"I'm sorry, but I still don't entirely understand," was Twilight's reply once they had finally gotten back to her castle. It had taken a fair amount of time to coax the townspeople into believing everything was fine. After all, a rampaging dragon and an out of control unicorn had just demolished a good portion of the town. But with the help of the Pegasi, most of the fires were put out with an impromptu thunderstorm. Meanwhile, the Unicorns and Earth Ponies helped to shift away the bulk of the rubble, and get started on the necessary cleaning and repairs. Sadly there was nothing that could be done about the Bowling Alley roof, which would need to be completely replaced. Twilight had done the best she could, with her own magic, rebuilding Town Hall piece by piece. Professional construction workers would need to be called in to make sure that the building was sound, shore up the repairs, and to replace anything that was damaged beyond safe continued use; but all in all it really paid to have a Princess on your side when it came to fixing unexpected property damage. Even so, Twilight had been fairly fuming to find that not only her pupil, but her assistant had been involved in so much whole sale destruction. Her anger was only tempered by the presence of a foreign dignitary, and the knowledge that she too had been somehow involved. So she asked Ember again, "Why exactly did you kidnap Spike?"
"I wasn't trying to kidnap him," Princess Ember replied somewhat sulkily. For her part, the Dragon Lord had stood awkwardly in the middle of all of the hasty work, waiting to be lead to Twilight's Castle. She had paced back and forth, unable to make eye contact with anyone, but still furious that she had to wait. When they had finally made it to the pony Princess's Castle, she had felt like she was about to explode. However, as they gathered in the room that housed the Cutie Map and the Thrones of the Elements of Harmony, Ember had marveled at it's beauty. The chandelier, made from the remains of the Golden Oak Library, had in particular caught her eye. Despite this, she had remembered her earlier urgency, and quickly stated her case and demanded that she be allowed to leave with Spike as soon as possible. It seemed she had rushed the explanation a bit, however, as Twilight was still asking for further clarification. The fact that the Dragon Lord was having to repeat herself for the ponies was starting to wear on Ember's nerves, but she knew that ponies did things differently, so she tried to maintain her fragile patience. "It is the Dragon Lord's responsibility to hear the words of the Council of Ages. Though I have observed all of the ceremony and ritual that tradition demands, their words remain silent to me. I was merely retrieving Spike because he continues to harbor a portion of the Dragon Lord's power."
"As evidenced by Spike shouting loud enough to obliterate Town Hall?" asked Starlight Glimmer, receiving a curt nod from Ember. Spike sat behind Twilight's throne, claws still clamped tightly over his mouth. He was ashamed of the destruction he had caused, and the trouble he'd put Twilight to for his sake. It might not have been much work for a Princess, but Spike hated causing trouble for Twilight. He always had. Starlight felt it was best she ask the questions that Spike, for the moment, couldn't. "What exactly was that, anyways?"
"We call it the Thrum," replied Ember, crossing her arms. Now wasn't really the time for a lesson on dragon Lore, but if it sped things along, so be it. "It's one of the many powers passed down from one Dragon Lord to the next through the Bloodstone Scepter," she recited this absently, as if quoting some long ago ingrained lesson rather than answering with her own words. "It can be used to command or inspire, as well as to drive and destroy. It is but one of many talents that would be dangerous in the hands of the unwary or untrained."
"But if that's true, why hasn't Spike shown any of these powers before?" inquired Twilight doubtfully, her brow knit with concern. It was clear that, though she wanted to get to the bottom of what had happened, Spike's involvement in all this was the part she was having the hardest time accepting. "Why should they only manifest now?"
"Dragons can be a very... passionate people," replied Ember, choosing her words carefully. "Many of the blessings of the Bloodstone Scepter respond to a dragons inner fire. A moment of frustration, a spark of anger, often that is all that is necessary to bring forth the power unbidden." The current Dragon Lord looked to where Spike crouched, not without pity. "Living peacefully among ponies, as Spike does, has probably precluded the expression of any such fervor... Most of the time, anyways."
"I still don't know why you didn't just ask us for help, instead of swooping in and trying to fly off with Spike," reproached Starlight, the studied evenness of her voice doing nothing to hide the assertion that she seemed to hold that everything that had occurred was ultimately Ember's fault.
Ember's nostrils flared, along with her temper. She'd had just about enough of the haughty unicorn. "I told you why! I was in a hurry! I still am! The longer we spend talking this matter over the more we are all at risk! If you simply hadn't interfered we'd be back in the Dragon Lands by now!" Jabbing a talon into Starlight's chest for emphasis.
Starlight's even manner quickly melted into affronted fury, "Oh, I suppose I'm just expected to smile and wave while my companion is being whisked away in the talons of a flying monster!" Her eyes narrowed to angry slits as her horn flared with barely contained magics. She glared back at the Dragon Lord, not willing to give her an inch. They were standing muzzle to muzzle, breathing heavily. It looked like round two of their fight from earlier was about to begin.
"That's enough, the pair of you!" cried Twilight Sparkle, grabbing them both with her magic and dragging them apart. "Ember you're a Princess and a Dragon Lord!" she lectured the dragon before whirling on her pupil," And Starlight, you of all ponies should know the dangers of rash behavior, both to yourself and those around you! I don;t care what happened between you two, but there's no excuse for this kind of behavior! I can see why Spike might have lost his patience with you two."
Spike winced. It was nice that Twilight thought there may have been just cause for his outburst, but he wasn't so sure breaking up Starlight and Ember was worth the cost of the Town Hall's destruction. Obviously, that hadn't been his intention, but the facts of the matter was that he ultimately bore as much responsibility for all this chaos as the other two. At least, that was how he felt anyways. Even so, he did let his claws fall from his mouth. For the first time since the incident hours ago, he spoke, though tentatively. "So... what do you need from me then Ember?"
Ember's rage cooled quickly. Though she had her fathers temper, she chided herself for giving into it. She wanted to be a different kind of Dragon Lord, but just now she was having a hard time remaining calm. There was so much on her shoulders. Perhaps it was time to speak plainly. "Spike, I need you to come with me. I cannot hear the voices of the Council of Ages. Without your aid, I may not even be able to retrieve the Bloodstone Scepter from their chambers. The longer it remains unattended, the more our claim to the Scepter weakens. Should another dragon chance upon the Scepter while we are not present, they could claim it for themselves."
"And given the feelings some dragons have professed about ponies in the past, that could spell disaster for Equestria," added Twilight, the true direness of the situation at last becoming clear. Ember's troubles were not just her own, but potentially all of pony-kinds as well. It might be imperative that they help in any way that they could. "This 'Council of Ages'... do you know why they summoned you?"
"I'm afraid not. With Spike's aid I hope not only to retrieve the Scepter, but also the message that they wished to convey to begin with." answered Ember. "The Council of Age's have guided the fate of dragon-kind from ages long past, through advice and prophecy received by the Dragon Lord. Though, I admit, it's possible that they summoned me simply to address my current weakness." A look of shame crossed Ember's face, and even Starlight seemed to feel sorry for her, despite their earlier quarrel.
"If I go with you..." began Spike,"And we do this, will it take this power away from me?" there was pleading in the tiny dragons eyes. "You said that there are several abilities that the Dragon Lord possesses that could be dangerous if used by the untrained. I don't want to be a danger to my friends or to Ponyville. If there's any way that you can take this power from me, I'd be more than willing to give it up!"
An inscrutable look passed over Ember's face. Was i pity? Pride? Or something else? "In all the history of dragon kind, no Dragon Lord has ever willingly given up his powers or authority without serving a full term under dragon law." She looked sadly to the floor. There was no hubris in her voice, but instead true compassion as she raised her eyes to meet Spike's. "I do not know if it's possible for you to simply give up the powers of the Dragon Lord. However, if there exists anyone who would know, I'm sure that they would be among the Council of Ages. If you come with me, the least we can do is ask them for guidance."
"That settles it then!" Spike declared with a nod. "Twilight, I think it would be best if I went with Princess Ember."
"Are you certain Spike?" asked Twilight, her face still a picture of concern despite her better understanding of the situation. "The Dragon Lands are dangerous, and I'm afraid I won't be able to go with you to protect you. I need to speak with Mayor Mare and finish organizing the repair of Ponyville."
"I will guard him closely Princess Twilight," assured Ember, her melancholy melting away as she drew Spike chivalrously to her side.
"Dangerous or not, this is something I have to do... For myself as much as everypony else," replied Spike resolutely, blushing slightly at the close proximity he found himself to be in with Ember.
"Very well. Princess Ember, you may take Spike with you. Safe journey to both of you." Twilight bowed, and the pair of dragons returned the gesture. The Princess of Friendships leave, at last, secured, Ember scooped Spike up in her arms and the pair flew through the open double doors and into the hallway that led to the exit. There truly was no time to spare on long goodbyes.
They weren't out the door for even a moment before Starlight exclaimed, "Are you crazy! You can't just let her run off to Celestia knows where with him!"
"Oh, and what do you suggest?" asked Twilight, the hint of a playful smile on her lips. "I was serious when I said that I could not accompany them. The destruction the three of you caused was much more extensive than the work of a single afternoon could put right." Twilight used her magic to sort through a few letters that lay on the table that held the cutie map. Correspondence was already arriving from angry shop owners, as well as various concerned citizens. "Since both my assistant and my pupil were directly involved, it falls to me to smooth things over with Mayor Mare and the townsfolk."
"Well, I don't know," replied Starlight, the wind taken out of her sails by the reminder that she was partially to blame for the wanton destruction from earlier. It did nothing to allay her anxiety, however. "I just worry about Spike. I feel like somepony should be keeping an eye on him."
"I couldn't agree with you more Starlight," replied Twilight, her smile widening. "Thank you for volunteering."
"What?" Starlight's eyes went wide.
"You're absolutely right. Somepony should be keeping an eye on Spike. I had no intention of letting him face this quest on his own, but I was of two minds about who to send to watch his back," Twilight confided. "But your obvious concern for him makes the choice much easier. This whole situation may just have the makings of a very valuable friendship lesson for you. Besides," here the Princess let her voice drop to a whisper and raised a letter with her magic that had particularity angry looking writing scrawled across it's parchment. "It might be easier for me to smooth things over if all three of you are safely out of town. Apparently that trick with the sleet storm you did threw off the weather patterns for miles around Ponyville. The weather ponies are not pleased."
"B-but I've never even been to the Dragon Lands!" protested Starlight. "I'd have no idea how to get there! Even if I flew after them right now, Ember would quickly out distance me. I'd get hopelessly lost!"
"Oh, I thought of that too," replied Twilight, a sly look in her eyes. "I never said I expected you to do this on your own. I know just the pony to be your guide."
"You have got to be kidding me," Starlight muttered to herself as she massaged her temples. She found herself hitched to a wagon loaded down with more supplies than she'd been helping Spike carry earlier, and those had been for a month. The pony who was responsible chatted brightly with Twilight. The Princess had come to see the pair of ponies off.
"Don't you worry a bit darling," Rarity reassured Twilight expansively. "We shan't let any of those ruffian dragons harm a single scale on Spikey-Wikey's wittle head." Rarity squealed. She actually squealed. "Besides, it will be an absolutely delightful chance for me to try out my all new range of covert clothing. Chic, yet stealthy. Ornate, but not ostentatious. It will be the perfect opportunity to field test several improvements I've made to the designs."
"I'm glad to hear it Rarity," Twilight responded, and she seemed to mean it. Rarity might not seem like the first pony one should turn to in dire circumstances, but she was notoriously good at keeping a level head in a pinch... Even if that meant she sometimes came across as not entirely understanding the situation at the time. "But hopefully Starlight's magic will be able to keep the two of you hidden for the most part."
"Oh, pfft, ech, pah, she needn't bother with all that!" replied Rarity dismissively as she adjusted her traveling hat, a marvelously floppy white and black chapeau that was the in 'thing' this season. "I've packed more than enough outfits to allow us to pass through any terrain completely undetected! Why, it will be as if we aren't even there!"
"And what about the wagon?" asked Starlight, speaking for the first time since Twilight had introduce the fashion pony as her guide.
"Pardon me dear, what was that?" queried Rarity, batting her eye-lashes fetchingly.
"How are we going to disguise the wagon we're hauling all this," Starlight made a gesture to try and indicate not just the wagon, but it's contents as well, "stuff in?"
Rarity paused, before waving a hoof dismissively, "Details, darling, details! I'm sure we'll work something out. What matters is that we're there for little Spikey-wikey if he needs us!"
"I couldn't agree more," giggled Twilight with a sincere smile, "Safe trip you two! I'm counting on you to keep Spike safe. I have every confidence that I can rely on the both of you to get the job done."
"I wish I did," muttered Starlight darkly to herself. But she wasn't about to talk back to Twilight. If she had faith in Rarity and herself, then Starlight would just have to try to cultivate some faith as well. As she began pulling the over laden wagon, she mused that she would have plenty of time to do just that. It was a long way to the Dragon Lands from Ponyville, and loaded down as they were it was going to be a miracle if they made it there before Spike came back on his own.
"Oh, do be careful of the bumps in the road, darling," called Rarity to Starlight as she climbed aboard the wagon. "All that jousteling around is simply murder on my haunches."
It was going to be a long trip.