The skies were dark as rain was just pouring in Manehattan. Sounds of loud thunder rolling. While most were trying to get to a dry place, one creature was hiding in a dark alleyway between a bookstore and a boutique, only wearing a gray hood with a dark red leather jacket over it to protect them from the pour down.

He held a bottle of booze in his claws, swirling the liquid inside before taking a big swig of it. The fire pockets inside him were ignited by the alcohol, purple flames threatened to spew out but he managed to keep them down.

Across the street from him was a convenient store that was a front for a much shadier business.

Waiting to be called in, even though he was waiting for an hour.

“What the fucks's taking so long?” The dragon spoke in a rather rough and gruff sounding voice.

A few minutes later, his earpiece connected to his left earfin came on.

“She's ready for you.” The contact says to him.

“‘Bout time. Coming in.” The dragon said into the piece.

He then took one last big swig of his drink, tossing the empty bottle behind him, hearing it shatter upon hitting the ground. Adjusting the hood, he made his way across the street to the store.

Inside the seemingly normal store, full of essential goods, working at a register was a human elderly looking woman. She was working on a crossword puzzle.

The dragon looked around a bit before casually picking up a bag of chips and approached it.

“Good evening,” the lady said. She was a bit overweight, short silver hair and itty bitty glasses, wearing a floral pattern shirt. Since humans were naturally shorter than most creatures in Equis, she had to crane her neck up to look at the tall dragon.

The dragon just grunted as he put the chips down on the counter.

The lady picks them up and scans them. “Six bits, will that be all?”

The bits were deposited on the table. “Yeah, I need to see the special.” He said the pass phrase as he took his paid chips.

The lady gave the dragon a once over before getting off her seat and turned to the cigarette case that has a keypad next to the normal lock.

She punches in the code and grabs the case itself, pulling it to reveal a secret tunnel. “There you go, hon.”

The dragon sniffed, getting multiple scents coming from deep inside.

“Be safe tonight.” He tells the woman before walking around the counter and disappears inside. The lady closed the entrance behind him.

He pulled the hood down, not caring the fabric got snagged by his small horns and tearing it before making his way down the tunnel.

Snacking on his chips in the process.

After a five minute walk, he came to what seemed to be a poker game, a red bat mare wearing a black dress was sitting at the head with several other shadier creatures playing with her.

Two large bear-like creatures stood guard of the game.

The one on the right gave him a slight nod in acknowledgement while the left glared at him.

The bat mare looked up from her hand and gave him a fanged smile. “Ah! Well if it isn't Prince Igneous, how are you, dear?” She spoke with a foreign accent, greeting him when he stepped into the light.

Igneous, first born son and heir to the Dragonlord throne. He had a mix of yellow fur and purple scales. Normally dragons didn't have fur but he and his siblings inherited the fur from their mother, The Queen.

“Widow Mark,” Igneous greeted the bat mare. “Been better, thanks for asking.”

Widow Mark motioned the bears with a hand.

Without being told, Igneous stood back, had his arms and legs spread out and the bears checked him. Patting his arms, torso, back and both legs to feel any weapons.

Satisfied, they stepped aside and let the prince move forward.

The bat motions him to sit at an empty seat across from her.

Igneous examines her and her shady guests. “I'll stand, thank you, though.”

Widow shrugged as she showed her cards to her guests. All of them groaned and threw their cards on the table and lost their coin.

“So, your highness, what can I do for you?” Widow asked him as she collected her winnings.

Igneous nodded. “Yeah, heard rumors you may know something about Rakom and his crew.” He spoke with venom when the name Rakom left his lips.

Rakom was a leader of an assassin gang. A dragon who was banished from Dragon's Lair a long time ago.

Widow restarted the game by gathering the cards and began to shuffle and cut the deck.

“Rakom is one dragon that no one has seen for a while. His crew members are notorious for their stealth assassinations.” Widow starts.

“Common knowledge, tell me something I don't know.” Igneous grunted.

Widow Mark gave the prince a look. “Rakom has disappeared, why do you want to find him?”

Igneous growls. “He killed my mate, I like to give him the same courtesy as he showed me.” He spoke in a threatening manner.

Widow hummed as she passed the cards around. “And that was how long…? Ten years ago?”

Igneous snarled at that.

“Coincidentally, that's how long any creature has last seen Rakom. His crew had to elect a new leader.” Widow said as she continued to deal. She then gave Igneous a look. “And the word is that the new guy, Duri, has a bone to pick with you.and your family.”

Igneous's earfins fluttered when he heard movement behind him. Causing him to sigh.

There were assassins behind him.

“Let's hope your family can handle themselves.” Widow smiled.

Igneous's purple eyes glowed as he felt his magic growing. “You fucking bitch.”

Las Pegasus

In one of the most popular destinations in all of Equestria, Flare, first daughter and second born to the Dragonlord and Queen, was about to get on stage. Making final preparations of her looks, having frosted purple fur and icy blue scales and horns curving similar to her mother's horns. Being the fluffiest of the five kids.

Wearing a sparkling purple leotard with one single sleeve, snowflakes stickers on her face, wings and fluffy tail.

Making sure she looked perfect, one of the ponystage hands approached her with her signature light blue microphone. “Flare, you're up.”

“Thanks.” She tells him before rushing onto stage where thousands of screaming fans greeted her and her band played a chord. She appeared on the large screens so creatures in the back could see and experience the princess.

“HELLO LAS PEGASUS, ARE YOU READY TO PARTY TONIGHT?!” Flare asked her fans, her wings extended out.

All of them screamed. Past the lights she could make out signs and banners with her name and face. Some saying they were her biggest fan, one asking the Princess to marry them, just hearing them chanting her name.

“LET'S GET FUCKED TONIGHT! HIT IT!” She points at her band.

An energized beat began to play. Flare tapped her feet and swayed her hips and tail to the beat, clapping her hands as one of her songs echoed in the loudspeakers.

The crowd clapped in unison before she began to sing her song.

The crowd went nuts when she began to sing, voice was a little gravelly but it brought energy and the right amount of fire.

As she sang, she brought her dancers out and danced with them. Every once in a while, creating a light flurry of snow for the crowd to enjoy and have fun.

As Flare performed for her adoring fans, she didn't see three creatures dressed in all black, concealing everything about them finding their way in the catwalk above the stage. Decorations hid them from the audience but they had a perfect view on stage.

One of them held a large gun.

They set up the gun and took aim.

They waited when Flare was in view and fired a shot.

To their surprise, one of the male dancers had a wardrobe malfunction with their pants and tripped. Knocking right into Flare, causes her to stumble and run into the other dancers, and the bullet meant for the Princess ends up hitting the guy right in the head.

The music instantly stopped and screams came from the dancers and band, soon the crowd was freaking out.

Gasping, Flare ran up to the dancer to see if she could help him but when she got down to him, he was already dead.

Now smelling the scents, Flare looked up and gasped, seeing the assassins.

And judging by how they were dressed, she knew who they were and who they belonged to. However, she doesn’t say the leader's name.

“God damnit, Iggy!” Flare snarled, knowing this was the result of her idiotic older brother.

She turned to the crowd and screamed into the mic. “EVERYONE GET OUT OF HERE !” She screams at them as she stands up. They all bolted out of there, including the band members and remaining dancers.

Using her ice magic, she formed her weapon of choice, a javelin with a speared head made of ice.

The assassins jumped from the catwalk and landed in front of her, their blades drawn, gun reloaded.

“Let's dance.” Flare said confidently before making the first move and attacked the three.

Dragon's Lair

As Keeper Of Knowledge, it was Cinder’s job to protect draconic secrets and to preserve the history for future generations to come. Yes it meant he spends most of his time in the Palace Library but he didn't mind a bit.

It's not like the third Prince was lonely, the Dragonlord and Queen allowed the Library to be public on most levels.

The Library was a total of eighteen levels, nine levels above him that were of public use and nine levels below the entrance level was for the Royals only. Grand spiral staircases to go up each level.

Each level was organized by genre and a system that was easy, even the least intelligent creature could find what they needed.

Most of the time.

“I swear I'm working with egglings.” Cinder grumbled as he stood in the history section, using his yellow magic to lift the books that weren't meant to be there and find their spots while cataloging the stack of books he was carrying.

He enjoys his workers, but when they don't put the books up in the correct way, it drives him nuts.

Being the strongest magic wise, Cinder was more in tune to both the Blood Scepter and the Blue Celestial, more powerful than his other siblings. Traditionally would make sense of him being heir to the throne, but Cinder didn't want the throne. Was much happier tending to his books.

He'll let his brothers and sister duke that mess out.

Unlike his siblings who had a mix of fur and scales, Cinder was all scaled, his scales being both green and brown, the only one with actual blonde hair twisted and pinned back instead of head spikes, twisted brown horns, actual pony ears covered in scales and taloned hooves that also wears glasses on his face.

On his left hand, rested a silver wedding band on his wedding finger.

Currently the only one of the siblings who was happily married. Embracing the marriage tradition his father and mother have.

Cinder picks up a book with his magic, going to put it up before looking at the cover and smiles.

“Love and Pies, a tale of two party ponies by Pinkamena Diane Pie.” Cinder sighed after reading the title out loud. “Miss ya, Aunt Pinkie.” He turns the book to see his Aunty Pinkie immortalized in her bakery holding a pie… and an apron, only wearing an apron. He quickly turns it back to the front of the book, not wanting to see his late aunt in that state. “This doesn't belong in the history section.” He said as he set the stacks of books he was carrying on a nearby table, body igulfs in his yellow flames before teleporting to the romance non-fiction section of the library.

“Oh shit!” He hears a yelp. Looking up, he saw a figure falling from one of the upper levels.

Cinder's body sparks in electricity and runs, faster than anything on two legs, he zips to the spot and catches a much slender male dragon in his arms.

Now this dragon wasn't very tall or masculine as most males, had a bit of feminine features, orange and yellow scaling with red eyes, and had no wings due to a rare mutation.

He smiled sheepishly, “Hi Cin.” The male said. His left hand is sporting a similar wedding band and waved at his hubby.

“Splinter, you okay?” Cinder asked his husband as he set him down, giving a quick once over to check for injuries.

“I'm fine, I'm fine, now that my hero saved me.” Splinter giggled before sighing. “Wanted to surprise you but I slipped.” He motioned to the bookshelves he was hiding in.

Cinder smiled softly at him. “Lin-" Splinters's nickname, “I get off in two more hours. I'll get distracted with you here.”

“How so?”

Cin slid a hand around his mate's small waist. “Instead of cataloging books, I'd be cataloging you.” He purred.

“Oh geez!” Splinter flustered with a laugh as Cinder nibbled his neck. “Why do you think I came here? Is our spot still available?” He wrapped his arms around Cinder's broad shoulders.

Cinder looks over his shoulders, not seeing any other workers before smirking. He just grabs his mate's hand and begins escorting them to their secluded spot in the library.

One that had been their spot for fifty years now.

On their way to the audio levels, something caught Cinder's eyes, seeing something black reflected in his glasses, slowing his stride to a stop.

“Cin?” Splinter asks.

Cinder took off his glasses, though he couldn't see anything but blobs without them, as soon as he took off his glasses, all of his other senses amplified. From his hearing, sense of smell, the vibrations of movements underneath his hooves, the tastes on his tongues. Even his horns were tuning in.

When he heard something whizzing towards him, as fast as Cinder was, his claws quickly raised up to his left side, a barrier quickly formed and the bullets bounced off.

Splinter yelped and jumped when he saw the magic and heard the gunshots firing.

Cinder snarled, putting the glasses back on, putting a protective hand out towards his mate.

“Cin?” Splinter whimpered, seeing the assassins stepping out on view.

The prince's hands glowed as magic began to build up. “Go alert the guards and Father.” Cinder said, preparing for the fight.

Splinter nodded and as fast as the smaller dragon could go, he ran from the scene.

Once the mate left, Cinder also recognized who these assassins were from. Automatically knew why they were here because of.

“Igneous, you kumquat!” Cinder growls before using his magic to fight against the assassins.

Dragon Town

Twins Forge and Gorge were both similar but very different. The two younger males share a purple and green coloring like their father, that's the only thing they had in common physically wise.

Forge, the first born twin, wore colorful clothes, have piercings in his earfins, he stood only at 8 foot while Gorge, the youngest about thirty seconds, was tall. Taller than all of their siblings and parents.

Gorge was physically the strongest and had the most scarring on his face and body from the numerous fight challenges the big lug would get. Forge was on the slim side.

Forge was smarter than the two, Gorge isn't the brightest, but he makes up for being the most fearless.

And to Forge's dismay, Gorge has a horde of females at his disposal while Forge couldn't get anything.

It's very common for the males to have many females in their horde.

No matter how hard he tried, the giant baby brother would somehow attract all the ladies.

Case in point, the twins were walking down the streets of Dragon Town in Fillydelphia after visiting their twin aunts and assisting them in remodeling their clubs. Gorge managed to snag not one, but four extremely sexy looking mares who were working at the strip club, with whom he had his large arms draped around their shoulders. While poor Forge got none.

He gave the big guy a look. “How the hell do girls flock around you???” Forge asked Gorge. Forge had a light voice.

Gorge lets out a taunting chuckle. “They like my charm, what can I say?” Gorge’s voice was so deep, the ladies could feel it in their loins.

Planning to have fun with these mares when they get back to their hotel rooms.

“You weren't even trying.” Forge spoke with jealousy, crossing his arms and his tail flickered angrily.

Gorge looked down at his older twin and sighed. He looked at his four mares, pointed to two of them before motioning to his brother.

The two girls giggled, first reaching up to give Gorge kisses on the cheeks before sliding on over to Forge, grabbing both of his arms.

Forge felt instantly better. “Hello, ladies,” he grinned, pulling the two close. Looking to Gorge. “Thank you for your generosity, baby bro.”

Gorge smirked as he groped one of the remaining mares’ asses. The mares in his arms were excited that there was less of a line to ride what would be the biggest ride of their entire lives.

When their hotel got closer to their view, multiple creatures dressed in black dropped in front of them, behind and on all sides.

Mostly because the bigger one will be the toughest to take down.

Forge groaned as the mares were getting nervous, not knowing what was happening. “You gotta be kidding me.”

Gorge snarled, his claws digging into the ground.

“Ladies, you might wanna take a hike, it's about to get messy.” Forge warned. The nearby plants and trees planted near them started to bend and move due to his nature magic beginning to use.

The mares took the hint and took off running. The assassins allowed them to leave as they weren't the target.

“That's it, I'm going to fucking kick Ig’s ass.” Gorge’s eyes glowed.

“Older twin gets first dibs.” Forge said. “I'll take the front.”

“I got the back!” Gorge turns around, with a huge stomp of his foot, a large chunk of the earth broke off and was in the air.

He then quickly smacks it with his tail like a bat and flings it hard at the assassins before charging them.

The plants and trees shot at them, smacking them around before Forge grew large vines and attacked the assassins in front of him.

Thus all of the royal children were simultaneously fighting all at the same time.

All because Igneous couldn't stop looking for Rakom.

Thanks Iggy!

Author's Note

It gets worse for Iggy next chapter