Fractured

It was no surprise to anyone that the children of The Dragonlord and Queen can handle themselves when it comes to a fight. Each and everyone having their own set of skills and styles, whilst also in their blood.

Now some styles are more questionable than others, but no one could deny the results.

For instance, Igneous was more adaptable, combining with his light and fire magic, he was able to grab hold one of the assassins’ weapons and used it to his advantage. More tactical and military like.

Flare had a bit of grace in her style, freezing the stage she was on and using her frost to discombobulate her opponents before using her ice weapon.

Cinder was more long range, using his magic to do various things such as levitation, enchant infinite pieces of paper and give the guys a gruesome papercut and if gotten close a few hand-hooves techniques.

Forge was dancing around his half, using his magic and fire whilst Gorge used his earth abilities as a defense and just attacked with his bare claws and teeth, being the most primal of the bunch.

The assassins did put up a fight, being trained to take down many in their lifetime. Those however were fighting Gorge flat lined nearly immediately from being crushed on impact.

Cinder managed to pin one of the assailants to the ground, grabbing their horn and ruthlessly bashed their snout to the ground, knocking them out cold when the other snuck up to the prince.

Cinder goes to blast him with an electric bolt, charging up before water blasted him.

Cinder screams as he gets himself electrocuted by his own powers. While convulsing, he was met with a harsh kick across the face, knocking him away from the unconscious one, along with his glasses.

Disoriented, goes to collect his barings when he hears a metallic whooshing sound. His hands launched up, stopping what felt like steel, a sword between his palms.

Cinder struggled from the push as the assassin tried to drive the blade into him.

The struggle didn't last long before a familiar scent and a purple blob came to Cinder's purview.

Dragonlord Spike never hesitates on defending his family, so it wasn't a surprise he'd make an appearance so quickly. No matter how much they could handle their own, he'd always been there when he can.

So seeing one of his kids were having problems and his home being attacked, he wasn't having it.

It didn't take long for Spike to take the assassin down, scooped up the glasses and went up to Cinder. “You okay?” He asked, handing him the eyeware back.

Cinder nodded before taking the glasses back. “Crow's Talon attacked you too?” Cinder asked as he put the glasses back on, grabbed his dad's offer hand and was pulled back on his hooves. Crow's Talon being the name of the assassins crew they've been fighting.

Spike grimaced. “Attacked your mother and I while I was tending to her. I sent guards to surround the castle.”

He shook his head before looking at the down creatures. “Got a live one?”

Cinder gestered to the one creature, another dragon by the shape of it laying on its stomach.

“We only need two.” Spike said, looking down at the one he knocked down. Giving it a kick to see if they were breathing. They were not. “Okay, one prisoner it-”

There was a sudden loud scream, causing Spike and Cinder to whip their heads.

Spike paled when he recognized the scream. “Rach!”

Spike took off as fast as he could. Cinder zips after.

The two raced up to the living quarters, got inside the guarded bedroom.

Stopped when they saw Ember kneeling down, barking at the other guards. There were more of Crow's Talon than the initial three Spike himself took care of.

“No!” Spike shouted as he ran in. Cinder's ears dropped and his jaw gaped seeing what he was seeing.

Igneous had bodies lay beneath his feet, after taking care of the assailants, Widow Mark tried to be cheeky and let her guests and bears let loose on him.

Besides the one bear that basically got off light, no one stood a chance.

And now he has his sights on the bat.

“Wow, you are quite bloody,” Widow says, leaning back in her chair. Holding a glass of wine and sloshing it.

“You're about to join them.” Igneous growls.

“Oh come on, it wasn't personal. Duri paid me handsomely for this coop to happen.” She spoke as if what just happened was nothing. “Tell me, your highness, why does Duri want you and your family dead? What did you do to him?”

“How the fuck should I know? I only met him twice.” Igneous admitted. He knew Duri and Rakom were close but that's all he knew. “Gimme one good reason not to kill you?”

Widow Mark took a casual drink. “You're already in trouble by Crows's Talon, my guests here came from lucrative crime families, myself included, why add more to your pile?” When he bared his teeth, she set the glass down. “Besides, I have skills that you need. Kill me and Francine out there would be out of a job, she has no one and is living off my paychecks.”

Igneous scuffed, deciding it wasn't worth it. She got the message. “Cross me again, I'll make you wish for death by the time I'm done with you.” Judging by his tone, he did it more than once, he'll do it again.

Fixing his jacket, the prince turns and leaves the bat with the corpses.

Once got to the door, he knocked several times before it opened.

The old woman blinked several times to see the blood covered dragon walking it.

She looked at him up and down. “Looked like it went well.” She said, stepping aside and letting him through.

Igneous just grunted, walks past the liquor section, grabs what looks like a very large glass bottle of booze that looked like a 72 oz in his large hand, walks back to the counter.

She shook her head. “On the house, you need it more.”

He muttered thanks before going back out in the pouring rain.

The rain did help to wash the blood off of him as he casually walks down the city streets with zero fucks to give.

He popped the top and chugged the alcohol beverage, a quarter of it was gone. This time he let the fire shoot out of his mouth and was in a coughing fit.

While coughing, he looks up at the covered street corner. Seeing a couple of scandalous dressed ponies waiting in this weather.

Doesn't take a genius to recognize what these mares were.

Igneous took another big gulp before approaching them. Upon coming closer, he could tell the girls had been in this industry for a while. He didn't care.

He picked one that looked prettier than the other, a black pegasus with neon green short hair and mane with white streaks, pink eyes, wearing a toxic green micro dress. Her friend was an earth brown colored mare with an orange curly mane and red dress.

He walked up to them. “Ladies,” he greeted them before looking at the pegasus. “How much for a night.” He asked her.

The pegasus looked up and down at him. He looked a bit grungy and roughed up. Doing a quick calculation since he was a dragon.

“Hmm, 640, baby.” The prostitute responded, posing a look that would flash her chest out to him.

“Deal.” Igneous spoke without hesitation, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and began walking away with her, even sharing the booze with her.

*******

Once getting back to the low down motel room, Igneous and the worker began to makeout, already beginning to make her earn her pay.

Pushing her to the dingy bed, slowly making her strip along with him. He gets to where they were nearly naked and he was about to have her go down on him, something rather interesting happened.

Both Igneous and the prostitute were for a brief moment engulfed in emerald green flames before falling on a hard surface.

Both of them ended up in a different place.

The pegasus used her arms to cover herself up when seeing that they were not alone.

Igneous took a quick look around, already on guard and ready to attack again in his boxers but he stopped when he saw his father standing over them with a strained, dark expression. Eyes red from what looked like tears. Holding the glowing Bloodstaff in his hands.

Igneous snarled. “What the actual fuck, dad?!” He snapped at Spike. His fur bristled. “I was a little busy here!” He gestures to the sex worker.

Spike sets the worker on fire again and drops her off wherever she came from. Aggravating his son more and he stood. The two match in height.

“What the hell!?”

Spike didn’t say anything but steps aside to show the scene to his troubled son. Still having that dark expression while staring at Iggy.

Igneous hissed at his father before looking at the scene.

Now realizing they were all in the hospital wing of the Palace, his four younger siblings were crying, crowding over a bed.

Lying unconscious was his mother, Queen Rachel. The magic from the Blue Celestial was forcing her into a healing stasis.

Iggy's earfins fell and eyes softened. “Mama?” his voice wavered.

How?! He knew his mother was a power house, one dragoness everyone knew not to fuck with unless you want to die. Basically a tank!

“How?” Igneous asks Spike.

“What do you think?” His father responded. His fists balled tightly. “I warned you, Igneous. I warned you if anyone gets badly hurt because of your obsession with Crow's Talon that you're done. Guess what, you're done.”

Igneous whips his head to look at his father before his aggressive behavior comes swinging back. “You can't be fucking serious! You can't just tell me to stop.”

“I just did.” Spike tried to be calm, but with how his son was acting and his mother lying on that bed, it was hard to hold himself back. “For ten years I watched you destroy yourself, and now I'm past my fucking limit.”

The others looked up to watch these two argue. They were glaring at Iggy knowing this was his mess.

“I'm so close to Rakom, you can't stop me.” Igneous snarled. “You held me back before dad, I'm not letting you do it again.” He goes to walk out before Spike stopped him.

“Igneous, do you not see that your mother got hurt because of your hunt?! Your actions have consequences.”

“Fuck you.” Iggy snapped.

“Iggy, just fucking stop!” Flare snarled at him. Wanting to freeze his dumbass so bad for this.

“Butt out of this.” Igneous snapped at her.

Spike had enough. “That's it. Igneous, you're fucking grounded.” He ordered.

Igneous looked at him before letting out a humorless laugh. “Oh God, dad, that's funny, your best work yet.” He goes to leave but ends up running into an invisible force field, keeping him in the wing.

“What?!” He feels for it. Glaring at his father, he tried using his magic to push past it, only to have his magic fizzled out. Unable to use his powers. He turns to face his dad.

“You think I'm playing, boy?” Spike continued.

“You can't keep me here. I was so close.” Igneous spoke.

“Until I say so, you're grounded. You're not allowed to leave the palace, your magic is stripped. I'm done paying to see you destroy yourself with absolute disregard for anyone. Your mother could've died and you don't care! We'll deal with Crow's Talon together but until we can plan better instead of you going off half cocked and drunk, you're to remain here.”

The next words that came out of Igneous's mouth shocked everyone.

“You can't do this to me. I'm fucking challenging you for the scepter.” Igneous challenges.

“He can't be serious.” Forge asked the others. Gorge’s lips curled to a snarl but didn't leave their mother's side. The biggest guy got himself down to look small.

“What the hell?” Flare's jaw dropped.

Whenever a dragon challenged the Dragonlord for the scepter using those words. the Dragonlord has to oblige.

However, judging by the strong aroma of alcohol, it wasn't the smartest move.

“I'm not entertaining this.” Spike growled. “You're in no shape.”

“I'll show you-”

“Don't test me!”

Cinder steps in, shoving Igneous out. “I got him.” He responded before ducking a swing from Igneous's fist before engulfing him in magic and pushed him out of the room.

Spike watched his sons leave before letting out a deep sigh before turning to his remaining three. “The same goes for the rest of you. Until we deal with Crow's Talon once and for all, no one will be allowed to leave Dragon's Lair.”

Flare stood. “Uh yeah I understand why you would say that, Daddy, but I'm currently on tour, I have to begin preparations for a funeral for my fallen dancer.”

“I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I made my decision. All of us are in lock down until the matter is resolved.” Spike said to his daughter before walking over to the bed. Sitting on the edge.

Gazing at his injured mate.

“Can… Can you guys leave your mother and I for a moment?” Spike asked them.

Flare sighed as she and the twins got up. Flare gave Spike a hug and he reciprocated it. “Mom will get through this. She's tough.”

“I know, thank you.” Spike said, patting her back before she left.

Forge got up and put a hand on his dad's shoulder before looking back to Gorge.

He whimpered, not wanting to leave.

“Come on big guy, let's give the two some space.” Forge nudged him.

“But mama,” Gorge whined.

“She'll get better, let's surprise her with art, she loves that kind of presents.” Forge said, helping his twin up.

Gorge whimpered, was in tears himself before being pulled away.

Cinder dragged his older brother out in the hall before pushing him up against the wall. “Are you fucking nuts?!” Cinder snarled at Igneous.

“Let go of me, Cin! This isn't about you!” Igneous snapped at him. Trying to break out of Cinder's magic but Cinder didn't budge.

“Ten years, we haven't seen you in ten years, you didn't want us to help you but when mom gets hurt, you challenge dad? What kind of stupid low have you fallen into?” Cinder asks. “Asshole, you know how dad gets when it comes to mom.”

Igneous tried to fight against the hold but ended up giving up. He huffed and puffed. “How did mom get hurt? Normally these guys are nothing compared to her, how did they get the drop on her?” He asked then.

“Mom got sick. She went to Zebconia on a diplomatic summit with their Chief when she contracted a respiratory illness. Kicked her ass but she was getting better before we got attacked.”

Igneous grunted. “No one told me she got sick.”

“You refused any attempts at communication all these years. You never picked up your cell, told us that you wanted nothing to do with us.” Cinder reminded him before dropping the magic and him and stepped aside.

Before Cinder spoke more, Gorge pushed him aside, roughly grabbing Iggy by the shoulders, lifted him off his feet and pinned him to the wall.

“Whoa whoa whoa!” Iggy yelped as he was face to face with his large baby brother. Quickly sobering up.

And Gorge was pissed off.

Their other siblings came up to view, all of them equally as pissed off.

“Guys, guys, come on, you can't really blame this on me!” Igneous snapped. “Crow's Talon was-”

“Enough of that, Ig, we all know it was them but they've only attacked because of you.” Flare grunted. “These attacks are getting more bolder. Attacking during a jam packed concert hall.”

“And in the middle of Dragon Town.” Forge mentioned. “Granted that is one town where everyone could kick their asses but still, in public. And to mom? Seriously this got way too far.”

Gorge was too angry to speak.

“I didn't know mom would get hurt!” Iggy grunted, trying to push Gorge off, but he was no match to his brother's physical strength.

Forge patted his twin's shoulder, having Gorge drop Iggy on his ass like a sack of potatoes before pulling him away.

“Welcome home, Iggy.” Flare told him before disappearing with the twins.

Cinder stayed behind, glaring at Iggy. He helps him up. “What a reunion this is.” Cinder muttered.

Igneous soon opened the door to what were his chambers. His bedroom that he hadn't stepped in for ten years.

The braziers lit up on their own to light his way. The chamber was quite large. A large round bed big enough for eight dragons was on a split level, surrounded by a shimmery canopy.

A large wardrobe that was next to his vacant desk. A mannequin that held his guard armor in colors of gold and black. The walls did have a few posters he collected from childhood, from various shows, metal bands, even from ogres and oubliettes. And personal paintings. Figurines lined on the shelves of all of his interests.

Jewels, treasures he collected, everything he left remained in their place.

Igneous shuddered when he walked in. So many memories came flooding in as he looked around.

So many memories in his room. From childhood and well into adulthood. The fights, the sex….his mate…

A brief flash of a white dragoness with black horns and pink eyes appeared before him before disappearing.

Igneous grunted, holding his head as he walked over to his bed and sat on the edge of it.

He felt his emotions swell as he looked at one of the personal paintings.

It was him dressed in armor. He had just finished going through training when he joined the royal guard.

And on the corner bottom right edge of the canvas was a small white painted feather. His mother's artist signature.

Igneous breaks down sobbing, covering his face with his hands as guilt begins to wreck him.

“I'm sorry mama… I'm so sorry…” Igneous cried.

His involvement with Rakom and Crow's Talon cost him his mate, his obsession could've killed his mother.

And all of it was his fault.