The King of Dragons

The steady thump of the base vibrated all around the room as Rarity, Dash, Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Akhe, Dinky, the former crusaders, Octavia, and Vinyl Scratch all drank, danced, talked, and laughed.

"I got to say Pinkie I really have to thank you for takin us out like this, it's been a while since I had a night with just us girls." Applejack yelled over the drum of the bass in the club.

"No problem! I knew that Twi and the others would need something to distract them from thier lost loves! So I thought what better place than a club with all their friends?" She yelled dancing with her herd mate and friend.

"You seen how Dinky's been all night?" Applejack asked pulling Pinkie closer as a the mare ground into her panting.

"Yeah, she's had a frown on her face all night. What do you think is on her mind?" Pinkie asked.

"Don't know sugarcube, I tried to talk to her but she just said she wanted to be alone for now. She's got something on her mind." Applejack stated as Pinkie twirled around her.

"What do you think it is?"

"Something serious that's for sure. She's been like this for the last few weeks actually now that I think about it." Applejack sighed as she looked over to see Akhe talking to the young mare before Dinky got up and left while Akhe sighed and downed her drink and sat there ordering another one.

Pinkie sighed and moved over to the dragon wrapping her arms around her feeling her tense before relaxing.

"Hey Pinkie." Akhe grumbled looking over at the door where Dinky had left.

"What's the matter? Where did Dinky go?" Pinkie asked as the dragon sighed.

"She's thinking of leaving the herd." The dragon said while another drink was brought to her. Pinkie was stunned and looked over at the door where Dinky had left out of.

"But why?" Applejack asked coming up behind Pinkie, Akhe sighed nursing the glass before downing it.

"She said that she's being picked on at school for dating the same dragon that her mother is dating. Kids are calling her an inbreed and all kinds of other names, she's been trying to deal with it but she just can't take it anymore." Akhe said as her head thumped on the table as she let out a groan.

"You know now that I think about it Octavia and Vinyl have been getting pretty distant from all of us as well." Applejack mused while the other two girls seemed to realize it as well.

"You think they will drop from the herd to?" Akhe asked while Applejack shrugged.

"Don't know, it's just somethin that I noticed sugarcube." Applejack stated looking over at Octavia who was talking with Vinyl about something, from the looks of it, it was a very serious conversation.

"Are you gonna leave to AJ?:" Applejack's head turned so fast Pinkie thought she heard a pop in the mares neck.

"WHAT!? No, I ain't goin no where sugarcube! Why even ask me?" She said as Pinkie looked down.

"Well if they are leaving that's three out of six that's gone, half of the herd could be leaving and I just don't know what to do about it." Pinkie stated looking down.

"Pinkie from what I was told from Rarity, this is just how the beginning of a herd is, mares come in and test the waters and see how things are then if they don't like it or just to busy for a herd then they leave. It's nothing personal it's just how it is." Akhe said as Pinkie sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I know. But I just don't like seeing them leave is all." She said as Octavia came over to them looking a little nervous.

"Hello everypony, how are you enjoying the party?" She asked while Pinkie looked like she was about to cry, Akhe smiled and nodded to her, and Applejack she couldn't read.

"Are you plannin on leaving the herd sugarcube?" Applejack asked as Octavia sighed and nodded.

"I suppose you noticed that Vinyl and I are just to busy for a lasting and real relationship at the time. We hardly ever see Spike and any of you really, and the whole reason why Pinkie had to hold off on this party was because the both of us were so busy with work."She was pulled into a hug as Pinkie sniffed.

"We didn't do anything wrong did we?" She sniffled as Octavia smiled patting her head.

"Of course not dear, I have to say they last few months have been the most fun I've had in ages!" She giggled pulling the mare into a hug.

"I will miss you girls and Spike as well, but I just don't think I'm really ready for a committed relationship at the moment. Vinyl and I have talked it over and will tell Spike officially in a few days together." She stated as Pinkie sniffed while AJ and Akhe nodded with smiles.

"I'm gonna miss you Tavi." She whimpered as the mare smiled.

"Dry your tears Pinkie, it's not like I'm not your friend anymore. I just won't be in the herd with you any longer." Octavia smiled running her fingers through the mares mane.

"Ok. You promise to write whenever you get the chance or call won't you?" Pinkie asked as the mare chuckled.

"Of course dear." She said before pulling back.

"Well I must be going, I have a recital to go to in tomorrow and I don't want to be to tired to perform." She stated hugging each of the girls before making her exit.

As the group sat in silence a small smile came across Applejacks face making the other two look over at her confused.

"What are you thinking of AJ?" Akhe asked.

"Just wonderin what our dragon is doin right now is all." She said as the other two hummed.

"Don't know, he said that he was going to Canterlot and then to the Crystal Empire to see Cadence and Shining Armor while we were having a few girl days. He said something about speaking to the people." Pinkie mused as Akhe sighed smiling.

"The king has really been pushing himself a lot since he's gotten here, you girls only see him when he makes time for you. But I see him when he's working, he works himself to bone and even asking us questions about things and what we would do. His father never asked for others opinions or help, he thought that it made him look weak I think." She smiled leaning back in her chair letting out a sigh.

"But with Spike, he wants help and he wants his subjects opinions and guide. With Spike I think that the kingdom will rise far more glorious than even his father was able to bring it." She grinned as the others nodded.

"What are you guys doing over here?! Come on lets get back to the party!" Rainbow said hovering above them before grabbing Pinkie and heading over to Twilight and Rarity.

"Well come on then, care to dance Akhe?" Applejack asked as the dragon blushed nodding as she took her hand and headed into the crowd.

(Crystal Empire)

Spike smiled as he looked down at the paper that had Flash Sentry's picture on it along with known hangouts, friends, family, and patrol stations that he was assined to.

'I'm going to find out what you did Flash, and if you cheated on my sister I'm going to tear you apart.' Spike thought snorting out fire while he put the paper away just as the train pulled into the station.

Spike sighed coming off of the train just as a pink blur slammed into him.

"SPIKE!!!!" It was a mare, the two landed on a pile of luggage as she giggled squeezing him till he was sure he heard a rib pop.

"Cadence, honey you need to let him breath." Spike looked up at his older brother Shining Armor, General of the Crystal Army.

"Oh but it's been so long!" Cadence the princess of love and the ruler of the Crystal Empire squealed.

"Cadence.... Air..." Spike gasped out starting to feel light headed before the mare let go and he gulped in the precious oxygen.

"Sorry Spike, I guess I got a little carried away." She smiled sheepishly as he stood up.

"A little?" Shining said only to get a smack on the chest.

"Oh hush, he's fine." She said as color started to return to the young drake.

"Hey guys, it's been a while." Spike said once he finally got his breathing and composure back. He walked up and pulled the two into a hug as they laughed while Shining slipped a paper into Spikes pocket while Cadence slipped one in his other.

"Well we're glad you came by. Shiny and I have just been so excited since we got your letter." Cadence squealed getting a smile and chuckle from the two males.

"Well come on grab your things and come with us. You said that you wanted help on what you should do with your people and Cadence and I will be happy to help while you're here." Shining smiled giving Spike a friendly nudge.

"Oh Spike I think you will love your room! We even have some gems for you in your room." Cadence said hovering above them before landing by his side and nuzzling into his shoulder.

Spike smiled throwing an arm around her and Shining pulling them closer as they laughed.

"You've gotten so big Spike!" Cadence giggled as Shining hit him in the ribs playfully.

"I can't believe I have to look up at you now Spike. You're growing to fast." He smiled before they all started to laugh.

"Hey so you guys really don't mind me being there asking questions about some of the stuff you're doing during the day?" He asked letting go of them while they shook their heads.

"Not at all Spike, besides we wanted to see you for a while now after Twilly sent a letter to us letting us know you were back safe and sound." Shining said as Cadence grabbed them both and they flashed away.

They appeared in the hall outside Spikes room.

"Ugh, seriously warn a guy when you do that." Spike groaned.

"Aw quit being a baby, come on I want to show you your room." Cadence said dragging the large drake into the room while Shining followed along with a smile on his face shaking his head.

After a few hours of exploring and talking, Spike was on a cloud relaxing and thinking of the two letters he found in his pockets making him laugh a little as he held them.

[Spike I know why you're here besides to train for your upcoming position of king, so I'll save you the trouble and tell you that Flash didn't cheat on Twilly. I asked him stallion to stallion and he told me that they were just growing apart and it was becoming too hard to maintain the relationship. So please don't kill my captain of the guard after I JUST promoted him.

Please!!!

Your brother Shining]

Spike sighed having been found out right off the bat but smiled when he looked at Cadences letter.

[Spike I know why you're here and you have my full permission to hang that stallion by his goods on top of the castle point for making my sweet Twilight cry. Whatever Shiny said in his letter doesn't matter, I out rank him and I give you my full support to punish Flash Sentry however you see fit.

You loving sister,

Cadence

P.S. The armory is in the lower level of the barracks, you got the picture and his duty roster I sent you. HAVE FUN!!]

THe dragon laughed and looked down to see the pegasus below him guarding the gate to the castle as a cruel grin spread across his face. Spike down landing without a sound as he began to grow in mass and size dwarfing the small pegasus in a matter of minutes.

Spike leaned down right behind him snorting making him freeze and slowly turn hearing Spikes deep rumble of a growl.

When Flash turned all the way around all color drained from his face as the dragon pulled back before coming down and roaring right in the poor guards face.

Spike watched as the pegasus' eyes rolled into the back of his head letting out gurgling sound while going stiff as a board before falling back and out like a light.

As soon as he hit the ground Spike laughed shrinking down to size wiping a tear from his eyes walking over to the stallion and making sure that he didn't die from a heart attack.

Spike could hear the sound of laughter along with a loud groan as he took to his room. Mission Accomplished.