Words to Live By

by RaylanKrios

Chapter the Fifth

Spike quickly found that writing a new code was a lot easier then writing his old one. Well actually that wasn’t strictly true, it wasn’t easier to write a code based on only one interpretation of what it meant to be a good dragon, but it was simplier. HIs old code had been about incorporating 5 virtues and one role model into a coherent system, and there were times when those virtues were incompatible. For example being honest sometimes meant being cruel, and though it was more loyal to tell a harsh truth it could also be selfish as well. But as he read the weathered copy of Hoard, over and over again, trying to decipher every last bit of meaning he came to one inescapable conclusion for a dragon there was only one virtue; power.

Weather through wealth, or title, or influence, or might dragons craved power. It was the singular pursuit that should guide a noble dragon. With that thought in mind he wrote the first line of his new code.

Be Strong

Spike stared at that line until it lost all meaning. It felt so different from his old code, but everytime he tried to erase it, the cheerful voice or Rarity accepting a date rang in his ears. That awful sound spurred him to write another line.

Do what’s best for Spike

He thought one more time about his old code. Unwilling to abandon it completely he began to add one more line.

Be like Twi

Be like Big Mac

Spike stared at the last line, unable to fill in the blank. The last line of his old code was specifically put there to give him a role model, but for his new code he was He didn’t know any dragons well enough to emulate their behavior. All of his friends were ponies, and none of them acted anything like Balroth would consider a noble dragon.

Spike would have kept contemplating his new code, but a knock on the door interrupted his thought process. Years of striving to be polite asserted themselves and he hurriedly waddled over to the door thinking perhaps Celestia sent a messenger to inform him when he was expected for that evening's dinner. So he was more than a little surprised when he opened the door to find Celestia herself waiting patiently.

“Princess Celestia! What are you doing here?”

“Quick Quill tells me that you did not return to the library. Tell me Spike, how was your meeting? I hope Ch’tulash was able to answer at least some of your questions.”

“It was good, I think I understand better what it means to be a dragon. I’m working on a new code and everything.”

“That is good to hear. Does your new code prohibit you from dinner with a friend?”

Spike actually had to consider the question. Celestia was sort of asking for a favor, but she was also offering free food. Plus being friends with Celestia made him stronger, he decided that no his new code didn’t prevent him from having dinner. “Sure doesn’t,” he said with a smile.

Celestia returned the gesture, offering a small bow. “Splendid. I shall meet you at eight.”

Spike couldn’t help but be surprised at the lack of ostentation. Large parts of Hoard were devoted to how a noble dragon should be sure to flaunt his or her power, so that they might inspire others to achieve their status. Celestia was so powerful that even the mightiest of all dragons didn’t dare challenge her and yet if she wasn’t an alicorn, Spike guessed most ponies would be hard pressed to know that she was a princess.

He spent the rest of the afternoon locked away in his room, pondering his code. Celestia had inadvertently given him a lot to think about. His code didn’t change in the intervening hours, but he was less sure than he had been before Celestia’s impromptu visit.

Neither his new code nor his old one said anything about being punctual, but it seemed prudent not to keep his host waiting. At five to eight he left his room and followed the castles winding hallways toward the grand dining hall. Just before he reached the gilded archways that marked the main dining hall of Canterlot Castle, he saw Celestia patiently waiting for him in one of the smaller eating areas, most often used by visiting nobles and smaller gatherings.

“I hope you don’t mind, but the grand dining hall feels so formal, I thought perhaps a cozier setting would be more appropriate for two friends,” Celestia said by way of a greeting.

Even though there were only two place settings, the small table was stills et with a full set of fine china. (Spike doubted the castle owned anything plastic anyway.) A pitcher of water was on the table in between two glasses of ice but other than that there was no clue about what type of food Celestia expected to serve.

“Fine with me,” Spike said with a smile.

Free of the obligations of hosting and formalities Celestia let Spike pick his own seat and she sat down across from him. “So, Spike, what did Ch’tulash talk about? I’m sure it must have been a very interesting meeting if it inspired you to write a new dragon code.”

Spike momentarily balked to here Celestia use the ambassadors full name, instead of the diminutive version. “It was. He told me the story of how you you fought Grunt and that’s why the dragons don’t bother Equestria, cept when they are napping I guess. ”

An eyebrow went up from the princess. “Oh, and why did he choose to tell that story?”

“I think it was to explain how Dragons respect strength. I mean the dragons didn’t seem to respect you before you fought Grunt, and now they do.”

Celestia’s eye’s narrowed. “I see. If I may, allow me to tell you a different story.

“Sure,”

“This one comes from Griffinstone. It again comes from when I was young ruler; it was my first official dinner with King Gustav the second. He was no doubt attempting to gain the measure of me just as I was him. He also told this parable; tell me, do you know what a warg is?

“Yeah, it’s a big spikey cat like thing that lives in the mountains,” Spike said, remembering the time he helped Twilight write a report about the biological diversity of Equestria.

“Indeed it is, it’s also quite a delicacy in Griffinstone. Of course it’s very dangerous to hunt, even for Griffins”
.
“I’ll bet.”

“Did you know that shrews are another creature that is highly prized for dinner amongst the Griffins?”

“I didn’t know that. That’s interesting and all but what does that have to do with my new dragon code.”

“King Gustav was telling me about how the danger of a warg hunt is that if a warg sees a hunter it will charge into battle straight away, no matter how many griffin hunters are in the pack.”

“Well yeah, I mean if I were a giant armored cat with sharp teeth I’d probably do that to.” Spike said, forgetting that such a description was close to describing the creature he’d grow up to be.

“Yes, in contrast a shrew will borrow at the first sign of danger. So tell me Spike, which creature is more powerful?”

Spike held his tongue. Celestia rarely asked such an obvious question. But no matter what mental gymnastics he performed he couldn’t find any answer other than the obvious one. “The warg,” he said confidently.

“Yes the warg is revered for its strength and power. King Gustav was sure to impress upon me that griffins far and wide sing the wargs praises, most often before it is being served for dinner.”

With that Celestia’s meaning was clear. “So you’re saying I shouldn’t just try to get stronger, but if you weren’t strong then you wouldn’t have been able to stop Grunt.”

“If Ch’tulash told you the entirety of that story, he would have mentioned that I tried twice to avoid that conflict. If there is one thing I’ve learned about power, Spike, it’s that true power does not come from mere brute force.”

Spike listened to the words but they sounded too much like all the friendship and helpfull stuff that Twilight kept telling him. A few days ago he would have agreed but that was the old Spike.

“That’s what ponies think. Dragons see things a lot differently.”

Author's Note:

Like I said in my blog, the last episode has inspired me to finish this. But this story also doesn't have a lot of traction; and that's okay. Not all my stories can be 400+ like ones. I've written a bunch of stuff that hasn't resonated with the public at large.

So what that means means is that this is now a side project, something I write because I like the idea and want to see where it takes me. It also means that I'm not going to bother with an editor or a pre-reader. That adds another layer to this which takes more time and effort. If you see any mistakes please point them out in the comments.

If you've stuck with it this far, thank you. I hope you're okay with the less rigorous version going forward.

Comments

[howard035]

Thanks for sticking with this story even when it's not your most popular.

[RadicalDishonesty]

Is the debatening with Celestia beginning?!

I hadn't considered Spike might have gotten the alternate sight from Celestia, though.

I wonder what she'll make of Spike's feeling that he's been shortchanged by not looking out for himself...

But it may require some drilling to get there.

[SkyDragonMC]

Yeah. Spike is striking on his own.