Rebirth

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony, nor am I profiting off this literary venture.

----

It was strange, riding the train this time. He fit on the seat. His feet (Hooves) could touch the floor.

He could see the ground passing outside the window now instead of sky and trees.

Sitting across from him were his saddlebags. Half the pastries he'd been sent off with already eaten.

He couldn't quite describe the experience, try as he might.

Bringing light to shadows? An apt metaphor.

Seeing sounds?

Tasting rainbows?

Alright, not that last one. He'd get punched if he said that in the wrong company.

The point of it was, on his (Wrong) original tongue, there was sugar, salt, and maybe a faint aftertaste of whatever else went into the food.

Milk and eggs being the 'Strongest'.

And he'd worked with that. He'd developed a subtle pallet that let him cook, as he'd been told, amazing meals.

He'd just assumed everypony else tasted things the same as he did. Except they weren't lucky enough to enjoy things like a mellow citrine, a spicy sapphire, bittersweet emerald or a truly sublime diamond.

And he was wrong. So wrong it hurt.

Or maybe that was the forced self control to keep from devouring the rest of his bounty in a mindless rampage of glorious sugary satisfaction.

It was probably that.

(Maybe just one more?)

Probably shouldn't.

Spike did.

----

"So how do we want to do this, Princess?" Royalty was given a wide berth, the princess of the night even more so than the other three.

"T'would be easiest speak to the local authorities first. Even if they lack in details, an event of such nature would still have drawn their attention." Twilight supposed that made some sense. In experience she would have to disagree, but in theory that's exactly what the authorities were supposed to do.

"Alright. Where do we go to do that?" Twilight nearly walked past the elder princess before stopping to turn around. "Luna?"

"We're already here, Twilight." Her head whipped up, reading the great brass lettering of the building they were next to.

The Tack and Tackle?

She turned around to read the sign on the other building.

Fillydelphia Police Department.

That made a bit more sense.

Together they entered the building. Even the presence of two members of the Equestrian royalty couldn't silence the incessant clacking of typewrites, pens, pencils and just the general hubbub of activity of a police department in a multicultural city.

One unicorn approached the two, though he didn't bow.

"Princesses, we were told you'd be on your way. I'm Lieutenant Frisky. If you'll come this way, we'll get you situated in the conference room with the chief." They were directed to an elevator. The button for the next floor was pressed.

The front door of the department was ripped off it's hinges with a slam, the tinkling of broken glass filled the air.

A red dragon stood in the portal, the smell of cider followed him.

"Usually we're the ones finding you, Garble. Not the other way around." A unicorn doing paperwork at their desk was nonplussed at his entrance.

Twilight moved to exit the elevator, reopening the closing door as she did. Luna's hoof on her back stopped her.

"You gotta do somethin'!" The dragon was shouting, his breath foul enough to curl the princesses nose from across the room. "It ate a dragon, Gumshoe!"

"Are we gonna have to make you sleep it off in the drunk tank again? Byling, get him-"

"No." Luna stepped forward, forcing the closing doors to reopen once more. "Let him speak."

She stood to her full height, the air, fouled by the dragon's stench grew dark and oppressive.

"Tell us, wyrm. What ate a dragon?" Garble retreated a few steps, glass shards cracking beneath his claws.

"A m-monster. Made of metal and-and-and blood!" He was clawing at the glass, trying to get away as Luna's eyes glowed a pure, brilliant white.

"Show me."

----

Spike awoke from the short nap he'd been taking as the train attendant rattled on the window to his compartment.

Sugar, lemons, cherries and so much more.

He hadn't (Wanted) been able to stop himself.

It was just so good.

Ponyville would be the next stop, just a few short minutes away.

How was he going to explain this? Did he (Yes!) want to explain this?

He could (Shouldn't) just pretend he was a new unicorn in town.

Enjoy a Pinkie Pie party for being new in town.

Hang out with the colts and fillies his own age.

Finally woo Rarity...

Yeah, no. That sounded creepy, even (Especially) in his own head.

He liked to think (Know) he had some integrity, thank you.

The train was slowing down. He had a choice to make.

He looked to his reflection and smiled.

Like it was ever a-

What?

Spike made a face, pulling his lips away from his teeth.

That was not a pony smile. Those chompers were all dragon.

How had he not noticed? How would he have noticed? (I never had pony teeth to tell the difference with.)

He couldn't go throughout his life without smiling. (That'd be miserable.) So what was he going to do?

The train lurched as it came to a halt.

If he was a pegasus, he'd wing it. Instead he was just going to have to put one hoof in front of the other and deal with it.

He shucked his saddlebags over his back and made his way off the train. The station wasn't deserted, it was actually kind of a hot spot, what with Ponyville being the home of Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship.

Still, it wasn't busy at the moment. A few ponies milling about, some getting on, some getting off.

One pink earth pony with a mane spun like cotton candy. Standing on her hind hooves and holding a sign over hear head that said.

"Welcome home, Spike!"