Moments for Spike

by Rocinante

The Letter

Spike shuffled through the stack of mail. The little chore had become much more interesting since Twilight’s coronation. Flicking the junk mail in the trash, he took to sorting the personal letters from the diplomatic. A simple task except for the last letter. Addressed to Twilight’s new royal title, but in a common envelope. It was from someone named Malachite, who used no titles himself, but the return address was in the capital of Draconia.

It was a riddle that could be answered quickly by reading the message within. Being Twilight’s personal assistant came with certain privileges. Opening her mail for her was one of the bigger ones. Often he was the filter between what was read today, and what was read next week. With no seal to break, Spike deftly ran a claw between the envelope and its flap.

Twilight, I’d like to start this letter by saying that I think of you often and fondly. I regret that it is only now that I am able to write you. It was only once I returned home that I realized I did not have your address. I tried writing the camp, but they were unable to forward my letter, and sent it back to me. When news of your ascension reached me here, I immediately wrote this letter.

I can see that you are well. I hope you are happy. I am well myself. My first thesis defence was last equinox, the masters gave me excellent remarks. I have hopes of earning my robe in the next few years. I’ve been teaching the intro to xeno-thaumaturgy class for two years now, so I’ll have my teaching hours in by the time I submit my second thesis.

With that said, I must ask a question I hope you will answer. While reading about your coronation, I came across some photos of you and a child dragon. Is he ours? I need to know for my own sake. If he is, I will assume whatever role you wish me to have in his life. If he is not, then I hope you will find humor in my imagination.

There is a convoy leaving here for your Equestria at the end of next month. I have some months of holiday saved up. If you wish it, I would like to see you again. I will await your response before committing to any action.

Your friend and once lover,

Malachite

“Spike,” Twilight called, but got no response. Sticking her head into the main room, she found him engrossed in something by the center table. Walking up behind him, she peered over Spike’s head, expecting to find one of his monthly comics in claw. It wasn’t a comic, but a letter, probably some unsolicited correspondence.

Whatever it was, it had him too zoned out to notice her. Spike did a good job of sorting the important from the inane, sparing her OCD from excess information. Curious about what had Spike so entranced, she picked up the discarded envelope beside him, and checked the letter’s address... Reaching out with her magic, Twilight locked the library door. This day had come sooner than she wanted.

The click of the lock, snapped Spike from his trance. Blinking, he slowly turned to face Twilight. She expected him to yell, perhaps to cry, but he only stared dumbly.

“It’s for you,” he finally said, holding out the letter.

Now she was the one about to cry, taking the letter in her magic, Twilight read the letter while Spike watched her every movement.

“Is he?” Spike asked the moment her eyes reached the bottom of the page.

Twilight laid the letter on her desk; something to do as an excuse for silence. “Spike,” she began. She wanted to give him excuses, she wanted to sugar coat the story. Spike deserved better than that from her.

“Malachite is your father.”

Spike held his emotionless gaze on her “Then you’re my-” his voice hitched, the word stuck in his throat.

Twilight nodded, the biggest secret of her life, out to the only one it really mattered to. “I am...” She tried to say more, but it hung in her throat too.

One side of Spike’s mouth curled into a smile, while the opposite eye twitched without rhythm. “But, you told me-”

“It’s what we told everyone. Celestia and my parents thought it would be easier.”

“Then the story about getting your cutie mark?”

“Mostly true. Except that egg is cast iron, and still at the school. It just has a dent in it now from where I launched it through the roof; the rainboom part was true. Also you weren’t born as an egg--thank the stars.” Twilight laughed at her own joke, a desperate attempt to find some humor in the conversation.

“Then when’s my birthday?”

Taking an easy step towards Spike, she sat next to him. “Same day, but you’re two years younger than we told you. You developed a lot in the first six months.”

“You were really young, how did ... grandmother react?” Spike asked looking up at her.

Twilight snorted at the title, but it was true. “Her and Dad took it well. They were concerned about my health. I was only a year older than Applebloom is now, my first season in heat. Between them and Celestia, I had the best doctors in equestria fussing over me. Turns out it was a fluke that I could conceive with a dragon at all.”

Spike leaned into Twilight, shifting a little she put a foreleg around him in a loose embrace. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

“It’s not like you weren’t there for me.”

“We could have tried harder to tell Malachite,” Twilight said, giving Spike a squeeze.

Spike looked up to meet Twilight’s eyes “Why didn’t you tell him?”

Slumping a bit, Twilight eased her hold on Spike. “That was my decision. I was the one that made the mistake, I didn’t want to interrupt his life. Or maybe I was just selfish and wanted you to myself. I’m not even sure anymore.”

“How long did you know each other?” Spike asked leaning back into Twilight.

“Only three months. it was at Celestia’s summer camp for the gifted. He was one of three dragons that attended that year. I have a few pictures of him at Mom’s house, if you want to see.

Pulling free of Twilight’s hold, Spike wandered back over to the letter. “I want to meet him.”

“I’ll get stationary, and we can both write him.” Rising to her hooves, Twilight plodded across the library to her desk. Pulling out the needed ink and paper, she felt Spike’s touch against her leg.

“Twilight, can I call you Mom?”

The inkwell in her levitation nearly toppled before she could set it back down. Letting the paper fall where it may, she pulled Spike into a hug. “Only if you think I deserve it.”

Comments

[Aspimar]

Nice enough, though very sudden.

[Rinnaul]

I can't honestly buy it happening that way, but the emotions play out right and that's what suspension of disbelief is for.

[Rocinante]

4075409 Thank you.
This was an exercise in saying as much as I can, in as few a words as possible. Playing with negative-space narration while I was at it.

[Aspimar]

I se
4075439 I see, well I hope you complete this little piece here anyway even if its very short.Im always in search of fics with motherly Twilight with Spike, so it would be nice for things to get sappy.

[MortDeMuerte]

An enjoyable little vignette.

The tone of the following comic is considerably more humorous, but I couldn't help but think of it reading this.

http://www.derpiboo.ru/166532?scope=scpefbfb381249e201ebaeec3c078e0a5d85f4106c28

[Saint-Mercy]

This is gonna get featured. Just ya watch.

[uhhh]

Cool and interesting, but deserved to be fleshed out.

I'll check out this negative-space narration thing you mentioned. Learn something every day.

[Blood Brandy]

4075519

...Ow...That hurt my heart...

[Rocinante]

4075519
Credit, where credit is due.
That was the seed of this story.

4075674
I appreciate your vote of confidence.

4075713
I have two other scenes for this story in my head. When they make it to paper is a mater of mood. Yes, yes, I know "Mood is a thing for cattle and love-play", but writing too, sometimes.

[John The Dragon]

Twilight Sparkle: Equestria's worst mother.

Always seemed weird to me that Spike's grandparent's and rich ass uncle never got him a birthday gift, but five mares he barely hangs out with, did.

“Twilight, can I call you Mom?”

Woah! He just found out! Spike and Twilight have been friends since he was hatched, but the second he finds out she's his mom, he wants to call her mom? He must have forgot that he's attracted to her if she has Rarity's mane.

Also, this completely changes the group's dynamic, I hope you explore it.

[Aotrs Commander]

Okay... Interesting concept. I'd be interested in seeing it further played out, if you ever have a mind to do so.

[The Letter J]

4075519
Ahhhh there it is. I knew I'd seen this idea somewhere before.

I look forward to seeing what you do with this now.

[Bookmark88]

Cute, and a little squicky.

4 Derpy's out of five

[SoralTheSol]

Gratz on the feature.

[Captain Burrito]

MOAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RealityCheck]

okay, terrible. This supposes that Twilight has spent all this time treating her own son as a personal servant.

and it's OCPD, not OCD, DAMMIT. There's a more fundamental difference than just a single letter. LOOK IT UP!!!!!

[GemstoneTheUnicorn]

I...I'm...I don't even know what to say... But it was rather cute.

[RandomNobody]

More please.

4075519

[Knight of Cerebus]

4077766 No, it's OCD. Severe irrational fears with fantasies of exaggerated punishment resulting from said fears being realized (being a bad friend (Winter Wrap Up, Lesson Zero, Boast Busters) or disappointing Princess Celestia (A Bird In The Hoof, Lesson Zero, Swarm of the Century) and systematic checking and symmetry compulsions in order to try to alleviate these irrational fears.

As somebody who lives the first and knows people who are the second of the two mental illnesses, I can safely tell you Twilight is an OCD.

[Rocinante]

4081129

My understanding is that Rarity would be closer to OCPD. I never went past the 100 level psychology classes, and that was some years ago. Anyone better studied is free to correct me.

[Knight of Cerebus]

4081290 You are correct. Rarity hates dirt and feels a need to be a perfectionist because she's obsessed with her image. Twilight hates disorganization because deep down she's got a crippling fear of being a bad friend/student and that the only way to avoid being a bad friend is to be organized and aware of everything that may be a potential problem within the context of her life. Both are textbook OCD symptoms.

[ShadowThePony]

[Professor Donger]

You need to build up a bit more bro

[Torindelluna]

maor? pls?
in all seriousness I thought this was beautiful. it does seem a bit rushed from spikes pov but at the same time hes always considered her a mother figure, even if she acted as his sister/caretaker so I don't see it as too big a jump that he would be pretty accepting. for all his quirks he is possibly the most level headed character in the show
loved it, would like to see it continued

[Rocinante]

4097189

Spike is easy to write, his motivations are on his sleeve. The most important thing to Spike, is his desire to be accepted. All his other motivations are facets of this; from wanting to be cool, to his crush on Rarity, Spike is constantly looking for the place he belongs.

[Infinty Blade Brony]

THE FEELS!

[Weird Dragon]

More chapters please

[Weird Dragon]

More chapters please

[Rocinante]

4637919

They're in the works.

[Weird Dragon]

4638434 k

[BrightKnight 42]

MORE PLEASE

[NobleValor]

So ponies can have kids as children? Allowing that I can wrap my mind around that: How did Spike come out a dragon (rather than a kirin or some other half-breed) and exactly how old was Malachite when he 'plowed the fields' (if you follow my meaning)? I'll reserve further judgment until more comes out.

[Rocinante]

4798654

Thank you for bringing Kirin to my attention. As big of a mythology buff as I am, I had never stopped to read up on them. Really, knowing them only from the Japanese beer brand.

[NobleValor]

4798890 To be fair, I hadn't heard about them until such works as 'The Witching Hour' and 'KAMI: Episode 1 - Malicious Edge' (spelled qilin there). Also in the respective works, they look and do things entirely different. (I highly recommend both of them by the by.)

[MythrilMoth]

Really not buying this story, sorry. It's just completely implausible.

[darkssa]

do you think that because spike is half unicorn half dragon that he could use magic maybe his spines could glow like unicorn horns if so that combined with twilight sparkle being his mom he could become the most powerful magic user alive

[Myrandall]

Meh. The dialogue is too short to be realistic.

[bobbananaville]

5333730 lolwut? It's not too short to be realistic! Think - how often are your conversations punctuated with long lines of dialogue IRL? Because if you say 'often', you need to get better social skills.
No, the dialogue is just right (though at some points it might have been better to use connectives like 'and', or otherwise use teh power of clauses).

My problem is with the suddenness. Everything happens all at once - Spike reads the letter, Twilight reveals she gave birth to Spike, dem big emotions, hugz, wubby dubby. It's all too fast and in to short a time frame, and at the end I'm just left wondering what the hell just happened.
And nothing is learned either, beyond the fact that Spike is Twilight's son. We don't see their relationship evolve (Spike asking Twi if he can call her Mom isn't evolution, it's a result of evolution - we don't see his reasoning or his thoughts or what leads him to decide that Twi is his motherly figure), we don't learn anything from this revelation, all we end up with is a reveal for the sake of a reveal.

[Rocinante]

5697656

I can't really disagree with any of your points. This was just something bouncing around my head, that I had to get out.

[Carolusrex1]

sequel please

[Jake Witt]

6507390 Sequel? It says "incomplete" so really, another chapter is in order. I mean... what. the. heck. The possibilities are there!

[Carolusrex1]

6722011 I wrote that before I saw that.

[twidash1993]

Please more of this

[Carolusrex1]

more

[Star love]

I love this story so much Please update

[twidash1993]

Please more I beg you.