The Queen and Guardian stormed up to the guarded throne room. The two guards tried to stop them, saying that they weren't allowed in because the two princesses were talking to Princess Cadence.
Needless to say, those two got shoved out of the way before having the doors swung open.
Cadence let out a yelp, being standing in front of the two sisters who were on the throne. Turning to see the dragons entering.
Celestia and Luna looked at each other before the older sister stood. "Rachel, it's good to see you again." The princess greeted.
"What the actual fuck is wrong with the two of you!?" Rachel snapped at them.
Celestia blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Rachel, what's wrong?" Cadence asked.
Rachel didn't respond as she and Ember marched up to them. "First you nearly sent my mate to Tartarus and now you sent Twilight and her friends into a trap without a care? "
The look on Cadence's face when hearing about this. "Wait a second, Twilight's hurt?" the love princess turned to look at them with wide eyes.
Luna grunted. "It seems someone has loose lips."
"Celestia, Luna, why wasn't Shining and I was informed about Twilight?" Cadence snapped at the two.
"We didn't need you to worry. With you protecting the Heart and all." Celestia said before cutting her gaze at the Dragons.
"Or not telling them that you threw them to Sombra. Did you lose your right mind after spending moons on that throne? Did your brain cells go down to that fat ass of yours from eating cake, Celestia? And did you lose yours after spending a thousand years on the moon in space, Luna? "
Ember and the other dragons laughed at the Queen's words while Celestia and Luna looked insulted.
"If somethings an obvious trap, it's best not to engage with it. Even my guys and I know that." Ember cackled.
"I don't take your insults lightly. I sent Twilight and her friends out for information and they brought it back." Celestia grunted with a scowl.
"This, this isn't like you." Cadence said before looking at Rachel. "How bad is she?"
"Very bad." Rachel said, her gaze not leaving Celestia and Luna. "Cadence, why aren't you at the Empire?"
"I was called for a war update." Cadence said, stepping away from the two rulers.
Ember and Rachel looked at each other.
The Blue Celestial hummed, causing Rachel to tilt her head curiously. "Huh…"
"The reason Cadence is here is none of your concern," Luna said as she stood and joined her sister. "You were sent out to complete a mission, congratulations, but now you're here, we can get down to business."
"We are at business," Ember said. "The relationship between Dragons and Ponies are already on thin ice. You best be careful on how you speak to us."
"Oh? On the creatures who forced themselves on this world? What makes you any different than the humans we're at war against?" Celestia said.
Ember, something's wrong. This is not normal. Rachel spoke mentally to Ember.
I was getting the same vibe.
The staff continued to hum, causing Rachel to look around the room.
What most ponies probably don't realize, once Sombra slips into their mind and leaves, a small tiny piece of him remains. This residue left behind will try and return to him. Rachel's eyes fell to the dark shadows of the room as the rulers bickered.
She felt eyes staring back at her.
"We're the reason you have the Blue Celestial, the reason you are now ruler of the Dragons, we can take it away if you continue to defile us with your blunder of words."
Those weren't Celestia's words. Her voice, not words, like a puppet.
"Cadence, if you please, we can continue this a more priva~"
Both Rachel and Ember end up laughing at them. And they laughed hard, tears down their faces, deep belly laughing.
Celestia and Luna glared at the two she-dragons laughing at them.
"Ohho do you believe these two?" Ember laughed.
"They think they gave me my Title. Bitch please I earned it!" Rachel laughs before looking at the two. "Unlike you two."
"That is enough. We will resume this conversation after you two take time to-" Celestia was then cut off.
"Yeah, lemme stop you before you get ahead." Rachel said. "It seems that there's a bit of miscommunication. Where I came from, there is a bit of hierarchy. You two are a bunch of low level Princesses," the Blue Celestial began glowing, energy began building up. Rachel's eyes glowed gold. "And I am the Queen!" Her voice boomed.
She slams the end of the staff on the ground. This strong, strong burst of blinding white light and a loud ringing erupted from her.
There were collective stunned shouts and a disembodied, demonic sounding shriek echoing around the throne room. All dark corners and shadows dissipated from the area.
The blast lasted about a full minute before it fades away. As everyone's vision came to normal, they noticed two things.
One: Rachel had her blue and black armor on. The metallic material morphed to fit her furry body, sliding on top of her furred wings, slid over her taloned hooves and her tail, her crown on her head.
Two: King Sombra was on the ground with a groan in front of all of them.
"And I don't take orders from Tyrants." Rachel hissed.
Cadence gasped as Sombra was there, backing farther away from him.
Celestia and Luna moaned as they grabbed their heads. Eyes blinking from the blinding light and waking up.
Sombra grunted as he forced himself up to his knees. Rachel could see that he still had the burns on his arm from the last time they encountered each other.
"Clever little girl. I admit, I underestimated you. Never again." He said.
"Guards! " Cadence barked as Sombra pushed to his hooves.
Rachel and Ember get in fighting positions, the other dragons did as well.
Sombra stared at Rachel and gave her an icky serene smile. "Good luck on finding your mate. I made sure The Brave and Glorious Spike is comfy wherever his lost mind allows him to."
With an angered shout, Rachel charged at him, staff glowing. She goes to slam it down, Sombra turns to shadow and quickly slips away. The slam of the staff caused a deep crater, destroying the tile and parts of the steps to the thrones.
A loud pained roar escaped from the Queen's mouth as a couple of Canterlot Guards came bursting in too late.
Spike ran away, Sombra saw an opportunity and took him while not in the right state of mind…
"What… what just happened?" Celestia asked, feeling uneasy and unwell.
"Possibly prevented a royal kidnapping of the ruler of the Crystal Empire." Ember grunted before looking at Cadence. "You might wanna get back before you lose The Heart."
Luna looked to where Sombra was, staring at the armor cladded Queen. "Oh gods, sister… what have we done?"
"Twilight, no no, I have to see her." Celestia goes to leave and see her student. Mortified that she remembered what happened.
But Rachel caught her arm. "You did enough." Rachel snarled at her, stopping her in her tracks.
Celestia looked at her with wide eyes. "Sombra was controlling us. Twilight believed that whatever I said was true. I need to make things right."
"As of right now, you two are fucking compromised." Rachel said as she let go of her. "We have no idea how long you two were being controlled, as of right now, you two are a damn liability."
"Did you all hear what that son of a bitch said about Spike?" Ember asked them. "If that shadow pony wants a fucking war, then he fucking got one!"
"What you have us do?" Celestia asked. It was clear she was worried and baffled that this had happened to them.
"Gee, for starters, you should've stopped Blueblood when you had the chance." Rachel snarled, the blue of her armor glowing as her emotions threatened to come out. "There were so many signs you blindly missed due to your so-called love. Constantly erasing and manipulating his memories. The reason I'm not getting onto Luna's ass much is because she did try to stop him, she saw the signs but you refused to listen. This war is partially your fault. Partially my fault because I should've straight up killed him before he could become Sombra." she stepped out of the crater she made. "Here is what we're doing, you two are going to push harder on the Humans, with the big portal now closed and the only access to Earth is the Mirror until a year is over, now is the fucking chance to set things right before things turn to an utter shit show if it hasn't already." Rachel gestured to the sisters. "Cadence, you go back to the Empire, alert Shining of what happened, do whatever it is you can to protect that Heart. Bastard can't stand blinding light, do what you will with that."
"What about us?" Ember asked the Queen.
"You said it best, we're going to war against Sombra." Rachel responded before looking at the sisters."I'll send some dragons to help with your armies, probably teach them to be more useful than these two."
"Hey! It's not our fault we have a staff shortage." One of the guards whined.
"And what of Twilight?" Celestia asked.
"She's coming with me. Right now it's for the best because the two of you can't be trusted. For a time being, your heir is mine until I deemed it time." Rachel could feel the more she talked, a part of her was being influenced by the small piece of Queen Rùna's soul, her memories to reference off of while now being in control. "I suggest we get in contact with all the other rulers if you haven't already. Reinforcements, as many as we need. Thorax will want to take arms if it has something to do with Spike. Sombra took my mate, I'm going to scorch Equis to find him."
"Dragons are mostly fearless, so it's going to be hard for him to manipulate them. Especially since our staffs control them." Ember said.
"Which is why we need to assemble them now." Rachel turned to glare at the sisters. "Do not try and fuck this up. And might I just add, when all this war and Sombra is over, the two of you better consider retirement or you'll be forced down."
And with that, the dragons walked out of the room with Cadence.
"Cadence, go home, now." Rachel said to the pink alicorn.
"And I will. Right after I say this," she moves to where she's in front of Rachel, causing her to stop walking.
Rachel motioned her body as if to say what.
"The Empire stands with the Dragons." Cadence said. "Whatever you need of us, we will provide."
"Not with Celestia and Luna?" Rachel asked.
"Their poor judgment is the reason why we're at war in the first place. There was a reason why you were picked as Queen and it shows."
The Queen nodded. "That be the case, I want a part of your guys, who might I add are a thousand times better than Canterlot Guards, to coordinate a more thorough search for Spike. I also got some guys coming from Earth, refugees. I'm going to see after they are settled here to help out."
"Are they good?"
Rachel nodded.
"Looking forward to it. Thank you." And with that, Cadence teleported out.
Ember stared at the smaller dragoness. "You seriously going to bring the Mordi here?"
"They won't look human, but they need our help." Rachel then glared up at her. "Are we going to have a problem with that, Guardian?"
Ember glared back before shaking her head. "No, ma'am."
"Good."
They soon approached Twilight's room. Starlight waited for them by the door.
" What did they say? " she asked.
"Those two are compromised. Sombra was controlling them." Ember said. "Queenie here dealt with that, now they are following her orders."
"Geez, you make it sound like I also mind controlled them." Rachel grunted.
"Nope, but you showed you hold more authority. Not bad for a newbie."
Rachel rolled her eyes before looking at Starlight. "Send the Mirror portal to Dragon's Lair. We're sending the refugees there directly, I also want you girls there too."
"I'll go make some calls." Starlight nodded.
Rachel nodded before entering the bedroom. She saw Twilight still laying on her side, facing away from the door.
She puts a hand on her hip, waited a moment before grunted. "Twilight, it's Rachel, get up."
There was a moment of silence before she heard a soft voice. "Go away… I deserve this."
Rachel shrugged. "Debatable. Now seriously, get up, I'm taking you with me. Celestia and Luna were controlled by Sombra. Sombra has Spike somewhere we don't know. Take whatever anger you have and use it against the tyrant that took your brother."
" But… my wing…"
Rachel rolled her eyes. She heard what the staff said before it glowed. With a wave of her hand, an aura engulfs Twilight.
She twisted and groaned in pain. The intensity of the pain made her roll out of bed. The pain didn't last long as a new wing grew in place.
It was the same colors of her skin and feathers, but instead of a pegasi wing, she grew a dragon wing.
The princess gasped as she looked at her now mish mashed wings. She bent and flapped it to see if it was real.
It was a new wing.
"Princesses are compromised, you're going to come to Dragon's Lair. If you want to be part of my child's life, I suggest you get up off the ground, now."
In a few minutes, the Princess of Friendship left with the Dragons.
9 months later
Sitting in front of a window in the dark palace within Dragon's Lair, gazing up at the night sky. Watching the stars and the moon with a solemn look on her face.
Less than sixteen hours earlier, a new life had just been brought into this world. A small little baby boy resting peacefully in her arms, wrapped around in a blue blanket.
Initially when born, the child had some purple scales but after several hours it was clear he had grown soft yellow fur. The softest his mother ever touched.
Rachel fell in love with him when he was in the womb, fell in love all over again the moment he came to this world.
As blissfully and happy the Queen was for her son to be born, she was also at her saddest.
Spike still remains missing. Fulfilling what fear she had of him being gone.
The following months were the most stressful she ever had endured. Making sure the Dragons knew that Rachel was now ruler, easing them the fact that their True Dragonlord was missing, now held captive by Sombra. Bringing the refugees here was a sight.
Like she thought, they had changed, losing their human bodies and becoming new looking creatures. Like Rachel, they also look more pony-like, but they do carry some dragon features, like horns, the furs around their hooves and their hairs move like fire but do not burn, but none have wings nor horns like unicorns or possess that type of magic. They retain the essences given by the dragons centuries ago. There was tension between the Mordi and the Dragons in the beginning but things soon fell into place.
The Princesses finally got their heads out of their asses to redress the situation with the humans. Having to use the Mirror Portal, though had a bit of confusion with the government, did get it through their thick skulls that it wasn't their fault and painstakingly explained their situation with the humans about Sombra. They did have a problem that the dragons successfully retake the Settlement and they are in control of the Portal, alongside the new generation of the Mordi taking control of the otherside, talks were still ongoing.
But it was clear that the real threat was Sombra. As long as they play their cards right, Rachel has an army. The Changelings, Hippogriffs, Sea Ponies, Yaks have also joined the fray.
As for Spike, something was wrong. No matter how hard Rachel continues to search for him, she's unable to reach him. A combination of her energy being drained each time, each time threatened to harm her child. Something Sombra had done that made it increasingly impossible. Rachel eventually had to stop the magic search when it became apparent that using the staff looking for him was endangering.
Whatever Sombra did to Spike, Rachel grew increasingly angry. If Sombra hadn't been on top of the kill list, he was on top now.
Now had just given birth, Rachel didn't have much strength to look or to fight, all she could do was rest and take care of Igneous until she was back to full strength.
As she glanced down and a soft smile moved across her face, seeing her child sleeping. His purple tiny claws rubbed his fuzzy muzzle before settling.
Her heart hurts a lot, her child looking like Spike. Not for the colors but all she could see was him.
As she silently marveled at him, a knock on the door disturbed her train of thought. "Enter." Rachel answered.
The stone door moved, a tall, dark redded Mordi with brighter red flames on the fur and black hair. Wearing more modern, war tactical clothing enters. "Yo Rach, they're here." It was Malik.
"Thanks Malik, bring them in." Rachel said as Igneous was trying to open his eyes, they were also purple, the same color of light purple Spike's scales were.
Malik nodded before waving his hands. He was soon shoved aside when the sexling twins, Ruby and Gemcity both ran in.
"Oi mates!" he growled.
"Sorry," Ruby said, but the turquoise sex bug wasn't really worried. Both she and her sister Gemcity ran up to Rachel.
"Girly, why the hell didn't you inform us that you were going into labor?" Gemcity scolded. "Don't you think we as your sisters want to know when you're giving birth. We would've wanted to be there!"
"Gemmy, calm down, your loud mouth is gonna wake the baby." Ruby grunted before she and her twin saw the yellow fuzz ball in her arms. Both girls squealed at the cuteness.
"Oh my Mother, he's sooooo cute!" They cooed in unison.
"I want to hold him!" Gemcity mindlessly reaches out for the baby.
Rachel let out a threatened snarl, holding her son away from him.
"I'm sorry but I don't want anyone touching him right now." Rachel grunted.
Igneous began making noises, making soft babbles, feeling his tiny claws grabbing handfuls of Rachel's fur.
Ruby sighed, shaking her head. "Gemcity, we talked about this. You can't really hold newborns, or just reach out for him."
"But I want to hold Iggy!"
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Girls for the last time, I'm not going to keep calling him Iggy. Iggy is not a really good nickname, even though it's too cute. Iggy is…." When she realized that the name Iggy was sticking, she glared at them. "I hate you two, so much."
The twins giggled.
"Sorry Gemmy, but I trust Ruby holding him more than you. You're a bit…too much."
"Plus out of the two of us, I have more experience with handling babies, you drop them way too much." Ruby said as Rachel began rocking him gently.. "Why do you think we talked about me being the Godmother?"
"We still will be raising him together!"
"Please, I don't want to have this conversation again," Rachel sighed. "That's only if something happens. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon…. It's just precaution."
"Confounded you two," Rachel's ears flickered when she heard the familiar voice and made her chuckle.
Walking in was Brimstone himself. He looked unamused. "When I went to pick you two up, I told you not to just storm in."
The twins made noises. "Not our fault you're getting too old to keep up with us."
He rolled his single good eye. "You two have no clue how much energy I still have. It may come as a surprise." He grumbled before looking at Rachel, seeing Igneous in Rachel' s arms.
Rachel giggled. "Instead of blocking the door, come meet your grandson, you old horse."
Rachel and Brimstone did have a talk after she returned. The two of them had a long talk about her and him being much closer than what they actually were. Brimstone being her father's stated that they had known for years but for reasons, they didn't reveal it to each other.
The three still had their distaste for Spike for him leaving but made it clear to not bring any of it up while the search continued.
Brimstone entered the room, he walked over to the girls and smiled fondly to see the baby dragon. "My dear, Rachel, he's beautiful."
Rachel nodded and smiled. "He's perfect." She whispered.
"Iggy's gorgeous." Gemcity giggled, trying to sneak her way to hold the baby.
Ruby retaliated by slapping her hands away. "Back. no."
Rachel glared at Gemcity. "Seriously?"
Brimstone made horse noises before turning back to the mother and son. "How are you feeling, dear?"
Rachel sighed before looking at Brimstone. "Tired. Pushing him out took a lot more out of me, but it's worth it." She kissed Igneous's head. Taking in his scent, he smelt like honey. "I bet Ember is going to let me rest for like two weeks before throwing me back out there."
"I swear, Ember needs to understand that you need to rest and bond with him." He said as Igneous suddenly sneezed.
A small tiny burst of purple fire shoots out of his mouth, nearly hitting Rachel in the face. Causing the twins and the stallion to jump a little.
"Oi, firebug, not in the face." Rachel grunted, however her annoyance quickly died out when Iggy began to cry and fuss. "Hey, I'm sorry to cut this visit short guys, but I'm a little tired. I'm going to feed Iggy and turn in. You guys can stay the night if you want."
"Aw but I wanna stay with the baby." Gemcity whimpered.
"No no, you heard the mother, let's leave." Brimstone said, having to usher them out. "Shoo shoo, both of you."
"Okay, okay, sheesh, don't be so pushy." Ruby snorted before the twins left.
Once the two left, Brimstone quickly returned to Rachel, placed a kiss on the side of her head. "You did a good job."
Rachel smiled. "Thanks…dad." She leaned her head against him. "Now get,"
The old stallion chuckled, patting her shoulders, gazing at the newborn one more time before he left. The stone door slid shut, leaving the two alone.
After giving her son a quick breast feeding, she was rocking him gently, humming a light tune, she would sing a lullaby but her mind had turned into mush to form stared down at him, seeing him with a satisfied smile, nuzzling up against her chest.
"I wish your father was here…I would be fighting with him just to hold you." Rachel let out a sad chuckle. Knowing full and well Spike would not be letting him out of his hands.
She turned her head towards the window. Seeing the millions of stars in the night sky. Remembering when the idea of rewriting the stars was a possible thought.
We will be together again…Rachel thought as she saw two shooting stars flying across the night sky.
As Rachel went to stand up to put Iggy in his bassinet that was right next to her large bed, she was suddenly started with a strange vibration coming from her horns, followed by a blue glow.
"Huh?" Rachel looked up and her eyes widened. There was an image above her head, surrounded by the same blue glow. The image was of three blue diamonds, the top diamond had brown horns and wings similar to hers and it was pulsating.
"Uh…what the actual f~"
SLAM!
Twilight Sparkle slams the stone door open wide, her wings expanded and her eyes were widened too, jumping Rachel out of her skin and the baby began wailing and crying.
"YOU GOT SUMMONED BY THE CUTIE MARK MAP!" she yelled loudly.
WHAT?!
Many, many miles from Equestria, inside of a dark hole, where it was getting hard to breathe, not enough space for him to fly out. No idea how long he had been in the dark. This pain on the right side of his neck was excruciating, trying to claw the device out but unable to get its metallic tendrils out, the device embedding deeply in the nerves vitals. Strong chains bound his hands to the ground, connecting to the mixed floor of metal stone and a puddle of his own blood.
It was a mistake, Spike had believed leaving was for the best, he didn't need his beloved mate to see him like this, all it did was bring him more pain than it's worth. Not only he wasn't with Rachel, but he was in a world of trouble, far away from help.
He shouldn't have ever left home, he shouldn't have ever left her… he should've seen that trap coming but he didn't.
Suddenly a blinding light pierced his eyes, causing him to let out a discomfort grunt. His eyes could barely register the blob of pink and spotted brown wearing a messy suit.
"LET ME OUT!" Spike roared at it, trying to pull the chains before shooting out a burst of green flames.
Letting out pig squeals out of surprise, jumping out of the fiery blaze. The figure takes out a device and presses a button.
Spike let out a pained scream as the thing on his neck activated with an ear-piercing ring and he was electrocuted. Unable to withstand the pain, he fell to his side, body convoluted as the electricity coursed through his nerves and vitals. The shocks lasted a straight two minutes before they stopped. Spike couldn't move his body, trying to keep his eyes open but it was a losing battle.
"Looks like we have to stew you in this hole for another few days, boy." the figure snorted before kicking the lid close, leaving Spike alone in the dark once more.