The Stars That Bind Us

As night rolled on, Spike tossed and turned, muttering and grunted in his sleep. Whispers echoing in his ears as he slept, drenched in sweat.

Flashes of fire and stone, blood and screams in the distance, the disembodied cackling of the tyrant, hearing Spike's name being screamed out.

Spike suddenly gasps awake. His eyes shot open wide, his mouth terribly dry, panting as if he had run a marathon.

He rubbed his face with his hands before hearing his mate move.

"Hey, you okay?" Rachel asked him, sitting up a little with a hand on his chest. "Nightmare?"

Spike nodded, grabbing her hand with his. "Sorry," he muttered.

"You have nothing to be sorry about." She responded, as she put her head on his shoulder. "Wanna… wanna talk about it?"

Spike shook his head. "I just… just want to sit here for a moment, I'll be fine…"

Rachel gave a kiss on his jaw before resting. "If you say so." She muttered.

Spike lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, patient waiting for her to fall back asleep. It didn't take long before she was in slumber once more, so he can make his move.

He slowly slithers off the bed, making sure it wouldn't disturb her before he got to the floor. He quietly walked to the closet.

Seeing the Blood Staff shimmering and glowing when he saw it.

With a scowl, he grabs it and walks out.

Spike glanced over at his son's door before going downstairs. Nearly bumping into one of the guards.

" Everything alright? " They asked.

"I'm fine." Spike grunted before quickly headed out the back.

Spike walked away from the property, right at the edge of the barrier before holding the scepter up in front of him and grunted. “That wasn’t a dream I saw, was it?” he asked.

He could hear the staff speak to him, only confirming what he saw and snarled. “That can’t be true, what I saw can’t be.”

The staff responded to him again, only making him angrier.

“What the actual fuck!? I just got my life back, I got my family back, my mate, my son, and what I saw was my death?!” He snapped at it. “I get we were strained for years due to circumstances but come the fuck on!”

The staff spoke to him, causing him to shake his head. “I just told them I wasn’t going to leave again. That I was going to be there for them, now I’m going to die! NO! I gotta be there for my family, I’m finally taking responsibility in my life, I can’t just die. There’s something I have to do to change this!”

The staff continued to glow before Spike could visibly see a crack growing. His eyes widened as he saw the red stone breaking on its own before a piece of it broke off and landed on the ground.

“What the hell?!” Alarmed, Spike had his tail holding the staff to bend down and grabbed a piece. A tiny piece of pure, raw ultimate draconic energy radiated from it. Even a piece of the Blood Staff is dangerous in the wrong hands. “W-w-why would you break like that??”

He hears the staff continue to respond to him, he listens to what it tells him before he understood what it was saying. “Oh….oh?” Spike muttered softly, straightening up with the shard in his hands. “I see… will it work?” He looked at the staff. Hearing it speak more, seeing where it was coming from before nodding. “Okay, I got it, let's hope it’ll work, because I can’t leave them again, I made a promise.” He said before looking at the shard.

Spike knew exactly what to do with it…and who to give it to.

A week later…

“Are you sure this is fine?” Rachel asked Spike as everyone was getting the Cabin ready for guests. “I understand wanting to see everyone and have them finally meet our son, but~”

“It’s going to be fine, love,” Spike said assuring, rubbing her shoulders. “It’s been awhile since everyone has been together, yeah I’ve seen the girls during the party but I wasn’t in the right mind at the moment. We’ll be busy with the war efforts and being rulers, it’s probably going to be the last time we have any get together with our friends and family for a while.”

“I’m just surprised you even suggested the twins and Brimstone as well since they had babysat Iggy the majority of the time.” Rachel said as she turned to see the guards adding the last minute adjustments. “Especially with what Gemcity did to you.”

Spike took in deep breaths being reminded of the harsh kick of a greeting that sexling gave him. “Water under the bridge.” his voice sounded strained. “Besides, I’m sure Iggy would like to see them again too. Twilight and the others haven’t really gotten the chance to see him too. Besides, this place was way too protected this time.”

“You got a point.” Rachel sighed. “I don’t know, I’m just kinda….worri~EEEEY!” Rachel jumped suddenly when she felt a weight jumping and clinging on her tail. She and Spike looked down and her mate chuckled.

Iggy was now clinging onto his mother’s tail, nuzzling on the brush-like tip.

“Silly little rascal,” Rachel groaned, mixed with a chuckle.

Spike bent down and picked him up. Igneous was dressed in a light green flannel shirt,with a long sleeve striped gray undershirt and brown shorts. His son nuzzled against him. “Hey bud, you ready to be shown off to everyone?”

Iggy nodded and boops him on the nose and giggled before wanting to be held by his mom. Rachel grabbed him and hugged him. “Oh my handsome little boy, you are too dang cute.”

Iggy grabbed her face and kissed her, causing his parents to giggle.

“Hey, those lips are mine.” Spike huffed playfully. As a result, Iggy blew his tongue at him before giggling.

A knock on the door caused the three to look over.

Iggy jumps in his mother’s arms before wiggling out of her hold and jumps down. He hobbles over to the door and leaps up to the doorknob. Spike went to grab him when the baby opened the door.

A loud gasp transpired from the other side of the open door. “BABY DRAGON!” Pinkie pie’s loud squealing voice as she waddles her pregnant self in with the rest of the girls.

Fluttershy’s heart pounded and she gasped as well. “Oh aren’t you just the cutest thing ever! Hi baby!” she cooed.

Twilight followed with Starlight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Twilight giggled as the two girls were over with Spike and the baby.

“Hi Spike, Rachel.” Twilight greeted with Starlight.

Igneous blinked confused as all the mares were here. He recognized Twilight but not everyone.

“Shoowee, are yer sure that’s an infant, he’s mighty fine big.” AJ asked with a chuckle, seeing the size of the baby.

“He’s just the cutest, fuzzy wuzzy little thing I've ever seen. Oh sorry, hi Spike, I should’ve greeted you first.” Fluttershy said.

Spike chuckled. “Hey girls, you’re fine, Flutters.”

“Hey guys.” Rachel giggled. “Ladies, welcome, make yourself comfortable. Just be warned for this guy’s zoomies.” She gesture’s Iggy whom she can tell was about to have another burst of energy.

“And fire spitting, we’re working on it.” Spike chuckled as the mares aweed at the baby.

“He’s fast, I bet he’s fast,” RD said, looking at him closely.

“You have no clue.”

“What’s his name again?” Starlight asked.

“Igneous, but Iggy is what stuck with him for a nickname.” Rachel said.

“SO PRECIOUS!” the pregnant pink mare screeched before making grabby hands for him. “Here Iggy, I’m gonna smush ya!”

Iggy giggled and shook his head.

“No, I wanna hold him.” Fluttershy frowned.

“No I wanna.” RD said.

As the girls argued, Iggy gets the burst and jumps down from his father and he zooms all over the place.

“Nope no, there he goes.” Rachel laughs.

Pinkie and Fluttershy go after him.

“Whoa, he is fast!” Dash gawked.

Twilight giggled as she watched the girls chase after him. “Brings back memories.” She said before looking at Spike with a knowing look, causing him to blush, grin sheepishly.

“I wasn’t that bad.” He chuckled before looking over to see Pinkie Pie barely getting past the couch without leaning against it.

“I’m…gonna take a break.” She pants, holding her belly.

As Rachel goes to close the door, she hears a “Oh wait!” She opens the door and sees Twilight Velvet, Nightlight, Shining Armor and Flurry Heart coming up to them.

“Uh oh, hi.” Rachel said awkwardly before letting them in. Sharing a look with Spike who didn’t know they were coming as well.

“Hello Rachel, hi Spike!” Velvet gave Rachel a quick hug before rushing over to give Spike a hug.

“Hi aunt Rachel, Uncle Spike!” Flurry raced over to him, running past Rachel and her aunt Twilight to go and hug Spike, who he picked up.

“Hi Flurry!” Spike grinned as he held her.

“I hope you don’t mind, Twily mentioned she and the girls were coming over to see Igneous, Flurry wanted to meet her cousin.” Shining said.

“I hope you’re okay with this,” Nightlight said after greeting the she-dragon.

Twilight blushed. “Whoopsies.”

“No, no, this is fine, I’m glad all of you can make it actually.” Spike smiled. “More than merrier.” He said as he set Flurry down.

“Now, where is my grandbaby?” Velvet asked, looking around for him before seeing a blur of yellow and green and brown streaking across her vision, causing her to jump and laugh. “Oh no, he’s a runner!”

Rachel looks to see if anyone else will be coming up the pathway, sure enough, she recognizes the sexlings and Brimstone on the way. She waited for them to get up to the door to greet them.

Noticing Gemcity looked like hell.

“Oh wow, Gemcity are you okay? You look…”

“Like pure shit?” Gemcity asked. She had heavy bags under her eyes, her short mane frazzled and just disheveled.

Ruby leans close. “Mom got ahold of her, she’s still recovering.” Rachel made a face that says it all.

“Well…can’t say that you didn’t deserve it, because that would be a lie.” Rachel said, having Gemcity flip her off as they entered.

Brimstone shook his head at them. “Aye aye.” he muttered before looking at Rachel and smiled. “How you doing old girl?” he asked as he gave her a hug.

“Good, I’m enjoying this whole motherhood thing.” she said as she hugged him back before leading him in the full house.

Inside, everyone was in the living room, Pinkie Pie was prone on the couch out of energy while the rest was interacting with the newest addition of the group. Iggy going around and checking out everyone.

Spike was off to the sidelines, giving the others a chance to check him out before looking up to see Rachel coming in with the girls.

He makes eye contact with Brimstone.

And Brimstone had a stone cold, distasteful look on his face when looking at the grown male dragon.