Ignis what exactly is going on? You’re panicking and vague, I need details before I can agree to anything.

She’s right. This thing hasn’t even been born yet. Even if it’s completed it’d take a while to become the Tiamat. There’s a goat here. He’s apparently responsible for creating the False Hydra and for giving magic to the dragons.

Goat? Can you describe him in the most exact detail possible?

He’s not why I’m spooked. He’s created some abomination, it’s the heads of five different Elders combined in one body, like a hydra. One of each color and the white dragon is the last Dragon Lord. Luna, this creature exists in my world. She’s called Tiamat and she is destruction incarnate, a force of nature powerful enough to have served as the ruler for the first layer of Hell. Hell is similar to Tartarus but it’s home to demons and devils. If this thing were to reach her same level of strength…it’d be worse than Discord.

I understand. I believe you, and I don’t want you to think I am taking you lightly. But, it is critical that you describe this goat to me.

He’s blue, two big ass curved horns with bright red spiral lines, and a black collar with a bell on it.

Several seconds pass.

Luna?

Another pause of eerie silence.

Luna? What is it? Did something happen?

You have to leave. Get out right now. This is an order. That is an ibex who wields enough power to have rivaled even Harmony back in his era. You don’t stand a chance, and I’d wager he’s already aware of your presence. Teleport away, NOW!

Please, just let me hear the end of this conversation. Five more minutes, tops!

If something happens to you I will chain you to our bed for the rest of your life.

Woah. Has she ever gotten like this before with me? That was a real threat.

“Huh. What kinda name is Tiamat? Also if father is negotiating with the ponies in just a few days why would he authorize a test run of whatever new weapon you’ve cooked up?” Ember continues asking questions that I want to know.

“Oh it’s not performing it’s tests on the ponies! That creature the princesses have tamed is far too strong for something like that. No, now that Chrysalis has stated her obligations to the alliance are fulfilled she’s stepping away back into the shadows. Since we’re not allied with her anymore, I’m going to be rid of her. The last thing I need is to constantly look behind me for that crafty harlot.”

Wait, he's sent his experiment to go kill Chrysalis? Does he know the location of her new hive?

“Uh huh. Well, good luck with that. I need a real progress update though, do you have an estimated time frame for when this “Tiamat” will be ready for testing?”

“It could be tomorrow, it could be several months or years from now. I’ve done all I can do, at this point it’s up to them to wake up.”

“What an annoying answer. You know how long it’s going to be, you're just leaving yourself plenty of cushion time to wring more resources out of my father for your projects.” I need to talk to Ember before I leave. I’m 99% sure I can get her to come back to Equestria with me, or stay here and become a spy.

“You say that like I’m not providing your kind with tangible benefits and power. Keep in mind who gave you that Wind you’re so fond of. Now, if that’ll be all I’d like to kindly request you leave here and let me get back to my work.” Ember doesn’t even reply; she just sighs and turns to walk away.

Quickly but carefully I turn as well and follow Ember, making sure to engrave this location into my brain. Now I can teleport straight here in the future. I’m following Ember for just over five minutes when she suddenly speeds up and starts taking random turns. I don’t wanna lose her so I speed up as well. Until I round the next corner and find a set of blue claws closing around my small insect sized body.

Dispel the Alter Size!

As a result of suddenly growing to nearly seven feet tall, the dragoness just ends up placing her palm at a uh…unfortunate part of my body. “What do you think you’re doing?! Do you have a deat- AGH!” She very quickly pulls her arm away and I get to discover that dragons can actually blush.

“Listen, I'm sure you’re a nice dragon princess or whatever, but if you wanna just start grabbing me like that you’re gunna need to talk to Luna first. She’s my owner, you see? As for yo-”

“SHUT UP! You know that wasn’t on purpose! Why are you here?!”

“Gathering information. I overheard your conversation with your father, so what are you going to do now that you know the truth?” I quickly get serious since we are still just in a random hallway tunnel and someone could happen upon me any second now.

She’s silent for several seconds as she stares at the ground with a pensive look. “I don’t know. This isn’t right, but at the same time…this is still my kingdom. I need to somehow take the throne from my father, and then end this war. Hopefully we’ll still be able to have peace by then.”

“So if I just kill your dad then this is all over? Let’s go then, c’mon.”

“What?! No! I’m not killing my father. If anything I should kill you-”

I don’t care if this is an offhand comment. I’m too far into enemy territory with apparently a very powerful goat nearby. For that reason, as soon as she says “kill you” my hand is around her throat and the dragon princess finds herself pinned to the floor, now covered in cracks. The breath is knocked out of her when she hits the stone and for a few seconds all she does is sputter and cough. “I held back significantly in Canterlot because I could tell you’re a good person who had been misled. But, if you are still going to go against me I will end you right now.”

For the first time I can see genuine fear and panic in her eyes as she claws at my hand and forearm squeezing her throat. I can feel sharp cuts of wind hitting my torso and arms. “I understand you won’t kill your father, but if I release you are you going to try and kill me?”

She tries to speak but just releases a choked gargle before quickly shaking her head left and right. I think about it for another second or two before releasing her. After she’s done gasping for air and hacking up a lunch she finally turns towards me. “I intend to help you. But, I cannot fight my own kind. I already knew most of the information I was asking for in Grogar's lab, but I knew you were there. I asked those questions for your benefit. Also, even you would have a hard time killing the Dragon Lord. My father’s wind is much stronger than mine.”

“What’s his name? Part of the information I came here to gather was who the Dragon Lord is.”

“Torch. Dragon Lord Torch.”

“What’s the experiment he sent to wipe out the changelings?” Without even realizing it I’ve moved closer to the dragoness. She’s starting to get intimidated again.

“Father assigned him the task of coming up with a dragon specifically modified and designed to kill you. His experiment is testing just one aspect of what the end result of that dragon will be. Since you use swords and fire Grogar decided to transmute our scales with metal. The dragon he sent to Chrysalis is a former Elder red dragon that now has scales reinforced with Steel. My father, being the creative genius that he is, named this new type of dragon “Steel Dragon.” That’s not the project you should be worried about, though.”

“Trust me it’s not. That Tiamat thing is what mainly concerns me.”

“No, not that either. Some of the last information Chrysalis shared with us was how to ascend and become a God. With the help of Grogar my father has ascended. He’s the God of Wind. His blessing is what allows me to wield the wind in the way I do. I literally cannot go against him, it’s like asking a rain cloud to fight a lake.” Oh it’s never simple, is it? Chrysalis why…would you do this?

“If I gave you my blessing and bestowed you with more power would you be willing to defect to Equestria with me? We’re confident we can win in a physical confrontation, but we’re information starved. Anything you could provide the princesses might be the breakthrough we need.” Please just say yes. If I take any longer to leave here Luna is gunna fucking kill me.

“Well, well, well. I knew you were unhappy that I deceived you, Ember. But, I didn’t think you’d turn on me like this. Conspiring with the biggest threat Equestria has? Have you truly turned your back on me like this?” It’s the dragon lord. He’s behind me. How did he get here so silently?!

“Father?! No! I would never! I was going to turn him down! I could never betray you or this kingdom. You have to believe me!” Wow her voice even cracked. I don’t understand why she’s so upset right now though…she did betray him. He isn’t even wrong.

“Of course, you were just standing around in the tunnel a few inches away from him casually having a conversation about betraying me. You’re right, how could I be so foolish?! You were clearly just lowering his guard! Do you think I’m a fool, Ember?”

“Father, no! Plea-!”

Torch holds up one of his claws and suddenly several deep slashes cover Ember's body. What was that? Was that even an attack?

Dexterity Saving Throw

16 + 5 + 3 = 24.

On pure instinct I jump backwards a few inches and watch as several slashes strike the air where I was just standing. Ember drops to her knees screaming in pain. Torch flicks his claw again and this time I’m able to understand what’s happening. He’s using his power over wind to create a thin line of high pressure wind in the air. Then he sucks all of the air out of that compressed area turning it into a mini vacuum and the sudden massive loss of pressure followed by an instantaneous repressurization causes the space around it to violently explode.

He’s essentially creating high pressure mines in the air that he can detonate on command to cut through anything in contact with it.

Realizing how insane that ability is, I scoop up the gravely injured Ember and channel the Mizzium to cast Dimension Door straight up 500ft.

Arcana Check (Mizzium DC: 20)

2 + 16 + 3 = 21.

Me and the dragon princess instantly appear in the air in some random cave that just happened to be above us. I was hoping this would get me to the surface, but fuck it this will have to work for now.

LUNA! Teleport me and anyone in contact with me back to Canterlot! NOW!

I watch as the stone floor explodes into a spiderweb of cracks before getting obliterated as the massive Dragon Lord slams through the bedrock. Thankfully as soon as the ground broke Luna finished channeling the teleportation. I find myself on the floor of the throne room, on my back. Ember is passed out on top of me, breathing ragged.

“Explain yourself, Ignis. What is the meaning of this?” Luna looks at the dragoness with contempt.

I just sigh and stare at the ceiling. “It’s a long story…”

After half an hour or so of me explaining the interactions I had with Ember during the attack on Canterlot. Then I explain everything that happened in the hive while healing Ember at the same time.

“Good work, Ignis. Let’s take her to the infirmary and wait around until she wakes up. I want both of us to be there so she doesn’t panic when she wakes up. Then the three of us are going to have a long conversation.”

This has become an absolute clusterfuck.

Author's Note

Leave it to Ignis to spend one night with a princess, get touched by her, and bring her home worn out and passed out. Do not let this man near your royalty!

Also the nonsensical nature of a BLUE dragon, the God of Wind, being named Torch is not lost on me. I don't really have a good explanation, I just hate naming things so him and Ember kept their names. :P

Seems like Ignis and the Princesses are going to have a LOT to talk about and consider for future strategies. I wanted to have Ignis talk with Grogar before leaving, but no matter how I played it the conversation just didn't seem to make sense. Basically after talking to Grogar he has to teleport back to Canterlot no matter what, but then I wouldn't have been able to do the Ember stuff so... I guess that conversation will happen later...

Thanks for reading! <3