Training

"Up, left, down, left." Rarity countered each swing that Spike took at her with a quick movement of her arm. Each time he swung her eyes darted to his shoulder to see where the blow was going. Spinning out of the way of another blow, she ducked under a kick before rearing around to grasp his outstretched leg, making him stumble and fall onto his stomach.

Spike spun around on the ground, catching the mare by her feet and dropping her to the floor. Using his tail as a spring, he bounced up to his feet, the mare spun around and hastily rose to her feet. Both grinned at the other, knowing that besting their mate was going to be a challenge. An idea wormed its way into Spike's mind, an idea so crude that he thought it wrong to think it, but an idea that was sure to work nonetheless.

The drake threw another punch at the mare. She easily sidestepped his punch, readying to deliver one of her own. Spike caught her arm within his free one, spinning her around to pull her close to his chest. Enveloping her in his leathery wings, he laughed as they were both brought down to the floor. She smacked at his chest when she twirled around and looked upon him.

Looking into his emerald eyes, it was all she could do to not melt with him right there. Her thirst felt strong, a side effect of being mated to Spike. "Spike." Her voice was soft, almost as if she were unsure of herself. As if hesitant, she delicately pecked his luscious scaled, yet soft lips. "Did Celestia tell you anything about what has happened to us?"

He shook his head, running a hand down through her mane. Her soft, silky smooth locks of hair felt warm to the touch, tantalizing even, and it subsequently pulled him in. "You know how Princess Luna has her own set of well, "above normal" guards?" Her soft, delicate hands ran over his chest, each tip of her fingers seemingly tracing a scale as if they had their own minds.

"Ya, the vamponies. What does this have to do with you?" As if he was distracted by the scent of her mane, his nose was soon burying itself in the tangle of jungle that was her straightened cascading beauty atop her head, taking in her heavy scent of vanilla and peach, with a new mixture simultaneously drifting into the fray.

"Well, your mother and Luna did some "studies" on me shortly after you got back. I am going to be getting the full results today, but it seems that your mother thinks that she and I are more special than Luna's guards." She opened her maw to show him her sharpened fangs, which were much sharper than his own. Lightly, she let them carry across his neck, eliciting a shudder of pleasure from the drake.

The strong scent of his blood was so intoxicating. It was like a forbidden fruit that was always just out of her reach. She had to use all of her strength to fight back the thirst that she was beginning to revel in. Spike raised his maw to capture her own, their lips smacking together while their tongues wrestled for dominance. Not fully knowing what he was doing, the drake slipped a clawed hand up to his neck. Something inside of him told him to go ahead and fulfill his body's desire, to fulfill that of his mate's, but he was hesitant.

Rarity silently slipped a hand over his, interlocking their fingers together as his tail came up to tug at the hem of her pants. As if on cue, she muttered a spell in her mind, giggling when she heard the door to their room lock. Spike managed to slip his arms underneath of the giddy mare, breaking their kiss as he brought her over to the bed. In one swift motion, he let her slip onto the mattress made of pillows, taking his place atop her as he nibbled on her lower lip.

The silvery-white mare sucked in a sharp breath as Spike exposed his neck to her. The smell of his cinnamon blood, the sweet metallic taste was calling to her. Hissing fiercely, the mare darted forward, he jaws snapping closed over the major vein in his neck. Two fresh puncture wounds drew blood, filling her eagerly waiting gullet.

Long, boney tendrils of crimson liquid dripped out from the sides of her lips, cascading down to the pillow bed below. A small rivulet of blood began to slither its way down between the soft, comforting cushions to pool on the hard carpeted floor beneath.

Suckling on the now exposed flesh beneath his scales, she could feel her mind glazing over. Desire began to push out all rational thinking, and all she knew, was that she needed her mate, oh so badly. Whimpering deep in her throat, sounding like a dejected dog, she proceeded to break away from his neck and capture his lips. Her hands explored his body, the very body that she wanted to know all about, the very body that had impregnated her.

Clasping his body close to hers was an easy feat. Rolling her tail around his own, like two snakes coiling together, they wrestled around on the sheets. Their arms brushed against one another while their lips never broke apart. His wings whipped around to envelop them both, shielding them away from the rest of the world. Passion took over where lust faded, their love blossoming once more, and the heavens turning their backs to allow the two their privacy.

Spike could feel the blood in his body rush instantly to two separate places, one was his rapidly beating heart, while the other was his lower body. As the heat between them grew, so did their lust for one another. It morphed into unbridled passion that threatened to consume the, but all too soon, their moment was about to come to an impasse.

"Prince Spike!" The dragon's heart dropped into his throat as he heard the call of his guards posted outside of the door. "Princess Celestia to see you!"

Both he and Rarity groaned as they broke apart, their breaths coming in sharp gasps while Rarity clung to his arm. "Send her in!" A kiss to his cheek helped to calm his racing nerves, but it didn't delude the racing of his heart, nor whisk away the embarrassing appendage that was almost clearly visible.

Seeing that her mate was blushing, she quickly covered his appendage with her tail, whispering seductively into his ear, "Mine." To emphasize her point, she nibbled on the tip of his ear, her tail coiling tighter around his leg, nearly shrouding his embarrassment in her luxurious hair. With a final kiss to his lower jaw, which she nipped with her fangs, making him shiver in pleasure, she turned her attention to the door, which had just clicked open, while her arms wrapped around his chest, her head lying against his shoulder.

Celestia strode through the oak door with a smile gracing her features. She was adorned in a regal flowing white dress that had sapphires around the cuffs of the short sleeves while some lined down the neck, a few more around the hem of the dress. Some make-up, eye liner, a few spots of powder on her face. Her ever flowing mane was groomed smoothly out, while her tail was twisted around into a tight knot. "My dear son." Her voice sounded soft and serene as always, but a little playful at the same time. She grinned at him, flashing him her fangs before bowing her head towards the young couple. "I can see that you two were just getting to enjoy your "private" time." She giggled when Rarity buried her face into Spike's neck, the drake blushing deeply, turning his cheeks a deep shade of cherry red.

"Mommm. Please don't say things like that." Spike whined. Beside him Rarity whimpered again, although this time it sounded more like she was in pain instead of passionate. His head turned so fast towards her that Celestia thought that the drake would snap his neck. Running a finger down her face, he gently whimpered to her in return, "What's wrong Rawity?" He cooed softy.

Tears stained her cheeks as she looked towards the door of their room. Celestia, sensing that her new daughter wanted privacy for the three of them, muttered a spell under her breath and re-closed and locked the door. Whimpers never ceased leaving her lips, taking in sharp breaths as she began to kiss her dragon on the cheeks. "I'm sorry Spike, I meant to tell you when you got back."

"Tell me what?" Rarity looked up towards Celestia, pleading with her.

Celestia's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as she realized what her daughter was saying. It was something that she knew would happen, but something that she feared for many reasons. "Oh no." Celestia had to hold back her own wave of tears. After what she had told Rarity about her visit to the dragon capital, the last thing that she wanted was for her new daughter to be, well, what she was. Please don't let anything happen to their child Nuyendár. She thought.

Rarity nodded her head quickly. She took her drake's cheeks within her grasp, bringing him down towards her stomach, placing an ear against it. A small little heartbeat was all that he could hear, but in a single instant, his breath left him. Looking back at his girlfriend, his mate, his expression unreadable, it frightened the mare.

Spike felt too many conflicting emotions running through his head. He was happy, excited, afraid, worried, in love, caring, confused, and above all else, protective. Disbanding the fact that his mother was in the room, the drake rushed his head forward, meeting his mate's lips. Heated passion coursed rapidly, and Celestia could see that her son wanted to be alone with his mate. The way that he held her in his arms, his mother knew that there was no way she was going to be able to talk to them at the moment.

Celestia silently slid an envelope from the folds of her dress to the nightstand beside of the bed. She then made herself scarce by sliding through the door, once more locking it as she left. With the flick of her wrist the sign above the door switched around, the guards both blushing as they realized what was happening inside, if the sounds of Rarity's moans and Spike's gentle murmurs weren't any clear indication.

Princess Celestia sighed as she trotted through the halls of Canterlot Castle. Her footsteps echoed down the polished tile floors. Beside of her two guards marched in perfect synchronized unison, a tribute that their training paid off.

Turning down the Hall of Glass, she stopped when she saw the dragon capital in the distance. Plumes of smoke from the mountain behind could clearly be seen in the noon-day sun. Another sigh escaped her as she thought about her late husband and mate, whom she missed dearly with all of her heart. Her mind began to drift back towards Shining Armor, her highest ranking commander and niece's personal guard, and husband.

"Sergeant Racewhinnie?" Said guard, to the left, stood with his feet together and a hand over his heart. "Tell me, has Captain Armor returned from his mission yet?"

"No ma'am." There was a slight hesitation in his voice, a hesitation that she knew meant he truly didn't know.

"What about you Private, do you know?"

"Captain Armor has not checked in yet ma'am. Nopony has seen him since he left on his mission." Her tone was commanding, assertive, and truthful.

"How long have you been a guard Private?"

"Two years ma'am."

"I need a favor of you Private. Do you think that you can sneak into the dragon capital Lyndoren and find out what has happened to my most trusted guard?"

"Yes ma'am." The guard smiled, showing off her fangs to Celestia before racing out of the hall. As her echoing footsteps receded, the Princess shifted back to walking towards the throne room. Along the way she noticed her sister heading down one of the many garden paths outside in the courtyard.

"Sergeant, tell my sister I request her presence. Be swift about it please."

"Yes ma'am." The guard turned heel and raced down the hallways towards where Luna was stocking through the garden.

Celestia made her way over to the balcony overlooking Equestria. Just below her was an acre or two of castle walls before they dropped off to reveal the cliff face beyond. Venturing beyond was her entire kingdom. From the foot of the cliff were the open plains, beautiful and filled with luscious green grass swaying in the winds that swept over them. In the distance to the North were the snow capped mountains, their white peaks just visible past the clouds that they pierced. Towards the East she could see the bustling Crystal Empire, see their regal gleam from her sun just beyond the distant open prairie where she knew her subjects roamed freely. To the West was the small town of Ponyville, where her most prized pupil and newest princess resided in her Castle of Friendship.

Taking in the smell of the air, feeling the crisp breeze of the wind brush against her fur, blowing her shimmering mane out behind her, reminded her of Nuyendár. The cool touch that he possessed, which she felt could calm even the most angry storm with just a flick of his wrist. It felt like time was coming to a standstill, and all she had to do to keep it was whisper something that escaped her. A final sigh escaped, this one sounding loving, caring, and leaving her breathless. "Sister." Luna's gruff voice brought her out of her world, making her breath return and the world continue to spin.

"Luna." She breathed out. "You were swift." Her gaze remained towards the plains beyond her castle walls.

"As we have ways of old always been mine dearest sister."

"Luna, were you informed of our findings?" Silence pervaded the air, telling her what she already knew to be true. "Rarity is indeed beyond your guards, or even me. When I mated with Nuyendár, all I gained was the ability to devour meat. Rarity I am afraid is affected with the same curse that some of your guards have, a thirst for blood. Unless she has a sufficient amount each day, or unless a cure can be found, she will die."

"It is most troubling news thy dearest sister. What art thou's inquiry?" Another ring of silence befell the two sister's. "Thou's ailment directed not on our nephew's mate?"

"No Luna, they were not. War is coming." Luna gasped, another still silence grasping a hold of the room and squeezing tightly. Neither Celestia nor Luna could push their voice past the lump that was in their throat.

"Art thou absolute?"

"Yes. I saw it when I was rescuing my son, and Shadow." Towards Ponyville, Celestia watched as a loud bang throbbed in the air, sending out a tri-wave of rainbow colored pulses. From the center and rising higher was a pegasus with a rainbow trailing her as she looped through the sky, her joy and laughter easily felt in the princess's heart. "They live on as if nothing will happen. I have tried everything that I can to save them, to stop this dark tyrant. I have failed."

"Nay sister. Thou has never once faltered. Thy own past was wrought of darkness, but by thy own strength we garnered our obstacle. Thou hast the stronger heart sister, thou shalt find a way."

Luna was silenced by the soft clicking of scaled feet, their long talons striking the polished tiled floor of the halls. Shadow entered the throne room, his eyes immediately drawn to Princess Luna. Garbed in her thick royal coat of hazy blue dress with dark black gems around the color, her mane pressed up into what one would call a "ponytail", and her tail in a tight knot like her sister's. The princess was the epitome of beauty, and if given the chance, he would stare at her all day and night. Silently, he bowed to the princess of the night before sulking his way over to Princess Celestia.

As the drake drew near, she could smell the blood that coated his hands, the constant rapid beating of his heart. The navy drake said nothing as he bowed before the regal princess, turning his attention to the balcony. Celestia gazed back out over the vast ocean of plains, listening intently to the soft, labored breathing of the dragon and her sister. Luna was as silent as the night, gliding between Celestia and Shadow with little more than a whisper. Gently, hesitantly even, the mare of the night slipped her hand over the drake's, feeling giddy when his fingers brushed over her own.

"Who is this dragon to you Luna?"

Luna pushed a finger to the dragon's lips, silencing him before he could speak. "Shadow Snowhowl has been under thy ploy for nigh on three-and-twenty years. A sacred shroud to our enemies, and a favorable lover." She cast a wicked grin to her sister, who looked shocked. "Thou was not the only one to seek favor with a dragon lover." She gave a small peck to the dragon's cheek.

"So Cadence...?"

"Is thy daughter, our daughter." In front of Celestia, Princess Luna, ruler over the night, grand princess of Equestria, enveloped the navy drake's lips within her own. Their hands never broke, even when their kiss deepened. Their tongues fought for dominance while the dragon's tail slithered around the mare's leg, pulling her in closer.

"Does she know? Have you ever told her?"

"Nay." Luna sighed as she pulled away from her lover. "Thy mate has been too long kept a secret. Thy daughter should know their father, but would thy daughter still love us?"

Celestia placed a hand on the night mare's back, soothing her by softly rubbing her fur. Shadow brought her in for another kiss, but when he pulled his lips away, he kept their heads together. "Love knows no bounds my mate. Daughters just like sons, always love their parents somewhere deep down in their heart."

Celestia brought her gaze back out over towards the plains, catching the glimmer of the train speeding its way towards the royal capital. "If only there was a way to stop this demon called war." A trail of warm, fresh tears fell from her eyes. Never before had the princess of the sun ever felt so helpless, and so alone. "Things were so much easier when he was still here." Celestia sobbed openly, not caring who below could see her. Right now, Celestia was not a princess, but a mare.

"Sister. What ails you most?"

"Oh Luna, too many things. I still feel the loss of Nuyendár baring down on my heart. Even on the clearest of your nights, I can't stop thinking about how much I want him back. His touch, his words, his very scent trail me around wherever I go." He tone changed from sadness to utter defeat. "War draws near to us, and I have been powerless to stop it. Nuyendár tried, and it cost him his life." Suddenly, he voice became a mixture of defeat, somber, and sheer loss of will. "Spike. I feel the worst for Spike."

"What ill news ails thy nephew."

Celestia's sobs grew in intensity as she looked out over the rolling plains once more, wishing she could fly, be free of all these things that ailed her, and her son. "When Spike was born, Koren placed a curse on him. Any mare or dragoness that he became mates with, would soon find that unless they drank from ponies, or their mate, they would die. Rarity already shows signs of it. Because she ate parts of those dragons, she was fine, but now that he is back, and that she is drinking from him, it will only get worse. Her fate, rests in my hands." More tears fell, cascading down to the balcony.

A scaled hand was felt gliding over her's, embracing it. "Nothing is beyond hope. Ways exist to seek that which is thought lost. Answers exist in the places we refuse to venture into. Questions are always wrought from the blood, sweat, and tears of where time is forged and answers are sought." Celestia raised her eyes to gaze into the piercing golden yellow eyes that reminded her of her precious sun, and of the flame that burned in the hearts of every living creature.

"Thank you Shadow." Celestia wiped away her tears, letting her eyes drift to the beautiful blue sky above...

---

Rarity cooed gently in her sleep as she nestled up closer to the drake whom she loved. Lying together on their bed made of cushions, small trickles of blood dripping from her slightly ajar maw, displaying her fangs, the mare was content. Her need of blood was sated at the moment, and she felt warm being wrapped up in the wings and arms of her mate, if another intrusion inside of her didn't make her wiggle with pleasure.

Spike stared at the ceiling, softly caressing his love. His hands swept through her mane, brushing it backwards and away from her face so that he could fully gaze upon her beauty. Below, he could feel her shift against him, making him stifle a moan. Their legs were entwined just like their tales were, their hearts beating in unison. The amethyst drake, in all his haste, did not stop to really think about what Rarity had said. He was just so glad to see her after so long, and was more than happy to indulge in her "physical" exercises, especially after the news that he was told.

I'm going to be a father. He thought. A father... It was like his fairy tales, but there was something amiss. In his dreams when he would think of the day that he was going to receive this news it was always during a peace time. We are at war. Raising a child now, its unthinkable. He sighed. We'll manage, we always do. Besides, I have my mate at my side. "Hmm." Rarity hummed as she settled in closer to her dragon, placing small kisses on the underside of his jaw.

Spike's eyes drifted from the mare to the window above them, seeing the sun slowly arching its way towards the lip of the window. Clouds passed by, the tufts of white slithering towards the sun's graceful presence. In the light they looked translucent, as if he could reach through them and touch something magical on the other side. Drifting down from his thoughts, the drake's eyes fell to the dossier that was beside of his bed, lying gently on the floor, untouched.

It ruffled and shifted from the breeze that was created when the drake's free hand grasped it firmly. It felt thick, like there was a novel written inside of it. Hesitantly, the drake flipped open the flap. Inside was a picture of Rarity, with it was a one written over the center and circled in red ink. Beneath of it was a small note written by his mother, it read, "Spike, give this to Rarity when she is ready."

The amethyst drake shifted through a few papers inside. Multiple copies of medical records, medical experiments, and even a few results of decay were written on the papers. Some of them talked about her condition, but it was the final paper inside that stopped his heart, and almost made him vomit.

It read; Doctor Lazorish, subject 'one' has been fully tested in the little time that we were given. Subject 'one' is truly remarkable. She shows incredible resilience to the antidotes that we have tried. Her thirst is beyond parallel to that of a normal vampony. It seems though that what has genetically altered her is more than what we have been informed.

It was suspected by Princess Celestia that subject 'one' was mated by a dragon, and baring a child. Our tests concluded that she indeed bares a child, not an egg either, but a live one! Oh the tests we wanted to perform, but were denied. We where able to extract some DNA which is... The rest was covered over with a black strip until it started on the next line.

It is understood that subject 'one' has only two, maybe three cures that are sure to work, if our data is correct. Either a daily dose of her dragon's blood must be taken, in no more than a few pints, or she is to consume no less than three hundred gallons of pure pony blood. Her skills, her senses, they are beyond those of even our beloved Princesses. Subject 'one' is powerful indeed, but only when she is on the hunt. Despite out best efforts, there remains only one sure way that she can eradicate this genetic mutation to her body. Only, if it fails, she will die...

This concludes our findings. The rest are being sent to you department for... Spike left the folder slip from his grasp. Tears stained his eyes as he glanced back down to the mare whom he had sacrificed so much for, and had doomed. She loved him just as much as he loved her, but because of their choices, she was in danger, and so were his friends. Unless she fed from him everyday, she was going to go into a blood coma and never come out unless there were ponies to feed off of. "Rarity." He whispered. "What have I done to you?"

Spike broke down. Tears fell from his eyes in a torrential downpour akin to that of a dam bursting. Sobs escaped him as he pulled Rarity tighter into his arms, hearing her trying to stifle a few sobs herself. Her arms clung to him, burying her head into his scaled chest. "Spikey, it's not your fault." She whispered to him. "There was no way to know what was going to happen." His scent was driving her senses wild, but she managed to push aside her desires to allow her despair to flow.

"I don't want to lose you."

"You won't have to. I can fight what is happening to me. Celestia said that it was only a small thirst, that I would have to have some of your blood as an antidote. It's alright, I can fight it. I am strong, the heart if a dragon as you once said. I can fight it." Her voice faded into a distant echo as slumber once more took her away, much to the drake's reluctance.

Still holding his mare close against his breast, the drake let his lips brush against her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere Rarity." Spike slumped back in their bed, staring at the clear blue skies above, wondering. Time goes by everyday, and when I finally find time for it to slow down, it speeds up. Rarity, she is all I have ever wanted out of life. Pregnant with my child, and she starts to slip away. What have I done?

"What all those who desire love want. You gave in to your heart." A cloaked figure appeared within the sky above. All light was drowned out by a black cloud that swirled around his window like a shroud of shadow. "Give in to your desires Spike." The voice was feminine, but was also very familiar to him, as if he had heard it before from some distant time in his memories. "Feed me Spike!"

Spike's head shot up to look towards the window, then towards Rarity. "It was just a dream." He breathed a sigh of relief, but still felt on edge. Closing his eyes, he allowed his head to rest, thinking only of Rarity and hoping that dreams of her would take over the worries that were in his heart.

---

"Ugh. Mmmpf."

"Captain, do stifle that vile muttering of yours would you." A stallion with regal flowing white fur bristled into the room. "There now old sport. Wasn't so hard. Bleedin' guards never show any bucking manors." The stallion threw a punch at Shining Armor's chest, making him suck in a breath. "Now do be a good old sport and spot us what you know eh?"

The cloth was pulled out of the stallions clenched teeth. "Buck you!"

"Very well. Bring in his new roommates."

In the distance, past the darkness that surrounded them, the stallion could hear the sound of heavy scaled footsteps as they approached. There were two separate sets by the sound of it. Both were clad in armor made of steel judging by the clank that jingled when they walked. The first set was carrying something heavier than the second, easily told by how hard their feet impacted the ground.

Despite knowing the most extreme tortures known to pony kind, Shining Armor felt a glint of fear in the pit of his stomach. Who were they bringing in with him? And what did they want from him? The stallion looked around the room for any way to escape.

All around him was a shroud of darkness that veiled everything he feared. Only two torches provided any sense of light for him. He was tied up to a stalactite made of hard crystal, which made him think that he was in the crystal catacombs beneath the castle, but he knew that was untrue. These crystals were colored a deep hue of emerald green instead of the normal royal purple or light sapphire and baby blue. Rock covered the ground beneath his dangling feet, coated the walls, even surrounded the base of the crystal that he was tied to. Two torches provided the only means for light, which extended out to reveal two more crystals, one shorter the other taller, and three sets of gleaming silver, gold, and orange eyes.

From the darkness came a golden yellow scaled dragon, covered in only a loin cloth to protect his nether regions. The stallion's eyes went wide as the face turned to reveal a set of sparkling golden yellow eyes. "Nuyendár?" The dragon never looked away from the stallion, letting his eyes display the hatred that he had towards the pony. The dragon growled before trying to lunge at the stallion, getting stopped by a chain around his neck.

"E'sy pup. Vouldn't v-vant a-anything b-b-b-bad to happen to our f-f-f-friend now v-v-vould ve?" There was a slight baritone voice that came from the darkness. It sounded gruff, like nails against chalkboard. "Ve have p-p-p-plans for zis one." There was a creeping still silence that befell the room, broken only by the occasional shuffle from one of the three sets of eyes in the veil beyond the light.

"What do you want with me?" Shining could feel his strength ebbing away. Nothing he could do would save him now, he was gone. "What the buck do you want from me!" He shouted into the still darkness. Shuffling was heard before another body was thrown into the mix, that of Sir Fancy Pants of the Canterlot Elite, and Ex-Cantelot Guard. "Fancy Pants?"

"Hey there old sport. Fancy seeing you here." He coughed as he was tied up to the stalactite beside of the stallion, with the dragon on the other side. "What's happening here lad?"

"Hell if I know. These bucking bastards won't tell say anything."

From within the darkness came the ringing of a gong, which made the dragons spin around faster that thought possible. As one, they rushed into the darkness, cries ringing out for war and the death of all ponies. Shining felt his heart sink into his chest, Cadence, Princess Celestia, Twilight, Spike. All of them were now in danger, and he felt like he had let them down.

"Cheer up lad, at least they don't have Spike."

"What?! Where is he?!"

"Before I was taken I saw the princess flying away with the dragon prince. They were in Canterlot when I was captured. Princess Celestia sent me to find you." He flashed the stallion a coy grin. "She knew it was me, but I suspected the sergeant with me of being an imposter. Between me and Luna's agent, there was no evidence left."

The shimmering white stallion shivered as he imagined what the two had done to the imposter, which was most likely a changeling. "I still wish I knew why they wanted me here."

"To capture your memories, your feelings, the real you." Both stallions turned to look at the dragon who was chained up beside of them, his golden eyes gazing into the darkness. "They tried to break me, but it didn't work. I have been here for over seventeen years, waiting for a chance to escape. I sought it when I realized it was you two who they had taken captive."

"Prince Nuyendár, your back."

"I never left Captain Armor. It was merely to appease them, sorry I snapped at you like I did, but I had to make sure that they thought it was real." He slumped, feeling defeated as he spoke. "They took over my memories, all the things that I did when I was younger, my love for Celestia. Queen Chrysalis wears my veil like a cloak. Smothering my name in the mud and confusing my son, mate, and sister. She stalks through the dream realm and real world with ease. Her magic has grown beyond that of the ordinary celestial beings. I fear that she maybe untouchable now. I was supposed to stop her, instead I just made her more powerful."

Shining Armor was perplexed as he digested the words. Nothing the dragon said made sense, aside from Queen Chrysalis still being alive and wearing his body like a costume. "You mentioned the dream realm and real world, what do you mean by that?"

"You are aware that alicorns are a long lived species right, aside from their dragon counterparts?"

"Yes?"

"Long ago the alicorns during their rise to power discovered the power of 'dream-weaving'. Every living creatures has dreams, from the tiniest ant to the largest dragon. It is how we are connected to one another on another plane of existence. Alicorns were the only species to ever discover a way to cross the bridge into the other realm, to walk among the other plane's existence. They became known as the 'Guardians', who sought to protect the realm. As any wise creature would know, if they found the plane, so could the other species.

"Nopony really knows where the alicorn's discovered the power, but it is one of their most closely guarded secrets, one that has never been shared outside of their ranks, except for me. My mate once told me how they came to be, how alicorns got the power, and it is a long tale to tell." The dragon wet his lips with a quick lash of his tongue, scanning the area once more to make sure that no wondering ears could pry in on their conversation.

Nuyendár muttered a quick spell underneath his breath so that only the three of them could be heard amongst themselves. "Long ago when the stars were still young, the universe just being formed, there was a race known as the Cosmos. These sentient beings guarded the universe with love, care, tenderness, and governing rules. They formed the stars in the night sky that we gaze at every night, waiting, listening to their master's will, and always eager to share their cast knowledge with any who sought their guidance. When you look at a star at night, does it not seem to glitter with life, teaming with thoughts and emotions?

"The Cosmos were at the time guided by a force that they called the 'Stenvar', or 'star mother'. She was the very first creature to fall beloved among the solar system. The sun was her playground, the moon her soft mattress, and the stars her beloved subjects whom she nurtured, mothered, protected. She was made up of matter, space, anything and everything. Though she had no physical form, she loved all as if she did. In their hearts, they could feel her caring presence always.

"Stenvar created time, created the Earth, the heavens, indeed us in all essence. She is the life force inside of every living creature, the one being that gave us all something that the stars or Cosmos themselves did not have, freedom. Before Stenvar was a presence that we have yet to discover its true origin, but whatever it was, the Cosmos feared it until Stenvar defeated it.

"After a millennia of just them, the Cosmos sought life, and willed it to take form on the various planets that they had created. Some never had a chance, the planets the wrong fit for the life that they wanted to create. Mars was not always a desolate wasteland, Neptune was not always covered in clouds of gas, there used to be so much more. But those are stories for another time.

"Stenvar set her sights of Earth, there she imbued her will of life, teeming with thousands of microscopic organisms that thrived off of the planet. Years progressed on and with each passing year more of her life force was channeled into the planet, creating more multicelled organisms along with various other forms of life. Trees began to grow taller then just shimmering ferns, oceans rose from small ponds, volcanoes grew from small steam pockets, and mountains enlarged from rocks. From the ocean came the first signs of life, the early form of civilization.

"Humans came to live on the land from the trees. From living among the forest to the grassy fields, they thrived. They ate other creatures like dragons do, they ate the grass like ponies, and they studied the stars like gryphons. In all, it was one of the most beautiful times. Until such a time when a long thought foe returned. Wars raged on the planet, the humans growing beyond their intentional bounds, claiming the Earth as their own and reshaping it as they saw fit. Some people, they wished for it all to change, some people, wanted it all to end. One sacrifice is all it took. One diseased mammal killed off the population. It was a virus that never stopped, until all of the humans were dead, even the infants.

"Stenvar, in her dying haste, left her life to the Cosmos, whom she gave the knowledge of true freedom to. To see her life eradicated like it was, it was too much for her heart to bare, and thus she was ended, but she still lived on. Her withering flame, teaming to her essence, has never been extinguished. From her sacrifice, the Cosmos created a creature that sought to restore balance and peace to all corners of the system. A tiny baby alicorn. She was regal beyond belief and was bestowed the power of Stenvar. Her name was Quesar, great grandmother to Princess Celestia. From her heart came a star that withered away, giving it's life away to her mate, Andorek, a prince among the stars and ruler of the Cosmos.

"The Cosmos never wanted the power that their mother left them with, and so passed it on to Andorek and Quesar. Their love brought about a change. The universe felt as if its mother had returned with the way that Quesar loved everything, while Andorek sought other, personal gains. Together they created a new world on Earth for all living things. Quesar modeled her perfect creatures, ponies, off of her Cosmos wishes. She listened to them, allowed them to flow her magic and power into ways that they knew would keep things pure among the planets.

"Andorek used his strength and infinite power to create the dragons, a race delved deep from the core of the Earth for one purpose, carnage, war, lust, and fear. Andorek's heart was as cold as ice and could not feel any emotion, any empathy, even towards his mate Quesar. Because of his lack of wisdom, Quesar did the one thing that she dreaded for the rest of her life, and made the hardest decision for her subjects, who feared her mate; She imbued him with the form of a dragon, and stripped his power from him, sending him to Earth, where he asserted himself as king.

"There Andorek took his rage out on the ponies, war after constant war raging the lands. At times the fighting would die down to a stalemate, but always would be continuing afterwords. Ponies hate dragons just as much as dragons hate ponies, nopony really knows why anymore, but all because of our ancestors, we fight to this day."

"But where does dream-weaving come from?" Shining Armor was still trying to digest and grasp the full credit of his tale.

"Dream-weaving came from Quesar, who willed the ponies and dragons the power of dreams. After their night time minds could still wonder, she created the plane that is the dream realm. Rules exist there, wars are raged beyond their borders, but never inside of the plane. Celestia doesn't know how to access it like Luna does, but only a Guardian can cross the threshold. If anypony else were to try their mind would never return to their body, and they would cease to function. Their body would ease away with time while their mind would be forever trapped inside of a prison where they would grow crazy and never know anything ever again."

Shining Armor had a hard time digesting what he was told. Almost everything that the dragon has said made sense to him in a way, but it was still hard to decipher. There was something missing, something that he had neglected to say, but it seemed a moot point. "Is there any way that your father knows about this plane."

"I know he does. After all, his mate created it." Shining's eyes went wide at what the dragon had said, but what he said next left him without breath. "My father's real name is not Koren, but Andorek..."

---

Spike grunted as he sidestepped the guard. Their eyes were locked on each other, watching every little move that the other one made. Beside of him Rarity did the same with her opponent, simultaneously watching her mates back in the process. Each moment that slipped by was another moment that they could not afford to waste. Rarity lunged forward towards her opponent, catching the guard beneath the arm and pushing them back.

Spike dodge beneath a blow that went towards his ribs and swung around with a kick to the guards center, knocking him sideways over a one of the train benches. Two more guards converged on them, one with a sword, the other with a long dagger. Spike lunged at the guard with the dagger, tackling him to the ground with a rough expulsion of air.

Rarity slipped beneath the guard as he swung his sword, just brushing the air above where her throat was a moment earlier. With his arms still out, the guard brought the sword around and swung down towards her. The silvery-white mare slipped her feet up to his hands. With a swift kick that sent the dragon reeling back, she knocked the sword up into the air. Her outstretched hand caught the hilt with ease. She swung the sword around backwards towards the other two guard that were converging upon her with drawn swords.

The amethyst drake managed to swing around the guard using only his wings. He grasped the dagger in one hand and twisted out of the stallion's grip. He knocked his helmet with the pommel, dropping him to the floor. The drake threw the dagger into the wall, where it stuck out like a sore thumb. Next he turned towards the other guards that were in the room, both of whom where trying to attack his mate. She managed to parry their numerous blows, but he didn't know for how much longer.

The first guard swung low while the second swung high, catching the silvery-white mare in a blind trap. She saw their trap and bounced back, slamming into the wall of the train car. She watched as they hit open air, realizing too late that their arc was bringing it towards them. Both groaned when they sliced into their armored feet, spurts of blood gushing out. The smell to Rarity was intoxicating, and since she had yet to drink from Spike for the day, it took all of her strength to not attack the guard.

Spike could see her internal struggle, but what worried him more was the very first guard that she had sent back by catching him beneath the arm. In his hand was the dagger from the wall with a swirling amount of rage and determination in his eyes. Spike jumped in front of Rarity, pushing her out of the way as he ducked beneath the blade, just catching the tip of his ear. It was not a bad cut, but it did draw blood.

Three more guards converged upon them, each one carrying their drawn swords, while the other two were just picking themselves up from the floor. Spike caught the first sword guard beneath the jawline, cracking a few bones as the stallion flew onto his back, the force knocking away his breath and rendering him disabled. Using only his claws, the drake parried both attacks from the other two swords before catching one in his hands, twisting it from the guard's grip with his tail.

The other two, unarmed guards, converged upon Rarity, who was still struggling to fight away the blood lust of her mind. Already she could feel her fangs sharpening, getting ready for the taste of her mate, or the six guards. The first guard picked Rarity up, holding her arms against her side while the other punched her in the stomach. She shuddered, but did not grimace. She bared her fangs, a wicked smile across her lips and the gleam that came into her eyes when she lost control flickered. Spike caught the glimmer, but he did not have time to react.

Rarity kicked away the guard before her, sending him flying into one of the benches, cracking it in half and with a sickening crunch, broke the stallion's spinal chord. "Rarity! No!" Spike pushed away the other two guards, rushing over to her as she used her momentum to crack the other guards nose, blood pouring out. Rarity turned to attack the guard, her muzzle aimed for his neck. The guard managed to use what strength he had left to fight back the mare, his arm against her throat and pushing back. His strength was waning, evident by the fact that she inched ever closer to her goal.

Spike grasped Rarity around her midsection, pulling her off of the guard and holding her close. "Quickly! Get him and get out, lock the doors and don't let anypony in." The guard nodded, hurrying to grab their fallen comrade and escape out either door, locking it and posting a single guard to keep anypony away.

When he was sure they were in the clear, Spike stopped holding onto Rarity and turned her around. Almost immediately her fangs sunk into his neck, blood beginning to flow into her away throat. She moaned as she felt the warm liquid drizzle down her throat, almost enticing her to grind against him. He fought with his instincts to take her right then and there, for he knew better, she was not in her right state of mind, and he would never take advantage of her like that. As the train they rode passed through a tunnel, the darkness enveloping them, all he could think about was how much longer he was going to be able to keep this a secret, and if he would be able to save her from death...