Twilight

The castle interior was magnificently decorated as always; flags of blue tulips strewn about a green field, a moonlit sky with stars arranged in a diamond pattern beneath and stained glass windows were all along the walls. Grand pillars stood in the halls holding up the lofty white marble ceiling of the Hall of the Elements.

Above Ponyville, at the peak of the mountain where Canterlot made its home, clouds covered the skies white. Off to the west the sun hung in the sky, casting the clouds’ shadows all across Equestria.

Twilight was breathing heavily, never before needing to teleport such a distance before. She wobbled a few feet before holding her head and steadying herself. As her vision stabilized, the lavender pony glanced around at the hall and found that it was empty.

“Princess Celestia?” called the alicorn as she turned to face the end of the hall, where the elements were once kept. Her lavender eyes fell onto one of the stained glass paintings that were along the walls. She sighed and approached the first painting that was made in her and her friend’s honour, placing her hoof under the portion with Rarity. What does the princess want to tell me about Spike? I hope it’s not bad.

“There you are, Twilight,” sounded a regal voice from behind Twilight. “You have arrived swiftly.”

The studious alicorn spun around and faced her mentor, smiling once their eyes met. “Princess!” Twilight bowed low to the princess. After a few seconds, she felt a hoof under her chin. Princess Celestia brought her face up to look into her eyes. The tall mare smiled sadly.

“There is no need for that anymore. Especially now that Spike has left for his trip.”

Twilight blinked at the sad look in Princess Celestia’s eyes as she spoke. “Sorry. I’m still not used to…looking like this…and not bowing to you.” She shrugged and blushed slightly. “It’s a lot to accept.”

Celestia nodded. “I understand.” The princess gestured forward for Twilight to follow along. She headed for the palace courtyard, Twilight trotting up to walk beside her. “Now, I am certain that you are wondering why I have called you here to discuss Spike’s trip.”

“Yes, actually…how did you know about it?”

“We discussed it on a few occasions, though he hid his intentions from me.” The two ponies ascended the steps to the upper levels of the castle. “I’m afraid that the manner of the journey is not as he says it is, at least to you, Twilight.”

“What?!” Twilight’s eyes widened at her statement and quickly teleported in front of Princess Celestia. “Is he in trouble? What’s going on?”

The alicorn held up a hoof to silence the mare before her. “Calm yourself, my dear Twilight, for growing fearful will do nothing to aid Spike in his quest. I called you here alone because time is limited. I trust you to return to your friends after I finish what I have to say and determine the best course of action with each other.”

Twilight merely nodded for her to continue. The princess proceeded to what the lavender pony assumed was her quarters. So this is important enough to need this much privacy? What has Spike gotten himself into?

“I must request that we not speak more of this until we are in my chambers. This matter must be kept secret. Just between my sister and I and you and your friends. I do not wish for this to be common knowledge.”

“I understand, princess,” said Twilight, continuing to follow her mentor in silence. Giant vases of flowers could be seen at the top of the second floor landing, just after the steps. Another set of flags hung from the ceilings and doors were arranged all along the hallways, leading off into other rooms. Twilight recognised her old room as she glanced out one of the windows and also managed to see the school where she had hatched Spike sixteen years ago. Where are you, Spike? Really?

The lavender alicorn looked back to the front when she heard the door to Princess Celestia’s room open. She looked over her shoulder at the smaller pony, before walking in. I don’t know what is going on, but the princess looks really shaken about something. I’ve never seen her so nervous. Spike…Rarity…please be safe.

Twilight sat at the couch in the princess’ room, waiting for her to explain the reason for being needed immediately. Princess Celestia stood silently on one side of the room, facing away from the lavender mare. Twilight took in her mentor’s living space as the silence drew on. She hadn’t seen it much during her time in Canterlot, but the room hadn’t changed since she was here.

The princess’ living room was quite large, mostly to fit the multitude of books that she kept on her bookshelf. Eight six foot-tall shelves were placed on the south end of the room, organised in much the same way as Twilight had for the Golden Oaks library back in Ponyville. Three windows were placed on the west and east sides of the room, with a staircase leading up to her bed and another hallway to the kitchen on the north end. The only thing that Twilight noticed had changed was the type of table that was in front of the couch: a rounded glass table instead of a retangular wooden one.

Minutes had passed by in that room, and Twilight was beginning to think that Princess Celestia would never speak to her of what was so important. Princess, what are you waiting for? If Spike is in trouble, I don’t think that we have time for this. The alicorn was about to voice her concerns when the white pony turned to face Twilight.

She held a grim expression on her face, one that startled Twilight into swallowing her complaints. She sat up straight on the couch and swallowed hard. “It began when Spike’s wings first grew in, I believe, though he did not speak to me of his idea until after Luna began to teach him to fly. It was little things, questions about where he was found, if I knew where that was; also if I knew where any dragon lands were. Unfortunately, I did not understand what he was asking at the time and I directed him to the Crystal Empire library.

“Even as old as I am, one thousand years is not far back enough to know of a time when dragons spoke to ponies. If there was any information about the dragons, it would be in the books of the empire that was long forgotten until recently. The Crystal Empire existed long before my time, and the ponies there documented everything of usefulness. I am not certain that anything was there, but judging by Spike’s journey, I would say that he has some idea of where to go to find dragons.”

The lavender mare placed her fore hooves on the glass table and stood up. “But why is he trying to find dragons again? I thought that he decided not to go after them after that journey he went on.”

“I am not certain, Twilight.” Princess Celestia shook her head and sighed deeply. “I have a feeling that he is still interested in finding out about himself. Possibly even about his family. I cannot fault him for that. He seemed to be most interested in where he was found. I have never told you about where that little purple and green egg was from, did I; the one that you had to hatch for your entrance exam?”

Twilight blinked at the odd question, but lowered her head in contemplation. I didn’t. Now that I think about it…why wouldn’t I? She shook her head at the princess’ question. “No. I never asked. I suppose I was too little to wonder where a dragon egg came from.”

“That’s not surprising. You were too busy raising him to wonder where he came from. I found Spike’s egg in the Ibexian Tundra. It is far west of Equestria, on a completely separate continent. It is in a permanent state of winter; ice and snow always covering the land, the trees and the lakes and rivers. I had sensed a disturbing presence off in that direction and had decided to investigate. It was before Luna was freed from her imprisonment on the moon.

“I had never sensed anything like it before. It was strange and ancient; nothing like Discord or King Sombra. But when I arrived, it had disappeared. In its place…lay a black and white dragon.” At that, the elder pony sighed and began to walk around the room. Twilight thought she saw some tension developing on Princess Celestia’s face, as if remembering this moment brought her great pain.

Did she know this dragon or something? Princess…what are you trying to tell me? Twilight turned, walking out from between the table and the couch to see her teacher better. Princess Celestia cleared her throat, seeming to regain her composure. “This dragon was swiftly being covered in snow from a storm in the area, but I could tell that it was fully grown. It was curled up almost like it was trying to keep warm. I acted cautiously, for I did not know how a dragon would react to seeing a pony. But when I rounded on his head, I saw that…he had already perished. And near his chest…was that little egg that you now know as Spike.”

Twilight’s lavender eyes widened in shock at what the princess had told her. “What?! But…but you said that this happened before Luna was freed. How long ago was this?”

Princess Celestia smiled and shook her head. “You never miss a word, do you Twilight? Hmm, I would have to say at least three hundred years ago. I did not think that I could save the little one. Something that small in such frigid temperatures, even being surrounded by that dragon’s chest full of fire, would not have had much time. I had no idea how long they had been there, before I arrived either.”

“Three…three hundred years?”

Celestia nodded. “Yes. The moment really touched me. I do not know what happened, or why, but I could not abandon an animal to die. I swore to that dragon…that I would save and protect that egg with all of my power. With not a moment to spare, I teleported back to the palace and ordered the Canterlot doctors to bring the egg up to a warmer temperature.

“The teleportation took the same toll on me that day that it took on you coming here, though the distance was farther. I was able to reach the hospital wing and give the egg to the nurses before needing to rest. We really did not know if our work had actually helped. They managed to bring the egg up to a warmer temperature, of course the temperature regular for a pony.

“Nopony knew about dragon development, so we could only hope that that was enough. For the next three hundred years or so, we worked to hatch the egg, but no matter how many strong unicorns tried, there was no indication of any life from within. Only when you were tasked with the hatching of Spike’s egg were our doubts finally assuaged.”

“You mean…not even you…?”

She closed her eyes, standing directly in front of the smaller alicorn. “No, my dear Twilight. I was too afraid that I would cause some harm, attempting to hatch the egg myself. Now that Spike has grown up, I suppose he wishes to know about his family. I can surely understand that, but I did not think it my place to tell him. I doubt that I would be able to tell him of how he survived that day, in any case. I only mentioned that he was found near the Ibexian Tundra.”

The studious alicorn thought on that for a moment, thinking back to what Princess Celestia said about the black dragon earlier. Her lavender eyes widened in realisation. “Wait. So that dragon…the one that saved him as an egg…was that Spike’s father?”

Princess Celestia stayed silent for a few moments, seeming to be contemplating her answer. She sighed and hung her head. “I am uncertain. I do not wish to believe that what you ask is true; however, it had occurred to me at the time that that seemed to be the most logical conclusion. I didn’t see any other dragons about, so it is possible.”

Twilight took a step back and shook her head. “That…that’s awful.”

“Yes,” the princess replied, stepping closer to Twilight. “That is why I need you and your five friends to go after Spike, and help him to cope with the possibility that his father died to protect him. Not only that, but I fear that he is in danger on his own.”

“He didn’t go alone. Rarity went with him,” retorted the studious mare. Her eyebrows creased as she thought about the white unicorn’s actions. “And if what you say is true…that Spike is going to find his family…then he must have told Rarity about it too.”

“I could only assume that as well. I am surprised that she would agree to go with him without saying anything though. Her generous spirit must have had something to do with her agreement.”

“Rarity…how could she not tell me what he was thinking of doing? Why did she lie?”

Princess Celestia lifted a hoof up to her chin. “Hmm. Perhaps it was Spike who asked her not to speak of this to another pony.”

“But why?!” shouted Twilight, her wings flaring about her in frustration. “Why would neither of them tell us why they were doing this?”

“Twilight, we do not have the time to question their motives. Before we can figure out why they did what they did, you and your friends must follow them and bring them back safely. I do not know how far along they are, but I can send you in much the same direction that they have taken.”

The astute mare sighed, managing to calm her breathing and her heart rate down. “Alright. You’re right, princess. Getting angry and frustrated won’t bring my friends back. It looks like I have no choice but to follow them again.”

“Now Twilight, do not be so hasty to accept.” The taller pony stepped closer, resting a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “This will be a dangerous journey, more so for you than it will be for Spike and Rarity. You will not have the luxury of being able to fly all of the way across the open ocean to the western continent without needing to stop.”

Twilight smiled in response, undaunted by the task. “It’ll take a little longer to reach him then, in that case. But you said that Spike and Rarity were in danger, and I can’t just sit here while my friends are out there; especially if they will get hurt. Please Princess Celestia,” she pleaded, with her eyes trained on her mentor. “please tell me that you know how my friends and I can get to them in time.”

The two stared at each other for a few seconds, silence filling the room. Princess Celestia smiled and broke eye contact with her student. “Very well. First, your trip will begin back in Ponyville. You and your friends will meet at the train station at the earliest convenience. You will need to prepare for a long journey before disembarking. From Ponyville, you will travel south to Vanhoover by train and reach the coast within a day and a half. A ferry will be waiting for your group. It shall take you to Starswirl Island, the island where Starswirl the Bearded lived while he was not being my advisor.

“I’m afraid that that is as far as I can aid you in this endeavour. The territorial boundary of Equestria only stretches out to that island and a few others scattered around to the south. I am afraid that you and your friends will need to fly the rest of the way to the Saddle Arabian desert, directly west of your location.

“However, if I should be able to contact the Ibexian princes before you reach the border, they may provide transport to their lands. We have an open border agreement that allows us to ship trade goods to each other. It could be useful. Otherwise, once you arrive at the Saddle Arabian desert, you must take great care in this place to not make the desert sand move to much beneath your hooves. Fearsome creatures burrow into that desert, and few ponies or any other animal foolish enough to not have caution when in that place ever return.

“The border of that land and the area from where I found Spike is once again to the south. From then on, it is a walk through the Ibexian Tundra, where direwolves and other dangerous creatures are said to originate from. Continue the journey west, where on the other side are the Scorched Lands, to where I suspect lies a colony of dragons. The area where Spike was found was very close to that spot, most likely being dropped from the sky in a panic. I am not certain what could scare a dragon into dropping one of its kind though.”

That is a troubling thought. Twilight stood up tall with a stern expression crossing her features. “Alright. I’ll begin immediately.”

“Before you go,” Princess Celestia interrupted, raising a hoof to gain her student’s attention. “know that this task is unlike any other that you have faced. I cannot be clear on what I fear will come to pass; however, I sense that something greater, even greater than the danger of Spike and Rarity facing dragons, is involved here. You must be careful.”

“I can’t just sit here while my friends are in danger though! If they’re in trouble then my friends and I have to go and help them in whatever way we can.” Twilight quickly reigned in her outburst; placing a hoof over her muzzle and feeling blood rush into her cheeks. To her surprise, however, the princess before her began to chuckle.

“I’d expect nothing less from my most faithful student. Very well,” she replied, adopting a firm stature and voice as she continued. “I strongly urge you to practice caution when on this quest. I have little knowledge of the wilderness on the western continent, so you and your friends must be careful.”

Twilight nodded her acknowledgement. “Alright. I think my magic has returned. They should all be back at the library, so we will start preparing immediately.” She quickly began to funnel her magic into her horn to begin her teleport back to Ponyville.

“Twilight, wait. There is one thing that I must mention and ask of you. It is about Spike. I do not know if his time in the egg had anything to do with this, but I have never known a dragon to be able to send letters through their flame. Nor have I ever known a dragon to grow to the size of a pony in just four years.

“There is so little that we know about dragons, and Spike might be our only lead to further knowledge. It would seem that he is something of a unique type of dragon not written about in any text thus far. I do not wish for him to be hurt, not only because he is important to understanding the dragon species, but also because he is important to me. So I ask you…and your friends…please keep my promise and protect him.”

Twilight gazed at the princess and saw the desperation in her eyes. She swallowed hard and stood up straight. “I promise. For you and for myself, I will make sure he and Rarity are safe.”

Princess Celestia nodded her thanks and watched as the lavender alicorn’s horn lit up. Twilight closed her eyes, but she could still see the expression on her mentor’s face. She’s holding something back, just like Rarity was. What did she sense three hundred years ago that caused her to find Spike? Spike and Rarity’s faces appeared in her vision in that moment, and she pushed those unanswered thoughts aside. It doesn’t matter. I can’t waste any more time. Twilight focused her magic and opened her eyes as she teleported back to the Golden Oaks library.

Author's Notes:

Chapter 15 is edited and posted. We're approaching the more complicated features of this tale. Spike appears to be an anomaly when it comes to dragons.

I'm being quite careful with the knowledge on dragons that is present in this world. All of what the princess says about him is postulation and guessing. She has never seen a dragon use magic to send letters or grow so rapidly, but she has really only seen dragons grow up at a distance. The only knowledge, as stated in chapter 13, is that all ponies know about them is in the Crystal Empire library, and that is over two thousand years old. Not much to go on.

I hope that you also liked the flags at the beginning. The way they are designed is stemming from the Song of Ice and Fire books by George R.R. Martin. Houses of royal note, if you will. Spike also appears to be much older than any of his pony friends, though he doesn't know this. Judging by how he was found, wrapped up within a black dragon, there is a much larger mystery about him than first thought.

I can't wait to write more about it. But any who, onward to the next chapter. Ta ta! ^^