I sat upon the throne my sister and I once shared. The feeling of power was indescribable. No one was by my side though which is unfortunate, but I planned to change that very soon. If it was right, if he would accept my feelings, then very soon, this throne would occupy two once again. But that is then and this is now, bureaucracy, politics, listening to unneeded dribble, nobles that couldn’t find their way through a shoe, much less make one.

Speaking of useless nobels, I had to deal with some today, complaining that the taxes are too high, that the middle and lower income families have to pay little to nothing while they lose nearly thirty percent of their bits. I sighed, thinking why don’t I have one of my guards come in here and punish the fools?

I turn my head to stare at a stained glass window, my favorite one of them all. What I saw almost made my wings flare up. It was the most beautiful sight in the castle by far. The glass depicted my most valiant student in all his glory, standing on top of a broken white alicorn. The bitch’s wings were missing and only the base of her broken horn was left.

I adored how my dear knight takes what his enemies treasure the most and destroys them. To see my student rip the limbs off whoever was foolish enough to cross his path excites me to no end... Oh listen to me, speaking like some preschool filly. I am an alicorn, we’re above love, no matter how handsome, kind, adorable and hot he is I... I lost my train of thought.

Oh, who am I kidding?! My beloved student could probably drive any mare wild! There’s no way I could possibly be any different. Oh how I love to keep him by my side.

Oh silly me, you must not even know what I’m talking about. Let me tell you of my rise to power, it started twenty years ago.

I sat in the middle of a large round table with ten nobles, five on each side of the table. My thoughts were lighter back then, not so full of hate and disgust for those that would soon die.

‘I know you can’t hear us, but we hate you so much right now, Tia. Letting your little sister take care of these… these uncouth snobs.’ See? Very light hearted.

“And I believe that only the nobles who reside here in Canterlot should be invited to this wonderful event the Committee of Canterlot planned,” one stallion spoke. The pompous tone striking my ears worse than the others, as the stallion was none other than my conceited, spoiled nephew, Prince Blueblood. As rotten and opinionated an idiot he was, he’s still family so I couldn’t harm him, no matter how much he deserved it. Of course, the nobles all followed him, nodding to his words like dogs would to treats.

“And the elements bearers?” I ask in a nonchalant tone. In response, they all looked at me with disgust, which didn’t surprise me.

“Why princess, inviting the Princess of Friendship and her student makes sense, but why the other five?” asked one mare, her snotty nose pointing up.

“She’s right, aunty,” Prince Blueblood said not even remotely surprising me. The stallion who was unfortunately my nephew, was possibly the most snobbish pony in all the land. “I mean remember at what that… that barbarian did to my coat? I don’t think we need to invite them.”

“My dear nephew,” I spoke feigning a loving tone. “Are you saying that you refuse to invite the very ponies that saved this entire land on numerous occasions...” My facade ended and changed to my true feeling of rage, “Simply for the fact that you have a petty feud with one of them?! Despite her best attempts in making her dreams become reality!?” The arrogant fool actually nodded. Blueblood really thought that I, co-ruler of Equestria, would actually deny our heroes this opportunity.

As entertaining as it would have been to embarrass my despicable nephew, I would leave that task to Discord. Nevertheless, I believed a light punishment was in order. “Neither me nor my sister will grant your request for two reasons.” I stated, leaning on the table and placing both my hooves together almost like I was the CEO of a company. “One, if it wasn’t for them, half of this world would be frozen, while the other half would be burnt to a crisp or chaos and anarchy would be ruling the land, and a monster with the ability to steal magic from destroying our home.”

“And the second reason?” asked my spoiled nephew.

I rolled my eyes. “Second, we are indebted to the elements. You can whine to my sister all you wish, but our decision still stands. Now this meeting is over, so if you have a problem with inviting the bearers of harmony, then take it up with my sister,” I said as I walked back to my throne with two of my night guards by my side.

Once I made it to the throne room I shared with Tia, I sighed, thinking there must be something better to do than make a spoiled prince wet himself. Perhaps I could go out to one of those clubs I keep hearing about and dance my night away. Or maybe I’ll visit dear Pipsqueak in dreams. Being his favorite princess, my presence always brings joy to the colt. As I was busy considering what to do, a dull hum suddenly resonated within my mind. It was an instinct I had specifically developed to inform me when somepony important to me was having a nightmare.

Don’t get me wrong, as the protector of dreams, it is my sworn duty to assist those having nightmares. It’s just my friends must always hold precedence. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of magic flow to my horn.

“I will return shortly,” I told my two guards, who saluted in return, and with that I vanished.

I had always imagined it was a spectacle to see: a blue light appearing in the breeze, growing in size and power until only the brave could look into it before fading to reveal the dark blue alicorn that encompaces my current form. I looked around and saw nothing but scattered bones, canyons, and piles of sand and dust. I knew I was in somepony’s dream, but I couldn’t recognize the location. As I continued looking around, I could only guess this was miles away from the Equestrian borders. I’ve been invited to the dragon lands before and not even they look this desolate.

I started to walk forward, passing skeletons and rock formations one by one, in a seemingly endless route until I took to the skies, allowing faster travel and easier sight with the rising sun in the distance. I did not find a single living soul, so I landed by one of the countless canyons and said to myself, “This place seems deserted.” However, the moment those words left my lips, my ears perked up at a sniffling sound and prompted me to step towards it. “Is anypony there?”

The sound grew louder as I approached the source of the crying. I was soon led to a wall of earth with a single, but giant hole big enough to fit a fully grown dragon. “Hello?” I ask, which made the sound stop. “I mean you no harm. I only here to help you. Please come out.” There was no response. At this point, I would have left, but something told me to go forward. My horn glowed, making it easier to see. The cave itself was huge. As I walked, I heard little footsteps and crackles of rocks hitting something.

“STAY AWAY FROM ME!” a familiar, childlike voice echoed throughout the cave. “LEAVE ME ALONE!”

“There is no need to be afraid, for I am the princess of the night. I’ve come to end this nightmare.” I stated, but I was only answered with silence. The long silence finally broke as I heard footsteps coming from behind a pillar. I turn and flash the blue light around my horn to see who it was. To my surprise, it wasn’t a pony, but a small purple scaled dragon. The eyes of the young dragon were red and puffy, showing signs that he had been crying for quite some time. “Young Spike?” That is indeed what he was known as all those years ago.

“What has happened, and why are you here in this barren wasteland?” I asked before a flash of purple caught me at the side.

“Leave little Spike here, he belongs with me and he knows it...” a possessive voice, deep and strong had spoken. “Leave this place, and never return!” With that, my vision was suddenly obstructed and I felt myself being lifted. Claws encircled my form, holding me as if I was a small grape.

“Just what are you, demon?!” My royal voice burst into the darkness, but was met with only silence.

“Demon...” it hummed. “I like that very much. The dragon of the wasteland had no better name. Don’t you agree Spike?” Shock was a first for me. This monster, this... abomination that held me in its claws, was Spike. The thought of the tiny dragon turning into this one day frightened me. “Though it pains me that after all this time, you forgot about me.” I gasped in surprise.

“Princess Luna...” The young drake, apparating from the darkness, looked up towards me. His eyes were the same as mine before I was banished to the moon, filled with nothing but sorrow.

“You’re scared aren’t you?” he chuckled, how could he possibly chuckle in this situation? “You want to escape, to abandon like all the others.” His voice grew low, angry, scary. “Go away… GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME TO DIE!!”

Spike swung his hand and the monolith of a dragon copied his movement, flinging me to a nearby canyon. I prepared for impact, for the shock, that would awaken me from the illusion, it never came. Instead, a fluffy cushion had absorbed all the impact of the throw.

“Just go. Leave me like everypony else did. I don’t have the ability to care anymore.” His voice was full of melancholy and lies.

I approached him slowly, not even flinching as a ball of flames rushed past my face. “Spike, I could never abandon somepony in need,” I spoke truthfully, drawing closer and closer as I did.

“NO, STAY AWAY!!” he screamed and the large dragon spewed forth a wall of flames, blocking both Spike and the cave entrance. I noticed this fire was different. Instead of the normal colors of orange and yellow with a bit of red, or in Spike’s case green, these flames were a dark purple. There was no doubt in my mind that these weren’t normal flames.

These were flames of darkness. And the only ones I know who would use them are the nightmares. It was the difference for me when I changed into Nightmare Moon, but overall the same. Scared and alone. I have to do something.

“You will not hurt anypony Spike,” I stated. “You could never do something so terrible,” I spoke walking into the inferno.

I had stepped through the blaze to find Spike alone, the nightmarish beast had mysteriously vanished. He spoke, “They banished me. Mother banished me and sent me here to live the rest of my life, alone. Like a dragon should,” the drake said in a heartbroken tone.

“Wait, mother?” This dream, surprisingly, only grew stranger as it progressed, I was relieved to see some logic. It was obvious in retrospect, that Spike would see Tia as his mother, as she’s the one who raised him before giving him to Twilight. “Exactly what crime could you have committed to warrant my sister’s wrath?” I asked as he look down in shame. I could tell he didn’t want to tell me, but it was a waiting game. He needed an ear to listen and I was there to provide one.

“I ate three fillies and a stallion.” My eyes widened in shock. A baby dragon eating ponies wasn’t unheard of, but I could never imagine Spike doing such a thing.

“Pony food and gems just weren’t enough,” he said as tears flowed from his eyes again. “I even resorted to stealing vitamins and nutrient packs to make the gowling stop! I couldn’t control myself... I-I was so hungry, I couldn’t stop. Everything hurt, moving, talking, breathing, everything! Then they came, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Big Mac. It hurt so bad... I’m sorry! I just couldn’t stop, I couldn’t make myself stop!”

He fell to his knees and lowered his head as he continued. “My body moved on its own. I was covered in blood, s-so much blood. I-I saw the bodies of the ponies I just killed!” Spike looked disgusted by the whole ordeal and more horrified than anypony I have seen in a very long time. He was a dragon, an omnivore that devoured everything in his path. Whether it be, gems, plants, animals. Spike was blessed with a gift dragons had not held for years, he was capable of caring for others; in his eyes, he thought of himself as a murderer.

“That’s when Fluttershy caught me and soon sold me out. The next day, I was lead down the streets of Ponyville in chains. Ponies threw stuff at me and called me a disgrace to Equestrian society. I look over to my friends who turned their heads. Not even Twilight wanted to have anything to do with me. The only two that even tried to understand me, Zecora and Starlight Glimmer vouched for me. Zecora said that it was in my nature to eat meat, as I was going through a phase where it was required. And Starlight tried everything in her power to convince the ponies that it couldn’t be helped, but nopony listened. Mother said I was far too dangerous to live among ponies, so she banished me.”

“Spike, you would never hurt anypony,” I said, my words having no effect on the dragon as a hand reached out and grabbed my form.

“Haven’t you been listening?!” the nightmarish beast’s voice boomed through the cave. “He ate fillies and stallions alike! Do you truly stand by what you said?!” he asked.

“Yes,” I responded flatly, catching the dragon by surprise. I then landed once more onto the soft, cushiony ground, not taking my eyes off the dragon. “Spike would never hurt anypony, I am living proof.

“H-how so?”

“Spike had flung me along to the canyon wall. I should have awoken the shock awakening me, but instead I was met with a cushion. Both instances you held me in your claws, you never once pressured me. You held me gingerly and carefully. Even the fires themselves did not harm me. Can you still say that you are capable of such things, Spike?”

In response to my question, the hand vanished, along with the dark flames covering the cave’s entrance. Walking towards the baby drake, it was obvious why he was having this nightmare. He fears being alone, rejected and above all, he fears he’ll one day lose control. I could sense history would definitely repeat itself if something isn’t done. “Tell me,” I wrap my wing around the small drake, who was no longer sobbing. “How are your friends treating you?”

“It’s like I’m a ghost to them. Twilight forces me to clean the castle while she goes out to play or have an adventure. I work my claws to the bone for Rarity just to make her notice me.” I saw he was balling up his fists in absolute anger. “Applejack doesn’t even want me near her farm, saying I only cause her trouble. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie keep being a jerks, pulling pranks on me constantly. Pinkie even laughed at me when I nearly died not only once, but twice during the annual Winter Wrap Up.”

“What of the shy one?” I asked. Spike looked up at me, his eyes weren’t full of sadness anymore, but of pure hatred toward those six.

“Fluttershy had been nice to me, I felt as though I could talk to her about anything. After she found her special somepony, she only talked to me about him. How he cares for and protects her. Often, the only one I can talk to is Starlight, but Twilight often drags her away.”

“I see. And what about my sister?”

“I’ve been sending mother letters, asking when I could come and visit her… But she hasn’t replied to any of them.”

“And how often do you send those letters?”

“Once every two weeks.”

Two weeks?! I know Tia is a very busy mare, but any parent, ruler or not, should put aside their work to spend time with their children. The sad thing is, I see a small younger version of myself. And I will not let this happen a second time. If nopony’s going to help him control those urges, then I’ll do it.

“I’m at the end of my rope, everyday it seems the world is against me. I wish I could just end the misery and die, pass away to where nopony will ever find me…”

“Young Spike, believe me I know how you feel. I too have walked down the path of loneliness. Therefore my dear, I shall visit you in your dreams every night from now on.”

Spike looked up at me with hopeful eyes. That look basically was asking ‘You really mean it?’ to which I nodded. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I allowed the same thing that happened to me to happen to him. He wasn’t a monster, he was the sweetest dragon anypony could possibly meet.

As I felt Spike’s tiny claws wrap around my hoof, I wondered how anypony could possibly neglect something this precious. As the little dragon continued hugging me, I felt this warm and relaxing sensation. It was something a mother would feel. The love for her child.

I smiled and wrap my hoof around the dragon’s back. I wanted to do what Tia failed to do before. I wanted to protect him.

I don’t know how long we hugged, and I didn’t care either. I didn’t want to let go. Eventually, Spike pulled away from my loving embrace. “Young Spike I have to go and take care of some things, but fear not. As promised, I will come by and visit you every night.” He nodded and I turned and walked to the entrance of the cave as the world of his dreams began to ripple. No more bones, just canyons and the cave. I smiled, this was a very good start.

“P-Princess?” Spike called. I turn my head to look at him.

I giggled, “Please, just call me Luna.”

“Okay... Luna,” he corrected. finding it somewhat awkward to address a princess without her title. “Thank you,” he finished with a smile. I returned the smile before I waved my hoof and disappeared.

I return to the throne, my guards absent from their post. “I must have been in there longer than I expected,” I said to myself before getting up and wandering through the halls of the castle, pondering on how to aid Spike with his urges. It would help if I knew more about dragons. I hope we still have that book the dragon lord gave us. Though, I doubt it would help with loneliness. I searched through the Canterlot library, but found no books on dragons. Quite unfortunate that I couldn’t find any information in the royal library. I was more than a little upset and decided to take a walk through the garden to calm myself. I must have been out for a lengthy amount of time, as I saw it was already dawn. “I’ll ask Tia if she has it.” The idea was small but logical, Celestia must have had a book on her own son.

With the moon down for the sun to make way, I made my way toward the dining room where Celestia was. She was having her favorite breakfast, banana flavored pancakes with a mug that said ‘I love Sunday’ written in a yellow text, filled with coffee next to her plate. I took the seat next to Tia.

“Good morning dear sister,” Tia said with a smile. “I trust the meeting went well.”

“Indeed, however, I fear our nephew won’t listen to reason.”

“Just ignore him Luna,” Tia shrugged “What he thinks or feels on the matter isn’t important. That and we don’t want attend something similar to the Grand Galloping Gala.”

“Tia?” I began. “Why hasn’t young Spike been around?” Tia had changed persona at this point, not the kind sister I knew, but the distant and immaculate ruler known to all other ponies. She placed her fork down and looked at me with a stoic gaze and stone features. In retrospect, I was slightly afraid of her at that moment, but I held my ground.

“Luna, you know I’m very busy attending to my subjects, and with the peace treaties between ponies and dragons...” she said. “Times have grown busier with Dragon Lord Ember’s recent success to the throne.”

“I’ll go and talk to Dragon Lord Ember,” I reinsure her. I don’t know why, but she doesn't have to carry the burden of ruling the land. We are co-rulers for a reason.

What Tia told me about that particular incident was that she, along with her guards, had stolen dragon eggs from the dragon migration for experimentation. Once the former Dragon Lord Touch found out, he declared all out war on Equestria. If it wasn’t for the friendship between an abandoned filly and a baby dragon, the war would have caused heavy casualties for both sides.

Since Dragon Lord Ember was very close to Spike, I wondered why she hasn’t told him. Perhaps she didn’t want Spike to get harmed? Or maybe Tia didn’t want to Spike to end his friendship with Twilight and her friends?

Tia had also made the guards take a vow of silence that no particular pony must ever know about the experiments or the loss of life between the dragons. Her vile actions still remain covered up to this day.

“Tia do we still have the book on dragons Dragon Lord Ember gave us?” Tia raised a brow. Obviously, my sudden interest in dragons was under suspicion.

“Did something happen last night Luna?” I should withhold most of the truth, since I knew she’d try and deny it.

“Well, I visited young Spike’s dream last night and he seemed… very lonely. I fear history is doomed to repeat itself if we don’t act fast.”

“What do you propose?” Celestia asked taking a sip of her coffee.

“You should spend more time with him in the waking world as I’ll be keeping him company in the dream realm.”

My sister put her hoof under her chin as she considered my suggestion. “Unfortunately Luna, with all the work with our subject, and recent treaty between Equestria and the dragons, I cannot guarantee things will work out.”

“Promise me you’ll at least try to make time for your son,” I said getting up.

“No promises dear sister, but I’ll see what I can do. I did send him a ticket.”

Ticket? I thought she sent out the tickets to the elements days ago. Pushing the thought aside, I gave Tia a nod and trotted out of the dining room. I needed to know a few things, so instead of going into my room for to retire, I trotted over to my sister’s room on the other side of the castle.

Upon entering Tia’s room, I saw a bin of discarded letters. I shrugged them off, at the time, and went on to finding the book. Tia said that she kept it in her study. After finding the book I was looking for, I looked over at the bin again. Spike mentioned that she hasn’t responded to any of his letters, so I pick one out of the bin and my eyes widened from what I read. “So this is why I haven’t seen young Spike around.” Reading letter after letter, my heart nearly stopped. From what I read, it was not only neglect on Tia’s part, but abuse from the bearers of harmony as well.

I walked out of Tia’s room and began to read. I quickly became engrossed in the book. I never knew each dragon has a colored flame, representing a gem color, or that certain dragons can use magic, just like unicorns and alicorns. What surprised me the most was what I learned about a dragon’s diet. Apparently at the right age of one year or ten pony years, a baby dragon will begin to have urges to consume meat. The longer the dragon is deprived of meat, the more agitated they become. Eventually, they’ll begin hallucinating for about a week before entering into a state of rage.

What’s more is that eating meat... helps them grow...

I don’t intend to let that happen, as I already promised Spike I’ll be there for him and I intend to honor my commitment. Once I made it to my room, I took off my royal slippers and regalia in preparation for bed. Tonight, my thoughts were only of that lonely purple dragon.