Up in Canterlot, everypony was preparing for the annual Summer Sunset Celebration. The decorations were being put up, the tables were being set, the food and drinks were being prepared, and tapestries were being hung.

Little did the citizens and the wealthy know, there were fillies sneaking out of the city to a specific location for something else that was equally special to them...

Ponyville - Storyteller's Carriage...

Fillies from the city and from Ponyville gathered in Central Square, where a carriage with a modest build and a large curtain that says 'The Tales of Equestria's Heroes'.

Fillies and foals gathered in front of the carriage to hear what tales the owner of the carriage had for them this year.

Soon, the curtains to the carriage opened, revealing an elderly unicorn within.

This unicorn had emerald green fur and an emerald green horn. His eyes were a deep magenta, his mane and tail were ash grey and he had a light grey beard. He had the cutie mark of a scroll surrounded by magenta magic and white stars. He also wore a camouflage cloak over himself to not be seen by any predators or creatures.

"Welcome my young travelers..." The old pony began. His voice was old but gentle.

"Good Morning, Emerald Shine," All the fillies and foals greeted with smiles.

"Thank you ever so much for coming here. Tell me young ones, have you ever made a wish before, as you have wished for the wish deep down in your hearts?" The pony known as Emerald Shine asked.

A majority of the fillies and foals nodded there heads, others shook and the rest stayed silent.

"Then do not be shy my little ones, feel free to tell me what you have often wished for..."

Then all the children started saying things that they've for when they were younger than they are now.

"Well my worthy travelers, I have quite the tale for all of you..." Emerald placed down a small ceramic bowl with many lotuses and vines. He then pulled out some colorful dust and threw it in the bowl, creating a puff of colorful smoke and magical mist within. The children gasped in awe of the trick.

"It is time for the tale of Spike, the singer... and the Element of Love," Emerald said as the mist made shapes of the things Emerald said.

"What’s that?” Asked a filly.

“All and more in the story,” Says Emerald with a wink.

"Can you sing the story to us, Mr. Shine?" One filly asked.

"Yeah, we want to hear you sing the story," Another filly said as others nodded their heads in agreement.

Emerald chuckled softly and rose. "As you wish, my worthy travelers..."

The children all got into comfortable positions as they listened intently to the old one's tale.

Emerald threw in another pile of colorful dust, and the puff was much bigger as it made magical lights animate the actions within the old pony's tale. All the fillies gave their 'oohs' and 'ahhs' as they watched the unicorn and the lights.

Emerald chuckled as he observed to the children the city of Canterlot above.

~

~

The patrons of their shops were calling out to sell food, flowers, ceramics, and other merchandise and decorations for all-day items.

An owl paid one pony a bit for an apple, and the seller gladly gave it to the owl with a smile. "Have a good day," She said kindly. The owl hooted with a happy look and flew off to Ponyville with the apple in his talons.

The owl flies through Ponyville and into a window of a tree castle in Ponyville, appearing by the side of a lavender alicorn who was writing a letter to an old friend and mentor.

The alicorn then gives the letter to a small dragon, who blows it with his fire, and the smoke magically travels out the window towards Canterlot.

The letter appears in front of another alicorn who is white, and she begins to read it with a smile. A phoenix is seen preening her feathers, and then squawks at a strange crow to leave her be. The crow squawks back and flies out of the alicorn's room.

The crow flew over the Everfree Forest and to Rambling Rock Ridge Mountain, where there were many drakes, not dragons, that stood before a massive 50 story alicorn statue, her eyes a very bright white and her mouth ablaze with light inside of here throat, and sat on her stomach. One particular drake who was smaller than the rest, had a staff in his hand, staring at a diamond dog who nervously approached the alicorn, one of his drakes ordering the dog to enter.

"Only one of the greatest heart may enter here. One who's personality represents all that the Spirits are. The Serpent of Love..." The alicorn echoed in a female voice.

The drake ordering the diamond dog to enter pressured him. The smaller drake simply stared at the cave and thought about its words with intent, his pet crow landing on his shoulder. The drake pet the crow as the crow huddled up to his owner.

As the diamond dog approached, the alicorn suddenly slammed a massive hoof on the dog and made him vanish into the ground. "Seek out the greatest of heart... The Serpent of Love..." The statue said before her eyes stopped glowing and she returned to slumber.

The smaller drake sighed and turned around to head back to Canterlot, his pet following him in tow.

Out in Ponyville, patrons were waiting for customers to come by and grab some food from their shops, hoping to feed families of their own and preserve for themselves.

Among these ponies of Ponyville, was a young dragon.

This dragon had deep lavender scales, emerald green eyes and spines, and a light green belly with light green wings. He was about the size of a filly.

"That will be two bits for the bag of apples," The patron says to the dragon. The dragon placed the two bits on the shelf and picked up the bag of apples. "Thank you very, have a good day," The patron said with a smile.

"You too," The dragon said with a smile as he left for the tree castle. As he walked, he noticed a mare with a young filly behind by her side in an alleyway in hopes of food. Feeling pity for the two, he took a couple apples out of the bag and approached the two.

The two alleyway ponies were simply sitting down, until they saw a young dragon approach them. The mare gasped and hid her child behind her.

The dragon slowly approached the two a couple feet away. "It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you..." He said reassuringly. The two were a little nervous to see a fire-breathing dragon approach them like that. "Here, these are you guys," The dragon said as he presented the apples to them. The mare slowly approached the dragon and slowly took the apple. She quickly retreated back into the alleyway with her child and gave her an apple.

"I-I hope that keeps you guys satisfied," The dragon said as he continued his way to the castle. The little filly peeked from behind the wall and smiled at the young dragon without him knowing.

Castle of Friendship - Castle Library...

A young alicorn was reading a book about advanced spells. It was none other than the studious bookworm, Princess Twilight Sparkle.

She looked at the time to see that it was two seconds from twelve. "Two seconds late," She thought to herself disappointingly.

Just then, she heard the front doors open and hear her assistant call out.

"Twilight, I'm back!" Twilight put down her book and left the library.

Main Corridor...

The young dragon made his way to the kitchen, where Twilight just happened to be waiting for him. "You're a few seconds late, Spike," She said to the dragon known as Spike with a disappointed look.

"Is that... bad?" Spike asked confusedly.

"Spike, you're time on time everyday and every night you go out for things we need.

"Twilight, I had to stop because there was a mare with a filly in an alleyway with nothing to eat and very little comfort to be offered," Spike said in his defense.

"Spike, you should know better than to give food to homeless people, what if they cheated on you, or what a partner of theirs stole a whole bag without you knowing?" Twilight stated.

"That was one time, because Snails was playing as a thief and Snips was playing as a hero cop," Spike said in his defense once again.

"I'm not taking any chances Spike, don't give food to homeless ponies," Twilight said as she made her way to the kitchen.

"But, Twilight-"

"Spike, my answer is no," Twilight said more firmly.

Spike sighed in defeat, "Okay..."

"Also, can you shelf the books back in the right categories in the library?"

"Why... can't you do it?" Spike asked in confusion.

"Because I have a picnic planned with my friends," Twilight responded.

"Wait, a picnic?" Spike asked in surprise.

"Yep, and I don't want to be late. So if you could clean up the castle while I'm gone, that would be great."

Spike sighed a little dejectedly that nopony invited him to any fun activities. "K, I'll... make sure the castle is spotless before you get back..."

"Thanks Spike! Well, I gotta get going, I don't wanna be late for the picnic as I've said before," Twilight said as she put a bag of sandwiches in her saddle bag. "See ya, Spike!" Twilight called as she left.

Spike looked around the castle and saw that it was indeed a large mess. He sighed with depression and got to work.

He started humming a tune in his head. Then after a couple minutes, he sang.

🎶Everyday I wish to have fun
Everyday I wish to do as I please
Everyday I want to explore
Go out and see the world more
But instead I'm stuck here all day🎶

Spike entered the library and started picking up the books that Twilight left for him to pick up, and there was a little more than last time.

🎶Everyday I want to run
And I want to play
Everyday I always come up
with fun things to do and say,🎶
"Wow, what a glorious day!"

🎶But no, I have to
help around
I have make sure everything
is done right for her
I've make sure everything
is spotless and clean
Oh yes, that is for sure🎶

Spike then made his way to the kitchen and started washing the dishes.

🎶Gotta make sure
the dishes are nice and
scrubbed
Get off the grime and sauce
that was left snubbed🎶

Next, Spike made his way to Twilight's bedroom.

🎶Gotta make sure
that the bed is made
Wash the sheets, vacuum
the floor, gotta make sure
there's no creak in the door🎶

Then Spike made his way into the bathrooms.

🎶Sometimes I think
the bathrooms are the
worst
You gotta scrub the tub,
wash the mirrors, and
I gotta make the toilets
look very much cleaner🎶
"Blech!

Then Spike made his way threw the halls, dancing as he swept the floors.

🎶Oh oh, such a list
of all these things to do...🎶

Spike then started to round up the cobwebs around the castle.

🎶But I just really
wanna go out and have
some fun, too...🎶

Spike then began to dust the furniture and then clean it with a wet rag.

🎶However, instead, I
just can't, cause Twilight
needs me to keep the
castle in ship and shape
So I'm not allowed to do
what I wish to do that is
fun for me🎶

Spike then put all the cleaning stuff away and closed the door.

🎶Oh I just want to be
free
To not have to work all
the time
To be able to run out
make my own day fun
Just for me🎶

Spike then entered the main hall where the trunk to the Golden Oaks Library.

🎶Every single time
Twilight and her
friends get to go out
and have a blast🎶

🎶While I'm stuck here
With nothing but what
seems to be an endless
list of chores to complete🎶

🎶But if I don't do
as Twilight says, she'll
only get mad and
down me with an
anger that I can't
compete🎶

Spike then looked up to see a gemstone with a picture of all of Twilight and her friends, and he wasn't in it.

🎶Oh... Woe is me...
They get all the fun
with plans and
adventures... And they
don't care... 'Bout how
I'd like things...
to be...🎶

Spike then slumped on his haunches and started to weep and cry into his lap. Owlowiscious heard his song felt great sympathy for the young dragon. He flew down and walked next to Spike, hugging him to wipe away his tears.

Somewhere near Apple Acres, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, or the CMCs, were in their tree house discussing about the recent success they had about helping some fillies finding the true purpose of their cutie marks.

"Well crusaders, Ah daresay that we've had quite a good run today. Helpin' fillies find the purpose of their marks, helpin' youngens get along with one another, and helping Twilight and her friends prepare for their special day," Said Applebloom. The others nodded their heads in agreement. "Now, whada y'all say we get ourselves some grub? I'm kinda famished after all that work."

"Yeah, I could really eat a hayburger," Says Scootaloo.

"I was thinking just a sandwich for me," Said Sweetie Belle.

"Alrighty then, let's get to it." The crusaders then started to head out of the tree house. Sweetie however, stopped quietly and walked over to a drawer with a secret drawing inside. She pulled it out and looked it dreamily.

It was a picture of Spike with a focusing stare out into space. Sweetie hugged the picture and sighed. "I wish I could tell Spike how I feel about him..."

"Sweetie, ya comin'?" Applebloom called.

"Yep, be right there," Sweetie called back. She hid the picture under the other arts of the other crusaders and ran after her friends.

An Hour Later - The Hayburger...

The crusaders were enjoying their meals as they discussed about what to do next in their freetime.

"So, what do you girls think we should do next after this?" Scootaloo asked.

"I ain't sure, how 'bout you Sweetie? ... Sweetie?" Applebloom and Scootaloo looked over at Sweetie to see her staring off into space with a dreamy stare. The two of them giggled, and then Applebloom tapped Sweetie on the shoulder.

"Huh? What? Oh! Sorry, what was the question?" Sweetie said as she composed herself.

"Okay, Sweetie... What's his name?" Applebloom asked with a sly stare.

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Oh, don't be coy, Sweetie. I'd recognize that look anywhere, clearly you've got somepony you're thinking about. You stared off into space when you were thinking about them,” Scootaloo said.

“I don’t know what you girls are talking,” Sweetie lied.

“Come on, Sweetie, ya know ya can’t fool us,” Applebloom persisted.

Seeing that there was no way out of this, Sweetie sighed in defeat.

“Alright, there is someone...”

“Ohh! Well don’t just sit there, filly, spill it!” Applebloom said.

“Yeah, who is this guy?” Asked Scootaloo.

“Well, it may come to you as a shock, but it’s not a pony...”

“Not a pony? Why wouldn’t it be a pony?” Asked Applebloom.

“I just don’t think there’s any colts here that can match the type of guy I want...” Sweetie states.

“Oh, well then who’s this guy you all lovey-dovey with?” Asks Scootaloo.

“Well, do you promise not to freak out if I tell you?”

“Depends.” Scootaloo got a elbow to the arm from Applebloom. “Ow!”

“Yes Sweetie, we promise to not freak out,” Applebloom said.

“Well, alright... It’s Spike.”

Scootaloo and Applebloom simply blinked in surprise asked with concern.

“Uh... You girls okay?” Sweetie asked with concern.

“Are you kidding? We did not see that coming,” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah, Ah always thought you’d end up tryin’ to go for Button Mash,” Applebloom said.

“Well, I guess I liked him at one point, but after some time with him, I didn’t think he was right for me.”

“Huh, that’s interesting. Anyways, what are your plans for getting Spike?” Asked Scootaloo.

“I haven’t thought about that yet, but I’m trying to work on telling him how I feel.”

“Well, that maght be a bit hard, cause Twilight hardly lets him have any fun at all,” Applebloom states.

“And she doesn’t bring him with her on adventures,” Scootaloo says.

“Or let’s him go do any fun activities,” Applebloom adds.

“Yeah, not to mention that he has a lot to do when Twilight and her friends are gone,” Scootaloo adds.

“Oh... Yeah, I-I guess you’re right...” Sweetie says a little dejectedly. “And he’s already got eyes for my older sister, Rarity.

“Yeah...” The other two day in unison.

“I just wish could be brave enough to tell Spike how I feel...” Sweetie says sadly.

The other two look at Sweetie with sympathy for her.

In the throne of Canterlot, the two Sisters were having a conversation with one another.

“I’m glad you could help those fillies through their nightmares, Luna, it means a lot to them that you’re always there to help them,” Celestia says with a smile.

"Thank you sister, but were it not for their faith in me, I would not have had the confidence to make a helpful tutor to them in their dreams," Luna smiled back.

"I'm glad that the fillies and ponies are starting to put more faith in you, they should appreciate all the work you do for them... Just as... others should do... for him..." Celestia said as she looked at a particular window. Luna noticed this and had a concerned look

Celestia took out a piece of parchment and a quill.

"Dear Spike,

It has recently occurred to my sister and I that we have sensed that you are troubled by Twilight and her friends, that you have felt neglected and abandoned by them. It pains me and my sister that we have not heard from you as often ever since you have arrived in Ponyville, and that you have started to endure bad treatment from my protege and her friends. Please come to Canterlot at once, and let us know what has further transpired within Ponyville, I hope my sister and I will be able to help you resolve your problem.

Sincerely your dear friends,

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna"

Once the letter was finished, both Celestia and Luna sent the letter away with their magic, hoping that it finds the young dragon well.

Spike has become a very great aspect of love and care in Celestia's life. Ever since his birth, Celestia saw a great potential within him, a destiny that he would one day join Twilight and the others as hero of Equestria. Until Twilight was old enough to raise Spike on her own, Celestia has taken the duty of caring for the dragon herself. Of all the students she has seen surpass herself, of all the subjects that she has encountered to be righteous and caring for others, there was no subject quite like Spike that has ever had the courage to face many challenges. Seeing Spike progress and grow is what made Celestia keep going through all the appointments and all the challenges she faced herself. Spike has certainly found his way into a special place in Celestia's heart, perhaps even deeper than Twilight herself. Spike has become not only a great friend to the ponies, but also... a family to the princesses...

Suddenly, a thud was heard around the room with an echo. The two sisters looked at the source to see a royal member of the Equestrian Council.

"Oh! Prime Advisor, we did not realize you were here," Celestia said as she and her sister composed themselves.

The 'Prime Advisor' stood before the two with a modest posture.

His scales were onyx black with red crevices, his eyes maroon with ash grey irises, and a blind, recently scarred right eye. His 3 rows of ruby red spines, double-toothed and forward facing, donned on top of silvery-black scale plates, and his ear fins jagged with tattered holes under large jagged horns with mottled red detail. Maroon tattoos over his eyes with tendril-like detail and an unknown red symbol on his forehead, and openly exposed teeth in his carapace jaws.

He had long raptorial legs with thick, feet and x-formed toes made of carapace plating with mottled red detail and stainless steel braces with deep red gemstones on the lower legs, and long slender arms with long spikes at the elbows, also with braces of stainless steel and red gemstones on the upper arms, and a larger red symbol on his torso, mottled red detail on the sides of his body and down. His pointer and middle fingers twice as long as an average and made of scaly carapaces, the tips of each finger ending with the sharpest end of claws, and his pinkie and thumb fingers an inch longer, and arms made of the same material, all with mottled red detail. Two rows of bone spines donned his back with braces of stainless steel and red gemstones.

Over his body were blood red robes laced with silver and deep grey detail, stainless steel armor over his torso with the same red symbol, and a black cape with dark grey wave shapes and ruby detail.

In his hand was a black staff with a dragon's claw holding an orb, surrounded by a cobra with its head raised.

He was as tall as Cadence, and seemed to be of a youthful age for a dragon-hybrid.

The Prime Advisor stood before the two sisters with an emotionless expression, his creature pet by his side.

"I have been here for 27 minutes, your majesties..." He stated, his voice higher than shining armor's.

"Oh, our apologies, Prime Advisor, perhaps if you would have announced yourself, we would have seen you entering our residence," Said Luna.

"I announced myself then, your sereneness..." The advisor said.

"Well, let us not wait any longer, Nydrak, what brings you here?" Asked Celestia.

The dragon-hybrid known as Nydrak kneeled before the two. "Please forgive me, your majesties, but I could not have helped but noticed that you have felt troubled recently. Does this concern a student of yours?" He asked Celestia.

"No Nydrak, just for a certain subject. Speaking of the former, would you please prepare a carriage for them?"

"Of course, your majesties." And with that, Nydrak left the room.

"Do you have any plans for when Spike arrives, sister?" Luna asks Celestia telepathically.

"I do not, sister. Perhaps you can help me improvise?"

"I would love to..."

With Nydrak...

Nydrak walked out of the castle and into the carriage yard. "Prepare a carriage for the prince," he says to two guards.

"Yes, Prime Advisor," The two guards say with a bow. Nydrak than left the two and went back to the castle. After a few hours of walking, he came upon the dungeon doors and entered, descending down the stairs.

In the dungeon were three of his drake guards and his crow perched on an armor stand.

The crow was ruby red with black primary feathers and black detailing on the torso, his eyes black with a blood red iris and a slit pupil, and had a serrated beak with red streaks on the sides. He was about a 1' 2"large.

The crow squawked as his owner came into the dungeon. "Master here... Come for inspection..." The crow spoke. This crow seemed unique as crows didn't know how to speak at all.

Nydrak entered the dungeon and saw that two of his drakes had captured two teenage dragons. Nydrak walked beside the teenage dragon and sniffed him. He looked at his guard in front of him.

"You bring me many serpents... But never one of Love..."

The guard felt nervousness come over him.

"Take them away." The two guards complied and took the dragon lower beneath the dungeon.

"Take away..." The crow cackled.

"M-My Prime Advisor, uh... Perhaps this... 'Serpent of Love', does not exist..." The guard said nervously.

"He is out there..." Nydrak said.

"B-But we have searched for months, and have found nothing! I-I don't understand what could be in that cave that could possibly help a creature with a grand position such as Prime Advisor. Y-You have been second only to the princesses for over 700 years," The guard stated.

"(Squawk!) No concern..." Says the crow.

"I am grateful for my position as Prime Advisor... But I wish for the princesses to see me as something more... Something dear..."

"But, my Advisor, you are not family to them as the dragon is. They can never accept another son."

"Never! Uh-Oh..." The crow cawed in shock and fear. The guard beginning to sweat from his grave mistake.

"You gonna die..." Said the crow.

Nydrak turned around to the guard, his tattoos flashing red. "You think that they will never accept me as family?"

"Of course not... You were not born to be a child of the princesses..."

"You dead..." The crow said.

"Do you have... any idea how hard I have worked to gain a place in the hearts of the two Sisters? The sacrifices I have had to make to become a very close aspect?"

"M-My advisor-"

"The traditions that I have had to uphold between dragon and pony? The years I have spent as a lowly servant to Sunset Shimmer? The kingdoms need to understand that they need to see me as something more than just an advisor to the princesses. A friend is not enough, and it will never be enough, that's why I need the Element, and why I no longer need you!"

Then Nydrak slammed his staff on the ground, and black smoke and red embers started swirling around the drake, causing him to scream in agony and great fear as he was sent away to another realm to die.

The crow cackled.

Spike was in his room reading a comic about the Power Ponies and Mainiac in battle.

Suddenly, he felt something in him that felt too familiar. He belched out fire and saw a letter on the ground.

Once Spike read the letter, he packed up some of his things and some things that he needed.

Once he was finished packing his things in a bag and suitcase, he headed out.

He saw Twilight in the kitchen, and he approached her.

“Hey Twi,” Spike said with a smile.

“Spike, only Shining Armor can call me that,” Twilight stated.

“Uh- Sorry, Twilight. Hey, uh, the princesses called me to Canterlot.”

“For what reason?”

“It’s... personal,” Spike said, hoping that Twilight would just accept the answer.

“Personal? How personal could it be?” Twilight asked confusedly.

Spike sighed through his nostrils. “It’s family business.”

“Oh! Oh, alright, that’s fine. Well, I hope you don’t stay too long, I have some things for you to do when you get back.”

“Oh... Uh, okay... I will... be back soon, then............... Bye,” Spike said as he left the kitchen and out the door.

Twilight went back to eating her meal with a thought in her head.

“Sometimes I wonder why that dragon is so glum all the time...”

Streets of Ponyville...

Spike walked along the streets with his things in his sac-bag, his face filled with somber and depression.

Spike had many things going on him his head, questions about Twilight loving him more than just a friend, wondering if she will ever treat him far better than just as a lowly servant, if the princesses even cared to ask how he felt or what was going on in his life.

Spike was interrupted when he accidentally bumped into somepony.

“Oh! S-Sorry, I didn’t see there...” Spike quickly apologized.

“I’m so sorry! I was t paying attention... Spike?” The pony happened to be Sweetie Belle.

“Sweetie Belle? What are you doing out here?” Spike asked the young filly.

“Oh, uh, just enjoying the view of Ponyville and the sky today.”

“Oh okay,” Spike said as he picked up his bag, his somber face resuming. Sweetie noticed this and felt concerned for the young dragon.

“Hey, a-are you okay?” She asked.

“Y-Yeah, I-I’m fine...” Spike lied.

“Spike... W-What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing...”

“Spike, please tell me, if there’s something going on, I’d like to help you with it...”

Spike could see that Sweetie wasn’t going to give in. He walked to the Town Square fountain and started sniffling. Sweetie walked up to Spike, putting a hoof on his shoulder as she sat next to him.

“I... I feel like I don’t have a real purpose in this life... I feel like all I ever do is serve Twilight without stop, and she never lets me take any breaks... She never let’s me do anything fun, she always leaves messes for me to clean for her, she never asks if I’m okay when I get hurt, she always ignores me when I feel sad, and she never invited me to any of her fun activities with her friends... It’s like... I don’t matter to her anymore...” Spike said with fresh tears.

Sweetie was simply heartbroken at Spike’s emotions and words. Twilight is very hard on him for a Princess of Friendship. Friendships are supposed to grow, but Twilight ignores her friendship with her very first ever friend.

“Not only that, but her friends also neglect me. Like when Pinkie never invites me to her parties, Fluttershy never pays any attention to me, Applejack tried to get rid of me when I wanted to help her for saving my life from Timberwolves, Rainbow Dash always makes fun of me for not being a 'real dragon', and Rarity never sees all the things a do willingly for her... All I ever do is work, get neglected... and abused...

Sweetie simply stared at the dragon with wet eyes of her own, feeling such empathy for him. "S-Spike... I... I didn't know... I-I'm so sorry..."

"I-It's okay... I-I gotta get to Canterlot, the sisters are expecting me..." Spike said as he grabbed his things. "Well... Thanks for t-talking with me..." Spike said with a weak smile.

Sweetie simply stared at Spike until she hugged him. "Yeah... Anytime..." The two hugged for what seemed like a while, until they realized that they should release.

"Uh, s-sorry..." Sweetie said with a light blush.

"No no, tha-that was all me, sorry about that..." Spike said with a light blush as well. "Well, I gotta go, see ya," He said as he walked off to the train station.

"Yeah, you too..." Sweetie said as she waved at him. She stared at him with such sympathy and love, feeling herself shake in the knees as she listened to every word of his troubles. "Oh Spike... I gotta tell Scoots and Bloom..."

Spike was walking with great gloom inside of his troubled heart, thinking about everything that the Mane 6 do to him without a single care in the world.

Suddenly, the same carriage from Canterlot that the Prime Advisor told the guards to prepare for Spike, had just landed in front Spike. The young dragon looked at the carriage confusedly.

"Spike the dragon. The princesses request your presence at Canterlot for an audience," One of the guards said.

"I know, I got the letter, thanks for telling me..." Spike said with a fake smile. He got into the carriage and sighed with his hands together.

"Is everything alright?" One of the guards asked with concern.

"Yeah, I-I'm fine. Let's just go to Canterlot," Spike said. The guards nodded and departed from Ponyville, off to Canterlot.

Canterlot...

Princess Celestia and Prime Advisor Nydrak were having a private chat with each other in Celestia's chambers.

"My princess, if I may be reasonable to receive your understanding, I do not understand why you would place a mailing spell on a young dragon. They are not meant to deliver letters and packages for personal affairs between ponies, such as yourself and your prized pupil..." Nydrak justified cautiously.

"I understand your perspective, Nydrak, but having Spike deliver letters is the way of an assistant."

"That is a job for mailponies, such as Derpy Hooves. Spike should be free of the pain that upsets the stomach from mail deliveries. He shouldn't have to deliver letters packages, scrolls, bags, and others everyday objects like some mailbox."

"Spike is not a mailbox, Nydrak, he is one of my dearest subjects-"

"A subject that you and Princess Luna hardly spend any time with, you focus so much on Twilight that you forget about Spike yourself, just as the Elements of Harmony do, and you hardly take the time to ask how he's doing, or even ask if he would like to do anything with you when you have freetime, because you always take that time and look over the lessons that Twilight learns, and that is why you hardly recognize Spike for his accomplishments, and his troubles, all because of a special pony, that you thought would be grand to teach!"

"Nydrak!" Celestia shouted with a glare. Nydrak simply stared at Celestia with a silenced tongue.

"I will tolerate no such talk from my own advisor. Your position is under mine and my sister's... Never forget your place in my council..." Celestia justified sternly.

Nydrak looked away and turned himself from Celestia's glare. "... I... I-I'm sorry... I-I just... Spike... shouldn't have to deliver mail... H-He should deserve to be free of the spell..."

Celestia furrowed her eyes at the advisor until she listened to his more corrected sentence. She sighed and calmed herself. "Please forgive me, Nydrak... I suppose you're right. Maybe I shouldn't have placed the spell on Spike..."

"I know, your majesty... And you will know..." Then the orb of Nydrak's staff glowed blood red with a black mist inside. Celestia's eyes widened a little and flashed red and black.

"That leaving Spike with Twilight... was the wrong thing to do..." Nydrak's voice was distorted and rippled with ethereal whispers.

Celestia stared at the staff like a look of realization. "You're right Nydrak, I should never have given Spike to Twilight... I can't imagine the things she has put him through..."

"As do I sister," A voice said at the door. Nydrak silenced his staff and looked over to see Luna standing in the entryway. Celestia's eyes flashed red and black, letting her think for herself again. "I too have felt the trouble in Spike's heart, but you must remember, leaving Spike in Twilight's care was not the worst mistake of your life. Twilight is blessed to have a friend such as Spike to keep her company and help her through her struggles," Luna said with a smile.

Celestia listened to Luna's words and smiled. "You're right Luna, Twilight is blessed indeed."

"But what of Spike?"

The two sisters turned their gaze to Nydrak.

"Surely you can remember that he is blessed to have understanding friends such as yourselves..." Nydrak proclaimed.

"Yes, Nydrak, we have not forgotten about Spike," Celestia reassured Nydrak.

"I-I want to believe you... But... My heart says to differ..." Nydrak said as he walked out of the room, leaving the princesses confused on what the Prime Advisor said.

Luna and Celestia were silent for a moment before Luna spoke. "Sister...?"

Celestia turned her gaze to her little sister. "Do you think I may have been a terrible aunt? Being banished to the moon and transforming into my counterpart?" Luna asked a little somberly.

"I would never think of such things, my dear sister. When Spike was younger and I told him the story of your departure, he felt such great empathy and sadness that you left. He would have wanted to see his aunt before she left for a time," Celestia said with a smile.

Luna felt a tear from her eye and wiped it away, hugging her sister with such joy and relief. "Thank you, big sister..." She said happily.

"Of course, little sister..."

Just then, a knock was heard at the door. The two sisters looked over to see Spike walk in slowly. The two sisters looked at the young dragon with warm and welcoming smiles.

Spike slowly approached the two and looked at them. The princesses felt concerned for him as he seemed a little down. Spike looked at them somberly, and then his eyes began to wet, and the princesses were worried now. Spike suddenly ran up to the two and hugged them tightly on one foreleg each. The two sisters hugged the dragon tightly and craned their heads down to his.

The two sisters knew they felt pain in the dragon's heart, and they wanted to help him fix it if they could.

"How... How long have you waited for me...?" Spike asked the two.

"Everyday, Spike... Everyday..." Celestia answered.

"I visit your door every night as you slumber, and your nightmares torment me to the bone..." Luna said somberly for the dragon.

"I... I miss you..." Spike said to the both of them.

The two sisters felt such sympathy for their young friend and gazed upon him as they brought their heads up to his eyes.

"Spike, we have felt the trouble that you have suffered from Twilight and the others for a long time... Perhaps you would like some time away from them and stay with us for a couple weeks?" Celestia asked.

"Yeah... I'd like that..." Spike smiled, and the three embraced each other once again.

Little did they know, the Prime Advisor secretly watched them behind the doors, and he looked at them as if he was lusting for their affection. He closed his eyes and a single tear of magma dropped from his left eye, feeling that he may never have what Spike does.

He walked away and off to his chambers.

Nydrak's Chambers...

Nydrak entered his room where his crow was perched on a stand with red and black feathers tied to the perch bar. His room was very simple with a red carpet, a queen-sized bed with red and black sheets, red tapastries with black symbols of something ethereal, and a drawer with a rectangular mirror that was laced in silver.

Nydrak placed his staff off to the side and sighed through his nostrils, red smoke softly fuming through.

"Wish to release, master?" The crow asked.

"Yes, Agar..." Nydrak said.

"Awk! Leave I must, master," Said the crow known as Agar. He spread his wings and left the room through the window.

Nydrak sighed through his nostrils and approached his mirror, thinking of the things that happened today.

Voices in his head from past to present haunting him as he stared at his own self.

"They could never accept a second son..."

"Who would want a hybrid for a child when they have something that actually is real?"

"You can't be their son, Nydrak, they won't accept a hybrid like you..."

"Since when would they want an unreal reptile for a kid?"

Then that one voice in his head, from the one who ruined his hopes and chances for a wish he coveted, his long carapace fingers burning a deep red.

"I-I could never take care of a hybrid, sister... I don't know how..."

"My mind is made, sister... I cannot accept Nydrak as my child like I can for Spike... He's just... too different..."

"Spike is a real dragon who I know how to treat well... Nydrak... He's not a real dragon... He can't be my second child..."

Nydrak huffed many times through his nostrils as red smoke puffed out, a deep red fire fuming from his nostrils as well. Suddenly, he lashed with his carapace claws. he lashed and roared at a massive boulder that he had with many scratches and cuts on it. He roared and scathed into the boulder as the defiance of his allies rushed through his head. Cuts and scratches of magma coated the boulder as he released his fury and madness.

Once he felt steam sizzle from his head after his last strike, his carapace fingers cooled and returned to their blackish-silvery color. He then feel to his knees and hands and started sniffling and breathing shakily as tears of deep red magma touched the silver and obsidian-tiled floor, his claws baring into the ground with grazed marks of anger, conflict and sadness as he weeped heavily.

It was early in the morning, and the sun was just under the horizon of the mountains.

Canterlot...

Spike was sleeping with Celestia on the first night of his stay at the castle for the next two weeks, Celestia had already sent a letter to Twilight telling her about Spike's stay at the castle.

Spike woke up early just for a stroll around the castle, a Rarity plushy in his hand and a blanket in the other. He looked around the castle pleasantly and smiled at its beauty. He kept his walk until he accidentally bumped into two figures. He looked up to see that they were royal drakes with red and silver armor with braces of steel on their legs and arms and pauldrons on their shoulders, chestplates covering a majority of their torsos.

Spike was a little nervous with the height of these drakes, thinking they were teenage dragon, yet they looked like adults.

"Morning," Said a voice from behind. Spike turned around to see a drake a little taller than the guards and with a visored helmet.

Spike gulped with intimidation. "M-Morning...?" He said nervously.

"The Prime Advisor requests your presence immediately," The taller drake said.

"T-The who...?" Spike asked confusedly. He was suddenly concealed in a breathable sac over his head.

8 Hours Later...

The drakes traveled across Everfree Forest and towards the end of it all, the flight was long and time consuming, yet the drakes weren't even the slightest of tired.

After a few moments, Spike found that he was surrounded by a terrain of dirt and rocks, seeing the Everfree Forest to his right in the distance. He looked around and everywhere at his surroundings but was oblivious to a figure sitting next to him.

"W-Where am I?" Spike asked nervously.

"You are in a world of negligence, young dragon," Said a voice to Spike's left. The fledgling looked over to see a strange dragon-like creature in red and silver robes.

It was Nydrak the Prime Advisor, a draconic-hybrid of unknown creatures.

Spike looked in awe and bewilderment of this creature he saw sitting before him.

"You have a question of what I am, a strange dragon-like creature never before seen in robes of the most unusual sort..." Nydrak said.

Spike then blinked and shook his head, composing himself and preparing to ask his question. "W-What do you want with me? I-I didn't do anything wrong..."

"Do not fret, young one, I know that you are no thief..."

"Uh... Oh, t-that's good..."

"But I also know the scent of someone with a troubled heart or mind... And your cause... Is a certain protege..." Nydrak said as he looked at Spike.

Spike was confused by what this creature meant, but then he puzzled it together and understood his reference.

"Twilight hardly lets me have any fun... She doesn't even let me take a break from working... And, the frustrating fact is that I'm just a kid- or baby dragon for the matter..."

"I have learned about your tale. But what about the two sisters?"

"Y-You mean, Princesses Celestia and Luna?" Spike asked for clarification.

"Celestia has told you and I before that we are a different species, she is not royalty to us as she is to her own kind..."

"That... That is true yeah... But, what about them?"

"Have ever thought that maybe... They don't always tell you the truth about their treatment for you?"

"I... don't see that they do anything wrong to me, so no..."

"Hm..." Nydrak turned his gaze away from Spike as he curiously thought about Spike's answer. "What do the ponies call you?"

"Uh... Spike."

"Hm... Listen, Spike, a dragon such as yourself, and a hybrid such as I, need to be realistic..."

"Realistic?" Spike asked confusedly.

"You see, I was once in a position much lower than a lowly servant..." Nydrak held up Spike's Rarity plush between his long carapace fingers.

Spike was shocked and looked at his hand to see that the plushy wasn't there anymore, but in the hand of this creature who claims to be a hybrid. He looked at the hybrid in shock.

"A common thief..." Nydrak presented the plushy to Spike, who took it as he stared at Nydrak with perplexion and wonder. "However, I decided to make amends and gain myself a job to help me provide for myself, and one thing lead to another... I became Prime Advisor of all Equestria," Nydrak explained.

"You were a thief, but then you got a job and made an honest living, and then you became Prime Advisor just like that?"

"Of course, becoming Prime Advisor of all Equestria is not just an immediate accomplishment. I had to do many things to gain the position I have now... But... I just wish the princesses could see my work for them, the things that I have done for them and their subjects..."

"You want to be recognized?"

"Recognized as something... more worthy than just an Advisor... But don't take my intentions wrong, I've never been one for the interest of governmental power. But you and I could be recognized as something far more than just servants..."

"What do you mean?" Spike asked curiously.

"It is a make-belief saying some servants like you and some advisors like I made in the same mind. Complete a work list for a princess, and you're a servant. Give council to a princess, and you're an advisor..."

Spike was thinking about what this hybrid was saying.

"You would like to find your own special place within this world that Twilight has found for herself... And you would like to join her. I can help you achieve a rank far greater than just 'assistant', but I will need your help with something first..."

Spike was thinking deeper on this. If this hybrid could actually help him become something more to Twilight and her friends, then he would do anything to make it happen.

"What do I need to do?"

Nydrak simply looked at Spike and smiled.

"There is a secret location of a hidden place from the face of Equestria... A Cave of Harmony. And in it, you will find a simple emerald jewel in the shape of an egg. Do not be deceived, this jewel holds great power, a power beyond the Magic of Friendship and the Spirits of Harmony together. Anyone may use it... but only one may take it. Retrieve the jewel for me, and I promise that I will ask Twilight to recognize your worth..."

3 Hours Later...

Spike, Nydrak and the drakes approached the alicorn statue. Spike stared in awe as Nydrak stared without emotion.

"The Sentinel of Harmony. Within her you will find more riches than any dragon on the face of this world could ever dream of, gold, diamonds, jewels, crystals, and the egg," Nydrak explained. Spike turned his gaze to Nydrak's and nodded with understanding.

"So, this egg... What does it do?" Spike asked.

"That will be a tale for when it is retrieved. Bring me the egg and I will inform Twilight and the other majesties of your worth and care for all of them, for all the work you are trapped to do."

Agar whistled through his beak as he looked at Spike.

"But beware, young fledgling. You cannot take any other treasure within, no matter how sorely, you are tempted... And you will be tempted."

Spike approached the statue as he stared at it, when the statue's eyes and mouth suddenly light ablaze with light from within. Spike gasped and backed away a little.

"Only one of the greatest heart may enter here... One whose personality represents all that the Spirits are..." The cave spoke. Then the statue looked down upon Spike, and lowered her head, causing the young fledgling to fall down and curl into a ball with a hidden face. "Who art thou to wake me from my slumber?" The statue asked.

Spike looked up to see that the statue wasn't going stomp him or eat him, so he slowly got up and spoke. "Uh... S-Spike... Spike the Dragon..."

The statue twitched her head in silence and awe, seeing that the chosen of Equestria has finally come to her.

"I have long waited for you... Prince of Equestria."

"Y-You have?"

The statue simply nodded with a smile. "Enter young one, but enter with caution, and avoid the treasure's temptation..." Then the statue placed her head on the ground and opened her mouth wide, revealing the inside of a stony throat and gullet.

"Remember..." Spike turned to Nydrak. "Take nothing but the egg."

Spike nodded and looked back into the darkness that was lit by a warm and friendly orange light. Spike went further and further as he saw that he went past the tongue of the statue and into her throat. After a few moments of traveling down the statue's throat, he saw that he was stopped by a cave on the right and what seemed like a massive crease on the left of the wall. Spike began thinking.

"So... If I go here, I would be going into the lungs, and that would not be good. So how to I get into the stomach?" Spike asked himself.

Outside, Nydrak heard Spike's talk from an echo within. He pulled out a small vial with only a single droplet of water. The statue extended her tongue for the droplet as Nydrak tapped the droplet onto the very tip. The statue gulped as if saliva began to immediately build up in her mouth.

Spike heard rumbling from behind and turned to see the flap on the left coming towards him. He yelped and quickly jumped out of the way, and then he got up and saw a river of water coming his way.

"Oh boy..." He said, then he started running to the esophagus, and that's when the water picked him up and placed him magically above its waves. "Whoaaaaaaaa! Whoa, whoa! Whoa-ho-ho!" He said as he actually smiled and pretended to surf along the waters.

He was then placed onto an edge above the waves as they traveled down into a lake of water accompanied by rocky pillars and a travel way to a specific location within the statue's stomach.

"Whoa..." Spike said in awe of the sight he saw. Nydrak was right about the riches of this cave, that was actually the belly of the statue. There was gold, diamonds, rubies, emerald, sapphires, topazes, amethysts, statues of gold, weapons of silver and steel, and small amulets with verified jewels of twin coloration.

"This stuff could make just a single pony citizen richer than a hundred majesties!" Spike said to himself, then he went back to focus and looked ahead of the trail. "Hm... So the egg must be over there. Here goes nothing..." Spike says as he continues forward. He continued the trail as he looked around at all the treasure. He saw a small amulet with a sapphire in the middle, but he dismissed it like an everyday item. He made his way through the trail and carefully watched his steps. As he continued his walk through the statue’s stomach, he also encountered a larger amulet with a sapphire. He looked at it with awe and started to reach for it, but then he shook his head and smacked it a couple of times to focus on the one rule Nydrak told him.

“Don’t touch anything else but the egg…” Spike said to himself as he continued walking. As he was almost there, he was surprised by a very majestic and beautiful carpet that seemed to be very much alive.

The carpet was stuck under a statue of gold.

“Whoa… A living carpet? I thought they were just legends, but… This one’s real…” Spike said in awe. Then he snapped out of his trance and cleared his throat. “Uh… H-Hello, magic carpet…” Spike said nervously.

The carpet simply waved at him with a tassel.

Spike chuckled a little, and then saw that the carpet was stuck.

“Oh, y-you’re stuck… Uh, okay, well le-let’s see what we can do about that,” Spike said as he began thinking. “So, I can’t touch the statue because it’s made of solid gold… Do you have any ideas?”

The carpet pointed behind Spike at an object.

Spike turned to see a large wooden pillar. “Yeah, that could work, I’ll be right back,” Spike said as he went to go grab the pillar.

The carpet watched patiently as it hoped that this little dragon would be able to help itself get out from the statue. Spike grabbed the pillar with all his might and pulled it towards the golden statue. The carpet’s hopes were increasing as the dragon came closer with the pillar.

Spike then placed one end of the pillar under the statue and held onto the other end. “Ready?” Spike asked the carpet, to which it nodded. Spike then proceeded to pull the pillar down, lifting the statue up. As the statue lifted , the carpet could feel itself getting looser under it. Once Spike lifted the statue high enough, the carpet zoomed out and took to the air, giving the expressions of exceeding joy and great relief to be out from under the statue.

Spike chuckled as the carpet flew around the statue’s stomach and then zoomed right at Spike, swirling around him and hugging him tight. Spike chuckled a little as he returned the hug. “You’re welcome, heh.” Then Spike turned his attention to the egg beyond the trail. “Listen, I gotta get the egg and get out, okay?”

The carpet nodded and released Spike. Then the young dragon exhaled and walked up the rest of the trail.

Once he was at the end, he saw that underneath a blue beam was a small sapphire egg the size of a chick. He reached for it, but then he thought of something.

“Are there any traps or secrets to this I should know about?” Spike asked the carpet. The carpet simply shrugged as the egg was never taken from its place, ever.

Spike sighed, “Alright… Let’s just see what happens…” And then Spike reached for the egg slowly, the carpet put its hands together in anxiety, hoping that nothing would go wrong once the egg was taken from its place. Spike looked away and closed his eyes tightly as he reached ever so slowly and carefully. Once he slowly extracted the egg from the beam with a quick jerk to his body, Spike slowly opened his eyes to see that nothing happened… Absolutely nothing… Spike sighed cautiously as he was still nervous of something bad happening.

Spike then carefully walked towards the gullet of the statue’s stomach. Then he felt something tap his foot, and he looked over to see a coin falling towards the water below.

“NO!!!” He screamed in fear, and the coin plopped into the water. “O-Oh no…” Spike whispered.

Suddenly, Spike heard a gasp from outside, indicating that the statue felt what happened.

“Prince, what has happened?” The statue asked.

“I-I accidentally tripped a bit into your stomach, I’m really sorry!”

“Flee, Prince! Flee!” The statue shouted from outside.

Outside…

Nydrak, Agar and the Drakes saw that the statue was on its legs and winced in pain with a front and back leg off the ground.

“RUN!!” The statue boomed.

Inside…

Spike suddenly heard a rumble and the waters below began to boil and rile up as the crashed and bumped into every rock pillar with treasure going to the bottom.

Spike immediately ran for it as he had the egg in his claws. He ran, jumped over and slid under falling statues and shelves of treasure, then he saw that the trail in front of him crumbled, but he kept going, and he jumped.

“Carpet!” Spike cried as he fell…

The carpet caught Spike like a pony would, on its back and flew towards the gullet of the statue.

Outside the statue, Agar retreated from the statue that stomped as she felt her stomach painfully roiling. But Nydrak and the drakes slowly approached the statue, thunder and lightning acting up really rough as the statue clamored and groaned in pain.

Inside the statue, Spike and Carpet were now in the esophagus going up just as the statue’s neck did. The statue raised her head and bellowed in pain as her stomach acted up really bad.

Spike saw that the flap was not open, and he screamed in panic.

Outside, Nydrak saw the flap closed with an x-ray spell, and he pointed his staff at the statue’s throat, causing the flap to open straight for Spike and the carpet to fly out the throat. Then the statue’s head plummeted and hung above the hybrid.

“Tower!”

Nydrak called to his drakes. They hupped and stacked on one another by feet and shoulder as they grew tall enough for Nydrak to reach into the statue’s mouth.

Inside, the jerk caused a collision with Spike and the roof of the mouth, the carpet losing control and getting stuck to the uvula by this sticky substance. Spike was stuck on the very tip of the tongue by his tail and saw that Nydrak ran up the drakes and clamped onto the last one’s shoulder. Spike was literally a jaw away from Nydrak’s reach. The statue breathed in and out to relieve herself of the pain.

“Help me!” Spike cried. Nydrak extended his staff into the statue’s mouth.

“Grab hold!” Nydrak urged. Spike reached for the staff, stretching as far as he could. He was almost at the staff, and then he grabbed it.

“Got it!”

“Heave!” Nydrak shouted to his drakes. The drakes all pulled hard to get Spike out, the drake on the bottom grabbed the ground hard and pulled with all his might.

“Pull harder!” Spike said.

“Heave!” The drakes pulled with all their might once again, but Spike was still stuck.

“Heeeeaaave!!” The drakes pulled once more, but the bottom dragon pulled too hard, and Spike lost grip.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!” Spike screamed as he was swallowed back inside the statue.

“No!” Nydrak and the drakes all fell and collapsed to the ground as the statue raised its head and collapsed to the ground on its side, causing a shockwave of dirt underneath her, lightning crashing as she landed.

The drakes all got up, two of them quickly helped Nydrak on his feet and cleared off the dirt from his robes.

“I’m fine! I’m fine,” Nydrak said as he cleared the guards away. He looked at the statue to see her breathing through her nostrils, a look of anguish on her face.

Nydrak fell to his knees and hands and breathed heavily. Not only did he lose the egg, but he lost what was most important to the princesses…

”NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!“

Spike was on the ground unconscious from the fall down the statue’s throat and back into her stomach.

The carpet flew by Spike’s side and nudged him a little to wake him up. Spike woke up and shook his head a little, feeling a little dizzy from his fall.

“Ugh… That really hurt…” He groaned. The carpet helped him up slowly to keep his balance from the fall. Spike looked around as he heard a fast heartbeat and heavy breathing. “Hey, you alright?” Spike asked the statue.

“I… I am fine, little one. Are you alive?” The statue asked.

“Yeah, I’m okay, but I think I’m stuck inside your stomach right now…”

“I know… Just… give me… a few moments… little one…” The statue said between breaths.

“Okay… I need to find a way out of here…” Spike turned to the carpet. “Hey, uh… do you have any ideas on how we can get out?”

The carpet nodded and pointed at the egg in Spike’s claw.

“The egg?” Spike said in confusion. He looked at the egg and saw a bright magenta light flash inside. “Huh? What is that, is something in here?”

The carpet nodded, and then it motioned for spike to rub the egg with his thumb. Getting the message, Spike rubbed the egg with his thumb, and it began to glow, blue and pink mist and smoke fuming out of the egg ever so gently. Spike looked in awe as he saw a figure beginning to form.

It was a blue alicorn with magenta splotches on her legs, sides and muzzle, her mane flowing with pink and white colors with streams of golden yellow coloring as well, and her wings as elegant and graceful as Celestia’s. She had blue sapphire eyes and the cutie mark of a pink heart surrounded by swirls of purple and yellow and stars of white.

She was as large as an Ursa Minor, and her hindquarters was replaced with a pink and blue misty tail attached to the egg.

She looked around to find the one who released her, seeing that the one who rubbed the egg was a small purple and green dragon.

“Greetings, young dragon,” She said with a smile.

Spike stared at the pony, until he heard her and composed himself. “Uh… H-Hello…” He said a little nervously.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come.”

“Y-You have?”

“Of course. Waiting for 100 millennials has taken quite a handful of time to stay within my residence.”

“O-Okay… So, are you supposed to be… big, or…?”

The pony looked at herself to see that she was indeed larger than she should be. “Oh! Please forgive me.” She then shrank to her normal size, which was the size of Celestia. She swirled around Spike in inspection of him. “Interesting… I expected my releaser to be… a pony…”

“... Is being a dragon… bad?” Spike asked a little offendedly.

“No! No no no, of course not! Please forgive me, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“No, i-it’s fine. A lot of ponies expect important people to be ponies.”

“Ah… Of course… Ahem, so… is there anypony or anyone else here? Or is it just the three of us?”

“Well, there was someone else who wanted your egg, but they’re outside,” Spike responded.

“Oh, so it’s just us in here?”

“Yep. Just you, Carpet, and me.”

The pony looked over to see the carpet waving at her. She giggled, “I’ve missed you for so long, my old friend.” the two embraced each other after many millennials of waiting for each other. Then the two released each other and the pony looked at the dragon. “So, you’re the one who rubbed the egg?”

“Uh, yeah, yeah.”

“Oh, alright. May I stretch?” the pony said and she got into position for stretching.

“W-Wait, are you asking me?” Spike said in confusion.

“Of course, you are my master,” The pony said as she stretched a leg.

“I’m your master?”

“Yes,” The pony said as she stretched her back.

“Huh, usually its the ponies that give me things to do.”

The pony stopped stretching and looked at Spike. “Really? I thought dragons were creatures of their own free will?”

“Well, I was used as a test exam for Twilight Sparkle was I was just an egg.”

The pony was rather shocked and perplexed for the young dragon. “If you ask me, it sounds like you were stolen.”

“No, I was abandoned, but Celestia found me and took me in.”

“But, using you as a test exam for a student, that seems a little low, don’t you think?”

“Well… I-I guess…”

“Right? I mean, even if a princess found you, that shouldn’t give her the to use you as an exam for a student, or any student for that matter.”

“You got a point there, but I shouldn’t hate her because of that… Although…”

The pony sat on her belly and looked at Spike with concern. “What?”

Spike started explaining how his life was with Twilight and the others.

A few minutes later…

Spike finished off with how Celestia never spends time with him anymore. He was simply in tears and wept into his lap. The pony felt such sympathy for him and wiped a few tears of her own. She and the carpet hugged him with comfort.

“I’m so sorry, master… I wish there was something I could do to help…”

“It’s okay, it’s not like they take notice of my feelings anyway…”

“Actually, you’d be surprised with who can feel for you…”

Spike looked at the pony in confusion. “R-Really… who…?”

The pony simply giggled, “I’ll keep a secret, but what matters right now is that you have us.”

“Yeah, y-you’re right. But, I don’t think we’ve introduced ourselves…” Said Spike.

“Oh! You’re right, please forgive me. My name is Alistria.”

“I’m Spike.”

“Spike… I think that’s a wonderful name.”

“As is Alistria,” Spike complimented back. “So Alistria… What exactly do you do?”

Alistria giggled, “I thought you’d never as.” Suddenly, there were trumpets and clapping that created a jazzy tune.

“Feel free to dance if you’d like, Spike,” Alistria with a smile.

“Heh, nice rhyme.”

Alistria bowed and started dancing to the tune.

🎶

🎶

Alistria made exactly 40 ponies with masks over their faces and surrounded Spike. Spike grew scared.

🎶

🎶

Then Alistria grew large above Spike and caused the thieves to scurry away.

🎶

🎶

Alistria charged her horn and created fireworks around Spike.

🎶

🎶

Alistria rubbed Spike’s scales, causing him to giggled.

🎶

🎶

Then Alistria swiped her hoof in front of Spike, and the young dragon found himself in a very fancy restaurant.

🎶

🎶

Alistria presented Spike with soup in front of him.

🎶

🎶

Spike then came out of as small cart and found himself inside of a spa and getting his back massaged.

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Spike then found himself on a throne with two ponies fanning him.

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Spike then found himself on a tall pillar surrounded by two aisles of many treasures and clothing.

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Alistria moved her ear next to Spike for him to whisper to her.

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Spike soon found himself dancing with the carpet with a smile on his face.

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Spike began to sing himself.

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Alistria and carpet looked at each other with sympathy for the dragon.

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Sang Alistria as she twirled around with Spike in her hooves.

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Alistria and Spike then began to dance as the song came to an end.

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And with that, all musicians and singers disappeared.

Spike and Alistria laughed with each other on their backs, Spike on Alistria’s left wing and the carpet motioning its own laughter with them.

“My goodness, I haven’t sung for so many millennials, I forgot what it was like to sing with a friend.”

“Yeah, I never knew that in this or any world, that anypony actually cared about my problems.”

“Just remember, Spike, there is another who feels for you.”

“I know, but you said you would keep it a secret,” Spike remarked with a smile.

“Indeed. So, what is your first wish?” Alistria said as she got back up.

“Well, first, you should probably tell me how it works. Like, how many wishes there are, what I can and can’t wish for, and if there’s more to this than just rubbing the egg and letting you out,” Spike stated.

“My goodness! You’re right,” Alistria said with a slap to the forehead. “So, wishing is very simple. All you have to do is rub the egg and say ‘I wish’. The things you cannot wish for are bringing anypony back from the dead, I cannot make anypony fall in love with another, and I especially do not grant the wish of others to be harmed,” Alistria explained.

“Obviously, only bad guys would do that,” Spike said.

“Indeed. But the unfortunate thing is that every single time when the wisher finds me, the only things they wish for are riches, money, treasure, gold, diamonds, an excessive amount of power… You get the idea. I beg you not to be like those wishers, because there is absolutely no amount of riches, treasure or power in this universe for you to be satisfied.”

“Well, I do eat gems from time to time, but I’ve never really been interested in treasure or power, because I was raised by ponies my whole life.”

“Indeed. Now, depending on how many masters I’ve been through, there are either 3 or 4 wishes for them. So my last master was an odd number, so he had three, and that leaves you with four.”

“Cool.”

“Alright, now that I’ve explained the rules of the Spirits, what is your first wish?”

“Hmm… Well, I need to get out of here, because who knows how long I’ve been… SWEET HARMONY!! I’ve been gone for 8 hours! The princesses are probably worried sick about me!” Spike panicked.

“Well, don’t just stand there, Spike, make your first wish of four!” Alistria said.

“Okay! Alistria-”

“Wait, you also have to rub the egg while you say your wish.”

“Oh, sorry. Okay! Alistria, I wish for you to take us back to Canterlot castle.”

“Very well, master, hop on,” Alistria said as she lowered herself to the ground, allowing Spike to hop on her back. Then Alistria charged her horn, and pink light began to envelope them.

“Carpet!” Spike cried. The carpet panicked and quickly went by the two beings sides. And with that, they whiffed away to Canterlot.