Prologue: Lūzt ar Vēstuli (A Request by Letter)

Dragon Lord Ember,

Recent events have brought to light that Spike's upbringing by ponies may be effecting his emotion and physical health in adverse ways. First Spike recently went through what Smolder told us was 'the molt.' While Smolder meant well when she explained it to Spike, he did not take the explanation well. If what Smolder said is typical(correct me if I am wrong), then when a dragon is found to be going through the 'molt' they are kicked out of the metaphorical nest. Given the less than pleasant symptoms, I can understand the reasoning, but it brought up fears that being a dragon that he would be abandoned or driven out by ponies, even though these fears are unfounded.

Finally, in my excitement in assisting Spike in learning to fly I had forgotten that Spike's wings were not a pony's wings. It took Smolder to point out my obliviousness: dragon wings are more like a bat not a bird and at least at this stage of his development are positioned for a bipedal stance, not quadrupedal.

I feel that our current 'arrangement' may not be enough and I know what I am about to ask is a long shot, given that dragons are not terribly keen with ponies yet, but is there a dragon that could come to Ponyville to tutor us directly on dragon rearing and biology?

Your friend Princess of Friendship,

Twilight Sparkle

Ember sighed as she rolled the scroll back up. While she was glad to get another letter from Twilight the contents of the letter bothered her. Normally it would be a time of celebration for a dragon who successfully survived their molt, but if she recalled correctly Spike was way too young to molt. She didn't know a of single dragon real, myth, or otherwise to molt before a century and Spike was less then twenty. Whether this was truly bad or not she didn't know.

"Another letter from the ponies?" Torch questioned pulling Ember from her musings.

"Yes..." Ember answered, looking over as he stepped into the large pool of lava nearby. This was good, maybe her father would know more. "Dad... have you heard of a dragon molting before turning one hundred?"

"What?!" Torch snorted in amusement. "Where did you hear such nonsense!? I swear that if you heard that as a pickup line..."

"DAAAAD!" Ember sputtered in embarrassment. While normally she didn't mind him reminiscing about how things used to be that was one subject she never wanted him to talk about again, ever. "No drake has dared to try, not after word got out about what you did to the last one..."

"No." Ember spoke after a short pause to rid the image of the poor drake from her mind. "It is Spike he molted and..."

"Should have figured it was that wingless drake from Equestria..."

"DAD..." Ember threatened, tapping her claws on the bloodstone specter in her grip. She knew of her father's distaste of Spike. Whether it was because the circumstances surroundings how Equestria had come into the custody of a dragon or if it was him being overprotective of his 'little princess' she knew not.

"Fine, fine." Torch yielded, sighing as he slowly lowered himself further into lava pool. "I do not know what molting before a hundred means but there is one dragon that might know..."

Ember blinked in mild surprise. She wasn't expecting him to offer the information she needs without metaphorically twisting his arm or threatening him with the scepter. "And who this dragon?"

"No. No." Torch slowly touched the tip of the scepter with a claw. "The scepter will not help you here. He lives outside the range of its influence. If you want his help you are going to have to ask him in person."

"Okay then, where may I find him?" Ember resisted the urge to growl in irritation. If it wasn't one thing it was another!

"Last I heard he lived on an island in the middle of the Greater Western Sea." Ember nearly lost her grip on the Bloodstone Scepter at that. The Greater Western Sea was a vast uncharted ocean that could hold dozens upon dozens of Equestrias. How was she to find an island much less a single dragon in the middle of that!?

"Are you sure that this... drake is worth your time as Dragon Lord?"

Ember opened her mouth but hesitated. While she was Dragon Lord and her rulings were law there was still factions that were opposed to some of her changes to dragon law and culture and if she left now... But then again Spike was dragon and as Dragon Lord she felt that was her duty to help if she could. "Yes... Guide me to this dragon."

Uncharted island, Greater Western Sea, 3 weeks later

Ember sighed as Torch examined the outside of another cave, the fifth one so far on this island alone. She was beginning to wonder if Torch was lost and didn't want to admit it. At least they had shelter if that storm she saw to the south decided to move north.

Šizra! Ember nearly jumped. She was used to her father boisterous voice but the cave seemed to amplify it more then usual.

"Šizra?" She questioned as she rubbed her ringing ears. She had never heard of a name like that before; it sounded more like gibberish then a real name.

"Ancient Draconian." Torch shrugged. "Apparently Šizra is the only dragon alive that can or care to still speak it."

Ember felt that might change to none with how loud Torch was. It was a miracle that he didn't cause a cave in as it was. At least the silence from the cave meant that it hadn't had one... yet.

Šizra! Ember facepalmed as Torch roared second time into the cave. "Get your lazy ass out here!"

"You know if you had told me his name earlier I could have used..."

She paused as she could make out someone or something approaching. Even though she knew it was coming she still taken aback when set of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness.

"Cktüis Zuserthators Lācktas..." A deep voice echoed. Even for a dragon Ember noted that the voice was dry and coarse, like he had not used his voice in a long time. "I know it's been a while, but how many times have I told you..."

"You have being living under a wet rock far too long Šizra, my reign ended two years ago. This is my daughter, and current Dragon Lord, Ember."

"I see..." The eyes moved from Torch to Ember. It was hard to tell for sure but they almost seemed... bored.. "Cktüis Zuserthators Ember, what can I do for you? I doubt Lācktas would brought you all this way simply to brag about his daughter succeeding him."

Cktüis Zuserthators? Lācktas? Ember wondered. Clearly it was more Ancient Draconian. But what really got her pondering was how small his eyes were. They were eyes of dragon near her age. How then could a dragon that young know Ancient Draconian when she hadn't heard of it before today? And why was he remaining in the darkness outside of her sight?

"I was told that you could assist me..."

"Clearly."

"Right." Ember growled, trying to resist the urge to pinch her brow. "A drake by the name of Spike...

"Don't care."

"He molted at twenty and..."

"Again, don't care."

Ember growled, gripping the scepter harder. What was with this dragon?! She wasn't even able to finish a single sentence before he dismissed her! If she was her father she would have already used the scepter to end this farce. "Spike's guardians are ponies!"

"Interesting..." That seemed to have gotten Šizra's attention as his glowing red eyes now bored down on Ember with intensity she didn't think was possible from a pair of glowing eyes. "Where can I find this 'Spike'?"