"Hey Scoot, how are you?" Lightning asks training.

Scootaloo smiles as she watches him and grins. "I heard mom kicked your ass."

"Her in futuristic battle gear tied me." Lightning clarifies.

Scootaloo laughs. "But you were wearing it too. So you still got beaten even without it."

"No, I was wearing a skin tight suit. Ask Twi if you have a question." Lightning says.

"You were wearing armor over it." Scootaloo piped up as she messed around with a training ball with her tail. "Mom had the same outfit and everything."

"I had no idea how to use it." Lightning said.

Scootaloo shakes her head. "Dad, I can't use it, but I know it's like an extension of yourself, just stronger. All you have to do is think of yourself as that body."

Lightning blinks at her.

Scootaloo raises an eyebrow at him. "Comic books. Pretty useful when talking futuristic things."

Lightning says nothing and keeps training.

Scootaloo leans over to Kai. "He's thinking of himself as an idiot, isn't he?" She whispered.

"I think it is time your mother started training up." Kai says.

Scootaloo giggles. "I think it's just time for him to take a lesson. The mare will win. Right dad?" She calls out.

"Time to train you. Get your scaly rear in gear." Kai says with authority making her yelp and start jogging.

Lightning sighs as he carefully moved to her. "Might as well get our dragon team. They could understand more on what to train on." He offered.

"Did I say take a break!" Kai yells sounding like a drill sergeant.

Lightning rolls his eyes a bit before sighing and standing right by her. "Kai, just get some dragons on her. They…"

"Now!" Kai yells making him get back to work.

Lightning groans as he goes back to training.

"Is mom always like this?" Scootaloo asks.

"Did I say you could take a break?!" Kai yells to her and makes her yelp and run again.

"I got something." Lightning says smirking as they near Kai's position on the course.

Kai raises an eyebrow at them as they get close. "Move a different path."

Lightning smirks before tackling her and captures her lips.

Scootaloo stops and looks away a bit. "That's one way."

"Always do what your enemy least suspects Scoots." Lightning says petting Kai.

Scootaloo raises an eyebrow as she looks back to them. "So I should kiss them?"

"No, me tackling and then kissing Kai is the last thing she expected." Lightning says.

Scootaloo chuckles as she shakes her head. "Yeah, that sounds like something she would never see while training."

"Yeah, so how are classes?" Lightning asks.

Scootaloo shrugs. "It's going well."

"That's good to hear. Make any friends amongst your classmates?" Lightning asks.

Scootaloo sighs. "Not by much. Too busy and since I got Tiyries as my assistant, I don't have a need to get out besides just work."

"Scoots, you have to socialize with them. They will be your fellow officers and strategists one day." Lightning says.

Scootaloo groans and rolls her eyes. "Fine."

"Good girl. Now as for you." Kai says getting up making Lightning gulp.

Penitus hums as she walks along the halls while somewhat swaying her flank around as all the guards seems to stare at her while she passes. "I like this place." She said to herself as she walks to the war room.

Upon entering, she finds several charts and maps with great details. "Ah, good. You finally arrived. Can we please begin young heir?" Lightning asks annoyed as he marks down movement positions on a map with other generals and commanders standing nearby and marking their own maps.

They all start chatting and discussing plans, but Penitus couldn't help but notice the red mark on Lightning's cheek. She giggles to herself, catching the other generals' attention. "Is there something funny about our plan?" Kai asks.

Penitus keeps giggling before calming down. "No, nothing is wrong." She said before leaning over her map. "There is a wall here before I left." She said pointing to a line of a town border near the capital.

"Every detail helps." Lightning says using a map scale for calculating distance.

Penitus smiles. "Yes and even then you would possibly need me there as well." She said walking around and looking at the details of the maps and charts.

"Right. Ok, for starters, Alexander and Apollo will sneak in with a hand full of soldiers and capture the two border forts here. Do not let any escape." Lightning instructs.

They both nod and start to mark their own positions and plans on the map.

"Actually on second thought, Watari, Entei." Lightning calls.

They both hum as they look up at him.

"You two and your soldiers will pull this off. Nikolai, I want you to oversee our supply routes and it is time for the Direwolf army to go and occupy the forts on the western pass into Stalliongrad. You will relieve Benawi's forces there who are rotating out." Lightning says.

Nikolai nods as he reworks the maps.

"After taking these forts, I want the Skyor army to take half its force and go to the shipyards of Haafingar." Lightning says.

Nikolai nods as he starts looking through the army rosters.

"With that, I bet you all know who will be invading Urreigns." Lightning says.

Nikolai chuckles to himself. "Of course sir."

"Very good." Lightning says before they continue talking about the plans.

Penitus smiles as she comes up behind him and leans on his back as she reaches past him and reworks some of the front lines. "The lines are a bit more forward than what you might expect." She said smirking.

"These are just rough draft plans. I will modify them as the situation requires." Lightning says.

Penitus hums as she leans more onto him. "I treat these kinds of things as a final draft to turn in. Makes thing easy."

Lightning says nothing as he stops and looks at the clock. "Take a break." He says.

Everyone in the room leaves as Penitus and Lightning stayed inside. "The situation is changing every time. The only way we get a clear enough chance of scouting is straight on the battlefield ourselves." She said getting off of him and goes around as she fixes some of the maps.

"Tell me do you have battlefield experience?" Lightning asks finally letting his blush go down.

Penitus hums as she picks up a map. "My mother kept it hidden a bit when she taught me. Father never did like his children working where they might die. I have advance knowledge. Not as much as you, but halfway and enough to keep an army alive to fight through a battle."

"But have you been on a battlefield itself seen the blood, the death, and the carnage?" Lightning asks.

Penitus looks to him. "The ride out of my hot zone, try seeing your own countrymen die at the hands of your saviors from those that were supposed to protect you."

"Very well, have you looked someone in the eyes as they died, knowing you killed them?" Lightning asks.

Penitus holds up a claw. "My own claw has been strained by the blood of my own people. Driving deep into their necks to make it quick. The sense of betrayal coming from them and my own messaging their own message at them."

"Then you won't be a hindrance, but remember who is in command." Lightning says walking out.

Penitus smiles a bit as she kept looking over the maps. "I never forget my savior."

"So what do you think?" Lightning asks leaning against Rainbow.

Rainbow sighs. "You going off for the start of the war. Not liking it."

"You knew this was inevitable. After all, you married a soldier." Lightning says reaching up and touches her cheek.

Rainbow smiles gently. "And it would have anyway. Twilight told me about what happened if you didn't come. Somehow, I think that was the better way because you would have stuck with us anyway in one place, but here…"

Lightning smiles and wraps his hoof around her.

Rainbow sighs. "I just want us to be like a regular family instead of all this happening and no war."

"The war is inevitable. The nobles, in order to keep their wealth and power, will keep pushing the legions to invade and take slaves. Even the emperor of the Dominion wishes to stop it, he couldn't." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks to him. "What did you say?"

"The emperor of the Dominion can't even control his own nobles. They are the true power of the empire. I don't know what kind of person he is." Lightning says.

Rainbow blinks a few times. "Wealth and power right?"

"Correct. In a sense, the position of emperor is nothing but a figurehead now." Lightning says.

Rainbow holds up a hoof. "Did you ever think of 'trading' in a sense because if you take what holds them together then they fall apart? Inflation I think is what Twilight calls it. Blowing up the market so much that value falls flat and they have to crawl to us just to live."

"They are way past that point. Truth is, the Dominion is in the red so badly, it needs the slave traffic revenue to stay afloat." Lightning says.

Rainbow looks away as she thinks on it.

"Right now the nobles are in a frenzy as they currently not at war or taking land and slaves and their coffers are decreasing fast." Lightning says.

Rainbow sighs. "Can we talk later?" She asks looking at him.

"I wish to hold you as I won't have the opportunity soon." Lightning says.

Rainbow smiles as she hugs him. "Better?"

"Yes my Rainbow." Lightning says before feeling something starting to squirm onto him. Looking down, Lightning sees Windstorm trying to get himself out of a blanket he was tangled in.

Lightning chuckles and reaches down to him and untangles him. "Who's my good boy?" He asks bringing Windstorm up to his muzzle.

"Oh, you have a good nap?" Rainbow asks.

Windstorm coos and hugs Lightning's snout.

Lightning laughs as he waves Windstorm in the air so it was as if he was flying.

Windstorm laughs as he mimics himself flying and fluttering his tiny wings.

Rainbow couldn't help but smile. 'This is what it is all about.' She thinks.

Lightning laughs as he brings Windstorm back down and gives him to Rainbow. "I just remembered, I have to deal with the rest of my mares. Twilight, Seeku, Silva, every single one. I am not leaving them unhappy when I leave. Seeku the most since she still hasn't got her chance yet."

"Oh right, yeah." Rainbow says laughing nervously.

Lightning raises an eyebrow. "Should I know something?"

"No." Rainbow says holding Windstorm, trying to look innocent.

Lightning crosses his hooves. "Rainbow."

"She may have laid an egg or ten." Rainbow says nervously holding up Windstorm.

Lightning raises an eyebrow. "I see. Anything else I should know?"

"Our son is cute?" Rainbow offered.

Lightning shakes his head and hugs them both.

Windstorm coos and tries to hug them both. "I'm going to go talk with them and everything. Like I said, I'm not leaving you guys unhappy. Maybe give the foals their last play day too."

"No, it won't be their last play day. I expect you to play with them till they are grown." Rainbow says willfully.

Lightning chuckles and kisses her cheek. "Alright, just because you ordered me to."

"Ok Star, this is what?" Daring asks holding up a key.

Star smiles. "Keys." She cheers.

"Right. Now this?" Daring says picking up a jewelry box.

Star leans forward while sticking out her tongue in concentration. "Box." She said finally.

"Good, now let's see." Daring says putting down the box and looks for what to pick up next.

"What's this?" Lightning asks picking up Daring.

Daring smiles. "Hey Lightning. Teaching Star here about what is what."

Lightning grins. "Oh Star, what is this?" He asks holding Daring.

"Mommy." Star says.

"That's right." Lightning says before raspberrying Daring's neck.

Daring sputters to keep from laughing and tries to push his head away. "Lightning!"

"Yes?" Lightning asks starting to tickle her wing joints.

Daring holds her hooves to her mouth. "Sto…stop!"

"Oh Star, is your mom being silly?" Lightning asks continuing.

Star giggles and laughs. "Yep!"

Lightning smirks before Daring finally broke and starts laughing like crazy.

Star giggles and flies up to them and gets on Lightning's head and stand proudly. "I win!"

Lightning chuckles as he takes her off his head and starts tickling them both as they laugh out loud and keeps up the assault. "Who wins?" He dramatically asks.

Both laugh uncontrollably and then Lightning stops and kisses Daring. Star grimaces and sticks her tongue out. "Eww!"

Lightning chuckles as he lets go of Daring and hugs them. "I love you both."

"I didn't expect you." Daring says.

Lightning sighs. "I am shipping for a pre-war conquest so it only makes sense for me to check in everyone."

"I see that time already huh?" Daring asks picking up her little Star.

Lightning nods. "Yeah and how's my little filly?"

"Daddy, can we go camping sometime soon?" Star asks.

Lightning sighs. "I'm sorry honey. But I may have to go soon. But when I come back from Urreigns, we are going on a long camping trip."

"Yay!" Star cheers.

Lightning smiles as he looks to Daring. "I promise. All of us as a family. Now I have to go see the others and as for what to say next?" He said giving her a small bag of things and takes out an ordainment of a snowflake.

"Not yet you." Daring says grabbing his tail as he starts walking away.

Lightning rolls his eyes and looks back at her. "Yes?"

Daring pulls him into her grasp and captures his lips.

"Eww!" Star said again as she tries looking away.

"Star, where is your hat?" Daring asks.

Star blinks and looks around before looking back at them and shrugging.

"Oh you mean this hat?" Lightning says taking out the same type of hat as Daring and puts it on Star.

Star smiles as she tries adjusting it.

"Now who does she take after?" Daring asks smirking.

"You dear." Lightning says.

Daring chuckles and pokes his chest. "Got that right."

"Later tonight?" Lightning whispers.

Daring grins. "Yeah. And it has to be big, maybe the others as well."

Lightning smiles and smacks Daring's flank when Star's head was turned.

Daring yips and looks to him with a frown.

"Can you be a good girl while I am away?" Lightning says poking Star's stomach.

Star nods and hugs his hoof.

"Good girl, now." Lightning lifts her up and hugs her.

Star giggles and hugs his snout.

"That's my little Star." Lightning says putting her down and goes for a walk.

Daring smiles as she hugs Star and start to get things out to choose things to teach her.

Lightning walks down the hall as he hears some humming in one of the rooms and peeks inside to see Seeku near some eggs that is stuck to some slime on the walls as she pets them lightly as some of the changeling soldiers stood beside them.

"I see Rainbow was telling the truth." Lightning says standing in the doorway to the room.

Seeku smiles as she looks to him. "Don't worry, they are yours. So you don't have to worry about me cheating on you with any other stallion. Though, you giving me these hatchlings, may prove that they are strong in their later life like you."

"I have no worry about that. After all, I know you wouldn't cheat. So how many?" Lightning asks.

Seeku grins and goes over to him. "Ten great eggs. All of them almost ready to have their initial hatching. Come on." She said grabbing his hoof and leads him to the eggs.

Lightning follows her to the eggs and looks at them. Seeing the translucent eggs with the little insects inside withering around. "They feel the love around them. The one you are pouring out for them and for us." Seeku said leaning on him.

Lightning smiles and pets her mane.

Seeku purrs and chitters as she leans into his petting. "Thank you Lightning."

"It seems the eggs are reacting to this as well." Lightning says.

Seeku giggles as she sees the little hatchlings writhing around in their eggs more than usual. "They love their daddy. And I'm sure you will be there for them, right?"

"Yes, but I have to fight a conquest soon. Speaking of which, has the two company worth of changelings Chrysalis promised me arrive yet?" Lightning asks.

Seeku smiles. "In a few days' time. You want them to reroute somewhere?"

"No, just asking as in a few weeks, we will be marching. Plans have been made already and soon the Dominion will realize too late that we are not going after the island federation like they think as I know that they have already caught wind of expanding our navy and coupled with the rumors of our plans to invade either the federation or Urreigns that we released will be sending reinforcements to the federation." Lightning says.

Hearing this, the changeling guards start talking amongst themselves.

Seeku hums. "I see. Then they arrive soon. I'll tell them to train and listen to you. Anything else?"

Lightning says nothing and kisses Seeku, surprising her.

All the changelings buzz slightly as the hatchlings move again before Lightning let's go of her. Seeku giggles drunkenly as she tries to hang onto him. "That felt good."

"Oh?" Lightning ask running a hoof down her stomach.

Seeku giggles pervertly as she leans more on him. "Yep. This feels so good. Can you give me a night?"

"Tonight, but you have to share." Lightning whispers nipping her ear.

Seeku chitters. "Don't care."

"Then yes. Oh, what is this is, are the eggs starting to crack?" Lightning asks.

Seeku gasps and rushes over to them as she sees cracks starting to form. "Come on little ones, push." She said excited. Lightning chuckles as he steps up beside her as the hatchlings start pushing their way out of their eggs before being caught by the broodmares nearby who gives them to Seeku as she smiles and holds them close. "They're beautiful."

Lightning looked at them all and noticed, unlike most changelings, they had red manes and tails with different color carapaces.

Seeku smiles as she rocks a few and gives the rest to Lightning to hold. "So…what do you think?" She asks leaning against him.

Lightning leans down and pick up the smallest one. "You will be a great changeling." Lightning says.

Seeku giggles. "Don't neglect the others. We mature and grow faster than a normal pony." She said tickling one of the hatchlings' belly and makes it coo and try and reach for her.

"I know. Hey all of you, I am your dad." Lightning says setting the smallest one down.

They all coo and reach for him and tries to crawl up onto him. Lightning, seeing this, lays down so they can crawl all over him. They all seem to laugh and chitter as they start to crawl all over him and seem to try and beat each other to the top. "Aw, they are already trying to be tough over all of them." Seeku said standing over him.

Lightning, feeling one on his flank, moves his tail till he feels it touch the little one. The hatchling giggles and hangs onto his tail before sliding down it and tries to crawl up again. "They are precocious." Lightning said as he lets them all play on him. "Though it feels like I'm a dead carcass for them to be on a playground for changelings."

Seeku laughs as she keeps watching them before calming down. "You're a great father to us all."

Lightning laughs as he feels the one trying to climb back up on his tail.

Seeku giggles and nuzzles him. "You going to make them go to war and train for it or are you giving them a chance?" She asks seriously.

"I will leave that for them to choose." Lightning says.

Seeku smiles and kisses him on the lips. "Good boy. Now then, you need to check up on the others. The other queenie of the castle is working hard. You better make sure she isn't working herself to the bone and sleeping on the table."

"That's Rainbow, Twilight is queen of Equestria Seeky." Lightning says.

Seeku rolls her eyes and pushes his head away. "Shut up and go see her. I'll deal with our new kids."

"But they are playing." Lightning says.

Seeku raises an eyebrow before they all get off and stand by her. "Hello, I'm a queen now." She said smirking.

"And who is said king my foals?" Lightning asks.

They all look to each other before pointing to him.

"See." Lightning jokes as a winner finally made it to the top of his head.

The little one coos as it looks down at him.

"We have a winner." Lightning says. The little hatchling giggles and hugs him. "So who's our little foal?" He said picking the little one up and holds it. "Oh, a girl. Got any plans for names?" He asks looking to Seeku.

"Yes." Seeku says thinking.

"Oh, so you beat all nine of your siblings huh?" Lightning asks tickling her.

The little one laughs and giggles as she tries to get away.

"Trily. How about Trily for this one? We can use your last name if you want." Seeku said watching them and smiling.

"You like that name Trily?" Lightning asks raspberrying her stomach.

Trily giggles and tries to hug him.

"Trily it is." Lightning says.

Seeku giggles and looks to the rest of the little ones watching. "And the others? Want to help?"

"One by one." Lightning says as most were still on him.

Seeku blinks and looks down to see them gone. "Well, they'll be good stealth units if needed."

"One still got my tail." Lightning says.

Seeku chuckles as he turns around and let's Seeku grab the one hanging on. "Aw, yes. Our hatchlings will be the best ones ever."

"Colt or filly?" Lightning asks.

Seeku smiles. "A little colt."

"Fang?" Lightning asks.

Seeku sighs as she looks to the little colt. "What do you think Fang? Want that name?" She said petting his head. The little changeling tries to bite her, letting her see he has sharper than average fangs. "Ah, that's why you want him to be named that." Seeku said letting him go.

"Yeah, so what do you think Fang?" Lightning asks.

Fang looks up to him before snapping his jaws at him.

"Oh yeah." Lightning says before spinning Fang with his wings.

Fang chitters and tries to grab his wing and hangs on with his hooves as Lightning hoisted him up.

"So who is next?" Lightning asks.

Seeku smiles as she looks to all of the rest still crawling around on him. "Eight more. This might take a while."

"I think I feel…feathers?" Lightning asks confused.

Seeku blinks and looks at all of them before picking out a filly with feathered wings instead of chitin membranes. "This is new. This doesn't happen to even queens who mate with pegasuses."

"Say again?" Lightning asks unable to see them on his back.

Seeku smiles as she brought the filly up to him to see her easier. "Look, she has your wings."

"Oh, she has feathers like me, huh?" Lightning says seeing the filly.

The little filly changeling giggles and grabs his muzzle. "Da."

"So what should we name you?" Lightning asks.

The filly giggles and tries to hug him. "How about Feather?" Seeku suggest checking her wings.

"That okay with you?" Lightning asks.

Feather cheers and coos as she tries to move out of her mother's hooves.

"Feather it is." Seeku says.

"Who is next?" Lightning asks before spying the littlest one whom he pick up first walking away.

Seeku smiles as she looks over to where he is looking and picks up the foal. "And where are you going?" She asks picking up the foal. The foal seems to whimper at this. "Oh, shoo, shoo. It's okay. It's just mommy and daddy here." Seeku says trying to calm him down.

"Let me see him, ok?" Lightning asks.

Seeku smiles as she brings in the colt and holds him up to Lightning. "What do you think?"

Lightning looks into the colt's eyes and after a few moments, smiles. "He is staring in wide eyed wonder. He wants to explore." Lightning says.

Seeku chuckles. "They usually don't start exploring until a month has passed or a week if lucky."

"I think he is smart." Lightning says.

Seeku smiles as Lightning nuzzles the colt. "And what would be his name?"

"Marius." Lightning says.

Seeku gasps and stares at him. "Wha…?"

"I will name him after the great general of the Dominion when it was still a republic." Lightning says.

Seeku still stares at him. "Are you sure? You know those that know the empire would question it."

"Let them. The name doesn't make a person." Lightning says.

Seeku sighs. "Okay. Marius it is." She said holding the colt.

"Now let's see, you are next." Lightning says as a changeling colt tumbles down his wing now laying on the floor.

Seeku sighs as she puts Marius down and picks up the colt. "He's playful or maybe a risk taker."

"Take a second look. He has a wild look to him." Lightning says.

Seeku smiles as she looks the colt over. "Oh, wild then. What should his name be?"

"First, let me test something." Lightning says before whistling. A few barks rang out from the halls before a scratching sound was heard and a white wolf came bounding around the door and stops in front of them and pants like a puppy. "Ok, let the foal near him." Lightning says.

Seeku smiles and sets the colt near the wolf and he looks up to the wolf as it stares at him before leaning down to his height. "Wolf." He said putting his hooves on its nose as it sniffs at him.

"He has a way with animals. Look, the ice wolf is completely relaxed." Lightning says.

Seeku smiles and sighs in relief as the ice wolf nuzzles the colt. "So what would be his name?"

"I think Wild suits him well, don't you?" Lightning asks.

Seeku hums. "Yes, but try something else like that. Too literal."

"Too literal huh? Hum…how about Zaik?" Lightning says.

Seeku smiles. "A good one."

"Ok, who is next?" Lightning asks.

Seeku smiles and picks up a colt and filly helping each other to get on top of Lightning. "These two helpers."

Lightning looks carefully at them then back to the wall. 'There are ten foals and one, two, three…nine eggs.' Lightning thinks. "Seeku is it possible for two to be born from one egg?" Lightning asks.

Seeku smiles as she rocks the two foals. "One in a million."

"Count how many eggs there are." Lightning says.

Seeku hums and looks to the wall. "One, two…eight, nine?" She asks confused before looking to the two she was holding.

"We have ten here." Lightning says.

Seeku stares at the two foals as they stare up at her.

"Leon and Noel." Lightning offers.

Seeku smiles as they both play against each other with their hooves.

"Now who are our last three?" Lightning asks feeling three on his back now.

Seeku smiles as she looks them over and sees one just staring at his wing joints. "This one is certainly a strange one."

"Oh, show me." Lightning requests.

Seeku nods and picks up the still colt as he kept staring away and shows Lightning that he had heterochromia eyes. "He's seems to be studying you."

"Oh?" Lightning asks raising his hoof and moving it side to side.

The colt just stares before reaching out and stops his hoof in the middle. "Da." He said in a bored voice.

"Oh?" Lightning asks moving his hoof out of reach and lets lightning spark from it for the colt to see.

The colt keeps staring before reaching out and trying to touch the spark.

"Nu huh, that will hurt." Lightning says to the now wide eyed colt as he ceases the lightning.

Seeku giggles. "He's like a certain queen we know."

"A little, so what now son, still bored?" Lightning asks.

The colt keeps staring before shaking his head.

"You're intrigued huh?" Lightning asks booping his nose.

The colt smiles and grabs his hoof.

"Archimedes." Lightning finally says.

Seeku smiles and nuzzles the newly named colt. "Such a good name. Now who else?" She asks putting him down and letting him crawl around.

Lightning smirks as he waits for one of the last two foals on him.

One of them crawls around before falling in front of his face and looks to him and smiles as it just stares. "Gotcha." Seeku said picking up the foal.

"Oh, let me see." Lightning says.

Seeku brings the foal in front of him and it giggles and just smiles and stares at him.

"Oh, who is this?" Lightning says leaning in.

The foal just coos and leans on his snout and keeps staring at him.

"Oh, what you looking at?" Lightning asks smiling.

The foal keeps smiling and tilts its head as it kept staring into his eyes.

"Oh, so what sets you apart huh?" Lightning asks cheerfully. The foal smiles and looks around his face before tapping its hoof against a part of his forehead and Lightning sighs in relief. "I think she can see energy."

"Oh?" Seeku asks bringing the filly up to her and looks her in the eyes and sees she had a pair of light red almost pink eyes. The foal coos and taps her muzzle and Seeku's jaw went slack before she regained control. "She's good."

"Oh got any names for her?" Lightning says.

Seeku hums as she lets the foal go and she walks across Lightning's back and hits some pressure points. "I don't know. What's a good name for those that can see energy?"

"None that come to mind." Lightning says.

Seeku hums. "Acror. How about Acror?"

"You like that?" Lightning asks the filly.

Acror giggles and laughs and hugs his wings and keeps tapping the base with her hindhoof.

"Acror it is. Now that leaves the last one." Lightning says.

Seeku looks to the last foal on his back who kept flapping his feathered wings and trying to lift himself off of Lightning. "I think we got another explorer here. And this one flies." Seeku said picking up him up and looking him over and his wings.

"Oh he can, huh?" Lightning asks.

Seeku giggles and brings him into view of Lightning. "Yes see? He really wants to fly." She said as the colt flaps his wings fast and hard.

"Aero then." Lightning says.

The colt smiles as he keeps flapping his wings. Seeku smiles. "I think our boy here is going to keep trying to fly so high he will break the clouds and more."

Lightning chuckles as Seeku sets him down and he tries and hugs them all. "I love these guys and I love you." He said kissing Seeku's cheek.

"I do too. You ok there Zaik?" Seeku asks.

Zaik coos in their direction as he kept playing with the ice wolf.

"Oh, I can tell he will be a beast master." Lightning says.

Seeku giggles. "Maybe he'll be in charge of all beast deployment."

"Which reminds me." Lightning says getting up and looks over all ten foals.

Seeku leans over. "What are you doing?"

"You reminded me of a preparation I have to do later, but for now I think it is time to feed them." Lightning says.

Seeku raises an eyebrow. "You want to do that…here?"

"How do changeling foals feed?" Lightning asks.

Seeku smiles. "Usually they receive the love from the queen who just transfers the love collected."

"So they are feeding from us right now?" Lightning asks.

Seeku giggles and leans against him. "Oh yes. But you can feed me more before I give it to them."

Lightning takes her and kisses her passionately. Seeku giggles into the kiss as all the foals sighs happily and lay down on the ground and relax there. After breaking the kiss, Lightning laid his head on her shoulder.

Seeku smiles and nuzzles him. "I love you Lightning."

"I love you too. So what are you going to do while I am gone to war?" Lightning asks.

Seeku sighs and nuzzles him under his head. "Keep charge with my army of changelings. Help you out to send messages."

"So how is your swarm coming along? I mean I know Chrysalis didn't give you many to start your hive." Lightning says.

Seeku smiles. "Please. I'm better than most leaders in this kind of development area. Kinda fun at times. Still, I can manage. Not enough for a war, but good for a skirmish."

"Just focus on developing the hive. I have a few places for developing them." Lightning says.

Seeku smiles and kisses his cheek. "Thank you. Now you better go and deal with the others."

"Oh I will, but first." Lightning says before picking her up and taking her to her bed and setting her on it. He then goes and gets the foals one by one and takes them to Seeku.

Seeku smiles as they all snuggle up near her and start to sleep before she curls around them after he placed the last one. "Goodnight Lightning." She said putting her head down and closing her eyes.

"See you soon." Lightning says leaving.

Twilight snores loudly as she rested her head on the table filled with too many parts and tools as others worked around her and hoped to not wake her up as Lightning walks in. He smiles and goes to her and was about to wake her before hearing her mumble.

"Wh…why not somewhere else?" She mumbled in her sleep.

Lightning chuckles and leans close to her ear. "Because you like being taken." He whispered.

Twilight mumbles. "So…more fun?"

"Oh I am just teasing." Lightning says petting her.

Twilight snorts awake and yawns as she brings her head up and yawns again before looking around and stops at Lightning. "Hey Lightning."

"Hey love." Lightning says pecking her cheek.

Twilight smiles and nuzzles him. "I'm glad you're here."

"Oh and I see that enchantment on the bed keeps rocking Devotio's crib." Lightning says.

Twilight nods and looks over to see a small rocking bed which held a sleeping Devotio. "Yes and I've been making some things for him as well." She said to which he noticed a small glove nearby hers.

"Nothing dangerous right?" Lightning asks.

Twilight shakes her head. "It's like mine but redefining it so it doesn't use as much magic or energy."

"Hold off on giving that to him. Don't want him using it on his siblings." Lightning says.

Twilight giggles. "Yeah, I'm making sure something like that doesn't happen, but okay. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Coming to see all of you. Also, Seeku's eggs just hatched." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles. "That's good. How are they?"

"Healthy, from what I saw and now I have ten more foals." Lightning says.

Twilight sighs in relief. "Good. Now you have more of a reason to come back to us."

"Now you want to join us later tonight to have some fun?" Lightning asks.

Twilight hums. "Well, I still have to work here." She said motioning to the suits along the walls and the gloves on the table.

"But?" Lightning asks massaging her shoulders.

Twilight sighs in relief. "But I guess I can rest for a few."

"Good girl. We also have to see to a few days of court for both here at Whiterun and in Canterlot then you and Rainbow will have to handle both while I am away." Lightning says.

Twilight sighs as she looks to him. "I wish we didn't have to."

"I know, but we must do our duty. For all of Equestria has started seeing you as their queen and look to you for guidance." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles and gives a kiss on his lips before pulling back. "Thank you. But I wish it was like the old days. Where we just lounge around and enjoy life as it was."

"I wish so too, but we must look to today as we have responsibility and duties like raising our son." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles and takes Devotio out of his bed and holds him before giving him to Lightning. "He really wants to be with his hero."

Lightning smiles as he holds his sleeping son and sits with him. Twilight sighs as she sits beside him and leans on him. "We have an amazing family, don't we?"

"Yes and it will grow." Lightning says.

Twilight nods and nuzzles him. "You'll be there for us, even when far away?"

"Yes, for we will always have the time we spent together." Lightning says.

Twilight kisses his cheek. "And it will always be the friendly and tough family you know and love. I love you Lightning and so does he." She said petting Devotio.

"You will help take care of Saber while Kai and I are away, right?" Lightning asks.

Twilight nods. "Yeah, he likes being with me though there is still the question of Kai liking me."

"Don't worry about that. She has already twisted the hooves of those two from her clan to help watch over him while she is away." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles and nuzzles him. "Good. Now I believe that you have to check on the others."

"Alright. You stop staying up all night to work on your projects." Lightning says.

Twilight looks embarrassed. "Can you blame me?"

"Yes." Lightning says jokingly.

Twilight hits his side. "Shut up." She said giggling.

"Language love." Lightning teases.

Twilight rolls her eyes. "I have to do these projects, so you can come back to us alive with everyone else. I know I spend a lot of time, but it's for the best when we can be attacked at any time. I just hope that these are the only times it will be used and we don't lose them. That's the last thing we need is for them to have a copy."

"Spend more time with our foals, ok Twi?" Lightning asks.

Twilight nods. "I'll try Lightning. Just be sure to let us have one more outing of fun. Picnic, game day, maybe just a simple playground day with the foals."

Lightning smiles. "Well I did promise Star a camping trip. Maybe we'll have an all in one. And I'll give you the best day ever. Who knows, maybe the foals will end up playing around town. But I think it's best to take them back to Canterlot just in case when that day comes."

"Yeah and no giant spiders." Twilight says.

Lightning grins. "Or snakes." He said before he felt a shiver from her. "Don't worry. There are no giant snakes here."

"You did that on purpose." Twilight says.

"Yes, yes I did." Lightning says.

Twilight shakes her head with a smiles and sighs as she hugs him from his side. "Don't you ever let us down and love us forever and I'll let you keep doing what you want to me and my flank." She whispered the last part.

Lightning grins and wraps a hoof around her and holds her against her flank and taps her cutie mark while steadily holding Devotio with one hoof. "Mine." He whispered in her ear.

"Yes and this is mine." Twilight says holding her two boys close.

Lightning chuckles and nuzzles her. "Okay. Better get going." He said giving her Devotio.

"Ok, see you at dinner." Twilight says.

Lightning smiles and kisses her cheek. "You too and don't work yourself too hard."

"I do…" Twilight stops when Lightning looks back at her.

Lightning keeps staring at her before smiling and rolling his eyes and gets up and leaves. "Also, some of the screws are out on that glove." He said closing the door behind him.

Twilight, hearing that, eeped.

"What is it like having a foal?" Lightning heard as he stopped outside Kai's office.

"Hard, but happy that I have somepony who loves me almost all the time." He heard Kai said.

"So…um, how does one have a foal?" Lightning hears the other of the twins asks.

He smirks as he hears silence before chuckling and then laughing was heard. "You two…you two…you need a sex class." He hears Kai laugh out.

"Sex?" One twin starts. "Class?" The other finished.

Lightning rolls his eyes and opens the door and receives two blades to his throat. "You two are so lucky you are friends now." He said smiling.

"That's right or you both would be dead on the floor from threatening my husband." Kai says going over her paperwork on the desk in her bedroom.

Lightning chuckles darkly as he pushes the blades away and walks over to Kai. "Permission to hug ma'am?" He asks smirking.

"I will consider it." Kai says.

"Oh, what about for him?" Lightning asks holding up Saber.

Kai smiles and turns to him and takes Saber out of his hooves. "Who's mommy's foal?" She asks nuzzling him.

Saber smiles and tries to grab her mane.

Lightning smiles and leans in. "Am I just a donor to you?"

"You wait your turn." Kai says pushing his head back a bit.

Lightning sighs and goes around her desk and fixes some of her papers while he waits. "We are going out on a camping trip with everypony. Best get ready for one later."

"Before or after Urreigns?" Kai asks bouncing Saber.

Lightning sighs. "After. As such, have you talked to them about what you want yet?" Lightning asks looking at Rei and Shiki.

Kai rolls her eyes. "Not yet and still putting the rules into them."

"I see." Lightning says smirking as he leans back in a chair to watch Kai to lay it on them.

He chuckles as he sees Saber just smiling and laughing as Kai yells at the twins.

"And you two better not hurt him at all while you watch over him." Kai finishes.

Saber laughs and reaches up to her.

Lightning smirks seeing this, picks up Saber.

Kai quickly takes him back. "And if I see one hair cut on him, well…" She takes out her sword a bit and Saber tries to reach for it.

"Kai no swords within his grasps." Lightning says.

Kai smiles and gives him a large dagger that makes him drop it and try and reach for it.

"That has no edge right?" Lightning asks.

Kai waves him off with her hoof.

Lightning smirks and ruffles Saber's mane.

Kai smacks his hoof away. "Don't touch."

"What? I can't play with my son…now that I look more closely, he has your mane, though it is hard to tell." Lightning says.

Kai smirks. "And that's why you're less here."

"Let's see, would it look good in your mother's style?" Lightning asks not paying attention to Kai.

Saber coos and reaches for him.

Lightning smiles and lays down in front of him.

Saber laughs and jumps out of Kai hooves and lands on his back before messing with him as he tries and pull at his mane.

Lightning just stares smugly at Kai.

Kai frowns and lays down in front of him. "Oh Saber." She calls, showing her mane.

"Ma." Saber suddenly says.

"Three, two, one." Lightning counted down.

Saber jumps and lands on Kai's back and pulls at her mane.

"Did he just?" Kai asks in disbelief.

"Yes dear, he did." Lightning says.

Kai laughs and quickly rolls over and hugs him. "My baby."

"Cover your ears you two." Lightning says before Kai lets out a loud squee.

The twins shake as they held their hooves to their ears and fall down in shock.

"Well you took down your cousins hun." Lightning says moving over to be next to her and wraps a wing around her.

Kai hums and leans against him. "About time."

"Oh someone jealous that their son was getting attention she wanted?" Lightning asks.

Kai huffs and pushes him a bit. "Shut up."

"I'll tell you what, tonight I will do that with you if you can share." Lightning says.

Kai raises an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Can you?" Lightning asks.

Kai stares at him before smiling. "Okay."

"That's my girl." Lightning says before kissing her.

Kai smiles and kisses back as Saber tried pulling both their manes.

They both smile as they look to Saber.

Saber stops with their manes still in his mouth before smiling and coos before resuming to pull.

Lightning smirks before starting to tickle his stomach.

Saber laughs and tries to push him back. "Da!"

Lightning just keeps tickling.

Kai just rolls her eyes. "Okay, we get it, you're the father."

"Oh?" Lightning asks smirking at her, giving Saber a break.

Kai smirks. "Yes, you are just the father and nothing else."

"Oh?" Lightning asks before starting to tickle her.

Kai frowns as she tries to hold in her laughter. "St…cut that out!"

"Go Saber, get you mother." Lightning says.

Saber laughs as he launches himself at Kai who laughs and hugs him and tries to nuzzles him with his pulling at her mane. Lightning smirks as he keeps tickling Kai.

The twins groan and gets up slowly before seeing Lightning and Kai doing paperwork while Saber runs around them.

"Ah, you two are awake I see." Lightning says.

The twins look at him confused before trying to clean out their ears.

"Right, ok you slackers. Play with Saber since you are off the floor." Kai says.

Saber laughs as he launches himself at him and they miss and he lands on the floor before looking to each other shocked. "I would run." Lightning quipped looking too closely at some scriptures.

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Kai asks.

Lightning shrugs as the twins run off and take Saber with them to clean up and play. "Until they are gone. I still have to check up on the rest of the family."

"Am I the last one on your stops?" Kai asks.

"No, I still got Silva you sexy little thing." Lightning whispers into her ear.

Kai frowns at him. "I'm not little."

"You're the smallest of my mares and I am not complaining." Lightning says picking her up and holding her.

Kai pushes him back slightly. "Cut that out."

"What? Not liking me holding you?" Lightning asks, removing her bandana and letting her mane fall down unrestrained.

Kai sighs as she shakes her mane a bit. "You are insatiable."

"I know, but I am yours." Lightning says.

Kai stares at him before smiling. "And you are a good stallion." She said stroking a hoof on his chest.

Lightning smiles before pecking her nose.

Kai giggles and nuzzles him. "I love you."

"I love you too. You mind helping me get the rest of the mares ready. We have a dinner with Nikolai, Apollo, and their families tonight." Lightning says.

Kai nods. "Sure. Now can you let me go?"

"I will think about that." Lightning says smirking.

Kai hits his chest. "Lightning."

"Still thinking." Lightning says smiling as he inhaled the scent of her mane that he was leaning into.

Kai rolls her eyes. "You better back off or this hoof will need a kiss." She said holding up her hoof menacingly.

"I so love you Kai." Lightning says petting her back.

Kai groans. "You are crazy and inconsiderate."

"No, just love messing with you." Lightning says finally letting her down.

Kai sighs as she goes back to her seat. "You better check with everypony else now."

"Alright, but tonight, this flank is going to get a workout." Lightning says tying her bandana back into place.

Kai huffs. "Don't you mean you will?"

"Oh yes, I will. We both know you absolutely love it when I work it." Lightning says smirking.

Kai throws a quill at him. "Go away."

"Stay sexy." Lightning says before stroking her thigh.

Kai shakes her head as he leaves and ends up staring at his flank. "Huh. Strange."

"Oh, how about here?" Lightning asks getting a sensitive spot making her shiver.

Kai slaps his hoof away. "Stop that."

"Alright, save it for later when it is your turn." Lightning teases.

Kai huffs and looks away. "You are, as I said, insatiable."

"And what are you miss turned on?" Lightning asks.

Kai throws a ball up paper at him.

"Still turned on, gotcha." Lightning says before leaving.

Kai rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Oh Lightning."

"Left face." Silva says drilling her now full patrol group.

The patrol group turns in sync as Lightning smiles as he comes up behind her.

"Now royal guards, who are you in the upcoming war?" Silva asks not noticing him.

"To be the king's personal guards." They all said in unison.

Silva smiles as she looks confused as she looks around for the strange music from nowhere and everywhere. "And what are you doing?"

"To protect him and his family from the unnecessary forces of evil." They all said.

Silva smirks. "And why do you do this?"

"Because no one else will." They said brandishing their weapons into place in front of them.

Lightning chuckles as he hugs Silva. "And because it's fucking fun!"

"Salute!" Silva says.

The guards immediately stand at attention to Lightning who laughs and hugs Silva tighter against him. "Hey girl. How's it going here?"

"Good, whipping your personal guard for the upcoming war into shape." Silva says.

Lightning smirks as he drags her along and they stand real close to the front of the line as the guards try to avert their eyes and look straight. "Who shows the best promise?" He asks looking them over.

"I hoof picked them so they all do." Silva says as Lightning sets her down.

Lightning hums as he looks at a muscled stallion. "I see. Who's the strongest? This guy?" He asks pointing at him.

"My lord, you cannot show favoritism amongst them." Silva says.

"Very well. So tell me, all of them, minus the original four, were hoof picked from the equestrian guards correct?" Lightning asks.

Silva nods. "That's correct."

Lightning smiles as he stands before all of them. "I got the first mission for you all or rather four groups. This whole squad will split into four groups and go after a target and gather the most information possible and stop the target by your discretion. The one who brings back a piece, not a head or body part, will win…in a sense. As such, you may be protecting me and my family directly or from a bit away based on your performance. Now then, go to the quartermaster and receive your targets sheets and work from there. You'll only be given a general area so work hard, stay silent, and please watch out." He said before walking away to Silva as the guards started talking amongst themselves and getting together.

"So some time alone while they do your test?" Silva asks.

"You got it my red mane titan." Lightning says.

Silva blushes as she leans in close. "What's the real prize?"

Lightning chuckles. "Now that's a surprise even for you."

"What about my reward for all my hard work?" Silva asks.

Lightning grins. "Oh, that's at night and in bed. Unless you want it right here." He said raising an eyebrow.

"Nah, I can wait." Silva says smiling.

Lightning smiles as he pets her head. "Good girl."

"Yes my king." Silva says happily.

Lightning chuckles and kisses her cheek. "Now then, how about getting some of the girls ready for tonight?"

"You mean dinner with commander Nikolai, Apollo, and their families?" Silva asks.

Lightning nods. "Especially with Rainbow hating a dress."

"I understand my king." Silva says smiling.

Lightning smiles and kisses her cheek again. "Good, now then. I have to go see my kids. Make sure these shinies don't get lost." He said walking away.

"I won't." Silva says before heading to Kai's office. "Ma'am, Major Silva requesting entrance."

Lightning smiles as he sees her enter without much trouble before walking away and trying to find the foals. "Talon. Typhoon. Where are you?" He sang before hearing some explosions and static and goes to a nearby window and sees them both on the training ground with Umbra watching over them as Talion tried as many elements as he can at a dummy while Typhoon was trying to stay hidden near Umbra before he stomps on her shadow.

"Again." He said letting her go.

"Ma'am, can I speak with you?" Silva asks Kai.

Kai hums as she still writes away. "What is it?"

"King Lightning has just informed me we have a dinner tonight with guests and has expressed concerns with lady Rainbow distaste for wearing dresses." Silva says.

Kai smiles. "I remember all the times we had to get her in one."

"It seems his lordship would like us to make sure she is in one for the dinner." Silva says.

Kai grins. "Oh I have my ways."

"I wish to assist general." Silva says.

Kai raises an eyebrow. "Do you now? Well then, be ready for kicks and throws."

"I am ma'am." Silva says as Kai gets up.

Kai sighs as she follows her out. "Come on. We have a lot of dressing to do."

After a quick stop, the two knock on Rainbow's door.

"Yeah?" They heard Rainbow.

"Lady Rainbow, may I come in? I need to discuss something with you." Silva says.

Rainbow sighs. "All right. Come on in."

Silva and Kai entered and saw Rainbow laying on her bed alone. Seeing this, Kai walks over and seals the windows as Silva locks the door.

Rainbow sighs as she kept laying on the bed facing away from them. "What do you need?"

"Lady Rainbow, you know of the plans for dinner tonight correct?" Silva asks hiding the key.

Rainbow hums as she tries to rest.

"Lord Lightning, would like you to dress for it." Silva says.

Rainbow stayed silent for a long time. "No." She said after a while.

"It will happen one way or the other. Will it be the easy way or the hard way?" Kai says catching Rainbow off guard.

Rainbow immediately stood up and looks to them. "Wait, what?"

"You can either put them on or I force you into them like all the other times." Kai says as Rainbow notices the silk undergarments and the dress on the end table.

Rainbow slowly shakes her head. "Oh no. Heck no."

"Hard way it is. Silva hold her down." Kai says.

Rainbow jumps out of bed and run away. "No way, no how!"

"The door is locked." Kai says.

Rainbow yells out as she runs to the window.

"Sealed the windows myself and you know you can't break them." Kai says.

Silva giggles as Rainbow runs past her. "Shall we grab her?"

"Give her a bit longer. Easier if she tired herself out first." Kai says.

Silva giggles as Rainbow keeps flying and running around the room. "She's so crazy. I can see why the king loves her."

After a little longer, Rainbow slows down enough for Silva to grab her. "So ma'am, shall we commence dressing her?" Silva asks holding Rainbow.

"Yes, let's." Kai says getting the panties first and walks over.

Rainbow tries to wrestle out of Silva's grip. "Let me go."

Kai smiles as she forced Rainbow into the silk undergarments and then into the dark blue dress.

Rainbow growls silently as she stood there. "You better get me out of this or I'm tearing it apart."

"Oh you won't do that. Because you fear if you did, Lightning would be upset with you." Kai says.

Rainbow grumbles more.

"Come on now, I am not touching your mane at least." Kai says as Silva retrieves the key.

Rainbow huffs as she frowns and looks away.

"Come on you go and impress the king, your husband. We have to go make sure the other queen is dressed." Kai says pushing her.

Rainbow growls. "Just you wait." She warns before walking away.

"Ok, to Twilight." Kai instructs Silva.

Silva nods and starts to follow her to the lab. "How many days has she been in the lab with her foal?"

"Lab? It's her bedroom." Kai says.

Silva rolls her eyes before they stop in front of a door. "So what's her dress?"

"Unlike Rainbow, she has dresses. The problem is getting her to remember." Kai says knocking.

"What is it and who?" Twilight asks from inside.

"It's me." Kai says with authority.

The quickly opens to a disheveled Twilight with a messed up mane. "Yes?"

"We are here to make sure you are ready and properly dressed and that you are not a mess." Kai says.

Twilight hums as she rubs her eyes. "I see. What's going on?"

"Dinner with guests." Silva says.

Twilight tries to nod. "Alright. Let me freshen up."

"Want us to watch the young prince while you do that?" Silva offers.

Twilight nods. "Yeah, sure. Just make sure he…" She pauses to yawn. "Gets his milk from the fridge and warm it up. If hungry, just feed him some wet bread." She said trying to rub the sleep out of her face.

"Silva, help her to the shower. I will watch the young one." Kai says.

Silva salutes. "Yes ma'am." She said leading Twilight away as Kai goes to the rocking crib on the table.

Kai looks down at the foal and smiles. "You have your father's good looks."

Devotio yawns in his sleep as he turns in his bed.

Kai smiles. "You're also as cute as my Saber." Kai adds.

Devotio coos as he snores quietly.

Kai smiled as she watched him till Silva and Twilight returned.

Devotio yawns loudly before opening his eyes and sitting up. "Ma?" He asks looking around.

"Here sweetie." Twilight says fixing her mane as Kai picked him up.

Devotio coos and reaches for Twilight as Kai and Silva giggles.

"One moment and done." Twilight says before finishing with her mane and turns to face them in her purple dress. "Well, what do you think?" Twilight asks.

Devotio laughs and keeps reaching for her as Kai and Silva smile and nod. "Not bad." Silva said.

"Ok Devotio, come to momma." Twilight says taking him.

Devotio cheers and hugs and nuzzles her. "Ma."

"That's right." Twilight says before pecking his forehead.

Devotio giggles and hugs her tighter. "Ma ma."

Twilight smiles and holds him with one of her hooves. "Come on my baby, time for dinner." She says.

Devotio cheers as Twilight carries him away. "She's a very loving mother." Silva said after she left.

"He is working on you already." Kai says following Twilight.

Silva smiles at that. "Yeah, soon." She said to herself and follows thereafter.

"You two doing ok?" Lightning asks Talion and Typhoon dressed up in outfits.

"Hate these." They said pulling at their clothes to loosen them up.

"Come on, it's just for dinner you two." Lightning says picking them up and smiling.

They both frown. "That's a long time with you." Talion said.

"Just be glad you don't have to wear this stupid thing." Lightning says donning a metal headband encrusted with jewels.

Typhoon raises an eyebrow. "It looks stupid."

"And it is annoying as well." Lightning says.

Talion holds up a hoof. "I can knock it off."

"I would just have to put it back on unfortunately. Also, I thought you two would like those as they are less formal." Lightning says.

Typhoon huffs. "Not good enough."

"Ah, you're just like your mother, hates to wear clothes." Lightning says rubbing his head.

Talion looks proud at that. "And how."

"My lord, should we inform young Talion he will be king of Whiterun as one of your first borns?" A soldier whispers.

"Thank you for volunteering." Lightning says.

The soldier blanches. "But…sir…"

"Go on." Lightning says pushing the soldier forward.

"W…well young lord, you will one day have to wear that as you will one day be the lord of Whiterun." The soldier says.

Talion stares at him. "But I can choose what I can wear, right?"

"Um…" The soldier tried to start.

"No to a majority." Lightning says.

Talion raises an eyebrow. "But I have to walk about the citizens. So wouldn't it make sense to walk among them as equals instead of being above them and appear badly to some of them who hold a slight distaste of me?"

"Why do you think avoid wearing the regal stuff as much as possible son?" Lightning asks.

Talion looks to him. "So I don't get attacked and killed in an easy target with also making some appearances."

"No, because they are uncomfortable. You will also understand with time." Lightning says.

Talion huffs. "Hate this."

Lightning smiles and picks the two up. "Come on, is it so bad?" Lightning asks nuzzling them.

"Yes." They both said. "Can't we go back to mom's home?" Typhoon asks.

"Sorry kids, but no…wait, that is our estate as well." Lightning says realizing where they were referring to.

They both look proud at that. "Thank you for noticing it." They both said.

"Why you little." Lightning says before starting to tickle them.

Both laugh as the guards around them look to each other, confused at them. Soon the door opens to Rainbow standing there in a dress.

"Okay, what did I miss?" Rainbow asks raising an eyebrow to them.

"Me tickling these two smart alecs." Lightning says seeing Windstorm with his mother.

Rainbow hums. "I see. Go get them Windstorm." She said letting him go and letting him crawl to them.

"Can you two play with your little brother?" Lightning asks.

Windstorm laughs as Talion and Typhoon carries him away and plays with him as Rainbow smiles and Lightning comes over to her. "Good kids, aren't they?"

"They have your attitude." Lightning says.

Rainbow sighs. "It seems like they want to live in a time where they can just spend time in a place where there is no war."

"Oh Rainbow, do you need some attention or are you down Kai made you get dressed again?" Lightning teases.

Rainbow grumbles as she looks away. Lightning smirk and kisses her cheek. Rainbow raises an eyebrow to him. "You have to do better."

"Later love, we have friends. Remember, your old friend is visiting." Lightning says.

Rainbow sighs. "I know. But it's just getting more boring now."

"Look on the bright side. I get to take it off tonight." Lightning whispers into her ear.

Rainbow grins. "Oh and what are you going to do?"

"Oh I have a few ideas." Lightning whispers rubbing her back.

Rainbow giggles and leans in. "I can't wait."

"So any ideas about Octavia's foal?" Lightning asks.

Rainbow shrugs. "Haven't heard from them in a while. No idea what has been going on."

"Well we can meet them soon." Lightning says as Nikolai walks in.

"Excuse me my lord, have you seen Vinyl?" Nikolai asks.

Lightning looks confused. "Aren't you married and should know?"

"Well she said she would meet me here with our two foals." Nikolai says looking around.

Rainbow raises an eyebrow. "She gave birth again? Wow, we have been out of loop."

"Yeah, she just gave birth to our filly last week." Nikolai says lifting furniture up to look under it.

Lightning chuckles as he looks around before stopping. "Nikolai, what's the heaviest thing you wore and how much did it weigh?"

"That heavy armor from the legion and in total, over 150 lbs." Nikolai says throwing the furniture to the side.

Lightning looks to the destroyed furniture. "When we are done with dinner, go see Twilight in the lab."

"Nope, Vinyl called my night with her and the foals." Nikolai says.

Lightning sighs. "Tomorrow then. I think you are a good candidate for her new tech."

They then hear some laughter from the door.

"Oh you little guy. You are really good to your sister." They hear Vinyl and sees her with a colt and a filly on her back with the colt holding the filly.

"Hey Nikolai, about face." Lightning ordered.

Nikolai immediately stood at attention and then sees Vinyl before smiling and running over and hugging her. "Hey music girl."

"Hey V." Rainbow says.

Vinyl laughs and hugs Nikolai back. "Hey guys. Been awhile."

"Yes, it has. What are you up to beside opening a club?" Rainbow asks.

Vinyl hums. "Living and making sure these guys don't go crazy." She said motioning to the foals.

"Oh you had a filly. What is her name?" Rainbow asks.

Vinyl smiles. "It's Rhythm Beets."

"Oh cute, she has your mane and coat." Rainbow says.

Vinyl nods. "Yeah, she's also crazy for her big brother. Always trying to get away from me and to him. It's like she's trying to get him to be the mother."

"Oh that is cute." Rainbow says before whistling. "Kids, come meet your crazy aunt and her foals." Rainbow says snickering.

Vinyl grins as she sees the three foals running to her and glomps her. "I love these foals!" Vinyl cheers and hugs them all.

"Is she really our aunt mommy?" Talion asks.

Lightning chuckles. "Yeah. The crazy aunt."

"Well she isn't related by blood, but the next best thing." Rainbow says as Talion and the white filly meet eye to eye.

The filly coos before biting his nose and he reels back and holds his nose. "Ow! My nose." He said muffled.

Rainbow and Vinyl laugh at that. "She is defiantly your daughter." Rainbow says in between laughing.

Vinyl chuckles. "Yeah, she's like that. She has already bit Nikolai too many times and he's got the marks to prove it." She said poking his nose.

"Ha ha." Nikolai says.

Vinyl smiles and kisses his nose. "You have a cute nose though."

"Oh." Nikolai says happily leaning onto her shoulder with his head.

Vinyl giggles and nuzzles him. "Who's my metal winged hero?"

"Me." Nikolai says.

Vinyl chuckles. "And who's going to be the stallion who carries my things?" She asks grinning.

"Apollo the pack mule." Nikolai says.

"I take offense to that." Apollo said appearing before them upside down.

"Oh sorry. Pack rat." Nikolai jokes.

"Now that's an offense to what he's skilled at." Octavia said appearing the same way beside Apollo.

"So he doesn't have a lot of knick knacks and junk cluttering your home?" Nikolai asks.

"Well…I didn't say that." Octavia says.

Apollo looks to her hurt. "I thought you were on my side."

"Well truth is truth." Octavia says as their filly said the only thing she could say so far. "Meep."

Apollo frowns. "Hey, those paintings are priceless artifacts."

Octavia raises an eyebrow. "A hoof painted drawing of a naked dragoness on her side is a priceless artifact?"

Apollo sweats. "Five thousand gold worth."

"Then sell it and put that money to our daughter's education." Octavia says sternly.

"Meep." The filly said crossing her hooves.

"Oh she is cute. What is her name?" Rainbow asks.

Octavia smiles. "She's named Hymn Medley."

"Oh hello Hymn." Rainbow says.

Hymn looks to her. "Meep meep."

Lightning raises an eyebrow and leans over. "Why do I have a feeling that the halls are going to become a comedy play?" He asks Apollo.

Rainbow smiles and gently boops her nose. "Boop."

Hymn giggles and grabs her hoof. "Meep."

"So I hear you now have three foals." Vinyl says.

"Yes, that is right. Windstorm, come to momma please." Rainbow says.

Windstorm laughs as he crawls over and hugs her leg.

"Meet my youngest so far." Rainbow says picking him up.

Windstorm laughs and cheers in her hooves.

"Meep." Hymn says touching him.

Windstorm giggles and tries to grab her hoof.

"Oh how cute." Octavia says.

Hymn giggles along with Windstorm who trying to keep grabbing each other. Rainbow smiles and pecks Windstorm's head.

Windstorm giggles and tries to hug her back.

"Oh who's a good boy?" Rainbow asks.

Windstorm cheers in response and keeps hugging her hoof.

Rainbow smiles as Daring walks in. "Thought I heard you."

Lightning smiles as he goes over and wraps a hoof around her. "Hey sexy. How's it going?"

"Good, isn't that right Star?" Daring asks.

Star hums as she nods. "Yep."

"Oh there is Star." Lightning says tickling her a bit.

Star giggles and tries to grab his hooves. "Stop it!" She laughs.

"Never." Lightning says reinitiating the tickling.

Star laughs as Daring smiles. "You're such a good father."

"Um…my lord?" A servant says popping his head in.

Lightning sighs and looks over. "Yes?"

"Dinner is ready sire." The servant says.

Lightning smiles. "Good, come on everypony." He said picking up Star and setting her on Daring's back.

"So free food?" Vinyl asks.

Lightning smirks. "Well…you have to pay us five hundred gold coins each for everypony eating."

"But since you are guests and friends, free food." Rainbow finishes the joke when Vinyl paled.

Vinyl frowns. "Hey, you better watch what you say about food."

"Love, he is treating all of us." Nikolai reminds.

Vinyl becomes snooty. "When it comes to food, don't test me."

"Love, he is also the one that okayed your night club when no one else would." Nikolai says.

Vinyl stares at him. "After five letters of requests."

"Still did it." Nikolai says.

"You took the last one directly to him didn't you?" Vinyl asks.

"…maybe." Nikolai says.

Lightning chuckles. "And he still owes me. Do you know what I had to go through to get her club okayed?"

"I was there. He actually smacked an official and asked who was the jarl here." Nikolai says chuckling.

Vinyl smiles a bit. "Good."

"Oh I want a picture of that." Apollo says.

Nikolai grins. "I'm sure the other officials there at the office has one."

"Yes. Yes they do and boy it was fun seeing that happen again and again." Lightning says.

Apollo raises an eyebrow. "Shouldn't we get to dinner?"

"Yes. Let's go." Nikolai says pushing Vinyl.

Vinyl frowns as she was pushed. "Hey, I got legs."

"But you are carrying two." Nikolai says.

Vinyl looks to her back and sees her two foals trying to keep their balance and have a staring contest with each other.

"See?" Nikolai asks before slipping under her and lifting her up on his back.

Vinyl giggles. "Now that's a good stallion."

"Oh Apollo." Octavia says.

Apollo frowns. "I am not carrying you."

"Yes you are." Octavia says poking his chest.

Apollo growls slightly as Octavia glares at him before Hymn comes between them. "Meep." She said holding out her hooves to Apollo.

"Fine." Apollo relented.

Lightning smiles as Apollo walks by him with Octavia sitting dignified on his back as Hymn cheers on his head. "I love my life." Lightning said smiling.

"Oh Kai is going to love this." Daring says.

Lightning chuckles. "Yeah, better get Silva and Kai from the office. I'll see you at dinner." He said walking away.

"Office? I heard they were going to check on Twi." Rainbow says petting Windstorm.

Lightning shrugs. "One or the other." He said heading out the door.

Rainbow rolls her eyes. "Let's get going to dinner. I'm sure the foals are getting hungry." She said nuzzling Windstorm as he coos.

Daring smiles and walks her out with Star following with Talion and Typhoon trying to walk farther than each other in a sort of race.

"I'm first."

"No, I'm first."

Lightning smiles as he heads back to the war room and goes inside to find Penitus sleeping and snoring quietly on the table. He looks around a bit to make sure nopony was there before walking over and shaking her awake.

"Huh, what?" Penitus groans as she quickly brings her head up groggily.

Lightning smiles. "Dinner time and you fell asleep. If you want, I can have some food delivered to you."

Penitus yawns. "No, it's fine. Go enjoy your dinner. I still need to update these maps." She said turning back to her messed up map.

Lightning nods before remembering something. "I know this is possibly very personal and intrusive, but…did you ever pose for a painting naked on your side?"

Penitus turns to him slowly and stares at him with a blank face.

Lightning tries to shrug. "Something I heard."

Penitus keeps staring at him before sighing and leans on her arm. "Yes…once. She was a good friend and I did owe her."

Lightning goes wide eyed before quickly going to the door and opens it and whispers something to the guard before the guard runs off and closes the door. "Keep working on those maps. Every little bit helps."

Penitus smiles. "Don't worry. I'll make sure the soldiers get the best possible route." She said before gaining the smile she uses in public. "And maybe I'll treat you to something good. I do have a big enough flank and chest." She said lowly and leans close to him before quickly moving her eyes sharply upward and then back to him that he could barely see them.

Lightning sighs and rubs his face. "Just make sure the maps are done. I don't want to send my army into a bloodbath." He said looking a bit at her and winks halfway before starting to walk out.

Penitus giggles slowly. "Oh yes high yarl. I wonder how high it gets?" She asks herself and Lightning tries to hold down the blush.

Lightning groans as he walks through the halls again as he hears Penitus giggle. "Oh how I hate that heir." He said seeing the shadow move in the ceiling banisters. But he did have to admit to himself that she did have a nice figure for a dragon.

"Food food food." Vinyl's son chants imitating his mother.

Octavia frowns. "You two, manners." She said pointing a hoof at them menacingly.

"Hey, my son, my job to teach him." Vinyl says petting Canticum's mane as he whimpered a bit.

Lightning chuckles as he walks in. "Is that the hungry hungry Vinyl I hear?" He asks smirking.

"No, it is the sad Canticum that Octavia upset." Vinyl says actually telling them all she was a little mad at her for making her colt sad.

Lightning smiles as he goes over and leans down to the little colt. "Did the mean mare make you scared?" He asks gently.

Canticum nods.

Lightning smiles and holds out his hooves. "Give Uncle Lightning a hug and it'll make the mean mare go away."

Canticum hugs Lightning while Octavia looked unamused.

Lightning chuckles and hugs Canticum back. "There there. That mean mare will become nice, right?" He asks slightly frowning at Octavia.

Octavia just pouts, making Canticum chuckle seeing that.

Lightning smiles and places him on Vinyl's lap. "Make sure that Octavia doesn't bother him."

"Thanks." Vinyl says smiling now.

Lightning grins as he leans over to Octavia. "Don't hurt them."

"I won't, but someone needs to teach them manners. Vinyl can't even spell the word." Octavia says.

Vinyl frowns. "Hey! I can do great spells."

"Spell manners." Octavia says.

Vinyl growls. "And some class for the public."

"I'm not hearing you spelling." Octavia says smirking.

Vinyl grins. "Canticum, silence spell." She said to which Canticum coos and lights up his horn and it makes a popping sound before Octavia realized that she can't hear them.

"Oh impressive." Lightning says.

Nikolai chuckles. "Yeah, useful when she is running a sound test."

"Yes, planning to send him to the academy one day?" Lightning asks.

Nikolai sighs. "Not by much. I rather he be safe rather than fighting and making all of us worry."

"You could buy a house near it and let him attend classes." Lightning says.

Nikolai smiles. "Maybe just some jobs at home rather than out there."

"You hungry my little Canticum and Rhythm?" Vinyl asks.

They both coo and up at her.

"Everyone is about here." Lightning says as Twilight and Devotio come in.

Twilight yawns as she carefully puts Devotio in a chair. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's ok." Lightning says as Silva, Kai, and Saber walk in.

Saber cheers as he runs to Lightning and hugs his leg.

"Hey there Saber." Lightning says picking him up.

Saber laughs as he hugs Lightning who holds him and treats him to some of the appetizers on the table. "Yeah and who's your mommy?" He asks holding him up.

"That would be me." Kai says walking up.

"Who's shorty?" Vinyl asks freezing both Apollo and Nikolai and they back away with their chairs scraping the ground before return to the screen and grab the foals and quickly take them away as everypony gets away from the area and huddle in the corner.

Kai smiles and slowly turns to her. "What was that dear?"

"I asked who is the shorty, which is you." Vinyl says not being mean, but obvious.

Kai hums as she leans in close to her. "I see. So you think I am short huh?"

"Well you are smaller than Rainbow and she is pretty small." Vinyl says.

"Hey!" Rainbow calls.

Kai raises an eyebrow. "Do you know who I am?"

"No, that is why I asked." Vinyl says.

Kai hums. "You will now die." She said holding up a spear.

"Come on my small general." Lightning says picking her up.

Kai grumbles as Lightning carries her to a chair and sits her down in it before setting Saber on her lap.

"Better?" Lightning asks.

Kai still grumbles as she leans back onto him.

"Now you two behave." Lightning says walking away after setting Kai down in a seat next to Vinyl.

Vinyl hums. "Small." She said still pointing to Kai.

Kai takes a nearby knife and throws it and it flies right past her head and destroys the part of the chair it hit.

Vinyl still smiles. "Nice shot. That part was getting a bit rotten anyway."

"Um…love?" Nikolai says.

Vinyl smiles to him. "Yeah?"

Nikolai points to the wall that has a crater in it now with the knife at the center.

Vinyl looks to it and hums. "Cool." She said finally and smiles.

"Love, please don't antagonize one of the strongest, high ranking, and scariest ponies in the land." Nikolai pleads.

Vinyl stares at him confused before looking to Kai. "That little mare is the strongest?"

"Love please." Nikolai begs.

Vinyl keeps looking to Kai confused as she held a straight face. "And how is she crazy? She's cute if not adorable."

"She is a general who holds the highest record of officer and general kills in all of Stalliongrad on the battlefield." Nikolai says.

Vinyl smiles. "That's so cool. Hey, does ever army pony ask you about your height?" She asks Kai.

"At first they did they thought she was a foal soldier." Lightning says.

Kai huffs. "More like a stallion."

"They thought you were an underage stallion at first." Lightning says.

Kai smiles. "Though I did have fun threatening them."

"That was after we were promoted to the ranks of captains." Lightning says.

"Yeah, I remember when we all found out our comrade Kai was a mare." Nikolai says.

"What rank were you back then?" Vinyl asks.

"Sergeant." Nikolai says.

Vinyl looks confused. "That is good, right?"

"He was in charge of a squad of ten ponies back then." Lightning says.

Vinyl smiles and then gets confused again. "That is good…right?"

"Yes Vinyl, means I was making my way up the ranks." Nikolai says.

Vinyl smiles and hugs him. "Good."

"But not like you two. I was already starting to be distinguished, but you two rose like stars through the ranks for your abilities to achieve the impossible." Nikolai says.

"That is true. We got a lot of suicide or deemed impossible missions." Lightning says.

Kai smiles. "Yeah, they would usually send us out just so they don't have to feel bad about losing their positions soon."

"More like we were sacrificial pawns to delay at times." Lightning says.

Kai waves him off. "That too."

"You see love. Even though I distinguished myself, those two already had a reputation for pulling off the impossible, making the superiors take notice. In fact, they both lead a hundred man units each on the siege of this very city in the rebellion." Nikolai says.

Vinyl giggles and hugs him tighter. "So Sparky and Tiny are that good?"

"They are feared as demons on this earth to the dominion." Nikolai says fully serious.

Vinyl tilts her head. "Well, yeah. That's a given. They are the biggest things around if I believe everything about Tiny."

"Vinyl, are you going to continue to insult our hosts?" Octavia asks.

Vinyl grins. "Maybe. It is fun."

"Kai, swear you won't hurt her." Lightning says.

Kai was looking at a kitchen knife. "I'll try."

"Kai." Lightning says.

Kai grumbles as she still messes around with the knife.

"Thank you." Lightning says as she puts down the knife out of Saber's reach.

Saber coos as he reaches for the utensils on the table. Kai, seeing this, gives him a spoon. Saber laughs as he takes the spoon and sticks it in his mouth before sucking on it. Kai smiles as the food is brought out and dinner begins.

"So…what now?" Twilight asks rocking a now sleeping Devotio.

"Octavia, Vinyl, and the servants have agreed to watch all of the foals for us. Unfortunately, Seeku can't tear herself away from her ten hatchlings and won't be joining us." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles. "Our night? What's the plan for now?"

"Well I said that we are all going to have a plan for tonight, but you all have to share." Lightning says.

"I don't mind. I can play with her till it's mine or her turn." Daring says smiling at Twilight.

Twilight blushes heavily. "Well what about Rainbow and the others?"

"I'm first. He promised to undress me." Rainbow says smirking.

Lightning chuckles. "Alright. Drop off the foals and get ready. I'll be there in a bit." He said getting out of his seat and walking off.

Kai smiles picking up her sleeping Saber. "Time for bed little one."

Saber coos in his sleep and wiggles around. "Ma." He said in his sleep.

Kai smiles and kisses his head before heading out as the rest start taking their foals as well.

Lightning smiles as he sees them walk off with Octavia and Vinyl with their foals sleeping on their back. He chuckles as he stops in front of a door. "Scoots?" He asks knocking on it.

Some crashing was heard. "One minute." He heard say strained before the door opens to her looking a bit frayed. "Yes dad?"

Lightning smirks as he tries to peek inside. "What's going on in there?"

Scootaloo blocks his view. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Lightning chuckles. "Right. It's okay baby girl. If you and your mate are doing something…"

"We are not!" Scootaloo defends.

"I'm just saying that it is o…" Lightning was cut off by Tiyries.

"Scoots, come on. It's your turn."

Scootaloo groans as Lightning smirks. "Not what you are thinking." She tries.

"Come on Scoots. You had us dress up to play this board game and everything." Sweetie Belle calls.

Lightning finally was able to see inside and sees the big fad of board games in the room. "I see now. Have fun sweetie. You kinda missed dinner though."

"We did?" Apple Bloom calls wearing a wizard outfit with a fake beard and everything making Lightning laugh on the inside.

Lightning tries to nod as he tries to contain himself. Scootaloo sighs at her father's situation. "Just tell them to send some food to us. Anything else?"

"Be good my little angel. Me and your mothers will be busy the rest of the night." Lightning says.

Scootaloo frowns. "I don't want to know." She said before closing the door.

"Also a message from Kai." Lightning says.

Scootaloo opens the door slightly. "What is it?"

"You better not slack off on training with the sword while she is away." Lightning says.

Scootaloo huffs. "Fine."

"Good my little angel." Lightning whispers to her.

Scootaloo rolls her eyes. "Just go dad." She said closing the door again.

Lightning smirks, walking off.

"Hey dad?" Talion asks appearing above him. Lightning smirks before using his magic to spin Talion around above him. "Dad?" He asks raising an eyebrow.

"You like spinning son?" Lightning asks.

Talion crosses his hooves. "Dad."

"Come on son, lighten up and have fun." Lightning says letting him down.

Talion smirks. "Oh yeah, we are going to have fun." He said looking down.

Lightning looks down as well and sees only his shadow and tries to move a hoof and feels it stuck. "Alright, what did you do?" He asks looking up to Talion.

Talion smirks. "Not me, sis."

"Oh." Lightning says before he hears a yelp and Typhoon was being dragged by her tail towards him with his magic.

Talion frowns. "No fun."

"Who is the master mage here?" Lightning asks smirking.

Typhoon frowns as she stands up again. "I had you."

"You did, but I know you my little filly." Lightning says bringing her into a hug.

Typhoon groans as she rolls her eyes. "I hate my training."

"You do? I thought you like spending time with me?" Lightning says petting her.

Typhoon rolls her eyes. "I meant with uncle. He isn't giving me enough tricks."

"Well he wants to teach you little by little like I do. So how is your fireball spell coming?" Lightning asks.

Talion smiles. "I can make a big one already."

"And you my little firecracker?" Lightning asks.

Typhoon raises an eyebrow before holding out her hoof and lets a small flame appear on it. "Uncle told me I just have shadow."

"You can still use all the elements. It just takes practice and study." Lightning says pulling Talion into his hug with his sister.

Talion shakes his head. "And this is dad."

"Me holding you two silly little smart alecs." Lightning says.

Typhoon smirks and flicks a hoof up into the air.

"Come on you two, bath time." Lightning says.

They both go wide eyed and tried to run.

"Nuh huh, I already got you both." Lightning says not letting go and starts walking.

Talion gulps before freezing the ground and turning the hall into an ice rink.

Lightning didn't seem to be hindered by this at all as he walked on it as if he was walking on a dirt road.

Talion frowns before trying to make them slide out of his grip by icing him up.

"It is useless my son. The ice and cold are where I am at my greatest." Lightning says as the ice shatter.

Talion hums before trying to flow water between them.

"Oh want to freeze my son? If you get yourselves wet in the cold you have made, you will get sick and your mother will punish you." Lightning says making Talion yelp.

Typhoon pouts cutely before a sphere of darkness appears around her and covers her up.

Lightning smirks before tapping it with his nose and it shattered and fall to the ground like glass to Typhoon's shock. "Your dad knows many tricks my foals."

Both foals look to each other before smirking to each other.

"Knock it off you two or I will get your mother and if you give her this much trouble, she will spank you both." Lightning says.

The foals keep smirking before Lightning enters a four-way hallway and then gets slams in both sides and the twins jumps out of his hooves and runs off. "Hi hun." Shadow said holding him from his side and Umbra chuckles from the other end.

"Umbra, get them back or I will imprison you in a statute." Lightning says in a serious voice making both shadow creatures shiver a bit.

Umbra gulps before letting go of him and flies off after the twins. "Sorry guys!" He calls to them.

"Now as for you." Lightning says before petting her.

Shadow smiles and purrs as she leans into his petting. "That's nice."

"Alter your appearance a bit before somepony sees you as a dark version of Rainbow." Lightning whispers into her ear.

Shadow nods and changes into the form of a random mare. "How's this?"

"Better. So tell me, what do my foals think of me after that?" Lightning asks.

Shadow smiles. "Really fun. They really like the way you are breaking the spells and learning from it."

"They are sharp, but their spells are not even as strong as a third level's in my school yet. They have a long way to go before they can out do me." Lightning says.

Shadow hums. "You really putting them down? When they are this much old and some of the students in the school are younger?"

"It's not putting them down when they're not even five and already have that great of power. You forget how much I value quality." Lightning says.

Shadow just raises an eyebrow.

"Oh my gods, you are going by the equestrian standards aren't you…like Twi." Lightning says exhaling in exasperation.

Shadow smiles. "Now the big head gets it. I am Equestrian born you bloody idiot." She said knocking his head.

"No, you are from the east. Seriously Shadow, you have spent too much time in Twilight. You are starting to become dangerously close to being her." Lightning says.

Shadow grins. "I needed a bigger sex drive for you."

"Shao Jun." Lightning says.

Shadow smiles and hugs him. "You are just a cute stallion."

"Shao Jun, cleanse yourself and become you again." Lightning says.

Shadow sighs. "Can't I have fun?"

"I want Shao Jun. Not another Twilight." Lightning says.

Shadow smirks. "Really, you want the old drive?"

"Shao Jun, come back to me." Lightning says cupping her head.

Shadow giggles and hugs him. "You are a sweet stallion."

Lightning then saw her change her appearance a bit before letting go.

Shadow sighs as she looks him over. "Still, you need a bit more exercise."

"I can't get any fitter." Lightning says smirking.

Shadow chuckles. "Yeah and you use that on me every time." She said grinning.

"Down girl, beside my foals are coming back now they are caught." Lightning says.

Shadow chuckles and hugs him. "Last one."

"Good. Now go get Rainbow. Tell her Talion and Typhoon need a bath." Lightning says.

Shadow nods and kisses his cheek before floating off.

"Tell Twilight as well." Lightning says before she fazes into a shadow.

Umbra sighs as he floats in with Typhoon and Talion looking defeated in his hooves. "Don't trap me." He said giving the twins to him.

"You have earnt the right to remain free. Now come on you two, don't want to keep your mother and Twilight waiting." Lightning says.

They both grumble as he keeps walking and Umbra floats away. "Why did I choose this life?" He asks himself.

"Because you didn't want to die." The dark warrior says as he floats into his room.

Umbra hums as he looks to the warrior and the brother sleeping in bed. "That is true. I also didn't want a young crazy hard headed spirit in my place with this war brewing." He said settling into a chair in a pondering position.

"And because you keep stealing alcohol from his storehouse."

Umbra tries to look innocent. "I was thirsty."

"And you keep doing it."

Umbra rolls his head. "It was good and old."

"Come on you two, stop being stubborn." Rainbow says.

"We would rather clean ourselves." They both said in unison.

"But you won't, you will just soak in the tub." Twilight says.

"Dang straight." They both said crossing their hooves.

"You two better not make me have to spank you over this." Rainbow says making them pale.

Lightning chuckles and hugs her. "Aw, they are just kids being kids. Leave it alone. They will learn. Right, you two?" Lightning asks as the two were not resisting as much.

They gulp and nod slowly.

"Good, now come on you two." Twilight says putting in a toy boat in the bath.

They both stare at it before trying to grab for it between them. "And they are still kids." Lightning said smiling.

Twilight smiles before putting four more in. "Now you have a fleet." Lightning says.

They both laugh as they collect the most they can and set themselves up against each other. "I will defeat you!" Talion cheers.

"Hold still." Rainbow says scrubbing his mane.

Talion grumbles as Typhoon giggles behind her hooves. "Fire!" She yells and the ships actually fire a water ball at Talion's ships and makes one sink.

"Come on you." Twilight says scrubbing her mane.

Typhoon screams and tries to push her away. "My mane!"

"Fire." Talion says counter attacking and sinking her own.

"Soap?" Lightning offers the mares.

They both smirk as they each take one before they descend on the two foals who didn't notice them until it was too late. "Ah! Help! We're being attacked!" Lightning heard Talion as he read a random book nearby and soap and water flew past him.

After a bit of time, both mares had the two foals out of the tub and were drying them. "See now, was that so bad?" Rainbow asks.

"Yes!" They both said grumpy as they crossed their forelegs.

"Only because you two resisted. If you didn't resist, they wouldn't have interrupted your playing." Lightning says as Twilight and Rainbow started brushing their manes, relaxing the two foals.

Twilight smiles as she styles Talion's mane. "What do you think his style should be like?"

"He likes it when his mane covers his left eye." Lightning says.

Twilight raises an eyebrow. "Oh, a punk huh?" She asks styling the mane.

"Yes, you are helping to raise a little punk." Lightning says.

Rainbow giggles as she styles Typhoon's mane to be longer on her back while having some tails on her face. "There."

Typhoon smiles as Rainbow kisses her forehead as Twilight styles Talion's mane.

Lightning chuckles as he closes his book. "So you two, time for a little snack and then bed."

"Snack?" The twins ask as their ears perked up.

Lightning grins. "Yep. Snack." He said slowly drawing out the word.

The twins immediately follow their father.

Twilight and Rainbow look to each other with smirks. "Sweets disguised as sleeping potions?" Twilight asks.

"More like a cookie and something that knocks them out every time." Rainbow says.

Twilight giggles. "You sure that's okay to give them?"

"Not curious what the other thing is?" Rainbow asks.

Twilight sighs. "Nah, the more I don't know, the better."

"Come on you, this may be a trick you can use later." Rainbow says pushing Twilight.

By the time they got there, both were fast asleep and Lightning was putting them on his back. "One bite as always." He said walking to their beds.

"What knocked them out?" Twilight asks.

Rainbow show her over to the two cookies and two glasses that looked to have been drank from.

Twilight smiles. "At least they got a good snack before bed. I thought it was something like water or a fruit drink laced."

"Nope, a cookie or a bite of one and warm milk and they are sleeping peacefully." Rainbow says.

Twilight smiles. "You think that work on Devotio?"

"We shall try it when he is older." Rainbow says.

Twilight nods as both Rainbow and Lightning out the twins to bed before she starts walking out as they were tucking them in.

"Sleep well you two." Lightning says as a few ice wolves laid down around the twins.

Rainbow smiles as she follows him. "We made good foals, didn't we?"

"Yes, now off to the room you two." Lightning says.

Rainbow chuckles and goes to Twilight before dragging her off with smiles on their faces as Lightning sighs and walks another way again. "Last one." He said to himself and stops in front of the dreaded room that may come into play soon.

He opens it to find Penitus still there and working on a map while having a candle lit next to her. He hums as he closes the doors and looks around again like last time. "How long has it been since you slept?"

Penitus hums as she keeps writing away. "Not since I woke up and came here. These maps are very out of date. I don't know what they are going to do with their plans once they see this." She said lifting another map to look at it before working on her original one.

Lightning nods as he walks over and goes wide eyed at the sight of the many changes. "How many maps have you done?" He asks seeing the many sheets of paper and scrolls on the table.

Penitus shrugs. "I don't know. About a hundred."

Lightning shakes his head a bit. "You need to take a break."

Penitus sighs. "I have to do these and finish them up before the generals come back. I want the least amount of army personnel to die in this takeover. I like my own army back in and ready to go on your side again."

Lightning smiles a bit. "Something that will still happen with a clear head. Now why not head to your room and get some sleep? You can work more on this later tomorrow."

Penitus chuckles as she stops writing midway. "I'm a far cry from what you first saw back at the high king's castle, aren't I?" She asks still looking at the map.

Lightning smiles a bit as he sits in nearby chair near her. "Yes, strange and kind of snooty. Heck, too flirty and showing off the body too much too. Didn't realize that under that form is a strong and wise mind that is just waiting to strike."

Penitus giggles. "Yes, that is what one would say…maybe. I didn't really show my true self to others besides my parents because of this reason. They saw the advantage and played along. Always playing with me." She said rather distantly as she puts the quill down.

"Is that so uncommon those in politics or royalty always using each other?" Lightning asks.

Penitus sighs. "Hardly with family like this."

"Yeah, can you guess why I am different?" Lightning asks.

Penitus looks to him. "You make time for your family?"

"There is that, but why am I so keen on that?" Lightning asks.

Penitus shrugs. "Keeping them happy and together?"

"That is how. Why am I like this?" Lightning asks to the stumped dragoness.

Penitus keeps looking at him before shrugging. "I don't know. You tell me."

"Because I didn't grow up a noble or a pony of power. I was a regular citizen." Lightning says.

Penitus raises an eyebrow at him. "I see. But does the job of being one now hinder you like all the rest?"

"No, most nobles don't take time and look back and see what their actions cause. Someone who grew up in that class knows what it is like." Lightning says.

Penitus sighs. "And I'm one of the bad ones."

"I won't say for you haven't ruled fully yet. But I will give you some advice. Rulers must rule to protect and serve the people and sometimes the best course of action is not the most popular or obvious one." Lightning says.

Penitus nods. "My father had to do that a few times. Cut away a few essential businesses to place in schools and that, but the workers were the parents of those children going to school."

"Yes, it is hard trying to find a balance and sometimes what we do must take time and not be rushed, even if we will not live to see our efforts pay off." Lightning says.

Penitus nods. "Yes, my father use to joke to me. Here's some gold, materials and some population. Build me a self-sustaining town and make a trade with me afterward." She mimicked in his voice.

"Before or after they start fighting over what to name the town or who is in charge?" Lightning asks jokingly.

Penitus giggles and becomes embarrassed with some red on her cheeks. "Actually…you know that little community in the mountains nearby Urreigns Kaizerton?"

"Yes, they mine and produce about a third of your iron and other metals." Lightning says.

Penitus giggles and coughs a bit before trying to not look at him. "They still know me as their sluttly mayor."

"And that is why they couldn't move against you while your father lived. The murder of you would disrupt production for an investigation and if any evidence, no matter how small, was found, your father would have executed members of them." Lightning says.

Penitus nods slowly as she sighs and lays her head flat on the table. "I miss them." She said now out of it.

"We are going back." Lightning says trying to avoid looking at her.

Penitus blinks and slowly moves her one eye at him. "I just hope to make a proper grave for them."

"You might need to for your town." Lightning says getting her complete attention.

Penitus lifts her head up and turns to him. "What do you mean?"

"Well…" Lightning stops before breathing in deeply. "Production has increased 500% there."

Penitus narrows her eyes. "What?"

"They are forcing everyone to work till they drop, even children and they have implemented harsh taxes all over the country and all that can't pay are enslaved to work the mines until death." Lightning says.

Penitus growls lowly in her throat and scratches the table and maps with her claws. "Straight to the capital and work out or work in?"

"We can't take it rushing the capital. The plains make their magical long range attacks too deadly so we have to fight smart to win." Lightning says.

Penitus huffs and looks away quickly. "I will kill them all." She huffs as she keeps clawing the table and maps.

"What about your brother?" Lightning asks.

Penitus keeps growling as she didn't hear him and keeps clawing the table.

"Your brother the current duke." He says in her face.

Penitus gasps as she snaps out of her anger and notices he was close to her face. "Wha…what?" She asks confused.

"What about your brother, the current duke in name?" Lightning asks moving away.

Penitus blinks a few times. "Sorry. Yes, we're going to need to get him out, but definitely not the same way I did. Sorry for getting lost."

"We won't be able to. We will have to seize the capital for that. In fact, who were your father's most loyal guards and vassals?" Lightning asks.

Penitus blinks. "Um…they are and were my personal guards. Dad didn't exactly trust regular ones so he personally helped trained them. If I'm right, they would do the same with my brother."

"And those elite guard would have been recalled to the palace?" Lightning asks.

Penitus nods. "They don't want to lose their best soldiers. Either it's commanding a squad or guarding the high end."

"So we can use them to keep them busy or make your brother so busy and not let anyone near him till he is done so they cannot forcibly evacuate him." Lightning says.

Penitus growls once. "Keep him busy. He's good, but he doesn't have the brain speed to handle all that's coming in and he would be under stress and the whole chain of command would be messed up."

"Your brother isn't in charge anyways, but to make it appear that way, they send him some work so we sneak a message in with that." Lightning says letting her put it together.

Penitus smiles. "Now I see why most females would want you."

"Yeah, not the first time I have had to think my way out of a bad situation. Especially with Daring and that time she dug up the book of the dead in that tomb in the desert." Lightning says.

Penitus raises an eyebrow at him.

"Do not ask. It involved an ancient curse and a mummy and there was raining fire." Lightning says.

Penitus keeps staring at him before sighing and turning back to her work. "You better go. I'll see about redoing some of these maps…and fixing the table so they won't get suspicious." She said picking up the many torn maps.

"Also, watch out for the patrols. They will escort you to your room if they see you." Lightning says.

Penitus sighs. "Yes, I had my fair share of that. And Jarl Lightning?" She asks looking to him.

"Yes?" Lightning asks.

Penitus smirks before grabbing his head and pressing his forehead to hers and he gasps as he was flooded with a few images and feelings and he could have sworn he heard some feminine gasps and moans before she quickly pulled away and smirks at him before winking and turning away from the heavily blushing Jarl.

"Why do I attract the perverted women?" Lightning asks getting up and walking to his room.

Penitus giggles. "It's just a…precaution…in case you ever decide and you can start with that." She calls as she started to grab more fresh maps.

Lightning shakes his head as he walks. "Girls, I'm here." Lightning says entering.

He stops as he sees them all wearing Eclipse's gift to them all. "Hi Lightning." Rainbow said slightly waving.

"Oh, what happened to me undressing you Rainbow and Kai, how many held you down and forced you into that?" Lightning asks.

Kai frowns. "Too many."

"Oh, so I believe Rainbow called dibs first and Daring." Lightning says.

Rainbow and Daring grin. "Yep."

Twilight smiles and steps up beside Kai. "And we have the honor of dancing for you."

"I meant Daring, there is something I wanted to ask you." Lightning says.

Daring smiles and goes up to him. "Yeah?"

"What ever happened to the book of the dead?" Lightning asks before seeing her confused expression. "You read from it, brought back to life a mummy, it tore three stallions apart and absorbed their vital organs to replace its own and there was raining fire at the end." Lightning says.

Daring slowly gains an embarrassed expression. "Yeah…about that…"

"What happened?" Lightning asks, the others now very interested.

Daring gulps. "I gave it to the death pool."

"Huh?" The other mares ask before hearing a banging and turns to see Lightning continuously hitting his head against a wall.

"You…drop…the…book…into…the…pool." He said with every hit.

"I thought no one would ever get it and it was that or lose those golden statuettes I gather." Daring says.

Lightning pulls her over and wraps a hoof around her. "Please tell me sooner."

"Hey, I'm first." Rainbow says.

Lightning keeps banging his away on the wall. "Yeah, you are, but let me finish." He said making cracks appear.

"That is enough." Kai says pulling him away by his tail.

Lightning just held a bad frown as Kai dragged him and his hooves didn't move and scratches against the ground.

"Come on you, want the first turn." Kai says.

Lightning keeps grumbling. "Why me?"

"Oh, who is a good foal?" Seeku asks rocking one of her hatchlings.

All the hatchlings laugh as they run or fly around the room and look at everything while the one in her hooves nuzzles her gently. "Momma Seeku." The little one said.

"Yes, my little one." Seeku says.

The hatching looks up at her. "Food." He said waving his hooves at her.

"Alright, one last time snack before bed you ten." Seeku says.

The hatchings all laugh and cheer as they go to her and she lights up her horn. They all sigh and land on the bed and start to rest up as they all fed on her meal.

"Ok. Bed time you ten." Seeku says.

They all buzz and move close to each other as Seeku moves herself around them and covers them up as best she could before bringing her head up and smiling to the wall behind her. "Oh Lightning. Even not at me and far away, you are giving off a lot." She said to herself smirking.

"Mommy?" One of the hatchling says.

"Yes my wild little hatchling?" Seeku asks.

The little one sits up a bit. "Can I have a new friend?"

"You just hatched little Zaik, no need to rush." Seeku says petting him.

Zaik awws and lays down again. "No fair."

"I will introduce you to your dad's pets soon." Seeku says booping his nose.

Zaik laughs and tries to hug her hoof. "Yay."

"Now go to sleep." Seeku says.

Zaik yawns and lays down again with his brothers and sisters in the big pile. "Night mommy."

Seeku smiles as she covers them with a sheet. Seeku sighs and make sure they are covered up on the bed before carefully getting off and walks around as her soldiers take her place of watching over them. She smiles and walks out the door before closing it and heading down the hall a bit and enters Vinyl's and Octavia's guest room and finds all the foals and Vinyl, Octavia, Apollo, and Nikolai. "How's it going?" She whispered to Octavia as she and Vinyl sat at a table with some books around them as Nikolai and Apollo slept nearby.

"Just got them all to sleep." Octavia says.

Seeku smiles as she looks over to the many beds holding the sleeping foals. "Are you afraid of what is to come?"

Vinyl just pouts at the other end.

Octavia giggles. "She just couldn't get the chance to do a rock opera. The little troublemaker."

"Rock opera?" Seeku asks.

Octavia nods. "Yes. A combination of mine and her music in one go."

Seeku blinks several times. "And the plot of it?"

Octavia looks confused to her. "What do you mean?"

"What is the plot of the rock opera?" Seeku asks.

"Oh the rise of the princesses." Vinyl says.

"With a lot of creative reimagining." Octavia quickly says.

Seeku scratches her head. "So you forgo the plot all together?"

"Hey, I put a lot of thought into the plot." Vinyl says.

Octavia rolls her eyes. "And you practically made Twilight almost like a queen of the universe. You even have Celestia throw the sun at Luna."

"Better than throwing the book at her. Besides, writer's privilege?" Vinyl offers.

Octavia slaps her hoof to her forehead. "I loathe you Vinyl."

Seeku giggles as she watches Vinyl try to hit Octavia back.

Twilight frowns as she works with a blowtorch to a suit as it hangs on hooks and straps. "Almost got it." She said as some other suits were hanged nearby. Only four of them of course.

Lightning smiles as he leans against the doorway. "Almost huh? Guess I can put them to use, but still best to wait and the ones who will be using them need to train up on it."

Twilight smiles as she keeps working. "Yeah, yours has been ready for a long time. I was able to add runes for the whole teleportation problem and other things that may take you out of them without you noticing it."

"Don't push yourself. Remember, the foal." Lightning says.

Twilight smiles and looks to the rocking crib. "He's still amazing."

"Yep, take care him while I am away, ok?" Lightning asks.

Twilight nods. "Don't worry. Just come back to him because he will want to see his dad."

"Yeah." Lightning says.

Twilight sighs. "One last kiss before another meeting?"

Lightning smiles and pulls her into a kiss while he holds her bridal style.

Twilight giggles into the kiss and pulls away. "Love ya."

"Love you too queeny." Lightning says.

Twilight pokes his chest. "And love you, you sexy stallion."

"See you in a few months, hopefully." Lightning says.

Twilight pokes his head. "Don't talk like that."

"It could take longer. You never can tell in a campaign…I have also heard rumors that an old legion is doing military exercises close to the border." Lightning says.

Twilight presses her lips together. "Can you take along something? It may help and no, it's not these." She asks waving her hoof to the lab and suits.

"I am taking an army and one of our best generals." Lightning says.

Twilight raises an eyebrow. "How about high recon?"

"Got that." Lightning says.

Twilight rolls her eyes. "Higher. I mean like crazy high."

"Don't worry. This isn't my first campaign my queen." Lightning says.

Twilight taps his head. "Lightning, it's to test my new inventions and this isn't that much of being seen."

"Very well." Lightning says rocking her.

Twilight keeps tapping his head. "And it allows me to have a new great tool for you to use on the field. At least…by that way. Just be sure to use flares to signal. We are still working on long range communication runes."

"We might not be able to." Lightning says.

Twilight shrugs. "Understandable. I'll see about getting some spells ready for this."

"So you use a charm or an enchantment for the crib?" Lightning asks.

Twilight smiles. "It's just a charm. Lasts longer."

"Oh someone is watching us." Lightning says seeing his son's eyes open.

Twilight looks to him and leans over the crib. "Hello little one. How is my son here?" She asks ruffling his mane.

The foal makes no sound and just looks at her. Twilight smiles and leans closer. "Well…who's my good colt?"

The colt makes no sound and reaches out and boops her nose.

Twilight giggles. "He has your attitude Lightning. Really wants to study us."

"I think that is you miss honor student." Lightning jokes.

Twilight just pats his head. "Well you gave me a son. Now then, you better go and finalize the plans. And uh…good luck."

Lightning smirks and picks up his son and holds him in front of Twilight so he could poke her more.

Twilight rolls her eyes as Devotio kept booping her nose. "Okay hun. That's enough. Daddy has to go."

"Don't stop Devotio. Poke her till your heart's content." Lightning says smiling.

Twilight laughs as he gives her Devotio and he hugs and keeps poking her muzzle. "Oh my son. You'll be the happiest colt ever." She said nuzzling him and making him giggle.

"Make sure that everyone of your subjects in Equestria knows all about him ok?" Lightning asks.

Twilight was too busy playfully keeping her son away to listen to that as she laughs.

Lightning shakes his head and writes it on a note and sticks it on her horn.

Twilight keeps laughing and hugs Devotio and he giggles and hugs her face as she still didn't notice.

Lightning smiles as he walks out. "Are we ready to begin?" Lightning asks seriously the moment he was outside the door.

Kai frowns. "Yes. The soldiers are ready to move. We are just waiting for that damn dragoness."

"She will be along. So we are mobilizing an army of three thousand for the initial invasion. How many troops will Jarl Dengeir send us to bolster the liberation force?" Lightning asks walking with his general and mistress.

"We can expect another thousand to a thousand and five hundred at most. He wants to keep his borders strong. Apparently he is suspicious of the Rifts movements." Kai says.

Lightning sighs. "Must be the thieves guild or Maven doing business that has him spooked."

"Either way, do we have enough for this operation in your opinion?" Nikolai asks.

"We should have enough for a liberation, but not enough to conquer all of it if we have to hold every town, village, and fort." Lightning says.

"My people are stubborn." Penitus said walking past them while giving extra shakes to her flank. "Well? Come on. I don't want to be late at all anymore." She said looking back at them.

"Nikolai, see to it our supplies arrive quickly. Also appease Jarl Dengeir a bit to get him to send the rest of the promised troops and request Maven and the thieves guild to go quiet for a bit as they are interfering with a campaign and they know I will send Kai after their head if they do it on purpose." Lightning says.

"Yes sir." Nikolai said walking ahead.

"Has Entei and Watari left ahead already with their men to take the border forts without notice?" Lightning asks.

"They left a few hours ago. Their men have been moving into position for the past two months to avoid suspicion." Kai says.

"Hah! A bunch of soldiers in full armor avoiding suspicion?! If they don't get somebody's attention, give them a sneak award." Penitus laughs.

"They are not normal soldiers. You ever heard of ninjas?" Lightning asks.

Penitus smirks. "You mean the cowards with tight pants and always watching everybody? Oh, they didn't sneak a peek at me, did they?" She asks, her smirk growing.

"Please cut the act. I know you are not stupid." Lightning says.

Penitus smirks before standing up straight and sitting down as she now seems to look regal and proper. "So I guess I can drop this whole thing? It was getting boring for me." She said raising an eyebrow and without the sarcastic voice.

"Yes, you know what I am getting at when I say I sent them." Lightning says.

Penitus nods. "Yes, you intend to make a clear headway without much trouble and make things easier ahead. Problem is getting past the good ones."

"I would be surprised if any of them are still there, knowing the types in charge. They want obedient drones. If they are good, but their loyalty isn't guaranteed. Well you can understand where I am going with this." Lightning says.

Penitus nods. "Loss of life. Such is the ways of policy and war." She said looking to the rest and noticed only a few shocked faces. "Hm, you trained them well."

"If anything, I would wager that all those at the borders are those who fell out of favor and those who they can't count on to be absolutely loyal to the new regime." Lightning says.

Penitus smiles. "If only we can hope to have them on our side. That will help a lot in our efforts."

"The ninjas are deploying non-lethal weapons. When we get there you will address them." Lightning says.

Penitus nods. "Of course. They will have to at least listen after all this. Now then, shall we?"

"Move out." Lightning orders.

Penitus chuckles as the rest of the generals runs past her. "I guess I don't need the act anymore, do I?" She asks looking to Lightning and smiling.

"I prefer you didn't. Seeing as we are going to retake your lands." Lightning says.

Penitus sighs. "Well…at least our mind talks are no more. I kinda like them more."

Lightning started walking after his officers towards the next battlefield.

"Kai. I have selected the vanguard for this campaign." Lightning says as the neared the two border forts.

Kai raises an eyebrow. "And I hate cliffhangers."

"Give Ou Hon five hundred men and tell him his new duties." Lightning says.

Kai nods and walks away.

"Silva." Lightning says.

Silva hums as she looks up from the maps. "Yes?"

"You will be the captain of the thousand at the army's center." Lightning instructs.

Silva nods. "Of course." She said before heading to the squad.

"Watari." Lightning says.

Watari leans his head around a blade. "Yes?"

"I presume you and Entei did the job?" Lightning asks.

Watari nods. "Yes. It's done."

"Very well. Join General Talon at the shipyards." Lightning says.

Watari salutes. "Sir." He said before disappearing behind the soldiers.

"Ready to address your people?" Lightning asks.

Penitus sighs. "Need to be without being ready at times. So…both. You sure I can be ready for a life ahead like this?"

"Yes." Lightning says.

Penitus smiles a bit. "Then let's begin."

Lightning sighs and stays back as Penitus walks up to a group of soldiers that were being herded from the fort. "Soldiers, I assume the rumors and news you have heard is coming to mind right now. The lie of 'The Princess is Dead.' Well…I'm right here and I'm very much alive. The things you have seen from the capital to your post here is also an affliction that I intend to cure. The way the family has risen to the throne now is not the way it was intended. For it was supposed to go to me and then my brother if something happened to me. Well I can tell you that my brother up there is nothing more than a painting. And the artist behind that picture is the one making the decisions. And not the right decision for our people. Many things have happened since my supposed death. I was able to flee to our allies down in Stalliongrad and garnished their help. Help that I'm sure we all deserve and need." She said as they started to look a bit hopeful.

"Know this. This does mean we slack off and they do our job. We built our country piece by piece and it's our job as soldiers and civilians to take care of it. Whether by the sweat or by the blood of ours or our enemies. I intend to take this country back for us and our people, go to the capital and make things right by my father's name. He leads us to glory by a long standing rule. I intend not to do the exact same thing as him, but rather my own way. If that may be down the wrong path that you see or the right path of the same view, I intend to save our country and make it to what it was supposed to be. A…somewhat peaceful country and a righteous one. One that will know the names of our own citizens and soldiers…and our allies. The ones who directed this whole facade is our enemy, the Dominion, and we will drive them out and get us back to our lives to what they once were." She continued as almost half of them had a determined look on their face.

"We may fight our own. We may fight family. But…nothing in our lives can be achieved without conflict. I learned that every day I was away. If you don't want to fight for our country by charging into it town by town, then stay in your forts and at least defend the border so we can give you back your home for you. Now…who intends to stay at the forts?" She asks snorting some smoke at the end as she held a hard look.

Lightning sat on the side, waiting for their reactions as Kai talked to Ou Hon.

Penitus snorts again as she sees some of them mumbling. "If you don't want to and want to stay, we won't hold it against you." She said before they all take out their weapons and plant it into the ground in front of them. "Well we still need some soldiers to hold the forts." She said now humorously as she smiles.

'Remind them that some of their family's might be imprisoned right now to slave away in the mines for the puppeteers.' Lightning thinks, knowing she would probably hear.

Penitus's ear flicks. "And besides, we need those soldiers whose families have been trapped and held to do the dirty work. Those soldiers will certainly do anything for their country, home, and family. Now I ask again, who will stay and who will go?"

Lightning watches as many of the officers that were hesitating, started coming forth.

Penitus smiles. "And we will win."

"Ou, general Kai has brought you up to speed correct?" Lightning asks.

Ou nods. "Yes, I am prepared."

"Then you know you will be leading the vanguard with two hundred of my dragon army troops and three hundred of the Falkreath hold troops." Lightning says.

Ou nods. "Of course sir. I will lead them right."

"Until further notice, your direct superior shall be Zhang Liao." Lightning says.

Ou looks to the general. "Yes sir."

"Zhang, leave a few soldiers behind us to take stock of all we gained and how many will join us." Lightning says.

Zhang salutes and walks off to find some.

"Also, leave a message to commander Nikolai to meet up with us as soon as he has secured the reinforcements." Lightning instructs.

Zhang nods as he keeps looking.

Lightning sits and waits for Penitus to come see him as he sat on the border, but still in Stalliongrad.

Penitus smiles and nods to a commander before letting him go and walks back to Lightning before stopping and sitting at the border line. "Well…they're in. Going to come inside my home?"

"Any deciding not to amongst the soldiers?" Lightning asks with a calculating look.

Penitus hums. "Only a few. Just a few as they are way past their deployment and need to retire. Requirement and those that are staying here will watch the forts and border."

"How many volunteered to join us on the march?" Lightning asks.

"Who is that?" One of the Urreign officers asks.

Penitus chuckles. "That is Lightning Bolt. The general for the Dragon Army of Stalliongrad."

"That is Kai. I am the Jarl of Whiterun." Lightning says as they already started whispering what Penitus had to do to get Stalliongrad to send such an important leader.

Penitus chuckles as she leans over and kept her body behind the line. "Careful who you give your title to. They will swarm you."

"So any from the nearby towns?" Lightning asks.

Penitus nods. "Half of them. Seems they kept the rule of not letting the soldiers leave from their hometown by two towns. Only we do not do that in times of great war and this isn't one of them…to them."

"They think they have already won then. How many are volunteering to come with us amongst those who are from the area?" Lightning asks.

"A few hundred." Penitus says.

"I see. Send them with some officers to the nearby villages and towns as your bodyguards. Then spread what you said to them and from there, it will spread like wildfire." Lightning says.

Penitus nods. "Of course. Anything else general?"

"Who here knows the area best?" Lightning calls out.

A hoof was raised at that in the conversation filled crowd.

"You will come with the army." Lightning says.

The soldier nods and steps out to the crowd and Lightning can see he was a lot shorter than all the rest of the crowd. Lightning says nothing as he walks away with him.

"Good luck." Penitus calls after them.

Lightning waves a wing back at her as he walks away.

Penitus hums as she looks to the mining town in the distance. "My own creation, fallen to a dark force…in my eyes." She mused to herself.

"Empress, we spotted some merchants moving quickly away from the village should, we pursue?" An officer asks.

"No, let them go. We want word to spread quickly." Penitus says seeing a little smoke rise from the mining town in the distance.

"Empress, what's the plan here?" Another asks.

"They only were able to put my brother as emperor because I was supposedly dead. With me being alive, it makes this whole regime illegitimate. The next step depends on them, but I bet they will try and tighten their hold over the country. Making the people hate them and push them onto our side." Penitus says.

"If only. There some who likes this new rule. Some. Money makers." An officer adds.

"What do you expect? They are Dominion nobles." Penitus says.

"So what's the plan? Charge in or go quiet?" The commander asks.

"The army from Stalliongrad has already taken it, I would wager. So how are the citizens taking the news?" Penitus asks.

"Of finding out their empress is actually alive? Heavily." One said.

"Just make sure they don't riot." Penitus says.

They nod and walk off as Penitus fiddles around with a scroll in her sling bag.

"What now then?" The officer asks.

Penitus sighs. "We gain their trust back and see what can be done. My old town needs a few upgrades as well." She said as they walk into the town as they see the guard building being burned down by the citizens.

"Where is the usurper's forces?" The officer asks a citizen.

"Gone ahead to the next town. They said we will get our own ally forces in a day or two." The citizen said.

"What about those from the mining town? Have you seen anything?" The officer asks.

"No signs from the garrison yet and the ones that ran, ran to it." Another citizen said.

"Then don't worry about them." Penitus says.

The officer looks to her. "Empress?"

"I would be surprise if any of them surprised. Lightning Bolt is known as the demon of Stalliongrad by the Dominion and those aligned with them." Penitus said.

The officer hums. "So what is the plan now?"

"The Stalliongrad commander wants to hit all the mines free all the slaves and starve them of the precious metals." Penitus said.

"But they each have a garrison of a few thousand." An officer says.

Penitus smiles. "Never underestimate the commander."

The officer raises an eyebrow. "But empress, we are just following behind the army. We don't have that much of a role."

Penitus sighs. "Truth be told. We have a much bigger role than ever right now and that is gathering any citizen we can to our cause." She said walking to the crowd.

"The truth is; the enemy has already seized most of the military. Have any of you noticed the soldiers that have been replacing the local troops and sheriffs?" Penitus asks loudly to the crowd of citizens.

The citizens all look around at the remaining soldiers that are tied up along poles and frown a bit.

"The truth is; these are either mercenary or members of a dominion legion. Why else would most they send to the camps be all but earth tribe." Penitus calls.

The citizens were starting to riled up as the mining tools they had were being hit against the ground repeatedly.

"It is clear the Dominion doesn't care about respecting treaties or those who have been their allies for how many years. All they care about is their own greed." Penitus says.

The officer leans over to another. "She can mince words, can't she?" He whispered.

"They seek to control and enslave us, but this is too subtle for the military. This must be the work of an individual family." Penitus said.

The citizens turn to her as they held a mad look about them.

"They were who made me unable to see my father on his deathbed and use my little brother as their puppet. They need to be punished. Not just from me, but from all who they have hurt!" Penitus calls.

The citizens all yell out once at that.

"We must bring the entire nation to bear against them. Every town, every village, every city. We must all rise up against this evil. For the future of Urreigns and her people!" Penitus calls.

The citizens all now cry out and hold up whatever they had as Penitus smiles at their reaction. "Oh yeah, she's an empress." An officer said to the others.

"Now spread out. Go see what town you have elsewhere or go to the next two over. We will alert all to this like we would when the beasts come to try and raid our settlements!" Penitus calls.

The citizens all cry out again as most of them rush off and either head to their homes and grab their things or setting off immediately to the next towns.

"This is good, but how will they react when they catch word of this?" An officer asks.

Penitus hums. "Come at the citizens and try to stop the word before running to the edge of whatever battlefield they might see and attack. Idiotic I would say. Though never underestimate your enemy. For now, we will keep spreading the word and meet up with the commander. We have to get as much words as possible out there."

A mare sighs as she stretches looking at a jewel encrusted mirror. "Who's a beautiful mare? You are." She said smirking and fixes some of her mane. "And no one can stop you."

"Sister." A self-important voice calls.

The mare sighs. "Yes?" She calls back annoyed.

"The northern shipment is late. Should I send word to punish the slaves?" The stallion asks as he enters.

The mare groans and waves a hoof at him. "Yes, yes. Punish whoever if something goes wrong. I can't deal with this." She declares as she tries to do her makeup now.

"So any that can I seize some of the lesser races to replace them?" The stallion asks with a bloodthirsty grin.

The mare groans louder. "Yes, I don't care. Do what you have to get this country moving along."

"Also the useless old windbags are being stingy and want eighty percent of the treasury before they send an entire legion." He says.

The mare slams her hooves on the table. "Are you kidding?!" She yells and turns to his blood crusted armored self. "We can't do that even if we were in the old rule! Tell them thirty and no higher!"

"Alright sister. I will send a messenger with the reply." He says.

The mare huffs. "See that you do. I'm getting tired with these requests." She said turning back to the mirror.

"You ready boys? We get to have some fun." The earth stallion says as he and ten others in armor follow him as they near the northern mining town.

They laugh at that. "Oh yeah. Been waiting for it." One said.

"Who wants to kick open the door?" He asks stopping in front of a gate.

Two walks up and they both kick open the gate off its hinges. "So much fun." One cheers.

Another walks in his sword drawn, but they didn't hear screaming like they expected.

"What the…?" They ask seeing the empty town. "Where the heck are they?!" One yells.

"Gone, mostly. Though a few are still hanging around." A stallion voice says.

They all look to the stallion sitting at a table and chowing down on a meal. "Want to join? I got hungry tying them up." He said nodding his head to the other gate where some bodies were hanged by their necks.

"You. Who are you?" The bloodstained armor stallion demands.

"Zhang Liao, commander in the dragon army of Stalliongrad." Zhang says before the whistling of arrows were heard.

They all perk their ears up before quickly taking cover being the walls of the buildings. "You terrorist scum!" One yells peeking out before pulling back as an arrow lands where he was.

"Oh no. You see the Jarl left instructions. We are to lie and wait for the first inspection to inquire what was happening here and to take action depending on who they were. And since it is the ringleaders, I have decided to kill you." Zhang says before grabbing one of his two axes.

"I like to see you try!" The bloodstained armored stallion yells as he grabs his weapon with everypony else.

"Everyone stand clear." An archer call as Zhang grabbed the other axe and walks to the building the eleven were in.

The blood stained armored stallion smirks as he and his men unsheathe their swords, ready to attack as soon as he walks in the door.

Zhang shakes his head and walks up to the wall before bringing up his axe. "There a reason he's doing that?" One asks inside.

"Watch out for the debris!" A soldier calls taking cover.

Zhang brings his axe down hard and cave in the whole wall and raises an eyebrow at the shocked soldier inside. "Are we going to play this game all day?"

The blood stained stallion roars and charges Zhang before a spear flies through him.

The stallion chokes and spits up blood as he slowly falls to the ground. "Damn you." He breathed.

"Shut up trash." Ou says walking up with another spear in hoof.

The stallion huffs. "Get them." He tries to say out loud before a spear was thrust through his head.

"Commander, may I finish this so we can catch up with the rest of the forces?" Ou asks.

Zhang nods. "Do it. I am eager to get moving as there is nothing of interest even in this moment."

"Yes sir." Ou says withdrawing both spears before taking the ten remaining.

Zhang hums as he heads back to the table quickly eats away the last of the food. "Boring." He said to himself as a dead body files past. "Bland." He said as another plain soldier goes past his head. "And idiotic." He said as a body lands on the table.

"That is all of them." Ou says.

"Ou, are you so desperate to climb to the top?" Zhang asks.

Ou looks to him. "What does it look like?"

"There is no need to rush. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you. Don't jeopardize it because you are impatient." Zhang councils.

"In times like these?" Ou asks raising an eyebrow and throwing away a broken spear.

"The war has just begun. Rushing into it will only help the enemy. The Jarl wants to break them down both militarily and in public opinion. Besides, this is just a prelude to the true war we are preparing for." Zhang says.

Ou huffs. "Perfect. Just perfect. What are we going to hope to accomplish that will help here?"

Zhang looks to him with an 'Are you serious?' look.

Penitus sighs as she watches some of the citizens have join the militia and are being trained for basic combat as she overlooks them from her hill on the valley and reaches into her tent before taking out her scroll. "Nope. Haven't found him yet." She said to herself putting it back and looks to Lightning walking up to her. "If you're here for a report, I was able to get up to five towns and mines while the citizens got twenty of them. Not bad for a start, right?" She asks smiling a bit as she looks to the night sky.

Lightning didn't respond as he keeps staring at a map and reports.

"You know…emotion helps. It gives some moral to your soldiers and citizens. So they see a normal being and not a wall of stone they just look and move on. I hate it when some show nothing. Either they have been through a lot and can't help it or just do it for looks. Hate the looks part." She said still watching the sky.

"I hope the reports are wrong." Lightning says as if not hearing her.

Penitus looks in his direction. "What are we facing or possibly facing?"

"The seventh legion. They are an old veteran legion." Lightning says.

Penitus hums. "I see. And when are they expected?"

"They seem to be wishy washy at this point. Seems to me they are meant to reinforce Urreign's new regime, but haven't crossed the border and are either taking their time or outright camping out. Looks like someone isn't bribing the senate." Lightning theorized.

Penitus groans. "My aunt was always stingy."

"Then we best move fast. If word reached that legion, they will double time it here quickly to reinforce to secure the slaves and money." Lightning says.

Penitus sighs. "Can I speak to you privately?" She asks eyeing the scribes and map makers nearby updating the scrolls and files.

"Very well." Lightning says getting up.

Penitus walks away with him following before they head into the small patch of forest and she stops. "If the word of a possible army coming in is heard among my people, they will suffer moral as a result and not be able to hold their own. I need you to do something that might be different from the initial plan."

"Move on the capital or go and hold the border?" Lightning asks.

Penitus groans. "Hold the border. We might lose the strongest soldiers we have, but we know the city. And that gives us a home field advantage. We can't tell anyone until the last minute."

"Engaging them on the field isn't a good idea. That is where the legions excel the most. We need them to try and besiege. The reports tell us they have no siege engines as they don't expect to need them." Lightning says.

"And if they do?" Penitus asks raising an eyebrow.

"It won't be as effective. The legion's strength is in battles on the field in formations. The way we fight them and win is by denying them this." Lightning says.

Penitus sighs and waves him off. "Go on and plan. I'll see what I can come up with for the capital takeover if they do come in."

"We need a distraction. We need to get them nice and comfortable and not willing to move…hum. Maybe send some to offer a token of appreciation in the form of good food and drinks." Lightning says.

Penitus smiles a bit and looks to the sky again. "Good enough plan. Some of the towns should have some high valued supplies ready. I'll get the message delivered before I go to bed. You should head back and make sure you get everything." She said still watching and never taking her eyes off the sky.

"So any reaction from the puppeteers?" Lightning asks.

Penitus hums as she leans against a tree. "Good if you want it that way. Sending out their strongest and scariest ones out to see why the towns and villages stopped responding. At least they were killed. Should help the citizens fight back knowing there is less to fear. Money and resources are being collected for our end as well."

"I see. If that is so, then Zhang and his fifty men will be joining us soon." Lightning says.

Penitus waves him off again. "Go on. Enjoy your night." She said not taking her eyes off the sky still.

Lightning watches her before walking over and places a hoof on her talon and makes her look to him. "What are you hiding?" He asks now showing an emotion.

Penitus blinks to him and quickly grabs his head and presses it against hers and makes him gasps.

"Just lay down and rest." Penitus said as she laid on the ground and looks to him as he rested on the ground of the mind lake area. "It's obvious to me you are having some feelings for me. We are alone now. Say what's on your mind." She said worried a bit.

"I'm going over every detail and every possibility and scenario in my head." Lightning says.

Penitus sighs. "Of what exactly? The war?"

"That and more." Lightning says.

Penitus sits up a bit. "More?"

"Yes." Lightning says.

Penitus tilts her head. "Care to tell? We are alone in our world." She said looking to the lake.

"Well High king Ulfric will want compensation from this." Lightning starts.

Penitus sighs. "Of course. Pay the helpers as it were. You are part of his army so it makes sense." She said lying back down and looks to the stars.

"He is going to want an alliance at least and a strong one." Lightning says.

Penitus shrugs. "I'm sure we can write up a treaty on it. Would be best in case we get a surprise boat attack…even though that would be few and far in between."

"I mean he will want you to wed someone from the country." Lightning says.

Penitus sits up and looks at him. "Oh." She said as she blushes. "Well…I'm sure I can find someone…as long as they don't stare at my flanks twenty-four-seven." She said the last part deadpan.

"Now you understand." Lightning says.

Penitus nods. "Yep. You…wouldn't be interested in me…would you?" She asks carefully.

"Really? You're hitting on a married stallion with foals?" Lightning asks while internally smirking as he messes with her.

Penitus frowns and looks away as she blushes hard. "Sorry. Dragon marriage is anything goes. As long as the line continues or deals are made. Do you know anyone who would be good choices?"

"We can talk about that later can't we? After all, I bet the masses will be starting to talk if they see our bodies like they were." Lightning points out.

Penitus chuckles. "Quite right. We just need a shocking wake up call." She said now smirking to him. "And no, not your magic." She said seeing his hoof making sparks.

"Oh, then turn around and you will see your father nude as can be." Lightning says turning around and smirking as he hears her shriek.

Penitus groans as she sits up in the little patch of trees. "Damn you general. Why did you knock me out?" She asks while holding a little twitch on her mouth as she hated that sight while seeing Lightning already walking away.