Curse of Shadows

by Violet Sky

Rating: mature
Tags: Anthro, Dark, Alternate Universe, Romance, Tragedy
Length: 6458

Spike is banished from Equestria for over 500 years. In that time, he's grown and learned far more than he ever has. And finally, he has a way to end his anguish, but it'll cost him everything to do so.

This is the first time I've ever simply sat down and recapped my entire existence. Mind you, I know well that everypony knows the stories of the number one assistant of Princess Twilight Sparkle; the baby dragon that she practically raised from an egg. But no one knows the life of the banished mage, who now sits before you in all his glory. There's no doubt in my mind that I sit before you royal guards as simply another monster your twitching fingers wish to destroy. Twilight, no doubt, informed you of what I can do with just a snap of my claws.

So, I've come to you, not for forgiveness, but as an elder with a story to tell. It will be… One last friendship report.

I'll spare you nothing of my story. The truth must be heard. And I'll start with this…

First… Twilight, I love you.

Second… Their deaths weren't my fault.

Written before season 5

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2015-12-10 05:03:26 UTC

Chapter 1

I’ll begin my tale with the catalyst to my redemption. If there ever was a more eventful time that I could properly remember, it was then. At that point in my life, I had mastered the art of magic and alchemy as far as a dragon is concerned. In the time before this, I was a nobody; left adrift with no nation to lay claim to. I was simply a parasite to my brethren.

I realize why now, but that is skipping too far into the story. Soon all of you will understand why I’m the reject I am today. And it has nothing to do with who I am.

A low growl escaped through my jagged fangs as I began to feel the physical world around me again. My dreams vanished from my mind, dispersing to wherever dreams go to be forgotten. It wasn’t the fact that I was leaving the dream realm that had angered me, but more so the fact that I was waking up in the first place. Sleep never came to me easily and I hate waking up.

I forced my heavy eyes to open, breaking the sand that crusted the edges of my eye lids. The sight I received was the exact same as every day; a dark ceiling made from pure obsidian. It was cool for the first fifty years, but pretty soon it began to just serve as a reminder of my carefree youth.

A huge, jaw-popping yawn forced it’s way out of me as I stretch, groaning with each sickeningly loud pop of a random stiff joint.

“Why… Why, oh, why can’t I ever get a good night’s sleep!?” My deep rumbling voice echoed throughout my humble little cave, shaking the stone foundation slightly. I groaned and began the difficult task of motivating myself out of bed. I wanted to just lay there on the soft bed of moss and stare at the ceiling all day until I finally drifted off to sleep, but alas…

An alchemic laboratory doesn’t take care of itself.

I threw off the layer of black fur that I had fashioned into a blanket and sat up, exposing my naked body to the cold air. Any normal being would have frozen in the frigid environment I live in. I, on the other hand, have what I like to refer to as an internal furnace. Being cold blooded and all, if it wasn’t for the flames in my body, I would of either frozen myself or of been comatosed for years. I kinda like the latter. I would enjoy the sleep, but I’m not the kind of drake that sleeps instead of working. It’s not who I am.

As I pushed myself out of my bed of moss, I turned my gaze to the one item of comfort I was able to take with me from my old home. It was a picture. It wasn’t really all that comforting at all, but it brought back some memories every time I looked at it. Some were good, others were bad. It was a picture of when I was much younger, a portrait of a much happier time.

A sigh slipped through my scaly lips. A slight flicker of flame joined the rush of air, flaring out just bright enough to flash light across the glass protecting the photograph. It was a very memorable day… The day my mentor, my best friend, my adopted elder sister, discovered what it means to have true friends.

It was the picture we all took as a group, just after the defeat of… Who was it? Night Ter- No… Moon Fright? No, no. That’s not it… Oh, Nightmare Moon! That’s the name of the blasted mare in the moon. I remember it now. It was when…

I grit my teeth as my memories began to sour. “Damn you, Twilight Sparkle… Kill me, strip me of every scale on my body, gouge my eyeballs out, even! Anything but the punishment you have dragged me to the level of… How dare you take my friends from me!?” I roared, baring my terrifying fangs for the gods to cower from in my fit of rage. Green flames licked across the roof of my maw. Unable to control myself any longer, I slammed my brick of a fist into the wall of my sleeping chamber. The stone surface buckled under the brute strength behind the punch, leaving a crater where my fist was now imbedded.

“Damn… You… All…” I panted as my anger began to recede back into the darkness of my subconscious mind. This wasn’t the first time I had lost my temper over my bitter/sweet history. It happens quite often, quite a bit more than I care to admit. It’s not an easy life in the Dragon kingdom and I strive for the day when I don’t have to fight for my food each morning.

I yanked my arm from the ruined wall and sighed heavily. It was time to start the daily routine.

With a sharp snap of my claws, bright green magic filled my palm with raw arcane power. The magic pulsed like the heart of a beast, before stabilizing and forming a perfectly spherical ball of bright light. I tossed it into the air and it stopped just shy of the obsidian ceiling, floating there as it’s light illuminated part of a larger chamber than the one which I sleep in.

I added a couple more to the first, exposing a small chemical lab to my weary eyes.

Now to break this down to a more understandable level, alchemy is a highly sophisticated art of deconstructing and reconstructing matter and highly illegal to Equestrian law. The last known alchemist in Equestria was executed on sight. No trial. No mercy. Just off with his head! He wasn’t even a very skilled alchemist! Sure alchemy can be dangerous, but why all the fuss? Magic in general is dangerous. Is an art of changing the molecular structure of a substance really so bad? Just because no one understands it? Just because somepony, one blasted stallion with a mental disorder, decided it was ok to use the art to alter a pony’s body?

Blasphemy! Unacceptable! Intolerable! Fools!

Well, no matter. I’m not an Equestrian citizen anymore, now am I? So it really doesn’t matter what I do, so long as I don’t start trouble with any of the so called ‘royals of the Dragon kingdom’. Besides, I don’t do much with it, other than make my own gems and build the creatures that guard my cave. Chimeras, such useful animations. It helps that I use carcases from dead changelings to do it. No one’s going to miss them and it helps that they can still change their shape.

I turned toward a large, black metal box at the far end of the chamber. Making my way toward it, I snapped my claws again. A dull rumble sounded from inside the box as the arcane locks released their hold on my precious stash, before it swung open on it’s own. Inside was the one thing I couldn’t live without; my collection of synthetic gems and jewels.

Reaching inside, I dug my hand into the pile of sparkling necessities and retrieved two sapphires and an emerald. I popped one of the sapphires into my maw, giving a low groan of delight as the sweet taste of extremely nutrient rich gem invaded my senses. For the next few minutes, I munched on the miniscule amount of gems I had selected for myself, taking a moment to make a mental list of what needed to be done today.

If I remember correctly, I was going to test an alteration to one of my deconstruction circles. In theory, the alteration would allow for teleportation of deconstructed matter, only to be reconstructed in a receiving circle. The only problem would be the reconstruction. Then I’m going to have to deal with an injured chimera after an Arctic Wolf froze over half it’s body. Then, of course, I need food. So, I have to schedule a hunting trip. And let’s not forget I have to teach that little runt, Tumble a lesson for stealing my partical cannon!

Damn hatchlings… Think they own the place.

There’s no respect here. Honor and rank, but no respect. I had friends out here at one point in time. I thought the bond was legitimate and strong, but I was sorely wrong. They stole one of the few items I had that actually held true value to me. They stole my fire ruby; the same one Rarity returned to me on her deathbed. And they ate it.

I leaned back against my workbench as I gnawed on my tasty emerald, lost in thought. There was always something causing trouble in these environments. But, luckily, I’m smarter than most everything in this entire territory. I may not have a dragoness, or a huge hoard, or a menacingly brutal body structure, but I don’t want any of that pointless junk. Even the thought of having a dragoness lost it’s luster after a couple hundred years.

I was brought back to reality by the taste, or rather lack of taste, from my snack. Looking down at my hand, I noticed the emerald was gone, consumed abruptly by my greedy body. I sighed and wiped the crumbs off my hand. “Well… At least it’ll hold me over until I can get around to hunting…”

“And that... should just about do it!” I exclaimed excitedly as I poured a black powdery substance into a funneled beaker filled with a translucent purple fluid filling it at the quarter mark. The liquid instantly bonded to the powder, causing a quick fizzing reaction as the purple darkened to a solid black.

Changeling chitin powder and a healing salve made from synthetic dragon blood plasma. The end result; a quick and easy way to regenerate your changeling’s broken or damaged chitin. Just pour it over the abrasion and presto! Your changeling is good as new after only thirty minutes of total healing time!

It was something I figured out after one of my ‘woohoo!’ moments sometime earlier in these grueling five hundred years. Very useful. It doesn’t just work on changelings either. A dragon’s blood plasma is always charged with energy because of how much it takes just to keep us alive. It’s easy to make a replica. It’s just difficult to get any of the real plasma. A dragon’s healing factor is nearly instant.

I grabbed the beaker in a pair of tongs and turned to a pony-like figure behind me. The thing looked miserably in pain as it favored it’s right side. There was very obvious ice damage all over it’s armor-like form in the form of deep, bleeding cracks. The changeling whimpered and gazed pleadingly up at me with glowing green eyes. It’s clawed hands covered the worst of the wounds. Only moments ago, the chimera had been wrapped head to hoof in bandages, but they had to be removed for the healing salve to be applied.

“Don’t worry, Alpha. This should help you.” I said in a calm tone, attempting to make voice as soothing as possible. Hay, they’re not mindless drones, you know. They do have personality and emotions, I just hold a contract with the few I have. They’re the closest thing to to ponies and friends I have and their company keeps me from losing my mind in my solitude.

I gently moved the changeling’s shaking hand away from his body so I could assess the real damage. It was bad; very bad. It looked exactly like he had when I had first found his body stuck in a tree. Spurred by how much damage there really was, I began spreading the black fluid over the wounds, making sure to saturate the worst first before using whatever was left for the numerous others.

Alpha grit his fangs and hissed loudly in pain when the catalyst took effect in his body. Already I could see some of the smaller cracks begin to close at a near snail’s pace.

“Go rest. There’s nothing you can do until you heal.”

The changeling chimera stiffly nodded his head in affirmation. “Th-thank you, master.” Alpha said in a scratchy voice, before limping away toward the holding chamber.

I sighed and began cleaning my materials, putting vials and various substances back where they belong. My focus on my thoughts shattered when a ravenous growl sounded from my gut. I groaned in irritation. I had forgotten to hunt.

I snapped my magic claws, sending a jolt of power through the ground beneath my paws. Closing my eyes, I focused on the tremors the wave of magic had caused as they echoed back to me, searching the vibrations for anything I didn’t recognise. This is how I searched for prey. I could feel where each of my cameras were stationed, the exact layout of my glorified hole in the ground, the exact layout of the land around my home, and… Uh, oh.

My eyes snapped open as a twinge of fear gripped my heart. Without having to think much about it, I quickly snapped my claws again. This time, the wave of magic was focused on my changelings as a warning to retreat into the cave.

I began pacing back and forth as my altered changelings poured into the main chamber; my alchemic lab. I ignored their looks of curiosity and fear and spoke to myself under my breath. It was a habit I had picked up a long time ago; from somepony I’d rather forget. “I know that energy signature… It’s the king… I know it’s the king… Why is the king here…? He never leaves his throne…” I spun on the group of shape-shifters and jabbed my index claw at them, making the six of them flinch. “Which one of you did it!?”

“D-did what, master?” The largest of the group asked in a feminine voice. It was obvious this one was the beta of the group, especially seeing as the alpha was injured. Despite her height, I was still taller than the female chimera, besting her in both stature and masculinity. I knew her as Queen Bee. (Mostly because she’s the eldest female of every sentient being living in my home and I’m the king of this little palace. That; and, well… She isn’t ugly in the slightest and a dragon has needs.)

I focused my attention on the second eldest of all my changeling chimeras and growled. I knew she spoke up just to get my irritation away from her siblings, but that was a smart thing to do. Better to focus on one than to multiply it over a group. “What do you mean ‘did what, master’!?” I nearly roared at the mare. “The king is approaching my cave and we all know that never happens! What happened and who’s responsible!?”

Before Bee could form a response, a deep voice vibrated through the air of my humble little cave. It sent a shiver of dread down my spine and through my leathery wings. It was a voice that could topple a mountain if it tried hard enough, or end a war with a single word. “My, my, young Spike. Must you always jump to conclusions when a fellow dragon approaches your home?”

I froze where I stood. My eyes widened on reflex. I quickly tried to swallow down the bile in my throat, before turning to look back at the elder standing at the tunnel arch that led to the mouth of my cave. His wide set and menacing stature put anything that even tried to shame, radiating pure authoritative power. Every inch of his body was covered in dull, golden scales, shimmering in the magic light. His red eyes glistened brightly in amusement. The deep pools of scarlet radiated confidence and wisdom.

The king of the dragons. Supreme ruler of the entire territory. The alpha of the alphas. The iron claw whom held the scepter of command. Cornelius the Thrasher, in the flesh, stood tall and proud in my little cave.

I’m so dead!

Cornelius chuckled at me; probably at my terrified expression. “Oh, little alchemist, don’t look so skittish of me! I only wish to speak with thee. Dragon to dragon.”

I turned completely around to face the elder dragon. My changelings shuffled behind me, most likely hiding behind me for false safety. I raised a brow to Cornelius in confusion. “I-I’m sorry, come again? It sounded like you just said you flew all the way out to the farthest mountain range North of your mountain… Just to talk?” I crossed my arms and glared at the elder dragon. “Okay, what’s the catch?”

Cornelius boomed with laughter, holding his gut. His hysterics only served to increase my discomfort. “Oh, my friend… There is no catch! You bring amusement to this old soul. For that, I thank you.”

Dumbfounded, I just stared at the dragon king. My ear fins couldn’t believe what they were taking in, but this was too weird to hallucinate. What in hell was going on here? “Me? Friend? No catch? What!? Who the hell are you and what have you done with Cornelius?”

“That’s king Cornelius the Thrasher to you, boy!” Cornelius howled with laughter. “Oh, my word, I have not laughed like this in forever!” The golden dragon marched straight up to me with his arms spread wide, before he caught me in a brutal dragon hug.

What’s the difference between a bear hug and a dragon hug, you might ask? Well, ol’ Big Mac was the king of bear hugs. He was known for having the brute strength to break bones with his hugs, but a dragon hug… Let’s just say that if I were any other creature, I’d look like a used tube of toothpaste.

Cornelius’ thick, brutish arms squeezed the breath out of me, nearly crushing me in their strength. “C-Cornelius… Can’t… Can’t breath!” I croaked out breathlessly.

“Oh!” The golden dragon released me from his deadly embrace. I stumbled clumsily as I struggled to fill my lungs with air, leaning against my workbench for support. “Apologies. It has just been so long since I have had the pleasure of seeing thee in the flesh. It is not often there is such a dragon as thee residing in my kingdom. I do hope my subjects have not caused thee the stress they have caused me.”

I threw up my hand for Cornelius to stop. “Wait, wait, wait! Why do you care what your subjects do to me? Why do you keep calling me your friend? And why do you keep acting so freakishly giddy?”

Cornelius raised his brow at me in an expression of shock and hurt. “Dear Spike… You wound me. You are my favorite and I am stricken by honor every time I speak thy name. You are true dragon material, young Spike.” He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes. “Please forgive me for neglecting you so. But you must understand, a dragon does as a dragon does. I cannot control what they do inside of my territory, only govern them to the best of my authority. This was supposed to be your sanctuary after those sadistic equines threw you out. I am deeply sorry for the way you have been treated and it wounds the honor of the dragon kingdom.”

My jaw went slack. Did the king of the dragons; the Thrasher himself, just praise me and apologize to me!? Changelings have taken over the dragon kingdom and the queen is looking for her mutated children!

Without a second thought, I snapped my claws. The air around Cornelius erupted with bright green magic fire as I summoned an illusion-burner circle. The seven pointed star circle etched itself into the stone floor beneath Cornelius’ paws, before covering his entire body in flames.

“That’s enough, changeling! You can’t fool… me… Oh, schist…”

When the fire dispersed, all of my confidence died just as the flames had. He’s not a changeling, that’s for sure. That spell would of burned a changeling’s shape-shifting ability to a crisp. I know, because I’ve had to fight off feral changelings before. It’s not pretty.

Cornelius stood in the center of the burn scar caused by my spell. He brushed still glowing embers away from his shoulder and gave me a bemused look. “I see you do not think of me as highly as I do thee. Perhaps that is due to your harsh treatment from your peers. To answer your previous concerns, young Spike, I am not the tyrant you see me as. I only wish these childish reptiles with the arrogant nerve to call themselves dragons would listen to kindness and reason, but alas… Our species is filled to the near brim with bumbling idiots. Don’t you agree?”

I nodded numbly, still not completely comprehending the fact that Cornelius the Thrasher was trying to make nice with the runt of the pack.

“We need more like you around.” Cornelius said suddenly. A friendly smile stretched across his muzzle. “Speaking of… I have a proposal to make, dear Spike.”

Slowly, painfully slowly I began to pull my head out of my arse. If Cornelius; the ‘real’ Cornelius, not the Thrasher, but the wise dragon was trying to make friends, then who am I to say no? I mean, my only friends were a bunch of chimeran changelings that I made. What do I have to lose, other than my life and what’s left of my pride?

It took a long moment for what Cornelius said to register to my shell-shocked mind. “What is it?” I asked, breaking the awkward silence.

Cornelius’ smile widened. It almost seemed sinister in a way. “How would you like to have some authority in this kingdom?”

He read me like a bloody book; like a freakin’ bloody encyclopedia. “What kind of authority?”

“Oh, I just do not know…” Cornelius tapped his index claw against his chin, mocking deep thought. He was teasing me with this new prospect. I felt like a damned well trained dog, drooling over the treat that sat balanced on my snout. Cornelius flashed me a sly smile. “Perhaps… The kind royals use. Rank, title, immunity, right of heir to the throne; that kind of authority.”

Now I’m interested.

Chapter 2

Few things in life ever truly scared me. I’ve come to accept that I was never the biggest guy around. I’m small in comparison to other dragons my age. Even still, I’m not easily intimidated. What had really scared me was when Cornelius simply stated that I owed him nothing for what he was about to do. Since when was this guy generous!? The only dragon like that I have ever met is the one that looks back at me in the mirror; and now suddenly the Thrasher is all soft and friendly? It made so sense! Who was the idiot that broke reality? Discord!?

Thoughts of my conversation with the king crisscrossed in a confusing network of ‘what if’s and ‘why’s. To have been berated and harassed for five hundred years for my heightened intellect and smaller build, it’s a welcome prospect. What scared me is how far this was straying from dragon nature. It’s just unheard of.

But then again, maybe I’m just being a hypocrite. I mean, look at me. I’m the oddball. Even if most of them are idiots, that’s how they live and they see my passiveness as a weakness. Maybe this really wasn’t just some freak accident of nature. Maybe Cornelius really did have the best intentions in mind. That, or he’s just pushing the limits of my self-loathing to see how far I would go to get some respect around here. But… Maybe that’s just my pride talking. It has plenty of bruises to complain about as it is.

I sighed as I stared up at the black ceiling from my moss bed. Yet another sleepless night.

Glorious.

I felt the blankets rustle and I brought my gaze down to the cute sight of a changeling cuddled up against my chest. I could feel her naked curves pressed up against my smooth scales. Her short mane curtained over her right eye as she stared up at me with the left, the iris glowing a dull green in the dim sleeping chamber. “Master, is something wrong? I have yet to see you close your eyes and all I feel from you right now is frustration.” Bee said in a worried tone. The changeling mare gently kissed my chest, not breaking eye contact with me in the slightest. “Are you still thinking of the Thrasher’s proposal?”

I winced and turned my eyes back to the black ceiling, not even replying to Bee’s concerned question. Instead, I wrapped my arms around the chimeran changeling and pulled her tightly against me. A low purr sounded from Bee as she nuzzled me.

“Master… Spike…” Bee began, stopping only to kiss my neck.  “King Cornelius means what he says. There were no lies spat from his mouth. No contempt in his words. You should know by now that he was here with righteous intent.”

I snorted a flash of green flame. “That may be… But that doesn’t excuse how long he had let the abuse draw on. Cornelius obviously knew of it long before he showed up, so why now? Why five hundred years after the abuse began? That just makes no sense…”

“Cornelius is an old soul, Master. Is five hundred years truly that long to one who is resilient to the torturous talons of time? Besides, we do live practically in the middle of nowhere. News does not travel fast in the dragon kingdom to begin with. He may truly not of known.” Bee offered.

I had to admit she had a point there.

Maybe I am just being paranoid. Heh… Spike the mighty dragon mage, arch alchemist of the dragon kingdom… Afraid of a larger dragon’s shadow. Irony; she is cruel sometimes. What am I doing worrying about Cornelius? He offered me a position of power and I refuse to let it slip through my claws. I’m done getting pushed around.

I smirked as I felt my pride and confidence swell. I inhaled deeply through my nostrils, before releasing it from my mouth. “You’re right, Bee. Maybe I am expecting a little too much from the old lizard.”

“I am?” Bee questioned with curious tilt of her head.

I’ve admitted this to myself on many occasions, but Bee is unbearably cute. She had the modest body of a librarian; something I had grown to respect a long time ago. The smooth, chitinous plates across her body did nothing to hide her subtle curves. And yet, she was physically as strong as a stallion twice her size. All, in all… she was basically the epitome of everything I found attractive in a female.

Sure the mutual relationship we shared was unnatural in many ways, but it was necessary for my chimeras. They still needed love to function properly, so Bee acted as their focal point to siphon from. And, at the same time, Bee quelled my lustful greed with physical stimulation. The end result is a perfect, mutual balance.

“Yes, my little Queen Bee, you are.” I replied sincerely. I grabbed the smaller mare and rolled on top of her, pinning her under my firm, yet gentle hands. “Thanks for clearing my conscience.”

Bee smiled up at me, flashing her fangs. There was a hungry glint in her eye that radiated desire and lust. It wasn’t missed in the slightest. “I-I live to please you, master.” She squeaked.

“Such a good girl.” I licked my lips in a predatory manner, flicking the forked appendage. I could feel Bee’s trembling body beneath me. She wanted me again. She always wanted me. Her hunger was never sated.

I leaned down and dragged my forked tongue across the chitin of her neck, slowly making my way to her jawline. Every inch of Bee I tasted only added to my lust. I needed her body. The beast in me needed to be sated, demanded to be recognised as the master of its property. I let out a hungry growl as Bee’s pleasured moan reached my ear fins.

She drove me mad with desire and there was no stopping myself when that happened. A fire erupted in my loins, burning hotter than my internal flames with the greed and lust a true dragon was known for. I knew Bee loved it when I lost control. It was a rare treat to her; one that left her aching for hours, but she never, ever complained about the aches and pains. I bet she enjoyed even those.

Throwing the covers off with my tail, I attacked the helpless changeling with my forked tongue, flicking it playfully across her upper body. My lust for sweet release only grew as Bee’s giggles reached my ear fins. I truly loved everything about Bee, especially the noises she made during our act of sinful rutting. Her giggles were like throwing kindling on red hot embers to me. I wanted her. I needed her.

She was mine for the taking and I knew she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cornelius returned the very next day with a friendly smile; the same he had given the day before. It still gave me a chill to see him so friendly and positive, despite having already accepted this was real, though I was much more composed than before.

We sat in the only properly comfortable place in my little hole in the ground; the chimeren holding chamber. I treated my changeling chimeras with as much respect as one would any other sentient being. I let them have individuality, comfort, creativity, and whatever else they feel like doing whenever they’re not guarding my cave. Seven beds lined the far wall, each with a name etched into the wooden headboard, and hand-made reading chairs littered the free space. At least four book shelves decorated the adjacent wall to the beds, chocked full of fiction, non-fiction, and combat spell books.

There was also several pieces of artwork strung across the walls, as well as impressive models of elaborate feats of engineering.

Cornelius and I sat in two of the reading chairs, facing one another as the elder dragon munched on a synthetic ruby, apparently enjoying it very much. Neither of us spoke for a long moment and I chose to pass the time by skimming through a book I pretty much lived by; Secrets and Special Spells of the advanced mage.

“So, my dear friend, what do you say?” Cornelius asked suddenly, breaking my attention away from the book I knew by heart. I noticed he had finished his snack and was now toying with a ball of arcane golden fire. “Ready to put those rowdy, immature brutes in their place?”

Ignoring my anxious jitters as I closed my book, I returned the smile confidently. I gave the elder dragon a nod of approval. “Yeah. I’m done being pushed around.”

The king clapped his hands together. “Accellent!” Cornelius exclaimed. “You will return with me to the Cave of Diamonds at the next upcoming meeting of clans to discuss your placement under my protection and immunity. The clan leaders present will be rightfully informed of your succession and shall announce the news to their respective clans.”

There it was. That easy. Acceptance. After all these years, I was finally being shown respect as, not only a fellow dragon, but as a superior to all but the king the Thrasher himself. Everything I had ever wanted was being handed to me on a silver platter, ripe for the taking.

But, if so… Then why was I feeling this dark pit in my gut? Like it’s too good to be true. Like it’s a trap set by a tyrant who wanted the strongest alchemist/draconian mage in known existence under his thumb; to use like a weapon to control whatever he saw fit. My rational side knew that was just my anxiety playing with my emotions, but that didn’t stop Fight or Flight from threatening to take action.

That’s PTSD for you. Five hundred years worth.

I cocked my head curiously to the side, raising an eyebrow at Cornelius. “What are your plans for me until then? I wouldn’t expect you to go through all the trouble of coming here yourself if you didn’t have an ulterior motive.”

Cornelius chuckled. “Very perceptive, young Spike. Yes, indeed I do have another reason for seeking your company.” The golden dragon extinguished his magic fireball and sat forward in his seat. He folded his hands together as his aura took on a serious atmosphere. “I think we can help each other in this dire situation of ours.”

I knew it! He’s just blowing sunshine up my arse so he can get what he wants out of me! Dirty lying tyrant! It was too good to be true and I had nearly fallen for it. Nice try, Thrasher, but deception is a useless art against me. I hunt rogue changelings for sport!

“Well, then…” I crossed my arms and stitched together a mask of smugness, grinning at the golden dragon expectantly. While inside I was fuming with anger, I couldn’t let Cornelius see that I was catching on to his lies. “How do you suppose that is possible? I have nothing, but knowledge, skill, and youth to offer. I don’t have a horde. I don’t have any hatchlings to draft as soldiers. And I’m not interested in being a dragoness’ suiter.”

Cornelius pointed his index claw at me and used it to gesture to my whole body. “And that, my friend... “ He smiled sincerely. My contempt for the king was run through with a spear of reassurance. “is exactly what I am looking for. Knowledge is the key to true power and our species has neglected this fact for longer than history can tell. I need a dragon I can trust; a dragon like you. I can give you authority and resources beyond the petty limits of what you are forced to endure now. All I ask in return… Is that you repair our alliance with Equestria.”

And now, now of all bloody times, the heartache of my home country chose to stab me with an icy claw. I felt suddenly cold, like something inside of me died at the mere mention of returning. I held so much raw emotions for the country of equines that returning could be disastrous for, not just myself, but the princesses as well.

“Y-you want me to… what!?” I demanded in a harsh tone. Fire literally sprayed from my nostrils as hurt and anger surged through my veins. “You, if anypo-... You, if anyone would know that I’m forbidden by royal decree from ever returning after what happened!”

At this, Cornelius smirked. “Ah, but there is a loop hole. As my heir, you are entitled to act as ambassador for the crown. Meaning…” The elder dragon leaned closer toward me. “You are immune to the sentence of banishment or they would risk making an enemy of the entire dragon kingdom.”

My eyes slowly widened at what the king was proposing. Risking relations with Equestria to offer me a second chance, saving my arse from eventually freezing to death, threatening war if I was sent back? There’s no way this doesn’t have a serious catch. I steeled my nerves and looked Cornelius in the eye; not as easy as it sounds. “And what’s in it for you?”

“Hmm?”

I leaned forward in my seat and repeated the question in simpler terms. “Why are you going out of your way to do this for me? What are you gaining from it?”

“Oh, what do I gain from this?” Cornelius chuckled. “An heir, a friend, a prodigy among our species, and… well… To tell the truth…” The older dragon looked away and scratched the back of his head nervously. “I am sterile. I cannot sire a hatchling.”

And so ends my mental argument with myself. Would a dragon, ever in their lives, give that much to another without expecting something equal in return? “Wait, wait, wait, wait!” I threw my arms into the air to emphasize my exclamation. “Are you saying you’re trying to adopt me? Is that even legal? I’m an adult!”

“It is legal if I say it is.” Cornelius offered with a smug grin. “I am king Cornelius the Thrasher! So, what do you say, boy? Are you going take this chance at making a better life? Or are you going to let it slip through your claws? I can only offer you this chance once, Spike.”

“And what about my home; my chimeras? What’s going to happen to them?” I asked, gesturing at the cave in general.

“Whatever you wish. It is not mine to do with what I please, it is yours.” Cornelius shrugged. “Destroy it, keep it, abandon it; it matters not to me. I have simply given a place for you among the highest of royal officials; on a pedestal at my right hand side. As such, you have a place in my home; a place as the closest thing to a son I will ever have.”

I snorted. My hot breath sent a puff of smoke from my nostrils. Oh, bloody hell. What have I got to lose? “Alright... I accept your offer, king Cornelius.” I stated with as much confidence as I could muster at that moment. My wings jittered excitedly as I stood and held out my hand for Cornelius to shake.

Cornelius followed suit, but didn’t take my handshake. Instead, he grabbed my arm and yanked me into a tight, bone crushing embrace. The breath was squeezed from my lungs from his superior strength. But, luckily for me, Cornelius didn’t hold me as long as he had the first time the previous day, so I didn’t see stars like I did then. That didn’t mean I wasn’t still left panting for breath though.

“That is excellent news! Excellent news, indeed!” Cornelius exclaimed in obvious delight as his smile threatened to split his face in two. He slapped me on the back in a friendly manner. Damn, that hurt! “We will change everything, you and I. Just wait, when you leave your mark on this kingdom, none shall ever mock your name again!”

Oh, what fresh hell have I willingly gotten myself into?