Elusive laid in bed, looking ill.

“Hmm…” Elusive sighed as he felt his stomach growl again, he’d been unusually hungry too, but for some reason, he wanted... gems?... Odd… very very odd…

“It is a shame indeed that I am not a dragon, at least then I could sate this strange craving I have,” Elusive mumbled.

“Like I said, we can always ask Dusk what we should do,” Barb said as she took the wet rag off of Elusive’s forehead and went to go rinse it.

“I am starting to wonder as well dear, perhaps Dusk Shine can help,” Elusive said.

“Alright then, I’ll head his way after the soup is ready,” Barb said before Elusive coughed loudly again.

“Oooohh…” Elusive groaned miserably.

“It’s odd, we called Nurse Redheart over the other day she said she’s never seen this set of symptoms in one illness or such strange cravings, makes me wonder if you caught something from me,” Barb questioned.

“I doubt it, dragons don’t usually get sick in the first place, and I cannot imagine many illnesses they catch can transfer to ponies,” Elusive before he sneezed loudly.

Barb felt his forehead and gasped a little.

“Elusive, your burning up, more than before, that cinches it, I need to get you some professional help,” Barb said.

“Oh alright, I suppose my illness needs attention asap,” Elusive said.

DING

“Hmm? The soups ready, wait here Elusive,” Barb said.

“Alright dear…” Elusive groaned.

Barbra went down the stairs and saw Sweetie Belle in the kitchen making some burnt toast.

“Hey Barbra, you think Elusive likes his toast this burnt?” Sweetie asked.

“Yeeeah, maybe just pitch those, I know my stallion and he likes brown toast,” Barb said.

“Ok, your really getting into this marefriend role,” Sweetie said as Barb poured some soup in a bowl.

“Well… I love him,” Barbra said with a blush.

Elusive groaned as he laid in bed, looking like he was struggling to not vocalize his discomfort.

“Where is she…?” Elusive said before hearing her voice as if in his head.

“Well… I love him,”

“Barbra?” Elusive looked around but didn’t see her “Great, I’m hallucinating now….” Elusive said.

“I honestly hope things work out, you two make such a cute couple,” Sweetie said.

“Indeed,” Barb said “Well, I gotta get this soup back up to Elusive,” Barbra said.

“Ok!” Sweetie said before walking away.

Dusk made his preparations, he was going to ask Barbra to send another message, but she got called over to Elusive’s as his friend had fallen under the weather.

He wanted to come with, honest, but Elusive didn’t want to risk infecting his friends with… whatever he had.

So, to rectify this, while he’s in Canterlot he’ll ask Luna about any remedies she knows of for Elusive's conditions.

Blitz has been doing better since the Petunia incident, he’s practically back to his normal self, Blitz revealed his engagement to Soarin and asked him to keep it quiet until he’s ready to reveal it to everypony.

This… has left Dusk conflicted, if he finds a cure for their gender situation… does this mean the wedding is off?... Blitz would hate him for it…

Dusk decided he’d mull it over with Luna, for now he has to get moving.

Dusk approached the door and opened it.

Before having his face knocked upon like a door.

“Ow!” Dusk grunted and he looked to see it was the last pony he thought he’d see… or dragon…

“Oh hey, sorry about that,” Ember said amusedly.

“Huh? Ember? What are you doing here?” Dusk asked.

“Am I not allowed to visit my friend Barbra while I happen to be investigating?” Ember asked with a raised brow.

“What? No, I mean yes, I mean… Investigating what?” Dusk said getting turned around.

“A mysterious marking event, I need to find the poor sap whose been marked before they literally die,” Ember said getting serious all of a sudden.

“What? Marking? Death? What are you talking about?” Dusk asked.

“I’m talking about mating stuff, a dragon mating occurred and I need to bless it before the marking causes the dragon who was marked to literally burst into flames,” Ember said.

“The more you explain it the more confused I am… Mating? There is only one dragon in Ponyville, how do you know it isn’t one of the dragons in the dragon lands?” Dusk asked.

“I’ve spent a week asking around and searching and any dragons who needed a Dragon Lord blessing don’t match the marking that I was alerted of, so I started searching outside the dragonlands, and I’m still not having any luck, The Bloodstone Scepter pointed me here, and we’re running out of time,” Ember said.

“...Wait… how is this ‘marking’ done?” Dusk asked.

“No time, do you or don’t you know where Barb is?” Ember asked.

“She’s with Elusive,” Dusk said.

“Oh great, that pony she loves, I honestly don’t see them working out if you ask me,” Ember said turning to leave.

“Well actually they started dating a little over a week ago,” Dusk said.

“...What?” Ember turned to look at him with surprise.

“...Yeah… they did, are you alright?” Dusk asked.

“They started dating? Please tell me they haven’t conceived yet!” Ember said looking a mix of concerned and angry.

“No they, to my knowledge, haven’t… don’t tell me your opposed to their relationship Ember, I thought you were better than that,” Dusk said.

“Dusk! You don’t understand! Their in danger!” Ember said before running off.

“What?” Dusk said before looking at the running Dragoness “I don’t know what’s happening but I need to find out…” Dusk looked back at his luggage and sighed before running off to follow the dragoness.

“Uuugh…” Elusive coughed heavily.

‘Elusive please! Just try to hold on,” Barb said worriedly.

“I didn’t think he’d puke up the soup you gave him,” Sweetie said cleaning it up.

“That does it, I’m alerting the hospital and Dusk, his fever is off the charts!” Barbra said worriedly.

“I…ugh….it hurts…” Elusive whimpered.

“I’ll be right back, just watch him, Sweetie,” Barbra said before running out of the room.

“Ok! Hurry!” Sweetie called.

Barbra ran to the door and she opened it before dashing forward right into a tall blue figure.

“Ooof!” Both of them grunted as they tumbled.

“Sorry! I’m in a hurry- Ember?” Barbra looked surprised and helped Ember up.

“Barbra, where’s Elusive?” Ember asked seriously.

“Upstairs but why do you-” Barbra was cut off as Ember ran inside and she glanced at her running in “Ember!”

The two ran upstairs and Ember entered Elusive's bedroom.

“Whoa!” Sweetie stumbled back in surprise of the Dragoness’s entering the room.

“Ember? What are you doing?” Barb demanded.

Ember sniffed the air and nodded “It’s here,” Ember said before brandishing the Bloodstone Scepter.

“Ember!” Barbra said getting in front of Elusive “What is going on? Do you know?” Barbra demanded.

“Out of the way or your mate will die,” Ember said.

“What!?” Barbra said mistaking the warning as a threat.

“He’s dying Barb and If I don’t do something, your mate will literally die by immolation!” Ember shouted.

“He’ll what?...” Barb questioned before Ember pushed her aside and held the Scepter over him.

“Dravauga Noor Zegzeild,” Ember said as the scepter lit up and began sprinkling red magic all over Elusive and he glowed.

“What’s going on?” Barb asked.

“I Dragon Lord Ember approve of this mating, by heart and soul you two I bind!” The scepter glowed brightly and a small beam blasted both Barbra and Elusive in the chest.

“HUH?!” Barb gasped as she glowed as well and magic flowed out of her and into the Scepter and then into Elusive and he glowed as well. One more great flash overcame the room before everything dimmed and Ember panted before turning to Barbra.

“It is done, I arrived just in time,” Ember said.

“Elusive!” Barbra ran over to Elusive and saw that his fever and illness were gone and he looked like he was just peacefully sleeping now.

“You… healed him, thank you,” Sweetie cried hugging Elusive’s side.

“Leave him, he needs rest for now,” Ember said.

“O-ok,” Barbra pulled the covers over him and they went downstairs with the others.

And Dusk chose that time to pop in.

“What happened?! Did I make it in time?!” Dusk asked.

“Not to worry, I finished the process, your friend will wake up later feeling more refreshed than ever,” Ember said looking a little miffed.

“Ok, can you please explain why-”

SMACK

“AGH!” Barbra stumbled a little as Ember smacked her “What the hay was that for?!” Barb demanded.

“For mating with a pony! Do you not understand the implications?” She said harshly.

“What? That’s what your upset about? I didn’t think you were racist,” Barb said sounding upset.

“I’m not, I’m just certain that your hubby won’t like that he’s gonna live a dragon's lifespan now!” Ember snapped back.

“He’s-….what?” Barbra asked looking surprised.

“What?” Dusk and Sweetie looked just as surprised.

“What are you talking about?” Barbra asked.

“Tell me first, when you two were mating, did you bite him?” Ember asked.

“You mated with Elusive?!” Dusk looked shocked.

“Later! Answer now,” Ember demanded.

“....Yes… but I didn’t mean to, I lost control for some reason and I couldn’t stop, even when he was telling me to,” Barb said.

Ember pinched the bridge of her nose “There’s a reason ponies and dragons don’t mate, your just lucky he survived the bonding process, or even this long without my aid,” Ember said.

“What do you mean?” Barb asked.

“It’s because your still young, your only in the late years of your teenhood, and as a result, you couldn’t handle the surge of desire during a mating process and you inflicted a bite that injected your draconic DNA into Elusive, and because he’s a pony and not a fellow dragon the incubation time for the DNA was worse on him than with another dragon, now that he’s legally bonded with you via the Bloodstone Scepter your both mates for life,” Ember explained.

“...What… I don’t…” Barbra stepped back a little shell-shocked.

“What’s more, during the bonding the two dragons can mutually agree to share their soul energies to promote a long healthy relationship, because a ponies soul is weaker than a dragons he was unable to agree or disagree, he’s bonded to your soul now, and now he’ll live a loooong pony life,” Ember said.

“He will?... So… Elusive will live as long as I do?” Barb asked.

“No, he’ll live as many years as you would naturally as a dragon,” Ember said.

“That’s… a great thing right?... we can be together longer! And we can-” Barb was cut off as Ember sighed loudly.

“No, it isn’t! Tell me, can a pony really handle living that long? Dragons get used to it because dragons don’t generally forge lifelong relationships except with their partners like ponies do… Tell me, can Elusive handle watching his loved ones die one after another until he’s only got you?” Ember asked.

“...Oh….oh no…. Ember, please tell me there’s a way to-” Barbra attempted.

“No, there isn’t, you two are bonded at the soul now, you two will spend the rest of your lives together, at least until one of you dies,” Ember shook her head in disappointment at the situation.

“...No…. no! Ember, we need to do something! I can’t let Elusive spend the rest of his life losing his loved ones!” Barb said desperately.

“I can’t… I’m sorry,” Ember said.

“....Why didn’t you tell me sooner?...” Barbra sniffled.

“What?” Ember asked.

“If you had just told me I never would have pursued him!” Barbra said with tears in her eyes.

“I thought Celestia already told you things about being a dragon! How was I supposed to know your puppy love would become sexual?!” Ember snapped.

“...I never should have fallen in love with Rarity…” Barb said.

“Who’s Rarity?” Ember asked.

“Nevermind… if you’ll excuse me…” Barbra said before taking her leave.

“My brother… is gonna outlive me?...” Sweetie Belle asked looking shocked.

“No…” Dusk looked away, he already had to bear the burden of longevity, and now one of his friends was cursed with it too…

“I should go… now that my business is done with,” Ember said turning to leave.

“Wait… we need to talk,” Dusk asked.

“About?...” Ember questioned.

“About the future between those two, and… about teaching Barbra everything she needs to know,” Dusk said.

Barbra walked through town, staring numbly at the ground.

On one hand she had all the time in the world with Elusive, who is now apparently her soul-bonded mate.

On the other… he'll live his life making friends and then losing them to time…

“If only there was a way fix it,” Barbra sat down at the fountain and sat down sighing.

She didn’t hear the talking until she felt a tap on her shoulder and she turned to see Swiss Cheese and Red Gala.

“Huh?” Barb glanced at them.

“Hey Barby!” Swiss said.

“What are ya doin just sittin here,” Red Gala asked.

“...I messed something up so badly that I think I’ve effectively ruined someponies life…” Barb said.

“Huh?” Swiss glanced at Gala who shrugged and they approached and sat beside Barbra.

“Tell us about it,” Gala said.

“I… look it went like this…” Barb went on to explain the whole thing Ember explained.

At the end, the two mares looked like they had a grim understanding of the situation.

“Barb, it ain’t yer fault,” Red said.

“Yes it is, if I'd never-” Barb said but Swiss cut her off.

“No it isn't, like Ember said you are overwhelmed by emotions and lost control it was something natural you couldn't control,” Swiss said.

“Yeah, an you did what ya did because you cared about Elusive, now you can spend yer lives together like you wanted,” Red said.

“But now he's got to spend his life watching his loved ones grow up and die and their loved ones and their loved ones children and theirs… it's not fair, why couldn't I have just been born a pony?... I don't care about living so long, just a regular lifespan with Elusive is enough…” Barbra asked.

Swiss and Red looked at each other and hugged Barbra.

“You'll get through this,” Gala said

“Thanks girls… hey on a totally unrelated note why are you guys conveniently out here?” Barbra asked.

“Shopping! Now that I'm a mare I want to shop for new clothes for me and my gal friends,” Swiss said.

“Ah still don't get what he means by ‘now that I'm a mare’ but she wouldn't stop insisting,” Red shrugged.

“So you and Elusive need to talk this out then,” Swiss said.

“What if….he hates me for trapping him like this?” Barb asks.

“Then ah’ll set him straight,” Red said.

“...Thank you girls,” Barbra said hugging them back.

Elusive cracked his eyes open and looked around his room.

“Ugh… I feel… better?” Elusive thought but in truth he felt more than okay he felt amazing like he had just come out of the spa only much better.

Elusive got up out of bed and stretched.

“Barbra? Are you there?...hm?” Elusive noticed his shoulder didn't hurt anymore either, he decided to undo the bandages… and he was fine with no scratches or markings on his shoulder it's as if he'd never been bitten.

“This is very strange… last I remember I felt as though I was dying, now I feel great,” Elusive smiled and he got up and put a shirt on before making his way downstairs.

Sweetie Belle saw him as she was going up the stairs to check on him, her eyes widened.

“Brother! Your awake!” Sweetie Belle cheered and ran up to him hugging him.

“Haha, yes indeed and I feel full of energy, I am searching for Barbra, have you seen her?” Elusive asked.

Sweetie Belle quieted and looked a little conflicted it's best that Barbra be the one to tell him.

“Sweetie?” Elusive asked.

“She went to take a walk, she'll be back soon-” Sweetie was cut off when the door opened and Barbara entered she looked at Elusive and begin to tear up.

“Oh Barbra darling, I was just looking for you, I'm not sure what medicine you used but let's stock up on it,” Elusive said with a chuckle.

Before Barbra tackled him with a hug and she began sobbing.

“Barbra? What happened, are you alright?” Elusive asked.

“It's all my fault! I'm sorry Elusive!” Barbra cried.

“What is?” Elusive asked.

“I-i can't….” Barbra sobbed some more, she cried until Elusive brought her to the fainting couch and sent her down stroking her back until she calmed.

“There there… have you calmed?” Elusive asked.

“Yes…” Barbra said.

“Now what happened to cause such crying?” Elusive asked.

“I don't want you to hate me,” Barbra said.

“Why could I ever hate you dear? I love you,” Elusive said.

“...Do you remember when I bit you, in the shower?” Barbara asked.

“Indeed,” Elusive said.

“Turns out that's the reason you got sick, I injected dragon DNA into your body and it caused you to get sick,” Barb said.

“Oh…I suppose it makes sense for you to be sad about that but I forgive you,” Elusive said.

“That's not all…” Sweetie said.

“What do you mean?” Elusive said.

“There was a secondary effect apparently we're now mates, Ember came in earlier and approved it herself,” Barbra said.

“...I see, well better sooner than later, I suppose, we are an item now aren't we” Elusive said.

“That's not what I'm afraid of,” Barb said.

“What?” Elusive said.

“You remember how long dragons live right?” Barb asked.

“Yes,” Elusive said.

“... Because of the bite and the spell Ember put on you to bond us as mates…That's how long you'll live now…” Barb said sullenly.

“.....What?” Elusive said his eyes wide.

Sweetie Belle got ready to intervene the moment this goes nuclear.

“It's true you'll be around as long as a normal dragon would due to the bizarre nature of our relationship…” Barbra said.

Elusive sat there for a few seconds wondering if she was kidding but when she didn't say anything he sat back with a deep breath.

“That's…. Alot to take in,” Elusive said.

“I understand if you don't want to be near me anymore,” Barbra said looking ready to take her leave.

“No no no, listen, I am admittedly shaken to hear this…. Yes, I will admit that my newfound longevity will take some getting used to but don't think for a second that I hate you for what happened,” Elusive said drawing her into a hug.

“You…. Don't hate me?” Barb asked with tears in her eyes.

“We’ll work together and find a way to make it work, I will admit I need some time to work out this revelation, but if I am to live a long long life, I may as well live it with somedragon special,” Elusive said.

“Elusive….” Barbra started crying loudly and hugging him back, and Sweetie Belle joined the hug.

Author's Note

Looks like Elusive has a long life ahead of him.

Coming up next Dusk and Luna finally meet face to face, and will Butters be successful at getting the mare Red Gala? And Elusive gets a visit, but from who?