> Father Spike
>  by ScrimpyMule
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Special Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The radiant autumn sun was shining over Equestria, beginning it’s long descent. In three hours the hour of twilight would begin, exposing all the land to a scene of beauty that was unrivaled. Two lovers were passing through Ponyville on their way to a particular spot north of the humble town.
For Spike and Rarity this was an occasion of unsurpassed importance. It was fifteen years ago this day that they were married for time and all eternity. They always celebrated their anniversary by having a picnic at the place where Spike had proposed and watching the sun go down. This year was no exception.
When they arrived at their destination Spike unloaded the wagon he had pulled the five miles from home. He placed a blanket on the ground and then unloaded Rarity’s favorite couch. He unloaded the rest of their things and arranged them according to his wife’s specifications.
When everything was set up Spike sat on the blanket next to Rarity, who lay upright on the couch. He took her hoof in his hand and kissed it. “Happy Anniversary my sweet.”
“Happy Anniversary Darling”, she replied.
They pushed their lips together and kissed. Spike felt the same chill run down his spine that he always did when she kissed him. He once again found himself trying to decipher what he had done to deserve this beautiful mare as his wife. As always he was unable to find an answer. There was no creature in existence lucky as he. He was pulled back to the moment when Rarity asked him to pass her a sandwich. They ate their meal and then poured sparkling cherry juice into Rarity’s finest glasses. They waited for the sunset while reminiscing about the beautiful life they had shared so far and the life they had to return to when this glorious day ended.
When the sunset came Spike was sitting on the couch with his arms around his wife, who was nuzzled against him. If the sun had Rarity’s face the sunset would be the most beautiful thing in the world, until then it was a distant second. He put his face to his wife’s mane and inhaled. Strawberry, she was wearing his favorite frosting. This makeshift perfume, however, was nothing compared to her natural fragrance. Nothing under Celestia’s sun could match her magnificent scent. With the glorious sunset and the warmth and smell of Rarity, he was truly in paradise.
Eventually the sun disappeared and Spike and Rarity, much to their chagrin, packed everything into the wagon and left. When they arrived at home they were unsurprised to find to find that their sitters, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie, had not yet succeeded in putting their four rambunctious foals to bed. With the strength and stamina of a dragon and the curiosity and playfulness of a pony these dragon-winged alicorns were a force to be reckoned with to say the least. Spike and Rarity rescued their friends and completed the task. They then sent Twilight and Pinkie off with words of tremendous gratitude and sincerest apologies. Finally, they made their way to their own bed and retired for the night, falling asleep in eachother’s embrace.

> A Familiar Threat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Spike awoke on his side and opened his eyes to see Rarity sleeping next to him. Once again he had to remind himself that he was married to this mare, the most beautiful creature in the world. It was the simple moments like these that he treasured the most. Spike lay there, intent on making this moment last as long as possible. Unfortunately, however, he made the biggest mistake he could make in that moment, he blinked. In an instant his wife was gone, replaced by the darkness of his cave.
Spike lay there on the ground, wishing he could go back to sleep. Sleeping was his favorite pastime because more often than not he dreamt of Rarity.  The dream he’d had that night about their fifteenth anniversary was among the rarest of his recurring dreams and one of his favorites.
It was said that time heals all wounds, but even after five hundred years the pain of having lost his wife had not diminished. The heartache was as strong as it had when he held her hoof when she made her journey to the other side. He would not have been able to maintain his sanity were he on his own. Rarity was kept alive in his heart and in the Dragon-Pony Clan. It was their eyes that reminded him of her and gave him the strength to carry on. 
Spike fought the urge to close his eyes and go back to sleep.  He was exhausted, despite having gotten a night’s sleep that was more than adequate. He knew by the light coming in from the cave opening that it was time to get up. He arose to his feet and made his way outside to greet the morning and join the clan for breakfast.
“Today is the big day Father Spike”, said Romulus with enthusiasm. “We’re going to break that record today. With our improvement over the past five years I bet we can hit a combined wing power of three thousand.”
Romulus was referring to the fact that it was the Clan’s turn to provide Cloudsdale with the water it needed for the coming rainy season.
“You do realize that not only does the Clan hold the current record of two thousand five hundred, but are the only race to ever get above one thousand three hundred don’t you?” Spike replied. “No matter what happens, the Clan will hold the record for a very long time.”
“I know, but it would be nice to set another record though.”
Spike chuckled, “I suppose it would.”
Spike continued to eat and speak with various members of the Clan until a familiar stench caught him off guard. He inhaled slowly and deeply and identified the smell as sulfur mixed with gemstones and various terrible odors. He turned around and sure enough there was a great plume of smoke rising from a mountain cave far in the distance. He instantly knew what was going on.
Spike felt a familiar pressure in his stomach. He lifted his head and released a flaming burp that shook the ground, producing a small letter. 
“Cascade, come with me!” Spike called.
Cascade, the second in command of the Clan arose from his place at the great table and went with Spike to a secluded spot outside the village.
“Read this to me”, Spike said giving Cascade the letter.

“Dear Spike,
I’m sure you’re already aware, but smoke is coming from the mountain east of Canterlot. I’m also sure I don’t have to tell you this either, but it is because a dragon has settled in the cave at the top for his one hundred-year slumber. I need you and the Clan to get him to leave by any means necessary or Equestria will not survive the next hundred years, though I know I don’t have to tell you that either. I know you can do this. The fate of Equestria is in your claws.
Yours,
Princess Celestia

Cascade looked up at Spike alarmed. “What do we do Father Spike?”
“Prepare the Stallions”, Spike replied. “Send a messenger to Ponyville and let them know that their Pegasai will have to transport the water to Cloudsdale this year.”

~~~~~

“You can’t be serious”, argued Romulus.
“A dragon has settled in Equestria for his century sleep and its up to us to get him to leave”, Spike replied without sympathy for Romulus’ grief.
“But this was our year to get the water to Cloudsdale”, Romulus persisted. “What about the record?”
Spike’s voice then took on an air of authority, which he rarely found necessary. “Alright, first of all it will be a long time before any group of Pegasai trump our wing power record. That is assuming it is even possible. Secondly, your duty to Equestria as a member of the Dragon-Pony Clan far outweighs anything else you have on your agenda. Now go get ready.”
Romulus silenced himself and obeyed. Soon the Stallions of the Clan were ready and they all set out on the short journey.

> A Dragon's Pain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	When Spike and the Stallions arrived at their destination, Spike set everypony at the mountain slopes in regiments.
“Wait here”, Spike instructed Cascade. “I will go in and try to convince him to leave. If he decides to fight and I can’t stop him you will need to be ready.”
“Father Spike”, Cascade began. “I don’t think”-
“If you all come in with me you will sacrifice any advantage you have by staying out here. If we just charge in we will suffer too many casualties. Wait here and be ready.”
Cascade did as he was told and Spike made his way up the mountain and into the cave. He found the source of the smoke, a winged red dragon in a blissful slumber.
Spike approached his potential enemy and snapped his claws in front of his face. “Wake up, I need to have a word with you.”
The dragon opened his eyes and jolted to an upright position. “Who do you think you are? Entering an other dragon’s lair and waking him up.”
Spike’s eyes narrowed. He recognized this dragon. He had been the ring leader of the teenage dragons with whom Spike had sought acceptance the first and last time he had ever participated in the Great Dragon Migration. 
“I could ask you the same question”, Spike retorted. “Do you have any idea where you are? You’re in Equestria. Every time you snore you produce a huge plume of smoke and compromise the health of every creature in the land.”
“Who are you and why do you care about Equestria anyway?”
“My name is Spike. I am here as a representative, and if necessary, a soldier for Equestria. It’s my job to get you to leave.”
“Spike? I remember you. You were that shrimp that tried to join us six hundred years ago. I guess you’re not a shrimp anymore.”
That was a great understatement. Earth dragons, like Spike, were the largest breed of dragons upon maturity. Spike towered over his adversary.  
“What if I refuse to leave?” The dragon asked. “I could just kill you right now and go back to sleep.”
Spike replied with an authoritative and fearless voice. “I’m bigger and stronger than you and we’re in closed quarters, which means you can’t use your wings. Which one of us do you think has the upper hand?”
“Hmm…Please, you were too weak to even smash a phoenix egg last time I saw you and I bet you are still a weakling.”
Spike gazed into his opponent’s eyes for several moments before speaking again. “What’s your legacy?”
“Legacy? What use would I have for something as ridiculous as that?”
“Come with me”, Spike said. He turned and walked toward the opening of the cave.
“You do realize that by leading me outside you will be sacrificing your advantage don’t you?” the red dragon asked.
Spike stopped and looked back to respond before exiting the cave. “Not exactly.”
The dragon followed Spike and had to take a moment to let his eyes adjust to the light. When his vision cleared he saw Spike standing on the edge of the cliff, pointing down. He made his way over to stand by Spike and swallowed hard when he saw five hundred dragon-winged alicorns magically levitating spears that were aimed at his heart.
“This is MY legacy”, Spike said.
“You bred with a pony? How is that even possible?”
“I ask myself the same question all the time. At any rate you have two choices, you can gather your things and leave peacefully or we can deliver your head to our Princess as a gift.”
Princess Celestia would never accept such a gift, but Spike needed to be as intimidating as possible.
The dragon took one more look at the Clan and uttered two words. “I’ll leave.” He turned and went back into his cave to gather his things.
Spike made his way down the mountain and told the Clan the good news. They saw the dragon off and then began their journey home.
“Take the others home”, Spike ordered Cascade. “I’m going to stop at Canterlot on the way and personally report to the Princess.”
“Yes Father Spike”, Cascade replied.

~~~~

Spike greeted Princess Celestia on the mountain top outside of Canterlot. 
“Its done Princess”, he reported. “We convinced him to leave peacefully.”
He explained how he had done it after she congratulated him and inquired as to how they had managed it.
“Speaking of a one hundred-year slumber yours should be coming up soon now”, Princess Celestia said. When do you think you will start?”
“The ideal time to start would have been ten years ago”, Spike replied. “I’m not going to take it.”
Celestia looked up at him, perplexed. “You do realize that not taking your slumber will shorten your life-expectancy considerably, don’t you?”
“That’s exactly why I’m not taking it. I want go get back to Rarity as soon as possible. I don’t want to spend any more time in this life than I absolutely have to.”
Celestia nodded in understanding. They conversed more and took time to reminisce of their old friends who had passed on over half of a millenium before. Eventually Spike said his goodbye and made his way home.

~~~~

Spike stood at Rarity’s tombstone recounting the day’s events.
“He took one look at the Clan and very nearly wet himself. I hope Rainbow Dash was watching because she would have thought it was hilarious.”
Spike stood in silence before speaking again. “I know you must be disappointed in me for refusing to take my hundred-year sleep. I’m sorry, but the fact that I’ve made it this far without you is a miracle in and of itself. I won’t delay our reunion any longer than I am forced to. I hope you understand my Sweet.”
Spike’s eyes welled up with tears and his voice began to break. “I love you Rarity. I miss you so much.”
Spike bent down and ever so softly, kissed his wife’s tombstone. He turned and walked away. He stopped and looked back and through the tears in his eyes he could see his wife standing next to her tombstone crying tears of her own and melting his heart with one of her bright smiles. The setting sun behind her only made her all the more radiant. Once again Spike blinked and Rarity was gone. He turned and started back to the village, all the more eager for the day when death’s sweet embrace returned him to his beloved Rarity.
The End