Deep in the heart of the Dragon Empire sits the glorious city of Revak Du'ul, meaning Sacred Crown in Dragon tongue. Its majestic bu obsidian towers could be seen throughout the empire as a beacon of never ending fire shone brightly to the capital city. Dragons come and go, night and day, as goods and services are delivered to the cities many merchants and to the palace itself. The palace sat at the highest point in the city, its marbled walls showing slight signs of its age. The current ruler sat on her throne as she watched the changeling servants move to and fro; performing their daily duties and patrols along with their dragon allies. A small sigh exited her nostrils along with a small plume of smoke as she impatiently waited for the ruling governors to arrive, each with their own issues from their sectors of the empire to discuss. Her mind stayed a constant buzz, not from the background noise of the changelings speaking to each other, but from the numerous rumors from Equestria of an ancient enemy re-awoken. Two clawed digits rubbed each side of her temples as she sat forward, her wings stretching out before being folded back in. She hated politics. Why couldn't Dragons not do politics? She thought to herself as the doors opened to her great hall.

To her surprise, a young Thestral mare, clad in Lunar Guard armor, was escorted into the hall with two members of the dragon gaurd. The mare's two toned mane and tail of red and silver was disheveled, a long with scorch marks along her armor. Even from where she sat, Ember could tell the marks weren't from volcanic activity. One of the guards stepped forth and approached the throne, his red scales accenting his well polished golden armor. To give him credit, Garble had mellowed out quite a bit after Spike had stepped him down a few notches.

With a bow, he stood at attention while the other guard helped the Thestral move closer, "Empress, this is Sergeant Lunar Mist of the Equestrian Lunar Guard. She claims to have important information from the royal sisters in regards to the rumors of the Enclave sightings. With your permission I'd like to report to the infirmary to have a healer check her out." Ember gave a nod, still eyeing the pony in front of her before before she had spoke. A wave of the mare's hoof brought Ember's attention down to the Thestral.

"No time." She said in between her pants, the forced strength in her voice caused from fighting through the pain she must have been in caused Ember to be sure to listen her words carefully. "They're coming." As she spoke, the doors to the throne room burst open, a long with a deafening explosion, throwing Ember and the Thestral across the room.

Ember's senses slowly returned to her, her ears ringing and blurry vision beginning to clarify. The feeling of fur in her right hand caused her to look over to the pony that now lay dead next to her. As she closed the young mare's eyes for the final time the sounds of struggle drowned out the ringing and caused her to look towards the now smoldering remains of the doorway. Only to see one of her guards get shot down by an arcane bolt, while the other was being lifted in the air, his claws grasping around his neck as his attacker held him up with his armored hand. Murderous red eyes were fixated on the empress by the being, who effortlessly slammed the guard to the floor and placed a metal foot on his throat. The sounds of the struggling dragon was silenced by a sickening crack as the creature finished off his victim. Ember felt fear beginning to overwhelm her as it began slowly marching towards her. It's arms folding behind it's back as it kicked away the bodies of the guards laying before it. The clanging of metal echoed through the throne room, almost drowning out the sounds of battle outside. Ember swallowed as the figure's eyes looked down on her, its armored head failing to show her any emotion. As it stood in front of her it stared her down for what felt like hours before speaking in a raspy, metallic voice.

"Hello there."

I sat by Luna's throne as she and Celestia listened to Spaangolz speak, my eyes carefully watching his every move. Ruby had been admitted to Ponyville Hospital where a detachment of guards was placed to ensure security. The scouts that attacked her were hunted down and disposed of thanks to Midnight and Eclipse. Honestly, that was placed to the back of my mind when my brother barged into the throne room. He was here for a reason, yet he had yet to explain what. The sound of Luna's voice broke my concentration, "we appreciate what you did, fair dragon, but the real reason you're here has yet to be explained."

Spaangolz gave a hearty laugh before speaking again, causing me to close my eyes and resist the urge to clobber the back of his thick skull. He was always that way, taking things lightly and never being serious except when in battle. "I guess its straight to business with you ponies, no? Then I shall relay why I am here." His voice took on a tone that said something was wrong, even the sail on my back shook as i heard him speak. "Revak Du'ul has fallen to the Enclave, and Empress Ember has been taken prisoner. I have been sent here by them to relay a message to the princesses." After he spoke he made eye contact with each princess before continuing, "You are to surrender and submit to the will of the Enclave or face the destruction of Equstria."

Author's Note

I'm back after a much needed and way to long hiatus caused by writers block. I promise more chapters will be coming out sooner, and many thanks to those of you who left a like and have been enjoying.