Several dragons had shaky first flights, Rainbow Dash however showed off her well-earned training skills.

“Eat this!” Rainbow said as she did several loops around the other dragons.

“No fair!” Filthy Rich said.

“Plenty fair,” Rainbow said as she dove down and circled upward.

“She’s pretty fast for a dragon,” The green dragon said.

“She was Equestria’s fastest pony,” Ember said, partially wondering if drafting her into the dragon defense forces was possible.

“How’s training the younglings going?” Ember asked turning towards Razer who was sitting by a bunch of young dragonlings trying to fly.

“I wonder what our hatchlings will be like…” Razer said daydreaming.

“Razer!” Ember snapped.

“Huh?! Uh, yeah good!” Razer said hurriedly.

“Ugh… lousy help,” Ember said turning her attention back to Applejack struggling to keep up with Rainbow.

“Falling behind AJ?” Rainbow asked.

“Ah wasn’t born with wings unlike you!” AJ panted.

“Ah well, see you later!” Rainbow darted off.

“Dagnabit,” AJ said as she continued her shaky flight.

Rarity was doing surprisingly well, fluttering along gradually.

“It isn’t so hard when you get used to it,” Rarity said.

“Ah guess,” AJ said.

After the exercise was done the dragons lined up by Ember and she walked around.

“Now, I gotta say, apart from a few of you… you all suck at this,” Ember said.

“Well, that’s rude,” A dragon said.

“It’s not your fault I suppose, you weren’t dragons until recently,” Ember said. “I suppose I’ll have to be stricter next time, for now-” Suddenly Ember heard flapping and turned to see a familiar grey drake flying towards her.

“Dumas? What are you doing here?” Ember asked.

“I came as quick as I could when Celestia had the letter sent,” Dumas had to catch his breath really quickly before he relayed the message “Ignia was spotted at Tartarus,” Dumas said.

“She’s what?! Forget the training, me and the others are heading over to Tartarus,” Ember said to the other dragons.

“Alright, finally! Action!” Garble said eagerly.

“Your going on scouting duty, if she’s not there you gotta be able to catch her,” Ember said.

“Dang it…” Garble said.

“We can help!” Rainbow approached.

“No, this is official dragon lord business, relay it to everydragon,” Ember said before taking to the air and the other dragons followed her.

Spike sat in his room, he hadn’t shifted in a while, maybe he’s cured?.... Doubt it, but his mind couldn’t help but shift back to his first meeting with Rarity in his adult form.

He felt a desire for her that he never knew before, and she seemed to feel it too, if given the chance, he would do anything to be with her, especially now that she’s a dragon as well.

“Just wish I could stay in adult form,” Spike said.

“SPIKE! COME DOWN HERE!” Twilight called most likely from the basement.

“COMING!” Spike called back and he hopped off his be and landed on the ground with a loud thud as he was suddenly big again “Huh? Great, again…” Spike said as he moved on downstairs and found Twilight and Starlight with several brews and they were in the midst of mixing them.

“What’s going on?” Spike asked.

“We’ve hit a roadblock, without our magic we’re having trouble allocating the proper amounts of the brew to put together,” Twilight said.

“The brew too… make me stay big?” Spike said hopefully.

“What? Do you actually want that? I thought you were kidding back there,” Starlight asked having expected him to have been joking back then.

“Yeah,” Spike said.

“Spike, you do know how much of your lifespan that will take up right?” Twilight pointed out.

“I’m well aware, but if it means me and Rarity can be together, then so be it,” Spike said.

“...” Twilight and Starlight looked at eachother “You really like her don’t you?” Starlight said.

“Yes, I have to snatch this opportunity while it’s there,” Spike said.

“Well, I guess if you're serious about it we can make adjustments to our current brew, The problem is that we need to special ingredients, and the only place we can find them is in the Crystal Empire,” Twilight said.

“Great, let’s go,” Spike said stepping toward the door but Twilight stopped him.

“We’ve gotta get ready first,” Twilight said as she and Starlight went upstairs.

“Darn it,” Spike said before he shrank again “Double darn it!” Spike said.

Ember and the dragons flew over to Tartarus, thankfully Celestia had shown her the way during one of her visits to Equestria.

As she got there she saw Tartarus was open and she flew into there.

As the dragons landed Ember paused.

“Wait a minute… huh?” Ember said seeing Dumas already at the gate.

“Oh hello Ember, I was just about to come looking for you, Ignia has broken into Tartarus,” Dumas said seriously.

“What are you talking about, we already…. Oh no,” Ember whirled and saw the Dumas that followed her here was gone “That snake! We gotta get back! Dumas remain here and continue your investigation!” Ember said.

“Right,” Dumas said with a nod as the dragons flew with her out of Tartarus.

‘Dumas’ flew into Ponyville sneakily and turned back into Ignia.

“Heh, while the dragon lord is away, I will play,” Ignia then turned into a blue dragoness and snuck into town, when nodragon was listening and she muttered a spell.

“Livio,” She said and suddenly every voice around her became clearer.

“I wonder how we pay for taxes like this?” A drake complained.

“No,” Ignia said.

“Man that training was grueling,” A dragoness complained.

“No,” Ignia said.

“Now now Pumpkin, no teething on the crystals,” Mr Cake said.

“Hmm…” Ignia expanded her search and found something.

“When we see Shining Armor and Cadance we need to ask to check on Flurry Heart, I’m afraid she could be afraid in her current form,” Twilight said.

“Well we’ll find out when we get to the Crystal Empire,” Spike said.

“Perfect,” Ignia then hid in an alleyway and shapeshifted into a different dragon and she hurriedly made her way to the castle.

“With Tirek now working on developing what I need I just need one more thing before ponies truly cease to exist,” Ignia said with a smile.

Twilight, Spike and Starlight made their way out of the castle and into the streets.

“Alright, are we ready?” Spike asked.

“Yes, let’s get-” Twilight was saying before a voice called to her and she turned to see a familiar white dragoness walking up to them.

“Twilight dear, can I talk to you for a bit?” Rarity asked.

“Oh, uh, right now?” Twilight asked.

“Yes,” Rarity said.

“Ok, Starlight, Spike, I’ll meet you at the train,” Twilight told them and they nodded and left.

Rarity’s gaze remained on Spike as he walked away.

“So? What did you need?” Twilight asked.

“While I am a tad sore from the training, I must ask where you all are headed, I was hoping to get some things off of my chest, but it seems you all are heading elsewhere,” Rarity asked.

“I need to visit the Crystal Empire, for several reasons,” Twilight said.

“The Crystal Empire?... could I perhaps join you on this excursion?” Rarity said getting an idea.

“Sure, I don’t see why not, why though?” Twilight asked.

“I need… a chat with Cadence, perhaps she can help me,” Rarity asked.

“Ok, well let’s get going then,” Twilight turned to walk away.

“Wait, shouldn’t I get a chance to prepare, I have make-up to apply, and scarfs to-” Rarity said.

“No Rarity, we need to get moving,” Twilight said.

“Oh… ok,” Rarity followed her, as the two caught up to the train which had seen more improvements since the last time, able to fit everydragon onboard.

And they also noticed Rainbow Dash was there, chatting with Spike and Starlight as well.

“Hey Rainbow Dash, what are you doing here?” Twilight asked.

“Hey Twi, just happened to be nearby and thought I’d tag along,” Rainbow said.

“Why’s that?” Twilight asked.

“Just… thought I wouldn’t mind some traveling, maybe get out of town for once in a while,” Rainbow said.

“I don’t see why not, let’s get moving,” Twilight said as the group climbed onto the train and a few guards who were stationed at the train made their way on as well.

As the train departed and vanished into the distance, Ember and the other dragons arrived back in Ponyville.

“Spread out and search! She has to be here somewhere!” Ember said.

“Got it!” The dragons present said before running off to search.

Fluttershy and Discord made their way back to Ponyville and Discord made some idle chit-chat.

“Admit it, you love rubies, with the way you were eating them,” Discord said.

“They are pretty tasty, now I see why Spike loves gemstones,” Fluttershy said.

“Speaking of things you love, what’s your opinion of the drake who was courting you?” Discord snarked.

“Not this again…” Fluttershy sighed.

“Oh no, not getting out of it this time, were you not also interested in him?” Discord asked.

“He… seemed nice, and more sensitive than most other dragons… but…” Fluttershy seemed hesitant.

“But?” Discord enquired.

“....I just… don’t see it working out,” Fluttershy said.

“...Is it because he’s a big scary dragon and you're a pony? It’s Spike and Rarity all over again,” Discord sighed.

“I actually don’t find him as scary since we’re a similar size and species now… but still, I’m nervous around him… like what if those horror stories about dragons are real?” Fluttershy asked.

“You shouldn’t judge a guy before getting to know him, who knows, maybe he can be the big irony of your life,” Discord said.

“Irony?” Fluttershy asked.

“Fluttershy who used to be petrified of dragons, being mates with the same big scary drake who scared her so much back in the day,” Discord said.

“Discord…” Fluttershy said.

“What? It’s true,” Discord said with a laugh and Fluttershy sighed but blushed a little.

As the group rode along in the train towards the Crystal Empire Twilight and Starlight chatted and Rainbow slept.

Spike looked over at Rarity, no doubt the most beautiful dragoness to ever exist, and he was still too young for her at the moment, the sooner he got his potion the better, deciding to pass some time however Spike scooted closer to Rarity who seemed distracted.

“Ahem,” Spike said.

“Huh?” Rarity looked down at the young dragon “Oh, yes Spike, do you need something?” Rarity asked.

“Just… wondering how you're doing,” Spike asked.

“I am doing quite fine…” Rarity looked away.

“Come on Rarity, I know that look, you're worried about something,” Spike said.

“It’s nothing,” Rarity said.

“You can talk to me,” Spike said.

“Well…. Ok, I suppose one of my concerns is how my business is going to prosper, Dragons our size requires more fabrics and I can’t always rely on Discord to provide it, I imagine he has his claws full as of late,” Rarity said.

“Agreed,” Spike said.

“And even then, I’ll have to double… no triple the gem supply I bring in, imagine how much that will take,” Rarity said.

“Hey, you're one of the best seamstresses I know, you got this,” Spike said laying his head against her thigh.

“Thank you dear,” Rarity smiled… before going into thought as to when she was to tell him that’s not what she was thinking about at all.

But rather… him.

Author's Note

The story is speeding up a little, and I think I'm finally almost out of my funk, hope you enjoy it.