I trotted off to show Mr. Dresden, where my mother’s prison was, What is wrong with you Celestia? You just let your emotions get the better of you!, Yeah sure he’s the only person who has ever showed me any proper affection outside of family members and Twilight and he did say I was attractive. I blushed slightly as I remember the moment our mouths connected.Also he is the first one to break down that barrier between me and other people. It’s not like I love him or something but, this could lead to at least a few dates and if it becomes more than that well I can’t say that I will complain. Oh, look at you Celestia, getting so flustered over a kiss! You’d think I was a teenage filly, after kissing their crush. Maybe I can get him to stay with me? Augh what’s wrong with me, it’s like I am in heat, his lips were so soft! I wonder if he’s big down there? If not well it’s nothing magic can’t fix! I took a moment to process what I had just though and blushed a deeper shade of red.

We entered into the shrine, where Twilight had shown me in her flashback.

I looked upon the statute only for my sight to be forced open.

“Apologies Mr. Dresden for blatantly opening your sight.” said a beautiful half dragon female, as she lounged on top of the statue though oddly she had more tails than her statue, her raven hair braided hung down and her horns, scales all sheened in the light. She idly observed her claws on her hand.

“Who are you?” I asked despite knowing the answer and gaining Twilight and Celestia’s attention.

“I am Queen Bahamut, wizard. I’d like to thank you for answering the White Council’s call. A bunch of pompous elitist bastards if you ask me, but whatever. They have their uses. You are here to free me so let me tell you the basic workings of this detestable prison that confines me away from my Daughters, it’s a petrification poison initially on the tip of arrows, once it is finished the user is trapped but aware, I found this next bit only after devouring one thousand and five kitsune of varying tails, a sacrifice that I was willing to make every year or so I was imprisoned to escape, but much to my chagrin it was a moot point and those kitsune were absorbed in vain, despite both the magical power, knowledge, skills and memories. As well as new senses I gained and the fact that I am now half dragon half human and half kitsune now. means that not only do my worshippers power me but believers in kitsune do as well. Anyway I am getting off track. The spell responds to the trapped persons magic strength drawing in ambient magic which is infinite for technically sake. So as I gained power so did this prison. The only way I could be freed is by negating magic around it then draining the magic from the spell.” Bahamut explained.

I closed my sight and thought for a moment and came up with an idea,If I use a magic circle I can block the statue from outside of it and then draining the magic from the stone by dousing it in water. As water disrupts and grounds magic, the circle will have to be made of a precious metal and large enough that water won't disrupt it.

“Twilight, I need a flat ring of metal preferably Silver or other pure precious metal, large enough to encircle the statue, and I will also need enough running water to cover the statue, water especially running water, disrupts magic. The ring will act as a magic circle which will insulate the statue from the magic in the atmosphere and enable me to drain it without it sucking in new magic to sustain itself. The circle can not be broken in anyway nothing may cross over it, infact move the statue to an open flat and clear area of the garden then place the metal ring around it needs to be able to fit me inside the ring three times.” I ordered causing Twilight to run off, and Celestia to ask a pegasus guard to place a rain cloud over the statue once it was moved.

After the preparations were complete, and we had gathered around the statue and the magic ring. I stepped inside the circle and began investing a little magic into closing the circle.  Once done the pegasus on the cloud above me, bounced up and down on it like a springy bed, causing rain to fall onto the statue the water struck the statue and It began to crack and fissures appeared all over it, A blast sending stone everywhere and blinding light emanated from the statue, everyone covered their eyes blocking Bahamut shapeshifting removing her extra tails as she emerged from the statue. As our eyesight was returned to us I got an eyeful of Bahamut stretching and cracking her neck.

“One thousand years gives ya one hell of a crick in the neck. Right! Now where was I? Oh right! Phenomenal cosmic power, itty bitty living space!” Bahamut said as she pulled back with her arms outstretched like the genie from aladdin as I looked at her

“You couldn’t have chosen a better reference?” I asked Bahamut who just shrugged absently.

Bahamut froze once she had spotted Celestia and charged at her, Twilight and the guards tensed but, were confused when Bahamut began fussing over Celestia inspecting her body “Are you hurt? Have you been eating well? My poor little filly, I am so sorry I couldn’t be there for you and Luna!” Bahamut wailed.

“It’s okay mom really, it wasn’t long till Starswirl had arrived to guide me and Luna. I am sorry that we couldn’t free you earlier than this.” Celestia said her ears folding and her wings rustling.

Bahamut picked up Celestia and hugged her tightly.”No it is not okay. I am a terrible mother I-”Bahamut paused in her tirade and her hugging as she started to inspect Celestia, ”What’s this Celestia Everfree, young lady you haven’t been preening your wings properly!” She pulled open Celestia’s mouth to check her teeth, before she clucked her tongue and pulled Celestia’s wings open and diligently started preening Celestia’s wings straightening feathers or pulling old ones..

“Mom~ you’re embarrassing me!”  Celestia whined clearly uncomfortable with her mother doing as mothers do, as she sat on her rump ears folded back and her bottom lip jutted out with a blush covering her face.

“Nonsense, Celly it’s a mother's job to embarrass her foals and I have been encased in stone for a long time, I have got a huge backlog of mothering to get through. Now sit still and stop pouting, it’s unbecoming of a lady!” Bahamut ordered as she continued to fuss over her daughter.

I chuckled at Bahamut fawning over her daughter, just like any mother and then I looked over the ponies whose faces had looks of confusion slapped on their faces. Like they couldn’t get over the fact that their princess was being babied by her mother. I walked up to Twilight and elbowed Twilight lightly, knocking her out of her trance.

“Are you alright, Twilight?” I asked

“I just can’t believe it! After everything I heard about her, I never pictured her fawning over her daughter!” Twilight said not taking her eyes of the scene.

Celestia shouted out “Guards help me!?” a whine affecting her voice, flailing her hooves to get out of her Mother’s grip, Bahamut looked up towards the guards with a white plucked feather in her mouth, the guards were inching towards her cautiously, Bahamut raised an eyebrow at the stallions.

“If you are going to come rescue my foal from her embarrassing Mother, you better come at me with all you got! Come on! Where are your balls!? Did my daughter have them removed and put in a collection from all the stallions she’s dominated!? Huh!? Did she turn you into geldings!?” Bahamut roared at the guards causing them to flinch away.

“Mom don’t be mean to them, they really can’t stand up to you or me,” Celestia said Bahamut snorted and smoke emanated from her nostrils as she grumbled.

“Fine I’ll leave the wittle foals alone!” Bahamut replied disdainfully.

Bahamut returned to fussing over Celestia, whose expression was equal parts embarrassment and equal parts pouting. To be honest the whole look was adorable. As Bahamut finished preening Celestia’s wings and began peppering her with mushy kisses.

Shining Armor and Princess Cadance walked into the gathering with confusion written on their faces, though Cadance’s face turned into one of fear upon spotting Bahamut, immediately she began prostrating herself as low as she could go. To the confusion of her coltfriend and who then turned to glare at the being who was kissing Celestia. He went to confront the creature but feeling his movement restricted he turned back to see a blue nimbus around his legs Cadance had her horn glowing and a desperate and fearful look on her face.

“What are you doing!? Get down Shiny! Don’t you know who that is!?” Cadance hissed at her coltfriend, who looked at her with the confusion from moments ago returned to his face.

“No. Should I know her?” Shining said turning back to the embarrassing scene.

“That’s Queen Bahamut, Queen Faust’s wife and Princess Celestia and Luna’s Mother and my Grandmother!” Cadance responded testily. His eyebrows shot up to his mane and he looked at the scene.

“Bahamut? Goddess of war, knowledge, meat eating, dragons and motherhood!?”

“Yes!” Cadance hissed again.

Shining Armor slammed into the ground fast. This drew Bahamut’s attention, her mouth turned into a malicious smile as she spotted Shining Armor. Poor colt never stood a chance.

I turned to look back and I found Bahamut gracefully walking as if gliding across the ground, she walked towards the two new arrivals. A second's glance towards Celestia, saw her relaxed now she was no longer the focus of her doting Mother’s attention. I had to laugh at that, Mothers never change, no matter the realm.

Turning back, Bahamut’s face no longer held the malicious smile, but one of warmth and welcome.

“Rise, Cadance my adorable little grand foal, you too Shining Armor or does Cadance carry your balls in her saddle bags too?” Bahamut taunted crossing her arms under her ample chest, as Cadance sputtered at the accusation her Grandmother had levelled at her, and her coltfriend.

Shining got up, but mumbled something under his breath,

“What was that!?” Bahamut exclaimed, “I couldn’t quite hear you colt?”

“I said Buck you!” Shining growled out, shocking Cadance and Twilight.

Bahamut tittered “You’re a thousand years too early to be asking me to do that, young colt.”

Twilight and Cadance both blushed, though Celestia remained unaffected. Meanwhile Shining’s horn glowed, and Bahamut grinned inhumanly wide, showing off her razor sharp teeth. He launched his attack, it struck Bahamut kicking up dust. Shining wore a face of smugness over his supposed victory.  But it quickly disappeared. The garden was silent as the dust started to clear revealing a silhouette moving inside it and of all things it started clapping which echoed through the garden, “Well done little colt, you do have a spine after all! He’s definitely a keeper Cadance!” Bahamut exclaimed gleefully as the dust cleared revealing her unmoved and unscathed. She then turned her sight onto the other guards, “You foals could learn a lot from your captain, though I don’t hold out any hope for you actually doing so.” Bahamut continued

Princess Luna jumped down from her tower “What is all this racket about!” Luna shouted, having not noticed Bahamut, squeaked in surprise as Bahamut tackled her and she received an encore of what Celestia endured,

“Mother!?” Luna exclaimed happily and also not a little shock as Bahamut fussed over her.

“Oh my sweet little foal, you suffered so much, but you survived and landed yourself a marefriend! I am so proud of you, though you really have to stop hiding your true form. I know it makes ponies squeamish, though I am sure Twilight won't mind having more mare to handle!”

“Mom!” Luna complained.

Twilight froze at the words ‘True form.’

“I agree sister, Nightmare Moon is not you, and you should work to assuage fears instead of hiding yourself.” Celestia said before turning to talk to Twilight.

“Twilight, you remember how you defeated Nightmare Moon?” Celestia asked,

Twilight nodded nervously.

“Well that wasn’t entirely a transformation, while she did change it wasn’t drastic. Please don’t hold her hiding herself from you personally.”Celestia said, making sure to keep Twilight’s attention “She hid it from everypony. In the past she was bullied heavily because of her half draconic nature.” Celestia said

Twilight turned towards Luna, who flinched away from Twilight’s gaze, which was steely and determined. “Show me?” Twilight asked gently and with as much warmth as she could.

Luna nodded and rose her horn, as it glowed, the illusion faded and was replaced, by a taller mare, similar in stature to Celestia. Her mane and tail were longer and her coat had darkened slightly, her wings stayed feathered though there was a distinct draconic look to their structure, Luna’s pupils were now slitted and her teeth sharp. Luna followed Twilight as she trotted around Luna’s form and inspected every inch, sniffing, Luna blushed and her ears pinned to her skull. Twilight thought Luna smelled the same, the same smell the air at night has mixed in with a hint of wet grass.

As Twilight came upon Luna’s tail, she looked around to make sure nopony was watching and darted under Luna’s tail and swiped her broad tongue over Luna’s marehood, eliciting a squeak of surprise from the mare in question. She tasted the same, Twilight blushed when she noticed the grin on Bahamut’s face. Twilight hurriedly walked to the front of her marefriend and looked her in the eye’s no longer cold and distant, they held a warmth and a little worry for what, Twilight might say.

I smiled as I saw Twilight dart up and wrap her tiny arms around her mare's neck and pulled her into a kiss before she whispered in her ears, you’re beautiful my love.” Twilight backed away, Luna’s face filled with a blush as she gave Twilight a look that spoke of her utter love for the tiny unicorn mare and warmth and most of all relief. and then Bahamut ruined it.

“Once you go dragon you never go back!” Bahamut said before chuckling heartily as Celestia and Luna groaned, the former also facehoofing.

“Well If you have what you need I’ll just be heading home.” I said missing the sad look on Celestia’s face and the thoughtful look on Bahamut’s after seeing her daughter’s reaction, their bond was far from heal.

“Dresden, how would you like to stay here in Equestria? I propose a deal! My daughter’s mare friend may be open minded, but ponies tend to react negatively to anything radically different. So my little filly will need a guard, as she will be unlikely to raise a hoof against any fool, who happens to attack. I was hoping to hire you on retainer?” Bahamut inquired as Celestia gained a hopeful expression.

I turned back to face Bahamut, “Do you think you can afford me?” I asked smugly, but that smirk on Bahamut’s face as she lit her horn in a sapphire blue glow matching her eyes, told me I was in for a surprise.

“Child, remember who you talk to.” Bahamut responded and opened two portals both leading to a separate room each, the left of Bahamut led to a cave filled to the ceiling with treasure, weapons and shields. Around it was several tall bookcases, that I caught Celestia and Twilight absolutely drooling over. Although I admit that treasure and knowledge, was making me drool too. In the other portal on the right of her led to a vault that was also filled to the brim with treasure, items, weapons and books but also had the edition of many different clothes, shoes and accessories.

Twilight’s eyes widened and commented “Bahamut, um please don’t show that right one to Rarity. We’d lose her in there for months!” Bahamut threw her head back and laughed.

Recollecting herself she returned to looking at me, “So Mr. Dresden, do we have a deal, I’ll even include a stipend in which you can use however you like. Whether that’s for living expenses, research, or presents and dates for my sweet little filly.” Bahamut finished and Luna looked confused before she spotted Celestia covering her face with her wings and hooves as she sported a blush matching the one I was currently wearing. Luna gained a look of realisation after looking between me and Celestia. then gained a large grin.

“Like mother, like daughter!” Luna said finally before bursting into laughs. Which confused me until I remembered that Bahamut was part human.

Before I could answer, Bahamut’s arm dove into a smaller portal and withdrew a Hessian sack that was bigger than Twilight and coming close to being bigger than me.

“Your payment and extra for freeing me, Dresden.” Bahamut tossed it at me, knocking me over, though luckily it was tied up. I groaned and got up to see Bahamut’s hand dive into her chest retrieving an orange multihued spherical gem and tossed it at me. I fumbled it as I caught it. I prodded it with my staff and was shocked as the sphere merged with it tendrils of wood from the staff had woven around it, a smirk on Bahamut’s face caught my attention.

“What did that thing do!?” I almost shouted.

“That is my summon materia, it fuses with armor, accessories and weapons normally. it greatly boosts your magic, magic defense and lowers your health, though if you take these ten health restorative potions,”Bahamut said as she reached into a another portal “it should restore what you lost when you equip my materia. my materia enables you to summon me anywhere you are, just simply will it and I’ll be by your side. On a side note I’ll assume you're in battle when you summon me so a heads up when I arrive is appreciated if you are not,” Bahamut handed me the ten suspicious potions. I took one and drank it warily, energy filled me and I felt better than I had in a long, long time.

“Call me when you have decided on whether to move to Equestria, or not. If you have friends, family or pets you want to come with you it is not a problem.”

While Bahamut was explaining I hadn’t noticed Celestia slinking up to me, she picked me up and kissed me, “I’ll be waiting for you Harry.” she spun around wrapped her tail around, my face before walking off purposefully swaying her flanks.

Now I hadn’t lived on a ranch for most of my time training under Ebenezer McCoy for nothing and quite frankly that whole display, both aroused me, confused me, and made me blush like mad. so when I responded I sputtered out, “S-see you later C-Celestia.”

Bahamut, Twilight and Luna smirked at me while all the guards, and Shining Armor’s jaw dropped and Cadance swooned at the display of affection.

I gathered up my reward that was almost as heavy as I was I did some quick dirty math in my head assuming these bits where 24 karat gold, I took my weight, which was two hundred fifty pounds and converted it to troy ounces, thereby giving me three thousand seven hundred and seventy seven troy ounces ... convert gold to USD and I am sitting on four million, one hundred forty seven thousand, one hundred and forty six dollars and that is just this reward and not my pay. I turned to look back at Bahamut who had a wicked grin on her face, she knew how much I was carrying! She knew what it was worth.

“Is something wrong Harry?” I heard Twilight ask I shook my head.

“No everything’s fine Twilight,”  I said sarcastically

Twilight beamed happily, unaware of my sarcastic tone and said, “Well okay I’ll guide you back through the Way, follow me.”

Twilight left with Harry and I sighed, “Mom do you really think he’ll come back?”

Bahamut looked at Celestia with concern, “You really got it bad for him don’t you?”

Thinking for a moment Bahamut came up with a idea “Celestia, Luna, and Cadance come on girls, let's go out on the town and scare the tartarus out of the barkeeps! And Shining Armor you go sort out your talentless soldiers.”

Shining sneered and petulantly asked “What if I don’t want to?”

“Well I’d invite you too, but it’s a girls night out—unless my little jab was correct?” Bahamut asked an eyebrow arched with a smug grin filling her face.

He was about to answer but Cadance cut him off “Oh! I know!” Her horn glowed light blue and encased her coltfriend, turning him into a mare.

Gleaming Shield looked down and frowned. “Not again!” realising what she had said she covered her mouth with her hooves and saw all the princesses and Bahamut wearing smirks, Bahamut spoke again first “Well girls looks like we got our fifth member to our group!”

All the mares save Gleaming Shield agreed, while some of them still giggled, Gleaming was dragged with the Royals and groaned internally, afraid of the night to come.

Meanwhile back in Chicago, I had said goodbye to Twilight and hauled my weight in bits and went to the nearest of my bank, after a long wait in line I got up to the tellers window.

“Hello my name is Harry Dresden and I’d like to make a deposit in gold coins?” I lifted the hessian sack in front of the teller and I swear she almost fainted, but managed to collect herself and rush off to get the manager who looked at the bag and me and I swear his eyes had dollar signs in them. He spoke in a calm formal tone “Please Mr. Dresden right this way.” I followed him as he took me to a room in the back of the building. whistling a tune, I recognised but chose to ignore,” I gave him my account number and then he brought out a thick metal block took out one gold piece place it inside and began dropping a liquid into the mould watching intently he continued 24 times each time he’d clean the bit then grunt excitedly as the coin didn’t melt.  

His eyes widened, he looked at me, before taking the coin and weighing it.

each coin is one troy ounce and 24 karats he took my bag to a machine in the corner and threw all the bits into a funnel and down into the machine, whirred to life after the manager put in the value of the weight and purity. The machine counted the whole coins, the man looked over the display once it had finished. he walked over to a teller that had been waiting and whispered in her ear. She quickly hurried off with a note he had written. “Well Mr. Dresden I can tell you that the value of the coins you brought in comes to four million, two hundred and three thousand, eight hundred and one US dollars. That is now being entered into your account as we speak and here is your receipt. Have a great evening, Mr.Dresden!” He said cheerfully

I nodded taking the receipt and thanking the manager. I left shortly after checking the amount had been added I wrote a couple of cheques to my landlord and paid off the rest of my bills.

I went shopping for groceries and other amenities, I could buy. Now that I wasn’t always strapped for cash, When I got home I collapsed on my couch. I thought of Celestia and Bahamut’s offer.  Mister a massive stray cat that had made me a part of his family and ordained to let me stay in his apartment, jumped up next to me greeting me by pushing me off the couch, while nuzzling against my side. “Ow! It’s nice to see you too Mister, but can you not push me off the couch to show it?” I sighed as all I got in response was a meow and a none too subtle order to make him food. Standing to my full height, I got to my feet and fed Mister some stake I had bought and cooked just for him.

I lifted the trapdoor to my lab, I was greeted by a tall man in a black suit, “Harry if you’re going to be off gallivanting to who knows where, then at least have the decency to let me out of my skull. This skull was named Bob and he was a spirit of intellect, he had many wizards who owned him and during his centuries of life, he had collected an impressive amount of knowledge when it came to things like magic.

“Bob I would love to let you out but the last time I did you incited an orgy at a frat party. Besides I didn’t exactly have time to do anything before Morgan whisked me off to The White Council, for a job. Freeing a dragon goddess from stone imprisonment.”

“What!? You left without thinking to come and get me, when you found out!?”

“To be fair Bob the fact her epithets included the Queen of Dragons, The Conqueror of the skies, The Hallowed Mother, The First Dam and the goddess of war, knowledge and meat eating. You can’t blame me for trying to prevent an international crisis because you tried to bed her. Although considering her attitude you might have regretted coming along. She had a very traditional view of masculinity and practically oozed grace and power with each movement.”

“How traditional are we talking gentlemen, chivalry-” Bob started listing off types of masculinity but I interrupted him with a raised hand.

“The kind where she chastised guards for being overly cautious and calling them sackless geldings for not attacking her and yes, before you ask, the population was made up of pastel colored unicorn/pegasi/earth ponies and alicorns or winged unicorns, All sapient and all intelligent. Well most of them were anyway.”

“You’re going to take me next time won't you Harry?” Bob begged me, I couldn’t hide my smirk.

“I am going to have to bring you, Mister, and probably Murphy, along as well anyway, if she’ll come after last time. Oh and I thought I’d should let you know she eats spirits and souls, and not the fun eating either.”

Bob paled in fear, an impressive feat for a being that lacked blood or skin.

I picked up a phone, ignoring Bobs pleas for protection and called Murphy. Karrin Murphy is a black belt in aikido, short in stature, blonde and blue eyed often wears jeans and a white tank top. She works for Chicago PD SI or Special Investigations. “Hey Murphy, I just got offered a job in another realm and I was wondering if you would like to join me, it’s filled with talking unicorns and pegasi also earth ponies?”

“Bite me, Dresden!” came the response.

“Wow, Murphy! You're into some really kinky stuff! I take it you’re still mad that I didn’t tell you about that case?”

I heard a feminine rage filled grunt as the receiver on the end was slammed down.

“I guess that’s a no.” I snarked before putting my receiver down. “Veni che!” I called out holding my right hand out to grab my staff as it levitated to me on a stiff breeze.

“Now how did Bahamut say to summon her-? Oh right.” I spoke to myself, I closed my eyes and willed Bahamut to come to me, just as I opened my eyes I was face to face with an angry Morgan.

“You’ve finally done it Dresden, you broke the fourth law Thou shalt not enthrall another and now I get to execute you. Any trial held will be only a formality. He held his sword against my neck. A ripple announced the arrival of Bahamut, “Ahem, Dresden you better have a good reason for calling me. I was busy getting drunk with my daughters.”

I smiled as Morgan spun on his heel to face the new guest.

“Hey boss! I kinda need a hand here! I would totally do it myself but seeing as he is a warden I can’t.” I said watching the scene unfold before me.

“Boss? Dresden have you really sunk so low as to submit yourself to a demon?” Morgan asked with disgust in his voice. That earned a glare from Bahamut.

“What is it with you humans and calling things you don’t understand demons? No don’t answer that, the question was rhetorical. My name is Bahamut the Dragon Queen, the Conqueror of the skies, The Hallowed Mother, The First Dam. Goddess of Dragons, knowledge, motherhood and war!” Bahamut declared as she approached Morgan,

Bahamut gained a glint in her eyes as she noticed flecks of orange in the skull sitting beside Harry and ghostly tail erupted from her rear end and snaked it’s way into the skull that housed Bob and with a swift pull yanked Bob out, Bob looked around confused as if he wasn’t expecting to be removed from his skull. When he met Bahamut’s gaze he stood stock still before executing a deep bow.

“Queen Bahamut, my most sincerest apologies, I—” Bob was interrupted by Bahamut

“Enough fool, I do not want an ass-kisser, sycophants, or ‘yes’ men,” Bahamut demanded.

Light flashed during the distraction, Bahamut groaned.

“Mimi, come.”

A small fox girl appeared on bent knees, her light brown hair and tail framing a serious face and red eyes.

“Yes mistress?” Mimi asked Bahamut.

“Follow that swordsman and make sure he doesn’t spot you and make sure he doesn’t lie.”

“yokaishimashite!” Mimi stood and bow before disappearing.

My door opened as an irate Murphy stalked into the room and when she spotted me the rage was clear on her face, it disappeared to one of confusion, while she was training her gun on Bahamut.

“What is this thing Dresden, a demon?” Murphy asked and I was about to respond, but a stern glare silenced me.

“What is it with you mortals and calling me a demon, is it the wings? The tail? The horns?”

Bahamut groaned ignoring Murphy. Murphy unloaded her side arms clip into Bahamut pumping her full of lead, or at least tried to the bullets flattened against Bahamut’s scales as Bahamut spun around and looked at Murphy with a smug smirk. “Ooo, this one’s feisty! Dresden, you don’t mind if I have a little fun with this one do you?” Bahamut asked.

I was about to intervene when Bahamut swept Murphy off her feet and french kissed her. Forcing her mouth open with her, no doubt powerful tongue which wrapped around Murphy’s and I swear I saw a bulge wiggling down her throat. as Murphy squeaked in a decidedly feminine manner.

Murphy’s eyes closed and her body fell limp and her knees could barely support her. Bahamut wrapped her arms around Murphy’s waist holding her. While I sat there with my eyes bugging out, while Bob whistled appreciatively. Bahamut withdrew her tongue trailing out of Murphy’s mouth.

Then Bahamut walked off, whistling a tune that sounded disturbingly like Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl. Meanwhile Murphy was catatonic on the floor, whether from the shock of a dragoness kissing her or the lack of oxygen, I wasn’t sure.

“Hey, Dresden, you got any alcohol in this place? Oh, and while you’re at it, can you tell that pint sized tomboy to put her useless weapon away once she regains consciousness? Also Bob, am I pretty? Be honest, I have been called a demon when I am a goddess far too often to count.”

Bob responded “My Queen Bahamut, you are a most beautiful dragoness, it’s just humans tend to view dragons as evil.”

“Pfft, not surprised really. Most of us dragons can eat humans.”

“Er, all I got is some Applejack.” I said and earning a laugh from Bahamut. I looked at her as she turned around. She raised an eyebrow at my confused look, as she chugged half the bottle.

Once finished she put two and two together. “Oh! That it’s just an inside joke there’s an earth pony who makes apple cider, and her name is Applejack or AJ to her friends,” Bahamut explained as I gave her my best ‘you’re bullshitting me’ face I could.

Even Murphy found that difficult to imagine as she had come around just in time to hear. “Oh you know  the multiverse has a perverse sense of humour, often running on literary rules.”

“For example cities back home are horse puns of human cities like Detrot, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, Chicartgo, Manehatten, and Neigh York. To name a few.”

Bahamut sat on the couch next to me, Bob, and Murphy.

“So kiddies let's talk business!”

Bahamut noticed the glares she was receiving.

“What?”

“We are not kids!” Murphy and I said in unison.

Bahamut just rolled her eyes.

“All you mortals are kids to me. I have 1000 years or so on you.”

“So why do you bother flirting with Murphy?” I asked, slightly irritated.

“Well, when the only immortals you care about are either dead, family, or taken already, then it kinda means I have no other choice than mortals. However, I believe given time and the appropriate teacher, Murphy might just ascend. Oh! Don’t worry, Dresden. I hear you wizards live centuries, so you have plenty of time to learn. I am sure somepony, say my daughter Celestia would love to teach you.”

“Any excuse to play match maker?” I asked sarcastically.

“What can I say? I love my daughters, one already has a marefriend, the other one has shown considerable interest in you,” Bahamut said, poking me. “Just remind her that you’re mortal if she gets too enthusiastic. And hey! It’s not like you initiated a kiss with her.”

I groaned as Bahamut finished speaking with a smug grin.

“Wait I am confused! Marefriend, somepony, kissing? Dresden explain!”

I sighed warily “Well Murph, here are the cliff notes, I was sent to a realm called Equestria by the White Council to free Bahamut.” I started and indicated Bahamut who waved with a wiggle of her clawed hand.” Upon meeting the ruler Princess Celestia, I complimented her, and she got insecure at the praise, I kissed her to shut her up regarding her supposed flaws. Bahamut was freed and Celestia now sees me as a potential mate and is very clear about her intentions. Bahamut hired me but not before showering me with enough gold to now have four million dollars in my bank. After I was preparing to leave, Celestia looked sad and Bahamut intervened by offering me a position as a permanent retainer to protect her other daughter Luna. Both Celestia and Luna are alicorns or winged unicorns. Both are immortal and so is Bahamut. I summoned Bahamut here to give her my answer and I called you to ask if you’d come too.”

“I feel it’s worth noting that Equestria is generally peaceful, perhaps I can take you on as one of my honour guard? Don’t worry, I’ll give you the freedom to investigate crime or even do something less violent. No you won't really need to protect me, I am a goddess and I eat can eat a hydra, whole. However provided I have a choice, it won't be happening again. Those things are like mexican food. It goes right through you.”

Bahamut finished her drink, then looked over to Murphy. “So are you coming with us? If you need to gather your things, I’ll wait, just be aware you will have to carry or at least use a cart or some other way to move them. it has been over one thousand years since I have been on earth.”

“I’ll go only if you will guarantee me a spot in your honor guard, like you said,” Murphy said, crossing her arms.

“Oh don’t worry about that, being the Queen and Goddess of a realm has it’s advantages. you have four hours to get your stuff together.”

“Oh, really? You visited earth?” I asked, ignoring the conversation between the too of them.”

Bahamut snorted “No, I was born here. I was transported away to Equestria in the year 2014. Thanks to some wibbly wobbly, timey wimey shenanigans, I ended up stuck one thousand years in the past, and had to wait until someone bothered to come free me. When I first arrived, I met my beautiful, but now deceased wife, Queen Faust.” Bahamut said wistfully.

“So what year is it here Dresden? I feel I will need context so I can watch what I want” Bahamut brought up a crystalline screen and static played across it.

“It’s 2008.” I replied.

“Huh? What do you know.” Bahamut commented

“So what can you tell me about Queen Faust, she sounds like somepony very important to you.”

Bahamut gained  a dour expression, causing me to internally kick myself for my bluntness.

“I saved her from He Who Walks Behind, Dresden. I believe you two have met, I can see his mark on you.” She said, her piercing gaze felt like she looked through me and had judged me, the experience had sent a shiver down my spine.

“Yes, I have met with the bastard before, he was sent to kill me by my uncle, Justin Dumorne but I managed to destroy his form in my realm, thus saving me from it. Temporarily.”

Bahamut raised an eyebrow, “Impressive for a mortal.”

Bahamut had turned the channel to the daily show before laying back and sighing, “Dresden, there is something going on. There is something from the Outside pulling the strings, and they’re sending kids, through the void/the space between spaces, the Outside. It’s how I originally came to this realm. I was originally a human, and taken from my earth and deposited in Equestria. Things here are only slightly different. making it difficult to tell the difference, but it is. I don’t know how I missed it to be honest. Oh, and the kicker? I used to be male.”

Bob did a double take before looking at me incredulously. Bahamut smiled.

“Whoever that Outsider was he was a total dick.”

Meanwhile a day had passed in Equestria since Bahamut had left myself, Luna, and Twilight sitting in my room. It was a rather spartan affair, with hardly any decorations, only having useful furniture like the desk on the far left of the room, the bookcases that filled most of the walls, excluding where the bed lay flush with the right sides wall. They sat on a pile of pillows which sat next to the fireplace, on the middle of the left side wall.

They had been chatting about my crush on the human wizard, when a portal opened up, which caused all three mares to adopt an aggressive stance. Out walked a being similar to our mother and mother-in-law respectively. The main difference being the coloration, a dark purple with golden accents, that made her scales look like full plate armor.

“I was told I could find my sister, in this realm, where is she?” The stranger asked.

“What is your sister’s name? And who are you?” I asked not relaxing my defensive posture.

“Bahamut, and I am her sister Tiamat,” Tiamat explained.

“That makes you our Aunt then. I am Celestia step-daughter of Bahamut.” I said as I relaxed.

Luna added her own introduction “I am Bahamut’s foal, we are blood related. Unlike our sister, Celestia.”

Twilight responded “I am Luna’s marefriend, so I guess that makes me your future niece-in-law.” What happened next caught them off guard. Tiamat laughed, clutching at her belly, ”Ol’ Bahamut got married and had kids, so who was the lucky man who got my sister?” I blushed

“Well our mother Queen Faust was her wife until she was killed on their wedding day, and Bahamut was petrified for a thousand years. We managed to free her. Right now she’s answering a summons from Harry Dresden.”

Sitting down, the mares sat down leaving the dragoness standing. “Come sit with us, and tell us all the embarrassing secrets she had growing up. No longer shall Mother be able to embarrass us by smothering us in motherly love!” I exclaimed triumphantly while Tiamat was giggling up a storm.

Hours passed as Tiamat regaled us of our mother’s hijinks, when another portal opened revealing Bahamut. “Oh Mother, you’re finally back!” I said as Bahamut blinked as she took in the scene, of Celestia and Luna giving Tiamat a manicure and pedicure.

“Tiamat? But how did you get—” Bahamut started to say before she was bowled over by Tiamat, who glomped her in a tackle hug.

“I missed you so much sister, I haven’t seen you in years!” Tiamat cried as she hugged Bahamut.

“We’ll talk properly later,” Tiamat whispered in Bahamut’s ear.

“I heard you got married and had kids, why wasn’t I invited and why am I only just finding out?”

“Well it’s not like I could contact you or even leave at the time,” Bahamut turned away, frowning as she did so.

“It’s been one thousand years Tiamat, at least for me. I haven’t exactly been free during those years. But I missed you too,” Bahamut said and rested a hand on Tiamat’s shoulder.

I heard various cooing and sniffing sounds coming from Luna and Twilight. Before Bahamut could do anything else as Dresden walked through the portal, I rushed through knocking Mother and Aunty over as I enveloped Dresden in my legs and began to nuzzle into to him, a woman walked in, behind Dresden, eying me as she gave me a wide berth there was something dark in her eyes as if I was touching her boyfriend or something.

“Murphy! Celestia! Don’t be rude!”  Bahamut called out having enough air in her to belt out a command, Celestia let go of Dresden and brushed him down. Murphy had stood to attention and saluted.

“Now how does a proper lady comport herself?” Bahamut asked me.

“With humility, poise, grace, and elegance” Me and oddly enough Murphy droning it out as if we had both heard it all throughout our childhood.

Tiamat smirked and said,“Since when were you ever a lady?”

Bahamut replied “Ever since I had to sit through hundreds of poise and grace lessons, so I no longer left cracks in the palace masonry and so I could be a proper Queen and even more so for when I had foals. nevermind the dancing lessons I had to take before my wedding day.” Bahamut groused as she elbowed Tiamat.

Dresden called from my chest, “Can you put me down Celestia, I need to find a place to set up a new home. I’ll come back after I’m done, Bahamut drew out another enormous bit bag as I looked down crestfallen. Dresden gave me a kiss on the cheek, but instead of a cheek he found my lips. As we broke apart Mother chose that moment to toss the bag at Dresden.

“If you need more, just ask, so long as it is within reason,” Mother said,

“You might want to avoid Canterlot, it’s full of snooty nobles. I suggest Ponyville, my student Twilight lives there,” I said, feeling rather crestfallen before brightening up. I summoned a stone for Dresden.

“This stone shall enable me to set up a portal to your home, just place the stone in a secure room."

Standing up and brushing myself off, I beckoned Murphy over. “I like a word in private, Murphy.”

Once Murphy and I came to a secluded area of the garden I sighed, “Murphy, can you keep a handle on that jealousy? It’s not worth getting killed over it. My daughter is kind and benevolent, often sacrificing everything for her subjects, but she didn’t become a benevolent tyrant just on charisma. Even though she has that in spades. No, she is a politician and a warrior, her budding relationship with Harry is something more to her now and the added political issues that will arise will either make or break our alliance with humanity. She will remove you anyway she can, if you pose a threat to her budding relationship with Harry. Plus, we both know why you and Harry won't work. For one, you are married to the job and Harry is too much an old-fashioned gentlemen for you anyway.”

“And what? You're a better choice are you?” Murphy huffed.

“Oh certainly! I am very flexible, and I happened to be a warrior of great fervor. Not to mention that as my honour guard, you shall be largely staying by my side unless I have asked otherwise. You will have leeway to address important investigations, which I will most likely assign you. You will hold the title of Captain and receive training from Shining Armor, so far the only guardsman who has had the cojones to stand up to me, granted in the face of me, it didn’t really do any damage. It’s the attempt that counts. Once Captain Armor has trained you sufficiently, you will train with me. You will then pick a First and Second Lieutenant, who will train the rest of your unit. Any questions?” I asked.

Grumbling, Murphy inquired, “When do I start?”

“You start as soon as your swearing-in ceremony takes place, but before that you must complete your training. Until the training starts, you have time to go and find a place temporarily until I can assign you your own room, unless you wish to stay out at the palace. A word of warning, some guards may look down on you if you do not. I do not mind either way, however, so until we meet again, my adorable captain.”

I kissed Murphy and then walked off to find the hated bureaucracy. I left behind a stunned Murphy, numbly holding her first bag of bits. “Oh and those bits are for you to live on till you get your first real pay, so spend it wisely!” I called back.