A/N: Get yourself back up from that cliffhanger and start seeing the action again.

Disclaimer: We don't own anything we don't own.

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

Lightning was slammed hard against a wall. 'Ok I think that one dislocated my wing.' Lightning thinks as he tries to get up.

A roar sounded from the direction he was thrown from. Lightning turns to it and sees the two Wyverns ready to strike again. Lightning groans again and tires to run around the arena to dodge their charge. Unfortunately they got him with a swipe one of their tail. 'I'm really starting to hate this!'

Meanwhile with the spectators Rainbow was having a hard time watching this. Bets were thrown around casually as the other ponies not in her group watched on. Twilight was sickened by how some nobles treated a pony's life. When the best holder came to them Twilight gave him a glare. "Listen I don't condone this at all. But since nopony betted on him." She lifts a large bag of bits and gives it to him. "All of it on the pony!" Everypony else in the group places their bets on Lightning as well and cheers him on.

"Come on boy! Get them! Show them what you can do!" Alexander yells as he looks at the ceiling for his companions. 'Come on.'

"Come on Lightning!" Rainbow yells at him as she leans on the bars.

Lightning looks up as he runs around again. "At least I have some supporters. That's helpful." He then gets hits again by a tail. "It would be more helpful if I can heal." He groans out.

The black Wyvern with a bat like face then trapped him under its claw and brings its eye close to him. "You remember me don't you?" Lightning asks.

It then sniffs his body before roaring out and readies to stomp down again. Lightning rolls out of the way of the falling claw and starts to run again. 'I can't keep this up. But why did that Wyvern sniff at me? To recognize me?' Lightning thinks barely avoiding the other Wyvern snapping its jaw at him.

The Wyvern that held him down roared at the other one before they both looked at him. Lightning held his ground and waited for the attack that will never come. 'What are you waiting for?'

The first thing that came to his mind was the tight feeling on his legs and something covering his face. Midnight groans and tries to get up but falls because of his tied legs. 'Ow. Okay, what did mommy say about this?' He then rubs his head against the ground to get the thing off of his head. Soon the cloth sack covering his head was pulled off and now he can finally look around...or lack thereof.

He was in a dark room where the only light was from the doorway cracks. He then looks to the rope holding him and struggles to pull at least one apart. 'Come on. Just like mommy said.' He tries and tries, but gives up after realizing that the ropes were too tight. He then sighs and lays back down on the cold concrete ground. Then after a while of waiting for nothing he hears something scratching against metal. 'What the…? That sound like...'

He starts to crawl as best he could to the sound until he finds a cage in the corner of the room holding a little creature that almost like a dragon. 'Wait, that's a Wyvern!'

The little Wyvern in the cage looks over to the noise coming at it. In the darkness it can make out a pony shaped creature that has all its legs in one bundle. "It's okay." The creature said to him. The Wyvern pulls back a little from the voice. "It's alright. I'm in the same amount of trouble as you." Soon the dark shape came into the smallest sliver of light from the door, revealing a small pony.

The spectators were becoming restless as the Wyverns hadn't made an attack for ten minutes now. The crowd started to yell and almost ready to throw things at them to get them moving. Even Lightning's group were confused.

"What the heck is going on? I thought they were ready to kill into tiny pieces a few minutes ago." Twilight asks Alexander.

Alexander shrugs. "Don't know. This has never happen before. Usually when you meet one, even by a passing glance they would kill you outright." He looks to Lightning who had sat down after a while and started to heal himself as best he could.

'Damn, I need help with my wing for this.' He looks to the still unmoving Wyverns and then back to him wing. He then hears a growl from one of them and he looks up. He sees one of them growling to the other who then stops. The other Wyvern then looks to him and walks over to him.

The crowd soon starts to lean in at a possible kill while Lightning's groups watches in horror for the possible bloodshed. While in the arena Lightning freezes at this point, knowing that he can't do anymore besides rest. 'Great, dead by Wyvern in a sports arena.'

The Wyvern's clawed hand reaches down toward him as he awaits his death. Yet, that never came. He felt the claw touch his wing lightly and snaps it back into place. Lightning groans from the sudden pain that was replaced with relief. The claw left his wing as Lightning looks up. The Wyvern just stares at him inquisitively. "Thanks." The Wyvern nods before heading back to the other one.

The crowd yells at the action and turns to Lord Burrows who looked incredibly angry himself. "Get some guards to enrage them." He commands a guard right beside him while his son just stares angrily at his father.

Lightning sighs and finishes most the healing he could do by hoof and looks to the two Wyverns just looking around. 'Why?' He then sees a guard readying an arrow at the Wyverns, which makes him run at them. The Wyverns look at him in shock and back up a little at the pony coming at them. Lightning jumps at them and starts to jump from place to place before reaching a shoulder on one of the Wyverns and catches the arrow.

"Bad move." Lightning says throwing the arrow back at the archer and a yell was heard seconds later.

He looks back to the Wyvern he was riding on the shoulder as they both look at him surprised. "You spared me, you helped my wing and that makes you okay in my book." He told them.

He then takes a look around the cage and sees that gaps in the cage were too small for him, yet when he looks up he sees it connected to a central chain. Following the chain comes to a winch system by Lord Barrows. 'I need somepony else for that, but I can't give away the order, otherwise they will surround it.'

The crowd was completely outraged at this point as the fight was never going to start. They started to yell and throw things into the arena, which completely furiated Barrows. He turns to the nearest guard and yells, "Get this fight started somehow, I don't care what!"

"What do you two say for a good old jailbreak?" Lightning asks the Wyverns

They look at each other before turning back to him with devilish grin. "Let's cause some trouble for them." Lightning said with a grin of his own.

Midnight now stood carefully in front of the little Wyvern as he still tries to find a way out. "I can help you, you know?" The Wyvern stares at him. "Just get me out of these ropes and I'll get you out." Midnight said trying to get the ropes as close as possible.

The Wyvern looks at the ropes before it starts to chew away. After a while, some snaps were heard and Midnight could feel his legs free. "Yes!" He then covers his mouth. 'Remember, if you find yourself in an escape plan, the main thing is to be quiet.' That's what his mother told.

He looks around for a bit before seeing that it didn't cause much trouble and goes to work on the cage. "Your turn." He looks to lock and sees that it is just a standard cage lock built in to the cage. "Amateurs." He reaches up to his mane and pulls out a bobby pin which makes some of mane fall down. "Thank you mommy." He then goes to work on the lock while the Wyvern looks on in interest.

As he moves the pin to the lock an explosion was heard. He fumbles a bit before smiling and turning back to the lock. "That's my friends here to save us." He told the little Wyvern who smiles.

Lightning shoots more lightning at the caged top damaging it more as both Wyverns use their claws to climb the walls.

The crowd has started to leave the area, but couldn't as the doors were locked. "Sorry everypony, but this where I leave you all to enjoy the show with volunteers now." Barrows tells the crowd as he turns to leave.

"Damn." Alexander curses. "We can't let him get away. Now!" He yells to the ceiling.

"Father, you cowardly…oh, never mind." Euram says unlocking the door as his father was pushed to the ground by two stallions.

The crowd quickly leaves with many stories to bring him down in the noble world. "Now that end is taken care of. Would one of you two gentlestallions please pull the lever on that wall there? It's a bit locked and my father may have the key."

But before anypony could do anything one of the Wyverns finally tears through the caged top. It starts tearing a bigger hole in the caged roof as more of Lord Barrow's guards start come in to try and stop the Wyverns.

Though a lightning strike got to them as the Wyvern grins at its helpless targets. "Not up in here!" Lightning yells from below who has now started to ride on one of the Wyverns.

The nearest and unluckiest guard is then grabbed by one of the Wyvern's jaws. The Wyvern crushes and chews the guard armor and all before swallowing him.

Lightning's group cringes from the attack. "Okay, that was something I did not want to see in my life." Rainbow said watching the escape.

The guards seeing this start running. "Dolph you were sent here to help, so help!" Lord Barrows yells.

Apollo hits Barrow's head hard on the ground and knocks him out. "Shut up, loser."

Edward pulls the lever after breaking the lock which raises the cage. "Come on out with your friends, Lightning."

Suddenly members of Nethergate start to run in. "Twilight, take the girls and run! Edward, Nikolai and Alexander find the prince. We'll take care of them." Lightning yells as the bat like headed Wyvern finally reaches the top.

Twilight and the girls run out of there with Euram following them. While Edward, Nikolai and Alexander all split up and try to find the prince in this mansion. Lightning lands next to Apollo who was still standing over Barrows.

"We can't let them take him or we lose a valuable asset." Apollo warns.

"You go and fight, I'll stay. Can't do much after that fight." Lightning said as he flexes his wing a little, but it still hurts.

"Roger that." Apollo says dragging the prisoner away to a corner as the Wyverns are fighting or eating the Nethergate assassins, depending on your point of view.

Lightning stands in front of the unconscious Barrow as Apollo rushes into the fray while taking out his bow and shooting three arrows at once. Lightning looks back to Barrows. "You know, you are going to get a punishment worse than death after this."

"This way, my father transferred many guards to here this night." Euram says.

Rainbow flies right in front of him. "Give me one reason why should we trust you?"

"You don't, I do this for my princess." Euram says running again.

"So you don't even offer an excuse?" Pinkie asks.

"No I don't." Euram says.

"Ok then lets trust him." Twilight says.

Rainbow growls before following them again. "Fine, but one hoof out of line and I will treat you the same way they treated your father."

"I'm nothing like my father or soon to be jailed father." Euram said as he turns a corner.

"Then ya, lead the way." Applejack says.

Euram comes to a stop at door in the dark part of the castle. "Here we are." He opens the door to a dark room. "They're in here somewhere."

A snap comes from inside. "Got it." A squeaky door opening sound comes from inside.

"Midnight are you in here?" Rainbow asks.

"Rainbow?" A voice asks.

"You're here, quickly we got to get you out of here." Rainbow says heading inside.

"We might have a problem with that." Midnight said, his voice getting closer.

"What are you, tied up?" Fluttershy asks.

"No, he has a little friend." Pinkie Pie says seeing a second shadow.

"Pinkie, that's ridicu…" Rarity trails off seeing the baby wyvern.

"Aww. Who's the little one?" Fluttershy asks.

"I don't know, he was just in here with me." Midnight says as they start hearing fighting right outside the door.

"In the words of my great grandmother. Let's get out of here." Midnight said heading for the door.

Midnight is greeted by the sight of Alexander power bombing a guard onto his head. "Hey, nice power bomb." Midnight said casually.

Alexander looks to the prince. "Finally, I've found you. Now let's get out of…" He stops when he sees the baby Wyvern. "So that's why they stop fighting him." He concluded.

"Oh young prince there you are. Would you be so kind as to come here now?" Dolph's voice says at the end of the hall.

"Prince stay behind me." Alexander whispers to him.

"Now prince come with me. You wouldn't want something to happen to your mother now would you?" Dolph asks.

"Mom?" He asks shakily.

"He's bluffing young prince he doesn't have your mother." Edward says walking up.

"But…?" Midnight hides by the baby Wyvern who growls at new pony trying to hurt his friend.

A sword flies past all of them and embeds itself right beside the head of Dolph. Nikolai comes out right by Edward as they stare down at Dolph. "That's a warning. Leave and you might have a chance."

"And miss seeing Lightning or taking the prince, I don't think so." Dolph says rushing forward barely avoid each stallion's attacks and grabs Midnight and heads for the front door. "Dang it!" Nikolai yells as everypony chases after him.

Meanwhile Lightning finishes off a Nethergate and throws him into the open arena. "Buck off." He looks to Apollo shooting as many arrows as he could to finish them all off. While the Wyverns were still biting, clawing, and stomping them all to nothing.

"Apollo I'm going to be right back." Lightning says walking out the door.

"Yeah, sure, help yourself." Apollo said firing off another arrow.

Lightning walks into the main hall just in time to come face to face with Dolph holding Midnight. "Well, well, if it isn't Lightning." Dolph says.

"Midnight!" Lightning yells.

"Lightning, help!" Midnight yells back struggling against his grip.

"One chance Dolph let him go and I'll let you live." Lightning says

Dolph chuckles. "Now, why would I do that? I'm having more fun this way."

Lightning growls before he sees something behind Dolph. "Lightning!" Edward yells as he throws one of his swords to him. Lightning catches as Dolph does the same and prepares his. "Last chance."

"Come on Lightning, where is the fun in that?" Dolph asks.

"You know Dolph, I think I should reintroduce you to somepony?" Lightning says. Before Dolph could question this he feels a claw swipe rip across his back causing him to scream out in pain. "I think you remember my spirit partner Belcross." Lightning says as Midnight uses this chance to escape Dolph's grasp and run to Lightning.

Looking back Midnight sees a huge blue and purple creature standing on two legs with large clawed hands and lightning coursing across its body. "Belcross protect the young prince, I'll take care of this one." Lightning says and Belcross moves over to that side with Midnight and away from Dolph.

"Now we're even. If you hadn't made this personal I would have captured you, now I'm going to finish you." Lightning said walking up to him, bearing the sword.

"Yeah, I guess the party has to end sooner or later." Dolph says withdrawing two daggers. "Let's go out with a blast."

Lightning lunges forward only for his thrust to be stopped by Dolph's daggers. "You would have made a great soldier Lightning. Too bad you have joined the wrong side." Dolph taunts.

"You're far too arrogant." Lightning says coursing some lightning magic through the sword giving Dolph a nasty zap, making him disengage with his daggers.

"Bastard." Dolph said before lunging again.

"What's wrong Dolph, you seem a little bit slow today." Lightning mocks dodging his opening attack and parrying the second before slamming the hilt of his sword on Dolph's wounded back.

Dolph yells out in pain. "You're the most terrible pony I have ever met." Dolph says grunting.

"You're only say that because I don't fear you and you are scared of me." Lightning says disarming him of one of his daggers.

Dolph grins. "True, but do they fear death?" Lightning raises an eyebrow before throwing his last dagger at Midnight. But Belcross giant clawed hand slams in front of the young prince and the dagger bounces off of it.

For a moment Lightning does nothing, but then takes a deep breathe. "You know I don't get mad easily. In fact there are very few things that make me mad. But that Dolph, just did it. Because nothing make me angrier than attacking my family and you dared to attack my son!" Lightning said yelling the last part in pure rage.

Dolph went wide eyed at what he just said. 'Midnight...his own son. Now I'm in trouble.' "I ah...got to deal with something...later." Dolph says, but barely avoided being impleaded, but doesn't avoid the punch sending him sailing across the room leaving an imprint where he hits the wall. "Get up Dolph, I'm only getting started with you." Lightning says with a very calm but creepy voice.

Dolph tries to rise, but is kicked up before Lightning starts releasing punch after punch to his face. "Never...touch...my...family!" Lightning yelled with each punch.

At the end Lighting takes the sword and runs Dolph through the chest before withdrawing it and walking away.

"You know this ain't over." Dolph whispers. "There will be more."

"True, but it's yours and Nethergate's end." Lightning says walking to Midnight.

Dolph breathes his last as he finally slumps on the ground. Lightning reaches Midnight as Belcross dissipates into thin air. "Come on, let's get that cub back to mom and pas and let's go home."

"A...are you really my dad?" Midnight asks, his voice a little shaky.

"Yeah...I am." Lightning says hugging the young foal.

A scratch gets his attention as he looks down to see the baby Wyvern. "Ok little one, we'll go." Lightning says smiling.

They all soon got up and head for the showing area again this time with nothing bad happening. All the Nethergate assassins were dead and the guards were captured. Walking over to the two Wyverns, they look at him for hope, he steps aside for the young one to see his family again.

The Wyverns let out their own cry and nuzzle their hatchling. Soon the ponies starts to leave with Apollo carrying Barrows over his back. The Wyverns let out a final cry to Lightning. Looking back he can see the bigger one nod to him and so he nods back before leaving.

Soon the royal guards arrive with Shining Armor. The young princess embraces her big brother as the guards' starts to head inside.

"Let the creatures go if you find them!" Lightning yells to the guards heading inside.

"We have two traitors to deal with." Shining Armor says looking at the unconscious Barrows and his son.

"Correction, one traitor big brother. Earum here is innocent, he even aided us." Twilight says.

Shining looks to him and looks him over as the young heir starts to strip all of his clothes leaving the bare essentials on. "Never wanted to be a part of all this." He takes off his family crest necklace. "And never want to be ever again." He readies to throw it before feeling a hoof stop him. He looks to Lightning taking the crest.

"Barrows has stained the family name, but I'm sure the heir can fix that. Being smart in helping us was a big decision. Once ponies see that...well..." Lightning holds out the crest.

Earum looks at it for a few moments contemplating Lightning's words. Finally he takes the crest and places it back on. "Let me make things right."

Lightning smiles. "You just started."

"Well then I still have to deal with a traitor." Shining Armor says interrupting the conversation.

Apollo drops the body without care. "I'm done here, I'm heading back to the farm to relax." Apollo said as the walks away.

"Oh, didn't I tell you Applejack fired you and Alexander because she lost a bet." Lightning says trying to hold a snicker.

Apollo freezes before walking backward to Applejack. "Hire me back. You made the bet based on Alexander staying or not for a few hours."

"Actually it was both of you." Applejack says with an embarrassed look.

"Forget it Apollo, you, Alexander, and Edward are going to be really busy for a while." Lightning says as Midnight lays on his father's back.

They look to him with confused looks. "And what are we doing?" Edward asks.

"You are to go back to your ship and set sail and send this by messenger hawk." Lightning says hoofing him a letter.

Edward smirks and then whistles. "A messenger hawk is never more than a whistle away." A hawk then lands on his back. Tying the letter on the leg he whistles again in a few tones and soon the hawk is off.

Lightning facehoof. "You as an admiral are supposed to read letters with that emblem." Lightning says

"Why didn't you say that before laddie?" Edward says laughing nervously.

"Oh never mind, come here." Lightning says before whispering something into Edward's ear. "Now go to your ship and set sail." Lightning orders.

Edward nods before walking off. "Let's hope you come to my ship next time. She's quite a beauty."

"Yes, yes, the Jackdaw is quite a ship." Lightning says bored of the same conversation.

Edward chuckles and just continues away.

"Now come on, let's get you home. Your mother is worried sick." Lightning says to Midnight who just smiles at his father.

Eclipse sips some more tea as she sits down, waiting for everypony' safe return. Spike brings out some more treats for her while she looks down at her warm tea and sighs.

"You know," Spike pipes up. "I'm sure they're fine. Lightning handled worse."

Eclipse just keeps looking at the tea. "It's not that he can't make it, it's the fact that Midnight is his son I'm worried about. Plus the fact of how this will change his relationship with Rainbow."

"I don't think it will be affected that much."

They both look to the door to Lightning with Midnight and Rainbow playing around behind him.

"She took it rather well." Lightning said smiling at his son.

"Mommy!" Midnight yells at he runs to Eclipse.

Eclipse hugs his fiercely as she cries out in happiness. "I'm never letting you out of my sight again."

Midnight giggles. "Mom, I actually busted out with a friend. Thanks for the lessons."

Eclipse looks confused. "Friend?"

"He means a baby Wyvern." Lightning explains. "Apparently Barrow was holding the parents hostage too with the threat of their hatchling in danger."

"I don't care, as long as my son is ok." Eclipse says hugging Midnight tighter.

Lightning smiles and starts to leave. Rainbow follows after looking at them for a few more seconds. "Lightning don't you think you should stay I mean he is your son as well." Rainbow points out.

"Midnight didn't need me. He escaped during the whole thing and rescued the Wyvern. After all he's still got Eclipse. So it's all well and good for him." Lightning explains.

"It's all well and good? Lightning let me tell you I grew up with only my father so I can literally can say I know what I am talking about when I say Midnight wants to know his father!" Rainbow starts out explaining and yells the last part in Lightning's ear.

Lightning looks back at her. "And yet it was better if Midnight didn't know. All the stuff that happened to him would have been worse if Dolph knew that Midnight was my son. Plus I don't want to see him get more hurt."

"It's far too late for that. Eclipse already told the secret. Now it doesn't matter either way. So the least you owe that foal is to be there for him now!" Rainbow scolds Lightning.

"Lightning." Eclipse said softly.

"Yes Eclipse?" Lightning asks turning to her.

Eclipse smiles at him. "Lightning we would really love it if...well...if you could be a father for us. The father you were always meant to be."

Lightning smiles, but then turns to Rainbow. "Are you okay with this?"

"Hey, that doesn't mean you're married to her. So be a father to Midnight." Rainbow says.

Lightning smiles at her and then turns back to Eclipse. "Okay, sure."

Lightning then feels something land on his back. "So dad, what about Aunt Spitfire will she be around?" Midnight asks.

Lightning smiles then starts laughing evilly. Everypony looks at like he's gone bonkers. "Well now, what do you say about surprising her huh? Probably give her a good fright."

Eclipse sighs. "Now I know where Midnight gets that mischievous side from." Eclipse says facehoofing.

Lightning just keeps laughing evilly and soon Midnight joins. "Like father, like son." Rainbow said to her with pity.

Spitfire was talking to Hurricane about the upcoming war when the doorbell rang. And kept ringing incessantly. "Alright, alright, hold your horseshoes." Spitfire says before muttering under her breathe. "I swear to Celestia if this is Soarin again I'm going to..." Spitfire stops opening the door and seeing Lightning.

"Hey sis, I got a little surprise for you." Lightning says in a sing song voice.

"What is it?" Spitfire asks letting out a sigh of relief.

"I like you to meet your nephew Midnight." Lightning says as Midnight pops onto Lightning's head.

"Hiya Auntie!" Midnight yells.

Spitfire just stood there shocked with her mouth agape. Midnight seeing his opportunity took a picture of Spitfire. "That's a keeper." He said as it came out.

"Yeah, all joking aside you really are an aunt to Midnight." Lightning says as Spitfire snapped out of it and looked back and forth between the two, comparing them.

Seeing the same grin and glint of mischievous in their eyes proves it. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"You done with the death shriek?" Hurricane asks with an annoyed look as she comes up behind her. "Now where's my little grandson?" She asks as her face changes to one of happiness.

"Midnight meet your ancestor, Commander Hurricane, one of the pioneers of early Pegasus culture." Lightning says as Midnight stares at Hurricane with wide eyed wonder.

"Cool." He drones out.

"Hurricane meet Midnight, my son and the crown prince of Saddle Arabia." Lightning says.

"Hello sweetie. Oh, I'm going to spoil you to the ground." Hurricane coos.

"He doesn't like that Hurricane, he prefers doing things for himself from what I have seen." Lightning says proud of his lifestyle.

"I don't care, he is my family." Hurricane says picking him up and hugging Midnight.

"Yeah family. Sounds good, doesn't it sis?" Lightning asks.

Spitfire was still frozen in horror. Lightning sighs and blasts her with some water magic. "Wakey wakey sis." He said as she started coming to.

"What happened? Oh Lightning I just had the craziest dream." Spitfire says.

"Was it about Midnight being my son and your nephew?" Lightning asks.

"Yeah, how did you know?" Spitfire asks.

"Cause that wasn't a dream." Lightning clarified as he pointed to Hurricane hugging Midnight.

Spitfire sighs and looks down. "Great. Now I have to deal with him."

"What's wrong, I always thought you wanted our family to be bigger?" Lightning asks.

Spitfire sighs again and looks to Midnight. "I do, but…"

"But?" Lightning asks.

She turns to him. "I want somepony of my own as well."

"Sister are you seriously considering dating?" Lightning asks surprised.

"Wooooooo whoooooooo! Finally I can get her into finding a stallionfriend!" Hurricane cheers.

"Don't spread it around." Spitfire says.

Hurricane grins. "Oh, don't worry I won't." That's her saying.

"Any potentials you have in mind aunty?" Midnight asks

Spitfire blushes. "Just one for now, but I'll tell you later."

"Is it someone I know and please tell me it's not Soarin?" Lightning says as Midnight jumps on Spitfire's head.

Spitfire scratches behind Midnight's ear. "No not him. I hate that guy and his pie crazy ways. But it is somepony you do know. And he's a shipmaster."

Lightning blinks a few times. "No, you can't mean Edward Kenway!" Lightning yells.

Spitfire looks at him confused. "Well yeah, what's wrong with him?"

"Note to self: blow up the Jackdaw and Edward." Lightning says writing that down in an actual notepad.

"Oh, like Tartarus you will!" Spitfire yells tacking him and leaving Midnight in the air for a bit before falling.

"Say grandmother?" Midnight asks.

"Yes dear?" Hurricane said as she walks up by him.

"Are Dad and Aunty playing?" Midnight asks as Spitfire piles drives Lightning in the stomach.

"Yes they are." Hurricane says as Lightning flips Spitfire.

"Oh just like old times." A voice says as Lightning had Spitfire in a headlock.

They both stop and looks to the voice user. "Hey Vinyl." Spitfire says as she gets out of the headlock and puts Lightning in her own.

"I guess something's never change." Vinyl says.

Spitfire gains a mischievous grin. "Oh Vinyl you want to hear something interesting about Lightning here?" Spitfire asks.

"Sister don't you dare." Lightning warns but was block by Spitfire's headlock going tighter.

"Oh sure what is it?" Vinyl asks.

"You want to know who Lightning's first crush was." Spitfire asks.

"Sister please don't." Lightning pleaded.

"Who is it? I wondered when we did that radio show." Vinyl said as she sat down.

"Well I'll give you three guesses and a hint each time you guess. Your first hint is she's a unicorn." Spitfire says.

"Hmm...Twilight?" Vinyl guesses.

"Nope. Ok, second hint she lives in Ponyville." Spitfire says

"Lyra?" Vinyl guesses.

"Nope. Ok, final hint. She has a blue mane and wears glasses all the time." Spitfire says.

Vinyl goes wide eye. "Is it...me?" She said as she points to herself.

"Yes, you are Lightning's first crush." Spitfire says as Lightning is starting to turn blue.

Vinyl points to him. "Ummm…"

"Aunty I think dad is suffocating." Midnight says walking over to them.

Spitfire turns to look at Lightning. "Oh sorry." She lets go as Lightning starts to cough.

"I can't believe you told her. It's like when you told the world, Vinyl likes the accordion." Lightning says hiding his face.

"Hey!"

"Sorry Vinyl, but it is true." Lightning said.

"Ok, I will give you that, but only because of what your sister just did." Vinyl says.

"So yeah, I did like you back then, but I passed on. I like somepony else now." Lightning explains.

"Oh, no problem I already have my eyes set on somepony else." Vinyl says.

"Oh, those rumors of you and Octavia are true then?" Spitfire asks.

Vinyl grins. "Maybe."

"Wow, I feel sorry for Nikolai then. He really has a thing for you." Lightning says.

"Oh, does he?" Vinyl says with an evil smirk.

"Yeah he was a big fan back in the day. Though I think he hasn't like it that much now." Lightning explains.

"Oh, we'll see about that." Vinyl says.

"A lesson for you son. Me and sis, maybe devious, but Vinyl is on a whole different level." Lightning says turning to him.

Midnight looks to Vinyl. "So are you a music pony?"

"Of course little…wait...you called him son." Vinyl says registering what he said.

Lightning nods. "That's what a father calls his foal." Lightning says.

Vinyl then has her mouth agape. "Whoa…I didn't know you were a father. Who was the lucky mare?"

"I'm not married Vinyl and the mare is Eclipse, the queen of Saddle Arabia." Lightning clarifies.

Vinyl's glasses fall on her nose and showing her eyes slightly. "Dang. I almost feel sorry for you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lightning asks almost mad.

Vinyl quickly shakes her hoof at him. "Oh no, I didn't mean bad for you...well...actually I meant that you didn't marry her. You get the ultimate experience in life when you have a foal and married."

"I am going to tell you the reason now. The laws of Saddle Arabia wouldn't allow it Vinyl. You want details, look up the laws pertaining to Queens and marriage." Lightning says.

Vinyl whistles. "Man, I feel sorry you. Not being able to marry...wow."

"Yes, Vinyl?" Lightning asks annoyed.

"It's just not being able to marry when you already have a foal. But doesn't it allow you marry her now?"

"Ok, to clarify I didn't know Midnight was my foal till earlier this night." Lightning says.

"Yeah, but does it allow you marry her now?"

"No, the laws state a Queen can't marry when she becomes Queen." Lightning says.

"So how does she pass on the throne if she can't pass it on to a possible foal?"

"The law doesn't say anything about having kids only that they can't marry." Lightning says.

"So you can still have kids with her?"

"Yes, but it wouldn't be right now. Personally I'm shocked Rainbow is taking this so well." Lightning says.

Vinyl sighs. "Well, I did come here to check up on Spits, but got a great story instead."

"It's foreign customs and policies Vinyl unless you're a diplomat, no need to research them extensively." Lightning says.

"Heh. Well how about we get inside. I'm getting hungry." Vinyl said as her stomach growls.

"Sure Vinyl, come on in." Lightning says as everypony entered.

"So Lightning why is Midnight a bat sub-breed?" Vinyl asks as she munches on a sandwich.

"Oh, the entire Saddle Arabia royal family is that. Oh, and a little tip the legend of them being able to hypnotize with their eyes. Completely true if you make direct eye contact. I know from experience with Eclipse." Lightning says.

"That's how you got Midnight?" Hurricane asks.

"Oh, no, no. She didn't use that for that, but since he is so young let's change the subject." Lightning says looking at Midnight.

"So when did you leave?" Spitfire asks.

"Before Eclipse became Queen, which was before Midnight here." Lightning says.

"And after that?" Spitfire continues.

"The revolution of Stalliongrad that expelled the Dominion Empire from Stalliongrad. Which was the first time in over a thousand years Stalliongrad was independent." Lightning says with a sober tone.

"So what is going on now?" Vinyl asks.

"The Dominion is gearing up to invade Equestria." Lightning casually says.

"And you're casual about this why?" Vinyl asks.

"Cause it was only a matter of time or did you not know that they were pressuring your princesses to surrender to them?" Lightning asks.

"Did they?" Hurricane asks.

"Yeah, most of the Western world knows the Dominion is preparing a huge military campaign to conquer as much as they can and sadly after reviewing everything. I'm sure they will need only one legion to conquer the entire country." Lightning says.

Spitfire sighs. "Well let's hope that we can survive."

"At this point it's doubtful. I mean your military is practically a joke. You have only four thousand Royal guards who mainly just stand around. The country hasn't experienced war in millenniums so your ponies don't know what to expect. I mean all your recent threats have warranted six untrained mares. If I didn't know better I would think this whole place was a joke." Lightning says holding his head like he had a headache.

"Are you okay dad?" Midnight asks.

"I'm fine son." Lightning says rubbing the top of Midnight's head.

"We aren't that bad…are we?" Spitfire asks unsure.

Vinyl shrugs. "Kinda. You send six mares for almost everything going on here. It really is a joke."

"Untrained civilians too." Lightning adds.

"Yeah and their only defense is 'friendship' and the elements of harmony. It's hard to believe they lived this long." Vinyl says

"Vinyl how would you like to be a consultant pony for the upcoming war. You speak more sense than most nobles." Lightning offers.

Vinyl laughs a little. "Yeah, it seems the regular citizens knows more than nobles on everything no matter what it is. Even the politics. But no, too much hassle and no time for music for me."

"Then a request. The princesses are obviously going to ask me to help defend the country from the impending invasion now that they know I am the head general of Stalliongrad. I'm going to need so help from the celebrities to get as many ponies as possible to join the armed forces for us to stand a chance." Lightning says.

Vinyl's glasses came dangerously close to falling off her face. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up you're what in Stalliongrad?" Vinyl asks.

"The head general, meaning when it comes to military matters I'm the second most influential in all of Stalliongrad." Lightning says.

"And why the celebrities?" Vinyl asks.

"Star power helps motivate civilians. I mean who are they more than likely going to listen to a foreign general or their favorite DJ?" Lightning asks.

Vinyl slams her hooves on the table startling everypony. "You think I want to send my fans into war? Besides, no fans if I do."

"And if the Dominion conquers Equestria then no fans and you'll either be a slave or a trophy wife to an officer." Lightning says.

Vinyl winces. "No way! I'm not going to be a sex slave! Fine, I'll do it, but only when the war is in and after a while."

"You mind sending the same message to Octavia, because a mare like her is highly prized to be a trophy wife in the Dominion." Lightning says.

Vinyl grits her teeth. "Okay, but once the war is in we are not going anywhere and staying home."

"That may not be a good idea in case you need to flee." Lightning says.

"I meant when not in danger at home. And if they are coming then we will run."

"Smart mare." Lightning says gesturing to Vinyl while looking at Spitfire

Spitfire looks offended. "What are looking at me like that?"

"All I'm saying she is smart for knowing what to do if the Dominion comes. But we on the other hand don't get the option." Lightning says.

Spitfire glares at him. "Does that mean that only stallions should fight because of the whole trophy thing?"

"I said we don't get the option meaning we will be on the front lines." Lightning says facehoofing.

"Still what are we going to now?" Spitfire asks.

"Until the princesses decide something we can't do anything." Lightning says.

Spitfire sighs and takes a sandwich. "Well what about now? While we wait."

"We rely on our friend in the nobility Euram Barrows to try and hurry things along." Lightning says.

"Well let's finish eating up and go there." Hurricane said as she takes another cupcake.

"I have other business to attend to. Besides he has things under control." Lightning says.

"And what other business is that?" Hurricane asks with a coy smile.

"I will tell you on one condition." Lightning says.

"Yes grandson?" Hurricane follows.

"Restrain Spitfire because she'll try to hurt me. When I say this." Lightning says.

"Okay dear." Hurricane said as she goes over and holds her down.

"Let me go." Spitfire said threateningly.

"Ok. I know you don't want to hear this sister. But to have a chance at defeating the coming invasion we need all the residence of Equestria and I mean everypony. That includes the Changelings." Lightning says.

"What?! Don't tell me you are going to do a treaty with those bugs!" Spitfire yells as struggles in Hurricane's grip.

"Ok sis, I will give you an option. A: We either get their help." Lightning pauses.

"Or?" Spitfire asks.

"Which Dominion legionnaire would you prefer to be the trophy wife of?" Lightning asks.

Spitfire says nothing for the moment and turns to the side. "Fine. Go get their help. It can't be worse than that."

"That's the spirit sister. You may let her up now Hurricane." Lightning says.

Hurricane let's go and goes back to seat and keeps eating. "When are you going?" She said as she takes a large piece of cake.

"Sometime this week. I have a few appointments to keep." Lightning says.

Hurricane smiles. "Then you best be off."

"Hey, hey, I said a few appointments. That includes spending time with my son and talking to Rainbow about the future of our relationship." Lightning says the second half under his breath and as fast as possible.

Hurricane smiles. "I'm sure that Rainbow will help you through this. Now the best things to do is do the relationship stuff sooner than later and then you can play." She said looking at Midnight. "Can you wait little one?"

"Hurricane, it's almost midnight." Lightning says and Hurricane snickers. "Yes, yes, a fine pun, but seriously it's about time for him to go to bed and Vinyl I'm sure Nikolai is back at your home by now and I'm sure you have a lot to talk about with one of my commanders." Lightning says.

"But dad," Midnight started. "Mom has been training me for late night wakerupers. Said the political stuff that I can help with kinda sometimes go late into the night. So she's been training me by having me stay up till midnight and then wake up around or before six. I'm already use to it. But I can stay for little while longer."

Lightning blinks a few times before saying. "Midnight follow me, we need to have a word with your mother." Lightning says starting to walk out the door.

Midnight looks confused at the others before following along out the door.

"How long before you think Lightning starts to yell at Eclipse?"

"Probably in about one minute."

Eclipse is sitting by the fireplace with a cup of tea with a peaceful smile on her muzzle. She was content and happy the way Lightning was reacting to Midnight. Then she heard a knock on the door.

Opening it she finds Lightning standing there with Midnight. "What's this about making Midnight stay up till midnight?" Lightning asks calmly.

"Oh, Lightning...um...good evening." Eclipse says nervously.

"Let's talk." Lightning says walking in and dragging her along.

"Midnight, avenge me!" Eclipse yells as she is dragged into a room and the door is heard locking behind them.

Midnight just stands there confused as he closes the door behind him. "This is going to be one those weird things isn't it? Probably will take all night. Oh well, better get some sleep." He said to himself as he headed to his room.

"Eclipse how could you…!" Lightning proceeded to yell at Eclipse for well into the night from there. Only stopping when he fell asleep.

Author's Notes:

And that's it for this chapter my fine fellows and ladies. Please wait while we work on the next one.