Spike's Birthday

Today was Spike's birthday, and all had gone well in the beginning, but then. It happened all over again.

 

Now he sat on the steps of the damaged library, staring out at an equally damaged Ponyville, having been chased off from trying to atone for the destruction he had caused. He was broken from his reprieve when he felt cold metal on each shoulder and looked up to see the Princesses Twilight and Celestia, giving him a concerned look.

 

"Spike, will you be alright?" His sister figure asked, the question seemed to nearly break him and he went into a rant.

 

"Am I alright? What about everyone else? I was the one who swatted Princess Luna out of the sky like a gnat! I was the one who nearly burned down the town! How many ponies are hurt? How many... How many died?" He choked with a sob and finally looked up with eyes pleading for an answer. "How many more times will this happen?"

 

neither alicorns were able to answer his last question, but both drew him close to comfort him and he hugged them in kind.

 

"Yes, ponies are hurt, but no one is dead, and Luna's pride is honestly more hurt than her body. But I promise you, everything will be fine-" She was shocked when the dragon pushed away.

 

"'Everything will be fine'?!" His tone was almost accusing. "Look at me!" He gestured to his now larger size. "I didn't change completely back this time, I'm stronger now to the point where I can barely grab something without breaking it! Ever since the Dragon Migration, I've looked and looked and searched every place that might have information on dragons, and nothing has come up! And to be honest, I don't even know what I am!" The last words just hung in the air until Spike's now titanic strength left him. "Twilight... Celestia, you have both been the closest thing to family I've ever had. But... I need to find answers now that I can't find in Equestria."

 

The two mares nodded with tears forming in their eyes, and with slow, clear reluctance, Celestia summoned a small, golden emblem.

 

"This is a mold I took from the ruins I found your egg in." Celestia almost cooed while nuzzling Spike comfortingly.

 

"I never found any other signs of a dragon nesting there besides your egg, Spike. All around there were nothing but ruins of a civilization long gone, in a land south of the Griffon Kingdoms, beyond the eastern sea, and over the Misty Mountains."

 

Hesitantly, Spike accepted the medallion and held it in his claws, marveling. "Twlight... Celestia this is it! I can feel it!" The dragon's eyes lit up. "If I can find out what this symbol belongs to, I can finally find out who I am-" He stopped himself as Twilight shook her head and held him close in her wings' embrace.

 

"No, Spike. You will find out what you are, but promise me, you will never let this change who you are."

 

Along moment in a comfortable silence, Spike returned the embrace. "I promise, Twilight, I won't. I just... I really have to know."

 

"I know..." She whispered and sniffed back her tears.

 

Three days later, Spike boarded the train for the coast where he would catch a ship crossing the seas to the Griffon Kingdom. His journey would be long, filled with trials and adversity, but friendship, and glory as well.

 

As the Friendship Express departed and Spike's friends vanished from sight, he began to sing: "I will find my way. I can go the distance. I'll be there someday, if I can be strong. I know every mile will be worth my while. I would go most anywhere to feel like I belong."