Spike was currently with both Society Ember and Smolder. The two dragonesses were actually having pretty good fun together with Spike. They didn't know Rarity was just watching them while sipping some lemonade. They though she was just enjoying the sun for a change.
Rainbow Dash went up to her friend. "...Still sore about what Spike did?" The Pegasus asked.
"It wasn't wrong of him to let me down the way he did. In all fairness, he should've done it more gently, but I suppose that I had grown too greedy wanting him to myself. He seems to be fine now. So, I'm simply going to take notes. Hoping that whoever I pursue next, I don't make the same mistakes again." Rarity said. "And from now on, no fantasies. I mean, just look at Twilight: You and Flash have both been doing things that you are hoping will gain her interest in one of you over the other, but you aren't treating it like some competition. Yet, she is a princess, and the two of you are far from it." She added.
"That's because me and him we shook on it." Rainbow Dash said.
Rainbow Dash's Flashback
Rainbow Dash and Flash Sentry were at the former's cloud house.
"All right Flash, it's become clear to me that you are willing to pursue Twilight. And I'm doing my part to pursue her as well." Rainbow Dash said. "But I know Twilight quite well, and she won't have us fighting over her like she's some prize." She added.
"What's your point?" Flash asked.
"My point, is that in the case she chooses you over me, I don't want to ruin my friendship with her. So, I'm willing to call a truce: You won't sabotage my stuff with Twilight, and I won't sabotage yours." Rainbow Dash said. "This needs to be fair. I live to have things earned, not given to me on a silver platter. That's why I want this little contest for Twilight's heart to be done my way: We do this fair, and we stay out of each other's way when it comes to romancing Twilight." She added.
"Well I'm at a disadvantage all the same. She's known you for longer after all." Flash Sentry said.
"Don't count yourself out on my account. Celestia knows what could happen." Rainbow Dash said.
"Yeah. Your right. Thanks. I needed that." Flash Sentry said. "But just so we're clear, if someone else comes along, we make them agree to the same truce. Big if." He added.
"Agreed." Rainbow Dash said, shaking Flash's hoof.
Present day
"See, that's the kind of stuff I need to know about. You also never considered that Twilight may find herself unwilling to choose between the two of you, and just have the three of you become a harem." Rarity said.
"...Huh...didn't even think of that." Rainbow Dash said.
"Gee...maybe I should talk to DL Ember about opening channels to The Society once the trail ends." Smolder said.
"You sure she would do that?" Society Ember asked.
"You don't know about how DL Ember became the new dragon lord, do you?" Smolder asked. "Well...from what my brother tells me..."
FLASHBACK
Spike found the Bloodstone Sceptor at long last, but then he realized, that if he took the Sceptor, he would have to leave his pony friends behind to become the new dragon lord. He couldn't leave them. So, he decided right then and there, that if he couldn't have the sceptor, no dragon could.
"SPIKE PROTECT!" Spike yelled out as dragons entered the chamber, and before long, Spike grew to massive size. "SPIKE PROTECT!" Spike growled in an extremely deep voice as he swatted the dragons away like flies; among them was Garble.
"Wh-where did that pipsqueak get so much power? He...he has to be...a Purple Dragon..." Garble said while in massive pain. Suddenly DL Ember showed up.
"Sp-spike? Is that you?" DL Ember asked.
"SPIKE PROTECT PONIES! SPIKE PROTECT SCEPTOR! NO DRAGON WILL HAVE SCEPTOR!" Spike said.
"RUN! IT'S SPIKEZILLA!" Spike could recognize the new female voice as Pinkie Pie.
Gotta find a way to calm Spike down. DL Ember thought to herself.
"GAH! WHAT THE HELL?! RUN! IT'S GODZILLA! I KNOW IT'S NOT REALLY GODZILLA, BUT WE SHOULD ALL STILL RUN LIKE IT IS GODZILLA!" Flash Sentry could be heard saying.
"Spike, listen to me. I don't want to declare war on the Ponies." DL Ember said. "That's why you don't want any dragon to get the sceptor right? You can trust me. All I want is to hunt down a wanted criminal that the dragons have been after for the longest time. Once she's in custody, your pony friends will have no further interuptions from us. I...heard about this thing. I Pinkie Promise that I will never start a war with ponies. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." DL Ember said.
"...Spike trust you. Only you." Spike said before allowing DL Ember to grab the Bloodstone Sceptor.
Present day
"Of course, I didn't know at the time that she was referring to my biological mother, but hopefully Cynder can get her happy ending." Spike said as he and the two dragonesses were having tea.
Smolder did a spit take. "I-I'm sorry, did you say your mother was Cynder? What about your father?" She asked.
"It's Spyro, our Alpha." Society Ember said.
"Right...guess that makes sense in hindsight. Look, do you know about what Cynder did?" Smolder asked.
"Actually yes. I know the full story. Something I doubt you know." Spike said. He then went on a lengthy explanation that couldn't be heard. But at the end of it, Smolder was in tears. "...Smolder?" Spike asked.
"...What...she....she was just...she was being used..." Smolder said. "She couldn't control herself...she knows what she did while corrupted, yet she had no control..." She said.
"Smolder?" Society Ember asked.
"She's...she's a victim in everything just like we were...and yet...I was raised under the belief that she chose to do what she did. That she willingly went through with everything..." Smolder said. "...But if she's just another victim...then why...what's the point of taking her to court? What...what even is the reason for our clan?" She asked. It was clear, she was shaken.
"You going to be okay?" Spike asked.
"Yeah...I'll be fine. I need a few days to process this. But, this doesn't change anything for us Spike. If anything...just means you've got one awesome mom." Smolder said before going off.
"...I have a feeling she's suffering from having everything she's ever been told flipped on it's head. And she's about our age." Society Ember said.
"Let her process this Society Ember." Spike said.
"Fair enough." Society Ember said.
Smolder was in her hotel room. "Everything...everything I've ever known is wrong..." Smolder said. "Cynder...Cynder can't be found guilty of the charges...I won't let her..." She added. "I WON'T LET HER!" She yelled out.