"You see Featherweight, it´s all in the claws! There´s no prize I can´t get thanks to these babies!"

Featherweight rolled his eyes and let Spike brag some more about how he won six games in a row. He had to admit that when it came to throwing a ball, Spike was the best if only because he could actually hold a ball.

"Well, I got enough plushies for all my friends. What game do you want to go next?" Spike asked.

The usually quiet Featherweight pointed at a hill where Thunderlane and Rumbled were waving at them.

"Oh right, you did say that Thunderlane was taking you guys to try the Tornado Ride."

Featherweight tucked his wings, a gest that meant he was trying to apologize to Spike.

"Hey it´s cool man, no wings, remember?"

Featherweight nodded and headed to meet Rumble and his brother.

"It´s all cool. Cool..."

But it wasn't cool at all. Despite all the games and music around him, Spike was having a hard time keeping a smile at this carnival. He had insisted Twilight all week to come here but, as usual, she was buried at work even in a weekend so Spike decided to go alone. He was lucky enough to find Featherweight and they had fun for a couple of hours but now Spike was all alone.

He thought about going to look for Snips or Snails. He was considering going to the Crusaders Clubhouse, even when he knew they will probably drag him to another crazy escapade instead of coming to the fair. But Spike decided to instead just sit in a bench.

It wasn't just the fact that he was alone in the carnival, it was the fact that he was the only dragon around. He looked at all those fillies and colts running around and then looked at himself. He found claws instead of hooves. He touches his forehead and found no horn and when he scratched his back there were no wings.

Spike was the only dragon in Ponyville and it was in times like these, when he was surrounded by a crowd of ponies, that he remembered that sad fact.

****

"Spike! Spike! Hey Lyra, have you seen Spike?"

THe mint unicorn shook her head and Twilight sighed, continuing her search. She was starting to get worried and regretting not coming with him when he asked to. Like always, she got too excited with her paperwork and barely heard Spike when he left. It wasn't until she ran out of ink that she realized her assistant wasn't there. The sound of the empty library reminded Twilight that sometimes she wasn't the best boss or the best sister.

She was about to go ask Rainbow Dash to help her look for SPike when she heard a happy tune. It didn't come from the carnival butfrom a nearby hill. Twilight approached it and found the musicians sitting in a log.

"Spike?"

"Woah!" Startled, Spike dropped his flute. "What? Oh Twilight, what are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you. Since when did you know how to play the flute?"

"Hey, I know how to play a lot of instruments! Want to hear my awesome drum solo?"

Twilight giggled. "Maybe later. That was a catchy tune. Who taught you that? Pinkie?"

"No. I...I wrote it." Spike played with his fingers, obviously nervous. Twilight noticed this and put a hoof on his shoulder. "Twilight, can I tell you something?" Twilight nodded. "Sometimes when you are too busy with work and you leave me all alone, I go outside and write some music. Just little happy tunes to cheer me up. I know it´s silly but it helps when I feel alone."

This sudden confession left Twilight speechless. She looked at Spike who avoided her look, almost embarrassed of what he just said. Twilight brought him closer and he smiled, finding comfort on that hug.

"Sorry, I don't know why I say that," he said, once she let him go. "I know you're busy with your work and it´s important so don't worry about me, okay?"

"Spike, don't be silly. I will always worry about you."

Spike laughed, fighting back some tears.

"Well, now that you're here, why don't we go to the carnival? Look all the prizes I already won! I bet I can get some more!" he said.

"That´s nice Spike but actually, I would prefer to stay here and listen to some music," Twilight said, sitting down.

Spike smiled and sat down back in the log.

Twilight nodded her head along with the melody that Spike played, the little dragon deciding that playing for her felt a lot better than playing alone.