Note: this happens a week after the last chapter. it's not made after an episode but does have touches of Equestria girl in it.
Twilight is very relieved they have dealt with Discord and everything is back to normal, however even though Discord is gone, Equestria still deals with the aftereffects of his chaotic magic, including her friends. Spike is probably the one dealing with it worst, he continually has nightmares from when Discord made him lose hope for his own kind. So when Spike began dealing with extreme insomnia there is really starting to affect his mental and physiological state, Twilight Sparkle decided to bring Spike back to the Crystal Empire and hopefully, his own mother can ensure him that the drakes fate does not lie on his tiny shoulders.
She and Spike arrive at the Crystal Empire, at the train station Cadence awaits her. Twilight hugs her sister-in-law and after have done the small dance, Cadence explains the reason why Shining Armor couldn't greet her as well. "Patrol encountered a small flock of changelings, it shouldn't be much of a problem but you know how dangerous they can be in bigger groups."
Twilight sure knows and fully understand why her brother took that as his first priority, hopefully, she can speak with him later tonight but now her own priority is Spike. After have explained Cadence of the problem Spike is dealing with. “Do you know where his mother is?” She asks Cadence, casting a worried glance to Spike there stares heartbroken at the statues of the fallen drake dotting the field around the Crystal Empire.
Noticing that as well, Cadence gestures the guards to take the luggage before requesting Twilight and Spike to follow. She leads them to a mine where several crystal ponies are in full swing excavating the extremely shiny and pure crystals only this empire has. “This mine leads directly down to the drakes former home. You will find Nila down there.” Cadence explains the two.
Twilight Sparkle thanks her and with the guide Cadence suggested them, she and Spike head into the mine.
In the wonder of how many and very sparkly gems this single mine has Twilight can't help but wonder how Rarity would react if she- her thoughts get interrupted when she accidentally bumps into someone else. Embarrassed that she did not pay attention to where she was going, she gives the orange pegasus guard an apologetic smile. After he has recovered he returns it with a bit more confident 'no worries' smile and steps aside for her. Twilight walks past this guard and swiftly follows the crystal pony guide, levitates Spike away from a cart filled with gems.
The crystal pony leads them deep underground and yet for some reason, it does not get darker but lighter, Twilight and Spike realizes why when they step into the huge cave at the end of the mine.
They gasp in awe at the same time when their guide leads them into a city carved into the very walls of this huge underground cave, crystals coats every wall and house, lighting the whole cave in a soft aurora of light. Twilight notices that a few bobbles having a green flame inside are placed here and there around this city.
“This way.” The crystal pony says. Twilight and Spike follow him down huge stairs there truly shows this city was build for a dragon. After having seen how the winged dragons live, this underground city is truly a wonder to behold, but the eerily silence is a constant reminder that there are no drakes to inhabitant this beautiful city.
Spike looks up to a pillar, noticing it has tunnels spiral up to a sort of the second floor of this cave, it makes him wonder. “This place must’ve been quite a sight back when the drakes were around.” He muses his thoughts out loud.
“It was.”
The two ponies and young drake turn their heads, on an edge, Nila is lying. With his task over, the crystal pony leaves, letting Nila have her guests in peace. The huge female drake smiles warmly but the hint of sadness can be seen. “It feels like yesterday I was watching young drakes, just reached adulthood but still had the mind of a hatching. They would play around in the tunnels. The elders' fires lighting the magical bobbles and lecture the next generation how to make such magical flames.” Gesturing out to the larger tunnels. “One of my sisters prided herself as the head digger, last time I saw her, she was mapping a new section for our wonderful home, you would’ve liked her my child.”
Spike smiles weakly, but it never reached his eyes, the dread that the drakes forever is going to stay as statues decorating an ancient old battlefield haunts his young mind. Twilight Sparkle knows it’s rude but decides to explain Nila about Spike’s mentally issue. “I am sorry to ruin your nostalgia moment, but Spike has been dealing with bad dreams for quite a while. You see:” She puts a hoof around Spike’s neck as a comforting hug. “He was tricked to believe he was the only hope for the drakes freedom.”
Nila jerks her head upward hearing this, eyeing her son she can almost see the burden he feels from this belief. Yes, Celestia did say a drake hatched by pony magic would save them but, Spike is still so young. His spikes haven’t yet started to sharpen. “Spike, I do not expect you— let alone any hatchling take on such a heavy burden. Whatever it is you who will save the others or someone else, there is no time limit on this task.”
Spike blinks, not sure what his mother meant by that. “What do you mean? Wouldn’t they get hurt being stuck as a stature for too long?”
“The black crystals imprisoning them will keep them alive.” Nila explains, thinking that at least one good thing came out from this unfortunate fate. “These crystals were formed by the shadow ponies, like the crystals forming the Elements of Harmony; time has no meaning. The drakes imprison is trapped in a place where time does not exist.”
Hold up, is Nila saying the drakes are trapped in… “You mean they all are in Limbo?”
Nila eyes the unicorn, admitting. “Perhaps, all I know that when the drakes get free, not a single day has passed for them, like when this empire disappeared one thousand years ago. The drakes will think they have just been imprisoned by the living shadows.” She turns back to her son. “You are still young, my son. Do not think about this for now. When your spikes have sharpened and you’re a bit wiser, then we can discuss the fate of the drakes.”
“So you want me to forget about them?” Spike asks. That does not really sit well in his head. One of those dragons out there might be his father, and perhaps even his aunt. He can't just ignore them.
His mother shakes her head, saying. “I did not say that my son. I said you should not think about how to free them until you are older. “ Spike fiddle a bit with his claws, still not really fancying the thought that he has to leave this alone for now. “It doesn't feel right, mother… I want to help them.”
Nila jumps down from her spot, lowering her head so she at least doesn’t tower over him. “Patience my son. A mountain is not formed in one day.” And starts walking away, he and Twilight follow her.
‘Listen here my son, I know it’s not easy but all time will come.
if you’re just a little patience.’
She brings them into a dark tunnel.
‘Like the ground under our claws, the path will show if we take the time to walk.
like the mountain, it once was small but as it waited, it grew up and reached the sun.
Listen here my son, with a little patience, your path will be shown.’
The tunnel brings them outside, out here Nila lifts Spike up in her claws, gently poking his chest.
‘Waiting is never easy, I know you want to do your part.
You have the fire in your heart, burning fiercely for justice on what was brought on us.
But you are young and still has so much to learn.’
They both turn their gaze to the large mountains on the horizon
‘Listen here my son, be patience like the hill wanting to be a mountain.
We have fire; we are dragons, fierce and strong but you my son is a Drake.
We do not rush like the fire, do not wave in the wind nor stay aside in the sea.
We are Drakes, we are wise and patient, we know when the time is right, we will strike with the fury of the old earth breaking apart.’
Putting him down again besides Twilight.
‘My son, do not rush, you are a Drake, so listen to the wise mountain and take your time to reach the sun.’
Spike stare a few seconds up to his mother before turning his gaze to the mountains. “I think I understand.” He muses, giggling when his mother nuzzles her muzzle against him.
Nila straightens up with a smile, saying: “Don’t let this trouble your mind. When you are wiser and older, then you can think about this.”
Spike nods, he will try and not stress over something he cannot change as it stands now. He will study this but only if he stumbles across the knowledge, for now, he will worry about others things more suited for his age. One of them is; “Mom, which one of the statues is dad?”
“I’ll show you.” Nila lets them both ride on her back and she takes them out to the statue coated field. Much to Spike’s surprise, she stops at the statue of the dragon with the lost spikes on the shoulders. It’s first now when his mother stands beside it he realizes how big she is compared to the others. “That’s dad?”
His mother nods, lovingly but sad strokes her claw over the statue’s face. “Yes, his name is Ragnar. Before this unfortunate battle, he used to be my consort— a magical protégée.” Eyeing Twilight with a sad smile. “I’m sure he and your pony friend could get a lot of long night conversation about the subject.”
Twilight chuckles sheepishly by that statement but does wonder. “Is dragon magic like pony?”
“That I have no idea.” Nila replies, nodding to her petrified mate. “You will have to ask Ragnar when he gets free.”
“Mom?"
Nila turns to him, Spike points at the missing spikes on his dad’s back. “How did he lose his spikes?” Blinking when his mother laughs almost fondly of that particular memory. “He lost them when a roc bird got the idea to ransack our nest. I was so horrified and furious when that roc bird took your egg, I almost burned down the whole area in the attempt to reach it. Now I find it very ironic that you got the very name your father sacrificed in order to protect you.” She eyes Twilight, barring her teeth in her amusement. “If I didn’t know better, I say your pony guardian knew about this incident.”
“I swear I had no idea!” Twilight exclaims in a small panic Nila might think she knew about this, which she didn’t. She named Spike because of his spikes, not the best name perhaps but she was very young and has never been that good at name giving. Nila laughs, loud enough to make a small wind. “Still quite the irony, don’t you think my little pony?” She asks Twilight grinningly. Twilight Sparkle chuckles weakly up to her, a bit nervously for even though Nila is friendly, she is still a huge dragon.
Spike watches the statue of his father, doing his best getting the picture of him right so he can recognize him when he one day will be free. He won’t know his dad’s colors, but the lost spike will make it easier. He can’t help but laugh lightly from the story how Ragnar lost them. There is indeed a bit of irony there.
* A few days later*
Once again back in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle feels so much more at ease watching Spike is back to his old, childish self. Happy that small crisis is over, Twilight returns back to her reading, only noticing how late it has become when Spike, truly living up to the title being her number 1 assistance holds up a light for her. “Thanks, Spike.” She smiles but even though she would love to read more, both she and Spike needs their rest.
Heading over to the bed, Twilight tells Spike. “Better get some rest, I would like to be well rested to when I visit our partner’s home tomorrow.”
Oh yeah, now that she mentions it. “The portal opens soon, right?” Spike asks and jumps into his bed that is a basket. Twilight nods, saying. “That’s right, according to Princess Celestia, the portal should open tomorrow and be open for about two weeks. Spy agreed on taking me there for a quick visit.”
“Can’t I come too?” Spike asks, he would like to see the human world. Doing the best puppy eyes he can make. “Please~?”
Twilight wants to resists but it’s hard with that look on Spike’s face, she groans. “Fine, but you won’t leave my side.” She tells him hard, according to Spy, the human world is not as peacefully as Equestria. Spike promises he will and after have told him goodnight, both go to sleep. Unaware that the portal has already opened.
In the cover of night, two strangers approach the Golden Oak Library, the pony of the two, proving to be a unicorn puts away the tracker used to find their target, they nod to their partner, a slender and bit big creature with spikes and a long tail. That one walks over to the door and picks the lock rather easy. Inside the two walk over to the case holding the Elements of Harmony. The unicorn takes the case with magic, to then jump startled when an alarm goes off. Swiftly the unicorn grabs the crown and flees with the other one right behind.
Twilight and Spike fly out from bed, Twilight the first down the stairs and just in last second spots the thief which is an amber coated unicorn mare with fire pattern mane and tail. She gasps seeing the thief has stolen the Element of Magic. “No!” She cries and pursues the other unicorn. ”Stop thief!” Does catch up to the thief near the train station, but just as she bites out after the bag holding the Element of Magic, Twilight gets smacked onto the ground. Looking up to who did it Twilight gasps seeing a young Drake, this one is way older than Spike and has a military shirt on.
This jade colored with gold curved spikes drake glares at Twilight with his ice blue eyes. “Consider this a warning.” This young drake sneers and after have pushed her hard against the ground, he follows the unicorn, letting her teleport them onto the last departing train. Twilight gets up but far from done letting them get away this easy.
Throwing Spike onto her back, Twilight gallops after the train and when in reach, she teleports onto it.
“Give me back that crown!” She demands the amber unicorn.
“You want it; come and get it.” The unicorn challenges her menacingly. Her older drake gets into a fighting stance.
Twilight would like to charge at this other unicorn but after having seen this one can teleport, which means she is talented in magic like her, plus her partner has proven to be quite a nimble and dangerous fighter. Still, she has to try. Getting Spike off, Twilight charges at the two thieves. The amber unicorn fires a magical beam at her, Twilight blocks it with a shield spell but did not expect that teen drake used that spell to drop-kick her and almost throwing her off the train. Pure luck saves her from that, leavening her clinging to the edge of the train roof.
“Twilight!” Spike cries and runs over to help his unicorn friend, he stops and stares fearfully up to this older drake now standing his way. The jade teen drake smirks devilishly down to him. “You really want to pick a fight with me squirt?” Spike freezes up, but a cry from Twilight snaps him out from it. He tries to give this teen drake his best intimidating glare. “I- I’m not afraid of you!” He cries and charges at the teen, but his heroic attempt literarily falls flat on the nose when the teen drake easily dodges him and trips Spike, making the baby drake stumbles onto the roof. Before Spike can get back up, the older drakes grab his arm and hurl him over to the edge of this railcar. The teen laughs. “Gutsy one aren’t you?” He walks over to the struggling to his feet Spike. “Not that’s going to help you.”
“Rhys!”
The teen drake turns away from Spike, eyes the amber unicorn there tells him hard as she levitates Twilight’s hooves off the roof, making her fall off. “Stop fooling around.” The teen drake snorts, grabs Spike and with: “Bye-bye squirt!” He throws the younger drake off.
Twilight and Spike roll several times before stopping, battered they watch the train with the two thieves leave them behind. “Who were they?” Spike asks, but Twilight has no idea.
*Hours later, Canterlot castle.*
“Sunset Shimmer. A former student of mine.” Celestia says after Twilight has explained what has happened, Celestia had been hoping Sunset would see the wrong in her path she chose those years ago and return. But it seems her former student still is set on her goal. “She was chosen to study by my side when she showed great magical potential by hatching the drake you saw. But when she did not get what she wanted as quickly as she liked, she turned cruel and dishonest, something the young Rhys unfortunately learned. Like Spike, Rhys is incredibly loyal to Sunset Shimmer. I tried to help Sunset see that where she was heading would not end well, but eventually, she decided to abandon her studies and pursue her own path.” Celestia sighs, feeling bad she in a way allowed this to happen. “I was hoping that Sunset has seen the wrong of her chosen path but it’s clear she and Rhys still walk it, one that has sadly led them in stealing your crown.”
Spike steps forward, scared of this fact but everything points to it. “Rhys… he’s my brother, isn’t he?” He asks Celestia. The princess nods slowly down to him, saying softly. “Yes, I had hoped your reunion wouldn’t have been like this.” Spike lowers his head, having mixed feelings that he met his older brother and… got his scales tanned by him, he does not look forward in meeting Rhys again.
Eyeing Spike worried briefly, Twilight turns back to the princess. “Why did she take the crown?” She asks worried and also a bit confused about where Sunset and Rhys disappeared. “Do you know where they went?”
Celestia signs them to follow her. They do and the princess of the sun leads them to a room, currently having two guards watching this place.
Celestia stops before a mirror held by a giant purple horseshoe with several crystals embedded into it.
“This is the portal Sunset and Rhys used, the same portal there would’ve taken the humans back home.”
Twilight blinks surprised, turning to the mirror— the portal to the human world as Celestia explains to her. “Your Element does not belong in the place Sunset Shimmer now calls home. You need to retrieve it and return it back to Equestria before the portal closes again. Without it, the other Elements of Harmony have no power and Equestria is left without one of its most important means of defense against the Shadow Ponies.”
Twilight Sparkle does not fully understand why Sunset Shimmer took her Element back to the human world, she has her guesses though, such as rendering the Elements of Harmony useless like the Shadow Ponies did back when they threw the lost Elements into the same world. She had hoped the trip to the human world would’ve been without any sense of urgency but it seems that’s not the case.
“You understand the importance of your task?” Celestia asks her.
“Of course.” Twilight replies.
The princess of the sun steps away from the portal. “Good. Then you must go at once, there is no time to lose. I will send Spy after you the moment he arrives.”
Twilight Sparkle nods, relieved knowing she won’t be fully alone in this. She walks over to the portal, touches the mirror and hesitates but knowing there is no time to waste, she walks into the other world.
Spike, getting into a panic when he lost sight of Twilight, ignores the princess indirectly command not to go and runs into the portal.
Celestia is surprised by this action, and yet not really, very aware of how loyal a drake is to the ones they consider family. With both gone, she swiftly conjures a letter, writing to the remaining human that Twilight requires him to return back to his world.