"Bad time?" I asked, interrupting the emotional group hug. They took notice of me and got into defensive stances. I held in my laughter as the thought of them being able to damage me was quite ridiculous. So I stood motionless, unaffected by their movements.

"Malus Messor?" The purple one spoke, as if trying to recognize me for my father. Either they don’t know of his demise or have assumed him as me. I bet it’s both.

"What of him?" I asked, staring down the purple one's eyes, analyzing the stress and fear they gave. But before she could reply, the rainbow one, who had taken the chance at flight, spoke up.

"You know very well you jerk!" she yelled, ready to ram my like a rabid bull.

"No. I don’t. And watch your tongue bold one. Your pride can blind your judgement, bringing suffering and death." I said coldly, my voice freezing her wings stiff. But she was caught in the purple one’s magical aurora and lowered unharmed.

"Now, why do you ponies tread on my land? Is it not clear enough to know that we do not welcome you here?" I asked, crossing my arms in the process. They looked at each other, as if not knowing what to say without bringing harm onto themselves. This time, a little dragon armed in kitchen utensils came out the the crowd. I could barely hold in my laughter as he was armed with a very used iron pan. Holding the pan like a grand battle sword, he aimed it at me, and spoke loudly for everyone to hear.

"Malus! I know we tread in your home unannounced, but please let us stay. We only ask for safety in your forest as we mean no harm to you or your rule." the dragon spoke, lowering his iron pan and kneeling in respect. All the other ponies looked shocked at their friend’s action.

"What is your name?" I asked, intrigued as who this little guy was.

"Spike. Spike the Dragon." He answered, a bit unsure with the question, rising from his kneeling position. I silently walked towards and crouched down closer to the little drake, locking onto his eyes.

"Do you speak for the rest of your… Friends?" I asked again, staring down into his soul with red light.

"Yes." he replied meekly, doing his best to hold his fears in to reply. I remained silent as I rose to my full haight.

"Spike, you speak with a heart of pure. You are welcomed to take refuge in my home for as needed be." I spoke down at him. The rest of the ponies seemed relieved by my words, only to be shocked once again at my next remark.

"But your friends may not." I finished, gaining gaspes.

"WHAT!?" The ponies shouted.

"Wait why?" Spike asked quickly, looking back and forth between his friend and I.

"I have no trust for the kind that plots my downfall." I replied, looking back at the little drake.

"But I swear! Me and my friends won’t do anything." He pleaded.

"One can only control so much in life, but the only thing that a person can take full responsibility for is themselves. Do you understand little one?" I asked, staring down at Spike. While he nearly buckled under the pressure of my darkening gaze, he stayed strong enough to .

"Then… I’ll take full responsibility for my friends…" He said, his voice breaking up. Shaking my head, I sighed.

"You don't know what you can't accept Spike." I said, pausing for a moment, seeing pure heart being torn over for his friends. At the very sight of this, something within me flickered. Sparking something that I’ve never felt. Then memories of Malus’s encounter with this dragon appeared. Malus… Had a bond of some sort? Yet it was not clear as of what. It was something strange, maybe relatable? Respect? Pitty? I couldn't determine the source, but it was there, and it meant something.

"But you have appealed to my father… I shall trust your words young one. Come, my home is this way." I said, nodding my head over to the path. The ponies took a moment to grasp the situation before they began packing up.

"Why did you do that spike?!" I head the purple one and the five others surround the drake and begun questioning him at once. As they were talking over each other, they continued to scold the poor little dragon. Hoping to help him, I walked up to the group.

"Leave him alone." I ordered. But what surprised the ponies is when I picked him up.

"Hay! Put me down!" he yelled, his pleas falling on muted ears as I walked away with him.

"You know, father always thought of dragons to be the coolest creatures." I spoke, petting his fins as he continued to struggle.

"W-what?" He asked. But his body quickly began to betray him as I found his ticklish spot.

"Yes, he always saw them cool before the world died." I spoke, looking into the memories that were given to me. The six mares looked at me with a verities of looks as I walked away with spike. The six then quickly followed up, chasing me as I walked fast compared to them. But Yin And Yang seemingly appeared from the bushes, blocking and snarling at the former Elements.

"Sto!" I shouted, ending their hissing. With a snap of my fingers, both lions accompanied me by my sides.

"Sorry for the scare Spike, my pets can get protective of me." I spoke, still petting him like a cat.

"And before you six do anything drastic, go and help your group with packing. My guards will lead and accompany you to my home." I finished off without even looking at them as I walked off with the confused and frightened Dragon.

"W-where are we going Malus?" He asked, still spooked by the huge lions.

"We are going to my home young one..." I answered, continuing my pace as I backtracked my way home.

"By the way, my name isn’t Malus, that’s my father." I told, making Spike's eyes go completely wide. Three seconds later, he passed out in my arm. Sighing, I continued to stroke his fins as I warned the temperature around me, making the hatchling right at home in his slumber. He stayed like this, sleeping and sucking his thumb all the way. I could feel a spark, something warm like kindle in my heart as I held him. I could only smile as I enjoyed this new sensation. Malus must have had a soft spot for dragons.

Beside Spike being adorable, I finally reached my home, the drawbridge being lowered at my appearance. With Yin and Yang by my side, I strolled into the courtyard and down the tall hallways. Right as I reached the corner to the throne room, I found Zeke with tampering and giving commands through Orb of Watch. He looked away from the Hologram and took notice of the little dragon sleeping peacefully in my arms.

"My lord, sorry for pondering, but why do you have a dragon hatchling?" He asked, looking the green and purple drake with dread.

"No need to worry Zeke, negotiation with the ponies have succeeded as they will be dining with us soon." I answered.

"As for Spike here, he has been a great negotiator as he will be treated as an equal. As for the ponies, they are guests, but keep close eye as they are not to be trusted fully. Are my word clear?"

"Yes, my holy lord" He answered, bowing as I sat on my throne. He then looked back at the Orb of Watch.

"The Dining Room is ready set and the food is prepared to be served my lord. When shall we start the feast?" He asked me, hushing his word as not to wake Spike from his slumber.

"Put the feast on hold until the ponies arrive with their belongings. When the guest are ready, we shall start the celebrations." I sighed as I rested on my throne, looking down at the happy dragon. The warm embers in my heart still sparkling with life as I still couldn't name the damn feeling I felt. As I sat and searched through my tattered soul, I did not consider the time as one hour had already passed. Zeke the came to my side once again, looking up at me with concern.

"Sir, the ponies are here and waiting. They insist on seeing the dragon." As expected, they wanted their friend back. I sighed as Spiked stirred from his slumber. Spike gave out a yawn as he stretched like a cat in my lap. But as soon as he noticed where he was he began to panic.

"I take it you enjoyed your nap, did you not?" I asked him, looking down at the confused drake.

"I guess..." He spoke out, looking at me as if trying to remember something. Shaking his head, he began looking around, the recently decorated throne room having my personal touch. Dark gray painted walls with red, white, and gold banners.

"Down you go." I said, picking him up from my lap and setting him a short stool by my throne.

"Zeke, let them in." I ordered. Giving a nod, he taped into the Orb and the doors opened, revealing the six mares from before. Their eyes intently dotted to the dragon beside me.

"If you done anything to dear spiky wiky I swear I’ll-" Her voice suddenly cracked as the white mare was lifted into the air, being held by her throat. With my hand raised similar to Darth Vader, she began to struggle to breathe.

"If you continue to disrespect me in my own home, I will gladly show you all to the door." I ordered darkly, her eyes filling with tears and fear as her friend stood shocked at the sight. Before she lost consciousness, I dropped her without care, releasing my grasp. Just as the purple one was about to yell at me, I silenced her with a wave of my hand.

"As for the rest of you..." I said, gazing at the rest of them. All of them expressing their mixture of emotions through their eyes.

"What did you do to her!" The purple one yelled out, ready to summon an attack spell if needed.

"I merely silenced her voice. Though you should know not to disrespect someone who welcome you into their home. Be glad I am sparing your lives. Know that my patience run thin with a blade." I said, resting my hand on the hilt of my sword. This got her to shut up as the rest of her friends tended the fashionist.

"Now that is settled, I can only guess all you are in need of food. And I correct?" I asked, instantly earning a grumble from Spike's hungry stomach.

"I assume he speaks for the rest of you?" I asked the mares, giving reluctant nods.

"Zeke, lead the way to the Dining Room!" I ordered, quickly rising from my throne while scooping up Spike into my arms as I followed my loyal servant. The six took a moment before following us through the long hallways.

"Put me down!" Spike yelled, struggling to get down.

"Fine." I groaned out, placing him down. He quickly turned around and ran towards his pony friends. The Alicorn opened her hooves wide, ready to embrace her little assistant, but was met with nothing as Spike hugged Rarity instead. I could see the confusion in her eyes as she looked sad.

"Are you okay Rarity?" Spike asked with worry, completely oblivious to the shocked Twilight.

"We can all chat at Dinning room. This way." I said with a threatening tone. They all gulped and followed me, not daring to anger me further. When we finally reached the dining room, I merely glanced around, instantly seeing that everything was in order. The Diamond Dogs were all sitting properly and waiting for food as I walked in. The seven stood shocked at the door, staring at the hundreds of dogs. But their attention was soon drawn to the other ponies at another table. They were all seated as well, with guards standing by them. While they seemed nervous as can be, they still did as they were told, to scared to see the results of my wraith.

"Come, join us." I beckoned the seven, still standing at the door. I took my obvious seat as it was shaped for me. The table was simple, but it was more modest ands much cleaner table. The seven looked at each other once again, unsure what to think of the situation.

"By father’s name! Do you intend on standing there all day?" I asked, raising my armored hand enthusiastically. They scurried at the sound of my voice as they took their seats.

"Nope." I said, raising my hand as I levitated Spike from his seat.

"What the hay-"

"You get to sit on papa's lap." I interrupted him, setting him on my leg. He was about to speak again until I silenced him with a gem.

"Eat up my little assistant, you need to eat up if you're going to grow up strong." I said, letting him chew and dig into a bowl of sweet gems.

"Hay! He’s my assistant-" I cut off the purple one’s voice with a simple wave of my hand.

"LET THE FEASTING BEGIN!!!" And at that very moment, all hell broke lose.

Author's Note

Hope you all enjoy this late. Okay! Very late chapter... On April first no less! Sorry for such a delay, but life is such. Anyhow, have a wonderful day.