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I don't normally read the future set stories involving the Sparity ship, because of how much I like the ship and the 'difference in life spans' bugs me quite a bit...
...but I am watching this one.
Please, another.
I greatly approve of this fic. Please, continue...
The only complaint I have is the cover art...it's so much better than what I can draw.
"...so what's your complaint?"
THAT IS THE COMPLAINT!
dame you for making my eyes leak in the end of the story
i didn't cry, they just leaked...
can't wait for the next chapter
That guard has so much appreciation towards
SirSpike.Now I'm imagining him having a fangasm.
Soo... now please tell me that you have some sort of publishing plan. and this will be updated soon
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It wasn't Spike, no. It was a natural fire, while I have some ideas on how it started, nothing concrete yet. Was thinking along the lines of not everything can be stopped with the Elements
3202326>>3202632
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Not necessarily a fan, no... though the new chapter might hint as to why he has such respect.
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No set publishing schedule, it will be along the lines of "when they're ready, they're ready."
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Honestly, I am surprised this has received such positive response. I kind of look it over and think it hack-writing. I also apologise for slow responses, I am very rarely on (as in when I post a chapter, or need to fix something)
Awesome, thats all I can say
Wonderful concept. Now don't take too long with the updates! (Hypocritical outburst)
Edit 9/15/16: Ah, this must have been the day I first offered to edit this story. Look what it's turned into since then!
This is so daaawww.........i need moar GIVE ME MY FIX.
Anyway, loved it, thanks for writting it
Vary good story i need more of Please
i cant wait to see where the rest of this story goes
So Twilight is Spike's sister..
What makes Celestia and Luna ? What are their relationship with Spike ?
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I'd say they still see him as family, somewhat (though not as sisters). Celestia (according to Faust, though there is conflicting information in the Dragon migration episode) raised him until Twilight was old enough to care for him on her own, so I would like to imagine there is some form of familial bond there, even if only as a ward.
I have read in the comments of a few stories that Twilight doesn't consider him anything more than a friend, which I guess is supported by the shows canon... I may even address that later in the fic, I have plans, but whether they will make it or they will be cut, I don't know. I guess mostly because canon Spike is very depressing for me.
A big part of this story will be the idea that family is what you make of it.
D'aww. Spike freaking out about being a good father. So cute.
3213344 Depressing?? How so?
Another Spike's going to be a daddy fic, not really that there's too many oft them, quite the contrary! Interesting premise which opens lot of potential both for the real story about Spike and Cotton, but also give pokes about what happened everyone else around him i nthe past 70 years.
Also, I understand the idea of incompatibility as far as size is concerned (a major OUCH!!
there), but just to say that dragons and equines can't crossbreed is complete bull. My reason for that is Dungeons and Dragons, where a dragon can impregnate any living creature. Just my personal opinion, and I can't help it, but it is one of my major pet peeves with MLP.
Other than that, good story so far.
I demand MOAR!
I wound up reading chapter 2 before chapter 1, but I'm enjoying it even if I got it out of order.
That 'but you're huge!' line was hilarious. Gave me a mental image of giant Spike trying to ride Celestia.
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Hahaha, I'll double check that, it was specifically the size incompatability Matron was worried about.
On the incompatability of breeding, well, with D&D, iirc a dragon would require to use a polymorph spell on themselves to be able to breed with another species. While such magics might exist within the MLP universe (Discord aided hanky-panky comes to mind) I was also under the impression that dragons were highly resistant to magic, especially as they age, but I could be wrong.
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Chapter 2 was kind of just complete fluff, really. A bit of fun for me.
3215921 actually it states in one of the D&D books that a dragon using a polymorph spell the offspring will be whatever the species he/she turned into, also mentioned in the book is cause the powerful magics dragons naturally have they can interbreed with almost any creature
rpgblog.net/wp-content/gallery/motivational-posters/Half-dragons.jpg
I feel for Spike. I know he will be a good father, but his mindset of being a dragon, and feeling that Cotton Candy might not want a dragon as a daddy hurts me
. Also, I am getting kind of a bad vibe from Mother Matron. 
it might not be nothing, but time will tell how she is going to take it when/if she does have to let go of Cotton.
Oh I'm so happy for Spike, yet nervous at the same time.
However, I know with Twilight's, Princess Celestia's, and Princess Luna's help, he will be an excellent father.
;A; !!!!!!!! WAAAAAAAAA u made me cry !!!!
ooooow ;A;
So excited about this story!
oooooow c: this is sooooo awesomeeeeee
This is so nice! Love it! Please continue.
Loved this chapter. Could only go a few lines before laughing
. Also liked the stories where the princesses act with more humor and familiarity. 
Great Job! Looking forward to the next chapter.
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Mother Matron is a rewrite of a character from a story I ended up scrapping, actually both her and Cotton are. Cotton was originally from Circus folk, lost her family in a fire, and Mother Matron (originally called Matron Care, in the old fic) was pretty much your stereotypical cruel orphanage type, who was annoyed she had been stuck with the unadoptable "carnie" for so long.
This Matron is much kinder. She will be sad to see her go, but ultimately wants the best for Cotton.
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38 CHA? Yeah, Spike would be that pimp, I reckon. But then again, I might be bia-
48 CHA...
New chapter should be up either tomorrow or Friday, as I am in the process of writing Chapter 3 now. Chapter 4 has been planned and fleshed out.
This is the only fanfic I could find that shows Twilight and Spike NOT miserable to have immortality.
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I like looking at both sides of that coin, to be honest. I do enjoy some fics where mortality and immortality are juxtaposed.
Actually, it's one of the main reasons I love twilicorn, because it opens her character up to these sorts of questions. Celestia and Luna have presumably been doing this for a long time, and have learned how to deal with the grief. Twilight's pretty fresh, and I love seeing how different writers deal with it, putting their own slant on things.
Though if you want something that parodies the whole angst of immortality, I read one lately that made me laugh. Who wants to live forever by Ri2. Completely ridiculous, but still funny.
I agree with Fenril, this has a certain flare we want to see light up the sky.
D.'awww at the last line.
Erstwhile? I don't know anything about that. I know of the story due to The Storyteller.
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Erstwhile is covering The Singing, Springing Lark, right now.
I was looking for a story I could use, and The Springing, Singing Lark seemed appropriate, though I always hate trying to write the zebra rhyme.
Love the new chapter. Keep it up.
Rarity would be so proud of you Spike
Aw.. that is so sweet!
Spike you are indeed a great daddy and Rarity would be so proud of the drake you have become. 