Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
Thy Son is a Dragon?
Her nephew! This small mass of purple and green scales before her, currently gorging his way through a small tub of ice cream, was her nephew! How? Why? Why couldn’t it be something simple like Discord returning, or her sister's student suddenly revealing that she was secretly a very feminine stallion called Dusk Shine? Instead, it was the revelation that her sister, in what Luna could only conclude to be a cake-fuelled bout of insanity, had adopted a baby dragon as her son. A baby dragon who would, when he came of age, become Crown Prince of Equestria.
Giving a strangled cry, the Princess of the Night let her head drop to the ground, an act that added to her already dishevelled appearance. Her mane stuck out, her crown sat crooked, and her wings splayed out on either side of her. To many who would look at her, they would no doubt conclude her current position and appearance to be most unbecoming of a princess. Not that she had any reason to be worried about onlookers. After all, the place that the Princess had chosen for her little meltdown was the private gardens of the Royal Family, an area of the castle grounds so secure that only a select few outside of the members of the royal family ever got close, let alone allowed actual entry. Much to the unfortunate discovery of many a tabloid journalist over the years, they had found themselves on the sharp end of the esteemed protectors of both the castle and its adjoining grounds—the Queen’s Guard. It was also within this secured area that Luna's present charge, and the cause of both her current strife and her questions, ate his way, single-handedly, through a tub of his favourite frozen treat.
“Thou knowest thou will get a tummy ache from gorging upon so much ice cream, dost thou not?” asked Luna as she straightened herself up, attempting to regain some of her previously lost dignity.
Laughing, Spike happily flicked the ice-cream-covered spoon in his hand around in the air, earning himself a sharp glare from the Princess as some of the sticky substance splashed against her face. Oblivious to the look his Aunt was giving him, however, Spike's face split into a grin as he happily informed the lunar monarch that the tummy ache would be ‘future Spike’s problem’ rather than his. He then, as if to prove his point, shoveled several more spoonfuls of ice cream into his mouth, an act that made Luna cringe as she pressed a hoof against her forehead, sighing in exasperation.
“We are starting to think Our sister was telling the truth. Only a spawn of Tia would be as ruthless a killer of desserts as she.”
Finishing off the last dregs of his ice cream, Spike flicked his spoon in front of himself again. “Well, I'm sure I must have got something from Princess Celestia when she was raising me,” he said as he tapped his chin with his spoon, “even if she wasn't the one to finally hatch me.” With a light chuckle, Spike fell onto his back and tossed the empty ice cream tub into the air, a ball of brilliant orange flame bursting forth from his mouth, incinerating it in an instant. Whether this was an act to protect the natural beauty of the gardens around them or to get rid of the evidence of his glutinous assault on the poor frozen dessert, however, Luna couldn’t be sure.
“Our sister didn’t hatch you?” asked Luna, tilting her head to the side as her mind turned over the young dragon's words. After all, if her sister had raised him, she undoubtedly must have hatched him as well. Right?
"Nope," replied Spike, shaking his head before resting his claws behind it and crossing his legs. “Twilight hatched me as a test to get into Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.”
“As a test?” spluttered an incredulous Luna. "You were hatched merely as a test for some school’s entrance exam?"
“Well, yeah,” Spike replied with a slight nod as he turned his head to look at her. “In fairness, though, the egg was supposed to be a painted rock, or at least that's what the Princess has told me. It was a complete accident that I ended up as a part of the test. Not to mention a small miracle that Twilight managed to hatch me. Especially when you consider that even with all her power, Princess Celestia couldn’t manage it in all the 900 years that she tried…”
“900 years!” exclaimed Luna, wholly taken aback by his words. Her elder sister was an alicorn so powerful that the very Sun bent to her. To hear that she was unable to hatch something as simple as a dragon egg for 900 years, a feat many unicorns could manage, was unthinkable for many ponies, Luna included.
“Yep. Or maybe it was more like 800 years, 850 tops...” replied Spike, drifting off into his thoughts as he tried to work out just how long it had been since his mother had found his egg.
Her head pounding, all Luna could manage in response was some vague noises as she stared blankly at the prone dragon in front of her. With a deep sigh, she attempted to find some sense in everything that had happened to her over the last few hours. Starting with, she thought, Tia's grand reveal.
Luna blinked at her sister in pure stupefaction. “We are sorry, Sister; We fear We may have misheard thee for a moment. Thy son?”
Smiling softly at her younger sister, Celestia gave her a confirming nod. “Yes, Luna. My son, your nephew.”
“But,” stammered Luna as she thrust a hoof in Spike’s direction, her left eye twitching, “Sister! Thy son is a dragon!”
Celestia gasped before quickly picking Spike up and staring at him intensely. “You’re a dragon?!”
Giving a similar gasp, Spike checked his body before clutching his hands to the side of his head, eyes wide. “What?! But I always thought I was a pegasus!”
A deathly silence fell over the room as mother and son held their positions. Then, with a slight snort from Celestia, they both collapsed to the floor in bouts of riotous laughter as Luna, mortified at being the butt of the duo's little skit, felt her face heat up in a deep shade of crimson.
Her shyness now long forgotten, Luna shook off her momentary shock and glared daggers at the duo as she silently cursed the fates. Not only had they allowed her sister to retain her eccentric sense of humour after all these years, but they had seemingly granted this young dragon to be gifted with it as well. A truly terrifying prospect to any who knew just how puckish her sister could be when the mood took her.
Stomping her hoof angrily against the floor, her patients for the laughing pair starting to wear thin, she gave the duo a renewed glare. “If ye both have finished laughing at Our expense, mayhap somepony will explain to Us just what in the name of Faust is going on here?" Luna then levelled her glare fully on Celestia. "We swear if this is another one of thy pranks, dear sister…”
Giving out one last mirthful snort, Celestia pulled herself back under control as her son continued to snicker softly to himself on the floor. “I would not worry so much about that, little sister,” answered Celestia as she crossed the room. She then gave Luna a gentle nuzzle before continuing, a great sincerity now in her voice, “I can assure you that this is no joke, Luna. Spike is indeed my son, and though he may be, as you have correctly pointed out, a dragon, I hope you will come to love him just as much as I do.”
A silence descended upon the two sisters. Luna's mind was reeling, overwhelmed by Celestia's words. A reprieve from her thoughts came a minute later, however, when a gentle knock came from the door, followed by a voice that Celestia instantly recognised as that of Bella Script, her Private Secretary.
“Your Majesty,” a voice rang out, filling the now silent room, “an envoy from the house of Lords has arrived. He is requesting an immediate audience with you at your earliest convenience.”
Sighing softly, Celestia called out her reply, stating that she would join the envoy shortly, to which Bella's voice called out her confirmation of the order. A new silence then descended upon the room as the quick hoofsteps of Bella Script disappeared down the hall–the 'Private Secretary to the Sovereign' setting off to complete her new task.
“I’m afraid your questions will have to wait until later, little sister,” said Celestia, breaking the silence before scooping Spike up with her magic and giving him a gentle kiss on the head. She then levitated him onto Luna’s back and gave them both a gentle smile as that playful light once again flickered across her eyes. “Be good for your Aunty Woona, Spike. I’ll see you for dinner at seven.”
His face turning an embarrassed red, all the young dragon could do was make several sputtering noises as the solar monarch made a quick exit from the room, the ghost of a teasing smile upon her lips.
“Aunty Woona?” asked Luna, turning her head to look at the red-faced dragon.
“Who wants some ice cream?! I like ice-cream! Who doesn’t like ice-cream?!” shouted Spike, jumping off her back and quickly retreating towards the study’s now open door. “I think Pan Flash has a spare tub of chocolate chip hidden at the back of pantry B!”
Tilting her head in confusion, Luna quickly followed Spike out of the room. Though not before thinking, What was that all about?
Luna raised her hooves to her temples and massaged them gently. How could she have let her sister get the better of her like that? Could she have lost her touch that much in her thousand-year banishment?
“Are you alright, Princess Luna?” called Spike, pulling Luna once more from her thoughts.
“Yes, young Spike, We are quite fine,” she replied before letting out a frustrated sigh. “We are merely trying to come to terms with all, We have learned upon this afternoon, 'tis all.”
Standing up and dusting himself down, Spike walked closer to his dismayed aunt before sitting down next to her. “Don’t worry, you’ll work it all out in time. After all, if there’s anything that you can’t work out, I’m sure Princess Celestia, Princess Cadence or Prince Blueblood will be able to help you.”
“But not thou, young Spike?” questioned Luna, tilting her head slightly with a raised eyebrow.
“Maybe if you write me a letter,” he replied with a small shrug. “Once I’ve finished my work for Princess Celestia, I’ll be returning to Ponyville where I'm sure Twilight already has a to-do list as long as the castle drawbridge for me to work through.” A playful light then danced across his eyes. “Not to mention that we can’t have Twilight burning down half the town’s library again. Especially after the incident where she tried to warm up that pot of soup…”
“Come now, Spike," replied Luna, her doubt of Spike's words evident in her voice. "Surely if Miss Sparkle is talented enough to hold rank as Our sister’s favoured student, nay, skilled enough to defeat the darkness of Nightmare Moon, warming up a simple pot of soup should hardly prove to be any challenge.”
“You would think so, Princess," countered Spike as he grinned cheekily, “but surprisingly enough, while Twilight may be one of the most talented unicorns in all of Equestria when it comes to magic, I’m afraid in the kitchen she has about as much prowess and grace as a turnip.”
As a smile snuck across her lips, Luna couldn't help but giggle at the image Spike painted in her mind as a comfortable silence passed between them.
It was then that Luna noticed something from their conversations that not only confused her, but also gave her pause. “Dear Spike," she asked, breaking the silence between them, "why hast thou stopped referring to Our sister by anything but her title?”
Turning his full attention back to the Princess, Spike gave her a small smile before moving closer to her. He then lowered his voice, answering her in a slight whisper. “Mom doesn’t want other ponies to know I’m her son.”
“But why ever not?" Luna whispered back. "We may have only seen her with thee a few scant moments, dear Spike, but We know Our sister well. We see that her love for thee shines. Why would she ever want to put such distance between the two of ye?”
“It’s no real mystery, Your Majesty. If the Lords or Nobles where to find out, many of them would not hesitate to use the taboo and scandal of me being Princess Celestia's son to, at best, weaken Mom’s stance in the court or worse, use me as means to get to her.” With a shrug, Spike sat back and smiled at Luna. “Such is life with the court, it seems.”
Frowning at his words, Luna couldn’t help but feel some pangs of sadness in her heart as she looked at the young dragon before her. He was quite right, after all. If it ever came to light that Celestia had adopted a dragon as her son and rightful heir, many of the more conservative lords and nobles would have a field day with the news, using it at every opportunity to try and sway the court in their favour, no matter the cost to her beloved sister or her son.
“Thou truly art wise beyond thy young years, Spike. We see Our sister has raised thee well.”
“I’m not Twilight's number-one assistant for nothing, you know," he boasted as he stood up and puffed his chest out in pride, "and I’m not that young. I’m fifteen.”
Giggling at his boasting, Luna couldn't help but find herself smiling warmly at the small dragon. “Our deepest apologies, Master Spike,” replied the lunar monarch, bowing her head to the dragon, “We did not realise thou were of such an esteemed age.”
“That’s okay, Princess. A lot of ponies make that mistake, after all,” replied Spike with a happy grin, the playful spark dancing in his eyes once more. “By the way, Your Majesty, do you like strawberries?”
Raising a questioning eyebrow over the sudden change in topic, Luna gave a slow nod in answer. “Why yes, We are quite partial to the occasional strawberry. Why dost thou ask, though?”
Saying nothing, Spike slowly started making his way to a thicker part of the gardens, gesturing for the Princess to follow him. "Come with me, Your Majesty. There's something I want you to see."
Update2: Major thanks to dSana on DeviantArt for the amazing illustration for this chapter. Seriously, go and show her some love 
***
Update: Many thanks to LevelDasher who has stepped in as editior for this chapter, helping me to correct many of my previous errors 
***
One brand new chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it (though preferably without the evenings of banging your head against a wall while trying to edit the thing).
As with the prologue, please let me know if you spot any errors so I may go in and fix them (alas, I am only human after all, and thus will miss things in my proofreads).
Many Regards,
The Guardian
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This was beautiful. Another chapter please!
A lot of ponies, Twilight included DO underestimate Spike because of his age. For all we know, his actual age (egg included) could be 865 or 915,
Very sweet chapter, loving it so far :)
Their interactions sounded natural and I like your writing style.
Byoteful.
"Desserts," two 's'-es, because who doesn't want seconds of dessert?
So wait, was Spike's egg showing up at the entrance exam actually someone mixing up a fake, stone egg with the one Celestia had been trying to hatch for nigh on a thousand years? Whoops...
8559683
Fixed and thanks
It gets better when you find out just who mixed up Celestia's egg with the rock
8559660
Thanks, that was my main goal of this chapter (well that and to try and add a bit of humour to it)
This chapter made me laugh and it was really heart warming. If you're going to tie into the show maybe you can add Peewee into the mix. I love this family and can't wait to see Spike's cousins enter the fray. This is so much fun.
Seeing these kinds of interactions is great fun to read.
NICE!! You did great. While this wasn't quite how I expected this to go, seeing this makes it clear that it's only natural and any story where Spike is part of the royal family just makes me happy.
Also . . . .
“But,” stammered Luna as she thrust a hoof in Spikes direction as her left eye twitched, “Sister! Thy son is a Dragon!”
Celestia gasped in shock before quickly picking Spike up and staring at him intensely. “You’re a dragon?!”
Giving a similar gasp, Spike checked his body before clutching his hands to the side of his head in wide-eyed shock. “What! But I always thought I was a pegasus!”
A deathly silence fell over the room as mother and son held their positions, both with looks of great shock written over their faces. Then, with a slight snort from Celestia, they both collapse to the floor in bouts of riotous laughter as Luna, mortified at being the butt of the duo's little skit, felt her face heat up in a deep shade of crimson.
. . . This whole exchange just brings me utter joy and I don't even have words to describe how good its is. Keep it up.
The fact those two were playing along so perfectly with each other for that is both hilarious and aww-inducing.
8561885
8563626
Thanks
I must admit, that scene was easily my most favourite part to write so far. It also plays into my belief that Spike had to have gained his impish nature from somewhere, and Celestia (in my mind) is the prime candidate.
....well, Celestia, and maybe another particular pony. But that comes later
8559431
And that's just going off the time that they knew about his egg. In fact, he could be (if we include his egg age) older than Celestia and Luna combined; maybe even Discord.
Just what happened to all that magic from Celestia's many attempts to hatch him I wonder...
8564999
I agree, the idea that he got his sense of humor from Celestia is a personal head-canon of mine.
8565015 Maybe that's how he became a glorified, living fax machine?
Why did you edit Mom to Mum?
8592940
Mostly because I'm quite pedantic
While re-reading it annoyed me slightly that I was mixing the UK and US English spellings, so I went back and set it to UK English. As for why I set it to the UK variant rather than the US; I'm British so preferred my native spelling
8593131
Ah ok just curious :D
I now have a headcannon that Celestia said "I weaken it for you" to Twilight when she hatch spike
Patience
That was the only thing i could find though ^^
8623043
Fixed, and thanks for letting me know, and please do let me know if you come across any further in
Clearly, the weeks of editing I put each chapter through (not to mention so many read through that I doubt I'll ever forget this story) are paying off
Starting with, she thought, Tai's grand reveal. - i think you meant to say Tia's grand reveal
8626153
Apologies. I think you may have lost me there ^^;;
THANK YOU!
Christ it bothers me that everyone thinks Spike is a baby or young kid.
He was hatched when Twilight was a kid. She is now adult. That would make Spike at the very least teenager-age.
8647402
I agree he is a baby but only for dragons. And dragons could live for hundreds or live forever depending on the mythology.