In the wee morning around 3 am, Spike was unable to sleep. He knows he has to go to the Assembly in a few hours, but his mind wouldn't allow him to rest.

He stared at the ceiling of the Temple with his mate sleeping next to him on his left and their son in a crib just to his right.

Ten…

Nine…

Eight…

The automatic voice from the bomb counting down. Tears silently cascading down his face. Though he had come out and planned ahead, he really wasn't sure if he'd make it back.

Spike flexed his fingers when they began to tremble.

Giving himself a reminder to call Dr. Rosemary to schedule a therapy session when they get back.

The sound of movement in the crib and Iggy began fussing thankfully broke Spike's train of thought.

Rachel was stirring and was in the process of sitting up. “Iggy?”

Spike placed a hand on her back to stop her. “Shh, I got him.” He tells her assuringly.

“You sure?” Rachel asked with a yawn.

Spike nodded. “I am. Get some rest.” He kisses her temple before sitting up. Twisting around and reaching in the crib. “Okay bud, let's go.”

Iggy whimpered, wrapping his tiny arms around his neck.

He didn't need to be changed or fed, but Spike could feel him shaking.

Rachel watches the two walk out of the room, sighing softly.

Spike carried Iggy down the hall. It was dark so the kid was shaking a little.

“It's okay, Iggy, I know it's a little scary…it's been scary for awhile,” Spike held him.

The two soon came outside. The fresh air was a relief to the Dragonlord.

He adjusted his hold on Iggy and pointed up. “See? We're outside, see the stars?”

Igneous whimpered but looked up, relaxing in his father's hold.

“Yeah, I haven't been sleeping well either.” Spike sighed. “Gave us a scare yesterday, you curious furball. Think your mom is getting tired of us growing big,” he lets out a chuckle, patting his kid's back.

Drawing magic from the Bloodstaff remotely, Spike's eyes glowed. The wind began to shift, feeling the magic on this side of the world a little more powerful.

Possibly because the staffs originally came from this world and not Equestria.

He summoned balls of light that surrounded the two, making sure Iggy wasn't getting scared.

The memory of seeing his boy in that damned cage. The horrid sound he made and what innate magic Igneous was using to protect himself.

Spike didn’t know what exactly Sombra had done to his son. The fear of losing his child, his mate, his own life…

Almost everyone in this temple was at that chateau when the nuke went off. Twilight and the girls, The Sister Princesses, Shining (Cadence was at the Empire protecting the Heart), the other allies…

Even if Celestia hadn't used the sun on the battlefield, there were so many things that could've gone wrong. Any slight margin of error and everyone would have died.

Spike hugged Igneous close, stroking the back of his head.

“Just think Ig, it never gets dull in this family, you're fitting right in when it comes to magic mayhaps.” He said, trying to focus on the now.

“That's for sure.”

Spike lifts his head, turning to see Twilight coming out. She was wearing a pastel yellow nightgown.

“Oh, hey Twi.” Spike smiled, gave Iggy a bounce. “Hey look bud, it's Auntie Twilight.”

Iggy cooed in response, more focused on the light balls, having a hand out and began to manipulate them. Making them dance around the adults.

“Looks like he's really getting into it.” Twilight said, watching the light show.

“After the day he had yesterday, I think he is.” Spike said, watching the lights as well. “He's a special kid, that's for sure. Why can't you sleep?”

“Got interested in the Pit room the kids found, was looking over what we have so far. Needed a break. You two?”

“Just hanging out, we're we?” He said, giving a quick cuddle with the baby. Iggy finally turns his attention to his aunt, having the lights circle over her head.

Twilight giggled before turning her gaze to Spike. “How have you been?” She asked him, seeing that it was a bit since they had a moment to talk. “How are you doing?”

“Honestly? Everything has been so surreal since waking up.” Spike admits. “I… I thought for a moment that we were all dead…”

Twilight sighed, wiping her eyes as she felt them swell. “I think all of us on that battlefield thought that…. When you didn't come back with Rachel and Iggy at the rendezvous site, I wanted to come in and get you.”

Spike shook his head. “No, there wasn't really anything you could do to help. Thank our lucky stars we made it out alive.”

“No…it's thank you.” Twilight said. “You nearly died saving billions of lives, the thought of you being gone. I…I…” She trailed off as she was reduced to tears. Unable to control herself and wrapped her arms around him in a hug, burying her face underneath his collar bone.

Spike wrapped an arm around her and hugged her back tightly, him tearing up as well.

“I love you, Spike. I'm so glad you're safe.” Her voice quivered as she held her baby brother.

Twilight had hatched him from his egg, practically raised him as a baby, watched him grow from being her assistant, seeing all his accomplishments, watching him being practically one of the greatest heroes of all time. Him becoming a father.

“I'm so proud of you.”

“I love you too, Twilight.” He said.

Iggy watched the two for a moment before getting bored of messing with light, incidentally making it disappear.

The siblings giggled at that as they pulled back.

“I think that's our cue to head off to bed.” Twilight said then, reaching up and ruffled her nephew's fuzzy head. Iggy purred and leaned his head towards her hand.

“One more thing though before we do,” Spike says.

“What is it?” Twilight asks.

“You know about the wedding right?” Spike questioned.

Twilight smiled, buzzed in excitement. “Yes. I'm so excited for it! After everything, this is what is needed. Something so positive and joyful and just full of love. Yours and Rachel's.”

Spike smiled. “Well, since you know it's on short notice, we'd have to make due with what we got. Rach and I talked about it earlier, but we both easily agreed that… if you would do the honor of ordinating the ceremony?”

Twilight was both in tears and shock, her eyes widened. She soon had the warmest smile, her hand over her heart. “I will.”

Spike gave her another hug, both on another verge of a sob out.

Iggy grabbed hold of Twilight's horn. Curiously pushing it around.

“Hey, that's not meant to play.” Twilight tells the baby, moving her head and horn away from him to grab.

“You are already sadly following my track record, please don't start having that one record of your mother's this young or anything like that.” Spike wishfully says, letting his son grab hold his free up hand.

“I heard.” Twilight nervously chuckled before smiling. “I'm really happy for both of you, I wish you guys all the love and support.”

Spike smiled back. “Thank you, I appreciate it, we both do.” He then sighed. “Got a busy day so we should go.”

“Good luck. Night Spike, night Iggy.” She kissed the baby's cheek, hugged Spike again.

“Good night Twilight.” He pats her shoulder before the two parted.

The second Assembly had begun, all the leaders and speakers were in their designated spots.

Rachel was a little nervous coming into this session, adjusting the top of her dress, but her goals were clear.

After attendance was taken, the talks began.

“Good morning everyone, I hope you all enjoyed your day off.” President Baxter greeted the microphone, looking around the room before looking at Rachel. “How are you doing, ma'am?”

“I'm doing well, thank you.” Rachel nodded, sitting straighter. “Hope you had a good day off. I first want to apologize for my little outburst in the first session. It was uncalled for and unprofessional.”

“No need. What happened could have been devastating. Speaking of which, in our last session we started talking about controls over this side of the portal. The United Nations have agreed that the offer still stands. It's the perfect bridge linking both our worlds and it needs to preserve its history and what it means. What better way to protect it than the temple remaining in Equis’s hands. All we want to manage is the Portal so the incidents we had going on before won't happen again. We helped design the dome that protects it on your side, you stabilized it's guaranteed that it will not break either worlds.”

Rachel thinks about it. “During the War, all of us that were in Equis when the portal closed, fought creatures that normal weapons couldn't hurt, we worked together, and came up with devices that handled them. Humans, ponies, Dragons, Changelings, pretty much all of us helped create a tool that helped us win the fight and aided to get my son Igneous, who his father lead that squadron.” She explains. “I do see and believe we can coexist between worlds. We worked together before, so we can work together once more. Full cooperation on both sides. Hear me state that I relinquish my control over this side of the Portal to Earth, so long as the Temple still remains in our control.”

There were some murmurs and a gavel was hit.

Rachel turned to her mate and others, who all gave nods of approval before turning back to the President.

“Excellent, your majesty. I know we can work together to assure that what happened that caused this War never happens again.” The President says, turning the pages over on the docket. “Okay, next on discussion, in our reports says that there was a traitor that aided your victory.”

“Neighsay, yes.” A few humans chuckled by the sound of his name. “He betrayed the sister princesses when he joined forces with Blueblood, however he contributed with what he knew since he turned himself in.”

“We would like to know more of what he said on his part.” The President requested.

Rachel leans back in her chair to look at Celestia, leaning a little towards her direction. “Should we?”

Celestia nodded. “I took the liberty of requesting his presence after we were requested to come here.”

Rachel waves for her to make a say.

The soon to be former ruler sat regally. She adjusted her microphone and spoke. “Good Morning Mr. President, pardon my interruption but we,” gesturing to the Allied leaders, “Have something better, if you don't mind.”

“Don't see the problem with that.” Mr. President allowed it.

A moment later, being escorted by armed Pony Guards through the doors was none other than the ex chancellor himself. His hair and beard had gotten long but was kept up and clean. He wore a set of brown robes, but on his horn had an inhibitor ring slipped all the way to the base of the horn and his wrists were cuffed together.

Rachel nods to him in acknowledgement. Even though he was a traitor, Rachel has a bit of respect towards Neighsay, not only he helped in the war but the two had escaped from Sombra's clutches, had their back during the whole thing.

Helped her with facts on where the Blue Celestial was being held.

The guards escorted the male to the front. More guards quickly placed a chair, a small table and a microphone before stepping back.

“Thank you,” Neighsay said to the guards and took his seat.

There was a collection of murmurs coming from the Human side before the President spoke.

“You must be Neighsay?” He asked the cuffed unicorn.

Neighsay nodded. “Yes sir Mr. President.”

Spike watched in silence. Last time he saw the ex chancellor was when the Princesses stripped his title and duties because of his racist views.

It seems to Spike that the male had a change of heart.

“Okay. Neighsay, could you please explain your part in the War.” President Baxter requested.

“Of course.” Neighsay sat straighter.

He then began explaining everything, from how Blueblood approached him, how he got involved using the contacts he still had to help spread fear mongering and propaganda. When he talked about the harsh experiments Blueblood had on the humans, there were those in the room who looked sick.

“What I thought I was helping Equestria, the horrors I witnessed Blueblood commit, I realized too late that it was a mistake. I tried to leave prior to me turning myself in to the Princesses, I was then imprisoned. But escaped with the help of The Queen.”

Neighsay turned his head towards her, nodding to her before turning back the front. “After turning myself into the authorities, as part of a deal agreement, I offered my insight and what I know. Did I know that Blueblood had raided your outposts? No. I did not know he had obtained such dangerous, near catastrophic weapons, there were secrets that I was not privy to.”

“How did you know Sombra?”

Neighsay shook his head. “At first I didn't believe that the tyrant returned. Sombra came out of nowhere it seems… However, while I was in cohorts with Blueblood, he seemed to have an attachment to a curved red object now we learned to be Sombra's broken horn. He had somehow trapped his soul in it.”

“What we are trying to figure out is how Sombra returned.”

Rachel coughed into her fist, tail wrapped around her leg, cheeks blushing a little. She felt eyes from a couple of allies staring at her.

Spike tried hard not to crack a smile, his tail snaking around her leg, brushing her tail with his spade.

Both parents stole a glance over to Iggy who was thankfully behaving by gumming at his beloved toy, the three elements of Harmony taking turns holding the baby.

“Blueblood lost a horn and stupidly put Sombra's horn on his head to replace it. Sombra took control of Blueblood’s body.” Rachel admits, not giving in full details on how Blueballs lost his horn. Speculating how Sombra took control over his son, since no one knew exactly how it happened.

Though she knew things would've been different if she hadn't played with her prey and just outright killed him.

She got petty and cocky.

“Magic is a strange concept and a little hard to describe to creatures who do not really grasp or know of. Trying to explain in full detail will only result in massive headaches.” Rachel said. “This is just speaking from experience.”

After a year and many battles won and fought in, she still doesn't really get how magic works. Living in Equis for ten years and still confused on the subject, despite having and learning magic of her own.

The President nodded. “Yes, well I think we got enough. Thank you Neighsay for participating, you're excused.”

“Thank you for allowing me to speak, Mr. President.” Neighsay says as he stood.

The guards approached him, escorting him off to the side and a couple cleaned up the spot.

“Okay, I think we went through enough for today, we shall continue talks tomorrow, Assembly adjourns.” Mr. President says, ending the meeting for the day.

When the rest of the allies returned to the Temple, Rachel, Spike, Iggy and Twilight decided to hang back in New York a bit for they had some business to attend.

“You sure the shop's around here?” Rachel asked Twilight as the four were walking around Brooklyn.

Twilight nodded. “Other me mentioned that she is with Rarity and Sunset in her boutique.”

Spike smiled, “we could get your dress ordered while we're here.” He said to his mate.

“Kinda wish the twins would be here now, they would have gotten a kick out of this.” Rachel sighed.

“The twins will be coming in a couple of days. You know their work schedule.” Spike assured.

“Probably they'll be handling the bachelorette party.” She shrugged, thinking what crazy things would happen.

“Can't wait for that.” Twilight giggled. She and the other girls were going to be part of the party.

Spike chuckled nervously, thinking about his own bachelor party, knowing his brother, Thorax, and soon Discord and Big Mac show up. Pharynx was invited as well.

As much love he has of Discord because of his help with not only sabotaging Sombra but helped pinpointing where Igneous was when he was taken, knowing who Discord is by nature, made him a little hesitant.

When they came to one of Elizabeth's boutiques, they went inside. The door rang to signal customers had entered.

“Coming!” What sounded like Sweetiebelle called out.

When this world's Sweetiebelle, Sofie, Rachel remembers Elizabeth's sister's name comes around the corner, she was in for a surprise.

“Hello, welcome to-” Sofie sees the four and froze when she saw the anthro creatures.

“Hello.” Twilight greeted her.

Iggy cooed and waved at her.

“Uh, hi Sofie, is Elizabeth here?” Rachel asks.

There was sudden pitter patter of paws rushing down a set of stairs. “Are they here??”

This world’s Spike comes around then. The black dog pokes his head. Green eyes landed on the alicorn and dragons.

“Hey!” The dog greeted, rushing up to Rachel.

Rachel chuckled, reaching down and petting him. “Hi you.”

The dog whines happily, before looking up at dragon Spike. “Hi Spike.” dog Spike grinned.

“Sup Spike.” Dragon Spike grinned back.

“Oh nothing much. Visiting Elizabeth.”

Iggy made a confused sound, hearing his dad's voice coming out of a pooch.

Rachel made a face, looking at both Spikes. “Okay I did have a dream that I'm surrounded by you, babe, but this isn't what I meant.”

Both Spikes laughed at that.

“I'm coming I'm coming!” Elizabeth calls out as she and the other girls came in. She sees the four and gasps. “Hello my darlings!” She greeted.

“Hey guys, Rachel, Twilight.” Sunset said, holding the book they needed.

Cassandra waved, pushing her glasses up.

As soon as Iggy sees Elizabeth, his eyes widened. Rachel swore she was seeing hearts in his eyes. Igneous held his hands out to Elizabeth.

“Oh my gosh, you are so adorable!” Elizabeth gushed, looking at the baby. “Oooh Rachel he's so perfect!” rushing up to her and the baby.

Iggy continued to reach for Elizabeth, wanting her to hold him.

Dragon Spike and Twilight tilts their heads back laughing, seeing how the baby was acting.

“Oh my god, he really is your son.” Rachel giggled, letting Elizabeth hold the baby.

Elizabeth squealed in delight as she held him. He was pretty big, as big as a full grown Corgi. Cassandra came up to the baby as well.

Iggy was in heaven, snuggling up to Elizabeth, messing with her purple curls.

Sunset giggled, coming up to Rachel and Spikes. “Congradulations you two,” Sunset said to the Royals. She then hands her the book. “One message book ready, everything okay?”

Spike nodded, “Yeah, we just need to get a message back to Equis.”

Twilight dug in her purse and pulled out a pencil and some photos taken of the Pit, handing them to Rachel. “Here ya go.”

“Thanks guys, appreciate it.” Rachel tells all of them before stepping aside, walking over to a bench so she could begin sketching out the Pit photos onto the magical book.

Maybe Ember would help with some insight to what happened yesterday with the baby.

Spike watched his son being praised and gushed by this world's Rarity and Twilight before turning to gaze at his mate.

Smiling softly as she was drawing, seeing her quickly get lost in adding the little details.

Appreciating to even be able to watch her.

“So, is the book the only reason all of you are here to visit us?” Elizabeth asks, hugging the baby. “Oh you are just so precious, I had made some outfits for you but it seems I have to make some readjustments.” She then cooed at Iggy.

“That's exactly why we're here.” Dragon Spike said, looking at Elizabeth. “After the talks are through, we'll be having our wedding. Problem is that it's on short notice.”

“A wedding?! Oh my loves that's amazing!” Elizabeth said.

“How short of a notice? When's the wedding?” Doggo Spike asks, sniffing Iggy's tail that was tickling his nose.

“A week,” Rachel responded, briefly looking up from the book to look at Elizabeth. “The wedding is in a week and I am in dire need of a dress. What better way than to-”

“Say no more. Sofie dear, clear my schedule, we have work to do! Yes we do, yes we do! A goochie goo!” Elizabeth tickles Iggy, hearing his adorable laugh.

Sofia, now not caught like a deer in headlights, made her way out.

So for the rest of the day, everyone got measured, being separated so the bride and groom could have a 1 on 1 chat.

Rachel sat in the changing rooms wearing a black robe waiting. In the room was a large mirror. she stared at herself.

So much of her life has changed in the past couple of short years. Forgoing her human body once she learned she was turning into a dragon. Her change began when she touched the Crystal Heart.

Never thought in her life that she ended up here. Leading and fighting in a war, having Igneous, becoming Queen and now getting measured for her wedding dress.

So easily all of this could have not happened.

Rachel leans forward, burying her face in her hands and shuddered. Tears free falling from her eyes.

She could have lost her boys. Spike, Iggy…. Nearly losing them both to Sombra, the bomb.

She couldn't stop sobbing when Elizabeth knocked on the door with a pair of red glasses, measuring tape draped over her neck and in her hands were some fabric samples with every shade of white imaginable amd various styles of lace.

“Oh darling, are you alright?” Elizabeth asked, setting the items down on the service table next to the untouched glass of champaign. “Those better be tears of joy, dearie.”

Rachel couldn't answer as she just continued to cry.

“Oh sweetie!” Elizabeth gave her a comfort hug, having Rachel latched onto her and hugged the fashionista and sobbed. “It's okay now, everything is fine. Want me to get Spike or baby?” She offered.

Rachel trembled. “I almost lost them, Liz…my boys….” She spoke between sob.

Elizabeth smiled softly, petting her hair. “They're here dear. Both of them are here, just outside the doors. All of you have been through the thick of it and here you are all now. About to have one of the most important day of your life. A celebration for all of you.”

Rachel was reduced to a blubbering mess, looking up at her. Lips quivering

“Aww darling, it's okay.” Elizabeth said, patting her cheeks. Now realizing she felt soft. “Both you and Igneous have such soft fur, how do you two kept it so soft?”

Rachel snorted, breaking the tension and her tears started to dry. “A whole gallon tub of conditioner for me and a half of a bottle for the babe.”

Elizabeth finally pulls away, grabs the champagne and offers it to her. “Shall we get a move on and designing your dress?” She spoke in a motherly tone.

Rachel sniffled and takes the glass. “Yes please.” and took a sip.

Author's Note

Yes!