“We need to talk, Crystal Princess. Now.”

"Of course. We can speak inside." Princess Cadence nervously nodded before turning away to lead the way. Her guards dispersed without a word to break up the crowd, and to help those who had passed out.

Princess Cadence lead us up and into the Crystal Spire, to a meeting room just off the throne room. I was a little worried at first over She of Hourglass' ability to get around, given her change of stance from bi to quad. However, through all the steps and twisting hallways, she somehow moved with remarkable grace. I suspected that she was using her new ability to use dragon magic to augment her navigational skills. I knew she didn't want to me or anyone to fret over her, but, as her mate, I couldn't help but want to keep an eye on her, just in case she did need me. Even then, I wouldn’t be lying if I said that I couldn't stop eyeing her over. She was quite beautiful.

We had just entered the meeting room when the crystalline effects from the Heart faded away, allowing me to see her in all her glory. My mate’s transformation, much to my delight, had managed to reverse the damage the months of slow starvation had done to her. Her hair spines were no longer matted down, and some even curled around her horns, which were now a pristine white. Just like with my diamond studded bow-tie, the Fire Ruby necklace had grown with her, and was glinting softly in the light. I almost couldn't control myself, and wanted to pounce her and explore her beauty a bit more. The first taste just wasn't enough.

As soon as the door closed behind my mate and I both, I threw up an enchantment of my own to prevent interruptions. While I trusted Princess Cadence to keep this meeting private, given what happened at the Migration, I did not trust her guard. If there was an insurrection in motion, they may have surreptitiously enchanted the room. Unluckily for them, the enchantment I put up was quite a bit stronger than what all but a few had any chance of getting past. Plus, to make it more safe, it had a secondary function of actively suppressing any magic that wasn't draconic.

With that, I stalked right up to Princess Cadance, growling angrily, letting my flames leak out as I unfurled my manifested wings. “You fucking insolent, interfering PREY! I ought skin you and make you parade those streets out there before I slowly slice you into thin slices, starting from your extremities, all while barely making sure you stay alive so you can feel. Every. Last. Slow. Cut. YOU ARE A WORTHLESS PILE OF MEAT! YOU ARE NOT EVEN WORTHY OF A MIDNIGHT SNACK! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU COULD HAVE DONE!?!!!! NEVER. EVER. INTERFERE WITH A MATING!”

“I...I…am sorry... I... I… I... I had h-heard-d from Twi about and... and I just thought that without your wyrm half, you...I could see such such a noble dragon...I...I hic sorry I… I was just….“ I don’t think I have ever seen Princess Cadence so scared in all her life, but I couldn't let her continue. I hated doing it, but I had to make sure that she never even thought of doing this again. I needed her to realize how much danger she had put herself, and her subjects, in. If it had been any other dragon... I pushed back those dark thoughts as I rushed at her before she could react and embraced her in a hug.

"Princess, thank you..." I couldn't hold it back any longer and cried. "Without you, I may have not realized that the strange feelings that were clouding my mind were because I was near my mate..."

I held the alicorn for a long time, crying for most of it. I waited until the smell of fear coming off of her had diminished into almost nothing before ending the hug.

“But in all seriousness, Princess Cadence...please don't ever do that again.” I grew serious again as I pulled away. ”I hated scaring you, but it’s so dangerous and vile to interfere with a mating and with magic. Our souls are the same, Princess Cadence, and it’s permanent, even in the afterlife. What you did could have been considered an act of rape, Cadence, and raping a dragon is a forced mating…”

“By the heavens, what have I done?!” Princess Cadence whispered in horror.

“What do you tell everyone about your love magic?” I questioned her, in hopes that she would realize that, while she made a colossal error in judgement, she also did something wonderful, as well.

“Uh.” She looked up to me in confusion, “That I can not create love, only reveal what is... already… there...”

“Exactly, Princess Cadence,” I smiled when she made the connection I wanted her to make, “you merely made it so that I could see what was already there. That she was to be my mate.”

“But I...”

“Princess Cadence…” I lifted her head up and wiped her remaining tears away. “You are already forgiven… let’s just move onto the other thing we need to discuss. Why did you send a platoon of fifteen guards try to arrest Wanderer, and then myself?"

"Arrest? Is that what you meant when you said that I sent guards to the Migration in a dishonorable way?" Princess Cadence facehooved, and then rubbed her forehead slowly. "I told Lieutenant Fast Track to take a platoon to the Migration to request Wanderer's help. I knew that the Crystal Heart was in no danger; it was clear to me that your mate was merely scared out of her mind, and I felt that a dragon could get her to come out out from under the Crystal Heart in a calm and safe manner…”

"And the reason for the platoon?"

"As you saw, my ponies were getting really riled up." Princess Cadence walked over to a window and looked down into the street below for a moment. “I wanted to avoid violence, and I felt that an escort would allay my ponies’ fears, just a bit."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause an uproar. I was just so..."

"No need to apologize, She of Hourglass." Princess Cadence looked down. "It is we who should be apologizing to you. I let the situation get out of hoof."

“Princess Cadence, don't fret about it; as far as I can see, you did an admirable job. However... there is something that has been bother..." I paused mid word, as I could feel somepony trying to break through the enchantment I had on the door. It could be an emergency that needed to be dealt with, so my concerns could wait a few minutes. "Princess Cadence, we have someone trying to get in…”

With that, I released the enchantment on the room, as a glow of her horn released hers. A guardspony burst through the door and stumbled for a moment before steadying himself. I instantly stepped in front of She of Hourglass, with my wings spread wide. I knew immediately that this was the same asshole lieutenant from the hotsprings. I'm glad I did, since, as soon as Lieutenant Fast Track saw me, he let loose a magic missile that I backhanded away. It might have connected if he had put more power into it, and not launched it at me so haphazardly.

"Lieutenant Fast Track, stand down!"

"But Princess! These be-" The guardpony’s word was choked out when I slammed the lieutenant to a wall, with a paw squeezing all the oxygen out of him.

“Please, lieutenant, finish that statement. I dare you.” I growled out angrily, by now, light blue flames were leaking out. I was seriously debating which way to eat him, roasted nice and slow over my flames, or raw and wriggling, my non meat eating be damned.

"DragonWyrm Heart. Please." Princess Cadence pleaded, putting a hoof on my shoulder.

I backed away and let the pathetic excuse for a pony fall to the floor, wheezing as he fought to get air back into himself. I would follow Princess Cadence’s lead for now, but I would be watching him closely, and with my fangs out.

"Lieutenant Fast Track, I am appalled at your behavior. I ordered you to ask for help from the head of the Dragon Migration, Wanderer, not arrest them. You are lucky that He of Hourglass and Wanderer are such staunch friends with us, or you would have brought doom upon us all. You and your platoon are to be confined to quarters until further notice. Guards!”

“But Princess…” Fast Track began to protest until a very sharp look from Princess Cadence cut him off.

“Escort and confine Lieutenant Fast Track and his platoon to their quarters until further notice.” Princess Cadence ordered two guards who had just marched into the meeting room.

“At once, Crystal Princess.” The two guards saluted before they and the lieutenant marched out.

"Don’t be too harsh on them, Princess Cadence. I suspect that the Cult of the Scale may be the reason for his and his platoon’s insubordination." I advised Princess Cadence as soon as the guards left. As much as I was not a fan of the lieutenant, I could also clearly tell that he truly wasn't a racist bigot, just very zealously protective of the Empire and its citizens, if only a bit too quick on the draw.

Princess Cadence groaned. It looked like I was right about them. "Every year, they get more bold, and I swear that every time the Migration comes…"

"Can you send over all your intel on them, including any manifestos, pamphlets, transcripts of any speeches, or interrogations of arrested members?"

"DragonWyrm Heart, you don’t..."

“Actually, I do. By associating themselves with dragons as strongly as I suspect they do, anything dishonorable that they do becomes a dishonor on all dragons. You know how we take honor very seriously, Princess Cadence."

“Yes, I know,” Princess Cadance sighed. ”Just promise me that you won't do anything without at least discussing it with me.”

"That I shall, Princess..." I smiled as twirled a claw in my mate’s hair spines, causing her to giggle. "Now, if you will excuse us, my mate and I didn't really get to enjoy ourselves in the traditional dragon way. When you have gathered all the intel, have a civilian bring them to the hotsprings."

“Yes, of course." Princess Cadence bade us goodbye.

“If you ever need some tips for the bed, let me know.” Princess Cadence called out as we walked out of the meeting room.

I groaned as I led my mate to a nearby balcony. I just knew that she would get the bed into the conversation, like she did. Princess of Love... Ha! More like Princess of Erotica...

The past few hours had been Tartarus. First, the dragons get all spooked and hustle my family and I down a dead end, with Ruby and Dragon FireWyrm curling around us like snakes, growling the whole time and scaring Herbal Brew. As much as I don't mind Dragon FireWyrm and Ruby being protective, as it was in their nature to do so, I was not happy about them needing to get that way in the first place. Especially considering no one would tell me what the hell was going on. They just pushed me back towards Dragon FireWyrm and Ruby. If something is going on that could potentially harm my family, I have the right to know!

Then, to make matters worse, a magically explosive shockwave passed through the hotsprings, and suddenly, every mated dragon was fucking. Thankfully, the sex orgy stopped, at least when it came to Dragon FireWyrm and Ruby, after a short while, and thank the heavens, Minty and I managed to get Herbal Brew asleep, and in a sound and light proof magic shell, eariler. I am so not ready for that discussion.

Though I quickly found that, just because those two had stopped ‘being one,’ that the insanity was not going ease up anytime soon. I had no sooner asked them what the hell was going on, than they rushed out of there. After a second to collect myself and get my brain to restart, I ran after them.

"Where is he, that bucking jerk?! I don't care if he's The Voice himself, I will murder him!" I growled as I struggled to catch up. I just knew all of this was DragonWyrm Heart’s doing.

I finally caught up to Dragon FireWyrm and Ruby as they started to circle around Wanderer and Caretaker, purring and roaring in delight. First they are angrily protective, and now they are celebrating!? What the hell is going on!?

“Ruby... brother…” I breathlessly shouted as I fought to catch my breath. “What is going on!?”

… Four……. Four… Dragon FireWyrm said, though all I could get was ‘four.’ He was talking too fast and moving too much for me to get anything but that.

“What are you saying?! Four what?!”

Four… Ruby added, and again, all I got was the same word.

“Gah!” I shouted in frustration, giving up on trying to pry anything out of the two bouncing and bounding wyrms. As much as I didn’t want to ask, maybe another clanmate would have a better idea. “Wanderer, do you know what they are saying?”

“No…” Wanderer shook his head, pushing Dragon FireWyrm back as the affectionate wyrm tried to nuzzle him to the ground. “I am just as lost as you are…”

All of a sudden, the two wyrms momentarily stopped and looked off to the south. I turned to see DragonWyrm Heart and another dragon, a dragoness from the looks of it, making a landing nearby. Ruby and Dragon FireWyrm immediately bounded over to them, sniffing and nuzzling the dragoness before rushing back to Wanderer and Caretaker.

“YOU!” I roared at DragonWyrm Heart, making my way carefully to him, avoiding the hyperactive wyrms. “I ought to…. Do you HAVE ANY idea what you put my family through?!”

“Please, pony, stop.” A purple and sky blue dragoness begged as she stepped in front of me.

That was the final straw for me. I had had enough, so I prepared my horn with a massive amount of my magic to shove the dragoness to the side, so that I could get to DragonWyrm Heart. I was about to unleash it when my magic shorted out as I lost all concentration. It was in that moment that I realized that the dragoness I was about to shove aside was blind. I fell to my haunches in horror. I had tried to attack a disabled dragoness...

“DragonWyrm Heart was trying to help the scared Crystal Ponies.” The dragoness attempted to explain, though I was only half listening. “They thought that I was going to eat the Crystal Heart.”

“The Crystal Heart?” I repeated dumbly, still in shock that I nearly attacked a blind dragon.

“The Crystal Heart is a powerful artifact, a crystal in the shape of a heart.” DragonWyrm Heart picked up the explanation. “It passively pushes back the icy north and will actively protect the empire from... let’s just say more ‘active’ threats… My mate was starving and lost, and she took refuge under it, as it radiates a sense of love and hope.”

“But why!?”

“One could call the Crystal Empire an all you can eat dragon buffet… So the crystal ponies can be a bit leery when a dragon enters the city, especially if one is as starved as she was… So they...”

“Stop. Enough.” I raised a hoof as I walked over the the dragoness and hugged her, finding myself crying as I did. I understood the pain she went through all too well. “I am so sorry. I know the cruelty of ponies against dragons first hoof…”

After a moment, the dragoness returned the hug. I held her for some time, before I slowly pulled away, sniffing a few times. I turned to see that Minty had caught up to me, worry clearly etched on her face, and Herbal Brew still asleep on her back. I walk over and nuzzled her to let her know that I was okay. I leaned into her for a bit, before I turned to address DragonWyrm Heart, now calm.

"Now, maybe can you help me out, both Dragon FireWyrm and Ruby have gone bonkers. All I can get out of them is ‘four.’"

"Four?"

“Four.” I repeated. “I know they are saying something else, but they are talking too fast for me to catch anything, assuming they are at all...”

With a light chuckle and a smirk, DragonWyrm Heart grabbed Dragon FireWyrm's face in his aura and held him. Now why didn't I think of that!? Of course, my magic was pony based and getting it to work on a dragon, much less a spark dragon, would have been difficult in a normal situation, much less the chaotic one I dealt with, but still, I should have thought about at least trying to do that.

I managed to snare Dragon FireWyrm and gazed deep into his eyes, and was immediately slammed by joy. Joy not only for myself and my mate, but for Wanderer and Caretaker, as well. I broke eye contact, then let go of Dragon FireWyrm, who was finally starting to calm down. I could understand completely his exuberance for myself and my mate, but Wanderer and Caretaker, as well? It wasn't until I thought on the only word that Magic Dowser was able to get out of my brother and sister that it hit me. This was, after all, a glorious day for our clan.

“EVERYONE BACK AWAY FROM CARETAKER AND THIRDCLAW, NOW!” I roared out, trying hard not to give away my excitement. “She of Hourglass, hold your brother and his family as tightly as you can without hurting them.”

“DragonWyrm Heart, what is going on, and I want the truth, now?!” Magic Dowser’s mood turned sour. It was amazing how volatile the pony’s emotions could get.

Without responding, I pushed Magic Dowser with my magic into She of Hourglass, who immediately grabbed him and held him close. Minty and Herbal Brew were already secure in her other paw. From the looks of the young colt, he had been woken up from a nap. I knew that I was going to get it for not responding, but, if I didn't do this right, I could have ended up with a flaming Magic Dowser, instead of a pissed off Magic Dowser.

“Ruby! What the mffph!?” The rest of Magic Dowser’s rant was cut off by an expertly repositioning of one of She of Hourglass’ claws.

I watched a second longer, just to make sure that Magic Dowser and his family were securely in She of Hourglass’ grasp, before I turned back to Wanderer and Caretaker. The two dragons, by this point, were alone, with the clan and a few of the Migration dragons back some distance away in a circle around us. I remained where I was. I knew what was coming, so I knew that I was going to be safe, even with how close I was. Wanderer and Caretaker were looking at me with a mix of concern, amusement, and curiosity.

“Wanderer, Caretaker, congratulations!" I grinned as I paused, which only seemed to confuse the two further. "You will soon have four eggs…”

I readied myself as time seemed to slow down. Wanderer made no response other than for his wings to slowly unfurl, as the mana in the area surged. A single flap was the final warning, before Wanderer grabbed Caretaker in a hug, kissed her, and shot into the sky with her at instant rainboom speed. Just like when he was adopted… I chuckled as everyone was buffeted around by the blast.

“That was totally wicked!” I looked back to see Herbal Brew gushing at the rainboom and the rainbow contrail.

I looked up to see the rainbow contrail spinning and looping around the sky, the aurora borealis from the Crystal Spire adding more color. Yeah, it definitely was totally wicked...

I returned my attention back to earth as I walked up to the pony family and looked straight into Magic Dowser’s eyes, as he was still shooting daggers at me with them. “And now, Magic Dowser, you see why I had everyone back away.”

"And you couldn't, I don’t know, warn us of the rainbow bomb that was about to go off!?" Magic Dowser screamed at me, escaping She of Hourglass' grip as he yelled.

"Magic Dowser… If I...”

“No. Don’t even.” Magic Dowser cut me off. “I will not listen to another one of your lame excuses…”

“I’m sorry, DragonWyrm Heart…” Minty apologized as Magic Dowser stomped off, She of Hourglass close behind. “Things have been stressful for him, lately…”

“It’s okay Minty.” I waved her apology off. “Come, She of Hourglass, let’s go celebrate properly, before the massive workload that’s coming stalls it permanently.”

“DragonWyrm Heart…” I turned back to Minty, who was smiling at me. “Congrats on finding your mate.”

“Thank you, Minty.” I bobbed my thanks as my mate and I turned to find a more secluded spot. It would be nice to not have interruptions, and I didn't need Magic Dowser after me for having sex in front of his foal.

“DragonWyrm Heart…” She of Hourglass whispered to me once we were somewhat alone. “I don’t mean to pry, but there is something more than stress going on with the one you called Magic Dowser.”

"How can you tell?” While I knew that it wasn’t ‘stress’ that was getting to Magic Dowser, I was curious as to how She of Hourglass knew.

“Voices carry emotion,” She of Hourglass sighed as she explained. “And there was worry in his voice…”

“Yeah, I figured that…”

“Worry for you.”

Now that surprised me. I stared blankly at my mate in disbelief. Magic Dowser was not one to worry for me. If anything, he merely tolerated me because I was the Firstclaw and hatchmate of Dragon FireWyrm.

“You're staring at me in disbelief.” She of Hourglass stated as if it was fact, and not a question.

"I’m sorry I…I… it’s just that… I” I stammered, trying to recover from my gaffe.

My mate giggled as she put a paw to my mouth to shut it. “I want to be treated like a normal dragon, DragonWyrm Heart, remember?”

“So you want me to treat you like a normal dragon, but you know what? I can’t.” I grinned evilly at her, knowing full well she couldn't see me. Two can play at this game. I leaned down so I could whisper into her ear my evil reasons for not treating her like a normal dragon. “Because you're not a normal dragon, you're my glistening like a freshly polished gem in the sun dragon.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” I gulped as my mate pushed me onto my back. I didn’t know it was possible to look so evil with blank, expressionless eyes. Not that I cared; she was my evil, glistening like a freshly polished gem in the sun mate afterall.

“Well, aren’t you a sexy casanova.” I snapped up to see an all-pink quadrupedal dragoness slinking around me and my mate, batting her eyes, much to our shock. “Tall, dark, and handsome...”

“Medallion? I...” I shuddered in desire as Medallion twirled a claw around my ear frills.

“Close... The Voice.” Suddenly, the dream in which I was ‘frolicing’ in a meadow with my mate faded away to the starry astral plane setting that was typical for a meeting with The Voice.

“Something tells me that you are here to do more than tease me.” I groaned as I now had no way to relieve my lust. “Which is, somehow, more frustrating, because, even though I can now fuck with abandonment, I can’t, because I’m in dreamland talking with my 'father.'”

The Voice giggled. “I couldn’t help myself, especially considering that I’m here because of your mating…”

“Oh? So that’s why you choose Legacy Chaser?” I rolled my eyes.

“I think you have finally found yourself after so long... so…” The Voice clapped happily, “on to the real reason I came.”

With a wave of his claw, the stars around us shifted around, and then were connected together into a spell array. My jaw dropped as the representative of the spell, whatever it was, settled. I had seen the three dimensional spell arrays that comprised the Elements of Harmony, and the seed that grew into the Friendship Castle, from the memories given to me by my brother. Whatever this was, it was on par with those, except that this was clearly dragon magic in the form of a pony array. Furthermore, I had no idea what this spell could do.

“This spell array is made from the soul fire of your clan, and was created and placed into your inner fire by the friendship wave. It, in essence, through the soul fire of your clan, mimics some of the baser roles that a wyrm has…”

I whistled as I looked over the spell array again.“So this is what allowed me to sense that Artful Strokes was a clan candidate, and the reason I noticed that Crystal Heart was my mate?”

At least I knew why I couldn’t detect any change in myself. With the spell array being within my inner fire, it would explain why I could not find it. Plus, even if Dragon FireWyrm had seen it, I doubt he would have even recognized it for what it was.

“Basically, yes. It's also the reason why Crystal Heart didn’t lose her wyrm half.”

I had wondered why Crystal Heart managed to retain her wyrm half, and now I knew. I suddenly felt weak in the knees, and nearly fell over. I would probably have, if it wasn't for The Voice propping me up and putting a wing around me. My clan had given me so much. They gave me a spell that mimics a wyrm, so I could function better, they gave me back my ability to mate, and lastly, they protected my mate from the same wyrmless fate. All without hesitation, without thought of any negative consequences that they may suffer. The dam of emotion burst open, and I cried tears of joy that I didn't know I had. I could see and feel the spell array pulse, and as it did, I could feel my love for my hoard surge. I love my hoard.

“Does it mean that I can mature in the Code again?” I asked after a few moments of getting my emotions under control.

“No," The Voice shook his head, "not unless your entire clan does…”

I sniffed as my emotions started to well up in me again. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”

“As you know, I am not all-knowing, even when it comes to my children…” The Voice sighed sadly. "I was unable to see this until your mating with Crystal…”

Suddenly, everything seemed to shake, accompanied by a low booming sound, interrupting The Voice. I wonder if this is how fish feel when someone taps on their fishbowl. I wondered as I fought not to vomit from the sudden vertigo.

“It seems you have company... and your mate, understandably, is on edge..”

"What now!?" I groaned. I had had my fill with ponies, at the moment, and that was the only thing I could think of that could put Crystal Heart on edge.

"Well, wake up already and find out." The Voice chuckled as the dream faded to white.

Author's Notes:

Let the She of Hourglass and She of Hourglass confusion begin MWHAHAHA! Okay it shouldn't last too long... I will get a title for one of them soon...

Like, comment, sub, fav , etc. especially the second one