Spike the Dragon receives a letter on his 100th birthday, a letter from his past, leading to more...
Spike the Dragon has been the librarian at Ponyville's Golden Oaks Public Library ever since... For a long time. Today, an old friend comes to wish him a happy 100th birthday, but then a letter arrives, which leads to more letters, left to him from his youth and adolescence.
A bittersweet tale of Spike coming to terms with his place in the world through looking back at how he grew up.
Sometimes, Spike wished he had chosen something comfy to lay on for his hoard. He was about twice the size of a regular pony now, and his wings had grown in decades ago. He looked around. He also sometimes wished he hadn’t chosen something so flammable as his hoard. But they were what he loved.
Books. But not specifically books, knowledge. He was hoarding knowledge. Spike liked to think that he wasn’t as greedy as other dragons in this way. Giving somepony knowledge did nothing to subtract your own. He was not keeping it from any of the ponies around him. However they did say he was a bit draconian about late fees.
Spike had assumed control of the Golden Oaks Public Library in Ponyville after Tw—
After the passing, Spike had become head librarian. He loved to add to his hoard, and he loved when he got to show it to the citizens of Ponyville. They loved having such a knowledgeable dragon for their librarian. He thought it had all worked out.
The door opened, and in strode a faded pink pony, mad hair still as inflated as it ever was. Though she could not bounce about like she used to when Spike was but a baby, she still had life in her yet.
Spike stood up from the mat he’d laid behind the counter at the sound of hooves on wood, and smiled brightly. “Pinkie! What brings you here today?”
Pinkie Pie chuckled, “You didn’t let me forget mine, but you sure as sugar forgot yours, Spikey-wikey.”
Spike blinked. “Uhh…” He searched his thoughts, then glanced at the calendar.
It was his birthday.
“I… Oh.” Spike blushed a bit. His birthdays had felt somber for most of his life, at least to him. He knew what would happen if he let greed take him again.
Pinkie was right alongside him before he realized what was happening, “Birthday hug time.”
Spike smiled, and turned to her, opening his arms and wings to her. Ever since that birthday so long ago, she’d given him a big long hug instead of any gifts.
The last few Spike had cried during. Not even few. Ever since the passing, really.
Pinkie reared up on her hind legs, then wrapped her forelegs around Spike’s middle, as high up as she could reach with him similarly upright.
Spike very gently eased his arms around her, then his wings.
Pinkie whispered, “Happy one hundred, Spike. I know you’ll have one hundred more. And a hundred after that. And a hundred after that…”
Spike couldn’t take it any longer. He angled his wings so that his burning hot tears would never touch her, and started to sob. Pinkie was the last of his first friends left. He didn’t know how much longer she would be around. And after that there were just his books, and the Princesses when they had time to visit.
Pinkie nosed at his bellyscales, “Don’t be sad, Spike. Remember the good times, don’t dwell on the bad.”
Spike sniffled, “I… I try, Pinkie. I really do. But today of all days…”
“Hey, you haven’t destroyed any buildings lately bucko, so cheer up.” Pinkie scolded playfully.
Spike laughed despite himself, and wiped his nose with his arm, “That’s an improvement.”
Pinkie smiled, sunshine seeming to beam from her face.
Spike felt something he hadn’t felt in years bubbling up inside him.
A burp.
With a blast of green flame, a pair of scrolls appeared before him.
Spike carefully caught them each. One held the royal seal.
Pinkie giggled, “Don’t just sit there, open it.”
Spike carefully unfurled the royal scroll first, beginning to read aloud,
Dearest Spike,
Congratulations on your one hundredth birthday. Luna and I are glad that you have grown to be such a fine young dragon. We both hope that you will continue to be a part of the Ponyville community for decades to come. As for the other scroll, that is a surprise. You may open it now, but don’t expect me to spoil it for you.
Sincerely, Princess Celestia of Equestria.
“Oh, I love guessing games!” Pinkie smiled, peeking up and out of the wing shield Spike had failed to remove from around her.
Spike looked at the other scroll, turning it around. There, in wax, holding it closed, was a six sided starburst.
Spike stared.
Pinkie giggled. “Trying to keep it a surprise?”
Spike coughed. “N-no… I’ll open it.”
He carefully unfurled the second scroll. The hornwriting was unmistakable.
My Dearest Assistant and Beloved Little Brother, Spike:
If the Princesses do as I have asked (And why wouldn’t they, honestly) then you are reading this on your one hundredth birthday. I know rationally it is very unlikely I will be beside you today, but I wanted to let you know once again how proud of you I am. You have grown so much, and not just in size. I am sorry I cannot be there to watch how you grow from now on, but I know the Princesses will be there to guide you when I cannot. Remember, Spike, that I love you, and that missing someone isn’t the worst thing in the world. It means you remember them, and that you shared good times with them, that are now passed. Behind the bookshelf in the restricted section I have hidden several more scrolls for you. Things I couldn’t bear to tell you in person, but I feel confident I won’t mind you reading now. Once again, I love you, Spike.
Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle.
Spike looked over the scroll again, reading every word over in his mind.
Pinkie was suddenly on his shoulders, grinning, “What are you waiting for, Spike? To the restricted section!”
Spike stood, and carefully set down Pinkie, before starting to rush. He had some reading to do.
Pinkie easily made her way up the stairs despite her ancient form, smiling serenely as she made her way up to her friend’s room. The Restricted Section of the Golden Oaks Public Library was a room of shelves with a lofted bed space over it to one side. It was where Spike slept when he first came to Ponyville, and where he slept now that he was in charge of the library, protecting the most valuable and most dangerous parts of his horde.
Spike was already at the bookshelf when Pinkie arrived in the room, her eyes tracing the scars of years of magical research on the wooden floor, as well as the scars of a growing dragon. Her eyes turned from the floor to her friend, the birthday boy, as he felt along the shelves. All of them were recessed into the wall. “Well, it’s no use trying to move the bookshelves themselves.”
He deftly started taking books down in rows, setting them gently down on the floor with his large claws. After a few minutes of this, he uncovered a panel just below the stairs, marked with a six pointed starburst. Spike swallowed, remembering how he showed Twilight a similar panel downstairs from before their tenure at the library. She must have copied the construction to make this. He very gently pressed on the shape of Twilight’s cutie mark, and the panel pulled back, and slid to one side. The space beyond was filled with scrolls.
Pinkie was now at his side, gently nuzzling her way under his wing.
Spike perked up, before smiling and holding his friend close. “Thank you, Pinkie.”
Pinkie chortled, “I know better than to let a friend face the past alone. Now go on. Read.”
Trembling, Spike reached a claw inside and very carefully lifted it. This seemed to have the least aging out of the scrolls there. He flicked the tip of his claw and broke the seal, unfurling it delicately.
My Dearest Assistant and Beloved Little Brother Spike:
I am sorry I cannot be with you much longer. I have looked into spells and magic to prolong my aging, just to try to be there for you, but all spells that would do so, I fear would rob you of the pony that I am. So although I don’t wish to leave you, I must go on ahead to the next world. It’s alright, Spike. I know you will do well in the oncoming years. Though the ponies of Ponyville can be a panicky lot, they have accepted you so fully, even after you have grown up twice. I go on to be with my friends who passed before me, our big brother and parents. You’ll always be my little brother, and my number one assistant. I love you, Spike.
Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle.
PS: Pinkie, if you happen to read this, take care of him. I’ll be expecting a full report when you get here.
Pinkie smirked, “Oh Twilight. You know I don’t do reports.”
Spike sniffled. Twilight must have written this scroll shortly before her death, while she was in hospital. His mind travelled back before he could stop the memories.
“Spike?” Twilight Sparkle looked up at the adolescent dragon.
He nodded, holding her hoof. He was sitting next to her bed at Ponyville Hospital. She had fallen again, one too many times for Nurse Kindheart to let her stay at the library for a while.
“Yes, Twilight?” Spike whispered, afraid if he spoke too loud he’d break the mare.
“I think it’s near end of visitor’s hours.” Twilight Sparkle smiled sadly up at the dragon.
“I know.” Spike said softly.
Twilight coughed into her free hoof, clenching her eyes shut, before letting out a low shuddering sigh. “I’m glad you come to be with me, Spike.”
“It’s not like I’d leave you in this place by yourself. It smells like…” He trailed off. He shouldn’t tempt the fates. “It smells funny is all.”
Twilight smiled. “Spike… I really should give you access to the Restricted Section now.”
Spike perked up. “Twilight?”
She chuckled, “You’re old enough to read everything in there, and responsible enough not to let any of it fall into the wrong hooves.”
“Twilight…” He said softly, unable to think of anything substantive to say.
“You do well, Spike. You’re a good librarian. Better than I ever was.” The greyed mare said softly, looking away.
“Don’t say that.” Spike gently squeezed the hoof in his claw.
“It’s the honest truth, as AJ woulda said.” She smiled.
Spike looked away, hiding the pain in his face.
Nurse Kindheart, one of Fluttershy’s daughters, walked gracefully into the room. “Spike? It’s time for Twilight to get some sleep.”
Twilight nodded. “Go home, Spike. I’ll always be here for you.”
Spike sighed, and gently let go of the frail hoof, and carefully slipped through the hospital, compressing his body to slide through the doorways. The dragon finally exited the hospital, looking up at the stars, before heading back to the Library.
He didn’t see the winged shape headed the other way.
Spike, instead of going to his own room, slipped into Twilight’s room, and curled up atop her bed, barely fitting. He sighed, picking up a book, and carefully starting to read. He was there for a long time, or perhaps no time at all. He couldn’t be sure.
The window opened of its own accord, sending the chill of night air through the room. Princess Luna soared into the room, landing silently as the dragon looked up from the tome.
Luna looked at him, as if unable to think of what to say, before she spoke softly. “Twilight Sparkle is dead.”
Spike felt a dull pain in his chest sharpen and renew, pressing towards his heart. “In her sleep?”
Princess Luna nodded serenely. “My sister came to sit with her in the night. She was there when Twilight passed.”
Spike nodded, “That is how it should be.” He felt like the pain in his chest was drilling into his heart, draining away his emotions. He should be crying, right? He cried when he realized she was getting older. But now that she was dead, no tears came.
“If you need to talk, Spike, my sister and I will always listen.” Luna said softly, her hoofshoes making nary a sound on the hardwood floor as she walked to the side of the bed.
“I think…” Spike paused. He didn’t know what to think. “I think I need to be alone. For now.” He mechanically looked away from her, and into the book. There, on the page were two words, at the very bottom. The End.
Spike carefully rolled up the scroll and set it on one of the currently vacant shelves, sniffling.
Pinkie nosed gently at Spike’s chest. “You know, if it hurts too much, we can take a break. I bet the next batch of cookies will be out of the ovens soon at Sugarcube Corner.”
Spike shook his head. “No… I have to do this.” He reached into the hidden chamber, lifting up another scroll. He carefully unfurled it, and began to read.
My Dearest Assistant and Beloved Little Brother Spike:
My heart goes out to you, on this night. Reality has reared its ugly head, and what has been known cannot be simply wiped away by time. Everypony knows that Everypony dies. It’s something we all consciously know. But when you realize the implications, that someone you love will be gone from this world, this knowledge sinks in and becomes real in the most terrible way. I am an old mare, though you’d better not say that to my face. I know what will happen to me. I know what will happen to all of my friends. And I know, someday, in the distant future, you’ll finally join us. I will try to prolong myself, if just for a little while longer, to put off that dark day where I have no choice but to break your heart. I heard you, though you thought I was asleep. I am glad you have learned to voice your feelings again, even if it took this much of a shock.
Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle.
Spike sniffled a bit, wiping his nose on one leathery wing as he stared at the parchment in his claws. He knew what she was talking about.
Somewhere along the way, he’d apparently decided he was too old to say it. Perhaps it was as his wings were growing in, but even before then Spike had been more hesitant and embarrassed to say it.
There had been a time when he’d say it whenever he got a cookie, or whenever he got to stay up late, but like many colts do, Spike toned down his enthusiasm, became more stoic, when he wasn’t moody.
While he never got as bad as some other adolescent dragons they’d met, mostly through good guidance by a certain purple unicorn, he wasn’t the easiest being to live with, spending more and more time alone in his new room with Peewee. He’d sigh dramatically when asked to do library work, and slouch at the returns desk when he had to be on duty. He’d eat as much as he could get away with, and it seemed sometimes every day he was getting ganglier.
So, a typical teenager.
Time continued to pass. Adventures still happened. The world didn’t wait for a teenage dragon, or for a unicorn who was starting to grow gray in the mane.
One day, while ascending the stairs, Twilight collapsed. Before he realized what was happening, Spike was at her side, scooping her into his arms. “Twilight, are you alright?”
Twilight sighed and nodded. “I didn’t realize how tired today made me.”
Spike looked at the pony who’d been there all his life, who hatched him, who Celestia had entrusted with raising him once she was old enough. And now he realized how old and tired she looked.
“Do you want me to carry you up to your room, Twilight?” Spike asked, his voice quavering.
For a moment Twilight looked like she was going to be stubborn, then her face softened, looking up at the dragon. “Yes… that’s the best thing to do for now.”
Spike nodded, and stood upright, carefully ducking his head down as he ascended the stairs, and slipped through her doorway, into the restricted books section which sat below the loft that was Twilight’s bedroom. He carefully carried her up the second flight of stairs, and set her down on her bed. “Is there… is there anything else I can do, Twilight?” He swallowed nervously.
Twilight smiled to him, and stretched out, her joints cracking and popping. “Well, it might be nice to have some company. Why don’t you read with me?” Her horn alighted, and multiple books glided into the room, starting to circle around them.
Spike didn’t look at the titles, he just grabbed one at random. “Alright, Twilight.”
Twilight chose a book of her own, and sent the others away, opening the book and starting to read.
Spike opened his book, and looked at the pages blankly. His mind was not on the symbols on the page, but on Twilight.
He’d always known that dragons age slower, and live far longer than Ponies. It was an undeniable fact. But…
He’d never realized what that meant for him and Twilight. He always felt somewhere inside that she’d always be there for him, even when he didn’t appreciate it.
But now he knew their days together were numbered. He gulped a bit. How long had he been staring at the page? He looked up, and Twilight’s cheek was resting on the page. His eye frantically darted to her side. It shifted, rose, and lowered with her breathing. He released a breath he didn’t realize he’d held.
Spike stood up. It wouldn’t do to leave her on top of her covers. It would get cold tonight. But he didn’t want to move her either.
The adolescent dragon walked around to the other side of the bed, and slowly crawled up onto Twilight’s bed. Dragons are warm. He’d help keep Twilight warm. He looked over the graying streaks in Twilight’s mane, the subtle wrinkles forming at the corners of her eyes and lips.
Spike sniffled, and felt a burning tear roll down his cheek, and fall onto the bedding, steaming in the cool evening air. The dragon draped one of his broad wings over Twilight, leaving her head exposed, and then curled his long neck down to rest next to the book she used as a pillow. After so many years, he said it again.
“We really don’t have to continue today, Spike.” Pinkie said reassuringly.
Spike wiped the tears on his cheeks away, “N-no… this is good. I can take it. I’m a big guy.”
Pinkie nodded. “If you say so. They should be getting happier anyway, right?”
Spike looked pensive, rolling up the scroll. “Maybe.” He picked up the next scroll.
My Dearest Assistant and Beloved Little Brother Spike:
I’m taking this chance with you out of the library to write another of these letters. I haven’t decided when I should show them to you yet. I doubt you’d appreciate the sentiment that goes into them right now. You’re off with the crusaders, taking care of our honorary nieces and nephews. I don’t know if you’ll ever consider having children of your own, but I hope you do well with them as you grow. Libraries will always have children about, and if I have any say in it, you’re going to be the best Librarian there ever was. I know a lot of the work seems tedious, but I’ve seen the way you open up when you talk about a book you love. I’ve seen you eager to share knowledge with ponies, and it is a remarkable sight. Anyway, you’ve always been better at finding books and sorting them than I am. Hopefully, foalsitting is not too stressful tonight. I’d like to see you outside of your room for a while.
Spike sighed, looking up from his book. “What is it, Sweetie?”
The grown mare chuckled at the town’s resident dragon/assistant librarian. “AB, Scoots, and I are gonna be taking care of the kids tonight, want to join in?”
“I dunno if I’m all that good with colts and fillies.” Spike raised one scaley eyebrow at the singer.
Sweetie tugged on his claw with a field of green magic from her horn. “Come ooooonnnnn…”
“Go on, Spike. The library will survive not having its watchdragon around for a few hours.” Twilight Sparkle smiled, walking down the stairs. “Mothers of Ponyville taking another ‘mom’s night out’, Sweetie?”
Sweetie turned around to face Twilight, the motion combined with her magic tugging Spike over the returns desk and into a faceplant into the hardwood floor. “Oh yeah! Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack are having a night out again, with Bon Bon and Lyra this time.”
Spike grunted, and pushed free of the magical hold, flexing his wings. “And I bet the dads are off on their own party night so they won’t have to watch the foals.”
Twilight peered at Spike. “Don’t be so negative Spike.”
“Not being negative.” He stood upright, stretching and letting some joints pop. “Just being realistic.”
“Well, don’t talk like that around the little ones.” Twilight chided.
Spike sighed and nodded. “See you later on tonight, Twi.”
She nodded as well, waving. “Have a fun time, you two.”
Spike made some sort of noncommital sound, and stepped out the front door.
Sweetie had waited for him, and now moved to walk with him, “You were right, you know. The ‘guys’ are off drinking as far as I know.”
Spike nodded smugly. “So, what’s the venue for tonight’s circus?”
“We’re gonna be holed up in the barn with a projector and that video game system Rarity bought to help raise Lancer.” Sweetie led the dragon towards Sweet Apple Acres.
“The Gamesphere? Neighstation’s got a better game library.” Spike chuckled. They were both distracted by a low rumble.
Turning to look, there was Scootaloo approaching on her motorcycle. Spike still didn’t know how she afforded the payments on the hog, but he remembered how the first time she’d seen one she’d sworn she’d have one.
She rumbled to a crawl next to them, raising her helmets’ visor. “Hey Sweets, Spike. Think those overgrown bat wings can beat me to the farm?”
“Oh, I know they can.” Spike grinned.
Sweetie covered her ears with her hooves, as Scoots slammed her visor down and tore off down the road.
Spike stood where he was, looking smug.
Sweetie looked up, “I thought you were racing?”
“We’re already inside the border of Sweet Apple Acres, and you and me got here first.” Spike winked, and continued to amble along the lane. Maybe a night without library duties would be nice.
Then he heard the clamor of fillies and colts, rushing to greet “aunt Scootaloo” on her motorcycle.
And then Spike remembered.
Sweetie smiled, but muttered, “Gonna be a loooooong night.”
“Well,” Spike deadpanned. “If we’re lucky I won’t burn down the barn this time.”
“This time? Did you burn it down before?” Pinkie looked inquisitive.
“What?” Spike snapped back to reality.
Pinkie peeked at the scroll from her position rested against Spike. “See, it was happier.”
“I suppose it was.” Spike smiled softly.
Pinkie grinned. “It reminded me, though. How come you haven’t found some nice dragoness to settle down with?”
Spike groaned, but couldn’t help but grin too. “Because all the dragonesses I’ve met would sooner burn my face off as look at me.”
“That’s what they call playing hard to get.” Pinkie winked.
Pinkie nudged at Spike softly with her snout as his laughter faded.
The dragon perked and reached into the chamber once again, pulling out one of the older scrolls there. He cleared his throat, and then began to read.
My Dearest Assistant and Beloved Little Brother Spike:
We fought today. Even though we made up fairly quickly, I wanted to make sure you knew how I felt. I don’t want to see you get hurt. I know you can take a lot, as a dragon, but I don’t want to find out how much it takes to break you. I care about you deeply. I would hate to have been able to keep you from hurting, and failed. Wow… this letter got sappy quickly. I think I’ll just set this letter aside until later. See how I feel about it. Anyway. I wanted to make sure you knew I do the things I do because I care. I’m not trying to smother you, or anything like that.
Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle.
Spike took a moment to remember what the fight was even about, but soon it all came rushing back to him.
“I can’t believe you, Spike!” Twilight Sparkle paced back and forth, as the adolescent dragon in question was being tended to by Fluttershy.
“How am I supposed to learn to fly if you freak out every time I try to use my new wings?” Spike sighed, and grunted a bit as Fluttershy’s hooves pressed a joint back into place.
“Oh dear, I hope that didn’t hurt too much…” Fluttershy rubbed the area gently.
“How you’re supposed to learn to fly, is wait until you’re ready, then get -supervised- lessons from talented fliers!” Twilight stomped a hoof.
“Hey, you sayin’ I’m not a talented flier, Twi?” Rainbow Dash got in Twilight’s face. “You sayin’ Rainbow ‘Danger’ Dash, First Lieutenant of the Wonderbolts isn’t qualified to teach flying?”
Twilight pushed Dash out of her face with a careful application of magic. “You expect too much, too fast out of him! He’s just a—”
“I’m not a Baby anymore, Twilight!” Spike practically roared, sending Fluttershy skittering under a sofa.
Dash shot a dark look at Twilight, and went off to check on Fluttershy.
”You crashed really hard today. I…” Twilight sighed. “I don’t like it when you get hurt, Spike.”
“It’s not exactly a piece of cake for me either.” Spike hmmmphed, crossing his arms across his scaled chest.
“At least let me know when you’re trying to fly so I can be there to help.” Twilight sat down, looking up into Spike’s face.
The dragon rubbed over his shoulder with one claw, “Well… as long as you don’t wrap me in magic padding or anything.”
“Nothing like that. Just a 43, a 27, and perhaps an 82 if things get crazy.” Twilight smiled hopefully.
Spike chuckled, “Yeah, because 43 and 27 are never crazy when combined.”
“Spike…” Twilight moved over to him, and nuzzled at his uninjured side.
The dragon sighed, and hugged the purple unicorn close. “I know you worry, but it’s like you’re smothering me in pillows so I don’t hit any hard edges.”
“You used to like playing ‘pillow submarine’…” Twilight sighed.
Spike smirked, “Da, comrade.”
Twilight laughed despite herself, pushing at Spike with her hooves. “Your accent is still atrocious.”
“Maybe, leetle poneee. Maybe.” Spike grinned, and blocked a telekinetically thrown pillow with a claw. “Just… Try not to worry about me? I’m a big guy now.”
“Tell me about it.” Twilight rolled her eyes.
“Well, this morning I found etch-marks in the wood at the head and foot of my bed from my footclaws and headspikes, I have to duck my head going through every doorway…” Spike started to count off on fingers.
Twilight pushed him again. “Figure of speech.”
“Gosh.” Spike said melodramatically, hiding a smirk.
Fluttershy blinked, and looked to Rainbow Dash. “Do they always go this quickly from yelling to not?”
Rainbow Dash sighed. “And back again, sometimes.”
“I’ll never understand siblings.” Fluttershy muttered.
“Pillow submarine? Isn’t that from someone else’s story?” Pinkie mused a bit.
Spike looked down at her. “What?”
“Nothing.” Pinkie smirked a bit, and slipped out from under Spike’s wing. “For now, I say pace yourself. This is a good place to stop. Nice and upbeat.”
“We had a fight.” Spike raised a brow ridge at her.
Pinkie nodded. “And you made up, and said things in silly accents.”
Spike was about to ask how Pinkie knew about that part of the argument, when she winked, “You flashback pretty loudly.”
It was moments like this when Spike wondered if Pinkie ever truly changed. He half expected her to reach up, grasp a zipper pull hidden in her mane, and unzip her old pony disguise to reveal her true young bouncy self.
Pinkie walked around Spike and gently nudged his hindquarters, “C’mon, I’ve stalled long enough.”
Spike stood up, setting aside the scroll. “Stalled?”
“Yup. I was supposed to keep you company until it was ready, but I didn’t think you’d take this long. Sugarcube Corner awaits.” Pinkie nudged again.
Spike chuckled, “Sorry, Pinks.” He started to walk back out, careful not to bump into his friend.
Pinkie suddenly hugged Spike’s tail, and let out a quiet “wheeeee” as he descended the stairs.
Sugarcube Corner had gone through its share of remodels, including a total reconstruction after one dragon birthday went wrong. The latest remodel had saw fit to expand the door, to allow the town’s resident dragon safer access to sweets. When Spike nudged the door open, the lights were off inside.
They turned on suddenly. “Surprise!” The party space was filled with ponies. A banner towards the back declared: “Happy Centennial!”
Spike smiled, looking around at all the ponies he recognized. There was Pumpkin Pie, who ran Sugarcube Corner with Pinkie’s help, after taking one of Pinkie’s cousins for a husband. Mud Pie stood alongside his wife, smiling up at the resident dragon. Their children, Blackberry and Raspberry, were fast becoming the life force behind the bakery, doing most of the work as the owners got older.
Then there was Lancer, the heir to a social and fashion empire. Now aging himself, he visited Ponyville only on special occasions. Spike last saw him at Sweetie’s interment. He had with him his own daughter, Sparkler, who reminded Spike of her grandmother.
Nurse Kindheart was there, along with her brother Butterscotch and her daughter Posey. Spike hadn’t had reason to see the Nurse since the passing.
Gravenstein stood nearby, a vision of his father’s strength even at his extended age. He named his daughter after his aunt, and she looked just like her namesake, except her eyes were blue. His cousins had moved away to work other Apple Family farms across Equestria, even found new ones. They were likely too busy to have made it to a birthday party.
Rainbow Dash had never had children, but Scootaloo had. Her daughter Firefly was getting on in years, but she still was one of the best flight coaches Cloudsdale had ever seen. Her son had passed a few years prior, but his sons were here, named for their grandfather and great uncle.
Spike sniffled softly. Just seeing ponies that were his friends brought back that dull ache of loss.
One by one, the ponies came over to Spike, and before he knew what was happening, he was all wrapped up in pony hugs, all over him. He curled his wings, and eased them around every pony. “Thank you all…”
Pinkie broke the hug first, smiling, “Time for cake, Spikey-wikey.”
Spike looked up, as a few other ponies slipped away, to reveal the largest cupcake he’d ever seen. He oohed, “Sapphire… so that recipe’s still around…”
Pinkie grinned, “Of course. And for everypony who can’t eat gemstones, we have another cake.” She gestured, and Raspberry wheeled in a sheet cake. Spike oohed at the decoration. Thousands of tiny dots of colored frosting formed a picture from a distance, of Spike standing in front of the library.
Spike carefully made his way to his special cake, and chuckled when PeeWee alighted atop it, holding a wooden dowel decorated like a candle. “Oh, so that’s where you’ve been today.”
PeeWee crooned and winked, standing atop the dowel like a candle’s flame.
“Yes, yes, we know you’re adorable.” Spike laughed, and then blew gently, causing PeeWee to lose balance and have to take off.
The ponies around the room clopped their hooves in applause, and cake began to be served out to the party guests. PeeWee settled down on one of Spike’s tail spines, preening himself now that his role had been played out.
“Hello, Spike.”
Spike turned his head. There, standing regally in a simple black dress, stood Princess Cadance. She had worn black ever since her consort, Prince Shining Armor, passed.
“Cadance? How can you be here? I thought your duties, in the Crystal Empire…” Spike started.
“Diplomatic missions are easily brought up, especially for an occasion you can see coming.” The Crystal Princess smiled. “I will be visiting my aunts before I head back to the Empire. But I wanted to see how my brother-in-law was doing.”
Spike looked to her, and over her, before asking, “How do you deal with it? Before the Empire, you aged like normal ponies, but now you’re like Celestia and Luna.”
Cadance sighed softly. “I love. I never stop loving. The world has so much to love in it, why would anyone choose not to?”
Spike nodded. “The sun glows, the moon shines, you love.”
“Isn’t that phrase ‘the sun shines, the moon glows’?” Cadance raised a brow.
“The sun doesn’t shine, it radiates light. Shine is albedo, or reflection—” Spike stopped himself. Cadance was grinning.
“Sorry… but I wanted to see that bit of Twilight left behind in you.” The Princess nodded, satisfied.
“I’m afraid it’s not the best bit of her.” Spike sighed.
“Cheer up. Have some cake.” Cadance gestured with a wing.
Spike looked at the sapphire cake, and held in a smirk, “Won’t get offended over me eating crystals?”
The Crystal Princess laughed. “Crystals are a bit a bundle. We can’t stop them from growing even if we wanted to. Feel free to chomp away.”
Spike picked up the oversized cupcake in his claws. It was proportioned the same as that first sapphire cupcake was, all those years ago. The main difference in his perception was that the sapphires were so much smaller now. Spike began to eat his cake, taking his time, savoring the mixture of flavors. The frosting was sweet, and in it hid the jagged edges of the cut gemstones, prodding at his tongue and cheeks until his powerful teeth ground them down.
He swallowed and sighed softly, taking his time. After all, he had all the time in the world.