“Dad, your back! We weren’t expecting you back until later this evening if not tomorrow!” Weiss squealed as she launched herself up into my waiting arms as soon as i’d released the bike and had dropped my pack.

“Yeah I know. Took us all day just to the to Griffonstone so I was expecting there to be an overnight.” I replied with a grin, brushing my hand over her spines. “There’s actually a reason that i’m back so early.”

“Oh? Whussat?” Weiss asked eagerly. I grinned and began the ascent up the stairs with Weiss snuggled up in my embrace.

“I got a lift from a very special dragon who was taken captive.” I explained generically. “I rescued her from her imprisonment and in turn she’s annihilated all of Griffonstone. Not only that, but if you look at my skin…” I edged her on. Weiss turned her head and looked at my arm as it glinted in the light.

“Woah, are those scales?” she exclaimed with incredibility. “How’d you get scales?”

“Same way I got the Eye. The dragon augmented my skin with one of her own scales so that I could survive the heat of the thermite when it burned through the chains.” I continued to explain. “I didn’t know until after i’d gotten back with Lady Schatten, Dash and Dash’s friend Gilda that Lady Schatten that the dragon you’re about to meet is actually the Dragon Queen.”

“Woah, you saved the Dragon Queen? Amazing!” Weiss exclaimed as I set her down on the last step and the two of us stepped out hand in claw to let Weiss take in the Matron Dragon’s form.

“Yes. Weiss, I would like you to meet your mother, Queen Schatten.” I announced. Weiss remained stock still but her hands remained clenched around my own, gradually tightening.

“Wh- what?” she lost all enthusiasm for fear and a timid look as she looked like she was about to cry or something. “My m-mother? As in the one who laid me?”

“As in the one who laid you, yes dear.” Queen Schatten smiled warmly and got down as close as she could without scaring the poor girl. “Hello, little Weiss. I see you’ve grown so big and strong already. Captain tells me you’ve got quite a powerful breath.”

“Ye-yes I have.” Weiss replied, no longer looking on the verge of tears but still terrified all the same. “Are you really my mother?”

“I am. You and your brother Ebenholz were laid at the same time and were reluctantly given to Princess Celestia for her magic school in the hopes of ensuring peace between our races.” Queen Schatten explained as I was joined by Luna, Dash and Gilda who quietly watched the exchange.

“So you gave us our names?” Weiss asked, becoming more and more brave as her grip eased up on my sore hand.

“Yes I did. I will admit that I was a tad inebriated when I gave you those names, which is why they’re no more than describing your scale colour. Celestia chose not to change them because she felt that the names were perfect enough as it was, and I agreed.”

“Okay, so then where have you been for the last thirty years?” Weiss demanded now as she climbed up onto my back and got comfortable.

“Imprisoned. After I gave birth I was due to fly back to the brood and rejoin the pack, however because of my drunken state, I was deterred and taken captive by the Griffons to be kept as a trophy under their capital city. I haven’t been back to the homeland since.” Queen Schatten explained, earning a tear from Luna as Dash and Gilda discussed things to themselves.

“Okay hold on,” Weiss held her claws up as she sat on my shoulders. “If you’re the Queen,”

“Then that makes you a princess. Correct.” Luna finished with a smile. “A pleasure to meet you officially, Princess Weiss Schatten.” she bowed, as did Dash and Gilda once they’d gotten the cue.

“And Eben is a prince?” Weiss smiled to herself, imagining what her brother would say or do when he found out the news. “Another question. Is he older?”

“I’d say you two came out at the same time. I wasn’t really in a position or state of mind to be able who hit the ground first.” Queen Schatten replied truthfully, as though she regretting saying it.

“Right, you were drunk when you had us.” Weiss replied in a low tone of voice.

“No, I was drunk when you were born. I was of sound mind and body when you were conceived.” Queen Schatten informed of us firmly. “But besides that, I see you’ve found yourself in good care.” she smiled, looking the two of us over.

“Yeah, dad’s pretty great. For a dragon-human hybrid anyways.” Weiss announced, patting my head affectionately.

“‘ll have you know I think I do a great job at being your human dad.” I quipped with a smirk, making everyone burst into a short fit of laughter. “For a first time dad ever, I think i’m doing pretty good.”

“I’m not complaining.” Weiss remarked defensively. “But I suppose now you really are more like my dad now that you’re wearing one of my mom’s scales.”

“How so?” I raised an eyebrow curiously.

“Well when a King or Queen Dragon has selected their partner, they exchange one of their primary scales and wear it over their heart. It’s quite painful to both parties but only lasts until the other’s scale is put in place. It shows that through any kind of hurt, the partner will always be there to help protect the one they love. Since I have no idea what happened to my husband over the last few years…” Queen Schatten smirked at me flirtatiously before giving me a wink, making everyone’s jaws drop a foot.

“Hang on, this wasn’t a primary scale was it? I’ve already got a partner of my own, I apologize if i’ve lead you on or anything but I have no interest in a relationship with anything but another human!” I backpedaled as Queen Schatten burst into a fit of laughter, a snort of silver flame leaking from a nostril.

“Oh, I am so sorry! I was just playing a game with you, poking fun I believe it’s called. No, that wasn’t a Primary. It was a tertiary from my left side.” she grinned as my face went red as Rainbow’s eyes. “Besides, i’ve still yet to lose my husband.” she sat up and placed a hand over a lone red scale on her chest protectively.

“Okay, good. Glad we cleared that up.” I replied, breathing heavily and running a hand through my hair which now matched my skin. “So what now?”

“Now? Well I suppose i’ll head home and see what the state of my kingdom had fallen into in my absence.” Queen Schatten remarked with a large shrug. “It has been thirty years.”

“Question!” Dash exclaimed, sticking her hoof into the air. “Gilda and I want to know how old Weiss actually is! If she’s thirty and still so small, how long do dragons live for?”

“My great, great great great great grandfather is still going strong and he’s almost one thousand four hundred thirty seven. His grandfather was the first dragon to appear in Equestria during the last rule of the Two sisters. I wasn’t even a hatchling when Nightmare Moon was banished.” Queen Schatten smirked as Luna rolled her eyes.

“Excellent, another creature unaware of my past and what i’d done. I like you more and more, Queen Schatten.” Luna exclaimed with a grin, bumping royal appendages with the Dragoness.

“And I you. Shame I could not meet your sister though, but i’m sure she’d be sound asleep as it is. Perhaps another time.” Queen Schatten announced as she limbered up her wings and prepared for a flight home. “Until then, I say good-bye to all. Oh, you’ve also got the support of the Dragon clan behind you in this coming war, Drachenreiter.”

“Bye Mom! Say hi to the King for me please!” Weiss called as a couple enormous strokes of the Dragonesses wings lifted her into the air before taking off with a mighty roar. “So,” Weiss looked down at me from my head. “I’m a princess!” she giggled, her feet kicking around made it difficult to keep her on my shoulders but I held fast.

Author's Note

A shorter one, yes. I kinda felt that it needed to be separated from the last chapter as it was getting long enough as it was on it's own. I figured that this chapter would act as a decent way to move into bigger, better things.

I've also got some big plans for the Drachenreiter and his girlfriend, just you wait.

Živjeli