"Well howdy there Sharky!" Applejack was, suprisingly, the first one to reach me. "Ah got some good news!"

"Really? I've been trapped in a desert with undead for the past few days. I could use some good news."

"Uhhh... Right. Anyway, it look like you an' me are in-laws!"

"What?"

"Sharky!" RD yelled as she reached me. She ran right over and hug-tackled me to the ground. I let out a small gasp and wrapped my arms around her.

"Hey! Nice to see you again!"

"Oh I missed you soooo much!" I couldn't see who said that, but I recognized the voice as Fluttershy's. I lifted my right arm away from RD and held it out for her. She snuggled into my grasp and I wrapped her into the hug.

"Missed you too Shy... You wouldn't believe what I've been through..."

"Oh Sharky... you're bleeding..." Fluttershy mumbled as she poked my arm softly. I looked over to my arm to see that the scratches I had gotten from crashing through the undead dragon's skull had re-opened. I quickly seperated myself from the girls and sat up to see that all of my scratches had re-opened. RD's stomach and cheek was covered with little red spots, the same for Fluttershy.

"Oh geez, I'm getting you all bloody..."

"Sharky! It's so good to see you again dear!" Rarity cheered as she reached us. I held out an open palm to keep her from charging at me. "Umm Sharky... Could I get a hug? Why are you stopping me?" Rarity tried to move around my hand.

"I'm covered in blood. You don't want to get your coat dirty, do you?"

"Oh... Well... I can wash it out!" Rarity dodged around my arm and tackled me. I laughed heavily as Rarity wrapped her hooves around my neck.

"Well, if she gets a hug, I hope I can have one too..." Twilight spoke up.

"As long as you don't mind bloo-- oof!" Before I could even finish talking, Twilight tackled me too.

"Ooooh~ Group hugs!" Pinkie Pie cheered as she jumped into the hug too. We all laughed as I hugged the three girls. I smiled at Applejack and waved her over.

"C'mon Applejack! There's room for one more!" Applejack let out a light laugh before trotting over and hugging me.

"Why not? After all, yer family now!" I held the hug for a few more seconds before I released the girls. I turned to Applejack after we all seperated.

"So, what's this about in-laws and family?"

"Well, Fang and Winnona got reeeeal close while you were gone. In fact, there might be some puppies here soon!"

"... Oh dear..."

"Yeah, sure is great news ain't it?"

"Sure, sure... but unexpected... I'm sorry about that."

"What's ta be sorry about? Winnona's happy, Fang's happy, we should be happy too!"

"Ok... you're sure handling that differently than I would have expected..."

"Anyway!" Twilight interrupted. "What took you so long to come home?! You were only supposed to try to talk to the crazy ponies, not trot off with them!"

"Oh yeah! That reminds me, meet one of those crazy ponies. This is Scarlet, Scarlet Scales. This girl saved my life." Scarlet blushed as I pointed at her and shifted her glasses nervously.

"I... I didn't really do anything... It was Sharky that kept us alive the whole time..."

"Alive during what? According to Luna, you were just wandering through a desert..." Twilight asked suspiciously.

"Uhh... We got attacked! Yeah! By giant scorpions!" I lied. "I helped fend them off."

"Then how did Scarlet here save your life?" RD asked.

"Uhh... I got poisoned by one! Yeah, Scarlet here sucked the poison out... That's what happened... yeah..." Scarlet seemed confused, but she nodded along with my story. She got a few strange glares from some of the girls, but it seemed that they believed me.

"Okay... well, what are you doing here dear? There's a dragon in this mountain!" Rarity warned. I smiled and waved a hand dismissively.

"Yeah, a good friend of mine. Her name is Esmerelda. I was actually taking Scarlet to meet her!" Everypony except for Twilight and Scarlet dropped their jaws. "Why the hell does everypony do that?"

"F-friends?! With a big, mean, scary adult dragon?!" Fluttershy squeaked.

"No, she's a sweet, kind, not scary at all dragon. Actually, why don't you guys come and meet her too? She'd really enjoy that!" I turned to the rock face of the mountain and started climbing again. The girls exchanged a few glances.

"Why are you doing that?" RD asked as I climbed.

"Because I'm bound by physics! Now are you coming or not? Please say not." I continued my climb and the girls slowly started to follow me. After about two more hours and three more breaks, we had finally arrived at the top of the mountain. "Wow I climb fast..." I mumbled to myself as I looked down off of the ledge next to Esmerelda's cave. The girls all climbed up after me.

"Oh? Is that Sharky I hear?!" Esmerelda called from inside the cave.

"Yeah, it's me! I brought some friends to see you!"

"You did? Shoot..."

"What?"

"Nothing! I'll be right out!" There was a huge shifting sound from the cave as Esmerelda moved around. A few seconds later, she stuck her head out of the cave. "Sharky! How nice to see you again!"

"Nice to see you too! Why were you calling me?"

"If you brought company then it doesn't matter right now. Anyway, where are these friends you were talking about?"

"They're right next to me." Esmerelda shifted her gaze sightly to the side to see my friends.

"Oh, of course. Silly me. Sharky has told me so much about all of you! Let's see... Little blue one--"

"Hey! Who you calling little?!" RD shouted back. Esmerelda chuckled.

"You must be Rainbow Dash, the brave one. Let's see... ah, the pink one. You must be Pinkie Pie, the excited one."

"I sure am Pinkie Pie! Wowie, I've never met a dragon as big as you that wasn't a big meanie before! Last time there was a dragon here he was super mean and he beat up my friends!"

"Well he sounds like a terrible brute. I'd hate to meet him. Ah, you must be Rarity, the pretty one!" Esmerelda turned her gaze to Rarity.

"Oh, pretty? Is that what he said about me?"

"Well, he said all of you were pretty in your own way, I was just making my own observation."

"Ah... Well how kind of you."

"Not a problem. Now, ah, I remember you... I saw you earlier when I picked up Sharky in Canterlot... Twilight, yes? You're the smart one."

"Pleased to meet you miss Esmerelda!" Twilight beamed happily. Esmerelda beamed back at her, which involved a lot of pointy teeth. Fluttershy squealed and hid behind Applejack.

"Oh, who is this? Ah, you must be Fluttershy! The shy one." Fluttershy didn't move from behind Applejack. Esmerelda clicked her tounge disappointedly.

"Ah apologize miss. She don't mean any disrespect, she's just very... delicate."

"You must be Applejack. You're the tough one." Applejack nodded respectfully.

"Ah sure am. Worked on a farm mah whole life."

"Yes, Sharky told me... but who is this?" Esmerelda shifted her head to look at Scarlet. "I've not heard anything about you from Sharky..."

"W-we just met a few days ago..."

"Oh? You seem nervous... Am I scaring you? I'm sorry..."

"No no! The opposite in fact! I've wanted to meet a nice dragon like you my whole life!"

"Really? Well, what is your name little one?"

"I'm Scarlet Scales! You're very pretty for a dragon!"

"Oh... well thank you."

"No, I mean it! Your scales are soooo shiny! The only dragon scales I've ever seen are dull and dirty."

"Well uh... I bathe daily..."

"You're sooo big! How old are you? You've gotta be at least a thousand or so years old!"

"Just about 1,200 years old... You're a very inquisitive one aren't you?"

"Oh yes, I want to learn all I can about dragons!"

"Well, I'd be happy to oblige. Sorry girls, I guess we can talk a little more later. Right now I think this little one would like to have my full attention."

"It's no problem miss Esmerelda. We'd be happy to come by later and really get to talk to you a bit more. Right girls?" Twilight asked. The girls all nodded with smiles. Except fluttershy. She just continued hiding behind Applejack and quivered. We all started to leave as Scarlet rattled out more questions, but Esmerelda caught me with a foretalon.

"Ummm, not you Sharky. I'd prefer you stay until I'm done with Scarlet here."

"Why?"

"Well, I did call you here. I had hoped we could talk alone when everypony else leaves..."

"Uhhh... sure, I guess. Aw hell no! I got better things to do bitch!" I sat down on the ledge and looked out over the forest and Ponyville as Esmerelda went back to talking to Scarlet. I sat and stared at the world below me. I must have zoned out, because before I knew it Scarlet was tapping on my shoulder. I sat up quickly and turned to look at her. "Gah?! Hmm? Oh, Scarlet. You startled me."

"Oh, I'm sorry... but look!" Scarlet turned her head towards her back. I looked where she was pointing, and there was a little pink dragon with light blue spines on her back!

"Whoa! Where the heck did that come from?!"

"Esmerelda was showing me her eggs, and one of them hatched! He saw me first, so he thinks I'm his mama!"

"Oh no... uhh... You realize you can't keep him right?" Scarlet frowned at me and slumped over slightly.

"Aww... why not?"

"Yes, why can't she?" Esmerelda asked from the mouth of the cave.

"Because there's no way she can take care of a baby dragon all by herself!"

"Of course I can! I know everything about baby dragons! I know how much food they need, how long they need to sleep for proper development, how long it'll take the little guy to grow up, how to work out his wings when the develop, h--"

"Ok I get it! Well, as long as you promise to keep him safe and keep him a secret for as long as you can, I guess it's ok."

"Hooray! Yes! This is a dream come true!"

"Yes yes, well time to get you home Scarlet." Esmerelda interrupted her celebration.

"What? We just met though... Can't I stay here a bit longer?"

"Don't you have family that miss you?" I spoke up. Scarlet turned to me and opened her mouth, but then she just closed it and nodded slowly. "Well, then we should get you back to them."

"Ok..." I pulled out my phone and hit Luna's call button. She picked it up on the second ring.

"Oh, Sharky! We... I hadn't expected you to call back so soon!"

"Oh, did I interrupt something?"

"No no, don't worry. I'm not busy."

"Ok, good. Scarlet's ready to go home now."

"Oh, she is? Fantastic... ummm... Sharky, is anypony near you right now?"

"Uhh... Scarlet. I can move away if you need to tell me something."

"Yes, please do so." I waved Scarlet away from me and stood up from the ledge to walk a few feet away from her.

"Ok, as long as I'm quiet she can't hear me."

"Fantastic, I had a question to ask you..."

"Fire away Princess."

"I know this is a bit sudden, but... would mind joining me for dinner this Hearts and Hooves Day?"

"Uhh sure. When is that?"

"Why, that's tomorrow night!"

"Wow, that's awfully soon. Eh, no problem Luna. I'd love to have dinner with you."

"Yay! This shall be most fun! Ehm, anyway, where is miss Scarlet?" I walked back over to Scarlet and turned the phone towards her. "Ah, excellent. See you again soon sharky!"

"Bye guys!" Scarlet disappeared in a flash of black light as Luna hung up.

"Whew, everypony's gone Esmerelda!"

"Oh good." Esmerelda had crawled back into her cave. "So, dinner plans with 'Tia's little sister hmm?"

"What how did you even hear that!?"

"I have hawk-like ears dear. I suppose I hadn't realized you were in a relationship with Luna..."

"What?"

"You and Luna. You're dating, right?"

"Huh? No! No way! She's a princess, there's no way she'd date me! We're just having dinner as friends." Esmerelda poked her head back out of her cave and grinned at me.

"Good, that certainly changes things..."`

"Ok then. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?"

"Oh, I just needed your help with something... Could you come into my cave?"

"Yeah, sure." Esmerelda ducked her head back into her cave as I walked towards it. I heard her shifting around as I walked in. Suddenly, before I stepped in, the inside of the cave was filled with bright blue flames. I squinted and shielded my eyes, but it was over in just seconds. I opened my eyes again and stepped into the cave. Esmerelda was nowhere in sight. "Esmerelda?"

"I'm over hereeee~!" She called in a strange tone. I could only see a huge pile of gems in the center of the cave. On top of the gems sat the rest of the eggs. There was nothing else in the cave, and I couldn't see Esmerelda. I walked further into the cave and behind the gem pile. There I found Esmerelda, laying on her back as a pony. Her hooves were all spread apart and she was giving me a strange look. I decided to sit down to be closer to her eye level.

"Uhh... what did you need help with?"

"Sharky, let's not play games here. Simple fact is you won't live as long as I will, so we should do what we can while we can. Since you don't have anything going on with Luna, what do you say to taking my pony form for a test ride?"

"Umm... what exactly am I testing?"

"Oh, I just want to make sure everything is working properly... You mind helping me with that?"

"Uhh... I dunno. I really shouldn't be here too long, I really want to see my son." Esmerelda stood up and trotted over to me. She walked by right in front of me, gently brushing my face occasionally with a stray sway to the side. As she passed, she flicked her tail at my nose. It tickled a little and I wiggled my nose to keep from sneezing.

"Oh, I don't think we'll take too long... At least not this time, I'm sure we can take our time later."

"Sure, if you think we won't take too long." Esmerelda smiled at me again before laying down in front of me. I smiled back at her and reached out to stroke her mane. Esmerelda closed her eyes and leaned into my hand. Then I gave her mane a tug. Her eyes flew open and she flinched.

"Ow! What did you do that for?!"

"Well, your hair is strong and shiny. You must be pretty healthy."

"What?"

"Your frame is pretty slim though, have you been eating like you should lately?"

"Excuse me?"

"As for muscle, you seem to be pretty under-developed. You don't work a lot in this form, do you?"

"Oh my Celestia..."

"Lemme see your teeth, open wide." Esmerelda opened her mouth obediently. "Mhmm, perfect. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had them straightened and whitened." She closed her mouth again.

"You're actually checking to make sure everything works..." She muttered.

"Well yeah, wasn't that the point?"

"... My head hurts..."