Finally got around to doing a new pic of my MLP dragon character Blaz. ^^ Decided to nix the horns as I've got a new working idea for dragons in Equestria. ^^

The castle was quiet tonight. Twilight was off with the rest of the Element bearers on some mission from the map. Blaz sat up in his room with a tome open before him. The language was a jumble of Equestrian and Draconic. Blaz had been looking over the castle's new library seeing what the Equestrians knew of the Dragon people and it seemed they knew precious little. Their only real contact before now having been with the Wilders. Massive dragons that broke away from the Dragon Kingdom long ago. Blaz would have his work cut out for him teaching them about real dragons as he in turn learned about them. But of course there was an angle to this assignment the young dragon hadn't expected and it now stood in his doorway clad in it's PJs with a plush in one arm.

"Oh...sorry Blaz. I thought Twilight might be back." Spike spoke sounding tired and maybe a bit more than that.

"No their all still gone. Are you alright?" Blaz asked as he stood up from his desk.

"Yeah. I'm fine...I guess." Spike added at the end sounding dejected.

"Why don't you come in and have a seat? What's on your mind?" Blaz asked the younger dragon as he walked over to his bed.

"Ok." Spike said simply and trudged over to the bed and sat on it's edge wincing at the crinkle that issued as he sat.

"So having trouble sleeping?" Blaz asked as he sat down ignoring the crinkle he heard. He'd been in a similar straight at Spike's age. No need to call that up and embarrass the poor kid.

"Yeah...One nightmare goes away and now another one starts up." Spike bemoaned rubbing his forehead looking an sounding even more tired. "Can I ask you a question? About dragons?"

"Of course Spike. I know you must have a lot of them." Blaz said softly and placed a hand on Spike's shoulder for a moment seeing himself as a child in Spike's place and his older brother's hand on his shoulder.

"What are Dragons like in the Kingdom? Are they like the big ones we see so often. Do they care about each other? Or are they just out for their horde?" Spike asked looking up at the older Dragon. His eyes asking another question his voice couldn't.

"We are not unlike the ponies of Equestria in many ways. We have families just like they do. Villages, towns, cities. Mothers and Fathers. Brothers and Sisters. We care for each other just as the ponies do. We come in varieties like they do, though the divisions aren't as cut and dry. Some have wings, some have horns, some have both, and some have neither. Those without horns like you and me have magic. Though those like me with wings don't have it as strongly as those like you can. Those with horns are physically very tough and strong." Blaz explained leaning forward a bit as he spoke recalling his home.

"It sounds nice. I've....never met another dragon before. One that I felt was like me...until you." Spike said softly, blushing deeply at the last part.

"You've met only Wilders. Those that broke away long ago. They are dragons yes but they are not quite the same as us." Blaz told Spike as he put a wing around him. "You are a Dragon. Not a Wilder."

"Then why did I turn into one?! Why'd I become a monster just because people gave me things? Why did I let that happen to myself?! What if it happens again? W-what if I hurt someone? What if I drive everyone away? What if I grow up into that thing?!" Spike asked rattling off the questions as his voice grew more shakey and Blaze could see tears threatening to fall.

"You are young. You have strong magic and you've grown up in a place where there were no others to teach you how to control it or what it means. When we are young and our magic is strong and unchanneled it can do many things. You've had so little in your life that only a little was needed to push you. But you know now. That wasn't the real you. Just your magic reacting. Making you bigger stronger. Instinctively trying to gather things to survive even if you didn't need to. That's not what you'll grow up to be. You'll grow up into a normal dragon." Blaz told him softly and pulled him in close and closed his eyes stoking his own internal flame and magic to help comfort the young dragon.

"Th-thanks Blaz." Spike said softly leaning against him taking in the soothing warmth and a sensation he couldn't place. "I just get scared about that sometimes. Scared I might be a monster."

"Monsters aren't what a person is. Their who a person is. And that's not who you are. What you are is a dragon. Who you are is someone brave, and kind, and selfless at the heart. You were raised well here. You are a good person. The sort that frightens monsters away." Blaz smiled rubbing Spike's back gently.

"Heh You really think so?" Spike asked tired eyes looking up as though they were close to closing.

"Know so." Blaz smiled leaning down letting a faint flick of fire tickle Spike's forehead getting a giggle out of him.

"Hehe. Okay...can I ask one more thing?" Spike said smiling a bit but still blushing as he rubbed his eyes.

"You just did." Blaz teased with a smile glad to see Spike feeling better. "But go ahead and ask."

"C-can I... stay here tonight?" Spike finally spat out.

"Sure you can." Blaz nodded with a smile as he stood and pulled the covers of the bed back. "Now to bed with you little guy. You look exhausted."

Spike blushed a new but nodded as he crawled up the bed and got down under the covers. Blaz pulled them up and tucked them in around the young dragon with a smile. Again for a moment he saw his childhood self there being tucked in by his brother. Blaz smiled at that. He had to remember to write something to his brother soon. As Spike settled in Blaz took his seat at his desk again and picked up the lantern. He held it open and flicked some blue flame into it changing the light it gave off. The soft blue was easy to see to read by but would also not disturb his overnight room mate. Blaz sat the lantern back down and returned to his tome though he found himself softly singing a little tune in Draconic that his father and brother would often sing. By the time Blaz realized it he was half way through it and Spike was already sound asleep as Blaz continued his own Late Night Studies if only for a bit longer before making up a comfy nest of blankets and pillows next to the bed fore the night.

Well hope you guys liked the pic and the lil story. ^^