The Dragonsblood Elixir

Chapters

1 - Hey, Wanna Try This?
2 - What Wonders Await
3 - A Little Change of Pace
4 - A Magical Day
5 - Medical Concerns
6 - New Normal

1 - Hey, Wanna Try This?

Twilight Velvet lifted a book off her daughter’s nightstand and sighed. "Look at this mess. You’d think Twily and Spike would clean up after themselves with all the things they’ve accomplished."

The Canterlot tower of Twilight Sparkle and Spike had seen better days. Books were strewn about, Spike’s toys were everywhere, cobwebs and dust had taken over, and the kitchen was a biohazard. Twilight Velvet and Night Light had dropped by to pick something up at Twilight’s request, but upon seeing the state of things… well, parents will be parents.

Night paused in his dusting. "I’m more surprised Princess Celestia didn’t keep it tidy for them. It is part of the castle, after all."

Velvet pursed her lips. "Honestly, that Celestia… She sends them off to Ponyville, but doesn’t bother to keep an eye on things here. I don’t understand her sometimes."

Night shrugged. "What's that book there?”

Velvet checked the spine. "It’s called ‘1001 Ways to Shed Your Pony Form’.” She opened it up and flipped through the pages. “I’ve never even heard of a book like this before... I can’t imagine why she had it, but this looks interesting!”

"Mmhmm." Night looked around the shelves. "I think I saw numerical titles over… there, by the staircase. Should be alphabetical knowing Twily.”

Velvet hadn’t heard amidst her furious skimming. "Goodness, these spells are advanced… well, advanced for us. I imagine Twilight wouldn’t have any trouble. If only she didn’t worry so much...” Velvet raised a hoof to her chin, still flipping through. “I wonder if there’s one in here we can manage?”

Night heard that familiar tone in Velvet’s voice. "Honey…”

“Come onnnnnnn~” Velvet hovered the book over to Night. “Imagine floating on the wind like a breezie! Or swimming in the ocean like a seapony! Or soaring through the air like a griffin!" Velvet’s eyes were gleaming now. "Haven’t you ever wondered what it’d be like? It could be so much fun!”

Night scrunched up his muzzle. He couldn’t read the text without his bifocals, but Velvet’s words dredged up long forgotten thoughts of decades long past: Pretending with his friends, reading fantasy tales, even a few occasional vivid dreams.

“I…” Night looked up from the book and into Velvet’s puppy-dog eyes. “I think we just learned why this place hasn’t been cleaned.”

Velvet giggled.

“Alright, let’s take a look.” He summoned up his reading glasses while Velvet floated the book over to a table. “Check the back for a power index. That should show if there’s something in our magic range.”

Velvet found it. The units of measurement were rather... archaic, but she was no stranger to spellbooks. She started with the easiest spell and did some quick mental math.

“Shoot.” Velvet’s ears drooped. “Even the easiest transformation is out of our league.”

Night peeked over her shoulder. The spell she was looking at was indeed beyond them, but then, his eyes were drawn to another listing, one marked with the word ‘Alchemical’.

"Hold on." Night took the book and read the entry. He flipped to the referenced page, and sure enough... “Well, well! Looks like we’re in luck, Honey—not all of these transformations are spell-based.”

Velvet read the starting paragraph. “‘Dragonsblood Elixir: While this draught requires unique and rare ingredients, it’s potency and stability have long marked it as the most effective alchemical transformation in the world.’ Oooooh... do you think it does what it says on the tin?”

Night was checking just that. "’...upon ingestion, turns the drinker into a dragon for a day.’ Certainly seems so."

"Perfect!" Velvet pranced in place. "Let’s try it! We have to! I can’t wait to—”

“But we’ll need to find an alchemist to make it.”

Velvet stopped mid-prance. “Oh… yeah. Good point, heh…”

Night marked the page and set the book in his bag. "I remember Twily sending us a letter about a friend she made in Ponyville. They might just be the ticket."

Velvet smiled. "A friend she made down in Ponyville, huh?" She nuzzled his cheek. "Mind narrowing that down a little?"

Night had to laugh at that one. “Her zebra friend.” He summoned his rolodex from his bag and began rifling through it. "Started with a Z, I believe… ah, here we are. Zecora: Notable skills: Master Alchemist, Wilderness Survival, Sage Advice. Background: Unknown. Status: Friendly."

Velvet rolled her eyes. "Right. So, we'll bring this to book to, erm… what was the name?”

“Zecora.”

“Bring the book to Zecora, figure out the details, and get some Dragonsblood Elixir!” A sudden thought made Velvet smile. “And if this works, we should see about getting enough to turn the whole family into dragons for Spike’s next birthday. Can you imagine the look on his face?”

Night kissed Velvet’s cheek. “I know he’d love that. First thing’s first, though: we need to finish up here so we can head down to Ponyville.”

Velvet nodded, looking about for a quill and parchment. “I’ll send Spike a letter to let him and Twily know. Heaven knows she doesn’t do well with surprises.”

The Ponyville Train Station was a far cry from Canterlot’s spacious hub. Not to say it was primitive or inadequate, but aside from the occasional event or whatnot, the only ones typically getting off or on were locals. Fortunately, Night and Velvet had visited enough times that nopony paid them much mind...

...but their hiking gear did get some funny looks.

“Excuse me,” Velvet said to a passing pony. "Do you know of anypony that regularly travels into the Everfree Forest? My husband and I are looking to visit someone.”

Carrot Top blinked several times. "Uh… I’m guessing you mean Zecora." She pointed to a path towards a forestside cottage. "Fluttershy might be able to help you, but just know she doesn’t do so well with strangers—”

Velvet and Night had already walked away. Carrot stared after them for a moment, a small voice insisting she’d seen them before... But she shook her head and went about her business.

Velvet and Night found Fluttershy’s cottage with little issue. Upon knocking, they saw her peeking at them through her bay window. Night and Velvet waved, and Fluttershy came over to answer the door.

“Erm…” Fluttershy stared like she was trying to solve a riddle. “Twilight’s… parents?”

Night smiled. "Nice to see you again, Fluttershy. Is this a bad time?"

Fluttershy meeped. “N-No, no! I just didn’t expect… e-erm, never mind. What brings you around here? Are you looking for Twilight or Spike?”

Velvet shook her head. “We’ll be dropping by later. We were actually hoping that you could give us directions to Zucchini’s—”

“Zecora,” Night hissed.

Velvet blushed. “I’m, uh… bad with names.”

But funnily enough, the flub seemed to put Fluttershy more at ease. “I’d be happy to help in that case.” She pointed to a tree on the edge of her property. It was marked with a symbol of a spiral sun, and just beyond, a smooth, even path led straight on into the Everfree.

“My animal friends made that so Zecora and I could visit,” she said. “It’ll take you right to her house, but make sure you don’t wander off it. The forest can be very dangerous.”

Velvet's eyes shined. "I heard there are cragodiles inside. Have you ever seen one? They say they can grow as big a house!"

Fluttershy’s face was blank for a second… before lighting up just like Velvet’s. “Oh, yes! A very sweet family of them lives around Froggy Bottom Bog. I helped their babies when they were sick with scale rot, and now I visit them once a month! I’d be happy to introduce you if you’d—”

“Stay on the path, got it!” Night steered Velvet away. “Thanks for the directions, Fluttershy! We’ll tell Zecora you said hi!”

“I wasn’t going to try and find one today,” Velvet grumbled under her breath. “I was just making future plans!”

“Stay focused on the present, honey,” Night murmured as they approached the tree. “We can put the safari on our calendar."

“Fine, fine…”

"E-Erm, nice seeing you!” Fluttershy waved at their retreating forms. “Be careful!”

Night and Velvet found the start of the forest path. They exchanged a few more hushed words, then vanished into the forest proper like they’d never been there at all.

Fluttershy stared after them for a long time. She chewed on her lip and rocked on her hooves, her gaze drawn to the looming crystal spire of Twilight’s castle across town.

Less than a minute later, Fluttershy’s house was locked up. Her forest friends were summoned, a note was left for Angel, and Fluttershy was flying on silent wings in the couple’s wake.

Zecora's home was… strange, but charming. It was built into a tree like Twilight’s old library, only the magic used had a denser, earthier feel than a unicorn’s. The sharp, heady smell of crushed flowers and mixed herbs wafted out of the windows. Colored bottles of all kinds hung like ornaments both outside and in—some of which were filled, some of which were labeled, some of which were neither. Colorful masks with elongated features were everywhere, and while most of them were mundane, a few were cleverly-disguised wards.

Velvet studied one of the mundane masks beside Zecora’s doorstep. “I wonder if this came from her home?”

Night knocked on Zecora’s door. “Possibly. I’m more curious if it means anything.”

"That one is merely meant for looks,” said a sultry voice within. A calm, matronly zebra opened the door with a smile. “I’ve been meaning to put it on a hook."

The flowery scent of dish soap crossed Night’s nostrils. The source was a large, empty cauldron beside the mare, its clean interior still dripping with water. “Zecora, I assume?”

Zecora nodded. “Welcome, guests, please do come in!” She stepped aside… and almost tripped over the cauldron. “Gah! Mind you do not bang your shin…”

Velvet and Night watched Zecora seize the heavy cauldron in her teeth. She started dragging it away one slow step at a time, grunting and muttering.

“Need a hoof?” Velvet summoned her magic. She lifted the cauldron with ease and dried off with a spell. “Where do you want it?”

Zecora stared at the dry cauldron, the magic enshrouding it... then smiled at Velvet and Night. “I think I know who calls you kin. The firepit, please—it’s just within.”

Velvet came inside and set the cauldron down amidst the ashen coals. Night followed after. “I hope you don’t mind us dropping in like this,” he said. “My name is Night Light, and this is my wife, Twilight Velvet.”

Again, Zecora looked between them with twinkling eyes. “These names do I know, and are an honor to hear. Never did I think I’d meet ones loved so dear. The resemblance is clear, and your habits alike—you’re the parents of Twilight Sparkle and Spike.”

Velvet put a hoof behind her head. “That obvious, huh?”

"Perhaps not to all, but to me there’s no doubt.” Zecora placed some fresh wood under the cauldron. “Your son has your spirit, and your daughter… heh, your snout.”

Night helped start the fire with his magic. "It seems we already know a little about each other, Miss Zecora. To cut right to the chase, we were hoping to enlist your alchemy skills."

Zecora raised an eyebrow. "T’is not often I get unicorns asking about that. It is typically when their plans have gone flat. Alas, no matter the trouble that might come one’s way, my alchemy can keep it at bay." She reared up, forehooves on the rim of the cauldron. "Do you have a sickness, a hex, or magical curse? My brews can fix it before it gets worse."

Velvet produced the transformation book and showed her the bookmarked page. "We’re looking to get two doses of this."

Zecora read the recipe over. “Ahhh, the Dragonsblood Elixir. A well-known draught.” She steepled her hooves, studying the two. “I’ve most of the ingredients, but one I do not. The blood of a dragon is required for this brew. I know this is no barrier for ones such as you… But tell me, once changed, what is it you’ll do?”

Night shrugged. “I guess you could call this a test run. Vel just wanted to see what it was like at first, but now we’re thinking of using it for Spike’s next birthday. Have us all be dragons for a day, or somesuch.”

Of all the reasons Zecora had been expecting, that hadn’t been one of them. “O-Oh. That’s… Goodness...”

"We won't hurt anything," Velvet added. "We might fly around or try breathing fire—somewhere safe, of course! But that’s all.”

Night nodded. "How much blood do we need? Not much, I hope.”

Zecora snapped out her daze. She went into her pantry, retrieved a clean vial, and brought it over. She raised a hoof to indicate the lowest bottom measurement.

“Oh, thank goodness.” Velvet let out the breath she’d been holding. "That's hardly even a drop.”

"So you’ll do it, then?" Night asked Zecora. "You’ll make us the elixir?"

Zecora gave them the vial. "For a cause such as this? I shall indeed! I will even supply the other ingredients for free... just promise to bleed Spike gentle as can be.”

Velvet smiled. "Of course. What’s more gentle than a mother’s touch?”

“Thank you so much, Zecora!” Night shook her hoof. "We'll be right back, so keep that cauldron going!"

Zecora waved them farewell, then turned her attention to filling the cauldron with water. "Actually, I was about to make some shampoo. After that, though, shall I make the brew…”

2 - What Wonders Await

There weren’t many ponies who could claim their children lived in a castle. It sounded absurd when one said it out loud, but the deeds of Twilight and Spike spoke for themselves. It still boggled Night and Velvet to consider the part they might’ve played in it all (if any), but regardless, the ~~tacky~~UNIQUE crystal castle in front of them was the result.

Knock-knock-knock~

The front castle doors opened in a light blue aura. A pretty mare with a familiar face greeted Velvet and Night, which they recognized as Twilight’s student. What was her name, again…?

“Starlight Glimmer!” Night smiled wide. “Good to see you again.”

Velvet brightened. “Starlight! How are your studies going?”

Starlight’s eyebrows rose. “Oh! Hi!” She paused. “Wait, I thought you were going to be stopping by a week from today.”

Night inclined his head. He pulled out his schedule book and flipped through to today’s date. "Nope! It’s today. We’re right on time, too."

Velvet suddenly had a thought. “I hope I didn’t put the wrong date on the letter. I could’ve sworn I got it right…”

Starlight clicked her teeth. She searched her memory for what Spike and Twilight had said, but got nothing. “Well, either way, you’re here now! I’m sure Twilight will be happy to see you once she’s out of her meeting.”

The dreaded ‘M’ word set off dozens of alarm bells. Velvet was about to ask after Spike instead, but then she remembered something about today’s date.

“Fridays are Spike’s O&O days.” She groaned and fell back on her haunches. “He’s probably off at one of his friend’s houses.”

Starlight winced. “Sorry.”

Night pursed his lips. “We’re sorry, too. It’s probably not worth waiting around if Twilight’s caught in meetings... again.”

Velvet grumbled something under her breath. She pulled out a Ponyville train schedule, muttering about wasted train fare.

“W-Wait! It’s not like that this time!” Starlight teleported behind them and pushed them inside. “She’s just talking with someone who dropped by! She’ll be ready in a few minutes!”

Velvet and Night weren’t convinced, but before they could say anything, they were being corralled down the castle halls like colorful cattle. They finally relented and followed after her without comment, the familiar crystalline lights, long red carpets, and minimalist decor all as museum-like as ever.

They wound up at Twilight’s favorite seating room. Starlight got Night and Velvet situated, made them Pinkie Promise they wouldn’t leave, then teleported off with a FLASH!

…

Night ran a hoof through his mane. “On a scale of one to ten, how bad do you think she feels?”

Velvet stared out the window to the mountain lake below. “I just hope she doesn’t do anything rash. Twily’s mentioned that’s a bad habit of hers.”

He took a seat beside Velvet. “Maybe we should talk with her. I get the feeling she’s worried about our relationship with Twily.”

Velvet exhaled out her nose. “I’m not sure we have Twily’s teaching skills. We can try, but our knowledge of Starlight is all secondhoof. We could just make things worse.”

Night conceded the point. He rummaged around in his bags a moment, produced his own copy of the train schedule, then floated it between them so they could both see. “So, when do you want to head out? We can make the next Canterlot train if we hurry, but we did promise to stay a while.”

Velvet thought for a moment. “There’s no rush. We’ll humor her for an hour, have her send word to Zecora, then go grab dinner somewhere. How’s about that place with the good hay fries?”

Night put an arm around her. “I like the way you—”

FLASH!

Starlight was back. She’d teleported Twilight along with her—without warning by the looks of it—and a third had been brought along, as well. She was a slender teal dragoness, strong and powerful, with large leathery wings, fierce eyes, and a strange magical aura swirling about her.

“HEY!” The dragoness whirled on Starlight. “A little heads-up would be nice!”

Twilight, who appeared to have been in mid-sentence, recovered quickly. “Oooookay! Dragon Lord Ember, these are my parents: Twilight Velvet and Night Light. Mom, Dad, this is Dragon Lord Ember. You remember us mentioning her, right?”

Night and Velvet exchanged looks. They weren’t sure what to address—Twilight’s question, Starlight’s power play, or the reason they’d come. An awkward silence threatened to fall...

“More ponies that look like you?! Ugh!” Ember crossed arms. “As if telling you apart wasn’t hard enough WITHOUT your relatives!”

Starlight coughed to hide her laugh.

Night squinted at Ember. “Didn’t Spike introduce us last year? It was at a formal function; I don’t recall which one...”

Something dawned in Ember’s eyes. “Oh, yeah! That’s right, you’re the little guy’s mom and dad, too! Wow, I didn’t get a chance to say before, but I’d have never thought ponies could be tough enough to raise a dragon! How are you not mangled or burned to a crisp?”

Velvet snickered. “Protective spells and spellfire wards. Lots of them.”

Ember barked out a laugh. “I don’t know much about pony magic, but considering you’re both still in one piece, you must be pretty good with it. It’s pretty impressive you two managed the little guy AND Princess Powerhouse over here—”

“Please don’t let that be my nickname,” Twilight muttered.

“—so you two must be pretty strong, yourselves!” Ember put her claws on her hips. “I like that!”

Starlight got Ember’s attention. “Twilight and Spike also have a superpowered older brother. You keep in touch with King Thorax, right? Has he mentioned Prince Shining Armor to you at all?”

You could’ve nudged Ember over with a stick. Thorax had indeed mentioned that name—mentioned it many, many times. She turned back to Velvet and Night. “What are you two ponies?”

Night shrugged. “Nothing special, as far as I know. You’re not the first to wonder, but no matter how much we look back on it all, it seems like things just… happened.”

Velvet rested her hoof on Night’s. “Maybe it’s something about us, or maybe it’s not. We wish there was something concrete we could point to, but in the end, we can only play the cards life has given us.”

Ember snorted. “Parents...” She turned to Starlight, a wry smile on her face. “Yep, you’re theirs, alright.”

“Erm…” Starlight pointed at Twilight. “Wings, remember?”

“For Io’s sake!”

Twilight bit back a laugh. “So now that introductions have been made...” She came over by her parents. “What’s so urgent it couldn’t wait? I was just answering some questions Ember had about the new Equestria-Dragonlands trade deal.”

Velvet made to reply, but then stopped. She’d just had an epiphany, one that could turn lemons into lemonade.

Ember noticed Velvet was still looking at her. “...What?”

Velvet smirked. She whispered something to Night, who sat up with a jolt. “O-ho…”

Twilight glanced at Starlight, but she was just as lost. “You mind filling us in?” Twilight nudged her mother’s side. “Hellooooooo?

“In a minute, Twily.” Velvet leaned forward. “With all due respect, Dragon Lord Ember—you can keep a secret, can’t you?”

Ember’s orange eyes lit up like coals. “Secrets are valuable. Keeping valuable things safe is what dragons do best.”

That was good enough for Velvet. “What about you, Starlight? We can trust you, right?”

Starlight’s heart skipped a beat. “O-Of course! I’m happy to help!”

Night took over now, steepling his hooves and gathering his thoughts. “In that case, I think we can let you on our little plan. We came to visit Twilight and Spike, of course, but we also were hoping to get something. Having Spike not be here might actually be a blessing, because what we’re planning to do is...”

“That couldn’t have gone better if we’d planned it!” Velvet said as she and Night left the castle. “I was worried we’d have to tell some kind of lie!”

Night trotted after her, beaming. “I was more worried about Spike getting suspicious about why we wanted his blood. That would’ve ruined the whole surprise!”

Velvet patted the vial of Ember’s blood in her bags. “This is perfect. Spike is out of the loop, we have everyone on board, and we get to have some fun in the process! We’ll be dragons soaring through the sky in no time!”

Night looked up at the puffy clouds. “I hope flying is as easy as Ember said. Didn’t Twily need a lot of practice to get the hang of it?”

Velvet looked back at him, giggling. "You worry too much. I’m more excited to see you a charming drake! Can’t you picture it, Nighty? What about me as a dragoness? Do you think I’ll be pretty?”

Night’s reply was a nicker. His gaze drifted to her heart-shaped rump and foalbearing hips, her soft, swishing tail beckoning him like a carrot on a stick. She was putting that extra sway in her step for him—that slow, practiced strut that’d caught his eye all those years ago.

“How could you not be,” she heard him murmur.

Velvet nickered right back. She brushed her tail under Night’s muzzle, slow and teasing. A warmth stirred inside her at his tiny moan, and shivers soon followed at his magic caressed her flanks. They fell into step side by side then, and with their spirits high, they made their way through Ponyville with their tails looped together.

3 - A Little Change of Pace

The trip back to Zecora’s was… interesting. Travelling through town was fine, but when Night and Velvet reached the Everfree, they discovered an escort waiting to guide them through the forest. It wasn’t hard to guess their benefactor given said escort was a grizzly bear, but the flag emblazoned with a trio of butterflies was a small additional hint.

They followed the bear through the woods at an easy pace. Night and Velvet couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of being watched as they went—not in an ominous way, but like they were the center of attention. The air was filled with the faint rustle of bushes and the subtle flapping of wings, but when Night and Velvet turned to look, there was nothing.

They heard voices in Zecora’s hut on their approach. The bear called out with a grumble, and the door opened.

“Oh! I didn’t think you’d be back so soon!” Fluttershy beckoned Night and Velvet inside. “Thank you so much, Harry. I think we’ll be alright from here.”

The bear waved before lumbering into the foliage.

A sharp, herbal scent hit Velvet and Night’s nostrils. Zecora was busy tending to the cauldron in the middle of the room, which was filled with a thick, frothy fluid. She was stirring it with a utensil resembling an oversized whisk: first clockwise, then counterclockwise, then clockwise again.

Night furrowed his brow. “Hard at work, I see.”

Fluttershy shifted her weight back and forth. “I... might have been a teensy bit worried about you. You’re not mad, are you?”

Velvet laughed. “The only thing I’m mad about is not getting a chance to see your friend in action!” She gave Fluttershy a hug. “Thank you for thinking of us, sweetie. I’d love to meet your other animal friends sometime—do you think you could introduce me?”

Fluttershy squeed. “Of course! I’d—”

“Fluttershy,” Zecora called. “Your help, need I.”

Fluttershy meeped and hurried over. At Zecora’s direction, she took out a second utensil with a wide, flat end. She waited until Zecora stopped stirring, then scraped the foam into a waiting bowl. Zecora then stirred in the opposite direction to bring up more foam.

Night was transfixed. What kind of chemical reaction required the constant infusion of air? What substance Fluttershy scraping off—an impurity, or something else? Why was blood the key component in this? He knew Mercurial’s Theory of Metaphysical Catalytics, of course, but Starswirl’s Second Law of Transmutation stated—

Velvet nudged him. “Stay on task, dear.”

Night jumped. “Ah?! O-Oh, yes! Of course…”

Fluttershy giggled.

“Your arrival is sudden, but not unwelcome.” Zecora motioned for Night and Velvet to sit. “I trust you’ve acquired the blood of a dragon?”

Velvet produced the vial of blood. Zecora put it aside and continued to stir, all while directing Fluttershy with more instructions. The minutes passed in a busy blur while Velvet and Night watched.

“I can see why you’re the Element of Kindness, Fluttershy,” Night said. “Directions, an escort, and now this? Twily and Spike are lucky to have a friend like you.”

Fluttershy blushed. “I-It’s no problem, really!” She scraped more foam into the bowl, which was now nearly full. “Erm, Zecora? Is this enough foam, do you think?”

Zecora wiped her brow. “It is, indeed. But before our reprieve, there’s one more thing you must retrieve.”

“Right.” Fluttershy set down the bowl. “I’m guessing you need that powder in the pantry.”

Zecora nodded. “Pour in all of it, please.”

Fluttershy went to the adjacent storeroom. Zecora had indicated the bottle earlier, but considering there were quite a few similar-looking bottles (all labeled in Zecora’s native language) it wasn’t the easiest thing. She recalled it was a white bottle with a salt shaker top, and also that the powder inside was pink.

Fluttershy grabbed a white bottle. A test shake revealed it contained pink powder, so she returned to the others. She dumped the powder into the bowl, stirred the mix into a fine paste, then scraped it into the cauldron.

"Last but not least, the blood of a drake.” Zecora uncapped the crimson vial and poured it in. “Since the sample is fresh, I’ve no doubt it will take—”

FWOOM!

Smoke belched from the cauldron. Primal magic churned with hisses and rumbles, the hut shaking and sending things toppling. Those present were left coughing as the mixture turned all manner of angry colors. It got so bad they all feared the cauldron might explode… but just as quick as it started, the volatile elixir calmed.

Zecora waved a hoof before her face. "Spirits protect, that was quite the reaction!” She peered into the cauldron and found the elixir was now pale yellow. “To think Spike's blood would cause such interaction!"

Night and Velvet looked at each other, but remained silent.

Zecora took her ladle and resumed stirring. "T’would seem his power is greater than I guessed. I often forget he’s a dragon so blessed! Hatched by magic and raised with care, exposed to harmony and taught to share?” She referenced the book again to see if it mentioned anything about smoke or powerful magical reactions, but there was nothing. “Truly, he is the rarest of rare.”

Velvet’s eyes lingered on the cauldron. “I… guess so? We’ve never really thought of him that way. It’s not easy for us to see the kids the way others do.“

Night rested his hoof atop Velvet’s. “Before the titles, castles, heroics, relics, and ascensions, they were just our three children. We do try to acknowledge them for everything they’ve done, of course, but… parents will be parents, as they say.”

Zecora laughed. She ladled out two servings of the bright yellow elixir and put them a pair of fresh vials. “Then here you are, honored parents—a dose for you both. Twenty-four hours of true dragon growth. Know that this draught spoils quickly, so I’ll store the rest here. I look forward to Spike’s special time of the year!”

Velvet bounced to her hooves. "Thank you so much!" She shook Zecora’s hoof, hugged Fluttershy again, then dashed out the door with the vials in her aura. “Woohoooooooo! I’m gonna be a dragonnnnnn!”

Night made to rise, but paused. “Oh! I almost forgot.” He tossed Zecora a hefty pouch of bits. "This isn’t for the elixir; it’s for helping Twily and Spike over the years. We’ll let you know our plans for Spike’s party, alright? Take care!”

And with that he galloped off.

…

Zecora stared at the huge money pouch. With shaky hooves, she poured out the bits on the table and began counting.

Fluttershy wasn’t looking at the money at all. Her gaze was on the pantry, or more specifically the floor. Shattered glass, ruined labels, and ingredients were everywhere, for the quaking had caused many of the bottles to fall.

A pile of pink powder lay among the mess.

The violent rumbling had also sent Fluttershy’s animal friends running. The strange sense of being watched was gone, and Night and Velvet were now free to travel the easy trail in peace. They made idle banter as they discussed plans for the evening, their moods playful and light as they trotted through the trees.

They never could remember who instigated the magic tickle fight. All they recalled afterward was Night’s ribs were poked, Velvet’s tail was tugged, and then they were laughing and chasing each other like flirty teenagers. The woods raced by in a blur as they ducked and weaved around each other, their zigzags and mad dashes racing up gentle hills and leaping across streams. Tickles and touches soon became naughtier as time passed—a smack to the rear, a nip on the withers, a kiss on the neck, a fondle to—

“Ha!” Night dodged Velvet’s aura. His own magic snaked around and countered with a squeeze of her luscious flanks. She shrieked and laughed, zapping away his touch and going for another attack. Night dashed behind a large spruce tree before she could and galloped towards a sudden break in the trees, Velvet giving chase right behind.

She caught him right as they emerged into a clearing. She glomped him and sent them both sprawling, and soon they were kissing like their lives depended on it. Their horns crossed to send buzzes through their minds. Needy gasps escaped their lips as they fought for breaths of air, groping and pressed against each other in perfect sync. They pushed back and forth with rising fervor until a cool breeze reminded them of the time, and it was only then they realized something important.

They’d gone off the trail.

Night brushed a hoof through Velvet’s mane. “Looks like we’ll have to interrupt Spike’s O&O game.”

Velvet tittered. “Let the boy have his fun. We can get back on our own.”

Night was about to ask how, but then he realized her plan. “Did you do this on purpose?”

Velvet booped his nose. “No, but you have to admit it works out. Can you think of a better place to become dragons? It’s private, it’s outdoors… Maybe put up some fire wards for safety, but we may not even need those.”

Night frowned. “And if something goes wrong?”

Velvet rolled her eyes. “I seem to recall several gushing letters about how skilled Miss Zocalo—”

“Zecora.”

“Whatever.” Velvet nuzzled his neck. “Point is, if they trust her, then I trust her.”

Night was quiet. He rubbed Velvet’s back in slow circles, the surrounding branches and leaves swaying in the breeze. The house-sized clearing they were in was mostly bare save for some wildflowers and stunted shrubs with stripped branches. They’d need to do some hard flapping to reach the break in the canopy above, but after that...

“We’ll have to fly northeast to avoid Ponyville,” Night said at last. “Don’t want to ruin the surprise, after all.”

“Yessssss!” Velvet kissed him. “I love you so much, yes I do~”

Night watched her produce the vials. He accepted his and weighed it in his hooves, tilting it back and forth with every possible pro and con. “I know you’re excited, but... is it alright if I take mine first? I just want to make sure it’s—”

He realized Velvet had already drank hers.

“—safe.”

“Blech!” She swallowed the last bit with a grimace. “I sure hope it works better than it tastes!” She stifled a burp. “Should I take off my hiking gear? I think I should—oh, wow…”

Night got up. “What?”

It began with Velvet’s eyes. Her pupils were changing, narrowing and lengthening into vertical slits. A scratchy sensation made her rub her eyes, and when she opened them, she found her vision sharper and clearer. The scratchiness continued as a second iris and pupil formed behind her first ones, followed by her transparent flight eyelids blinking across her eyes like sliding doors.

“I don’t think you need to hope, hun.” Night brushed back her bangs. “How do you feel?”

Velvet put a hoof to her head. “Well, I’m either turning into a dragon—nngh—or I’m going to explode. Hurry up and take yours, okay? I want to… do this… togetherrrrr...”

Now her muzzle and neck were changing. Her nose wiggled, her mouth throbbed, her jaw itched, and her throat tingled. Her tongue became so dexterous it was like an extra limb. New scents flooded her nose in droves. Her neck and jaw muscles were changing in too many ways to count, and the connecting bones weren’t far behind.

Night put a hoof on her withers. “I think I should wait a bit. If it turns out you need to get a doctor—”

“I’m… FINE!” Velvet flashed Night a big, fanged smile. “It just feels a little strange, that’s all.”

Night gave her a flat look.

“Okay, okay.” Velvet sat back and flexed her jaw a few times, her thin, forked tongue flitting out to taste the air. She could feel her teeth getting denser and harder by the second. “Wow, I feel like I could bite through anything! Not to mention eat anything, if Spike’s any measure. Do you have any gems I could try?”

Night couldn’t say he did, but he did have a nose. And said nose had just caught a distinct scent on Velvet’s breath that set off several alarm bells. “Honey…”

“Or maybe I should—” A loud gurgle in Velvet’s chest cut her off. An incredible, tantalizing heat welled up Velvet’s lungs, the heat already trying to travel up her throat. “Uh-oh.”

Night was already warding the clearing. Velvet couldn’t hold it back for long—it felt like a really spicy burp at first, or perhaps more like a cough? Or maybe it was similar to a sneeze. She was still deciding when the tantalizing heat erupted from her mouth in a scorching cone of magenta dragonfire.

FWOOOOOOOOOSH!

Velvet burst out laughing afterward. "Did you see THAT?!"

Night, who’d dodged the flames, resisted the urge to facehoof. “Luna almighty…”

“Hey, come and help me.” Velvet started shucking off her bags and gear. “I don’t want to ruin anything.”

He came back over just as Velvet’s pony ears were replaced by angular spines. Large, curved dragon horns swept back over her skull in a graceful arc. Her unicorn horn started shrinking right after to create the first of three spines running down her pointed muzzle.

Velvet went cross-eyed for a moment. “Whoa…” Her new dragon horns buzzed with magenta sparks. She could feel the internal systems slithering around inside her head, the flow of magic reconnecting with little twinges. “Tingly.”

Night noticed the aura around Velvet’s horns. “You’re still able to use pony magic?”

Velvet blinked several times. She tried casting a few spells, all of which worked fine. “Looks like it.”

Night examined each new horn. “That doesn’t make any sense.” The fluted grooves were similar to a unicorn’s, but deeper and more intricate. “Breathing dragonfire is dragon magic. How can you have both?”

Velvet drug a hoof along the ground. “Maybe it’s temporary? I’m not done ch-changing, so mmmmaybe…”

There was a tight feeling spreading throughout her body. She stretched herself out, joints popping, bones creaking, insides squelching, and muscles shifting. Hot, wonderful throbs coursed through her as her frame became longer and more serpentine. The heat massaged her legs and numbed the nerve endings in her hooves, leaving only a maddening internal itch she couldn’t scratch.

Night winced as deep creases formed in Velvet’s hooves. They crept upward to form paws with floppy digits, which, while gruesome, would’ve been a lot better without the sounds. "You alright?”

Velvet didn’t answer until she had enough feeling to wiggle her claws. “I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THIS!” She bade Night stay still, pinched his snout, then pulled away like she’d snatched something. “HA! Got your nose!”

Night laughed. “Sounds like a yes.”

“Of course I’m alright!” Glossy scales started cascading across her body. “I told you we could trust—GAH!”

Huge, leathery wings exploded from her back. They hung limp at her sides until the color seeped into the lavender membranes, the inner workings finishing shortly after.

“You’re right,” Night deadpanned. “I’m not sure why I was worried.”

Velvet gave each wing a test flap. "That… surprised me.” She swished her tail without thinking, its lengthening, thickening shape slinking out behind her. “Okay, well… I doubt there’s going to be anything else like that. I’d even venture that was the last thing altogether, don’t you think? How do I look?”

A simple question, but one Night wasn’t ready for. A sleek, sinuous dragoness stood before him, mostly light gray, but with blue and violet accents. Her wide, curvy hips enticed him as she twirled in place, his eyes drawn to the three purple stars still on her flanks. There was a tremendous presence about her that rivalled Ember’s strange aura, but in Velvet, it was comforting… almost beckoning. It resonated with Night in a way he couldn’t describe.

Night met her piercing gaze. His heart was hammering, a blush heavy in his face. “V-Vel…”

Velvet purred like a great cat. “Your turn.”

…

...Crud.

Well, he supposed there was no more delaying it. Night took his vial and uncorked it, the pale fluid glistening in the fading sun. “I—I-I did it again, didn’t I?” He gulped. “This is why you wanted to do it together.”

It was, but Velvet also wasn’t stupid. “There's been just as many times where your caution has paid off. I’m not about to be the pot calling the kettle black.”

Night managed a smile. “C-Can’t win them all, I suppose…” He took one more look at the vial, then downed it like a shot of whiskey. It tasted just as bad as Velvet had said.

Velvet pecked his cheek. “You know I'm with you, even in the scary parts.”

The changes began the second he swallowed. Teeth became fangs, muscles shifted about, bones altered and scales sprouted. Great dragon horns came in while his hooves split into claws. His tail snapped out like a whip and tore a bush straight out of the ground.

“Nnngh!” Night’s barrel lengthened with a series of pops. He fought to remain upright on transforming limbs, his cat-like eyes focusing on Velvet. “This...is… WEIRD!"

Velvet chuckled. A witty remark danced on her tongue, but before she could voice it… something happened. Night’s first few changes hadn’t done anything for her, but enough had occurred now that her mind connected the dots. A subtle, pervasive heat stirred in her nethers, growing warmer and warmer the more draconic Night became. Soon she was watching and circling around him like a huntress, her muscles tense and ready to spring.

Sensory input flooded Night’s brain. A distant part of him noted Velvet acting funny, but he was too overwhelmed to speak. The world was alive with sound—some from nature, some from creatures. He could taste the temperature of the air with every flick of his tongue. The feeling in his claws was unlike anything he’d ever known, and the boost to his sight was even more so. Last to come in was his nose, and the first thing he smelled was Velvet’s heavenly—

Oh.

Dark blue scales rippled over Night’s body with a series of clacks. Liquid fire raced through him, massaging every organ and limb. Blazing power seethed in his chest like a drumbeat. Skeletal blue wings exploded from his sides without warning; and Night ROARED, bright blue flames jetting from his mouth.

Sound and heat washed over Velvet like a fog. Night’s spicy masculine scent consumed her, new and familiar at the same time. He was gaining that alluring aura now, and it called to her like a siren. Her attention moved to his lower half just as his hard, mottled cock grew longer, then thicker—so much thicker. His flat head tapered into a dragon’s tip, his medial ring vanished, and a fat, bulbous knot formed at the base of his shaft.

All of that was well and good, of course… but what appealed to her more was his dense, virile nuts. They’d grown so large they brushed against his thighs, their burgeoning heft nestled within his tight sack. Their earthy scent made her mouth water. Their size made her wetter than ever. She could practically hear how full they were, and they only got fuller and more potent with time...

Night was panting. The changes after picking up Velvet’s damp, cloying scent had been a blur. She was stalking closer in his peripheral, wings and tail twitching, mouth partway open, her eyes downright wild. He could hear the pitter-patter of fluids dripping from her folds… or perhaps those were his fluids. Something inside him knew he was now a dragon in full, equal in every way to his gloriously fertile mate.

He turned to face her with a growl.

4 - A Magical Day

They circled each other without a sound. Their movements were as graceful as a cat’s, their awesome, regal auras combining into something more. You’d swear the air was sparking between them, or perhaps it was shimmering. Powerful magic ran along their horns either way.

Velvet drank in Night’s form like a fine wine. A handsome beaked snout, a trio of small chin horns, rugged ear frills, muscular legs, and wings with gold accents. His dual moon cutie mark still adorned his delicious flanks. He was bigger than her, but no more than before, both of them still pony-sized.

Night didn’t care if Velvet was ogling him or sizing him up. His mighty dragonhood throbbed along his barrel, coating his underside and leaving a sticky trail in his wake. His nuts were like bowling balls that grew heavier and more potent by the second. Velvet was experiencing something similar—faint tickling itches were twinging deep inside her, like miniscule grains of sand falling down in clumps.

They stopped circling. The world held its breath around them...

…

They pounced. Vicious attacks missed by millimeters in a whirlwind of teeth and claws. For minutes they fought for the upper claw, every effort was dodged, repelled, or countered. Dragonfire met dragonfire. Spell met spell. Wing buffets and tail slaps deflected by headbutts and bucks. Instinct drove Night and Velvet despite being equally matched, each of them drawing deeper upon powers new and old.

Neither of them noticed something rousing deep within them. They didn’t register how it interacted with draconic magics, blending and transforming into something new. They only had eyes for each other, their worlds honed to the extreme.

Then, their snouts met by mistake. They saw each other again—truly saw each other—and the fury and rage became something else entirely. Supple lips pressed deep and hard in a frenzied kiss, flexible tongues dancing and exploring with greedy fervor. Swirling, magic-laden flames sent tingles throughout their bodies, for while the vie for dominance had finished, something else was just beginning.

"Have I..." Velvet whispered between kisses, “...mentioned… how much I love you?”

Night sucked on the hollow of her throat. He nibbled and kissed in time with her low, needy murrs, her sexy sounds making him twitch. Eager, roving claws relished everything they could: Velvet’s motherly curves, Night’s powerful physique, the new limbs they shared and the connecting sensations. They recognized each other’s bodies despite being so changed, the lethargy of middle age replaced with ageless draconic vigor.

A fresh tickling twinge made Velvet shudder. She hugged Night close, his firm rod hot against her scales. “Take me...”

Night rumbled. He moved into position while Velvet presented herself. Her glistening slit and backdoor were about what he’d expected, but he never got tired of the view. He flared his navy wings and reared, grabbing Velvet’s cutie marks and pulling her to him. Velvet mewled, claws sinking into the dirt with Night’s weight sinking onto her, his frame enveloping her in warmth. He shimmied onto her back with low hisses and growls. His aim was clumsy due to their new forms, but at last, his smooth tip grazed her soaking mound.

He claimed her with a sudden thrust. Velvet’s eyes rolled back into her head as Night fought for every inch of her heated tunnel, his efforts destroying that clenching emptiness. He was big. He was thick. He was eager, relentless, strong… and hers, ALL hers. Fullness pervaded her that she couldn’t get enough of, her stilting, halted gasps matching the beat of his hips. She pushed back into his efforts with lusty snarls, their bodies tingling and singing in sync.

Time became a blur. Night’s every backward thrust was met by the squeeze of Velvet’s inner muscles, but that just made him try harder… thrust deeper. Her kneading, rippling confines were molded to shape little by little, and it wasn’t long until Night’s fat knot was the only thing separating their moving hips. Attempts to bury it sent Velvet’s cries rising over the lewd sounds of sex, for her clit was buzzed with every hard plunge.

Night wrapped his wings around Velvet like a cocoon. He nipped her scaly nape, snorted loud in her ear... then fucked her like a creature possessed. Velvet’s sounds rose an octave as she was shoved down by force, her rear legs locking in place. Night’s huge, swelling nuts heavy against her thighs, so dense and full they barely swayed at all. Desperation burned hotter the longer she went unfulfilled, but she could feel her folds yielding, spreading to claim her virile prize.

Everything in Night’s world was centered around where they were joined. His loins were tight to the point of pain, his twitching tool slamming into Velvet’s pliable lips. He jockeyed for a better position and rutted her with a strength he didn’t even know he had. Strange power coursed through him and her alike, wisps of flame coming with each heated exhale. It built and built until they worried they’d go mad, but then Night planted his clawed feet and gave one last great thrust—

POP!

They roared as one. Muscles tightened and spasmed, jerking in wild rhythm. Shot after shot of hot, sticky seed surged up Night’s shaft to flood Velvet’s fertile womb. Each clench of his sack resulted in another peak, sent more blessed heat forward to scratch Velvet’s maddening internal itch. It couldn’t have stopped now even if either of them had tried, but neither of them would’ve had it any other way, each blast of wet heat making them want that much more.

Fireworks exploded within their minds. Night’s knot sealed everything deep inside Velvet, scalding cum filling Velvet’s most sacred place to the brim. Her belly soon swelled with all he pumped in her, but still she wanted more. She could hear his nuts churning and gurgling, refilling the stores he’d lost. More tingling itches flared that were soothed in a blink. Whatever was happening made her heart soar, and while she might have been imagining it, she could swear Night roared in triumph with each itch he scratched.

Perhaps they were having one long, godly climax, or maybe it was multiple peaks chained together, but the result was the same either way, their stamina unending and lusts burning bright—

FWOOOOOSH!

—though that wasn’t the only thing burning. Velvet and Night’s roars were accompanied by blue and magenta jets of flame crashing into the wards like tidal waves. Both of them were seeing white now, incredible magics crackling in their eyes alongside the power awakening in their souls. Magic-infused grasses and plants sprung up around them amidst a life-giving wind. Vim and vigor infused their bodies down to the very last cell, their joined aura of power encompassing the entire grove and beyond.

But much as they wished it, it couldn’t last forever. Eventually Velvet and Night rode their joined apex down to the very last dregs. Neither one of them could say how long their tryst had lasted, but they emerged from the fog to stare into each other’s eyes.

“Hey,” Velvet whispered.

Night smiled. “Hey.”

They held claws and kissed. They remained like that, silent, basking in the afterglow and each other’s presence. Flickering lights played off their faces and cast soft shadows on their scales. Sizzling embers danced between them on the wind, the smoky scent of burning wood bringing back memories of—

…

Uh-oh.

"We gotta get this under control!” shouted Rainbow Dash. A sizable forest raged before her, the flames spreading on the wind. She signalled to the flock of pegasi she’d mustered. “Standard containment perimeter! Collect all the rain clouds you can, even the wild ones! Squad A and B, south side! Squad C and D, east side! The rest of you, take the north! I’ve got the west!"

The pegasi got to work. Within minutes, dark and stormy clouds were gathered and positioned to encircle the blaze. Rainbow Dash zipped around in a colorful blur the whole time, shouting out orders while somehow gathering more clouds than some of the squads.

Night whistled from his and Velvet’s hiding place. “Pride of the Wonderbolts, indeed.”

Velvet had to agree. “Didn’t she used to be a weather pony? I think that’s what the kids said.”

Night nodded. “More importantly, she’s the one that remembers everything she flies over. We should go before my illusion spell wavers.”

“Right.”

They slunk away quiet as they could. Leaving such a large mess behind left a sour taste in their mouths, but their attempts to take care of it themselves had encountered… issues. It turns out, knotting with your mate while you both have an insatiable libido leaves both of you a useless, horny mess. They’d been trying to separate for a while now, but their attempts had merely resulted in several ‘lightning rounds’.

“Almost… got it…” Night yanked backward with all his might. Velvet was holding on to a tree trunk for leverage, her swollen barrel brushing the ground with Night’s tugs. They’d lost count of how many times he’d cum inside her. “THERE!”

They pulled free at last. Night stumbled on his hind legs before resting on all fours. Velvet sagged to the ground in a heap, literal gallons of hot cum streaming from her flower. Some distant part of her was still clenching hard to keep all of it in, the flow pausing before then starting back up.

Night’s bulging knot receded back into his sheath. He sat on his haunches and stared at the thinning canopy, the smoky sky tinged with gray. “That… was intense.”

Velvet shot him a saucy look. She wiggled her curvy rear, opaque fluids thicker than molasses pooling around her legs. “Not as intense as I’d like.”

Annnnnnnnnd now he was harder than ever. “I-I… what in the world is happening to us?”

Velvet snickered. “Relax. You saw how the potion reacted when it poured in Ember’s blood, right? I’ll bet she was just in… dragon heat, or something. That’s a thing, right?”

Night raised a scaly brow. “...Dragon heat.”

“Yeah!” Velvet said.

“Which is somehow affecting me just as strongly, to the point I can barely stay outside of you.”

Velvet purred, her eyes drifting to his oversized package. “And how.”

Night didn’t know what to say. Rationalizing anything was difficult when the tantalizing allure of her scent made him feel so… primal. “What do we do?”

Velvet laughed. “Whatever we want! We’re dragons, aren’t we? Let’s leave the questions for later and have some fun!”

Night frowned. “Vel, we almost burned the forest down.”

“Yes, but we didn’t.” She picked herself up and went to him. “I want to make the most of this, Nighty. Can’t we put the fussing and worries aside just this once?”

“But—”

“We have a chance to experience something we may never get to again.” Velvet cupped his cheek. “Does it really matter why it’s happening? Can’t we just focus on having a good time right now?”

Night’s mouth was dry. Faint protests whispered in the back of his mind, but he couldn’t hear their words. Velvet’s voice, her touch, her warmth… she could’ve been saying anything in that moment, and he would’ve gone along with it. Her eyes drew him in without him even realizing it, their soft lips—

“Tag!” Velvet booped his nose. She scampered off into the brush, her silvery laughs trailing in her wake.

…

“Tag...” Night smirked. He sprinted off after her, his nose leading the way. “I’ll show you ‘tag’!”

They discovered many joys of draconic life in those twenty-four hours. Their strength and stamina was leagues beyond what they were used to, their boundless energy carrying them long into the night. They ran through moonlit acres of forest, swam in clear rivers and lakes, explored sparkling caves and ravines, and of course, tried their claws at flight. Thanks to Ember’s advice earlier, they were flying above the treetops and making their way towards Canterlot Mountain before they knew it. The thrill of surveying the world from above and seeing creatures flee before their shadows soon had Velvet trying to figure out how to swoop, but she insisted this was just to give something a proper spook.

They spent that night in the foothills east of the mountain. Shelter and warmth weren’t issues for mighty dragons, and as for food, the world was their buffet. They tried gems, rocks, dirt, poisonous fungi, rotting plants, tree bark, and even a fish Velvet managed to catch. They found some things to be more palatable than others (Night didn’t much care for sandstone) but in terms of edibility, there wasn’t anything off the table… not even the table itself.

And of course, there was also the sex. Frequent and spontaneous, the only impeding factor they encountered was the amount of flammable material nearby. They did every position they knew, every sexual act they could think of, and when they went through all those, they tried things they’d only heard about. Their eventual going to sleep was preceded by a romp that rivalled the one in the grove, even culminating in another knotting that saw them cumming until they passed out.

They were still lodged together when they woke.

After a morning and afternoon that passed far too quickly for their liking, it was time for them to revert to their normal forms. They assumed it would be Velvet who would change back first, but when her twenty-four hours came and went with nothing...

“Hmm…” Night double-checked his watch. “Did we get the timing wrong?”

Velvet shrugged. “Maybe the potion amounts were off? I didn’t see, uh… Zecora, measuring the amounts.”

Night rubbed his chin. “She did whip this up for us in a hurry. It’s possible she—”

He was cut off by a cough. Cold, slithering sensations welled up inside him like he’d swallowed a bag of snakes. The changes became apparent before long—his scales melted into a pony’s coat, his claws formed into hooves, his tail sucked into his body and became covered in sleek hair, and his beaklike snout widened into a pony’s muzzle.

Velvet chewed on her lip. “Okay, so looks like your amount was right.”

“It—cough—seems so!” He jolted as his horns combined into one. Suddenly, raw power seethed through the merged conduit, the energies orders of magnitude greater than his usual reserves. Enormous arcs of energy shot from his horn without warning to blast the mountain base half a mile away.

Velvet dove for cover behind a boulder. “Nighty!”

“SORRY!” He clamped down on his volatile magic. “I don’t know… what’s going on!”

Neither did Velvet, but she wasn’t about to stay in the line of fire. She stayed where she was until Night was back to normal in full… or at least, as ‘normal’ as he was about to get.

“Nighty…” Velvet’s eyes went wide.

The grey hairs in his mane were gone. His dark blue coat was bright and full. There was no tiredness to his posture, no fatigue to his voice. A wellspring of magic lurked beneath his calm exterior that she could feel pressing down on her. “A-Are you…?”

Night panted for breath. He looked over at Velvet, her scaly face poking out from her vantage point. “Alright, no more gallivanting. It’s fussing and worrying time.”

5 - Medical Concerns

Ponyville General Hospital was no stranger to magical accidents and oddities. It came with the territory of being close to the Everfree Forest, so the procedures and infrastructure for handling such cases had long been put in place. The craziness surrounding the Elements of Harmony (and actual craziness of a spirit of chaos) had jacked things up to eleven in recent years, but government funding for both better equipment and more specialists solved that problem, as well. It was for this reason there weren’t many better places Night and Velvet could’ve gone to seek care… but it also meant answering some pretty awkward questions.

Twilight and Spike came as soon as they heard. The head doctor received them, explaining the situation and the potential factors at play. Twilight and the doctor immediately started ‘talking shop’ while they walked to the Magical Mishap wing.

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” Spike said from Twilight’s back. “Because it sounded like you said Mom and Dad got turned into DRAGONS!”

The head doctor paused. “I’m… afraid Miss Zecora will have to tell you more. All we know is what your parents have told us. Your father has had side effects ever since he changed back, and your mother... hasn’t changed back at all.”

Spike felt dizzy. “Why would they…?”

Twilight facehooved. “I knew I should’ve gone with them. It’s Mom and Dad for pony’s sake; of course something like this was going to happen! What was I thinking?!”

The words echoed in Spike’s mind. He glared at the back of Twilight’s head with an edge creeping into his voice. “I don’t know, Twilight. Care to fill me in?”

...

Twilight sighed. “That secret didn’t last long.”

She’d explained everything to him by the time they got to their parent’s room. The head doctor talked with them a bit longer in the hallway, then left saying Zecora would arrive soon. Twilight and Spike were then left to ‘assess the damage’, as it were.

They braced themselves and walked in.

The hospital room was unremarkable save for the hum of powerful magical wards. Velvet, still a silvery dragon, was reading a magazine at Night’s beside. She smiled on their entry. "Hi, sweeties!"

Her voice was what Twilight and Spike identified most. A little raspier, definitely younger, but still resonating with memory and instinct alike. Her coloration and mannerisms were enough to take it from there.

“Looks like the surprise is out, eh?” Night’s youthful, muscular physique was more akin to a soldier’s than a middle-aged pencil pusher, but his voice was largely unchanged. His horn was long and intimidating, and his magical aura pressed down on them like a giant’s hand. “Hope we didn’t pull you away from anything important.”

Twilight had seen enough in her adventures to take it all in stride. “Never mind that.” She came and gave them both a hug. “Are you alright? Why’d you take the elixir?”

A nervous laugh escaped Night. “I guess we got a little overexcited. We were already down here, so we decided to spend a day in the foothills and test it out.”

Twilight was tempted to also ask if they knew anything about a certain forest fire, but some questions are best left unanswered. “Okay, well… maybe wait next time until you have a third party around. What about your symptoms? You’re not hurting at all, are you?”

Night patted her shoulder. “It’s alright, Twily. Now that the shock’s died down, these ‘symptoms’ seem to be more a blessing than a curse. Apparently this de-aging isn’t from a spell, but they’re not sure if it’s permanent or not. My magic’s the other main thing that’s been affected, and… well, take a look at that clipboard on the tray.”

Twilight did. She’d already guessed it from his aura, but the hard numbers put it that much more perspective. “Wow, Dad… you could keep up with Shining with these numbers!”

Night snorted. “If I had any control. I’ve already broken two of the hospital’s inhibitors, and they don’t have anything stronger. I was hoping you could show me those magic exercises Princess Celestia taught you?”

“No problem.” Twilight produced a quill and parchment. “Shining uses them too, so they should be fine for you. On that note, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if these symptoms aren’t limited to just you. Mom will probably want… to...”

She realized Velvet wasn’t listening. Not for lack of interest, but a more pressing matter. Spike, who hadn’t moved from the door, was fixated on Velvet without so much as blinking. His mouth was half-open, eyes wide and pupils huge, the world a million miles away.

Velvet cleared her throat. “I… understand this must be quite a surprise. I do have an explanation; I’d just planned to build up to it over a few discussions with you. I think I can sum it up though, if you’ll hear me.”

Spike was speechless. The auras of adult dragons were nothing new, but his mother’s was familiar yet foreign, intimidating yet intimate, overwhelming yet alluring. The tremendous magic burning within her made her seem larger than life, her meager body straining to keep it all in.
“Your father and I often struggle with… perspective.” Velvet thought back to Zecora’s words. “Our own view of you versus the public’s view, things like that. We can’t always tell how love blinds us, but while we can’t see some things, there are others that are crystal clear.”

Spike stayed quiet. He was searching for something, but he didn’t know what or why. He walked towards Velvet with his brow furrowed and head tilted.

“You’re unique, dear.” Velvet managed a smile. “There’s never been a creature with the body of a dragon and the heart of a pony; you’re the only one. You’ve struggled with being between worlds all your life, and… I-I’ve seen how lonely it’s made you. It’s not like I can just create scores upon scores of friendly and caring dragons out of nowhere, but… I pushed for this idea because I wanted to take that burden off your shoulders for a while.”

It was starting to dawn on Spike. Velvet’s muzzle, her fangs and slitted eyes, her long tail and sinuous frame... it was all so akin to his own. She even exuded the same spicy scent of magical flame he did. The resemblance may have been coincidence—perhaps even imaginary—but it filled that void all the same.

Spike stopped in front of her. He held out his palm, fingers spread wide. Velvet smiled, pressing her palm to his and letting their digits intertwine.

“I-I...” Spike squeezed her hand tight. “I don’t know... wh-what to say...”

Velvet pulled Spike in for a hug. “You don’t have to say anything,” she whispered to him. “Seeing you happy is enough.”

A quiet moment passed. None of them paid attention to the muffled sniffles or soft sobs, nor did they make much in the way of noise themselves. Spike’s eyes were wet by the time he and Velvet broke, but the smile on his face was one none of them would ever forget.

“Want to know something funny?” Velvet booped his nose. “We needed a few drops of dragon blood for the elixir, but you were out with your friends when we came by. We were about to head home when we learned of another dragon that was in a meeting with Twilight—a friend of yours, actually.”

Spike wiped his eyes, giggling. “Y-Yeah, Twilight told me. I’m glad you were able to talk Ember—”

THUD

Everyone jumped. The sound had come from the hallway, where a supply-laden Zecora had been listening. A lumpy bag had just fallen from her mouth.

“Ember...” Zecora’s eyes were even wider than Spike’s had been. “DRAGON LORD Ember?! She who wields the Bloodstone Scepter?!”

Silence. The only sound was the ticking clock on the wall.

“Uh…” Spike rubbed the back of his head. “Yes?”

Zecora went pale. She rushed into the room and started rummaging through her saddlebags. “The blood’s strength was suspect, but I did not expect....” She gaped at Velvet and Night. “Why did you not clue me in?! The powers you’ve dabbled know no equal or twin! You could have exploded from within!”

Night and Velvet gulped. They stayed quiet as Zecora snatched two cups from the sink and gave them out to Velvet and Night. She told them to spit in them while she pulled out poultices, powders, tools, and vials in a flurry.

“Wait...” Twilight repeated Zecora’s words in her head. “You’re saying you didn’t know who gave the blood?”

Zecora grit her teeth. “Your parents did not provide the name, but I assumed t’was Spike from whence it came!” She snatched the spit cups and poured in the vials of colorless fluid she’d just pulled out of her bags. She watched with bated breath as the mixtures changed color.

“Wait, wait, wait.” Spike held up his claws. “Okay, I get why Zecora would think that, but if Ember’s blood is somehow different than mine, then that’s news to me! What about everyone else?”

The rest of the family’s faces were blank.

“We weren’t sure what to expect with any of this,” Night said. “I don’t think the book had any warnings about blood type.”

Velvet winced at Twilight’s scowl. “No, but… it’s true we never corrected Zecora on which dragon donated the blood. That… wasn’t smart.”

“Dumb,” Twilight snapped, her eyes still fiery. “The word you’re looking for is DUMB.”

Velvet sighed and hung her head. “...Yes. It was dumb.”

Zecora groaned. “It seems all around we share some blame.” She paused to examine the contents of the saliva cups… then relaxed like a weight had just lifted from her shoulders. “But thankfully, the consequences are tame.”

There was a collective sigh of relief.

Curious, Night peered into the cups. He saw that both his and Velvet’s saliva had turned... jet black? “What did you pour in?”

Zecora pulled out a device like a miniature bellows from her bags. “A tincture known as Meadowbrook’s Toil. Expensive and rare, but worth the spoils.” She stopped to have Velvet breathe into the device. “Mixed with spit it forms a gel; the color reveals the creature’s health. Black is best, strange as that seems… though this shade is by far the darkest I’ve seen.”

Night and Velvet blinked like owls. They waited for Zecora to continue, but she ignored them and worked in silence. She took a lock of Night’s hair, a scale from Velvet, a hoof shaving, a claw clipping, a bit more saliva, and finally some blood. They learned the bellows device had gathered some of Velvet’s fire, which Zecora demonstrated with a small puff.

“Zecora,” Night said after speaking quietly with Velvet. “We—”

“Hold.” Zecora directed Twilight to move everything in the room to the very edges. “Before you intone, let this be known. Spike’s plight, for me, hits very close to home. Omission is something I do not condone, but a parents’ devotion to their own... it dwells within our very bones. Your remorse has been shown—there’s no need to atone. Let us move on instead of bemoan.”

It took a few seconds for Night to digest all of that. “Did you just come up with all of that on the spot?”

Zecora snorted. She now guided Velvet to stand in the center of the now-open room, then pulled out a jar of strange putty and some flint and steel from her bags. She bade Velvet stay still while she smeared the gunk between her wings.

“We should at least apologize for leading you on,” Velvet said. “That’s not something that should be excused, especially if these side effects are from Ember’s blood. We need to take responsibility.”

A slow smirk formed on Zecora’s face. “‘Responsibility’, you say... That might just be a factor at play.”

Velvet blinked several times. “Eh?”

“We shall see.” Zecora readied the flint and steel.“Relax for me, if you please.”

She struck a spark onto the putty.

BANG!

The others flinched as the putty exploded in a subdued flash. A great jolt lanced through Velvet’s spine, her tinted wings snapping out in a blink.

“YEOW!” Velvet’s claws gouged the floor. “What happened to ‘no need to atone’?!”

Zecora burst out laughing. “Your new reflexes are swell!” She waved away the smoke and started inspecting the arteries and veins in each wing. “That you are thriving is clear as a bell.”

Twilight, who’d about jumped out of her skin, wasn’t really sure she wanted to know what that putty was. “Please tell me that noise was a one-off. The hospital staff’s going to come running at this rate!”

“A one-off it should be, I deduce.” Zecora had Velvet open her mouth so she could peer inside. “Though on that note, perhaps you could be of use? While my tests proceed, you can bring me up to speed. Context right now is the thing I most need.”

Nopony had any issue with that, so that’s what they did. The majority of the details came from Velvet and Night, but Twilight chimed in about the meeting with Ember, as well as what the doctor’s had found on Night’s symptoms. Spike stayed quiet while transcribing everything, but he did mention Velvet’s incredible aura. Zecora examined Velvet and Night’s oddities as they were mentioned, trying things like poultices, powders, and even having them breathe strange vapors. Nothing she did caused a change.

“I think that’s about everything.” Night watched Zecora grind up a sour-smelling plant with a mortar and pestle. “It seemed sensible to come here, but the doctors have been grasping at straws. Their best guess is whatever’s wrong with is either too powerful for them to detect, or the magic’s already become… ah, ‘part of us’.”

Zecora dumped the smelly substance into a bottle. “The magic of dragons is like nature itself: Primal, eternal, and oft overwhelms. A dragon lord’s magic is all that and more, procreative and vast with an infinite store. This power has marked you, that much is clear… but I think there’s a little more happening here.”

Night frowned. “Meaning?”

“One moment—there’s something I’d like to see.” Zecora started walking towards the bathroom with the bottle. “Twilight Velvet, if you’d please come with me…”

It was fortunate the bathroom was large enough for both of them. Granted, Velvet’s sinuous form could easily slink into cramped quarters, but six limbs and a dexterous tail still took up a fair bit of space. She followed after Zecora, the door closing and locking behind them with a soft click.

Whatever they did took quite a while. Night and the others heard bits of conversation and laughter from inside, but couldn’t tell much else. It wound up taking so long, Night started going over the magic exercises with Twilight. Finally, the dull splash of the sink running heralded the door opening once more.

Velvet pranced out of the bathroom, beaming. She pounced on Night and caught him in a flurry of fierce kisses.

“Buh?” Night couldn’t get a word edgewise. Velvet giggled and hugged him, her smooth scales and inner heat surrounding him. He remained clueless even as Zecora sauntered out of the bathroom with freshly-dried hooves.

“The cause for Velvet’s state is now apparent.” She gave the couple a knowing look. “Though I think I’ll let her inform you all that…”

Velvet paused with a giggle to declare two simple words. “...I’m pregnant.”

Twilight went rigid. “WHAT?!”

“Cool!” said Spike. “Hey, do you think they’ll be a dragon? That would be awesome!”

Zecora chuckled. “They could well be. We’ll have to see.”

Night’s heart skipped a beat. The two words swirled in his mind like they’d been spoken in a dream. He expected to wake up, but when Velvet’s bright, sparkling eyes met his…

“You’re serious...” He held her claw in his hooves. “You really are…?”

Velvet giggled again. “Dragon. Heat.”

Night’s cheer echoed throughout the room.He couldn’t explain why he was so happy, but at that moment he didn’t care. He pulled Velvet into his own kiss, her soft lips meeting his as she purred into his mouth.. Velvet’s tail slid under the sheets to curl around him, and things might’ve escalated had Zecora not cleared her throat.

“Heed my words, friends, you’ll soon understand. I do not know all, but I’ll explain what I can.” She ran a hoof through her striped mane. “Velvet and Night, to be quite direct; my comment on exploding from within was no jest. The danger has passed, no lives are at stake... but this is an incident we should NOT recreate.”

Velvet and Night held each other a little tighter.

“This outcome is more fortunate than you likely know,” Zecora went on. “It seems that the dragon lord’s magic has merged with your souls. Such a miracle is uncanny—it’s beyond my ken! It should be impossible for such forces to blend! Perhaps your multiple passionate transformed accords, allowed this great magic to combine and absorb? But that is conjecture, nothing more.”

Twilight shut her eyes tight. The last thing she wanted to think about was her parents having ‘multiple passionate accords’. “This is a lot to take in…”

Spike didn’t look up from his parchment. “Try writing it all down.”

“The full effects have yet to show, but you both have already begun to grow.” Zecora gestured to Night. “Not only have you returned to your prime, the power within you now endlessly climbs. Velvet is not far behind, and soon you both will surpass the divine. Your health and vigor in kind will increase, until not only will your aging have ceased, but no force or otherwise will make you deceased.”

It was a strange thing. The connotations of that should have floored Velvet and Night, but instead they were rather… nonchalant. It was like they’d already known on some level what was happening, and were only listening to Zecora because she was showing them how to put it into words.

Night examined his foreleg, noticing that an ugly scar he’d had since a teenager was gone. “Let’s play draconequus’ advocate for a minute. Let’s say we didn’t want to go down this road and would prefer to live out our lives as normal without any of this business. Could we do that?”

Zecora’s ears drooped. “The wheels of fate now turn for you both. I think for a time you’ll remain normal folk, but what slumbered within has now awoke.”

Night’s eyes fell to his blankets. “...I see.”

Zecora stopped to rub her temples before turning to Velvet. “As for you, my dragon friend, there’s an additional matter we must attend. Whether it's wyrmling or foal within your belly, these blessings will have been passed on already. You need not worry about their well-being, your experience with past pregnancies should be all you’ll be needing.”

Velvet chuckled, resting a claw on her abdomen. “And here I was looking forward to seeing the look on my ob-gyn’s face.”

Twilight facehooved. “Mother…”

“You have to admit it’d be funny!” said Velvet.

Zecora coughed to hide her smile. “Regardless, if your body decides this new form is true, then this is the new you. Your form might revert once gestation completes, but that’s not a promise I can keep. Either option is not a giant leap.”

She started to make for the door, but then paused and looked back. “Oh, while this pregnancy will be easier than your others, I presume, the creation of life doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If it’s children you wish to accrue, then there’s one thing you must continue to do.”

Velvet blinked. “Which is?”

Zecora clicked her teeth in a wide smile. “Consume.”

6 - New Normal

Night and Velvet were discharged from the hospital that evening. Twilight insisted on sending a letter to the other princesses and Dragon Lord Ember about what had happened, which they unfortunately couldn’t talk her out of. They all made promises about being careful, shared some assorted plans for the future, and then a walk to the train station later, Night and Velvet watched their two youngest disappear in a magenta flash.

Night’s eyes lingered on where they’d been. “After all our years of worrying about them, now they’re worried about us.”

Velvet sighed. She looked into the sun towards Canterlot, her heightened vision spotting the city towers high above. “Life is funny like that sometimes.”

A Few Days Later-

The city of Canterlot never slept. The themes of day and night had become ingrained in the capital over the course of the centuries, from the architecture to the jobs to even the citizens themselves. Nocturnal and diurnal creatures went about their lives in a constant cycle, and the castle was always active and alive. The streets were always occupied, guards always patrolled the busy streets, and both private and public establishments stayed open to accommodate the populace.

The Department of Aviation and Aeronautics was almost always open because of this. It was quite easy to schedule appointments if you had business with them… but said business was always a headache of red tape.

“Here you are, Twilight Velvet.” The worker behind the desk handed over a brand new ID card. “This flyer’s license gives you clearance to fly within Equestrian public city airspace. This includes the Crystal Empire.”

Velvet was impressed at how nice the photo was. They’d used a special lens so her eyes didn’t get that weird reflective glow, but she hadn’t thought that would improve the quality. “Ha! My daughter’s going to be so jealous! She tried to apply for one of these when she got her wings, but they told her there’s no point because they’re issued in the princess’ name! She may as well write out her details on a scrap of parchment!”

The worker—a middle-aged thestral wearing half-moon spectacles—remained straight-faced. “As part of the royal family, you’re also cleared to fly through the restricted airspaces of Canterlot Castle, Ponyville Castle, and Crystal Empire Castle. However, be advised the west grounds of Canterlot Castle are often used to practice flight tactics by the soldiers. It’s recommended you either go around or acquire an escort.”

Velvet held back a sigh. She really hoped this mare wasn’t like this to everypony. “My husband and I have seen them zooming around like maniacs. I’ll steer clear.”

The worker grunted. “Lastly, keep in mind that should your husband or sons ever gain the permanent ability to fly, they’ll need their own flyer’s licenses. You’re free to shuttle them around until then.”

Velvet nodded. She took her ID in her magic, then sauntered towards the waiting idea with silent steps. The worker’s eyes lingered on Velvet’s glowing horns and cutie marks a moment, but remained silent.

Night was the only one in the waiting area. He didn’t notice Velvet enter, as his fuzzy muzzle was buried in a book. As she approached him, she couldn’t help but admire his enhanced physical features: his bright, kind eyes, his chiseled jaw, his broad and tufted chest, his powerful shoulders, his corded legs, his chiseled barrel, and of course, his long, hefty, bulging—

“Hey, you,” said Night.

Velvet shook her head clear. “Hey.” She came up and kissed his cheek. “I’m all done. I passed.”

Night blinked several times. Sure enough, the ID floating in Velvet’s grasp didn’t lie. “Wait, really? Already?”

Velvet twirled the ID in her aura. “Turns out getting your flying license isn’t hard if you study. I messed up a little on the flying course, but the questions were verbatim from the book.”

“Ha!” Night stretched his legs. “So much for this taking a while, eh?” He stood and gave her a kiss of his own. “I should’ve figured you’d breeze through. You’re as smart as you are beautiful, after all.”

“Oh, you.” Velvet swatted his chest. “By the way, did I leave my—” She answered her own question by spotting the gigantic bag of snacks by the chair. “I KNEW I left it out here!”

Night chuckled as Velvet went for her stash. “I wanted to bring it to you, but they said I couldn’t go in—”

Velvet wasn’t listening. She’d reached into the bag and pulled out the first thing she’d felt—a box of unshelled peanuts. She sank her teeth into the box and started eating it along with its contents, then proceeded to devour the rest of the snacks. She ate candy bars, dried fruit, pretzels, granola bars, pudding cups, gelatin, dried cereal, baby carrots, and more. She didn’t even bother to chew most of it, she just jammed it in her oversized maw and swallowed, packaging and all.

Night rolled his eyes. “I guess this is what Zecora meant by ‘consume’. Do you think your appetite’s still getting worse?”

Velvet burped as she finished her meal. “Dunno. Hey, can we stop for a refill on the way to the Spellcasting Bureau?”

Night raised an eyebrow. “We’re going out for dinner right after.”

Velvet shrugged. “I’m still hungry.”

It’d started after they’d gotten home from Ponyville. First there’d been increased snacking between meals. Then there’d been increased portions during meals themselves, midnight snacks, even more increased meal portions, near-constant grazing, still more increased portions at mealtime, and now this. Night wasn’t about to pretend like it was normal, but Velvet’s energy levels, mood, and wellness were at an all-time high.

“I figured you wouldn’t start having pregnancy symptoms for another week or two.” Night scratched his chin. “I’m no expert, but this is happening pretty fast.”

Velvet eyes fell to the floor. She put a claw to her still-slender barrel, her body still whispering for more. “I don’t know how to explain it, but… Zecora said I’d know best, and this feels right.”

Night exhaled out his nose. Dragon Lord Ember hadn’t been much help, unfortunately. About all her letter had said was the clutch would be laid after three hundred days, and should be laid somewhere hot.

“You know, there is one possible explanation.” Night came and put a hoof around Velvet, her warm, smooth scales a comfort at his side. “Ember used the term ‘clutch’ in her letter. That refers to a group of eggs, not just one. It’s possible we could be having multiples.”

Velvet hummed. She turned and gave him a deep kiss, her claws travelling through his shiny coat. “One can only hope,” she whispered.

Night grinned. They left the waiting area through a set of mahogany double doors and into the night mountain air.

It was a clear, warm evening. It was right around shift change time, meaning both the day and night crew were out and about in droves. Restaurants were serving both breakfast and dinner, coffee shops were being swarmed with commuters and students, and off in the distance, the magical insignia on the front gate of Canterlot Castle had switched from a sun to a moon.

“Let’s see…” Night summoned his trusty schedule. “We have plenty of time to get over to the Spellcasting Bureau, so we can swing by the store if you want—”

“I have a better idea.” Velvet spread her wings. “You know the cloudwalking spell, right?”

Night frowned. “Why?”

Velvet tittered. “Because we’re going to need it. C’mon, cast it and get under me. We’re going for a ride.”

Night’s eyes shifted back and forth. “You... do know how much I weigh now, right?”

A saucy look was Velvet’s only reply.

Memories of their increased ‘activities’ as of late made Night look away with a blush. “I don’t know why I…”

Velvet ran a wing down his back. “You must be feeling antsy. I know I am.”

Night shivered. He searched his memory for the cloudwalking spell before his focus slipped entirely. A fuzzy sensation swept over both of them as he cast the spell, then he shimmied underneath Velvet while ignoring the looks of passerby.

“Here we go!” Velvet cast her own spell to secure Night, then jumped up with her legs wrapped around him. They took off together with a great stirring of dust, the downdrafts of her powerful wings sending onlookers stumbling back. Night tucked in his legs and watched the ground fall away more and more, their eye level rising until the buildings were like a twinkling sea of lights below.

“See? Easy!” Velvet now started to properly ascend, able to put some real oomph into her flaps now that they were clear of the ground. She and Night rocketed into the sky while other flyers looked on.

The majority of Canterlot’s air traffic was within the first few hundred feet over the city. Everything past that was usually empty, and tonight was no exception. Velvet rose high over the commuters and errand-runners while searching for the next part of her plan. Night wasn’t really paying attention, for while Velvet was indeed looking all around… she was also doing something else.

“A-Ah…” Night hadn’t realized it at first, but one of Velvet’s legs was gripping him right around his sheath. Her ‘toe knuckle’ kept teasing him just the way he liked it, too, and it wasn’t long before his cock had slipped free. Her chest full of fire kept him warm, her strong, steady grip calmed his nerves, and her smoky scent made his pulse rise.

“There’s one!” Velvet spotted a poofy cloud near the mountain face. She ascended to its level after a few minutes of hard flapping, swatting the cloud with her tail to make sure Night’s spell worked. She then set down and sank into its plush surface.

“Ooooh…” Velvet ran her cheek along the cloud. “It’s like a big pillow!”

“Mmmf-mrph!” said Night.

“Whoops!” Velvet rolled off of him. “Sorry~”

Night spat out a bit of cloudstuff. The wind had wrought havoc on his usually-tidy mane, but it wasn’t a bad look. He met her eyes with a frazzled, eager look. “Don’t be.”

Velvet smirked. She watched him get to his hooves, his heavy, twitching stallionhood slapping up against his ribs. “My, my… you just keep getting bigger, don’t you?”

It was true. Night’s assets were fast approaching what he’d had as a dragon. His jet black shaft bobbed and swayed as it pulsed in time with his heart. His burgeoning nuts were the size of grapefruits, the smooth skin of his sack stretching as they grew more and more.

Velvet licked her lips. A thin but constant stream of pre was leaking from Night’s flared tip. “Good thing you’re immune to dragonfire.”

Night’s eager look drilled into her. Canterlot was a toy model below, Equestria stretched out to the horizon, and there wasn’t a single soul around but them. Night settled into Velvet’s winged embrace to share a long, hungry kiss, Velvet soon kissing down Night’s body—

But then Night surprised her. He shimmied underneath her again, this time face up… and his head right beneath her tail. Velvet’s heart skipped a beat as she felt Night grope her rump and flanks. A low purr escaped her as she let him tug her down, Night’s hot breath making her shudder as she settled her weight atop him.

Velvet was wetter than she’d been letting on. Her slit was a core of radiating heat that was desperate for attention, its scent and desire a feast for Night’s senses. He started with gentle kisses and licks along where Velvet’s hard scales gave way to soft, pliable flesh. Her tangy taste spurred him to probe deeper, his broad tongue snaking into her folds and lapping away. Velvet’s hot, soft, wet tunnel was different as a dragon in some ways… but the sweet spots hadn’t changed.

“Nighty…” Panting, Velvet positioned his twitching shaft and opened her hot, wet maw. She took Night’s tip into her mouth, her long, forked tongue wrapping around his length and tracing the throbbing veins. She teased his medial ring a moment before forming a tight seal and bobbing her head, always licking… savoring. Her every inhale clouded her mind with his dry, spicy scent as she sank down at a snail’s pace, her jaw stretching to take his size.

It took everything Night had not to thrust his hips. He thought he’d been erect, but it felt like his cock just swelled another few inches. Tingles of Velvet’s dragonfire sent pre spurting down her throat, and the tingles grew stronger the more of him she took. He could feel her vulva winking against his chin, spurring him to shove her ass down harder and wiggle his tongue against her walls.

Velvet moaned, long and lewd. She gulped down more inches of cockflesh, lips closing around Night’s medial ring as his tip grazed the back of her mouth. Fortunately, they’d learned in recent days dragons could control their gag reflex. She forced her head down without warning and let Night’s flare pop down her throat. The first fourth of his dick slid down with ease, her throat muscles rippling and squeezing.

Night’s eyes went wide. He groaned as his nuts churned and bloated with a surge of fresh seed. His sack already occupied most of the space between his thighs, but ‘most’ was swiftly becoming ‘all’ as seconds passed. His hips made little jerks despite his best efforts, sparks of magic jetting from his horn and making the cloud glow blue. He decided to reciprocate and wrap his lips around her clit. The gush of honey and accompanying squeal was expected… but the vibrations and sudden gout of tingling flame were another matter.

It was like going from zero to one hundred in an instant. Night saw white as his entire crotch was bathed in wonderful buzzes and tingles. Velvet’s only warning was Night going rigid before his legs wrapped around her in an iron grip and YANKED her down. Her snout was mashed into Night’s base, and she was given a perfect view of his giant nuts starting the first of many clenches. She felt his cock swelling an instant later, load after load of virile seed pumping into her stomach.

Night was seeing white. He was beyond thought or care—the only things that existed were his pleasure and Velvet’s pussy. His tongue was a thrashing, lashing, wriggling serpent slithering ever-deeper. It wasn’t long before he brought her to peak as well, yet even as she shuddered in his grip he kept going. Juices dribbled down his chin as he continued to explore her depths. Pints of cum came with every spurt of his cock, jetting from his tip like a garden hose. Where most others would have ended, he and Velvet were only starting—their lusts feeding into each other.

Velvet was lost in a floaty sea of fireworks. She swore Night’s nuts got bigger with each surge, gurgling and pumping more warm, thick essence down her throat. His tongue may have been driving her wild and making her spasm like mad, but she didn’t let a drop go to waste. She rode peak after peak while Night’s continued to drag on. Not even when the lack of air became apparent did she pull back at all, her greedy desires fixated on one thing.

It wasn’t until Velvet’s incessant hunger faded that Night’s climax did as well. His legs went limp to fall spread eagle, Velvet withdrawing with a gasp and rolling away. Night was allowed some air as well, the two of them wheezing and laying there in silence.

By the time Night was lucid enough to sit up, the last few aftershocks had coated his chest and barrel. He wiped his drenched muzzle with a wince. “Oh, jeeze… you said you’d memorized the Clean-it-Up spell, right?”

Velvet, finally sated for a while, opened her eyes and smiled. “What makes you think I’m going to let any of that go to waste?”

It was required that all Equestrian spellcasters be evaluated by the Equestrian Bureau of Spellcasting a bare minimum of every five years. There were a lot of reasons for this, but the most obvious was if you were packing a lot of magic, they wanted to make sure you knew how to use it. The Bureau used a ranking system determined by one’s present magical ability (Rank A the strongest, E the weakest) but it wasn’t unheard of for one’s rank to go up or down between evaluations.

Any creature too powerful to fit on the scale was given a separate designation—Rank S.

Velvet and Night glided in a lazy descent towards a six story building not far from the castle. Velvet hovered as low as she could so Night could drop down, then landed in short order beside him.

“You’ll be trying out for the Wonderbolts in no time at this rate,” Night said, nuzzling her. “Mmmmm, just the thought of you in one of those uniforms…”

Velvet laughed. “Eager again, I see.”

Night kissed the spines around her ears. “Can you blame me?”

Velvet hummed. They trotted inside the tall building together and followed the familiar signs towards the adult evaluation area. As they went, Velvet could feel Night’s magic tickling her now and again, his feather-light touch tracing along her wing joints.

“Stinker,” she whispered to him.

Night chuckled. “So many new ways to mess with you.”

Two could play at that game, of course. Velvet got him back as they turned a corner, her own magic tracing along his lower ribs. They were soon poking and teasing each other while trying not to make a sound.

The evaluation area was your typical front desk and waiting area. Posters and flyers for public magic programs were all over the walls, with a table in the corner holding dozens of colorful brochures and various kinds of magic-related info. There were a few unicorns and a handful of other spellcasting species in the waiting room, but the front counter itself was open.

Night and Velvet were still messing with each other when they walked in. The attendant was a thestral filling out some kind of paperwork, who didn’t look up as they approached.

“Hello!” Night said. "My wife and I are here to—snrrk, quit it—update our spellcasting licenses."

A glint of silver caught the attendant’s eye. He looked up and saw a very fidgety young stallion and a blushing dragoness with an impish look on her face.

“OH!” The attendant nearly dropped his papers. “W-We got a scroll from the castle about you two!”

Night couldn’t say he was surprised. “Great! I assume you need toooooo...s-see our current licenses?”

The attendant nodded. He accepted the two cards Night and Velvet provided in shaky auras, the words ‘RANK B’ etched on each of them. It might’ve seemed odd that Night and Velvet’s horns continued glowing, but that went unnoticed.

“I know the photo doesn’t—eep! You little—look like me.” Velvet tugged on Night’s tail right back. “Would seeing my flyer’s license help?”

The attendant’s eyes flicked between her and the photo. “Uh… l-like I said, the castle already gave us the heads up.” He put red stickers on the IDs and returned them. “You can head on back to Room 1C. Your evaluator is waiting for you.”

Night snickered and whispered something to Velvet. She swatted him and pushed them towards the back rooms, keeping in close contact all the while.

The corridors were quiet save for muffled voices beyond the doors. The few employees Night and Velvet passed did give lingering looks, but that just added to the thrill. Granted, it wouldn’t do to start going at it in the hallway… but fantasizing was another matter.

They managed to get to their eval room without pouncing on each other. Night was hard as a rock by now, and Velvet’s limber tail was flicking about.

“Okay… okay-okay-okay.” Night snuck in a heated kiss before putting his hoof on the door. “Truce?”

Velvet licked her lips. With magic, she blew a little flame heart against Night’s cheek. “For now."

They entered the large room to meet their examiner. They weren’t sure who they were given the princesses had gotten involved, but hopefully it wasn’t the no-nonsense, hypercritical rules lawyer that handled the Rank B evals. Celestia only hoped that old codger would retire soon—

“Hello again, Twilight Velvet and Night Light.”

Velvet and Night froze. There, sitting at the evaluator’s desk and looking over their magic files, was Princess Celestia herself.