Spike groaned as he opened his eyes, he tried to move his body, but every muscle was screaming at him to stop. "Ugh, what the hell happened?"

"We passed out due to blood loss, then we died. I was smart enough to keep us going, so we were brought back, and you passed out again after you talked to Celestia ." Said Mal.

Spike groaned again. "Right. How long this time?"

"We were dead for about 5 minutes and knocked out for about 6 hours. A new record."

Spike sighed. He looked at his surroundings, Spike was in a large room with all sorts of medical equipment attached to him. A heart beat monitor was beeping steadily, on his arm was an I.V tube, and for some reason he was attached to a machine that only goes 'Ping'. Spike looked his body, his chest was wrapped in bandages, and his leg was in a cast. Spike groaned. "That's right, Chrysalis threw me through some buildings, breaking some ribs, then she shot me with her magic, and it must have broken my leg."

"Yep, and I've been making sure we don't bleed out for the last 5 hours, thank you very much."

"Sorry, thanks." Said Spike. "So, where are we?"

"You’re in the medical wing of the palace." Said a voice.

Spike tried to turn and see who was talking to him, but when he did, he groaned in pain. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Said the voice.

"A little warning would have been greatly appreciated." Said Spike slightly annoyed, but then he sighed. "Sorry, I get a little angry when I wake up in a hospital. Who are you ?"

"My name is Dr. Glass." Said the voice. Dr. Glass, an older red crystal stallion with a long straight green mane, glasses on his face, and dressed in a lab coat. "So how are you feeling?"

"Aside from my everything hurting, just peachy, where is my mom?"

"She's waiting outside, would you like me to get her?" Asked Dr. Glass. Spike nodded.

"Of course." Said Dr. Glass as he walked away.

A few moments later Celestia's voice was heard by Spike. "Hey sweetie, how are you feeling?"

"Like I was trampled by a herd of buffalo, run over by a train, then punched in the nuts by a jacked minotaur forty times. So pretty good compared to some of the other times I woken up in a hospital. What about you?"

"Tired, you have any idea how many creatures are outside of the palace wanting to thank Prince Spike Solaris the Gold Scaled Hero of Equestria?"

Spike groaned. "I swear that's even worse than 'The Brave and Glorious'."

Celestia giggled. "I know, but at least this time it’s true, you did fight off a whole changeling invasion alone."

"Nope, I had..." Spike started, but groaned in annoyance when he realized that he lost his crossbow. "Mom, where's my crossbow?"

Celestia smirked. "It’s with Twilight, but a few some one's wanted to see you." Said Celestia as she revealed all the heads who were hiding inside of her mane. "Don't tell Dr. Glass."

Spike nodded, he then looked at all the heads. "Hey guys, sorry for worrying you." Said Spike as all the heads pounced on to Spike to snuggle him. This knocked the wind out of him and caused him to groan. Which stopped the snuggling from continuing?

All the heads had a sheepish look on their faces. "Sorry, but you scared us real bad Sir." Said Alvin.

"I know, and I'm sorry, but thanks to all of you we were able to capture Queen Chrysalis."

Celestia took a sharp inhale through her teeth. Spike sighed. "I know that sound, something happened didn't it?"

"Yes, Chrysalis escaped before we arrived."

Spike sighed. H0e used all his strength to turn his head, powering through the very painful protest from his muscles, and looked at his mother. "I'm sorry mom, if I only wa- No, you risked your life for all of us, you fought to your limit, and thanks to you no one was hurt, some buildings were destroyed sure, but all the rubble is now priceless because it was destroyed by you, and the crystal ponies are shoveling out the bits to just get a pebble, so repairs are going to be covered and then some. So, I don't want to hear any 'Sorry I wasn't strong enough' shit." Said Celestia as she cupped Spikes cheek. "You did your best, saved the day, and somehow made me even more proud of you."

Spike smiled slowly. "Thanks. Hey, would you mind, propping me up?" Asked Spike.

Celestia nodded. She used her magic to levitate Spike a few feet off his bed, where she placed some pillows on the bed for support. She lowered Spike back down once it was ready. "There you go, need anything else?" Asked Celestia.

"Yeah, can I see everyone?" Asked Spike.

"Of course." Said Celestia as she walked off to get everyone.

Once she was gone, Spike started to use his claws to remove the cast on his leg.

Five minutes later. Spike was about half way through cutting the cast off. But he was stopped when he heard a gasp and his hand was incased in a lavender magical aura. He looked over to the side, and Spike saw Twilight standing there, looking very not happy at him. Her look was mirrored by everyone else that was behind her.

"Um.... it’s not what it looks like?" Said Spike, hoping she would buy it.

Twilight raised a brow. "Well it doesn't look like Discord doing the macarena, now does it?"

"Um...Um... Yeah I got nothing." Said Spike as he shrugged.

Twilight sighed "Why were you trying to take off your cast?"

"Because it doesn't hurt anymore." Said Spike as he continued to take off his cast.

Everyone sighed. Ember was fed up with this nonsense, she used the power of the Bloodstone Scepter to command Spike to lay down. "As Dragon Lord, I order you to lay down." Said Ember as she pointed the Bloodstone straight at Spike, making his body glow.

"As the son of your creator, I deny your call." Said Spike not even looking at Ember, as his body stopped glowing. Everyone dropped their jaws and looked between Spike and Ember.

Ember looked at the scepter, confused, then she looked at Spike, and back to the scepter. She got angry and tried to use the power of the scepter again. "As your Dragon Lord, I order you to lay down and rest this instant!" Said Ember with a little more force, and again Spikes body started to glow.

Again, Spike responded. "As the son of your creator, I deny your call." Said Spike as his body stopped glowing. By this point Spike's cast was fully cut off and he was wiggling his toes. Spike looked at Ember. "Sorry to tell you this, but right now I have just as much control of the Bloodstone as you."

Ember looked between the Bloodstone and Spike a few times until she broke down. "What?"

Spike shrugged. "It’s called the Bloodstone for a reason, since I am Bahamut’s son, his blood runs through my vein's, meaning I am also its creator, to a degree at least." Said Spike as he just sat in his hospital bed.

"How?" Asked Ember as she scratched her head thoroughly confused.

"Well It turns out that the Bloodstone scepter was going to be passed down through Bahamut's blood line, but since my egg was stolen, he had no choice but to start a competition to determine who could be the next dragon lord. But over the few times I have had a chance to talk to him. He taught me a few cool tricks." Said Spike as he pictured the Bloodstone flying towards him.

The Bloodstone scepter started to pull away from Ember's grasp. She tried to fight it, but the pull was too strong, and it was forced out of her grip. The scepter flew straight towards Spike, but it slowed down when it entered Spikes personal space. Once it was within Spikes reach, it began to hover next to the bed. Everyone looked at the hovering scepter in shock.

"How?" Asked Ember.

Spike shrugged. "Well, aside from me being able to deny the call, every Dragon lord, and since I was technically Dragon Lord for a few moments, we can do a lot of stuff with it. Watch." Said Spike as the Scepter started to change size. "We all know it can change its size." Said Spike as the bloodstone changed its shape and turned into a cane with the bloodstone turning into a pommel. "But it can also change its shape as well." Said Spike as he willed the bloodstone cane to change into a bloodstone red sword. "Pretty cool right?"

Ember nodded. "But why?"

"Dad was a dragon sure, but that didn't make him invincible, so he mostly used the Bloodstone in this form." Said Spike as he waved the sword. But it was still a sword, so Spike decided it was dangerous and restored it to its original form. "Oh, there's one last party piece he mentioned." Spike then blew some fire onto the stone. "Locate Garble." Said Spike, the Bloodstone then began to glow brightly and a picture of Garble in real time was displaying.

Garble waved and the image copied the movements. "This is used to keep track of any one that the wielder has a connection to." Said Spike as he blew another gout of fire on the stone. "Locate Owlicious." Said Spike as an image of the owl appeared in the room. "See?"

Everyone nodded, as they watched the image of the owl sleeping back in Ponyville. Spike ended the spell, and everyone was back in reality. Spike smiled at Ember. "Here, give it a try." Said Spike as he held the scepter out for Ember to control it back to her side.

"Ember, just focus on having the scepter by your side, and it will come to you." Said Spike. Ember followed his instructions and imagined the scepter being by her side. Slowly, Spike could feel the scepter being pulled out of his grasp, then it left his hand and flew to Ember. She grabbed the scepter and looked at it in amazement. Ember looked at Spike who explained. "Think about it, a Dragon Lord is usually still alive when the next one is selected, right?"

Ember nodded. "And what happens if the new Dragon Lord is unworthy of doing the job or becomes consumed by greed, do you just wait for it to die and whoever gets the scepter first is the next Dragon Lord?"

Ember shook her head. "No, it’s the responsibility of the previous Dragon Lord to reassume control of the scepter, until another candidate is selected."

"Exactly, if that ever happens again the previous Dragon Lord can easily regain control, without risking their life." Said Spike.

"That's actually a smart idea, but why would Bahamut add this feature?"

"He didn't, it was added by the 16th Dragon Lord, Scales, because the 17th Dragon Lord was a sneaky piece of shit, who tried to steal the scepter before the gauntlet. So, Scales added his blood to the stone and created his new ability."

"Wait, you can add abilities to it?" Asked Ember shocked.

Spike nodded. "Yes, but only once, and in total there is about 14 different abilities right now. We have only seen 7 in total, The Call, which is what every Dragon Lord can do to summon all dragons. The Eye, to allow for viewing a single creature that the wielder has a connection to. Change Form, which allows for it to change the size and shape. Retrieval, which was the ability that Scales added. Transfer, the ability that allows the scepter to transfer all the power it wields to the next Dragon Lord. Levitation, self-explanatory. And lastly, Command, which allows the dragon Lord to order dragons to do anything. But in total 10 of its abilities were created by my father, who is the foundation of the stone. But to make sure no one dragon could create the ultimate weapon, he limited the addition to one per Dragon Lord. So only 4 other dragon lords have added their blood."

Spike then willed the Bloodstone to him, grabbed the scepter, and looked at Fang, "And I'm been dying to add one since I learned about this thing." Said Spike as he pointed a finger at the Fuzzle. "Fang, one small nip please?" Asked Spike.

Fang looked hesitant at biting his master. But he nodded and gave the underside of the finger a nibble, only barely able to break the scales. There was a small drop of red dotting out of Spikes finger, Spike smiled. "Thanks boy." Spike moved the bloodstone to make sure it would catch the drop of blood.

Once the drop of blood hit the stone, it started to glow a bright green light. Spikes eyes glowed the same green color. "As the 74th dragon lord to wield you, I offer my blood to expand upon the power of dragons." Said Spike, then he closed his eyes, and the green light disappeared.

Spike opened his eyes and smiled. He tapped the remains of his cast and it was engulfed in a blood red fire. The cast was turned into smoke, then the smoke traveled around the room. It stopped in front of Celestia. Now that the smoke was in front of the target, the smoke condensed and, in its place, dropped the same cast. Everyone looked at the cast in Celestia's arms, then to Spike who was smiling, then back to the cast. "And now I'm the 5th to add his blood, and I call it delivery. I based it off the messenger spell mom put on me when I was young so we could always stay in contact, but I turned it up to 11." Spike then thought for a moment. "Pinkie can you come here?" Asked Spike.

Pinkie was by his side in a nanosecond with a big smile on her face. "What you need Spikey?" Asked the party pony.

"I need you to just stand there, no logic defying hyperspace movement, just stand there." Said Spike. Pinkie nodded and became very rigid not moving a muscle. Spike whispered something to the still mare as she blinked to show she understood. Spike smiled. "Watch this." Said Spike as he tapped the bloodstone on to the party pony, who was engulfed in the same red fire as the cast.

Everyone watched in horror as Pinkie was burning alive and watched as she was nothing but dust. "PINKIE!" Yelled all the girls.

"Pink Pony Gone?" Asked Rutherford, who was glaring at Spike with anger. "Why dragon do that?"

Spike shrugged. "I was hungry, and Pinkie knows what I like." Said Spike as the burning pinkie was turned into smoke and sent out of the room. Spike started to laugh. "Oh man, poor Serving Platter is going to have a heart attack when a random pony just drops in out of nowhere and starts baking a cupcake."

Everyone looked at the hysterical dragon confused. Spike noticed the odd looks, sighed, and blew a flame of his fire at the stone. "Locate Pinkie Pie." Said Spike. The Scepter showed a pink blur moving around the castle at super speed. Spike smirked and ended the spell as a perfectly fine and happy Pinkie burst through the doors. She walked over to Spike and handed him a cupcake. "Thanks Pinks." Said Spike as he ate the cupcake whole.

"Not a problem, it was actually fun. I was all whoosh and spinnie for a moment then I popped back in front of a little old mare making a salad for dinner." Said Pinkie.

Spike smiled and looked at everyone. "With this Dragon Lords will be able to send living and nonliving things across large distances and hold on for one second." Said Spike as he grabbed the Bloodstone with both hands. He watched red wisps of the Bloodstones magic transferred over to him.

Once the energy stopped. Spike smiled, as gave the scepter to Ember. "Here you go, I don't need it anymore." Said Spike as he used the retrieval ability and pushed it towards Ember.

Ember was starting to get angry. "Ok, stop all this. First off what did you do, how did you do that, and why do you look so happy?" Said Ember.

Spike smiled." Well, I used the ability called Transfer, to transfer my ability to myself, as for the how, I think it’s part of my connection to both the spell and the scepter, and because I can do this now." Said Spike as he looked at Garble. "Garble hold out your arms."

Garble shrugged and held out his arms. "Um, why am I doing this exactly?"

"Wait for it." Said Spike. He used his green fire to set himself on fire. He laughed like a maniac as he slowly started to turn into smoke.

Everyone watched in shock as Spike was completely gone from his bed and turned into smoke. The smoke flew around the room for a few moments but then stopped above Garble. It condensed into the shape of Spike. The smoke flashed and out pops Spike, who was dropped into Garbles arms. "Hi." Said Spike. He then looked at Pinkie. "Your right that is fun."

Pinkie nodded. Everyone looked at the dragon in Garble's arms and their jaws dropped. Celestia stammered. "How...You...Smoke....There....How?"

Spike chuckled. He got off Garble and stood on the ground. "Simple my dear all-powerful mother. The transfer ability can transfer all the authority it wields between Dragon Lords, but I made it transfer one ability to me. Since I never was interested in being Dragon Lord. I had no reason to care, but after I met my dad for the 3rd time he started to tell me all about the scepter. With it, I was able to create a more powerful version of our communication spell. Through it, I transferred the ability to me, and now I'm able to teleport to anyone I have a connection to." Said Spike. Now that the long-winded explanation was over, Spike remembered that he was overdue for some booze. "So, who's up for that drink?" Asked Spike.

Everyone just looked exhausted and raised their hands. Spike smiled. "Sweet." Said Spike as he tried to walk out of the medical ward towards the closest bar. But he was stopped when he noticed that he was walking in midair. Spike turned and noticed that Twilight was levitating him in the air. "What the hell Twi?"

"Don't what the hell me, your still injured and should be resting."

Spike chuckled, shook his head, and smiled. "No, I'm good, I can even walk on my own again." Said Spike.

Twilight smirked, and placed Spike on the ground. "Prove it then, walk back to me without stumbling." Said Twilight confident that she was going to win.

Spike shrugged. "Ok." Said Spike as he walked over to Twilight without any difficulties, shocking the young princess. "So?"

"How?" asked Twilight.

"Mal has been fixing me up since I was brought back, add my natural dragon healing, and what I assume to be a rapid healing effect of 'Valiant Mode'. A broken leg and some ribs can be healed in a few hours. Don't get me wrong, my muscles still hurt like hell, but I've been through worse." Spike then looked to Cadence. "So, where's the closest bar from here? I need a stiff drink and I promised Sunburst a story." Said Spike as he smiled.

"A few blocks north of the palace, a place called 'The Crystal Goblet'." Said Cadence.

Spike nodded as he cracked his neck, walked over to Twilight, and grabbed his crossbow from her. He then walked back to his bed, gathered all the heads, who returned to their tubes, and walked past everyone in the room. Spike was about half way through the door. But he was stopped when he was again levitated off the ground. Spike sighed, turned around to look who stopped him, and was about to yell at who he assumed to be the cause of the stalling, Twilight. But his yelling was stuck in his throat when he noticed the only magic user, who was currently using their magic was Rarity. Who looked mortified at Spike? "Um... Rare's, why are you levitating me?" Asked Spike.

Rarity looked at the dragon in her magic and slowly walked over to him. As she got closer her face changed from mortified to angry, which made Spike feel scared. "Spike." Said Rarity with a smile but with an underlined tone of anger.

"Y...Yes, Rar….Rarity?" Stammered Spike.

Rarity brought Spike into her reach and Spike could tell she was serious. "I will not let you leave..."

"What! Why?"

Rarity then grabbed the collar of Spikes hospital gown, and with one swift and very forceful yank, tore it off his body leaving the dragon completely exposed. Spike became embarrassed at his sudden nudity and moved his tail and hands to cover himself. "WHAT THE HELL RARITY!?" Screamed Spike.

"I refuse to let you be seen out in public in nothing but a hospital gown. I don't care if you’re a prince or not, I don't care if you just fought for your life or not, and I don't care if you walk around in nothing or not, but I absolutely refuse to let you walk around in this monstrosity of fashion." Said Rarity as she showed the albeit functional piece of medical garb to Spike. "It is fuchsia for Celestia's sake, fuchsia, its hideous and clashes with your scales." Said Rarity as she looked at Ember. "Ember would you be a dear and burn it for me, please?" Asked Rarity as she tossed the gown to Ember.

Ember shrugged and blew some fire straight at the gown, setting it on fire. "Thank you." Said Rarity satisfied that the hospital gown was now nothing more than ashes in the wind. She then turned her attention back to the dragon and let him back on the ground. "There, crisis everted. So, to the bar we go?" Asked Rarity.

Spike sighed as he removed his hands and tail from his body. He then looked at her. "Sure." Said Spike, but this time he stopped himself. "Hey, wait what happened to my bag?"

Cadence looked at Spike. "Oh, um... how do I put this?"

Spike sighed. "It's destroyed, isn't it?"

Cadence nodded. "Utterly, along with your hat and a pair of binoculars, but we were able to recover your old boots, poncho, and what Celestia said was your old crossbow mounting strap. Would you like me to send a guard to retrieve them for you?"

Spike shook his head. "Nah, I'm good, I'll just put....on....my...." Said Spike as he looked around the room for his new gear but didn't see it anywhere. Spike sighed, facepalmed, and groaned. "Where is my armor set?" Asked Spike.

"Um..." Said Twilight.

Spike sighed again. "How badly damaged?"

"Well it turns out that my magical reinforcements are not stronger than crystal." Said Rarity. "But I have already sent them to my shop back in Ponyville, and I'm making it my top priority when we get back."

Spike became saddened, he then looked at Rarity. "I'm sorry Rarity, I ruined all of your hard work, can you forgive me?"

Rarity walked over to the sad dragon and gave him a hug to help calm him down. "Of course, I forgive you, we were not ready for this to happen but all we can do is improve on its design. This time I might get Twilight and Celestia to help me strengthen the enchantment. Maybe if we do it together, we can make it stronger than titanium." Rarity then looked at the two alicorns. "If they don't mind, that is."

"I would do anything to help Spike, so of course I don't mind." Said Twilight.

"Do you really have to ask, I'm his mother." Said Celestia.

Spike smiled. "Thank you, I bet that with the new armor my next hunt will be a breeze."

"YOUR NEXT WHAT!!!!?" Yelled Celestia.

"I said that out, loud didn't I?" asked Spike.

Everyone nodded.

"KENBROATH KILSPOTTEN HEATHSPIKE SOLARIS, YOU HAVE 10 SECONDES TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"

"Um... I was going to continue my job as a bounty hunter and make a difference in both the throne room and in the world." Said Spike scared of his mother, she only uses his full name when she is mad at him.

"Oh, well alright, just make sure to stay safe and do a good job." Said Celestia completely calm.

Spike dropped his jaw at hearing this revelation. "So, you’re not mad?"

"Oh no I'm upset that you didn't think of telling me you wanted to continue being a bounty hunter. But you’re a grown-up dragon and can make your own decisions, and as your mother it is my job to support your decisions, for better or worse."

"Oh, wow that's pretty cool mom, thanks for understanding."

"Of course, but your still in trouble for keeping this from me." Said Celestia as she thought of a fitting punishment for Spike. Spike knew from experience that the look on his mother’s face was never good, he tried to run for it but was stopped by his mother’s magic. "So, for not telling me, you have to sit through a lecture about the morals and ethics of withholding information, given by Twilight." Said Celestia.

Spike went pale at the thought of sitting through a Twilight lecture. He then dropped to his knees and started to beg for his life. "Please anything but that, I'll cut off my arm, I'll give you my multimillion moolah estate at the edge of Feather Falls..."

"Wait, you own an estate?" Asked Celestia surprised.

"Yeah, only cost me 46 million, it came with a 40 bed room, 53 bathroom, 422532 sq. foot mansion, 7800 acers of forest and its own waterfall that feeds into a beautiful crystal blue lake, but I'll sell off my collection of vintage power ponies comics, hell I'll be nice to Blueblood." Pleaded Spike.

Celestia looked at Twilight for a moment in shock. "What did you do to him, I have seen him beg before, but never this desperately."

Twilight looked sheepish. "I might have gone on a rant about Pinkie and how she should and should not exist for 3 whole days."

"And that's where the term 'Its Pinkie Pie, don't question it.' came into existence. " Added Pinkie.

Celestia tried to process all this new information, as she looked between her son and her student. "Ok, first off, Twilight is as of this moment banned from ever giving a lecture again, it is now deemed to be considered cruel and unusual punishment." Spike smiled at the news and was about to jump in joy. "But Spike is going to have to reorganize the royal library." Declared Celestia.

"Deal." Said Spike. "That will be a breeze, I can still remember all the times I had to reorganize the library after Twilight went through a study binge."

"Very well. Now that everything is settled..." Celestia Looked at Discord. " I need to know, what's the strongest thing you got, it’s been one hell of a day."

Discord Smirked, changed into a waiter’s outfit with a small pencil mustache, and pulled out a wine list full of what he has in stock. "Well, I have a Brandy that will make a crazy man sane, and a sane man crazy. A red wine with the ability to make you less drunk or pass out depending on what sip you’re on. We have a 752-year-old whisky that I'm not even sure is legal to own. Vodka that will burn straight through to the core of the planet. And a margarita that's ok. Sadly, we ran out of the tequila that makes you see the day you die last week. But if your bold, we have a beer that is rumored to make you so drunk that you will be drunk for a week, but I don't recommend that, because the hangover will last a month."

Celestia looked at Cadence. "How good the bar tender at mixing drinks?"

Cadence shrugged. "Good enough that I had to be told what happened the day Spike saved the empire, and before you judge. I was there to help a stallion get over his marefriend breaking up with him. She fell in love with Spike, and she fell hard, that's for sure."

"Um... should I be worried?" asked Spike.

Cadence shook her head. "No, not really. They got back together, got married, and are now expecting their third foal."

Spike sighed in relief. "But, that's only one mare, there's a veritable army of mares across the world that want to date you, and I use the word date loosely."

"Well at least I know. I'll keep an eye out and do my best to turn them down gently." Said Spike, just then Spike's stomach growled. He looked at his stomach and grew embarrassed as he chuckled. "Um... Do they have a kitchen? I was hungry before the fight, and Mal used a lot of my bodies energy to keep us alive, so I'm starving."

Cadence nodded. "Yeah and their cheesy jalapeno chili fries are to die for." Said Cadence as she went off into her own world at the thought of the chilly fries. She stayed in her world for a few moments but was brought out of it when she felt a finger tapping her arm. She looked at who was tapping her arm and noticed that it was Shining. "Um... sorry, I was lost in my own little world." said Cadence as she looked at the now empty medical ward. "Where'd everyone go?"

"You were stuck like that for like 5 minutes, Spike was hungry, so he walked out of the room and made his way to the bar, with everyone else following behind." Said Shining as he held a giggling Flurry heart who was trying to wiggle out of her father’s arms.

"Daddy, let me go, I want to talk to Uncle Spike." Said Flurry.

Shining looked down at his daughter. "Sorry sweetie, but Daddy needs to talk to Uncle Spike first. You can spend all day with Spike tomorrow. But for tonight, it’s grown up time. Why don't you spend some time with Mommy?"

Flurry looked at her father and nodded. "Ok Daddy." She then looked at cadence and smiled an adorable smile. "So, what do you want to do Mommy?" Asked Flurry.

Cadence shot Shining a glare but then smiled at Flurry. "How about we have dinner first, then we can watch your favorite movie?" Asked Cadence.

Flurry gasped, wiggled free from her father’s grasp, and once she was on the ground ran straight for the kitchen, while cheering. "YAAAAAAAAAY."

Once Flurry was gone Cadence looked at Shining. "If I have that song stuck in my head tonight you are sleeping on the couch." She then kissed Shining on the cheek and added. "Have fun but remember 12 o'clock."

Shining pulled his wife around the waist and smiled at her. "You’re the best."

"I know." Said Cadence giggling with bed room eyes.

Just then Flurry Heart ran back into the room and interrupted her parents. "Mommy, come on Serving Platter is waiting for us, where are you?" Said Flurry as she noticed her parents. "Um, Mommy, Daddy, what are you doing?" Asked Flurry innocently.

The two looked at the little filly. "Um... I was just telling you father to have fun tonight." Said Cadence.

"And I was telling your mother to have a good time with you sweet heart." Said Shining letting go of his wife's waist.

"OH. Well I hope you have fun to Daddy, come on Mommy." Said Flurry as she ran out of the room singing her favorite song from her favorite movie. "Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase, Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze...."

Cadence sighed as she listened to her daughter singing. "It’s going to be a long night." Said Cadence as she walked to catch up to Flurry. Shining nodded and made his way to the bar.

Spike, Celestia, Luna, Twilight, Rarity, AJ, RD, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Thorax, Starlight, Trixie, Sunburst, Discord, Ember, Garble, and Rutherford were next to the crystal heart waiting for Shining to catch up with them. Spike looked around at all the destroyed buildings and rubble. He whistled. "Damn, I really did a number on this place." Said Spike feeling a little sad at the fact that he ruined the fair and some pony’s homes and livelihoods.

"Yeah, but don't worry I have sent for the best architects to be hired, transported, and compensated for expediting the repairs. With magic it should all be fixed by this time tomorrow, so the worst anypony is out is one night in a hotel. Which we are planning to reimburse." Said Celestia.

"But what about the Crystal Heart? Won't it run out of power if it’s not charged by love?"

Luna giggled. "Spike do you really think that this was the first time the fair was interrupted. It’s not, in truth the crystal heart can go about 5 years without needing a charge. Cadence just holds the fair to make sure it topped off."

"Oh. That makes me feel a little better." Spike then looked at RD, AJ, Thorax, Garble, Rutherford, And Rarity. "Speaking of little, where are the CMC, Yona, Ocellus, and Smolder?" Asked Spike.

"Oh, you know kids, they became friends when they were evacuated to the palace. And once they knew you were going to be ok, decided to show Yona, Ocellus, and Smolder around the empire to make up for the invasion interrupting the fair. They’re probably running around causing more damage then you could ever do." Said Rarity.

Spike chuckled, as he thought about the possibility of that being true. "Yeah, your probably right, but as long as we don't hear explosions in the distance, they should be ok." Said Spike.

Everyone giggled.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Asked Shining as he walked to the group.

Everyone stopped laughing and looked at the stallion. "Just agreeing that even on my best day, 3 fillies, a yak, changeling, and a dragoness are more destructive than me. What took you so long?"

Shining shrugged. "Married stuff, you wouldn't understand."

"Your probably right, so let’s get to the bar I'm running on empty." Said Spike.

Shining laughed. "Ok, follow me, I know where to go." Said Shining as he led the group to the bar.

As the group was walking some of the fair goer's noticed the group, more specifically the tall dragon walking in the middle. A crystal pony mare gasped as she ran in the opposite direction of the group. It only took as much time, for the group of creatures looking for the bar to take a few steps, for a mob to gather around the group and hinder their progress. The mob cheered loudly for their 3-time hero. "Prince Spike, the Gold Scaled hero of Equestria." Cheered the mob as they got closer to Spike.

Spike sighed, used his royal Canterlot voice, and addressed the mob. "Hello, citizens of the Crystal Empire. I'm sorry for making this short, but I'm in the middle of spending time with my friends and family, and tomorrow I will be spending time with them as well. If you’re interested in attending a Q&A event about what happened to me while I was gone, please be in Ponyville on Wednesday morning. There, I'll answer all your questions." Said Spike as he smiled at the mob.

The mob looked saddened, but they nodded in understanding.

Soon the mob dispersed, and the group was free to continue to the bar freely. Spike smiled at the mobs understanding as they continued to the bar.

A few minutes later Spike and company arrived in front of a large crystal building with a green door. The door had an image of a white crystal goblet with silver leaves on the cup. "This is the place." Said Shining as he walked in the establishment, followed by the others.

"Greetings, and welcome to... PRINCE ARMOR!" Said the bartender, a jade green stallion with black jet crystal mane and moustache, he has an apron on and a bar rag in his hand. The bartender made his way around the bar and greeted his royal customer. "Forgive me my prince, I was not expecting to have many customers today. Since the hero Spike being injured and all. Please let me escort you to the royal booth on the second floor."

Shining laughed at the stallion. "No need Crystal Goblet, I don't think Spike would like to be treated differently." Said Shining as he looked behind him. "Would you, Spike?" Asked Shining.

"Depends, can I get a bowl of those chilly fries down here?" Asked Spike as he walked into the establishment with all the others, shocking Crystal Goblet. "Hello, it’s nice to meet you." Said Spike.

Goblet dropped his jaw at the sight of the savior of the empire, who was now standing in his little bar. Goblet bowed to the hero. "Thank you, Prince Spike, for deciding to come to my little hole in the wall."

Spike smiled at the bartender. "Not a problem, but it’s going to be hard for you to serve drinks to us if you keep bowing. How about you stop bowing, pour me the strongest thing you have, and start an order of chilly fries." Said Spike.

Goblet looked sheepish but nodded. He walked back to the bar and opened a hidden cabinet. "This is a special drink that I have saved for a special occasion, and I can’t think of a more special occasion then hosting the hero of the empire and the crowned prince." Said Goblet as he placed a massive bottle of liquor on the bar. "This is an ancient brew that has been passed down from my father’s great grandfather, and I have held onto it even before the empire was banished because of Sombra. it is 98% pure alcohol and is guaranteed to make any pony or dragon drunk with only one drink. They call it Absolute." Said Goblet.

Spike smirked. "Pour it!"

Goblet looked to Princess Celestia. "Is it alright, this stuff could kill him?"

Celestia shrugged. "It’s not my call."

Goblet sighed and looked at Spike. He got a whiskey glass out from under the bar, filled it with ice. Goblet broke off the wax seal on the cork, popped the cork off, and poured a single of the drink for the dragon. "It's your funeral."

Spike smiled. "Wouldn't be my first."

Spike looked at the drink in his hand and marveled at the almost black color of the liquor. He took a sniff of the drink to make sure it was at least drinkable. Taking a shot in the dark, Spike took a sip of the liquid. Once the first drop hit his tongue, Spike started to cough wildly, shocking everyone. Celestia ran to Spike and started to hit his back to help him expel the liquid, but she was stopped when the coughing changed to laughter.

Celestia looked at her son wondering what was happening to him. Spike stopped laughing and looked at Goblet as he placed the drink back on the counter. "This taste like someone mixed swamp water, piss, and liquid rainbow in a bottle, then let it sit in the hot sun for 2 years, then added poison joke, manticore venom, and lightning." Said Spike, as he grabbed the drink, drank it in one gulp, slammed it back on the bar, and smirked at Goblet. "It reminds me of my first drink, Feather Fest. Give me another."

Goblet looked between the bottle of Absolute and Spike a few times, and on the last look at Spike he looked at him questioningly. "What are you?" Asked Goblet.

Spike laughed. "A very heavy drinker, with the worlds hardest working liver." Said Spike.

Goblet sighed, poured Spike another drink, and looked at the others, who were shocked to see the dragon drink almost pure alcohol like it was nothing. He cleared his throat, catching the attention of everyone else. "And what can I get for everyone else?"

"I'll have a glass of red wine." Said Rarity.

"Cider." Said AJ and Rainbow Dash.

"Shirley Temple." Said Fluttershy.

"Bloody Mary." Said Thorax.

"Long Island." Said Pinkie.

"Sangria." Said Starlight.

"Gin." Said Twilight.

"Dirty martini, with 2 fingers." Said Luna.

"A Zombie for me." Said Ember.

"Rusty Nail." Said Garble.

"Vodka cranberry." Said Trixie.

"Shoot the hoof." Said Sunburst.

"Rum Runner." Said Rutherford.

"Whisky neat." Said Shining.

"And I'll have a TKO." Said Celestia.

Goblet nodded and looked at Discord. "What about you?"

"I got some stuff at home; do you mind if I get it?" Asked Discord.

Goblet shrugged. "Will it stop you?"

Discord shook his head. Goblet sighed. "It's fine with me, but you have to order something first."

Discord shrugged. "Fair enough, I'll take a margarita, and I'll buy your salt shaker, I lost mine last millennium." Said Discord as he snapped his fingers and popped out of the bar.

Goblet walked over to a door that led to the kitchen and placed Spikes chilly fries order. Once the order was placed, he returned to the bar, where he started to gather all the necessary booze bottles and started to make the drinks for everyone.

It took Goblet a few minutes to finish all the drink orders, but once they were done, he distributed them out to everyone.

With everyone having a drink in hand. Spike started to tell everyone about his time on Mudos and his week to catch everyone up.

One story and 6 drinks later.

"... And that's how my life has been for the past week." Said Spike as he finished his story and his 3rd order of fries. "So..." asked Spike waiting for a reaction from everyone, but when he looked, he noticed that he was talking to himself. Spike facepalmed. "Really, everyone is drunk." Said Spike as he looked over the drunken messes of his family and friends. Spike looked at the only other conscious being in the bar, Crystal Goblet, who was wide eyed with jaw firmly planted on the bar counter from hearing Spikes story. "Well at least I have someone's attention, what did you think?" Asked Spike.

"What are you?" asked Goblet.

Spike laughed. "A lot of things, but right now I'm just a taxi service. Shining has to be home by 12...." said Spike as he looked at the clock. "...and its almost 1 in the morning." Spike sighed. "Welp, Shining is going to be on the couch for a week." Said Spike as he got off his seat and walked over to the limp body of his older brother. Spike looked at Goblet, "So what can you tell me about what happened to them?"

Goblet looked nervous but told Spike what he saw. "Well let’s start out with your mother. Princess Celestia, she was listening up until her 3 TKO, she is a sad drunk, saying things like 'I'm a horrible mother, I should have been with him'. Your Aunt Luna. She is the exact opposite, after her 5th martini, she was very happy and giggly. Princess Twilight is a light weight, she only had 1 more drink before she became an overconfident drunk. Your friends, Fluttershy, and Rarity were out after 2 more drinks. Pinkie Pie was moppy after her 4th Long Island. Rainbow Dash, lasted for a while but accidentally took a sip of your drink, that had been watered down by the ice. But unlike you who is not even buzzed, she's currently in the rafters." Said Goblet.

Spike looked up and sure enough Rainbow dash was passed out drunk, on a rafter. "Applejack lasted the longest at 8 mugs of cider, but she became a flirty drunk, and started to hit on you. Dragon Lord Ember made it half way through her 3rd Zombie before she showed her drunk self, and that's a jealous drunk. She and Applejack started arguing over you, so I cut them off before it got out of hand. Prince Rutherford ran me dry on the rum, which he wasn't happy about that, but by that point he was more of a foal then a yak, being a baby drunk and all. The tall red dragon is a violent drunk, that was until he tried to pick a fight with your friend, Starlight who after her 6th drink became a blabbering drunk. She somehow turned the red dragon into a sobbing mess. Trixie became, what we call in the bartending business a 'Naked Drunk', she and your friend Sunburst are both upstairs passed out drunk, in each other’s arms."

Spike shivered at the thought. "King Thorax was actually doing pretty good, but then he started to become a nostalgic drunk, telling a passed out Fluttershy about what it was like as a grub living under Chrysalis's rule. Prince Armor actually was ready to head home at like 11:30 but he was stopped by Discord, who offered him one more drink, but that one drink was one to many." Said Goblet.

Spike sighed, but at least he could get Shining a lighter sentence. "What about Discord?"

"What about me?" Said Discord as he walked through the bar doors followed by a platoon of guards.

Spike looked at Discord. "Where have you been?"

Discord shrugged. "Sorry, I got a call from my sister about 20 minutes ago."

"You have a sister?"

Discord shrugged as he rocked his hand. "More like I see her as a sister, her names Fate, and she wanted to check in on me."

"YOUR SISTER IS FATE?" Yelled Spike in shock.

Discord shrugged. "We both work in the universal department of creation. She's the head of destiny, and I run the chaos department."

"So, then the 'Jackalope Incident'?"

"That was like my first week on the job. I got drunk, snuck into the life department and cobbled together a rabbit with a pair of deer horns. The big man was not happy, but Fate kinda lied, saying that it was fate that jackalopes would exist."

"Then how does mom know her?" Asked Spike.

"Well my boy, I wasn't always that villain who got turned to stone, I actually was a good guy for a long while. But when I was turned to stone, Fate wanted to see me, and she, your mother, and Luna became great friends."

"wait, Lilith said that she knew Fate, in the afterlife."

"Awe, you must be talking about Deaths department."

"Deaths department?"

"Yes, great woman, very sentimental, loves families. She oversees running the afterlife and guiding souls there. We actually talk every so often over a coffee in the brake room."

"Wait... So, you can just pop into Deaths department whenever you wish?" Asked Spike.

Discord nodded. "Yep, but I need to first get a visitor pass from her receptionist, Grim. And yes, I'm talking about the Grim Reaper."

Spike smiled widely at hearing this news. "YAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOO!" Cheered Spike.

Both Goblet and Discord looked at the cheering dragon confused. "Um, Spike what's so great?" Asked Discord.

"Aside from the fact that I'm going to be able to see my parents without dying, nothing." Said Spike.

Quickly Discord pieced together what Spike was going on about and smiled with him. "Yeah, your right. Good on you my dragon. But...." Said Discord.

"But what?"

"But only department heads can visit other departments, which means you got at least a good 3 millennium until that happens."

Spike looked saddened. "But I have saved enough in my retirement account that I could in theory retire in 1026.3 years or so. But I wouldn't want to pressure you into shall we say such a position of authority. Only a creature with years of experience shall we say, running a kingdom can have any hope of taking over. But..." Said Discord.

Spike smirked and looked at Goblet. "Goblet what kind of drunk is Discord?"

"He's a sentimental drunk. The moment you said you met your parents; he did a few things. First, he pulled out a bank statement out of nowhere. He then made a file cabinet appear where he pulled out a long ass piece of paper and started to read it. Whatever he was looking for, he found it because he smiled, and made the cabinet and the paper disappear. Then he walked out of the bar and called his sister not the other way around." Said Goblet as he cleaned a cup with his rag.

Discord glared at Goblet but then turned back to Spike. "But... Since I am the god of Chaos it’s in my nature to be spiritic and unpredictable, so Fate is putting a good word in for you with the big man, and it’s likely that she will get you a visitors pass for Death's department." Said Discord.

Spike smirked. "You’re the best, Discord." Spike then looked around at the platoon of guards who were starting to carry all the passed-out creatures out of the bar. "So, was this you’re doing or was Cadence getting upset?" Asked Spike.

"Oh, this is all her." Said Discord.

"Cool." Said Spike as he turned to Goblet. "So, what's the damage?"

Goblet walked over to a register and started adding up the total. "So, we have...." Said Goblet as he started to punch in the numbers."....2753 bits." Said Goblet.

Spike whistled. "Damn." Said Spike as he reached over the bar and pulled an order slip and a pencil, he started to write a note. Once he was finished, Spike handed it to Goblet. "This is the name of Treasury Chest, he is the head of the crystal empire's funds, just tell him the amount and show him this note, and you will get the money." Said Spike. He got up and smiled at Crystal Goblet. "Thanks for listening, Goblet, have a good night, and if anyone asks, tell them that this place is my bar of choice in the empire." Said Spike as he walked out of the bar, followed by Discord, and most of the guards carrying all the passed-out creatures.

Spike arrived at the palace with Discord, and the guards, only to be stopped by a very unhappy looking Cadence. Everyone gulped in fear of the alicorn. "Cad-Stop, all of you are to be quite until I tell you to speak. Nod if you understand." Started Spike but was interrupted by Cadence.

Everyone nodded. "Dragon may speak."

"Cadence first off, it’s not my fault, Crystal Goblet told me that Shining was ready to go home at 11:30 or so, but Discord handed him one more drink and that was what threw him over the top."

"Ok." Said Cadence as she looked at Discord. "Pain in the ass, it’s your turn."

Discord shrugged. "I thought it would be funny."

Cadence sighed at Discord, as she looked at all the passed-out creatures. "Dragon again, what happened to them?"

"They're drunk and passed out."

Cadence rubbed her eyes in annoyance. "Guards, take everyone to their guest rooms but make sure the children don't see them in this state."

"Yes Ma'am!" Saluted the guards, as they left the group and carried the passed-out creatures to their rooms.

Cadence then looked at Spike. "How much did it cost the empire?"

"2753 bits."

Cadence sighed. "It could have been worse. You go to bed, your taking Flurry out tomorrow to enjoy the fair with her uncle Spike." Said Cadence as she looked at Discord. "And you are going to the time out corner in the morning for getting my husband drunk, No ifs ands or buts. Now both of you go to bed." Said Cadence as she pointed to the entrance of the palace.

"Yes ma'am." Said Spike and Discord as they both looked down and made their way into the palace, and into their bedrooms.

Author's Note

One more chapter. Tell me if you liked all the drink choices for everyone. I'm making the bloodstone scepter a magical migufen, with a set of abilities.
1) Transfer: The transfer of power from one dragon lord to the next.
2) Reform: the power to change the size and shape of the Bloodstone to what ever the wielder wishes.
3) Retrieval: The ability for the dragon lord to summon the scepter to their side.
4) Levitation: Self explanatory.
5) The Eye: allows for a dragon to summon an image of someone they have a connection to.
6) The Call/ Summon: Ability to summon all dragons.
7) Command: Give orders to dragons.
8) Delivery: Spikes ability.