Spike told Twilight everything when she returned; about the teen dragon Rhys had told him about the existence of the three dragon tripe's, about what kind he was and that Rhys and his younger sister Topaz had invited him to join them.
Twilight was a bit disappointed that Topaz and Rhys has left before she could speak with them but that was quickly overshadowed by the excitement she felt about the news there actually existed more dragon species and apparently their lifestyle was very different from the dragons she has studied with Spike's help. But there was one part of Spike's story that caught her off guard. "But if Celestia and Luna knew, why haven't I gotten any books about dragons? Why haven't they said anything?"
"Because they promised," Spike told her, remembering how firm Rhys sounded when he told the story of the forced promise Celestia and Luna have to make to the Earth dragons. He guessed that the Earth dragons; his kind took promise just as important like a certain pink pony he knows.
"I can understand the reason, I guess." Twilight mused. She kicked the floor in an uncertain manner. "Seems like I can't ask them for any help..."
Spike was a bit disappointed in this as well, Celestia and Luna did aide him help when his scales began glowing in the sign of the dragon sommon— "We can ask Ember!" He exclaimed she is his first dragon friend and she must know more about these tree tribes than any pony did. Excited Spike ran out from the castle. "Let's go!"
Twilight followed him, musing "Should I take my dragon book with me?" She decided to take it, and in both, their excitement in this news of probably being the firsts in Equestria to unlock these secrets of dragon culture, the thought of informing their friends completely skipped their minds.
Twilight and Spike took the train to the nearest station to the Dragon country, rest of the way Twilight flew them both as far as she dared into the dragon-infested land. When almost getting spotted by a huge red dragon that for some reason looked upset as it flew away from Equestria's borders, Twilight decided it would be the best hiding in whatever she could find.
Spike walked deeper into the lands as casual as he could, the big adult dragons still made him nervous.
Spike and Twilight did fortunately not get into trouble and they soon found new dragon queen. Amber guided them both into a safer place where Twilight could take off her disguise without worrying getting attacked by dragons. Twilight did hesitate for the spot the dragoness chose as "safe" wasn't dragon free. Not far away from them laid a small pack of big four-legged dragons, the same kind that threw boulders at the young dragons that tried becoming the next Lord of the dragons. At least, this time, the Slingtails seemed more docile as they completely ignored the two younger dragons and surprisingly Twilight as well.
"So, what brings you two here?" Ember asked the two, she sounded harsh but the spark in her eyed showed she was happy to see them.
Spike glanced to Twilight, waiting for her to speak but she gave him an encouraged look and he realized the spotlight was his. He sank hard, a little nervous but did begin explaining Ember of what Rhys and his sister told him. To both his and Twilight's surprise, Ember looked... confused. "You're joking, right?" She asked in disbelief before chuckling a bit nervous. "I have never heard of the other two clans, aren't you sure this Rhys hasn't been pulling your tail—"
"Our clan has returned."
Twilight and Spike jumped startled of someone else has spoken.
Ember only got slightly startled and she turned to an old Slingtail that has spoken. "Explain." She commanded it.
The old Slingtail ignored her and turned his old eyes to Spike. "I never thought this day would come. Our clan; the Dragons of Wisdom are returning." The others of the Slingtails raised their heads, woken up from their slumber of this news.
"If you don't mind me asking, but what do you mean by returning?" Twilight politely asked the old Swingtail. The old dragon didn't seem to mind Twilight question, apparently the Earth dragons still held their past with ponies close to their hearts. He shifted slightly position before he spoke to the purple alicorn. "After the time of the Tainted crystals... the Earth clan was weak." He lowered his head in sadness. "Our queen was lost and no one could take the spot as our new Dragon Lord..."
"I am your Dragon Lord." Ember pointed out, but from how the old and even the other Swingtail stared coldly at her, it seems it wasn't that simple. "You are only the lord of the Sky clan. We are from the Earth clan. We do not heed your bidding. We only heard your father's call for the competition and acknowledge of who would become the new lord of the Sky clan." He turned his head away, his eyes pointed towards the huge lake where sea serpents had been challenging the young dragons with blasts of water. "It's part of a tradition that the two other clans make the obstacle for the competing clan."
"Those sea serpents, they were from the Water clan?" Spike asked, not really noticing Twilight was writing away in her book of these new facts. The Swingtails nodded and the old one explained. "Yes, Hatching from the Earth, the Water and Earth came when the Call came but only the Water clan has a home to return back to..." He lowered his head, looking extremely tired and old. "The earth clan has no home, our last Dragon Lord forced us to scatter, wandering the earth with no purpose.... so we were lost in the world."
"But with the news of the Earth dragon returning." One younger Swingtail pointed out, the old one smiled and said with beaming eyes to Spike that made him look years younger. "We might have purpose again and finally.." He got to his feet and began leaving with the other Swingtails. "We can go home, thank you Hatching of the Earth."
"Wait!" Spike ran up to the leaving earth dragons, they stopped and each of their eyes down onto him. Spike showed the small pack the crystal Rhys gave him. "Do you know what this is?"
The younger Swingtails looked just as confused as Ember, some of them looked hungrily at it as they merely saw it as food. The old Swingtail however. He took it from Spike and with one breath of fire; a map of Equestria lit up from it. Having several fire marks on certain locations.
"We are the people of fire, so fire will show you the way." The old Swingtail said and added to the younger ones from his pack. "Remember that." And before anyone could stop them, the small pack left the Dragon country.
Spike was speechless, never had he thought that those who has thrown boulder at him and Ember under the competition for the gauntlet would actually be part of the same species as him, less they would be so willing to help him out. There was just one thing the old dragon said that bothered him. "If they are going home... um, Twilight.." He poked the oblivious alicorn.
Twilight who has been so busy writing only now noticed Spike, she blinked and looked down to him, not sure why her number one assistance looked so... disturbed. "What's wrong?"
Spike was scared, he has just realized what it meant by the Earth dragons are returning. "The Earth dragons home is Equestria."
Twilight gasped, instantly seeing the problem. "This is not good, we better warn Luna and Celestia." She got Spike on her back before turning to the confused Ember. "Thanks for the help, but it seems this is a bigger problem than I thought." And took off.
"Hang on!" Ember followed them up to the sky, she looked annoyed. "You can't just leave me like that! It was bad enough those boulder heads treated me like some newborn hatching!"
Neither Twilight or Spike has anything to say to that comment.
"You are welcome to come with us," Spike said instead.
Ember nodded hard, she wanted answers like Twilight and Spike although a bit different answers than them. She wanted to know why none from her clan, apparently the Sky clan ever heard of the two other clans but the Water and Earth clearly knew about hers. But before they could seek out these new dragons Twilight first wanted to warn Celestia and Luna about this upcoming problem of returning dragons.