Chapter 5: The Night Out

Spike and Golden Heart enters a room which appears to be beautiful unlike the rest of the castle. As they enter, the two hears Twilight speaking, "Whoa, slow down, hey, slow down. I think it's healthy that I would get to know somepony over a long period of time. Yeah, call me old fashion; Ha ha ha."

The duo sneaks into the room and looks. There's the Demon Pony with one foreleg around Twilight, much to the two's amusement. They also see Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow and Fluttershy, being held by Caramel, Brian, Soarin' and Dexter.

"Listen, I don't wish to rush into a physical relationship right now." Fluttershy said to Dexter meekly. "Right, I am not emotionally ready for a commitment of...well...this magnitude, if that's okay."

"I understand, but...I have been alone for so long, minus my friends being here." Dexter said to Fluttershy meekly.

"Still, Caramel, yer're cute an' y'all, but mah friends an' Ah are on a mission here." Applejack said to Caramel in concern.

"Right, like Fluttershy said ‘magnitude’. Hey, whoa," Rainbow yelps as Soarin' tries to put his wings around the mare, making her back off, "Hey, hey! That's unwanted physical contact, Soarin'! What are you doing?!"

"Oh, sounds like fun!" Pinkie giggles a bit while Brian hugs her though he got a bit silly, making her back off. "Okay, stop it."

"Listen, let's back up a little and take this one hoof at a time." Twilight said to Ben in concern. "We should at least get to know each other first as pals or quill pals."

"Right, same here," Applejack said to Caramel in concern. "Nothing personal..."

"But AJ..." Caramel said in concern. Both Spike and Golden Heart looks amused. The Demon Pony and his pals are in love with the Mane Five; Too bad that the Dragon and Alicorn gotta save them.

"Right, Ah is on 'de road a lot but me an' mah friends would love 'ta git cards an' while Ah y'all wanna stay, but..."

"Hey, hey, don't do that!" Pinkie exclaims in concern as Brian got too frisky, "Personal space, Brian! That's my personal tail, you will tear it off."

"Right, Pinkie didn't give..." Twilight yelps as she saw what Ben is about to do. Spike and Golden Hearts decide that it's time to get their friends out of here. The Dragon spots a chandelier hanging over head and grabs a chain that is pulling it. "Wait, what are you going to do with that?! Hey, wait! No way! No no, no; No, wait; No, argh!"

Golden Heart nods as he, with Spike swinging, heads towards Ben in hopes to knock him down, but they end up missing, causing both to swing right back. Of course, none of the keepers even noticed them yet.

"Come on, Twilight; let me at least kiss you." Ben said, leaning down, preparing to kiss the Alicorn much to her concern.

"Right, same here," Brian Tenny exclaims happily. He, Caramel, Soarin' and Dexter are ready to kiss the other girls...but Golden Heart quickly grabs the four, pulling them out of the way in time. "Hey!"

"Awww, I wanted that kiss!" Pinkie exclaims with a pouty look.

"Sorry, but not today." Golden Heart exclaims to Pinkie with a shrug.

Meanwhile Spike ends up knocking Twilight way, landing right where she was...and causing Ben to kiss his butt instead. When he opens his eyes, the Demon Pony gasps upon seeing what he himself did and angrily roars, "Why you!"

Spike quickly releases the chain, causing the chandelier to fell right onto Ben's head, getting it caught and made into a collar around his neck. Rainbow remarks, "And that's our cue to exit!"

The Mane Five were grabbed as they, Spike and Golden Heart quickly run out of the room to make a run for it. As they rush down the hall, they reunite with Rarity, Pinkie and her clone, grabbing them as the gang makes a rush for it.

"Hi there princess," Pinkie and Pinkamena giggles to Rarity happily.

"Wait, there's two of them?!" Rarity gasps in shock and disbelief upon seeing two Pinkies being held.

"Right, it's getting them to shut up, that's the problem!" Spike remarks to Rarity in annoyance.

The gang stops as they saw a descending site in front of them and saw the Demon Pony chasing them with the chandelier on their neck. Everyone jump on and slid down it every fast. Spike's eyes widened as he saw a crack in the stone coming up...and yelps, becoming cross-eyed when it hits him right in the groin.

"That hurts!" Lorcan remarks in amusement.

Once the group got off the slide, Spike put down everyone and stumbles off, walking lightly as he groans, "Man..."

Golden Heart luckily manages to avoid the crack as he and the group rush off with the mad Demon Pony in hot pursuit. They rush through a room and between pillars. During the mad chase, the Demon Pony unknowingly begins making chain links of the chain that was attached to the chandelier still attached to Ben's neck. Spike's group stops and gasps, moving to dodge the energy blast.

"Okay, you all head to the exit." Spike remarks in determination as he grabs a sword. As most of the gang rush off, the Dragon adds, "I will deal with the Demon Pony."

"Wait, aren't you going to let me help?" Lorcan asks his brother in concern.

"Sorry, this is personal..." Spike then strikes as he stabs the sword...right down in between the several overlapping chain links. With a nod, the Dragon quickly rush back to the others, yelling an echoing voice, "Ruuuuuun!"

The group quickly rushes to the exit as Ben appears, angrily shooting out energy blasts that almost engulf the whole castle. The heroes rush out to the bridge and begin to trots/fly across the lava chasm as the ropes begin to snap off like mad. Everyone grabs it as the bridge swing to the other side. Pinkie and Fluttershy yelps as they fell but Spike and Lorcan grabs them by the tail quickly.

While Spike kept on hanging, they gasps in horror and alarm as Ben flew out of the castle and is about to advance on them. Unknown to him however, the sword that Spike uses between the several overlapping chains suddenly begins to hold them in place...and before the Demon Pony could grab the gang, the chains jerk him back, keeping Ben from getting any further...and these are the kind of chains that kept him from using magic.

The heroes manage to climb and flew to safely and run off. Ben struggles to escape then watch sadly as Twilight looks back in hesitation then follows her friends. He sadly said, "Twilight..."

The gang along with Golden Heart and Gold wing run/fly as Pinkamena says, "Ok, we just need to get down the......" Once again she trips and falls down the stairs again and funny noises are heard as the group makes it down. They see her land but she lands on her hoofs and smiles. "Stairs and this time I was ready, let’s get going."

Rarity lands safely at the bottom of the hill, smiling eagerly as she exclaims, "You all did it! You rescued! You are all amazing!" Of course, while Golden Heart and Gold Wing lands safely, the Mane Five fell down the crashing. "Yes, you are all wonderful! You're..."

Of course as Rarity turns, she saw Spike falling down the hill and bumping into the Mane Five while Lorcan fell down and crash into them. He scowls angrily, "Worst landing ever!"

"Okay, a little orthodox, I'll say. But thy deed is great, and thy heart is pure."

"There's more of that funny talk, Goldie." Pinkamena giggles to Golden Heart playfully making Gold Wing squawks a bit in laughter.

"I am eternally in your debt." Rarity said to Spike with a smile.

"Hey, what about us," Pinkie asks to Rarity with a frown.

"Right, we helped out as well, princess." Applejack reminds Rarity, pointing out that she and her friends did indeed save her...well, sometimes.

"Of course; what would a brave knight be without his noble ponies?" Rarity giggles, hugging Fluttershy a bit, making her giggles a bit.

"Aw yeah; you heard that, guys? She called us noble ponies!" Rainbow exclaims with a smile, proud of what Rarity just called her, Twilight, Applejack and Fluttershy. "That felt good."

"Well, that's partially true." Twilight remarks with a proud smile. "We did good...well, some of us."

"Well, the battle has won." Rarity said, giving a lovingly smile to Spike. "You may remove your helmet, good Sir Knight."

Spike and his pals look worried, knowing that Rarity won't be happy to see who's under the helmet. Fluttershy spoke up, "Err, well..."

"Do you want me to do so right now?" Spike asks Rarity uncomfortingly. "Perhaps I will do so later."

"Why won't you take the helmet off now?" Rarity asks Spike puzzled.

"I got helmet hair."

"Come now; I would'st look upon the face of my rescuer."

"Trust me, Rarity. You don't want to." Golden Heart said to Rarity in precaution. There will be trouble if she finds out that her rescuer is a Dragon.

"He's right. No. You wouldn't...'st." Spike said in agreement to Rarity.

"But how will you kiss me?" Rarity asks Spike with a smile. What she said caught the Dragon off guard.

"Wait, what?! Hey, that isn't in the job description!"

"Maybe it's a perk!" Pinkamena suggests to Spike with a grin.

"Right; I mean, she could kiss you on the cheek!" Pinkie exclaims happily, believing that to be the case.

"No, no, it's destiny." Rarity said with a happy sigh. "Come on, you all must know how it goes. A princess is locked in a tower and held captured by a Demon Pony and is rescued by a brave knight. And then they share true love's first kiss."

"Funny, I could've sworn that it was a Dragon that guards the princess." Twilight said puzzled, making Spike and Lorcan growls at her, "Oh, sorry."

"Wait, wait; hang on. You mean...with Spike? You think..." Rainbow begins to say, chuckling a little. "Wait, wait! Are you saying that Spike is true love?"

"As in true love TRUE LOVE,” Applejack ask Rarity in disbelief yet amusement.

"Well, yes." Rarity said with a smile.

A pause, then Spike, Lorcan, Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie and Pinkamena laughs like mad. The brother laughs, "Spike! Ha ha ha! She thinks you're her true love!"

"Guys, girls, not funny," Twilight exclaims to the laughing ones with a frown.

"What's so funny?" Rarity asks the laughing ones puzzled, not sure why they are laughing.

After calming down, Lorcan chuckles, "Lady, face it. My brother isn't your type."

"Eeyup! An' if yew looked at him..." Applejack begins to say, chuckling a bit.

"Well, of course Spike is my type. He rescued me, right?" Rarity snaps to Lorcan and Applejack sternly. Turning to Spike, she continues, "Now please remove your helmet."

"Rarity, look, I don't think this is a good idea." Spike said in concern. He knows that Rarity is in for a huge shock if the Dragon does take his helmet off.

"Just take the helmet off."

"No, I am not going to."

"Take it off!" Rarity snaps to Spike, losing her patience with her rescuer.

"I can't!" Spike exclaims to Rarity in annoyance.

"TAKE IT OFF NOW!!!"

"Eep," Fluttershy screams. Rarity's screaming scares the poor Pegasus mare, enough for her to hide behind Golden Heart, leaving the poor yellow Pegasus pony shaking, "O-o-oh, dear. Spike, do what she says."

"Okay, fine! Take it easy!" Spike groans. The Dragon has no choice now, "As you command your highness."

Spike groans as he proceeds to take his helmet off. Rarity gasps, looking shocked as she sees the Dragon's true face for the first time ever, smiling at her.

"You're...a Dragon?" Rarity asks stunned. Lorcan removes his own helmet, making her gasps. "You're a Dragon too?"

"Yeah, last of the draconian family." Spike said to Rarity sheepishly.

"What, you were expecting Prince Boris?" Lorcan jokes a bit to Rarity, making her groan a bit.

"Well, yes, and but..." Rarity said, still shocked. She sat down, not believing what the unicorn is seeing. "This isn't right. No! You aren't supposed to be a Dragon."

"Rarity, we're sorry, okay? You see, we were sent to rescue you by Prince Blueblood." Twilight explains to Rarity in concern. "That's what we were trying to tell you, sort of. He's the one who wants to marry you."

"Is that so? Then how come Blueblood didn't come rescie me himself?"

Spike pauses as if trying to consider this question. He then said, "Yeah, good question. How about asking him that once we get there?"

"I know the reason: Blueblood is a snobby and too lazy to do any rescuing whatsoever." Lorcan remarks dryly to Rarity. "I worked for him, I know."

"Ahem to that," Rainbow remarked in agreement.

"Oh, that isn't the point! I am supposed to be rescued my true love like a prince or a knight, not some Dragons and his group of peasants!" Rarity, standing up again, complains a bit, being upset over these turn of events.

"Well, so much for noble ponies." Pinkie remarks, frowning a bit while being disappointed by what the princess just said.

"Hey, lady, you aren't making my job easier!" Spike scowls to Rarity angrily.

"Well, sorry, but your job is not my problem! You tell Prince Blueblood that if he wishes to rescue me properly, I will be right here." Rarity remarks sternly as she sat down on a log, crossing her upper fore arms

"Look! I am not a messenger! I am a delivery boy! And you're coming even if I have to carry ya!"

"Ha ha ha! You wouldn't dare." Rarity remarks arrogantly. Suddenly Spike picks the unicorn up and swings her over his shoulder. The mare gasps and hits him, "Hey! Put me down!"

"Hoo boy," Golden Heart comment. Of course, Pinkamena and Rainbow laughs in amusement at this.

"Yeah, cos shaking her is a good thing!" Lorcan laughs a bit. Seeing Spike like this makes his day.

"You others coming or what," Spike ask the others impatiently.

"Right behind you, Spikey," Pinkie exclaims happily, bouncing as she and the others follow Spike while watching Rarity yelling some more, hitting the Dragon's backside some more.

"Put me down or you will regret it! This isn't dignified! Put me down!" Rarity yells out angrily, becoming more frustrated.

"Way behind yew," Applejack remarks with a shrug.

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It was a while later that Rarity eventually gave up fighting; she just lies there in Spike's hold looking a bit bored.

"So here's another question. Say there's this stallion that digs you, right? But you really don't like him that way." Pinkie said to Rarity curiously.

"Well, you do, but you don't want to rush into a relationship right now." Twilight said, still blushing over Ben.

"Yep; Sooo...how do you let him down real easily so his feelings aren't hurt but you don't get clawed, burned or destroyed?"

"Just tell the guy that he isn't your true love." Rarity remarks to Pinkie and her friends with a sigh.

"Oh, I see. That makes sense." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Yes, everyone knows what happens after that." Rarity remarked. Spike in annoyance shakes the mare, making her yelp, "Hey, easy! Well, the sooner we get to DuColt, the better."

"Well, you are sooooo going to love it there, Rarity." Pinkamena giggles a bit. "It's so beautiful."

"Well, to the point." Rainbow remarks while rolling her eyes a bit. "There are some details best left unknown until you get there..."

"So...what of my intended, Prince Blueblood? What's he like?" Rarity asks the others curiously. She wants to at least know the prince that wishes to marry her. Blueblood must be dreamy.

Spike smirks as he put Rarity down. As the Dragon watches his face from the river, he spoke mischievously, "Well, Rarity...guys of Blueblood's stature are in...short supply."

Pinkie chuckles a bit, "Yeah, Spike; Everypony thinks...little of him."

"Yep. And he's...short....tempered!" Lorcan jokes a bit, joining in on the fun. It's fun to make short jokes at someone other than the brother himself for once.

"And short minded," Rainbow remarks with a smirk.

"An' short sighted," Applejack chuckles a bit, enjoying the short jokes at the villain's expense.

"Yeah, but he is a ‘little’ intimidating." Fluttershy said, smirking as she made a joke as well.

"He must be." Rariity said puzzled, wondering why the others are trying their best not to laugh.

"And he’s very good at 'small' talk." Spike jokes a bit. The ponies (minus Rarity) pause and then try to hold their laughs.

"Okay, what are you all doing?"

"We’re just saying, you might wanna lower your expectations a bit."

Pinkamena couldn't help but laugh a bit, "Ha ha. Yeah, like," The Pinkie double crouches down for a bit, "three feet or something."

Rarity sighs, "Oh, stop it; All of you. You are just jealous because you can never measure up to great rulers like Prince Blueblood."

"Would you lay off the short jokes?" Lorcan asks, trying to pretend that he was on Rarity's side despite making a short joke himself.

"What are you gonna do about it?" Rainbow asks Lorcan, challenging him to try something.

Lorcan pulls out a black hilt and sheaths his beam sword; the core is white while the color is green. Twilight stops him in time, saying, "Okay, you two stop it. First off, Lorcan, you shouldn't pretend to be on Rarity's side. You were joking too. Second, as for Prince Blueblood, Rarity, you should know that he got a thing for having a perfect kingdom...as well as a discrimination against those different from him."

"Right, right; Anyway, Rarity, you're right too." Spike said while drying himself off. "But tell you what. I will let ya do the 'measuring' once we see him tomorrow."

Upon hearing that, Rarity gasps and saw the sun about to set, much to Lorcan's notice. The white unicorn asks, "Wait, tomorrow?! It will take that long?! Shouldn't we stop to make camp?"

"Nah; that will take longer; we will just keep on going."

"But but...there could be robbers in the woods!"

Pinkie, hearing that, gasps and stops the others, saying, "Whoa, whoa, time out! Camping out sounds good right about now."

"Right and there may be...monsters too." Fluttershy said meekly and scared. "Perhaps we should stop...just for the night?"

"Calm down. My brother Lorcan and I are more scarier than anything in this stupid forest." Spike chuckles a bit in amusement. What could possibly scare him to change his mind now?

Suddenly Rarity gallops in front of Spike, yelling furiously, "I need to find somewhere to camp NOW!!!"

The mare screams so loudly that Spike's group back away from Rarity in shock. Fluttershy gasps as she hid behind Golden Heart once more. Twilight gulps a bit, "Okay..."

"Sounds like somepony been out in 'dat there castle fer too long." Applejack mumbles a bit making Pinkie nods nervously in agreement.

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The group found a mountain cliff which they can camp at for the time. Lorcan spots a cave in good order and push a stone boulder out of the way, calling, "Hey, found something!"

The others notice as Golden Heart looks concerned. Pinkie frowns as she spoke, "Awww, Lorcan, come on! We can do better than that!"

"Right; I don't think this is fit for a princess at all!" Pinkamena whines a bit in agreement.

Rarity saw the sun going down further. She gasps while exclaiming, "No, no, no; it's perfect, really! The cave just need a few homey touches, darling!'

"Homey touches? As in what," Spike ask puzzled; suddenly the gang heard a breaking noise, turning to see Rarity breaking a bark off a tree nearby.

"Like a door for one." Rarity said with a smile. She goes to the cave with the 'door', "Well, gentlecolts and fillies, I big thee good night."

Rarity goes into the cave, putting the bark behind her and closing it like a door. Pinkie bounces up and down, trying to peek in while calling, "Hey, princess! Want me to read you a bedtime story since we're out here; because I will!"

"I said goodnight!"

The group looks puzzled. Twilight comments, "Weird. For some reason, she wants to hide in a cave like that...and wanted to camp out instead of heading to DuColt right away."

"Don't think 'dat girl is honest wit' us." Applejack said suspiciously.

Spike looks at the others then smirks mischievously as he prepares to put the boulder back into place. Golden Heart stops him in time, asking, "Spike, what are you doing?"

"I was...you know...awww, come on, I was only kidding!" Spike snaps to Golden Heart as he heads off, much to the glares of the others.

"Geez, it makes one wonder."

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It was later that night as the group, minus Rarity still in the cave, sat at the campfire. They look up at the night sky at the constellations with Spike pointing to one, saying, "That there is Garble, the only Dragon who could spit over three wheat fields."

"Right, yeah." Applejack said with a nod.

"So...can you tell our future with these stars?" Pinkie asks Spike curiously.

"I don't think that how it works, Pinkie." Twilight said to Pinkie with a frown.

"She's right. The stars don't tell the future, Pinkie. They tell stories." Spike comments. She chuckles while pointing to a constellation, "Like that one. That's Meatlug the Flatulent. Ha ha ha! I betcha you can guess what he's famous for."

"Awww! Ah know yer're making 'dat up." Applejack remarks to Rainbow with a frown.

"No, no! There he is, and there's a group of hunters running from his stench."

"Oh, yes." Fluttershy said, sprinting a bit as she saw a group of stars leaving a lone one as if running away. "I can see now."

"Awww, man, that ain't nothing but a bunch of little dots." Rainbow remarks with a deep frown to Spike, dismissing his stories.

"Rainbow, sometimes things are more than they appear, hmm?" Spike asks Rainbow as if saying 'don't judge anything without getting to know it first'. Of course, some of the group just looks at him confused. "Oh, forget it."

As the gang rest a bit, Twilight pauses then spoke to Lorcan, "So Lorcan? Let me ask you something: why are you working for Blueblood anyway? He practically hates Dragons."

"She's right and you mentioned having a princess of your own?" Golden Heart asks Lorcan, recalling what the scarred Dragon mentioned back at the Demon Pony's keep.

Lorcan sighs while saying, "Okay, I will talk. Yes, I do have a princess and a true love myself. Her name is Princess Luna."

"Princess Luna?" Twilight ask Lorcan in surprise. "That's the name of my teacher Celestia's sister!"

"So you know her. Good. You see, Luna is the true ruler of DuColt...but one day, Blueblood and some of his loyalists overthrew her and imprisoned her. I really love that mare and didn't wish to see her harmed; Tried to save her, big mistake."

"So let me guess, brother: Blueblood agrees that if you worked for him, he won't hurt Luna." Spike said to Lorcan, guessing right.

"Yeah; I was hoping once this rescue is done, I will be reunited with Luna at last." Lorcan said with a warm smile. He hopes Luna is safe and sound and is wishing to reunite with him soon.

"Speaking of rescue, Spike, what are we going to do once we get our swamp anyhow?" Pinkie asks Spike curiously, recalling what Blueblood promised in exchanged for the rescue.

"Our swamp," Spike ask Pinkie puzzled.

"Right, once we're done rescuing the princess."

"'We'; Hey, look, Pinkie, there is no 'we' at all. Heck, there isn't any 'ours' either! Just me and my swamp...and maybe Lorcan but that's it! And the first thing I will do once this is over is build a 10 ft. wall around my land!"

"Wow, you cut us deep, Spikey Wikey, you cut us real deep just now." Pinkamena said, a bit disappointed at Spike's decision.

"Hmmm, you know what I think." Fluttershy said thoughtfully. "I mean, if you don't mind me by saying this, Spike...but I believe this whole wall thing is some way of keeping somepony out."

"Oh, you think?" Spike asks Fluttershy sarcastically. He turns to his side in hopes to ignore the others.

"Fluttershy is sooooo right. So whatcha hiding," Pinkie ask Spike curiously. Why is the Dragon wanting a wall around his land to keep folks out?

"Look, never mind."

"So this is one of those onion things, right?" Golden Heart ask Spike curiously. He got to know as well.

"Though, it's more of those 'drop it and leave it alone' things?" Spike snaps to Golden Heart in annoyance. The others, minus the concerned Lorcan, just really want to know why their Dragon friend is blocking.

"So how about you don't wanna talk about it?" Pinkamena ask Spike curiously.

"And why do you want to know about it?"

"Why are you blocking it, Spike?" Lorcan asks Spike, making him turn around, getting irritated. "I mean, you should at least let me do the blocking and..."

"I am not blocking, Lorcan, and don't you dare say anything!" Spike growls angrily. He is really losing his patience here!

"Oh yes you are, Spike." Twilight said to Spike with a frown. "You're blocking and don't want to talk about it."

"I'm warning you, folks!"

"So who are you trying to keep out, huh?" Rainbow asks Spike in insistence. "Who are the pests you want to avoid at all times?"

"EVERYONE! OKAY?!" Spike yells out loudly, much to everyone's surprise and concern.

Pinkie nods happily, saying, "Nice! We are Super Duper getting somewhere now!"

"Ugh, for the love of Celestia!"

Unknown to everyone, the door to the cave opens as Rarity peeks out, no one seems to notice her...all but Lorcan who spots her and notices something odd. The hoof that she's using to hold door appears to be a claw. Rarity made a shush sign, wanting him to keep quiet.

As Spike heads to the edge of the cliff, sitting down, the others join him with Applejack asking, "What's 'de' Sam Hill is yer problem?"

"Right, what do you got against the whole world anyway?" Pinkie asks Spike in concern.

"Look, Pinkie. I'm not the one with the problem, okay? It's the world that seems to have a problem with me. People and ponies take just one look at me and go like, 'Ahh! Help, run! Guard your treasure! It's a big, bad, stupid, ugly fire-breathing Dragon!'" Spike exclaims then sighs sadly, looking down. "You see? They judge me before they even know me. That's why I'm better off alone, with the exception of Lorcan."

So that's it. The reason Spike was always alone is that the world judges him for being a monster, without actually getting to know the real Dragon at all. It's sad being alone in a place where almost everyone doesn't want a thing to do with you.

Twilight suddenly nuzzles Spike a bit, saying, "Spike, you know what? When we met, I didn't think you were a stupid Dragon."

"Right, same here," Fluttershy said with a smile. "The rest of us don't think you are like that at all."

"Right, I know." Spike said with a nod. At least there're some people or ponies in the world who think different of them.

"And the truth be told, we felt the same about Lorcan."

"Wait, you do?" Lorcan asks Fluttershy in surprise. She doesn't think him as a stupid Dragon upon meeting him?

"Nope; anyone who is willing to work for a monster just to protect somepony that he loves..." Golden Heart said, smiling as he pats Lorcan on the back. "That's a noble and pure heart there."

Hearing that made the scarred Lorcan smiled gently. It felt good to hear someone say that to him.

Rarity sighs quietly, looking down then closes the bark door. As the gang looks at the sky, Pinkie ask curiously, "So...any ponies up there like me?"

"Well, there's Gabby the Small...and annoying." Spike said, pointing to a star in the sky as if trying to make up a story to make Pinkie feel better.

"Oooh, I see it now. That's the big shiny one up there; that one, right?"

"Pinkie, that's the moon." Twilight said to Pinkie, noting that her pink friend is actually looking at the moon.

"Oh, okay." Pinkie said with a nod.

Lorcan sighed, looking at the bark door that Rarity peeks out, looking concerned. The mare is hiding something and it involves what happens at night, from what Grim mentioned. The scarred Dragon got to find out what that secret is.

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Blueblood grins as he sat in his bed back at his castle. His room is filled with inanimate objects that looks like they were the same creatures that the villain tossed into Spike's swamp...that's because they are. Blueblood and his men raided the swamp while Spike and his group were away on the rescue mission and recaptured the fugitives, even turning some of them into his own furniture and play things.

And if Spike fails...well, tough luck either way.

Blueblood at this moment is looking at the image of Rarity with soft music playing by Grim in the mirror. The unicorn spoke, "Oh, Grim, show me again. Mirror, mirror, show her to me. Show me the princess." The skeleton frowns as he rewinds the whole image again, playing the music from the beginning.

As Blueblood grabs a wine bottle and pours himself a drink, he chuckles, "Oh yes, she is perfect...and the time will come when I am king..."

Author's note
So we find out about why Spike prefers to be left alone. How sad. And what is Rarity hiding? In the next chapter, the white unicorn begins to warm up to her rescuer, which gets intense when the group is ambushed by a group of wolves led by Boss Wolf trying to rescue Rarity themselves! But the unicorn shows that she's more than what she herself seems.

Rarity: Hay yeah!

Me: And of course Spike and Rarity got more closer. Read, review and suggest.

The extra short jokes about Blueblood are from 'Shrek: The Musical'.

Garble is one of the bad Dragons from the actual show. And Meatlug is from the Dreamworks' Dragons series.