Igneous was nearly exhausted by the time his shift at the Library was over. The sight of Ivory after all these years did add enough motivation to push through the day.

“Congratulations, you did one shift, not even a whole one, want a cookie?” Cinder narrowed his eyes on his brother.

The pair were leaving the Library after it was closed for the day. The citizens had left so only the Royals, guards and a clawful of servants were left in the palace.

“Are you still harping over that? Cut me some slack, Cin.” Iggy said as he popped his back, flexing his wings.

“You know how serious I am when it comes to my Library.” Cinder said, taking his glasses off, using the large fabric of his sleeves to clean the lenses off. “Still taking inventory of the attack last night. The aisles got damaged from the assault.”

“You really think Crow's Talon would take anything during it?”

“You know more about them than anyone, Ig, you tell me.” Cinder puts it back up.

The two followed the hallway path towards the main foyer. As they entered, a lone teal and white scaled male dragon leaning against a statue. He was wearing a torn black and white striped shirt, buckled white pants, had a horn on the tip of his broad snout and bull-like horns on his head, and many bracelets on his wrists. Tail had a spiked ball tip.

He was looking down at his phone scrolling. Waiting for someone.

“Oh shit.” Cinder grunted, seeing this particular male.

Igneous started snarling, his body started to steam in anger just seeing the dragon. Before Cinder could stop his brother, Iggy stormed at him.

The male barely had time to register the oldest Prince approaching him. Looked up just in time as Iggy slammed his fist across his muzzle. Knocked the guy's phone out of his claws and tackled him.

The two instantly began brawling, fists flying, kicking, clawing.

Cinder raced over to Iggy to split the fight up.

Coming down another corridor, dressed in a mini skirt and tube top, Flare bounced in. “Okay, Astral, lets- what the fuck!?” She yells, seeing her brothers fighting the male she was meeting.

She ran in as Cinder managed to physically pull Iggy off, getting in between the two. Both aggravated males forced back.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Astral!?” Igneous snarled, trying to force his way to him.

“I could say the same to you, you fucker!” Astral snarled back, having Flare tend to his aid. Both of their clothes were torn and both got good licks before being separated.

“Igneous, stop, what the hell were you doing hitting my boyfriend!?” Flare growled at her brother.

“Boyfriend?!” Both Igneous and Cinder shouted in unison. Both of them looked at their sister as if she had just grown an extra arm.

Astral huffed, standing up as he wiped the blood off his mouth, giving them, mostly Iggy, a smug grin.

Flare groaned. “Yes, Astral here is my boyfriend, we're dating.”

“Since when?” Cinder gawked, his ears pinned back and his taloned hooves dug into the obsidian stone floors to resist going after Astral himself.

“You dating this fucker after he left me to die?!” Igneous snarled, his fur bristling. “He got Lake killed!”

“Oh bullshit, she died when she went back to save your pathetic hide.” Astral growled.

Igneous tried again to lunge at him, this time Cinder using his magic to keep him separated. Putting a barrier around him.

“Flare, does mom or dad know you're with him??” Cinder asked Flare.

“I think Dad has better things to do at the moment than whom I'm with.” Flare said, placing a hand on Astral's chest.

“Are you serious??” Igneous snapped. “I kicked his ass straight out of the guard and he was banned from the palace!”

“He's changed.” Flare defended him.

Astral shrugged his shoulders, “What can I say, you dated my sister so why I figured-”

“Can it, Ral.” Flare quickly hissed at him. “Not helping!”

“You mother fucker!” Igneous smacks the barrier, his head spikes begin to softly glow within the magic.

“Astral, leave now!” Cinder orders him, on the verge of attacking him as well. “Flare, did you just forget that we're in lock down??”

“Dad said we can't leave Dragon's Lair. He said nothing about us leaving the palace. Let's go, babe.” She grabbed the male’s hand and proceeded to walk off with him.

Before both brothers could stop her, another voice makes an appearance.

“What the fuck he's doing here?!” storming up to them, as angrily as the boys were seeing Astral in this place was Ember.

“Crap.” Flare whispered.

“Oh, hey there E-”

“Fuck off, Astral, you've been blacklisted from ever entering here, get out. Flare, what the fuck are you wearing??”

“Oh, she's going on a date with Astral, isn't that nice?” Iggy spoke maliciously.

The dragoness’s eyes widened when the date was mentioned. “Oh there won't be a date, especially after what happened last night.”

“Ember, you can't just tell us what to do, you're not in charge.” Flare grunted. Ice was starting to form underneath her.

“Princess, did you seriously forget? Did all of you kids forget that when your father is not in the right mind set, like he is right now with your mother lying in that bed, that I'm acting Dragonlord??”

Iggy and Flare's eyes widened from that reminder.

“So, as acting Dragonlord, Astral, fuck off before I'm going to do to you what I should have done ten years ago. Scram!” Ember ordered him.

Astral huffed, unable to argue against her. He then leans down to Flare, gave her a kiss, looking right at Iggy.

Around the barrier and outside of it started to turn molten red hot from the elder prince.

Ember shoves him off of Flare, getting in between the two with a warning snarled.

The male held his hands up, backing away from the group as he headed on out. “I'll see you later babe…Captain.” He smirked at Igneous before leaving.

When Astral finally left, Flare turned to Ember. “What the hell! You can't just kick my boyfriend out.”

“I very much can. Flare, out of all the guys you could be fucking, you picked that worm?” Ember grunted, looking down at her. “You know what happens when a male claims you as his mate.”

“We haven't done anything, we're just hanging out. Thanks a lot Iggy, things were doing just fine if you hadn't shown back up.” Flare snarled at Igneous.

“Oh fuck you.” Igneous growled as the glow died down and everyone started to cool off.

“Igneous did what was supposed to happen. Cinder, next time Ig sees him, let the two fight.”

“Promise?” Igneous grinned.

Flare looked disgusted at all of them. “I can't believe this! You all suck!” Flare stomped back towards the direction of where her room is, leaving a trail of ice behind her.

They all watched her go before Cinder looked at Iggy. “You good?”

Igneous nodded. “Yeah, I'm good.”

Cinder drops the barrier, seeing his brother rolling his neck.

“Don't listen to Flare, she knows he's not allowed here.” Ember said, crossing her arms.

“Do we tell father this?” Cinder asks.

“No. Your father is not in the right headspace, the last thing we need is him snapping, he's hanging on a very thin thread with Rachel on that bed. Boys, if that fucker comes near your sister again, all of you have full permission to curb stomp his ass, understood?”

“Yes ma'am.” Iggy nodded.

“Will do.” Cinder said, fixing his glasses.

“I'm sure the other two would join in on the fun. Now I'm gonna go check on your old drake, can I trust there will be no other surprises today?” She asked.

“We're good.”

With a nod, the three took off in separate ways.

Ember enters the infirmary, seeing the Dragonlord was sitting near a corner, hands holding the Bloodstaff. There was a light glow covering him as he was in a trance.

It was a few minutes before glow died and Spike let out an annoyed snarl. “Why the hell can't I track them…”

“No luck in finding Crow's Talon again?” Ember asked.

Spike shook his head, rubbing his forehead as a headache formed. “Ten years, ten fucking years of this shit. It shouldn't be this difficult.” He then looked to his injured mate before looking at Ember. “How did Igneous fair?”

Ember shrugged. “As much as is expected, he whined and complained like a teenager. You heard his booze run?”

“Heard he found the vinegar bottle…that had to be disgusting.” Spike let out a chuckle before sighing.

He knew he has to have a talk with Igneous, about his actions that lead to this moment. About his mother.

“There's another thing, Spike…. Iggy is hiding something.”

Spike sat straighter in his chair. “What do you mean?”

“When I told him that there were problems finding Rakom, something changed. I told him the only reason why both stones aren't able to find him is that he's dead.”

“If Rakom was dead, he would've come home sooner.” Spike said. His eyes turned to the red stone. “Unless…” he thought before he shook his head. “No…that's impossible.”

“But Igneous is hiding something. He's like Rachel, getting anything out of him is gonna take time.” Ember looked at the Queen.

Spike rubbed the back of his neck, thinking of what to do next. “Keep working on him. Get him back on the saddle of things, he'll talk, sooner or later.”

“Speaking of, want me to go get him for you?” Ember asks.

“No. I'm open to talk to him, but I don't think he is. We all saw how forcing him doesn't do anything but aggravating him. I'm tired of fighting with him, Em. Not giving up on him… but I'm tired. He'll come to me when he wants to…for now, keep an eye on him.”

“You trust your son?”

“After everything we've been through, the War with Sombra… I don't know. He's not a baby anymore.” Spike said. “I'm worried about him.”

“Don't worry, I'll whoop the furball's ass back into shape in no time.” Ember then puts a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. “Try to rest.”

“I'll rest when Rachel wakes up.” Spike said.

Ember sighed before leaving the rulers.

Author's Note

Can I?

Shut up, no.