Author's Notes:

Again, sorry for the wait. School, friends, life, blah, blah, blah...no of you really care. Nope, you just want to see what happens next to the twins. Welp, here you go!

-Till Next time.

High Moon Ch. 20:

Change of Pace

Hours have long since past after Wolf and Spike had returned to High Moon. When Blazed asked about the explosions, Spike told her a new friend of his named Dusk Flare had gotten into a fight with a unknown unicorn using some odd magic, and a suit of armor.

Quill quickly asked if the halfbreed was alright, after fighting him personally, she knew whoever this pony was must have been pretty strong to take him on and walk way. Spike waved his sister’s worries off by telling her that he was able to use some healing water magic to fix most of the damage to his magic and body that happened.

However, when Spike told her that Dusk had became an element as a result of the fight, Quill nearly lost it. Not in anger, mind you, but in laughter at the thought of a male like Dusk fighting under the name ‘element of harmony.’

Frost curiosity reached a peek at her lover’s mad laughter and she asked just who he was. Spike and Quill took turns telling everyone about Dusk and his two marefriends, also of the large amount of knowledge he has about dragons, and the sparring match Quill had with him.

Wolf started to take further interest in Dusk, seeing how the twins reacted towards him, got him thinking that the half-blood could be of use some day. Blaze thought it was quite interesting that he was a dragon and diamond dog halfbreed, from knowing a lot about dragons, and knowing about diamond dog’s strength from Wolf, she imagined that he was not someone to cross. Lily thought that it was good that the twins could have someone else besides Frost to relate to with dragons.

The conversation soon changed, only after Quill said she just had to pay a visit to the halfbreed’s house. Most likely to make fun of him. Spike had already started to cook dinner, with the help of Frost, who was surprisingly an adapt cooker.

Once food was served, everyone started to each, and enjoyed the time in their own ways. Spike sat at the dinner table with his sister and marefriend as he used the pause on his water-magic to learn more about the oddly many properties that Poison Joke had. Wolf took a seat at Blaze’s worktable to go over with Lily what was left to build in the city, what needed repairs, and what needed to be sealed off for the time being. Blaze, who was sitting in Wolf’s lap, was working on some more homemade soap as another dip in the falls was starting to become closer.

Frost and Quill sat across from Spike and started to dig into the soup Spike showed Frost how to make, the two continued to stay in close embrace with each other. As Quill continued to cast a worried look towards Spike, Frost felt it coming from her, and knew that the two for them needed to think of something to help Spike with his ghost heart.

She started to think back every time another scorpio would fall underneath the same fait Spike is going through. The one thing each case had in common was self-conscious doubt about the world around them. Then she started to think of the times scorpios were actually able to get the ghost heart under control.

Soon, an idea sparked inside of her head, but she wasn’t so sure if it would exactly work. Her plan involved learning more about Spike, specifically all of his goals, then she would be able to figure out the best way to help out. No doubt the others had thought of the same thing by now.

It was a sure-fire plan, the best way to lift any's sprites is them achieving one of their goal, but the only problem was that Spike was a very reclusive drake. Nowhere near as self-confident as Quill, then again, no one could be. However, in order to get any progress done, she’ll--and the others it seemed--would have to find someway to get Spike to open up more offend.

While her lover schemed on ways to help out Spike, Quill too was thinking of ways to help with Spike’s ghost heart. If what everyone says is true, and Spike’s body was far too behind his magic, then she’ll have to find a way to get Spike’s head out of the books and get him running.

She could just drag him along with her and Wolf while they are out doing things, or maybe even ask Frost if she could make sure he is working on rebuilding the city ruins. Whatever they could do to help, she was willing to try out, even if it took her back to Ponyville a few times. Quill didn’t want to risk losing her brother to becoming a wyvern.

The mere thought of losing the only blood-related family she ever known would cause her to lose it. Quill wasn’t going to allow Spike to continue hiding in the shell of his former self and she knew the others wasn’t going to allow the same thing.

Eventually, dishes was washed and put away, and it was time for everyone to start heading towards their respective places of sleep. Spike grabbed his stuff sitting in the corner of the room and ran over to the arcane slab door leading towards the city ruins.

Blaze waved towards Lily and the other three as they started to leave the temple while the soap for tomorrow was now sitting on an open fire. “Night Lily, Spike, Cinder, and Peewee.” The four waved back before the slab door started to close.

Quill stretched out her wings, not believing she actually sat around all day thinking. “Well guess we should turn in,” she said, getting up from her seat, and leading Frost over to the arcane door to their room. “Night Wolf and Blaze.” The couple waved the two off as Quill opened the door with her fire-stone wrist braces.

Once it was closed, Blaze let out a long sigh, and Wolf knew what it was for. “So you’re worried too huh,” Wolf asked, wrapping his arms around Blaze’s waist, and scratch her stomach with his claws. “You know, Spike is a lot stronger than we’ve gave him credit for.”

“And that’s what got me worried,” Blaze replied, nuzzling her head against Wolf’s for reassurance. “Wolf, if we can’t get this ghost heart under control, one day Spike will start lashing out against everything around him.” The information caught Wolf off-guard slightly, the thought of Spike senselessly attacking everything around him did cause some concern, but he knew better than to count the drake out just yet. “We’ve got to do something.”

“Well, I’ve already told him that he’s free to join up with me and Quill for training, but something is telling me that it’s not enough.” Wolf’s guess was answered with a long droning sigh as well as a shake of his mare’s head. “Then what else?”

“Spike needs to see what it means to strive for something. He needs a purpose, not one for others, but one he strives for himself.” Wolf felt Blaze shaking a little and started to kiss the side of her neck to keep her calm. “He needs self-respect. He needs something he wants to fight or.”

Wolf remained silent, thinking about what Blaze was talking about. The both of them knew of the twins’ desire to be strong enough to protect each other along with them, Lily, and now Frost. As noble that motive is, they still needed something for them to strive for on their own. Quill already made it very evident that she want’s to prove herself by becoming as strong as she could also learning as much about dragons as she could.

However, Spike didn’t share that same ambition. In fact, the drake didn’t have any ambitions of his own. All he ever want’s to do is help out anyone he can. Selfless, sacrificial, and without...geed.

“Blaze,” Wolf started after silent moments of thought. “Do you think he’s afraid of his dragon-greed?” Blaze turned her head slightly to throw Wolf a questioning look. “The twins’ did say that they pulled out of their greed-growth about a few years ago. So would you think that Spike is afraid of going through the same thing?”

Blaze paused for a moment, a dragon’s greed was essential for them, but too much and it forces them to lose control of themselves. Also a dragon’s greed is what make dragon’s protective of things they hold precious. What they deem worthy of protecting was up to them and the way the lived.

The twins’ old lives seemed to have thought them good morals, which was important, however a dragon’s greed is even more so. It allowed a dragon to become close with another that has a shorter lifespan than them. It forces a dragon to strive to become stronger and it gives them something to be cautious about so they don’t overdo it.

For her it seemed odd to fight off ghost heart with greed. However, greed is what give a dragon purpose in life, and that’s exactly what Spike needed right now. “I suppose...let’s wait on that though, first his body needs to get used to the amount of magic his dragon’s soul holds, then we can work on that,” Blaze answered with a slight yawn towards the end, of which Wolf chuckled at knowing that she was busy making a list of spells she wanted to teach Quill.

“Go on and go to sleep Blaze, I’ll watch the fire,” Wolf said which was rewarded with a quick kiss on the cheek and a nuzzle from his mare as she turned to rest her head on the side of his neck. Once Wolf was sure Blaze was asleep, he let out a droning sigh. Things were only going to get from bad to worse and there was only so much that they could do for the twins.

They’ll make it through, I’m sure of it.

While the couple sat in Blaze’s work area, Frost laid on top of Quill, both dressed in some of Quill’s shorts and old t-shirts, and she explained her plan to help Spike out with his ghost heart. “So...if we know what Spike want to do with his life then we’ll be able to help him better,” Quill asked after Frost explained her plan to her.

“Not better, but it would help him focus towards a goal of his own. Also Quill I want to ask,” Frost started, locking eyes with Quill as she was about to ask a rather sensitive question. “Now I know you’re not a virgin.”

Quill started to giggle, surprising Frost when she grabbed onto her flanks, and pulled her in for a quick kiss. “You know that,” she said pulling back from the kiss with a smug attitude, even if the kiss lasted only a few seconds, Frost could feel her knees growing weak when she was reminded how strong and aggressive Quill is. Frost had to fight through instincts from diving right back in for more.

“R-right,” she finally answered after a moment of regaining control over her mind. “But I wanted to know, is Spike, well you know...a virgin?” Quill flatly stared into Frost’s eyes, both illuminating in their respective purple and blue, and Frost couldn’t sense any emotions coming from Quill. Which scared her a little but was relieved when Quill started to laugh. “Quill I’m serious, this is important for Spike’s health.”

“O-okay...wait I think I’m going to-” Quill stopped her laughter when she looked at the flat expression on Frost face and soon returned back to a more appropriate manner. “Alright, sorry it was just I didn’t see that one coming, but as far as I know Spike is still a virgin. Why, we don’t have to set him up with someone do we?”

Frost shook her head, she too didn’t like the thought of playing cupid with Spike’s heart. “No, nothing like that, I just wanted to know is all. So what are Spike’s goals?” Quill placed a finger on her chin in thought, thinking on the many things Spike does, and did.

“Well, back in Ponyville, if he wasn’t helping with the library, he was at Rarity’s trying to win over her heart. Here he been working on his magic and potion-making. Really, I don’t know if he as a goal for himself to strive for, but what does it really matters? I don’t really have something to work towards in the future besides becoming stronger.”

“That’s easy,” Frost started in a matter of fact tone, sitting up in Quill’s lap, and running her fingers over her exposed abdomen. “You, Quill, don’t need to see into the future. The way you live is in the present, not the past, and not the future.” A bead of sweat started to go down Quill’s head when Frost started to lick her lips and grind her hips into hers. “For you there’s only a here and now, tomorrow doesn’t exist until it comes, and the past have no mean as long you never give up.” Frost’s eyes started to glow brighter, much more than her night-vision, and her horn as well started to spark to life. “You’re far too strong to be tied down by regret or fear; not even ghost heart can bring you down.”

Frost started to trail her hands upwards to Quill’s breasts as well moving down to her neck, fangs at the ready, and dripping her neurotoxin as like it is her lust for Quill’s power. “Um, Frost,” Quill broke through Frost’s changeling mating instincts right as her fangs touched on Quill’s neck. “We still need to focus.”

That’s when Frost realized that she had let her instincts momentarily take control and quickly removed herself from Quill’s neck. “Heh, sorry about that. Mating instincts and the like…” Quill started to giggle at the blush on Frost’s face as her hiding behind her blue mane only made her look cuter in her eyes. “Anyways, what I said was true. Quill you’re just too headstrong to think about the future.”

“Well, that’s because I can deal with whatever problem I face then.” Frost giggled a little as she had a feeling that’s what Quill was going to say. “So what you’re saying is that Spike don’t think of the here and now?”

“From what I could gather so far.” Frost didn’t want to make any assurances just yet about Spike, what she has seen was rather limited and didn’t reveal much about his character. However, from the way Quill and the other feel about him, she could tell that Spike was one to think things through. “I’m not saying he is indecisive but he lacks drive to step out of his comfort zone. Then again, we all do.”

Quill had to agree with Frost, even she had troubles doing something that was far out in left field, and there were still something's she hated to do. “Okay, but it’s not like we can change Spike’s whole outlook on life.” Frost nodded her head in agreement as she laid her head back over Quill’s heart and wrapped her arms around her. Quill returned the embrace also wrapping most of Frost’s upper body in her wings. “Everything is going to be alright with Spike, right Frost?”

Frost could feel the worry dripping from every word in Quill’s voice, concern only for her brother’s life. She looked up through Quill’s wings, only to find that her face was showing as much as worry in her heart. “Yes, he is Quill as long as he have someone like you backing him and he never gives up on himself, he will make it through.” Frost moved up to met Quill’s lips in a quick kiss, this time she didn’t have to fight off any instincts as this kiss was one of pure love for the dragoness. Soon, the two lovers parted to gaze into the shine in their eyes. “You’ll see Quill, Spike is much tougher than we are giving him credit for.”

After saying goodnight to Lily, Spike laid on his bed with his right hand above his head, and gazed at the pale-yellow gem. In one day, his whole routine had to been changed so he wouldn’t be consumed by the ghost heart. Now he had to rethink everything he’s known and done in High Moon. All because he doubts himself...really, it might because he comparing himself to Quill.

It made sense, back when they started their magic training, Quill had always been ahead of him, and when he finally thought he had the advantage Quill again would prove him deathly wrong.

Maybe it was the way he went about his training. He sat around and meditated for hours before he could construct a technique of his own while Quill just used trial and error. But that’s not Spike’s thing, he couldn’t just go at it like that, it didn’t…feel right.

“It can’t be easy for everyone…” Spike didn’t know how much he’ll be able to believe in these words much longer. “Ghost heart.” Fear and doubt, that’s what Spike though about these two words. From what everyone has told him so far, it only spawned because he doubts himself. Well, now is the best time to change that. “I won’t lose.”

So, the little drake is growing a backbone? Spike hardly paid much attention to the cold harsh voice of his ancestor, he can’t rightfully remember the first time he heard the voice, and right now he didn’t really care. What’s the matter drake? First you’re pipe dreams of that...mare ends, then you stop trying to be that ‘shining knight,’ and here you are saying you won’t lose to something that’s killed drakes much more powerful than you. What a joke.

“Oh why don’t you just go away,” Spike said, sitting up in the bed. “You’re my ancestor, so shouldn’t you be helping out rather than doubt me at every corner?”

Ha, ha, ha...just why should I do that? You seem to be just fine on your own. Gha, hah… Spike sighed at the cruel tone in his ancestor's voice, he knew so far he hadn’t done that much. Without his water-magic, Spike was nothing but a potion-maker while Quill could still hunt and fight off intruders with her fire-magic. How does it feel to be the end of everyone’s joke? Always being behind your sister, in everything? To never know what real power means?

“So,” Spike snapped back at the cackling voice of the elder drake. “I’m not doing all of this to become stronger anyways. Why would I care if I’m weak or not?” Spike comeback was only met with more mocking laughter. “Know what? I just don’t care what you have to think. Lily and the others believe in me and that’s all that matters any more.”

Ha, yeah right. Listen to me drake they are-

“No you listen to me,” Spike shouted, hopping off the bed as though he was actually yelling at someone in the room. “My friends...my family cares and supports me, without them I have nothing, and there isn’t anything you or anyone else can say or do about that. I don’t know what kind of life you had, it must have been a lonely one, but don’t try bringing me down the same pit you’ve allowed yourself to fall in.”

Spike stood at the end of his bed waiting for his ancestor to say something, most likely another comeback, but got nothing for a long moment before it spoke again. See here drake, It started in a grim hollow tone however Spike didn’t fatter under it. I’ve lived much longer than you pathetic excuse of a life and I have seen countless fall before me. What makes you so different?

“I have others that believe in me, that want me to succeed, and more importantly I believe in myself.” Spike could feel his ancestor trying to speak up again but he didn’t want any of it. “I don’t need your approval whether I am truly living or not.” Again, only silence ringed throughout Spike’s head as his ancestor took a moment to muse over the growing drake.

Fine, it finally started with a chuckle that for once wasn’t a mocking one. You want to know what it is like to really live like a dragon, here you go. Spike cocked his head in bewilderment before an unbearable pain ripped across his body, bringing him to his knees. I hope you know what you’re doing, `cus this is the last time I’ll try.

Spike vision went completely dark moments after the voice had left his head. This night, he didn’t dream, and he wasn’t trapped with the ghost heart threatening to kill him. This night, he slept a blank sleep, one that was completely forgetful. Almost making him question which was reality and which was dream.

The bright light from the sun seeping into the cracks along the windows forced Lily to wake up with a stretch of her transparent wings. Each of the shining butterfly wings shimmered with a rainbow colored light as her body absorb as much magic from the sun as she could before her long day would start.

This was her everyday morning ritual, wake up, take in as much magic from the early sunlight, get dressed, and go about her day. She had done this for the last nine years, the only change was the twins’ sudden appearance in High Moon two months ago, but everything mostly have stayed the same.

Spike quickly became independent after he found his own routine to follow every morning. Neither phoenix would move until she or Spike wake them and Spike rarely interrupt their sleep.

Sliding out of the bed, Lily used the covers to hide most of her tall slender body. She may usually still have the mornings to herself but the thought of Spike walking in on her while she getting dressed, and the thought of him finally losing control of his dragon instincts, made her wary of being too free.

However, she had to drop the shield that was her dusty cover so she could actually pick something out. Just the thought of the young drake accidentally walking in on her and then having his way with her, caused a bright blush on Lily’s cheeks.

No. She knew better to think that Spike would allow his instincts to take over like that, but still… No, no, and if anything Quill was more likely to lose control before Spike. Lily quickly got dressed in a dark-green robe, going down the length of her upper thighs, and ending right at her knees. At the suggestion of Quill and Blaze, Lily finally decided to change up the way her while mane was.

Quickly buzzing her wings behind her, Lily created a small mirror floating in front of her, and started to brush out her mane. After always having it in a bun at the top and the rest falling down, she didn’t really have any ideas for what to do with silky long mane. “I wonder if Blaze would have any ideas,” she openly asked herself before just tying it up with a black alligator-leather strap.

Lily started to walk out of her room to see if Spike was up and ready to head over to the temple. When she got to the drake’s room, she knocked on the door, and hoped he remembered that he was supposed to be taking it easy with his magic training for awhile “Spike, Spike sweetie are you up?”

“Yeah I’m just getting dressed, I’ll met you in front of the tunnel in a sec,” Spike called back from behind the door. Lily nodded her head and started for the pallor room to wake the phoenixes before heading to the tunnel leading to the temple.

“Cinder, Peewee, it’s time to wake up,” Lily called out to the support beams and many nests that started to form along them. Soon, both the purple/black and orange/red phoenixes were out of their shaded nests, and flew down to her shoulders. The both of them nuzzled against Lily’s head with a cheerful screech. “Well, you two are cheery this morning,” she laughed as she started for the mansion doors to wait at the arcane slab-door.

Once outside her wings started to shimmer even more as she absorbed more of the sun’s rays into them. Lily did this not only to recharge her magic but also to giver her that extra...huff to get her through the day. For flutterponies, the sunlight was like an energy drink without any harmful levels of sugar, but the one downside to this was the large mood swing she suffers when the sun goes down for the night.

Without its light, Lily feels...drained and very tired, and it was the main reason she didn’t enjoy being up late at night. Thus far, she hadn’t had to deal with anything like it besides when she found the twins out in Everfree. Other than that, she been able to keep her magic levels in her body normal, and any chance she gets to absorb more sunlight the better.

Like now as she stood in front of the tunnel door while the two phoenixes resumed their flying game, and from the looks of things, Cinder was in the lead. Lily giggled as Cinder suddenly banked left, cutting Peewee off, and making him run into a low hanging cloud.

Cinder circled back to a large tree branch near the lake Spike mediated at while Peewee flew back towards her. Once perched, Cinder shot Peewee a smug victorious look as Spike finally started to make his way up the hill.

“Ready to go,” Lily asked the drake, noting that he didn’t seemed to be under any effects of his ghost heart, and that he was awfully well-dressed considering the normal day that’s ahead of him. Spike nodded his head while the two phoenixes flew over to his shoulders.

Soon, the four started to make their way through the tunnels to the temple, and both Lily and Spike were going over what they had planned for the day. Lily wasn’t too surprised when he said that he wanted to tag along with Quill and Frost to visit Dusk in Ponyville. From what he and Quill have said about the halfbreed, he did sound quite knowledgeable about dragons, and also he quite nice to the two of them.

While the twins and changeling mare where out, Wolf had plans to push further into the ruins, but to do this he was going to need Blaze fire magic to light the way and Lily’s ability to make stronger shields than unicorns. In fact, the three have been planning to do this for quite some time, but the addition of a changeling prompted Wolf to up the expected time of exploration.

Spike didn’t waste a moment of thought before he said that he’ll make sure he and the others would be back in time to help out as much as they could. Lily tried to wave the drake’s offer off, knowing that it wouldn’t be quite safe for all of them to be in uncharted regions of the ruins, but Spike continued to insist to where he was begging Lily.

After a moment of thought Lily gave in his pleas and said that she’ll talk about it with Wolf to see what he thought. Soon, the four finally made it towards the arcane slab blocking Blaze’s work area, and Lily opened it with her firestone necklace.

Both Peewee and Cinder flew towards the perch hanging above the smoke chamber as their food was already set by Quill while Frost and Blaze were fixing some breakfast. “Morning, Lily and Spike,” Blaze started sliding a bowl of sliced fruit towards the both of them. “The both of you slept fine last night?”

“I did,” Spike quickly answered, tossing a piece of fruit in the air, and catching it in his mouth. Frost, who was walking by, sensed the falseness in Spike’s emotions, but thought against saying anything lest it cause difficulties for the drake. “So where’s Wolf,” he asked, noticing the dog’s absents from the room.

“Oh he woke up quite earlier to borrow rope from Zecora,” Blaze answered, taking a seat down in front of Lily, and started to eat. “So Spike you going with Quill to Dusk’s house in Ponyville?” Spike nodded his head while his mouth was full of fresh fruit. “Well, alright just be sure to be heading back before it gets too late, Wolf said that he has some more work for you, or something like that.”

Spike opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by Quill. “We will,” she quickly answered, flying down from the birds’ coop, and downing the rest of her bowl. “Come on lead-feet, I want to get their as soon as we can.” Everyone watched as Quill flew over to the dish container and placed her blow in it. “Oh man, I can’t wait to see the look on Dusk’s face.”

Spike rolled his eyes while Frost giggled at her lover’s silliness and soon all three were heading out towards Ponyville after saying goodbye to the others. Once outside, they ran into Wolf, and told him that they should be back by nightfall. After giving them a quick warning about how dangerous Everfree is at night, Wolf allowed the three to start making their way towards Ponyville.

While his sister and marefriend took to the skies, Spike ran on all fours quickly becoming used to running like this, and was able to keep up with the two above. Right before they reached the border between Everfree and Ponyville, Frost changed into her dragoness form so no issues would come up about it.

She and Quill landed on top of a building while Spike used his claws and tail to scale the wall. “So Spike, um…” Quill’s eyes scanned over Ponyville looking for any signs of the halfbreed or his mares but didn’t find either one. “Just where do Dusk live anyways?”

“Well, when I went to Twilight’s the other night, I think he turned right from the center of town. So I guess somewhere over there,” Spike vaguely answered only faintly remembering all the events from two days ago.

“Great, come on.” Quill spared her wings again, taking flight into the air, and started for the direction Spike pointed out with Frost in tow. For a moment Spike didn’t know what he was going to do, then he saw that the buildings were close enough to where he could jump across.

Not the safest way but the best to keep up with Quill. Spike backed up to the edge before taking off towards the row of buildings in front of him and leaping across. Thankfully he made it across the first roof and easily made it across the others. Once the row ended, Spike started to run on all fours to add more power to his jumping so he would make it to the next block.

All of the ponies outside watched in awe as the three dragons made it through the block before landing back on the ground. “Okay,” Spike started, breathing a little heavily. “That, that was fun.” Quill flashed Spike a bright smile while Frost just giggled as they started to make their way down the street.

For the most part, Quill was able to ignore the ponies curious looks, because she knew their only paying her any kind of attention now because of the elements. Spike had a little more trouble doing the same thing as some of the looks held a sense of malice behind them; no doubt for the elements falling apart slightly.

Frost had it worse than the other two. Being a changeling she could actually feel the collective emotions coming from the small town goers. Most were questioning the twins’ sudden appearances, others held malice towards them, and some were wondering who she was.

This scared her the most, if anypony figured out her true identity, she and Quill would face the wrath of Equestrian's bitterness towards the changeling race. Frost have heard whispers that Celestia tried to work something out but other than that she wasn’t sure what to believe.

Quill noticed Frost’s shifting eyes and wrap a wing around her to act as a shield from questioning eyes of Ponyville. Once Spike figured out what Quill was doing, he started to walk ahead as well making himself more noticeable than the other two. Frost blushed from Quill’s quick thinking along with Spike’s willingness to help her out.

Even as a princess, she would have never gotten the same kind of treatment or freedom she got with Quill and the others. Usually she was stuck in her hive doing nothing new or having the liberty to do as such. The only time she would see the outside world is when she had to take a secret tunnel to her mother’s mass hive deep within the center of Everfree. Even then, she was still heavily guard by other scorpios, and she hated it.

Frost never enjoyed having other risk their lives for her without her giving something in return. She had power of her own, she may be attached by Quill’s own power, but that was because of changeling and dragon mating instincts. Frost couldn’t, and wouldn’t, sit around while others are doing things for her. She was even scolded by both her mother and Chrysalis for sometimes leaving her hive during the night to freely play about, especially during the winter time when her ice-magic was at its peak.

However it seemed that as long as she stayed with Quill and the others in High Moon, she would no longer have to deal with any of that. “Hey Frost, you doing good,” Quill asked in a hushed voice, worried that some unicorn could pick up on her changeling magic.

Frost smiled brightly at Quill as she pulled her closer with her arm and rested her head on top of hers. “Now I am.” Quill blushed at Frost’s sudden close mood but made no objections know in any way while Spike continued to act friendly to everypony around them. “So which house is Dusk’s?” Quill and Spike both started to scan the row of homes, each one looking identical towards the other, and the only notable difference between them was the size of them.

Welcome to Ponyville.

“Um…maybe it’s-”

“The one down the street on your right.” All three turned their head back at the unmistakable deep voice of the only other halfbreed they knew, Dusk. “Hey guys, how’s it going, and who is the new face?” Frost’s body violently started to shake from the large amounts of power coming from Dusk. He was far past Quill’s and something told her he had years of training to reach such high levels of power. “Hey, dragoness are you alright?”

“Huh? Y-yeah just...never met a halfbreed like yourself before,” she answered while she started to use Quill to help her stay standing up. “Oh right, my name is Frost.” Dusk chuckled a little, walking towards the two dragonesses, and shaking Frost’s hand.

“Well it’s nice to met you Frost,” he said, walking past them, but stopping to pat Quill on the back. “You sure know how to pick’em Quill.” Both Quill and Frost brightly blushed at Dusk’s words, not realizing Quill’s wing around Frost was a sign of their relationship. “Yo, Spike, how you holding up?”

Dusk wrap his arm around the shorter drake’s neck and started to pull him towards his house as he did wanted to talk with Spike and Quill about another aspect of their magic. Quill finally snapped out of her flustered and started to lead Frost after the two males. However, Frost still was highly reluctant to get too close to Dusk when she could.

Quill looked over to Frost, who had her eyes deadlocked on Dusk as he chatted with Spike. She had the same look in her eyes as when she first met her but as a look of fear as well. “Frost what’s the matter?”

“S-so p-powerful…” Quill whipped her head back to Dusk, who was laughing along with Spike as they started to come up on to his house. She knew that Dusk was strong, properly just as strong as Wolf, but for Frost to be fearing and attracted to him; he had to be hiding something.

“It’s okay Frost, Dusk is a good guy, he won’t hurt you alright?” Frost slowly, almost subconsciously, nodded her head, but still kept her eyes deadlocked on Dusk. Soon, the four made it to Dusk’s front door step to his two-story house, and opened it for the others to follow him in.

“Ya’ll make yourselves at home for now, I just got off of work, and I need to take a shower.” Dusk lifted his arm and quickly reed his head back from the punch of musk from the early shift in the construction yard. “Bad.” Dusk made his way towards the stairs to take a very quick shower. Spike shrugged his shoulders and took a seat in a chair while Frost and Quill seat together on the couch.

Dusk walk across the hallway connecting the bedroom and bathroom upstairs as well as Sketchy’s art studio and Jinx’s and his game-room. He took note of how close Frost was sitting with Quill and also the decent scent of a changeling. “Help yourselves to the soda in the fridge in the kitchen right there next to that arch-door,” he called out to them as he walked into the bathroom with a change of clothes in hand.

Again, Spike shrugged his shoulder, and hopped off the chair. “You guys want one?” Quill tore her attention away from Frost for a moment just to nod her head since she hasn’t had one in a long while. “What about you Frost?” The mare seemed to be too far into her own thoughts to hear Spike and it took a nudge from Quill to get her back into reality again.

“H-huh, yeah I’ll have a drink.” Spike look towards Quill, who motioned her head towards Dusk’s kitchen so she could talk to Frost in private for a brief moment. Spike nodded his head, knowing that Frost had been acting weird ever since Dusk showed up.

“Frost are you sure you’re alright?” Frost took in a deep breath to calm her nerves, she knew that she didn’t have anything to be worrying about, but the fact that Dusk’s magic was at high levels as it was freighted her a little. The halfbreed’s magical present reminded her of her father’s, who by her definition, was a true monster.

“Yes, yes I’m fine. It’s just that Dusk has magical levels equal that of my father’s, and let’s just say, I don’t like to be reminded of him.” Quill nuzzled her head against Frost’s to help her calm down, getting a kiss on the cheek as a return of affection. “Don’t worry, last I saw of him, he was chained up by my mother.”

Quill nodded her head but still was concerned about Frost. Spike soon showed up with three cans of grape soda and handed the two lovers theirs while he open his with his tail. Both Quill and Spike started to down their drinks, missing the fizzy taste, while Frost stared into the tin-can. Having lived in a changeling hive deep in Everfree forest, Frost had never drank anything like soda, but it couldn’t be too bad if Quill and Spike likes it...right?

A look over to Quill and then Spike, told her that there wasn’t anything wrong with the drink. So she decided to learn what was so good about it herself. Upon first taste, Frost’s eyes widened with an electric shock starting in her mouth, and going all the way down to the rest of her body. Even her wings started to twitch from the high-energy drink, which all ended with a happy sigh on Quill’s shoulder.

“I take it you liked it,” Quill asked in a slight mocking tone after she finished her drink. All she got in response was a nod from Frost while Spike soon finished his with a burp. “Spike, that’s totally-” Quill couldn’t finish her words before Frost too let out a might burp that even caught her off-guard. Both twins stared at the changeling disguised as a dragoness, who had a bright blush written on her face.

“E-excuse me…” Another long pause overtook the three, the only sound was the ticking of the clock on the wall, but was soon shattered by both twins bursting out in laughter. The blush on Frost’s face only grow in intensity but she still joined in on the laughter. Right after they all calm down, Dusk came out of the bathroom wrapping his head with a towel while he wore a pale-purple shorts with a dark-blue shirt was wrapped in his tail.

“Well sounds like you guys are having fun,” he said, walking down the stairs with the towel around his neck. He walked around the couch, not looking at anyone in the room, but still having some effect on Frost. “You know, in the republics, I was friends with a lot of other species.” Quill and Spike cocked their heads while Frost knew Dusk was talking directly to her. “Some tried lying to me and other-”

“Fine,” Frost cut in, dropping her disguise with a flat defeated look. Quill was going to quickly think of something to say to save Frost when she again cut in. “What gave me away?” Dusk chuckled and pointed to his nose with a smug look on his face. “Right, you’re part diamond dog, I forgotten that fact.”

“It’s alright,” Dusk waved off Frost’s--and the other two’s--worries and lean against the wall next to the tv. “Back in the republics, I was friends with a few changelings, and so was Jinx and Sketchy. Hell, a changeling princess is my Lunar-Mother. So you don’t have to hide.”

Frost started to giggle at Dusk’s friendly smile while Spike and Quill breath out sighs of relief. “Okay, it’s just that Equestria has a...’different’ take on us changelings.” Dusk nodded his head as he, and the rest of the republics, have heard about the changeling invasion of Equestrian's capital three years back.

“Well I’m with you on that. Most ponies here don’t like the idea of well, me.” Quill and Spike again cocked their heads at Dusk, not exactly sure what he was talking about. “Halfbreeds of the dragon and dog kind. Equestria is known to not ‘like’ the idea of beings walking around with as much power as I have.”

“Oh that make sense,” Quill said, knowing that some of the nobles didn’t like the idea of having her and Spike around when they got older. While Dusk continued to talk with Spike and Frost, Quill kept thinking about this.

Ponies feared dragons because of their size and magic, going as far as to bury their dark past of dragon-hunting, and forgetting all they used to know about dragon. It was no mistaking it any more, Celestia was hiding something from them, from all of Equestria, and Quill needed to know what and why.

“...so Obsidian tells me that I have to either give up my collar, join the elements of harmony, or make my own band of elements.” Quill heard Dusk continue over her own thoughts, forcing her to pay attention to the interesting story as it was the main reason for coming to his house. “There was no way I was going to give up something my mother worked so hard to make for me. I didn’t want to join the elements of harmony either, there’s...there’s a really bad joke about them that I’ll tell you later. So I had no other option than to…”

Dusk raised his hands up and activated the magic in his element, causing his hands to be encased in the purple and white light from the gem in his collar. Once the light was gone, Spike, Frost, and Quill were amazed by the metal gauntlets traveling from his fists to his shoulders. The streaks of white going along the dark-purple armor made it look like blots of pure lightning forever arching on them. “Make my own band of elements, cool isn’t it,” he asked with a smug attitude that rivals Quill’s.

“Dude,” Quill started with a breathless tone of voice while Spike and Frost were still trying to understand how his element came about. “That’s just sick.”

Dusk let out a small chuckle and put the gauntlets back into his element. “Thanks, I’m still trying to get used to it, but it feels...natural. Anyway, I’m glad I ran into you guys. There’s something I needed to ask you but I’ll ask Frost first.”

Frost raised an eyebrow towards Dusk, not sure what kind of question he would have for her. “Okay, what is it?”

“Have you heard of clamor draconis?” Frost’s eyes widened at the sound of those two words, telling Dusk that she has in fact heard of them. “I see so you have,” Dusk continued in a slightly darker tone. “And I’m guessing you’ve tried it at least once?”

“Unfortunately, more than once,” Frost answered after a short pause with as much of a dark tone as Dusk’s. “But why do you want to know that?” Frost caught Dusk’s eyes shifted over both twins, forcing her to come to a conclusion he learned some time ago. “They don’t know, do they?”

“As far as I can tell, no, but that’s what I wanted to tell them today. If you’re willing to help?” Frost quickly stood back up and changed back into her dragoness form as well. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Dusk’s guess was responded with a nod from Frost. “Alright, Spike, Quill, follow me for a sec. There’s something that I’ve got to show you.”

Without another word, Dusk put on his shirt, and started out the door with Frost at close tow. After sharing a confused look with each other, the twins soon followed the two out the door, and wander what was so important that it would force them to start acting such a way.