A week passed since the Crystalling and Glacio’s failed attack on the Crystal Empire. Eric was gem hunting with Rarity and Spike.
“The last time I was here, I woke them and ended up with a mane full of bats!” Rarity said in a hushed tone, then sighed, “Thanks for being my basket holder, Spike.”
“Basket holder? I thought I was your bodyguard,” Spike asked.
“What? Oh, heh, yes, yes, that of course, too. Oh, for once I wish unicorn magic wasn’t so... luminescent!” Rarity replied and complained.
“D-d-did y-you s-say, ‘b-b-b-bats? ‘Cause I-I’m scared of them,” Eric asked in a hushed, terrified tone.
Eric immediately rushed over to Rarity and held onto her, still trembling.
All of a sudden, Spike began glowing and the bats began opening their eyes.
“Spike, you’ll wake the bats! Turn that off!” Rarity said in a hushed tone.
“Ugh, I can’t!” Spike replied as he groaned and scratched.
Rarity gasped as she saw bats had woke up, this caused Eric to scream as the three of them ran out of the cave.
“We’re so glad you two could come!” Twilight said.
“It’s always good to see you both, preferably under pleasant situations like this,” Storm added.
“Of course. We so rarely get a chance to relax and just visit,” Luna replied.
“There’s usually some crisis we have to deal with. Somepony always needs our help. But today—” Celestia tried to say as they heard Rarity and Eric scream, ‘Help!’
“Twilight! There’s something wrong with Spike!” Rarity said as she opened the door.
Rarity then levitated Spike onto the table, he was still scratching as his scales kept burning.
“What’s wrong?” Twilight asked.
“You okay, little buddy?” Storm added.
“I don’t know! Nngh! All of a sudden, my scales just started glowing and... burning!” Spike replied as he grunted.
Eric got off of Rarity and quickly ran over to Twilight and Storm, still trembling.
Twilight noticed this and asked, “Eric, what’s wrong, sweetie?”
“W-when we were i-in the g-gem c-cave, S-Spike started glowing a-and it woke the b-b-b-bats!” Eric replied whilst still scared.
“I’m here, sweetie. It’s okay, you’re home,” Twilight said.
Eric calmed down in his mother’s embrace.
“Little is known about dragon culture, but this is a phenomenon we’ve seen before. It is the call of the Dragon Lord,” Luna said.
“Dragons glow whenever the Dragon Lord has need of them in the Dragon Lands,” Celestia added.
“Great... H-How do I make it stop?!” Spike asked.
“The only way to end the summons is to answer it. You must journey to the Dragon Lands and see what is expected of you,” Luna replied.
“B-B-But the Dragon Lands are full of... dragons! And they’re ghastly creatures! Oh, oh, not you, of course, Spikey-wikey. But remember that rotten Garble?” Rarity pointed out.
“How could I forget? He would have burnt us to a crisp if you weren’t there. If I have to go to the Dragon Lands, would you three come with me?” Spike asked.
“Ooh! Oh my goodness, I’d love to! We are sadly lacking any information on dragon culture and customs. I could research them – maybe even write an article! This could be my chance to make a great contribution to the knowledge of Equestria! And be there for Spike, heh, of course,” Twilight replied.
“Your mom just happens to get excited when it comes to knowledge,” Storm said to Eric.
“Be very careful. The Dragon Lands are particularly dangerous for ponies. It would be wise to be discreet,” said Celestia.
“Ooh! I’m sure I still have the dragon costume we used the last time we snuck into the Dragon Lands!” Rarity said, then giggled.
“I think we might want something a little more practical this time,” Twilight replied.
“As if disguising the four of us, including Rainbow Dash, as one dragon was not practical enough,” Storm added.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t ask me to come along to the Dragon Lands. ‘Cause I don’t wanna bump into that Garble dragon you told me about,” Eric said.
“That’s why we arranged to have Starlight watch you. As of today, she’ll be your foalsitter,” Twilight replied.
“Okay, mommy. See you later,” said Eric as Twilight, Storm, Rarity, and Spike gave him a group hug.
Soon, Starlight came down and went up to Eric.
“Hi, Starlight,” Eric said.
“Hi, Eric,” Starlight replied as she hugged him.
There was a moment of silence between them as they were trying to think.
“So, what do you want to do today?” Starlight asked breaking the silence.
“I was thinking we could go to the park and meet my friends,” Eric replied.
“That sounds nice, sure beats staying here at the castle all day,” Starlight said.
Eric then climbed on Starlight’s back and soon enough, they reached the park. Once there, Eric climbed off of Starlight and met up with his friends from school: Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Pipsqueak, Rumble, Featherweight, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon.
“Hi, Eric!” his classmates greeted.
“Hi, guys,” Eric replied.
“Eric, over here!” five more voices called.
“Holly! Marina! Nightshade! Slapstick! Zuni! It’s so good to see you,” Eric said as he gave them a group hug.
As well as Eric’s four friends from Canterlot and Holly from Whitetail Woods, their parents and/or guardians were present. The stallion accompanying Nightshade had a light gray coat and a dark blue mane with gray streaks, along with a key and a pocket watch for a cutie mark. The buck watching Holly was her uncle Blackthorn, captain of the deer guard.
“Good to finally meet you personally, Eric Sparkle. I’m Clockwork, butler of Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis,” the stallion said.
“Let me guess, they and Nightshade told you about me?” Eric asked.
“Correct,” Clockwork replied.
Eric went up to Sweetie Belle and hugged her, and they shared a kiss. Starlight didn’t know how to react once she saw this.
“Am I missing something here?” Starlight asked.
“Starlight, Sweetie Belle and I are in love,” Eric replied.
“Howdy, Nightshade!” Apple Bloom said sweetly.
“Hello, Apple Bloom,” Nightshade replied as they shared a kiss.
Marina and Rumble also greeted each other in sharing a kiss, along with Zuni and Pip.
Eric played with all his friends and also did some catching up.
“You know, everyone? I think Starlight and Sunburst like each other,” Eric said in a quiet tone.
“How so? Tell us more,” Slapstick asked.
“I think they like each other in the same way that Sweetie Belle and I do, as with Nightshade and Apple Bloom, you and Scootaloo, Marina and Rumble, and Zuni and Pip. I could tell Sunburst was blushing,” Eric explained as his friends giggled.
Meanwhile, deep in the Crystal Mountains, Glacio and his minions were still reeling from their defeat in the Crystal Empire.
“What’s our next move, my lord?” Frostbite asked.
“We shall make an alliance with the changelings. Send Hot Shot, Thundercracker, and Skywarp, along with Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle to the Changeling Hive. I want to meet with Queen Chrysalis,” Glacio ordered.
“It will be done, my lord,” Frostbite replied.
Soon enough, Frostbite teleported Hot Shot and his partners to the Changeling Hive. Once there, the five colts were escorted to the throne room by some changeling guards.
“Hot Shot and his partners are here to see you, my queen,” the guard said.
The colts and gorgons bowed in respect and said, “We’re here because Glacio wants to meet with you at our fortress in the Crystal Mountains.”
“We’ll be right with you. Pharynx, Cornicle, and Spiracle, you’re with me. Tymbal, you’re in charge until we return,” Queen Chrysalis replied, then ordered.
Chrysalis then teleported herself, several of her drones, along with Hot Shot and his partners to the ice fortress. There, they escorted the changelings to the throne room to begin their meeting.
“Welcome, Queen Chrysalis. I have requested your presence on an important matter, we wish to form an alliance with you and your subjects,” Glacio said.
“May I ask why you intend to go through with this? And what do you have to offer us?” Chrysalis asked.
“In exchange for helping us freeze Equestria, you and your subjects can feed on all the love you want. With our combined forces, Equestria will be ours, then you and I shall rule together, my lustful queen,” Glacio explained.
“I love the sound of that. We accept your offer, my lustful prince,” Chrysalis replied as she and Glacio kissed.
As the two royals kissed, they got their tongues involved before separating.
“However, we have a new threat to our combined cause,” Frostbite said.
“Recently, a two legged creature named Eric Sparkle and his friends, along with Princess Twilight, Sir Storm and their friends have thwarted our attack on the Crystal Empire,” Hydia added.
“I pity your failure, we must destroy this Eric Sparkle, along with his friends if we are to succeed!” Chrysalis suggested hastily.
“Patience, Chrysalis. We’ll deal with them and all our enemies soon enough. In the meantime, my spy in Canterlot shall unleash my pet lurking in the Crystal Caverns,” Glacio replied, as he and Chrysalis both laughed evilly.
Back in Ponyville a few hours later, Eric and Starlight were still out and about.
“What do you want to do now, Eric?” Starlight asked.
“I was thinking we could go get some ice cream,” Eric said.
“Sounds good,” Starlight replied.
Eric got one scoop of chocolate and another of vanilla, while Starlight got two scoops of butter pecan. Soon, Twilight, Storm, Spike, and Rarity had returned finding Eric and Starlight walking back to the castle.
“Mommy! Storm! Spike!” Eric said.
“Hi, sweetie,” Twilight replied sweetly as she hugged him.
“Did you have fun with Starlight, sport?” Storm asked.
“I did, Storm. We hung out at the park with my friends, had lunch at the cafe, and lastly we had some ice cream,” Eric replied.
“You were right about him, Twilight. Eric is such a cute little sweetheart,” Starlight added.
A short time later, Rarity returned home, while Twilight, Storm, Spike, Starlight, and Eric went back to their castle. The five of them had dinner together, while eating, they told Eric and Starlight about their adventure in the Dragon Lands.