--------- Dragon Lands: Inner Throne Room ---------
Ember, daughter of a powerful and giant dragon named Torch, who was once a small runt of a princess compared to her previous dragon lord father, was now a elegantly beautiful blue dragon lord who ruled the dragons inhabiting the dragon lands with a stern attitude and a gentle mindset. Her throne room was adorned with a cushy throne bejeweled with the finest gems her subjects could search for, and in her grasp was the legendary Blood-stone Scepter, with which her dragon subjects were subjected to its gripping power and hypnotic allure. Her first few days of ruling were simple and easy, and nothing was really too hard for her to handle, save for the occasional scuffle between 2 dragons and their disagreement over their hoards, or even when a group of rowdy dragons got out of hand. Later on, things started to be more complicated and stressing for her, as she soon had to go through boring royal practicalities and deal with every insignificant and petty problem that graced her presence. At this point, she was at her breaking point, and if she had to deal with one more stupid and idiotic dispute, she was gonna lose her sanity. Ember decided to see her father and see if he knew anything that could help her.
“Dad” she called to him when she saw him in his own room, which was a bit away from the royal meeting room, chewing on his pile of gems in a pace that he was comfortable to.
“Ember, what seems to be the matter my dear?” he questioned her when he finished chewing on a giant amethyst.
“I thought that being Dragon Lord was gunna be justifying and well-suited, but now it feels like a drag, and I need something, or someone, that can help me ease the tension, if by only a small bit.” Ember addressed her father, letting out some built-up tension and panic.
“Hmmmmmm…………………...I think there might be something pertaining to what you need in the Documented Historical Room. Follow me.” Torch stated as he flew outside with Ember following right behind him. They reached a cave and when they entered it, they saw row after row of scrolls and documented papers, detailing the many things and tales of dragons long ago, along with the protocols of the dragon lord that Ember was all too familiar with, to a less satisfying degree. The 2 decided to search through it all to find the one answer to all of Ember’s problems.
(Three hours later)
Ember was on the last scroll in the cave, and as she quickly skimmed it just to get it over with, she soon found the words that would change everything for her, as she smirked and devised how everything was going to proceed.
----------- Castle of Friendship, Ponyville ------------
It was a delightful and brightening day in Ponyville, as shop owners were stocking their wares, children were playing and hanging out with each other, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were helping ponies who were confused about and/or didn't have their cutie marks, and the Mane 6, composed of Princess Twilight Sparkle, AppleJack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy, along with Princess Celestia and Luna from Canterlot, were in Twilight's castle, enjoying some of Spike’s delectable and delicious cooking. Pinkie and AppleJack offered to help, but Spike didn't want to have any of it, as he reminded them that the Princesses rarely had the time to visit the castle and relax with Twilight, and even rarer with all 6 of them having free time from their busy schedules. Spike had a good growth spurt many months ago, and now he was a bit taller than his friends. His strength was just as good, if not a big tougher, than AppleJack, and his chubby belly was more well-toned and slimmer.He also grew some amazing pair of wings, and received rigorous flight training from Rainbow Dash. He was carrying 2 plates of steamy, gratifying pancakes, and when he put them on the table, the 8 ponies immediately swiped them all and chowed down on them, as Spike chuckled to himself.
“Yeesh, can you guys slow down with the flapjack’s? I didn't get to eat yet!” Spike stated as he grabbed a plate that only had 3 pancakes on it, frowning a bit, but shrugging it off and eating them.
“Sorry Spike, but you know how we are with your flapjacks. Once we have one, we just can’t have enough” Twilight said with a blush of embarrassment, along with the others. Celestia and Luna chuckled to themselves at the sight of the 6 eating like animals.
“So Twilight, how have things been with Ember and the Dragon Lands?” Celestia asked her former student and fellow princess. Twilight levitated a napkin to her muzzle and wiped off some syrup before speaking.
“The last time I wrote to her, she stated that things were still stable over there, and that was 1 ½ years ago. Hopefully she’s still handling her duties well!” Twilight addressed to her mentor. No sooner after she said that and when Spike was chewing on his break, did Spike’s scales started to glow and irritate him with a burning sensation he felt before.
“Dammit, not this again. I thought that this was dealt with. Why are my scales acting up again?” Spike declared as he erratically scratched himself to relieve himself of this skin pain.
“Looks like Ember is summoning the dragons again, and you know what that means Spike?” Luna asked in a formal manner.
“I don’t think that she would be willing to stop being the Dragon Lord, but she does have the Blood-stone Scepter, so it could be anything” Spike answered to Luna. Getting up off the floor, Spike dusts himself off and walks off to a window near the table where his friends were eating their breakfast. “Anyways, I better go see what’s up; maybe she has some new ruling or something to say to all of the dragons. Besides, it’s been a while since I last saw her, and it’ll be good to see how she’s been doing as Dragon Lord”
“Ooooooooo, is someone missing their dragon friend?” Rainbow Dash quipped at Spike, sticking out her tongue in a playful manner. “Who knows, maybe she’s calling you so that she can ask you out in front of all the other dragons and make them jealous, huh?”
“Hahaha Dash, but I’m pretty sure that’s not even close to what she wants me for. I’m pretty sure that she has a bunch of buff and fortuitous dragons always trying to win her like some prize or something.” Spike looked at Dash with a small glare, and a slight frown.
“Should we come with you Spike? I'm sure that Rarity has some more camouflage costumes for us to wear?” Twilight asked, as RD, Pinks and AJ were a bit eager to see how the other dragons looked and acted like under Ember’s rule, while Fluttershy cowered under the table at the thought of merely looking at the other dragons.
“It’s ok Twi, I got this; Besides, it’s rare enough that Celestia and Luna have time off to visit you, and even rarer when all of us are off from our busy schedules. Trust me, I got this” Smirking with a confident smile, Spike waved everyone goodbye and flew off to see what it is that Ember summoned him and the other dragons for.
------- Dragon Lands, Wide Announcement Space -------
Ember was smirking and sitting on the throne that her father sat on when he was Dragon Lord. As the other dragons were flocking over to her, she first saw Garble, the teen dragon who has been somewhat of a thorn on her side ever since the Gauntlet of Fire 3 years ago. He and his posse were subjugated in the middle of a sea of dragons, being brutish and cocky as usual of dragons of their character. She was hoping that “he” would show up, since he was a necessary character of her plan. After waiting for 10 more minutes, she saw a small glimpse of a dragon flying towards her, and hoping it was him, she started to address her announcement.
“Greetings Dragons; I, Dragon Lord Ember, have summoned you here for an important announcement. As you all know, I have been ruling you all as a strong and…………” Ember addressed to her fellow dragons.
As she was speaking to everyone, Spike had barely made it to the area in time, and proceeded to stand in the back of everyone, trying his hardest to listen in and say what Ember was saying. What he did hear from Ember would forever change his life.
“Even though I have been a great and fearless Dragon Lord, I have found that all of the tasks and responsibilities of being a single Dragon Lord have been taking its toll on me, and as such, I am instituting a new change. I did the research in the Historical Cave, and I found that I can institute a “consort” of sorts, or in other words, a secondary dragon who would help me better govern you dragons and keep my sanity in check. I need a dragon who is determined, confident, strategic, and above all, one who always have others concerns and troubles in mind over themselves. Who amongst you feel that you can handle such a feat like this?” Ember proclaimed to her subjects. One by one, all of the dragons, save for “him” would fly up their arms and hands in the air in the hopes of being recognized and chosen by Dragon Lord, as each of them would have ulterior purposes to be enacted if they were luckily chosen.
Ember laughed, seeing how desperate they all were to wield such power and authority over their own kin. “That was a rhetorical question, and there was no right answer for it, you simpletons” she exclaimed. “ I already know who i perfect for such a task like this. This dragon has all of these traits that I am indeed looking for and more, He is far different than all of you, and most importantly, he was the only one who 3 years ago, showed me what real com-patriotism and friendship is, and looked out for me above everyone else, and that includes my DEAR OLD DAD!!” she stated that last part with a hiss as she looked over at him, as Torch looked down with a sheepish expression adorned on his face. As the other dragons were thinking of which of them were worthy of the job, Garble and Spike’s eyes were widening by the second.
“As such, your new Dragon Lord Consort, with prestige and honor in tact and in form, is…….. SPIKE THE DRAGON!!!!!!”
“Spike…………………….Our new dragon Consort?” Garble questioned with malice and angst lacing each word
“Me? Dragon Lord Consort to Ember?” Spike questioned himself, more surprised than everyone of what Ember just stated to everyone.