The Stars That Bind Us

Ten Years Later...

Autumn quickly fell over Equestria as Dragonlord Spike was in his office. Half way done going through some paperwork next to him that needed to get done for the day.

He knew part of being a ruler is handling politics and the papers that came with it. Years of being Twilight's assistant gave him an upper hand on this and was plowing through with ease.

But it can also be taxing and quite boring.

He sighed to himself, setting the quill in its ink hold and rubbed his snout. “Never ends ... .maybe I should hire another secretary.” He muttered. He has one already, but with Ember taking time off, he may need some more help.

He'd usually have Ember's help but she was out for a week. The other helper was doing double time.

Absolutely refuses his Queen's help, especially how far along she was.

Now thinking about her, his gaze shifted to the large portrait on the wall, hanging over the mantle of the fireplace.

A painting of the two of them dressed to the nines, the love of his life wearing a stunning white gown.

Their wedding day, after the war was over, the two finally got married…

Grinning at an idea that came to his mind, he decided to take a break from the papers, fixing his sash before leaving his office.

He has to gather his little rugrats for his idea.

It didn't take long to hunt down his first born son, now reaching ten years old. Igneous was in the training yard, currently working hard.

Though Iggy was still small, he was a bit taller than Spike when he was that young, starting to grow more spikes on his head, was much leaner and fast on his claws.

It was custom for the royal children to begin training at a young age, at first Spike was opposed to it and wanted his children to have a normal upbringing…

He quickly changed his mind.

Spike watched his boy clash with a wooden staff with the instructor.

Seeing the instructor having a bit of a problem keeping up with how fast the eldest prince was.

After sweeping the adult dragon off his feet with the stick, Iggy giggled. “Oh come on, you're supposed to be the teacher.” He taunted him.

The instructor was about to spat off the kid before Spike made his presence known.

“And you're not meant to be that ruthless with your teachers. Good form though.” Spike said.

Iggy smiled, mouth full of teeth, he walked out of the training ring and went up to greet him.

“Hey dad.” Iggy said, Spike giving him a firm hug.

“Hey kiddo, working hard?” Spike asked.

Iggy shrugged. “Not even breaking a sweat. Getting bored with these weak chumps.”

His words earned a glare from the teacher.

Spike gave him a look. “Would you rather have your mother train you instead?”

Iggy paled. “I love my teachers.” He spoke quickly.

His mother being more ruthless than him, she takes training very seriously.

Spike pats the fur on his head. “Atta boy.” He sighed. “Speaking of your mother, I think she needs a break from her class, want to help me annoy her into taking one?” He offered with a smirk.

Iggy grinned. “heck yeah!”

“Great! Now we have to go find the other two.”

Iggy groaned. “Cinder yes, but do we have to go find Flare?”

Before Spike could respond, loud screeching and screams echoed in the chamber. Iggy moaned out of annoyance.

“GIVE ME BACK MY GLASSIES!!” a very irate four year old roared.

“NO!” A cackle of an eight year old responded.

Barging in on all fours, a blur of frosted purple and emerald green ran into the training hall.

The two circled around Iggy and Spike before the purple one, the eight year old jumped on top of her father's shoulders.

“Hi daddy!” Flare greeted loudly, like Iggy and her mother, she too was both furry and scaled like. Fur being purple and the scales a light blue, light green eyes. The fluffiest of the siblings. And in her blue claws as a pair of yellow glasses with straps for a child.

Iggy caught the four year old. Currently the only one fully scaled and having taloned hooves and pony like ears and has actual light colored hair instead of spikes on his head. Cinder had green and brown scales with brown eyes. Eyes that were poorly developed and can't see without eyewear.

Glasses which his older sister took.

“I want my glassies, Flare!” The four year old shouted, facing the opposite direction. Shaking his tiny fists. Iggy turned him to face the right way. “I can't see without my glassies.”

“If you can't see, how do you know where I am?” Flare giggled. Spike tried to grab her but she slipped away.

“Because I can hear your big fat mouth squawking!” Cinder growled. Electricity coursing through his tiny body.

“Oh cool it!” Flare ended up blowing snow instead of fire out of her mouth, hitting her two brothers.

Both of them snarled and growled. Each royal child who were products of both scepters were gifted with special powers that go with the natural elements. Flair has ice and snow, Cinder has electricity and speed, Igneous is fire and light.

Spike grunted. “That's enough, give your brother back his glasses.” He goes to grab his daughter, almost caught the fabric of her pink dress before she slips away again. Her fluffy tail smacks him in the face as she lands on the ground and runs.

Iggy groans before hefting Cinder up and hands him over to their father. “Hold this, I got her.”

Spike blinked confused as he took his youngest while the oldest raced after his sister.

“Dada.” Cinder cooed, patting his dad's face since all he could see was a big purple blob.

Iggy was fast when he caught his sister, tackling her like a linebacker. Him and Flare scuffled, sounds of growling, snarling, cat yowling fight.

The brawl was short lived with Flare was on her belly and Iggy sitting on top of her back.

“Hey fat butt, get off!” Flare snapped.

Iggy dug his butt into her back before snatching the glasses out of her claws.

Flare blew an ice shard at him, only him to counter with his fire breath and melting it.

“Jerk.’ Flare grunted

“Brat.” Iggy stuck his tongue out at her before getting off of her.

He made his way back to father and baby brother, handing the eyeware to Spike.

“Thank you.” Spike said before he worked on putting the glasses back on Cinder.

Cinder's eyes grew big once the glasses were on. “Thank you!” Now happy to see again.

Spike sighed tiredly.

He loves his three terrors, even though they wore him and everyone in this palace out.

And they're going to be introducing not one but two more babies soon? He doesn't know if Dragon's Lair would even survive.

“Okay kiddos, who wants to see who can give your mom the biggest hug first?” Spike asked as he set Cinder down. “Your mother needs a break but she needs our help, who'll get there first?”

Cinder runs out in a flash, followed by Igneous and Flare.

Spike giggled. “Hey, I want in too!” He takes off after them.

In a detached stone built building just outside of the dark palace, complete with AC was a well made art classroom. Dragons ranging from egglings to adults, Mordi and other creatures such as ponies, a couple of humans were sitting at their desks, each of them having an easel. Hanging on the walls and ceiling were a few of the artworks the students have done. Some pottery creations on the shelves.

Just anything that has to do with art was in that classroom.

The assignment was self image.

Walking… waddling as one would say, around the 23 rows of desks was the very pregnant Queen herself.

Rachel, dressed in a large black and white pattern maternal dress, her hair was in a braid, her belly was quite large and round as it housed twin babies. One of the unborns was already quite big so it made Rachel have a big tummy.

And in her pink painted claws (courtesy of her daughter) was a shiny new paintball gun.

“Now, what is self image? Is it how others perceive you? Or is it how we see ourselves when we look in the mirror? Who are you to yourself, that's what this assignment this week is all about.” Rachel said as she looked at some of her student's artwork.

The class was allowed to interpret that in different mediums, not just painting.

One of the young students raised their hands up with. “What do you see yourself?” They asked her.

Rachel smiled. “That is a very good question.” She said as she rubbed her belly, walking back to her desk. “What do I see in myself? That's easy, I see someone who is content, a mother, someone who after many trials and tribulations is finally at peace. I'm happy.”

She came close to the desk, one of the babies, the big one, kicked with such force the desk shifted a foot and she nearly doubled over.

“Shhhh-sweet home Alabama that's smart!” Rachel groaned, feeling her babies having a soccer match with her organs. Having to get creative with her swearing since she's teaching a class and around kids.

Who, let's face it, hears worse from their parents.

It was a mix of concern and snickering at the queen.

One stood out.

“Is the cow about to pop?” A dragon by the name of Eldrin spoke out.

Rachel glares at the male, the rest of the class went silent.

She said nothing as she raised the gun and shot him squarely on the chest. An orange splat was a stark contrast to his muted blue scales.

A collective of laughter echoed in the classroom. “Eldrin, we talked about that mouth of yours.” Rachel grunted.

“Is that how you treat your students?” a human woman stood up in outrage. “All because he made a comment?!” Eldrin groaned when she spoke.

Everyone turned their attention to the woman.

“Seriously, I was wondering why every other night my mate is covered in paint!” She gestures to Eldrin. “Do you do that to-”

Rachel reaches into her desk, pulls out a NERF dart gun she uses for nondragon creatures, takes aim and fires at the human.

The foam dart flew and the woman ended up catching it with her teeth. Her eyes grew big as dinner plates.

The rest of the class cheered and laughed at that shot.

“It's easy, Celine, this is for humans, ponies and children of all kinds,” Rachel holds the NERF gun and holds up the paint gun. “This is for dragons, why do I have such? Well my patience is very thin, perhaps none at this time, I'm five months pregnant and I'm on a strict no magic/physical violence regimen until I pop these babies out, plus it's a fun way to deal with anyone disrespecting me or ruining what is meant to be a relaxing class.”

The woman takes the dart out. “I want to speak to a-”

Only to be interrupted by the Queen aiming the paintball gun at her directly this time. “Honey, did you forget I'm the Queen? You can either shut up, sit back next to your mate and enjoy the lesson, get up and leave, or keep running your mouth and leave my classroom covered in paint.”

Eldrin reached out and pulled his woman back down in her seat. “I got her.”

Before Rachel could speak, the doors of her room were thrown open and Cinder slid up to his mother and hugged her.

“Mommy!” Cinder greeted her with glee.

Rachel quickly sets her guns down and holds him. “Hey there!”

“Mama mama!” Soon her two other children raced in and they all hugged around her legs and belly.

Rachel laughs, hugging all of them. “Ooh my babies. Looks like we have some visitors, class!”

There were some chuckles from the students, a few looked relieved that tension was lifted.

Rachel held her three, stroking the back of their heads, kissing them as much as she could. She'd bend down but doesn't know if she'll be able to get back up with how big she got.

“Are you guys going to stay for class?” Rachel asked.

“No mama, we're here to tell you to take a break.” Iggy said.

“You heard them.” Spike made his entrance. He gazed lovingly at his Queen.

After many years together, Spike was still madly in love with her. She was still as beautiful since the day they met, even more so now.

A star that would never die.

“And a very special guest.” Rachel smiled, gazing at him with the same admiration.

The kids stepped aside cause they knew dad was coming in.

Spike approached Rachel, wrapping his arms around her and giving her a kiss. “Hello, beautiful.”

“Hi,” Rachel giggled, unable to keep this smile off her face.

He kisses her again before kneeling before her, his hands placed on either side of her belly and kisses it. “And hello little ones.”

Rachel sighed, seeing him kissing and nuzzling her bump before turning to her class. “Class dismissed, it seems the Dragonlord and the kids won't let me continue to teach.”

“Nope.” Spike responded as he continued to feel his unborn kids.

The students gathered their pieces and began to file out.

Eldrin looked to his mate, “see, the cow's breeder has her handled.”

Without even looking up, Rachel grabs the paintball, raises it up and shoots a barrage of paint at the dragon, hitting the back of his head and horns.

“Ouch, son of a bitch!” Eldrin snarled. Celine gasps out loud. The dragon turned to snap at the Queen.

But froze when he remembered the Dragonlord was here.

“If I have to get up, it won’t be good.” Spike warned as he continued to nuzzle the baby bump.

Eldrin just grabbed his woman’s hand and ran out of the classroom.

Iggy, Flare and Cinder giggle at that whole interaction.

“Now class is over, can we go watch some movies?” Iggy asked her.

“I don’t see why not?” Rachel giggled as she set the guns back on the desk and Spike finally stood up.

The babies kicked again and she grabbed hold of Spike. “Goddamn it there went my kidneys.” She groaned.

Spike held her steady. “Which one is the kicker?” He asked, Putting a hand where’s hurting.

“Gorge.” Rachel grunted. Already had the names for the babies. “He’s active today.”

Spike automatically goes to the right side of her belly. “Gorge, be nice to mama,” he tells the unborn. What else was he supposed to do when the baby was safe in the womb? absolutely nothing.

“How can you tell which side is which?” Flare asked, looking at mom’ belly.

Rachel motions the right side. “Gorge is here. He’s much stronger, already physically wise. Forge is-” Rachel then suddenly sneezed and instead of flames, an array of flowers shoots out of her mouth. “Forge does that already.” motioning the left side, sniffling.

“Aww, Forge is trying to make mama feel better.” Cinder giggled, picking up the flowers then passing some over to Flare.

“Thank you, Cin.” Flare said, putting a flower behind her right ear fin.

“I am.” Rachel said, one hand on her mate before bringing in the kids for a big hug.

Spike wrapped his arms around all of them and smiled brightly. The most important beings of his whole life, the ones he never thought he’d get to have if it wasn’t for the woman of his life.

When he said long ago that the stars could be rewritten, it has.

His mate, his kids.

His family. They were his stars.

His whole world.