Luna shook her head, attempting to rid herself of any tiredness.

"I should have slept more."

Dusk smiled as they flew towards the dragon caves.

"You regular ponies aren't much for the night hours, eh?"

Luna nodded.

"We sleep at night."

Dusk shook her head.

"Bat ponies thrive in the darkness. We're a lot more sensitive to light."

"I'm sorry to drag you out here then. The sun must be unpleasant for you."

The bat pony shrugged.

"I'm in the same cave as you on this one. I would normally be asleep by now. So, we're both tired. The sun doesn't do much to worsen the feeling."

Luna chuckled.

"So, we're both tired and trying to negotiate peace with dragons?"

Dusk smiled.

"This should go well."

Luna looked ahead, spotting the first of the dragon caves.

And then she heard a growl from above them.

Dusk's eyes shot upward.

"We've got company!"

Luna looked up and gasped. A dragon was descending toward them rapidly!

Dusk went to dive toward the ground.

"We have to get low!"

Luna waved to her.

"Don't move! Just cover your ears!"

Dusk looked at her for a moment. Her eyes lit up as the words clicked. She covered her ears as Luna looked up at the dragon.

"I COMMAND THEE TO STOP!!"

The dragon slowed its descent.

"Oh great. You again?"

Luna blinked a few times as she looked at the dragon.

"Grawn?"

"Yes?"

Luna smiled.

"I told you I'd be back!"

He descended until his head was level with Luna.

"I didn't think you'd be foolish enough to actually show your face pony. What do you want?"

Luna motioned for Dusk to fly closer. The bat pony slowly drifted over to hover next to Luna. Luna held out a hoof.

"This is Dusk, leader of the bat ponies. We wish to discuss a truce with the dragons."

Grawn huffed, causing smoke to exit his nostrils.

"You want to discuss peace?"

"Yes."

"So, you wish to speak to Razer?"

"If they're the leader, then yes."

Grawn stared at them for a few seconds before smiling.

"Alright. It's your funeral."

Dusk glanced at Luna, her eyes filling with concern. Luna smiled and put a hoof on Dusk's shoulder.

"We'll be fine."

She looked at Grawn and nodded.

"Take us to Razer."

Grawn nodded and flew towards one of the caves. Luna and Dusk followed him, keeping an eye on the sky around them. Sure enough, more dragons began to appear as they approached the cave. There were about a dozen, just like Grawn had said. And Luna could see the entrances to at least twenty caves. There was more than enough room.

Grawn landed at the entrance and walked inside.

"Razer! You'll never believe what's out here."

A low rumble came from further in the cave.

"Oh, I can smell them from here. And I still don't believe it."

Luna watched as a dragon came slithering out from the darkness. He had to be ten times her size at least. She held in a cry of fear as Razer stood at his full height, nearly touching the top of the cave.

"And why have you brought these two to my cave?"

Grawn bowed his head.

"They wish to discuss peace."

Razer let out what Luna could only guess was a laugh. It echoed through the cave like a thunderstorm. Luna and Dusk covered their ears as the laughter continued. Razer lowered his head toward the ground.

"Why should there be peace? You bat ponies are the ones who started it. And we'll be the ones to finish it!"

Cheers drifted in from outside. It appeared there was an audience for the negotiations.

Dusk looked up at the dragon defiantly.

"We're running out of room for our ponies! We need another cave or two to live in. You have more than you need. Surely it wouldn't be too much to ask?"

Razer scratched his chin.

"We don't want the stink of bat ponies anywhere near here."

Luna stepped forward.

"What use are empty caves to you, Razer?"

He looked at Luna and smirked.

"Who said they were empty? Each of us has a horde. Some of us need extra room."

Luna's mouth hung open.

"Those caves have treasure in them?"

Razer nodded, turning to Dusk.

"We're running low on space too, you know. Dragons gather regularly. Some of us have been at it longer than others. I have four caves for my horde alone!"

Dusk frowned at the dragon.

"Couldn't you put it somewhere else?"

The ponies covered their ears as laughter echoed through the cave again.

"Asking a dragon to move his horde?! That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard! No pony could ever make a dragon do that!"

Luna straightened up and took a deep breath. Dusk kept her ears covered.

"Oh boy."

"RAZER!!"

Luna's voice echoed over Razer's laughter. The sudden noise made Razer pause. He looked at Luna with curiosity as she continued.

"DO NOT TAKE US FOR A COMMON PONY! YOU STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF A PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA!! WE HAVE COME TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN THE DRAGONS AND THE BAT PONIES AND WE WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL PEACE IS MET!!"

Razer stared at Luna and smiled.

"Well Princess, what do you propose?"

Luna took another breath.

"You refuse to move your treasure?"

"Yes."

Luna turned to Dusk.

"You're not willing to leave the mountains?"

Dusk nodded.

"This has been our home for centuries."

Razer nodded too.

"For us as well."

Luna sighed.

"The bat ponies need room for their families. Is there really no space in all these caves?"

Razer shook his head.

"We're running out of room ourselves."

Dusk looked up at him.

"And what will you do when you run out? Will you attack us and take our home?"

Razer huffed, blowing a ring of smoke toward the ponies.

"Don't be stupid. We'll just dig more caves into the mountains."

That's when it clicked for Luna. A smile grew on her lips.

"You dig these caves yourself?"

Razer nodded. Luna danced in place.

"I think I have an idea!"

Luna looked at Dusk. The bat pony was giving her a funny look. Luna realized how silly she must look and recomposed herself.

"Would the dragons be willing to dig three new caves on Foal Mountain? If you provide those caves, the bat ponies will have no need for yours!"

Razer narrowed his eyes.

"And what do we get for our services?"

Luna looked at Dusk. Dusk shuffled her hooves.

"I'm afraid we don't really have anything to give."

Razer shook his head.

"Why should we help you then?"

Luna looked up at the dragon.

"Because it's what a friend would do."

Grawn scoffed from the entrance.

"Friends? We're not friends with bat ponies."

Luna looked back at him.

"I know there's nothing that bonds you together, but maybe it's time for that to change."

She turned to Dusk.

"What could the bat ponies do to help the dragons?"

Dusk thought for a moment.

"Well...do you ever hunt for treasure at night?"

Razer shrugged.

"Sometimes, but we tend to sleep most nights."

Dusk smiled.

"Not us! We're nocturnal. And we're good in dark places. We can locate gems easily in the dark! What if we offered to help you find more treasure from time to time?"

Razer seemed surprised.

"You'd...just help us?"

Dusk nodded.

"If you can really give us more space, I think I could convince some of my best bat ponies to help out when you need it. It's the least we could do for you giving us new homes."

Razer glanced at Dusk.

"How much of the treasure would you want?"

Dusk chuckled.

"We don't really keep treasure."

"You mean...you wouldn't want any of it? Not a single stone?"

Dusk shrugged.

"Unless you wanted to. But that's up to you really."

Razer looked back at Luna.

"And all we have to do is dig three caves?"

Luna smiled.

"Three caves. And they'd need to be done however the bat ponies want them."

Razer put a claw to his chin as he thought.

"I don't get it...why would you agree to help us for something that would take us barely a day to do? Something seems wrong with that."

Dusk smiled.

"It's not a matter of how long it takes you. It's a matter of what you're giving us. The bat ponies would have a new home and the dragons would grow their hordes."

Razer looked at Grawn.

"Well?"

Grawn shrugged.

"I guess it wouldn't be so bad being...friendly."

Razer smiled as he looked back to the ponies. He slowly held out a claw toward Dusk.

"I'm willing to put everything behind if you are."

Dusk held out her hoof, touching it to Razer's huge claw.

"I hope we can truly be friends from now on."

Luna tried to look regal. The excitement was too much for her though as she found herself dancing in place again.

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