When I woke up the next day, I helped out Rarity with her luggage before we left the suite and out of the castle.

A few days had then passed since Twilight's birthday and during that time, I learnt that Spike had his birthday coming up, so I thought of getting something for him. When I woke up the next morning in my home, I reminded myself that it was Spike's birthday today. I thought of getting him something gem-related but then he'd probably try to eat it. So perhaps a gem made in stone on a stand would be better.

After getting myself ready and packing a few bits, I trotted out of the house, into the town and over to the gift shop. After I made the purchase of a gem made in stone and in plaque, I had it wrapped up in a present and I made my way over to Twilight's Library home. Along the way, I saw Rainbow, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rarity heading the same way.

"Hi girls, I guess we all have the same idea." I greeted.

"Sure do, sugarcube, these presents here are all for Spike." Applejack.

I then noticed Rarity having a heart necklace around her.

"Where did you get that necklace from?"

"Spike gave it to me the day after you and I came back from Canterlot, it was so beautiful that he wanted to give it to me instead."

"Wow, that's very generous of him, I guess you returned a favor?"

"Sure did, a thank you kiss is as harmless as anything, dear."

I smiled as we arrived at Twilight's house.

We opened the door to Twilight's home and entered.

"It's over, Spike! I'm cleaning that cheek!" Twilight exclaimed as Spike began running away from her.

Twilight used her magic to teleport him back to her, but he continued running. Nonetheless, Twilight continued casting her spell, creating an unending cycle, tiring both of them. "It's mine!" Spike shouted as Twilight teleported him. "Stop it!"

"Never!"

"Twilight!"

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie disappeared from our group and reappeared in front of Twilight, blowing a party hooter. After, she rushed over to Spike and greeted him. "Happy birthday!" She threw confetti and streamers over him. For whatever reason, Twilight managed to use the cloth she had and wiped Spike's cheek. "Party time, woohoo!" Pinkie Pie threw more confetti in the air.

The girls grabbed the gifts and held them with their teeth, except Rainbow Dash, who flew and held the dumbbell with her hoof.

"Are those... for me?" Spike questioned, surprised.

"You bet they are, birthday boy." Applejack replied, tossing the gift onto his claws.

"Happy birthday, Spike!" Fluttershy softly exclaimed and placed her gift on top of Applejack's.

"Happy birthday, Spike." I added, placing my gift on top of hers.

Rarity also threw her gift on top of mine. Pinkie Pie stretched her legs and placed hers on Rarity's. And Finally, Rainbow Dash released her dumbbell on top of all of them, causing Spike to lose his balance and fall towards the floor, dropping all the gifts. He looked at all of them with a puzzled expression on his face as he rubbed his head.

"Don't you know you get presents on your birthday?" Rainbow Dash asked him.

"Well, actually, this is my first birthday in Ponyville, I usually just get one present from Twilight. A book." He explained with a frown.

As Twilight began walking towards him, I could see her carrying a book with a bow on it. However, she stopped upon hearing Spike's sentence and looked back to see the book she was bringing him. She hid it behind her and slowly walked away as she blushed.

"Speaking of presents," Rarity pulled out a cape-like cloth. "…this is from my new line of taffeta capes. I'm going to make one for each of you!" She presented it before us.

All of the girls were fascinated by the cape and offered their surprised thoughts and awes with it.

"Um, Rarity…" I commented as I continued looking at the cape. "Wouldn't these kinds of capes be more for girls?"

"Oh...right, not to worry dear, I'll make one in a blue, colt style for you when I can."

I smiled, "Cool, thanks."

"I've been inspired by the generosity of my little Spikey-wikey, who gave me this beautiful fire ruby, one of the kindest acts I've ever experienced."Rarity presented her necklace. I noticed Spike gain that love-struck look on his face once again. Rarity rubbed her head compassionately on Spike's as he warmly accepted. "Mmm."

Spike opened the impressively many gifts he received as we ate cake and other treats. Honestly, I had never seen so many gifts in my life. He was just finished digging through a square box to pull out a blanket with apples on it. "Applejack, I can't thank you enough for this great blanket. I really needed a new one." He hugged Applejack, causing her to drop the apple she was in the middle of eating.

"C'mon, Spike, you already thanked me fifteen times." She gently pushed him away from her. "I'm startin' to get a little embarrassed."

"I know I keep thanking you guys, but I'm just so grateful."

"Hold on, Spike." I announced as I walked over to him. "You still have this one to open." I gently pushed the box towards him.

He immediately began tearing the wrapping paper. When he finally opened it, his eyes widened at the sight and he mouth watered. "Gems? You got me all sorts of gems?"

"Of course. Dig in!"

"THANK YOU!" He squeezed me and literally jumped inside the box, munching on all sorts of gems. "I wish this party could last forever!"

Pinkie Pie was bouncing on a blue balloon with a party kazoo in her mouth until it popped. She sat down and spread her hooves. "Duh!" She rushed over to Spike, pushing Applejack and Twilight out of the way. "The party can't last forever 'cause you have to go to Sugarcube Corner, 'cause the Cakes said they have a special surprise for you, 'cause it's your birthday!" Pinkie Pie's excited movements caused her to fall towards the ground.

"No way!" Spike exclaimed loudly and instantly began running out the door.

"I said the party couldn't last forever, but it doesn't need to end right now!"

Spike continued running and ignored her, slamming the door behind him in an excited and happy manner.

I chuckled lightly and looked at the others. "I'll go make sure he doesn't hurt himself on the way over there."

I walked over to Sugarcube Corner to catch up to Spike who was excitedly motioning his feet near the counter. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Cake!"

"There's the dragon of the hour! Happy birthday, Spike!" Mr. Cake announced joyfully.

"Thanks!"

"When we found out it was your birthday, we couldn't resist trying out a new recipe!" Mrs. Cake lowered herself below the counter to retrieve something. "Sapphire!" She presented a blue cupcake with sapphires on it. The cupcake stood proudly on the plate.

"Wow!"

The cakes gave him the cupcake, which he returned a series of licking lips and more watering of the mouth. I continued smiling and walked up to him. "C'mon Spike, we can still enjoy your birthday a little more while we still have the time."

"Alright." He answered but laid his eyes on the cupcake.

We started walking out as the Cakes followed us and stopped at the door.

"Thank you so much!" He shouted towards them, waving them goodbye and licking his lips again after. "Man, first I get a bunch of great presents from my best friends, and now an amazing sapphire cupcake!" He excitedly commented to me as I looked at him. "Hohoh, what a day!" He suddenly bumped into somepony. "Whoa!" I noticed the pony was Ms. Cheerilee. The grocery bag on her back was about to fall off. I quickly rushed towards it and prevented it from falling and spilling any of the contents inside. However, Ms. Cheerilee was on the floor with her eyes spinning around in a daze. Spike's cupcake must have flown out of his hands because he caught it with his insanely long tongue and brought it to his claws again."Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry, Cheerilee!"

"That's okay." She responded. I placed the bag back on her back. "Thank you so much, Alex." She thanked, sending a smile to me.

"It's not a problem at all." I replied, returning a smile as well.

She looked over to Spike who still had his cupcake. "What's got you so excited?"

"Pinkie Pie told me I should come see the Cakes, so they could give me a cake 'cause it's my birthday today!" He explained.

"Well, happy birthday, Spike! I wish I had something to give you!" She placed a hoof on her cheek and thought. "Uh... oh!" She raised her hoof with an idea. She dug through her grocery bag with her head and pulled out a hat with a feather on it. "Here you go!"

"Wow, really?" Spike questioned, touching the hat.

"Sure! Everypony should get fun gifts on their birthday!" Spike immediately sprung towards Cheerilee and gave her a grateful hug as well. "Have a great birthday, Spike! Goodbye, Alex!" She announced as she began to walk away.

I waved and looked towards Spike.

"I wish every day was my birthday..." He presented dreamily as he tugged the sides of the hat over him.

I started began having this odd feeling as he carried on walking through the town. I had an odd feeling about him now, but I shook it off and decided to enjoy the rest of the day relaxing. I then spotted Derpy flying around in her special way before stopping and landing on the ground when she saw me.

"Oh hi Bond." she greeted.

"Hey there Derpy, how it's going?" I asked.

"Very good and what about you?"

"It's all fine, would you care for a muffin?"

"Sure, where shall we go?"

"My home at Cloudsdale."

"Alright, show me the way."

Derpy and I then flew upwards, although she may be a little clumsy with her flying, she did seem to have a good mindset of where to go. When we arrived at Cloudsdale, we continued to fly over until Derpy pointed her hoof out to a house.

"There's my home, it's right there." she said.

We flew down and landed by the door, she opened it and we walked in. When I had a look around, the house was quite nice and welcoming from what I could see. There were two bedrooms instead of one though, so I guess Derpy isn't the only pony that lives here. I then heard light hoofsteps coming from one of the bedrooms, a little filly showed up and she was a pink filly with blonde mane...just like Derpy, I wondered if that was her...

"Mommy!" the pink filly exclaimed as she galloped over to hug Derpy by the foreleg which made me smile.

"Hi Dinky, we have a guest in our house today. This is Bond Racer, say hello to him."

"Hi Mr. Racer." she replied to me.

"This is Dinky Hooves, she's my daughter."

"Well hello there, Dinky." I said to her, noticing she had a horn. "You're a unicorn?"

"Yes I am."

"So your daddy must be a unicorn, right?"

"Well actually, we're not even sure if that's right." Derpy intervened.

"What, how come?"

"We don't know, but I do know that someday, she's going to learn to use magic and be a great daughter." she said petting her daughter, Dinky. "That portrait over there is my parents, they were pegasuses like me."

"That I can understand, but how was Dinky born as a unicorn is what I can't quite get."

"Like I said, we just don't know how or why."

"Oh well, she seems to know her surroundings."

"Yeah she does...anyways, time to make muffins."

"Oh oh oh! Can I help?" Dinky asked in excitement.

"Of course, Dinky."

"Yay!"

"What about me?" I asked.

"You just make yourself at home, we'll take care of the muffins."

"Okay then."

I sat by the sofa and watched Derpy and Dinky go through a recipe book and making the muffins...some time had passed and when the muffins were done, I could smell them and they were good.

"There we are, muffins are done and ready." Derpy declared as she served them on a large plate at the table

"And they smell really good." I said as I walked over.

"Yay, muffins!" Dinky exclaimed.

We then got stuck in by eating the muffins, there was at least enough for me to have a couple. They tasted really good too...mmm, double chocolate, hope Dinky brushes her teeth...but what do I care really, I'm just a guest in their home.

"Those were some terrific muffins, you should forget about being a delivery pony and open a muffin store." I suggested.

Derpy and Dinky giggled, "You're funny, Bond." Derpy said.

"Ah well, I do try." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

Just then, a scroll appeared from nowhere and landed by me.

"A letter from Twilight Sparkle?" I asked as I opened it up to read the letter. "Bond Racer, come straight back to Ponyville, major emergency!"

"Ohhh, that doesn't sound good." Derpy commented.

"Nope and I'm gonna have to cut this short as I need to go right away."

"It's okay, we'll see you again another time, but thank you for seeing me and Dinky."

"Same to you both, good bye." I replied as I waved and left their home.

I soon leapt up and began to fly out of Cloudsdale and back to Ponyville, when I arrived, I heard a siren go off.

"What the, is there a nuclear war in Equestria?" I asked out of the blue.

I got no answer, but then a giant purple arm suddenly appeared and with it's claw, smashed the siren post to dust.

"Oh...my...word." I said quietly.

I looked up and up to see that it was a huge dragon with green scales.

"ARGH! IT''S SPIKEZILLA!" I shouted out loud.

Spikezilla which I decided to call it for the moment, rampaged through the town, scaring the other ponies into hiding. I then heard a loud scream by the tail, I looked over to see Rarity bring wrapped around by his tail.

"Put me down you brute!" Rarity yelled at him.

I'm guess Rarity has no idea that it's Spike.

He continued to cause damage through the town when Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy showed up.

"Dash! Fluttershy! You girls have to free Rarity from him!" I exclaimed.

"We're on it!" Rainbow Dash responded and brought Fluttershy with her.

"Don't worry Rarity, we'll save you!" Fluttershy said as they flew towards her.

"Put her down, right now!" Rainbow Dash commanded on his left.

"I- if you wouldn't mind, that is..." Fluttershy added fearfully on the other side.

"I mean it, dragon boy!"

"We'll be ever so grateful if you'd be so kind as to possibly consider..."

"Drop her, scaly!"

"Uhh, you two, this is not helping." I intervened.

Spike backed away from them and turned around, wildly swinging his tail around to swat them out of the air. "Hey!" Rarity yelled as she was tossed side to side in his tail. "I'm- Not some- -sort of common- fly swatter!" He eventually was successful when Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were caught hold by Rarity's cape, which tore, and began falling straight towards the water as they screamed.

"Look! The Wonderbolts!" Dash exclaimed as they suddenly turned up.

I began to fly up again and watch as the wonderbolts tried their best to stop Spike but they were unsuccessful as Spike got them trapped in the water tower basin by the mountain.

"Oh be quiet. You've got nothing to be proud of!" Spike opened his mouth and motioned his claw mockingly as Rarity continued to lecture. "You steal everypony's things, terrorize the town, and use me as a weapon against my own friends! Which, as horrible as it is, I can almost understand because you're a dragon and all. But this!" I saw her rip something, most likely her dress. "This is a crime against fashion!" Spike brought her closer to his eyes to observe something on her… Strangely… his expression changed… It wasn't aggressive anymore…"Oh no. You are not getting this gemstone! This was given to me by my dear friend Spikey-wikey... the kindest, sweetest, most generous dragon ever. And it is too precious to me to give to a greedy old beast like you!"

Spike grunted and opened his eyes. They turned into compassionate ones… Maybe… Maybe he's remembering about the gemstone! After a few seconds, Spike shook his head and placed his claw on his cheek.

"Oh, what now? I suppose you'll be eating me or something?" He began shaking and suddenly, through jerky motions, transformed back into himself. "Spike? You're the rampaging dragon?" Afterwards, they began falling straight towards the ground, screaming.

Pinkie Pie was looking through a pair of binoculars as we could only stand watching at the bridge. "Somepony do something!" She cried out loud as Applejack placed her hat over her face, fearing the worst.

"I'm on it!" I yelled as I flew as fast as I could towards them...eventually, I swooped by and Rarity landed on my back whilst I grabbed Spike with my hooves. Then, I finally slowly down and flew to the bridge, before landing down and dropping them off.

"There we are, all in a good day's work." I bragged slightly.

The water tower fell from the mountain, revealing the wonderbolts cowering together, but once they noticed they were free, they hovered in the air proudly and flew away.

I sighed and joined the others on the other side of the bridge. "I never want to go through that ever again…"

"Ugh, don't even remind me." Twilight replied.

"Ah'm just glad that's over. Next time we'll think twice about getting him gifts on his birthday." Applejack added and we all shared a laugh.

I noticed Spike sitting on the bridge arch as he looked around at all the damage he caused when he was a godzilla spin-off earlier, but I knew that he wasn't himself at the time, Rarity walked towards him, perhaps to cheer him up and give him some assurance, before planting a kiss on his cheek which made him smile.

As we walked back towards town by sunset, Spike began writing a letter. "Dear Princess Celestia, today I learned a great lesson about friendship. Well, you might think that it would feel good to get lots and lots of stuff, but it doesn't feel nearly as good as giving something special to somepony you really care about. But I learned that it truly is better to give than to receive, and that kindness and generosity are what leads to true friendship and that's more valuable than anything in the world. Well... almost anything." He looked towards his cheek, which presented a pair of lips.

I looked at him and smiled. "That's a good letter, Spike."

"Thanks!" He responded. "Sorry about the way I acted."

"I'm sure everypony will understand...in the meantime, I think it's going to take all of us to repair all of Ponyville."

"Yeah...I feel so horrible after that."

"Don't be, Spike. I suggest you take it easy for a few days and then you'll be fine once again."

"Okay, thanks."

"No worries."

Soon afterwards, we all exchanged our farewells and agreed that starting from tomorrow morning, all of us will fix the damage that was caused today, with help from the other ponies of course. I made my way home and inside, I wanted to get to bed as I feeling more tired than normal, plus, I would be needed for the next morning.

As I began to sleep, I looked back on today's events. Spike sure had a good birthday to begin with and I had a good time hanging out with Derpy and meeting her daughter Dinky, I could only smile at them. Then seeing Spikezilla rampaging through the town...I'm just glad that no camera holder got crushed, that alone could give anypony nightmares! Next Chapter: Hearth's Warming Eve Estimated time remaining: 20 Hours, 29 Minutes