"ALRIGHT CREAMPUFFS!" Firestorm shouted to his trainees, "We'll wrap up here for today!"

All of the trainees collapsed in relieved exhaustion as Firestorm then announced, "It's been almost three weeks since your training began, and that means in just a few short days, you will all be the first of the Harmony Guard.

"As you may recall, the positions of Lieutenants for the Dawn and Dusk Divisions as well as the Captain of the Harmony Guard overall will be bestowed upon those among you that have proven themselves worthy and competent to fulfill these duties and be entrusted with the responsibilities that come with them. It pleases me to see that each and every one of you has proven his or her mettle."

He continued as he walked back and forth in front of the trainees giving them each an analytical gaze, "Don't think this will give you a reason to relax. Quite the opposite, I expect each and every single one of you to prove to me that the time wasn't wasted. Now hit the showers. Dismissed!"

Firestorm's barked order caused them all to moved into single file before heading home to get cleaned up, as anyone could see the sweat dripping from every inch of them.

Watching his trainees head home, Firestorm considered what he'd just told them. In just a few days, their basic training would be complete, and while he had eyes on a few that could possibly fill the roles of Lieutenants of the Dawn and Dusk Divisions, he wasn't sure which, if any, among them could serve as Captain of the Harmony Guard overall.

"I take it training went well today, old friend?" Firestorm turned to see Prince Midnight and his wife Princess Twilight approaching, the both of them looking forward to the Old Soldier's report.

"As well as it's to be expected for roughly a month of training. They are going to need a lot more before I would consider some of them at their peak performance." Firestorm answered turning back to them. "But I do at least see promise in them, Your Majesties."

"Please, Firestorm, it's just us right now," Twilight kindly responded, "there's no need for formality. But it sounds like you have things handled and that the Harmony Guard will be off to a good start once it's official."

"I reckon so, although..." Firestorm hesitated a moment before saying, "while there are a few among this sorry lot that could do a passable job at being a lieutenant, I'm not certain which of them could carry the responsibility of Captain."

"Well, what about the trainees you think could work as lieutenants," proposed Midnight, "could any of them be a good captain?"

"Middle management is one thing, Midnight," Firestorm shook his head, "but the top often has the biggest horseshoes to fill. I just don't think even the most promising of these rookies is captain material."

Looking down the way his trainees went, he whispered, "At least not yet..."

Turning back, Firestorm looked at Midnight, "I would recommend that one of the Knights should take up the captain's mantle till such time one of the trainees is ready."

"...If circumstances were different, I would agree with you, Firestorm," Midngiht sighed, looking a tad disturbed, "but presently I can't ask any of the Knights to devote their time to training or overseeing the Harmony Guard."

"What circumstances?" Firestorm raised a brow.

Midnight looked to Twilight, who gave him an encouraging nod, before the sapphire alicorn explained himself.
"As you've heard, Catrina basically declared war against Equestria, and we have reason to believe she's gathering allies of sorts, and she now has a magic that allows her to destroy cutie-marks! Not only that, I recently received intel from my lieutenant in the Brotherhood of the Evening Hoods, that Equestria may soon be under threat, if it isn't already, from an unknown enemy.

"This enemy has somehow been conquering small nations without raising alarm or suspicion, and affiliated with this enemy... is Tempest Shadow."

Firestorm furrowed his brows, "I've heard of that mare... she has a lot of blood on her ledger."

"With Catrina and this new threat on the horizon, we need to be as prepared as we possibly can," Midnight went on, "as such, Twilight and I have recently begun brainstorming a way to prepare ourselves and even our future guardsponies in ways conventional training methods cannot."

"It's really quite brilliant, Firestorm," Twilight spoke up, "My husband is proposing we use one of the rooms in the castle as a sort of training room, but not with training equipment but rather... using immersive scenarios that can give us a simulated experience of various situations, obstacles and enemy tactics.

"Basically, we would be creating realistic illusions that simulate situations that would give the next best thing to actual hooves-on experience."

"But the situations need to come from real combat situations. Nothing thought up on the spot, and even going into no win scenarios." Firestorm debated, looking skeptical, "Because soldiers need to be able to understand and surmise the best possible actions out of the worst situations."

"Which is why, the first time these recruits undergo training in this room, once it's completed," Midnight smirked, "they'll think it's real."

"Not only that, but even after they're made aware that the experiences in the room are just a simulation," Twilight added, "we can temporarily seal their awareness that it's just a simulation when one is active. That way, we can get actual results from the trainees who will think it's real every time, only remembering when the simulation ends."

"I'll believe it when I see it..." grumbled Firestorm, folding his forehooves together.

"TWILIGHT! MIDNIGHT!!" They all startled to see Spike running their way, holding what looked like a scroll.

"Spike! What's wrong? A Message from Prin-" Twilight said, only for Firestorm to interject and take the scroll from Spike's hand.

"This isn't from the Princess," he narrowed his eyes at the wax seal, "It's from a Dragon Lord!"

"Oh! From our friend, Lady Ember, I'm sure," Twilight reached to take the scroll, only for Firestorm to hold it out of reach.

"No, this isn't from the Dragon Lord of the West. If it was, the seal would depict the Bloodstone Scepter," Firestorm gave the seal a good look before his brows furrowed and he declared, "This is from the Dragon Lord of the South!

"The seal depicts the Bloodstone Necklace."

"If I remember right.... the Dragon Lord of the Southern Territory, Dradea, is a dragoness," Midnight spoke up, "goes by the name of... Infurya?"

"That's her, nasty customer," Firestorm glared at the scroll, "which is why we should burn this scroll and forget we ever go- Hey!"

Twilight had yoinked the scroll from Firestorms' magical grasp and undid the seal before anypony could stop her as she said, "As Equestrian Royalty, it would be improper of us to discard a message from a foreign leader without even reading it! Now let's see...

"'Messr Spike, You are formally invited to the Dragon Territory of Dradea for a diplomatic meeting between dragons of two different nations to find a common ground. Sincerely yours, Lady Infurya of the South'.

"Hmm, kind of short, but... this sounds promising!"

"I dunno, Twily, it's kinda vague, don't you think?" Midnight pointed out warily.
"And hard to read between the line or get their unlined desire." Firestorm added, sounding suspicious.

"Well, it's still an invitation from a national leader," Twilight insisted, "it'd be rude and a loss of opportunity not to answer it."

"But why invite Spike? He's not a leader or even an Equestrian official," Midnight questioned, "It can't simply be because he's a dragon..."

"...Okay, that's a fair point," Twilight had to admit.

"HEY! What's that supposed to mean?" Spike demanded with an indignant tone.

"There's something else going on here, kid," Firestorm answered firmly. "The laws and politics of the dragons are very different from those of Equestria. Not to mention this Infurya has quite a reputation, along with the dragons of her territory, the Wyverns, and diplomacy isn't something she's known for."

"Yes, I remember now," Midnight spoke up, "Infurya is known for skirting the edges of Dragon Law. She's done questionable things with her power, but they were always within the legal boundaries of the law of the King.

"She punishes offenders of the law and subjects them to gladiatorial combat to win their freedom. She also offers wealth, food and prizes to any dragon who volunteers to fight for her amusement."

"And that's what we know of," Firestorm commented grimly.

"Well... perhaps she has a poor reputation, but we can't just dismiss this possibility that she wishes to establish amicable relations with Equestria," Twilight responded but even she was sounding doubtful at this point.

"And she invited me! It may come as a surprise to you, sir," Spike glared at Firestorm, "but Twilight taught me plenty growing up. Including etiquette and diplomatic history. Clearly, this Lady Infurya heard about me and must think that if a dragon like me can live well among ponies then perhaps other dragons too."

"More like she sees you as an opportunity to exploit," Firestorm huffed, causing Spike to redden angrily, so Firestorm tried to cool him down by saying, "It's - Not - Safe!"

Before any of them saw it coming, Spike whipped out a quill and parchment, wrote something down, and they all cried out, "Spike, no!!" as as he burned it with his dragonfyre, and the shimmering ashes zoomed off towards the horizon.

Facehooving, Firestorm groaned, "Tell me you didn't-"

"I accepted Lady Infurya's invitation and told her I'd arrive in Dradea by noon tomorrow," Spike responded with a 'so there' attitude.

"Spike..." Midnight sighed while shaking his head, "I understand wanting to prove yourself, but this is serious! You have no experience in diplomatic affairs and you don't know Dragon Law!"

"Which is why I'm coming with you, young dragon," Firestorm stated in a tone inarguable.

"Fine. But remember who's the diplomat here," Spike harrumphed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go ask Blueblood if we can borrow the Slipstream. We'll need to travel by airship if we're gonna make it in time."

They watched Spike march off, his nose in the air, and Twilight sighed, "Firestorm, I'm sorry about Spike. He's a good dragonet, but every once in a while..."

"Think nothing of it, Twilight," Firestorm waved it off, "I've dealt with plenty of hotshots whom I whipped into respectable soldiers in my time. As it is, I'm the best candidate to go with him to make sure he doesn't louse this up and cause an international incident."

"Firestorm..." Firestorm looked to Twilight, who was clearly concerned, "...will you look after Spike?"

The Old Soldier smiled kindly and gave a respectful bow, "I'll bring him home safely, Your Majesty."

"Thank you," Twilight smiled back, feeling a little relief.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, Your Highnesses," Firestorm turned to head into the castle, "I must prepare for the journey."

Ever since he'd come to train the nascent Harmony Guard recruits, Firestorm had been given room and board inside the Castle of Friendship so he wouldn't have to live in a hotel in the meantime. His room was comfortable but in a way spartan with how it lacked much of anything to express Firestorm's personality.

In fact, what stood out most was a potted flower set in the windowsill to enjoy the sunshine.

Firestorm approached the flower and took in its beauty. It was as though a burst of flame had somehow become the floral equivalent, with its reddish-orange petals tipped yellow, growing upon a stem that had a texture very similar in appearance to scales, and the leaves were sharp and spiny like those of a holly.

The fragrance had a spicy characteristic in how it inflamed the sinuses the more you smelled it and yet it was so appealing, even as it caused Firestorm's eyes to water a little. But it wasn't just the flower's scent.

It was the memory it represented.

Sighing, he gingerly plucked a few petals and leaves, setting them aside onto the desk in his room, before he focused upon the flower and closed his eyes.

"Firestorm?"

"Wha?! I-" Firestorm whipped around to see Midnight standing the doorway.

"Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to startle you," apologized the younger stallion. "I-I was going to... What're you doing with that flower? It's beautiful."

"Oh Midnight, I..." Firestorm took a deep breath as he looked back at his flower and Midnight walked over to stand beside the Old Soldier. "This... this is a Dacorona, a rare flower rich with special properties, as it only grows from soil that has been burned by dragonfyre. It's, uh... the secret behind my fireproof potions and such."

"Forgive me for saying so, Firestorm, but..." Midnight looked between the flower and Firestorm before saying, "I sense there's something more to this flower than it just being valuable for potion ingredients."

"Eh, you caught me," Firestorm sighed as he looked upon the flower with the look of a stallion who'd long carried an old wound. "This... this is the last gift I received from my wife. Before her time came."

"Cherry Rose." Firestorm looked at Midnight in mild surprise, and the alicorn shrugged with a small smile, "Of the Rose Family, among the few Canterlot noble families made up of earth ponies.

"She was a good friend of my grandmother."

"I remember, yes," Firestorm nodded, "My sister, Gaia, was the one who introduced us. They knew each other from their work in crossbreeding exotic flowers to produce hybrids with more potent properties.

"Heh, she stole my heart right away, my Cherry Rose... She gave me this Dracorona as an anniversary gift. Thirty years of marriage! A few months later, she was gone..."

"How do you still have this flower thought?" asked Midnight, genuinely curious. "Shouldn't it have withered a long while back?"

"Heh, my Cherry might not have been a unicorn, but she helped me discover something real special. You just watch..." Firestorm looked at the flower again before he closed his eyes and concentrated.

Midnight watched as Firestorm's horn gently lit up with his fiery red mana.... before it seemed to calm into a gentle simmer instead of a blistering burn as the mana seemed to shrink inward into Firestorm's horn... before he got closer to the Dracorona and seemed to exhale a gentle plume of faint red vapor onto the flower.

Almost instantly the Dracorona perked and stood straight, its colors brightening while the petals and leaves Firestorm had plucked away grew back, while some buds sprouted along the stem and quickly blossomed into smaller flowers. Once it all settled, the Dracorona seemed to glow a strong yet balanced radiance of the same red that was the color of Firestorm's mana.

Firestorm started to pant lightly while Midnight marveled at what he'd just seen.

"H-how did you...?" He looked upon the Old Soldier in stunned awe as Firestorm steadied his breath.

"Well... as you are surely aware," Firestorm took a deep breath before continuing, "Earth Ponies passively channel their mana through their legs and hooves, is why Earth Ponies are physically the strongest of ponykind. Apart from alicorns, that is.

"Cherry Rose helped me figure out that while Earth Ponies can channel their mana passively, allowing them to enrich the earth they walk on, the crops and plants they tend to, or even soothe and calm those they touch, Unicorns could do the same, albeit more directly."

"Amazing...!" Midnight looked at the Dracorona closer before he realized something, "But then why did you suddenly seem a little short of breath?"

"Earth Ponies channel their mana passively and do it through their exertion and interaction with their surroundings," Firestorm explained. "As a result, they only feel as tired as how hard they worked. But Unicorns don't typically use their mana in such a way. What I just did for my Dracorona was giving it some of my stamina and energy, thus I felt a tad tired from the effusing my mana to the flower as if I'd just done a physical activity that would tire me out to the same degree.

"By doing this, I've kept my Dracorona alive and healthy for all these years. It's been a source of my strength and a beloved keepsake of my Cherry..."

"Hmm, it's an interesting application of mana channeling," Midnight reconsidered his previous thought, "but it seems to benefit the flower more than it does you."

"I wasn't finished," Firestorm raised a brow. "See, you're not just providing energy that improves the health of the plant or even the environment.

"Doing this frequently can cause a change in the plant so it takes on characteristics of the unicorn who provides it with energy in this manner."

"How so?" Midnight found his interest piqued yet again.

"We had a housemare, Melody, up in Canterlot before she resigned and moved away," explained Firestorm. "We taught her this same technique and she used it to care for the flowers in Cherry's garden.

"In Melody's case, when the wind would gently breeze through the flowers, they would give off musical notes. So depending on the pony the characteristics of the plant would slightly change to match. Not to mention their properties can increase in potency as well as change, depending on the mana of the unicorn."

Midnight found his interests reignited by Firestorm's words as he stared at the Dracorona, wondering what it was before Firestorm started caring for it in the way he still does.

"That brain of yours hatching an idea?" Firestorm raised an amused brow.

"You could say that..." Midnight nodded before giving Firestorm a serious look, "But the matter at hoof... what do you think Infurya could possibly want with Spike?"

"Nothing good, that's for sure, and if half of what I've heard about her is true, then Spike is delivering himself on a silver platter into the lion's den covered in garnish," Firestorm responded as he got to packing his saddlebags.

"Remind me again how well respected you are in the Dragons Lands?" asked Midnight.

"Depends on if you believe the rumors or not," Firestorm retorted with a smirk after adding a few of his potions to his bags.

"Oh I believe plenty of them, though a couple I admit to finding hard to swallow," Midnight teased before he resumed his serious demeanor. "But seriously, Firestorm, at least tell me you have an exit strategy if and when things go pear-shaped."

"I plan to get in contact with my old teacher who has a lot of pull in the Dragon Lands. If we have to escape, we can count on her for aid to get back safely to Equestria. Other then that, I'll have to play it by ear `till I know why or how it went pear-shaped," Firestorm answered as he strapped his saddlebags on.
"Hopefully it won't come to that."

"With her helping you, I have faith you both will come home safely," Midnight said solemnly, "but it's still gonna be dangerous."

"I might be past my prime, junior," Firestorm said in jest, "but I weren't Senior General of the EUP for nothin'! Understand?!"

"Heheh, sir, yessir," Midnight wing-saluted his father's mentor and a stallion he deeply respected. But before Firestorm left, Midngiht couldn't help saying, "General? Good luck."

"Hm" Firestorm just nodded before making for the castle exit, but he wasn't there in that moment but a thousand miles away as he muttered to himself, "Goddess knows I'm going to need it."

Thankfully, Blueblood was glad to lend Spike and Firestorm the Slipstream though he wasn't happy to learn of their destination. Firestorm had to go over Blueblood's head in telling him to keep his gob shut and promise he'd look out for Spike.

In order to reach Dradea in time, they had to fly all night across the Glistening Eastern Sea though it was an immense relief to Firestorm that the Slipstream had an autopilot and he'd set his alarm to wake him early the next morning.

Spike woke up a little later and found Firestorm at the wheel, his gaze locked onto the way ahead and Spike saw they were approaching the Dragon Lands. Looking back to the old unicorn, Spike sighed and went over. Firestorm made no indication he noticed Spike's approach.

"Listen, um... I want to say I'm sorry for the attitude."

Firestorm said nothing, but Spike noticed the barest raise of the unicorn's brow, so he went on.
"It's just... I've been Twilight's Number One Assistant ever since I started walking and talking and because I just wanted to help the pony who's basically my big sister.

"But that's all I've ever really been - An assistant. Sure, I've helped with a lot of big and important things, but nopony in Equestria talks about those things because I was involved, because hardly anything or anyone has ever relied solely upon me."

This time, Spike got a reaction as he saw Firestorm maintain his poise but then his eyes looked in Spike's general direction.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is... I just want the opportunity to do something great!" Spike stepped to the bow of the Slipstream, looking towards the fast-approaching Dragon Lands. "Something that will get ponies to say 'Hey look, it's Spike!' or just feel proud to know me or...

"Something that I accomplished myself, not something I just helped with or was present for. You know what I'm saying?"

"That's the thing though Spike," finally came a response from the Old Soldier. His analytical tone drawing Spike's gaze to Firestorm as he looked on towards their destination. "Every time you helped accomplished something and that's what it really is. You accomplish to finish your mission or task so the next pony could do the same. Do you think Starswirl would have been able to accomplish his spells without the ponies before him doing the time to study magic and in turn those that improved or reworked Starswirl's spells. Just has he had done before? Think about all of the accomplishments that happened there? That wouldn't have happened if the Apples hadn't accomplished founding the town.

"Even in the military. Generals are able to form plans based on the information that other soldiers were able to obtain by accomplishing their missions. Every accomplishment is like a pebble thrown into the water. Which creates ripples and waves that lead to them crashing into the next pony to accomplish. Who in turn toss their own pebbles and the cycle continues. Always moving forward, regardless if what they accomplish is good, or bad."

Spike found himself speechless, unsure of what to say in response when Firestorm went on.
"I understand full well what it's like to want to make your mark on history, to leave something behind that others will admire and remember you for, for generations to come.

"For me... I'd hoped my legacy would be carried on by my son."

Spike would had to have been blind to not see the pain behind that stony gaze everypony associated with the Royal Guard, or deaf to not hear the subtle mourning underneath Firestorm's tone of composure.
"Regardless, there will always be those who remember you for the things that truly matter, those who matter to you because you matter to them. Because they will remember you, not for accomplishing some grand and exalted deed, but simply because of how you touched their lives and made them better for it."

"My friends, my family..." Spike realized, and for the first time, Firestorm cracked a smile, a small one but a smile all the same.

"Yes, and never forget, Young Dragon," the Old Soldier said in a tone that caused Spike to meet his gaze. "Even the smallest contribution can make the biggest difference."

Spike looked down for a moment before looking back up at Firestorm, expressing respect and barely-concealed admiration before he asked, "So then... is there anything you can tell me on what I should do or expect about this meeting with Lady Infurya?"

"She will probably play it friendly but will question you about Equestria or about things to get to know you," answered Firestorm. "But I would also say keep it professional tone wise with her as I've heard she's rather quick to anger. As the Dragon Lord of the South, she is of the Wyvern lineage, and Wyverns have always had the nastiest reps among dragonkind."

Now that he was being calm and more open, Spike was beginning to catch the drift that despite his initial thoughts regarding this meeting, that Firestorm might be right about Infurya.
"...Is she really as bad as you're implying?"

"No." Firestorm furrowed his brows as they approached what appeared to be an outpost as he answered, "She's worse..."

Then he reached to pull a lever to begin their descent and something slipped out from the aviator's scarf he had wrapped around his neck and Spike recognized it, "Is that... a phoenix feather?"

"Huh?" Firestorm looked and saw the phoenix feather hanging from his neck by a cord necklace and he raised it up with his magic, saying, "Uh, yes, an old good luck charm of mine."

"Huh! Looks old but it still looks vibrant," Spike commented, "Reminds me of my pet phoenix, Peewee."

Snorting in amusement, Firestorm asked, "You named a phoenix Peewee?!"

"I'll tell you the story later," Spike rolled his eyes, "but tell me about your feather. It must be special if you hold onto it for good luck."

"This... was actually a little gift from Princess Celestia, back when I first became Captain of the Royal Guard," explained Firestorm. "She plucked it off of that feathery fiend she calls her pet, Philomena, and told me it might serve me well one day. So, I just hold onto it for luck."

"Hopefully we don't need it," Spike replied as he looked towards their destination and pointed to the outpost. "We're supposed to meet a dragon at that location."

Sighing as he brought the Slipstream down, Firestorm thought, Goddess watch over us...

Landing their airship and disembarking, they were met with a dragon unlike any Spike had ever seen. He looked like an adult except he was nowhere near as big as all the other adult dragons Spike had ever seen. Still, this dragon towered over the two of them, standing at least three times Firestorm's height, upright on two legs like Spike, and he was fearsome-looking.
His scales were the dry golden yellow of a desert while his underbelly was a faint purple and his horns, spikes, spines, the membranes of his wings and even his hair was a richer purple. He wore a red scarf around his shoulders that sported medals signifying past accomplishments, a dark purple apron/kilt-like piece around his waist, and he carried a battleaxe.

"Greetings, Sir Spike," the dragon said with a rich adult voice, "I am Titan, assigned by Lady Infyurya to escort you to her palace."

"Um, hello! I, uh... well, lead the way, good sir!" Spike forced a smile, feeling a tad intimidated by this dragon even though he wasn't nearly as big as all the other adult dragons he'd ever seen.

But then Titan took notice of Firestorm, "I... was not aware you had brought company, Sir Spike."

"Oh, this is Firestorm, he's my.... chaperone," Spike introduced, hoping that Firestorm's presence wouldn't be a problem.

"Indeed, I am here on behalf of Spike's guardians," Firestorm narrowed his eyes at Titan, "Where he goes, I go."

"...Be that as it may, only Sir Spike was invited by her Ladyship, so..." Titan looked ready to make use of that battle axe...

... when Firestorm levitated out what appeared to be a medal, depicting a symbol as he declared, "In the name of the Dragon King's Royal Court, I order you to escort the both of us to meet with Lady Infurya."

Titan balked in surprise at the sight of the emblem Firestorm had presented and a closer look confirmed that it was legit. He growled in soft annoyance before turning around and saying, "Follow me..."

They did so, staying over two pony-lengths behind Titan and Spike whispered to Firestorm, "What did you show him? Something about the Dragon King's court?"

"This Emblem represents the Royal Court of the Dragon King," Firestorm showed it to Spike, "and the fact that I have it means that I am affiliated with a court member. Thus, as long as I don't show it off or abuse the privilege, I can issue orders to other dragons in the name of the Court."

"Cool. But... who's the court member that you-" Spike tried to ask, only for Firestorm to cover the young dragon's mouth with his hoof when he noticed that Titan seemed to be trying to eavesdrop.

"Don't get distracted, Spike, keep your concentration on there here and now, where it belongs," Firestorm instructed in whisper.

"But Twilight says I should always learn what I can where and when I can," Spike whispered back.

"Not at the expense of the task at hoof. Be mindful of the present, young dragon," Firestorm said firmly.

"Yes, sir," Spike had noticed Titan peer over his shoulder to glance at them but looked forward when he saw they were noticing his nosiness.
"So... any idea what Lady Infurya actually wants?"

"I can't be certain until we actually speak with her. Let us hope that the meeting is short and uneventful," Firestorm replied, hoping he'd be right.

Spike nodded in agreement, but as they followed after Titan, walking down a dusty path in Dragon territory, Firestorm had a distinct feeling that he would be horribly wrong.

This arc is co-written by DFatman, who owns the OC Firestorm