The next day, as The Equinox flies west, Arc and Ember sit in his spacious office together.
“We should be back in Ponyville in time for supper.”
Ember grins. “Good.”
Cherry giggles. “That should make Derpy and Dinky happy.”
Ember sighs. “Yeah. I for one will be happy to leave this place behind us. Admittedly, I rather like Ponyville versus any of the towns we saw in the Griffon Kingdom.”
Arc raises an eyebrow. “Really? Griffons seem much more similar to dragons than ponies to me.”
“The old me probably would have agreed with you.”
Cherry sighs. “Well, as long as you’re happy…”
Ember turns to Arc. “So what’s our next move?”
Arc puts his hands behind his head and leans back in the desk chair. “How about we just take it easy?”
“Really?”
Arc chuckles as he shakes his head. “Nah. That gets old quick.”
He thinks for a moment.
“I think I’ll call Canterlot and see how Sunburst is doing.”
“Good idea. He seemed pretty drained after… whatever it was he and Aurora did.”
Arc shrugs as he picks up his desk phone. “Yeah. But it worked.”
Ember frowns. “That has yet to be determined.”
Putting the receiver to his ear, Arc waits. A moment later Lemon Heart’s voice comes onto the line.
“Bridge.”
“I need to speak to Doctor Whooves in Canterlot Castle.”
“Yes sir. One moment please.”
The line goes dead for a minute. Arc sets down the receiver, activating the speakerphone. Before long they are connected.
“This is Doctor Hooves, sir. What can I do for you?”
“I wanted to check with you on Sunburst’s recovery. How’s he doing?”
“Much better, actually. I’m not sure if it was the ordered bedrest or the… um… special help I had.”
Ember raises an eyebrow. “What kind of help?”
“The Lead Sage’s… mother, actually.”
Arc frowns. “His… what?”
Ember laughs. “How old IS he?!”
“I initially attempted to get her to leave peacefully. However, failing that, he and I resigned ourselves to the additional guest.”
Arc sighs. “Well, I need to speak to him regarding… an upcoming mission. Top priority stuff.”
“Truth be told, I was planning on releasing him in a little while. However, his mother insists he stay in bed for a few more days.”
Ember turns to him. “Great. Arc, can we do something about this?”
“Normally, no. However with what’s at stake, I think we’ll have to ‘extract’ Sunburst from the castle’s Infirmary.
Doctor Hooves breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank you, sir. I don’t usually mind family members visiting my patients. But this particular mare is quite a hooffull.”
“She’s breaking stuff?”
“Oh no. But she’s constantly asking for updates and questioning my methods.”
Arc shrugs. “Well, she’s probably just worried about her son. I imagine I might do the same if Dinky was lying in a hospital bed.”
“Yes sir. But every five minutes is a tad much.”
Ember raises an eyebrow. “Could you be exaggerating a bit?”
“I wish I was. She’s currently banging on my office door, presumably for yet another examination of her son.”
Arc facepalms. “Alright, I’ll take a portal back to the castle after I tell Captain Tight Ship. See you in a bit, doctor.”
“Yes sir. I’ll be hiding in my office until then.”
Arc hangs up the phone and quickly stands. He motions for Ember to follow him.
“Come on. Let’s go rescue the Royal Physician.”
Ember chuckles as they leave the office. “That must be the most overbearing mother in Equestria.”
“Yeah, well… let’s go see the captain and get this over with.”
Entering the Bridge, Arc quickly approaches Captain Tight Ship. The stallion stands and salutes respectfully.
“Sir.”
“I… uh… need to return to Canterlot right now.”
Soarin turns to the helm. “Thunderlane, change course.”
“No, no. I mean I’m going to take a portal there.”
Wrangler frowns. “Is there trouble, sir?!”
“Well… not exactly. I need to have an immediate consultation with Sunburst about… some very important matters.”
Moon Dancer raises an eyebrow. “Sir?”
Ember sighs. “Sorry, but it’s a secret.”
“Yes. Take the ship back to Ponyville and give all crew members a week’s leave.”
Lemon Hearts grins. “Thank you, sir. But what’s the occasion?”
“Everyone should be well rested for what’s to come.”
Thunderlane looks back at them. “Trouble, sir?!”
“Let’s just say all of us will be very busy in the near future. Sorry, but I can’t say any more right now.”
Tight Ship nods. “We understand, sir.”
“Thanks.”
Arc calls forth his gauntlet and opens a portal. He and Ember step through leaving the Bridge Crew to look at one another and shrug. Meanwhile, the pair reappear on the sigil in Canterlot Castle. Arc sighs as he heads for the door.
“Let’s get this over with.”
Ember grins as the pair head down the corridor. “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.”
Arc rolls his eyes. “Thanks.”
Before long they reach the Infirmary. The sound of hooves pounding on a wooden door within echo down the corridor. Ember raises an eyebrow.
“He wasn’t kidding about her being persistent.”
“Guess not.”
They enter the ward. Looking around they see Sunburst nervously wringing his hooves in a corner bed as the mare continues to pound on the door. Arc looks over and frowns.
“Stellar Flare?”
She turns and hurries over to him.
“Sir! Thank Celestia you’re here! The doctor won’t come out of his office!”
Sunburst groans. “I’m fine, mom!”
“We’ll wait for Doctor Hooves to make that determination, dear!”
“But he’s already said that at least a dozen times! And that’s just since breakfast!”
Ember eyes grow wide. “Wait a minute! Stellar Flare, if you’re here, who’s in charge of engineering aboard The Equinox?!”
“My fellow engineers, of course.”
Ember appears skeptical. “Is that… safe?”
“Perfectly! They’re all qualified individuals.”
Arc clears his throat. “Yes, well… in any case I think we should get Doctor Whooves out here to discharge Sunburst.”
“But sir, it’s far too soon! How about one more day of rest?!”
“I was fine yesterday!”
Arc shrugs. “If the doctor says so, yes.”
He knocks lightly on the door.
“Doctor Whooves? It’s Arc.”
The doctor opens the door a few inches and peeks through before stepping out.
“Thank you, sir. I’m sorry you had to come all this way.”
“No trouble. I needed to speak with your patient either way.”
The group walks over to the bed as Stellar Flare hurries to her son’s side. Doctor Whooves holds up a chart.
“Sunburst has fully recovered from his most recent… experiment.”
Ember frowns. “What exactly happened?”
“Magical feedback. It’s a rather rare condition amongst normal unicorns.”
Stellar Flare grins with evident pride. “My son’s magical prowess is well beyond what would be considered ‘normal’.”
Sunburst looks embarrassed. “Mom…”
Arc turns to the doctor. “Is he fit to return to his normal duties?”
“Yes sir. I’ve already cautioned him against large outputs of magic though.”
Stellar Flare trots in place. “But doctor, he’s still weak!”
“That may be. However keeping Sunburst in bed will not help his condition. He needs to move around.”
Stellar Flare grimaces. “I just…!”
Arc clears his throat. “Stellar Flare?”
“Yes sir?”
“Do I come to Engineering and tell you how to keep The Equinox’s engines running?”
“No sir.”
“Right. Since I’m not trained in such matters, and you being the head of engineering, it wouldn’t make sense for me to do so.”
Ember raises an eyebrow. “Uh… what are you getting at, Arc?”
“What I’m trying to say is that I have faith in your abilities as an engineer, Stellar Flare. And you should believe that the doctor here, whom is equally capable in his own right, knows what he’s doing as well.”
Stellar Flare nods. “I… yes sir.”
She turns to Doctor Whooves.
“My apologies.”
The doctor nods as Ember and Stellar Flare help Sunburst out of bed. He stretches and stiffly takes a few steps.
“That feels better!”
Doctor Whooves continues. “You’ll be a bit sore for a day or so. Come see me if the pain intensifies though.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
Sunburst turns to Arc.
“Shall we go to my office, sir? I’m sure we have much to talk about regarding my latest… discovery.”
Arc nods. “Yes. We should speak about this matter privately.”
Stellar Flare smiles as she walks over to her son. “I’ll see to it you make it there safely, dear.”
“Mom!”
Ember grimaces. “Um… this is a bit delicate.”
Stellar Flare pats her son’s head. “Yes, I know. Sunburst has always been…”
Arc interrupts her. “She means the material we need to discuss with him.”
Sunburst nods. “Yes. This is a matter of national security, mom.”
“Indeed.”
Stellar Flare looks to Arc, a hopeful gleam in her eyes. “Might I be permitted to escort him to his office and wait outside then?”
Arc shrugs. “That would be okay with me.”
Sunburst sighs. “Fine.”
They head for the door and walk down the corridor. Stellar Flare appears anxious.
“Just let us know if you need to rest, dear.”
“Mom, I’m fine!”
They come to the office. Arc holds the door open as Sunburst walks inside. Spike hurries over to him.
“Hi, Sunburst! How are…?”
Spike stops talking as he sees Arc holding the door. He continues a few moments later, albeit a bit nervously.
“I… uh… have all your paperwork organized on the desk like you asked me to.”
Sunburst smiles. “Thank you, Spike. I can always count on you.”
The baby dragon winces as Sunburst heads to his desk along with Arc. Ember stays back and frowns at Spike as Sunburst sits down and looks to his assistant.
“Now, I need to have a private conference with the Hero of Light. Please see to it I’m not disturbed.”
“Yes sir.”
Spike leaves the room and shuts the door. Sunburst turns to Arc.
“Now then… what can I do for you, sir?”
Arc pulls some papers from his ring and sets them down on the desk as he touches his earring.
“Arc to Max. Come in please.”
“Max here.”
“I’m in Sunburst’s office. Is everyone ready to compare notes?”
“Yes sir. Rose just went upstairs to make a fresh pot of coffee, but will return shortly.”
Viktor chimes in. “We’ve learned everything we could about that spot on the map and the surrounding land.”
Xenos nods. “Yeah. And there’s a bit to go over.”
Hugh leans into the conversation. “Shall we get started?”
“Yes. But be sure to speak up so Sunburst can hear.”
Sunburst holds out a hoof. “If you’d be so kind as to lend me your earring I can hook it up to my amplifier, sir.”
“Good idea.”
Arc removes his earring and gives it to Sunburst, who walks over to a nearby table.
“Just a moment everypony. This won’t take long.”
Arc stands and walks over to the coffeepot. He turns to look over his shoulder as he picks up a couple empty mugs.
“It’s a good thing Spike brewed this. This’ll probably be an extended meeting, after all.”
Sunburst chuckles. “Yes, indeed. Thank you very much for referring him to me, sir.”
Arc sighs as he pours two cups of coffee. “You both needed help.”
“I didn’t realize that until he came along.”
Sunburst looks around the spotless office before continuing.
“Things really have improved here.”
Arc nods. “As has Twilight’s situation?”
“Oh?”
“Spike was a great assistant to her. But I don’t think she ever thought he could be more than that. Auriel already had a science background, as well as inventions and theories of her own.”
Sunburst puts a hoof to his chin. “So we both got what we wanted?”
Arc chuckles as he returns to the desk with the mugs of coffee. “Kinda. I still have my lieutenant go over there once a week to make sure they aren’t swimming in dirty dishes or asleep on their books.”
Sunburst appears surprised as he sits back down in his chair. “Is it that bad?”
“He only found them in such a state once. I think the embarrassment of that encounter made both of them put in the extra effort forward to see that it never happens again.”
Sunburst sighs. “I know how they feel. After Spike put my office in order I felt obligated to keep it that way. Now if there’s a bit of rubbish I feel as though I have to immediately put it in the refuse bin.”
“Good. Now then, are we ready to begin?”
Sunburst clears his throat. “Can everypony hear me?”
Viktor nods. “Loud and clear on this end.”
Arc picks up a piece of paper. “Alright. Let’s start with…”
Meanwhile, outside the office, Spike turns nervously to Ember.
“Uh… hi there.”
Ember frowns as she puts her claws on her hip. “I think you and I need to talk.”
Spike wrings his claws. “Oh? Wha-what about?”
“You already know.”
Spike gulps as Stellar Flare looks confused.
“Should I leave you two alone for a bit?”
Ember shakes her head. “No. We were just heading out.”
“We… we are?”
“Yes! This way.”
Spike points back toward the office door. “But Sunburst might…!”
“NOW!!!”
Spike hurries to comply as he and Ember walk out of the castle’s War Room and down the corridor. They continue on in silence for some time as he continues to fidget.
“So… how’ve you been, Ember?”
Ember frowns, not looking back. “I’m not here to make small talk.”
“Then why are you…?”
Ember suddenly stops. Spike bumps into her as she glares at him.
“You already know why!”
Spike looks away nervously. Neither of them speak for a time. Eventually Ember turns and continues down the corridor. The smaller dragon sighs and follows her. Sometime later they arrive at a large door. Ember points to it.
“Inside, now!”
Nodding, Spike does as he is told. Ember follows him through the door, closing and locking it behind them. Spike looks around.
“Arc’s room?”
“Something wrong with that?!”
“No, no! It’s just… a really nice place to sleep, that’s all.”
“Spike, we need to talk.”
“Do we?”
Ember nods angrily. “YES!”
“What about?”
“About what you did!”
Spike scratches his head. “I’m not sure I…”
“YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID!!!”
Spike backs up as Ember steps forward.
“I’m the next Dragon Lord, Spike! You WILL start telling the truth, and I mean NOW!!!”
Spike feels the cool wall against his tail as Ember closes in.
“Back in Ponyville during the festival you got all of us some juice. But you seemed to pay special attention to Arc’s bottle.”
He gulps as Ember continues.
“I knew you were up to something, so I decided to give you a break. You see, it was I who knocked over that bottle.”
Spike’s eyes grow wide. “It… it was?”
Ember nods. “Yes. I hoped you would take the hint and stop with whatever childish games you were playing. But you didn’t, did you?”
“I… no.”
He hangs his head as Ember continues.
“Whatever you put into Arc’s bottle did a number on him.”
“It was just some sleeping powder that I got from Doctor Whooves!”
“Yeah?! Right before everyone in town needed him!”
“How was I supposed to know…?”
“DON’T TRY TO PLAY THE CIRCUMSTANCES CARD!”
Spike is silent as Ember leans down and gets right in his face.
“You’ve never been one for practical jokes! Now you’re going to tell me why you did it!”
“Because… I… um…”
“TALK!!!”
Spike squeezes his eyes shut. “Because I saw him and Rarity kissing!”
Ember takes a step back.
“…what?”
“It’s true! I know what I saw!”
“And you felt the need to put Arc to sleep, why?!”
“To… um…”
Spike sighs.
“I… I just wanted to make him look bad in front of Rarity.”
Ember clenches a fist. “You were trying to SABOTAGE their night?!”
“No! Just… make her think less of him, I guess.”
Ember shakes her head. “Arc’s supposed to be your friend, as is Rarity. What did you hope to gain by…?”
“I was going to help Rarity take Arc home and put him to bed! Then her and I could have some time alone to talk, okay!”
He sits down on the floor and folds him arms over his knees sadly.
“That night at the table… Rarity, she… she never took her eyes off of him.”
“And you felt jealous?”
“Not really. But Rarity always has time for me. That is… until she had someone else to look at.”
Ember sighs. “That’s jealousy, Spike.”
“I… guess it is.”
Ember sits down and puts a claw on his.
“Look, Spike. Everyone feels that way sometimes. It’s hard not being number one with the one you love.”
Spike looks up to her, surprised. “Even you?”
“Yeah, even me.”
“Ember, were you upset when Miss Cherry and Arc were going to… you know…?”
She shakes her head and forces a small smile. “Actually, no. You see, they were such a cute couple that I couldn’t bring myself to feel that way. I really… REALLY wanted Arc to see ME that way, but…”
She pauses before continuing.
“…but things don’t always work out the way you want them to.”
Spike frowns. “That much I do understand. The night I… blew up at Twilight, all I wanted was to be treated like… I don’t know.”
“An equal?”
“Right! But she just always viewed me as just her number one assistant.”
“Arc’s always looked at me that way too. I mean, I do like being his best friend, but… but it would be even better to be his mate.”
Spike leans back against the wall. “And that didn’t work out for either of us.”
“Not at all. Truthfully, when Cherry died, I thought that I might have another chance.”
“But then she came back.”
“Right. And, while I was relieved to hear it, Cherry told him to find someone else as she couldn’t be there for him like a real wife could.”
Spike’s eyes grow wide. “Miss Cherry said that?!”
Ember nods. “That she did. And I thought to myself ‘this is my chance’!”
“I remember Twilight telling me she felt the same way.”
He looks up at her nervously.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that.”
Ember shrugs. “It’s fine. That doesn’t bother me, and I won’t tell anyone else.”
Spike breathes a sigh of relief. “Thanks. On both counts. I’d hate to see you and Twilight at each other’s throats.”
“Believe me, the old Ember might have been.”
“Old Ember?”
Ember smiles. “I’ve changed a lot since Arc and I met. The old me would have slit the throats of anyone whom I perceived as trying to come between him and me. Fortunately I learned there was a different way during our stay in Tartarus.”
“What changed exactly?”
“Well… I learned about… sharing.”
Spike appears confused. “Sharing?”
Ember nods. “Yes. I know it might sound a little strange to you, but in dragon culture it’s normal for a male to potentially have multiple mates.”
“Even the Dragon Lord?”
“Especially them, yes.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because dragons view strength above all else. Females want to make eggs with the strongest male they can find.”
She closes her eyes and smiles.
“As the strongest among dragons, he would have the right of Dragon Lord over me. And I would have sat at the foot of his throne as his greatest trophy.”
Spike gasps. “What?! But… but you can’t do that!”
Ember looks to him, confused. “Why not, Spike?”
“Because you’re not an object to be lorded over!”
“But that’s what I want.”
Ember blushes happily and puts her claws on her cheeks.
“To be Arc’s mate and bear his eggs has been my desire for such a long time. Don’t you want that for me?”
Spike frowns. “The egg part is fine, yes. But I don’t like the idea of you being treated like property!”
Ember lays her head back and looks up at the ceiling as a wistful moan escapes her mouth. “I’m sure Arc would take especially good care of me.”
“You should have the freedom to…!”
“Spike. Stop.”
“Huh?”
Ember turns to him before continuing. “This is how dragon culture has done things for millennia. Now I understand that you didn’t grow up with this, but please don’t make assumptions that what you know is superior to our methods.”
“But… but I just feel like I have to DO something!”
“You can.”
“What is it?!”
“Challenge Arc for me.”
“Huh?!”
“If you won we would be mates. You would be free to take me and treat me as you saw fit.”
Spike gasps. “I can’t beat Arc though!”
“Right.”
Spike raises an eyebrow, confused. “Right?! Then why…?!”
“I was trying to illustrate to you just how momentous the task of changing dragon culture would be. It really would be like you trying to defeat Arc one-on-one. There’s no way you would succeed.”
“That may be. But if I knew he was mistreating you, I would!”
“How?”
Spike sighs. “I don’t know. But I wouldn’t leave you to your fate. I couldn’t!”
“Well, what if he was treating me right? Or as well as you would hope. Would you still try to take me away to offer me another life?”
“Well… I… um… I suppose I’d have to… do what was best for you.”
Ember turns to him and smiles. “So what you’re saying is that you just want what’s best for me?”
“Exactly!”
“What about Twilight? I mean, if some stallion caught her eye and started abusing her, would you do the same?”
Spike nods fervently. “In a heartbeat! I just want what’s best for my friends!”
“How about Rarity?”
Spike is silent as he thinks.
“You mean… would I want her to be happy?”
“Yes.”
“I… I guess so. But she’d be happy with me! I know it!”
“So you would try to force her to accept you then?”
Spike thinks for a moment. “Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to use the word ‘force’, but…”
“You’re more understanding of our culture than you think, Spike.”
“I am?”
Ember nods. “Yes. You saw a female you wanted, and now you’ll do anything to take her eyes off her current suitor. Even going so far as to poison him.”
“I… I guess I did, huh?”
“Yeah. But that’s pretty normal for dragons. If you can’t win in a head-on battle of might, trickery is the next logical step.”
“Like when I put that sleeping powder in Arc’s drink. I wanted to make him look weak to Rarity. Saying it aloud makes me feel like scum.”
Ember shrugs. “You’re a dragon, Spike. Don’t feel bad for being that which you are.”
Spike shakes his head. “No. I can be whomever I want to. My species doesn’t determine that. I do!”
He looks up at her.
“You’ve already proven that!”
Ember appears confused. “I have?”
Spike nods. “Right. You said that you changed since meeting Arc. He showed you there was another way.”
“I… guess that’s true. But I’ll always be a dragon and have a certain mindset. Nothing will ever change that.”
“Maybe. But then again, maybe not.”
“What are you talking about, Spike?”
“You could change yourself into a pony. Then you’d be free to…”
Ember shakes her head. “That wouldn’t work.”
“Sure it would! After all, you turn into a human when you go to Earth with Arc, don’t you?!”
“That I do. But it only changes my outward appearance. I’m still a dragon at heart.”
“Oh… I see.”
“Good.”
Spike looks to her soberly. “But… I wasn’t just saying that for you.”
“Really?”
“If it was that simple, I would’ve asked you or Twilight to turn me into a human.”
Ember raises an eyebrow. “What for?”
“To learn what it was like. To see things from Arc’s point of view. Then maybe Rarity would…!”
“Spike, stop.”
“But then she might…!”
“SPIKE!”
They are silent for a time as Ember composes herself before continuing.
“Listen to me. You said you saw the two of them kissing, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Why were they doing that?”
“Um…”
Ember sighs. “It’s because Rarity’s in love with Arc, and he’s in love with her.”
Spike gasps. “They’re… in LOVE?!”
“Yeah. Can’t you see that?”
“I… guess that makes sense. But I’m in love with her too! Why would she fall for someone else and not say anything to me?!”
“Well, does she know?”
“Know what?!”
“That you’re in love with her.”
“I… think so.”
“Did you ever tell her about your feelings?”
“Tell her what?”
“That you love her.”
“N-no.”
“Well, Arc did, and she reciprocated.”
Spike appears nervous. “Does that mean they’re going to get married and have foals?”
Ember shrugs. “It might. But not right away.”
Spike breathes a sigh of relief. “Good!”
“Arc told her he needed to bring Celestia back to Equestria first. Then he would like to get to know her better.”
“So… what you’re saying is that they’re both interested in each other?”
Ember nods. “Yeah. So you really need to be supportive of their decisions.”
“That’s asking a lot!”
“Or, at the very least, don’t try to come between them.”
Spike groans. “But I love her!”
“If that’s true, then you should want the best for her.”
“I do!”
“Well then, whom would be better for her? You, a baby dragon who has no way to supporting her emotionally, financially, or physically. Or Arc, a man whom can care for her, be there for her when things get hard, is smart and strong enough to protect her, and can give her foals.”
Spike is silent as he considers this.
“I’m… really not ready for any of that, am I?”
“No, Spike.
“Do I have to marry a dragon?”
“Usually, yes. But as Dragon Lord I’m giving you an exemption.”
“Thanks. I think.”
“You’ll find a dragon or a mare whom turns your head one day.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I did. And before Tartarus I believed I couldn’t.”
“So where should I go from here? Start looking for a different mate?!”
Ember shakes her head. “No. First you should find a way to confess to Arc and Rarity what it is you did.”
“What?!”
“They deserve to know. Then you can apologize.”
“I… I know I should. But how to do that eludes me.”
“You’ll think of something. Then you should just work on growing up big and strong.”
“Like a normal dragon?”
“Yes. But there’s one other thing you need to be if you want the best mate.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
“Intelligence.”
Spike frowns. “I need to be smart?”
“Yes. Arc was able to save me from an arranged mate by defeating them using both brute strength AND his intelligence.”
“He was?!”
Ember nods. “The dragons he faced were much bigger and stronger than he was. Had he not used his head I don’t think he could have bested them.”
“I guess I have a lot to think about.”
“You can always talk to me if you have questions. I’m not the smartest, but I’ll do my best to answer them.”
Spike turns and gives Ember a hug. “Thanks! I’ll do my best to make you proud of me, Dragon Lord!”
Ember pats his head nervously. “I know you will.”