The arrival of the old generals White Nightmare and Dark Moon

The Dragon King was into a deep thought looking at the magical forest he created after “that” happened. He was extremely tense; but he controlled himself trying to direct all his anger and fear improving the forest’s magic.

“You don’t look well, Dragon King”  said Discord appearing before him.

“Any news from Equestria?”  asked the dragon.

“Tomorrow the killers will move to their daughter’s castle. And about the Princesses, well, they’re really happy for having their parents back and they can’t wait to show them what they’ve done with the Kingdom”

Flames frowned.  “We have to warn them no matter what. I can’t imagine how those two are going to react when they see what happened to the Empire”

“And it’s about time somepony do something really stupid”  Discord confirmed.

“Have you located Changelling’s Queen yet?”

“Unfortunately not”  answered the monster.  “If she doesn’t want to be located, you can forget about it. Besides, she and her people are nomads so they’re not making this easy for us”

Flames nodded.  “Keep trying. Now, changing the subject, do you have any ideas to communicate with the Princesses?”

Discord clapped excited.  “As a matter of fact, I have one!! We can use Celetia’s special somepony. She was a unicorn turned into an alicorn by her lover’s magic. But more important, she is carrying the Element of Magic”

Flames raised an eyebrow.

“She has a little assistant, who is like her little brother”  Discord continued.  “It’s a dragon, a teenage boy who just passed the Greedy phase”

“An assistant?”   grumped Flames.

“Like I said, she treats him as her little brother; not a slave. I don’t know what happened but the fact is Twilight Sparkle had to awake a dragon egg to pass an exam and there they are; inseparable”

Flames nodded a little more calmed.   “And I thought those eggs were lost forever; but never mind. What about this young dragon?”

“He’s practically a child and the poor little thing doesn’t know how to use his true potential; he ignores almost all his natural abilities but one. His messenger breath”

“So you suggest I send a message to this pony throw her assistant baby dragon. It’s great!! I just need something with his energy signature to locate him and send the warning”

Discord gave Flames some kind of scale. “He’s moving skin; so I brought you this just in case”

Flames smiled. “Thank you old pal. But, why don’t you send the message by yourself?”

Discord didn’t answer, but it wasn’t necessary. The fear was almost tangible in his expression.

King Flames didn’t said anything neither. Of course he understood Discord; none of them wanted to die. They all thought the nightmare was over, that those two never free from the dimensional prison; but they were wrong and now everyone’s life was in danger.

“And all because I didn’t have the courage to kill them in front of their babies”  grumped the Dragon King.

Discord left a few minutes later. Then, the King Flames appeared some sort of manual and sent it with his messenger breath.

…

“Welcome to your new home, mother, father”   said Celestia opening the castle to her parents.

The generals smiled to their eldest daughter and walked throw the multiple halls of Canterlot Castle. Everything was ready for made their stay comfortable after those weeks in the hospital; weeks than they spent exercising, reading about everything they missed during their imprisonment and of course receiving visits from their daughters along with Twilight and Pip. At the beginning they excused themselves saying that was a family reunion and they didn’t want to interrupt; but Dark Moon invited them warmly.

“Come on, you’re family aren’t you? After all you are our daughter’s special someponies. We have an eternity to live together so please join us”

Celestia and Twilight shocked immediately. Luna and Pip told them the first day they were married for a year and a half but Celestia and Twilight wouldn’t said anything about their special bond.

“How you…?”

“How we know?”  asked White Nightmare laughing.   “Because I can feel it; how your immortality divided in two and the one who is sharing it is her. I never expected one of my daughters were into mares but if she’s your true love who cares. This kind of magic is exclusive for the Imperial Family. Why do you think Dark Moon is still alive if he’s a mortal?”

And from that visit, Twilight were getting closing to the generals. She always asked them about the life in the Empire; about what kind of magic they used in the ancient days, and lots of things. And the generals happily answered all the questions of their daughter in law; except the ones that asked about their battles.

The last time Twilight insisted about those questions, White Nightmare lost her patience and used the Canterlot voice to stop the mare once for all.  “For the sake of your mental health, you better shut your mouth and don’t ask us about it again. Did I make myself clear, Twilight Sparkle?”

And she did, Twilight never asked again.

But the incident were already in the past an now they had a great party to celebrate the family was reunited again.

Spike, who met the generals in one of the Twilight’s visit, always felt uncomfortable in front of the warriors. He didn’t liked the way they saw him the day Twilight introduced him to the generals; he could felt something odd in Dark Moon’s eyes. So, when he saw them coming, he only stayed in the welcome act along with the rest of the Mane 6 and then he decided disappear when the party started. Pinkie Pie and Rarity spotted that and ran after him. Twilight also saw it but as the general’s daughter in law, she had to stay the whole act with them.

Spike was about to enter to his room when Pinkie Pie called him quickly.   “Spike!! Spike!! What are you doing silly? Don’t you see you’re missing the event of the year? Oh! I’m so happy about the Princesses, they were raised without any other company than themselves and suddenly their lost mommy and daddy returned and they’re now a happy family!!

Rarity better interrupted her.   “What’s happening Spikey Wikey? Why did you ran away? I thought you wanted to have fun with the rest of us. Come on, have some fun with us”

Spike shook his head angrily.

“Sorry but I can’t. Truth is I don’t feel comfortable with those two around me. I mean, I don’t want to be rude so I better stay here and we will see later”

Rarity and Pinkie Pie looked each equally confused.

“What are you talking about, Spike?”   asked Rarity.   “They’re just ponies like us. You probably feel a little surprise they look identical to the princesses but that’s natural between family. Besides…”

“Besides we can’t ignore the party I organized for them!! Come on and have some fun with us Spike!!”   said Pinkie happily.

It was when Spike burped the book. The three of them saw each other very confused. Then Spike took the book and raised an eyebrow.

“The basic guide of anti-pony combat for dragons”

Rarity used her magic to levitate the book to her and examined closely.  “Well, I can see there’s a lot of pictures of dragons making some kind of hold to ponies but that’s it”

A letter slide from inside the book. The paper was almost black because of the smoke and ashes but still readable. Spike took it and started to read.

“Dear Spike, I’m writing you this lines without expecting an answer; I also don’t know if my warnings are going to be ignore but I must try. My name is Flames, King Flames, ruler of all dragons”

Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Spike gasped.

“I don’t expect anyone at the other side of the Everfree Forest believe me, young Spike, but like I said I must try. Two killers have being freed, the cruelest and merciless warriors in the world; of course I mean White Nightmare and Dark Moon, your Princesses’ parents. Throw you I hope this message came to those ponies who carry the Elements of Harmony; because they’re the only ones I can trust. The killers represent a huge threat to all the races, including the ponies, so is urgent I speak with the six Elements before it was too late. Please send me your answer; and if you value your life, don’t mention a thing to the killers.

PD; the book is for you. Use it every time a pony tries to pass over you. Use the power of the book and defeat it. Is the only thing I can do for a dragon raised away of his kind”

No words were needed; they had to inform the Princesses immediately.

…

That was a nice party, the old generals demonstrated to be nice people with all the high-class manners. But everypony could feel the tension when  Spike returned along with Rarity and Pinkie. They seemed to be worried about something. Luckily the honor guests didn’t noticed it and went to sleep arguing they weren’t fully recovered from their stance in the hospital. It was when the party ended and Twilight took her chance to confront Spike.

“Spike, that was rude; this party supposed to be for our guests to feel welcome. Why did you escaped like that?”

“True”  said Fluttershy softly.  “Your behavior wasn’t the best this time. Why did you…?

Spike passed them the letter.  “I know I was wrong but please read it and understand why I was so nervous”

Twilight started reading the letter loudly without believing it. Celestia frowned when she finished.

“We can’t blame Spike for feeling odd after receiving this message, my faithful student. But now we have to do something about it. Spike, please write”

The small dragon prepared everything.

“King Flames; I’m Princess Celestia; ruler or Equestria. The young Spike sent us your message and after reading it I also thought reunite is our best option. So I’ll send the ponies who carry the Elements of Harmony to talk if you don’t trust me to hear what you have to say by myself.  And don’t worry, my parents won’t hear anything about what’s happening”

Spike sent the letter; that was quickly answered.

“Tomorrow night I’ll meet with the Elements in the Everfree Forest center. My personal protégée will guide them to me. You can take all the precautions you want, I personal don’t care. But I swear they won’t leave the territory that belongs to Equestria”

After reading it, Celestia nodded.

“This mission is far more dangerous than the rest of things I asked you in the past, so I trust you’ll know how to manage the situation. The question is, can I count with your help? Feel free to decline, I’ll understand”

The six porters bowed to Celestia.

“Don’t worry, Princess. We’ll return safe”

The white alicorn kissed softly Twilight. “I hope so. The six of you are very important for me, specially you Twilight Sparkle”

Twilight smiled and kissed back her mentor and lover, of course they were going to be okay.

In the other side of Everfree Forest, King Flames meditated about the situation. A storm was coming, that was the only thing he can be sure. The killers were free and all he can do now was wait.