By the time the day had ended, the guards had found a total of eight Healers in the immediate district. I found that many of the doors in the tower's first level led to large bedrooms which I had cleaned up and given to the fifteen Dragon females Torch had kept hidden. To my further horror and disgust, I found shattered Dragon eggshells scattered on one of the edges, causing me to vomit right then and there. However, to my great relief, I found one very recent egg which looked like it hadn't been hatched at all, hidden in one of the cages. I quickly took it and had a Healer look at it. The Healer said that the egg was about a week old and needed heat immediately or else any hatchling within would perish. I ordered Lahar to fly the egg to the hatching grounds and place it aside from the rest. Ember explained to me that while traditionally, it was the Dragon Lord who was meant to keep watch over the hatching grounds, currently there was another Dragon there watching over them. I told Lahar to inform said Dragon to keep me informed as to the Dragon's status and to bring it directly to the island after it hatched.

After being treated and given soft and comfortable beds to sleep in and recover, the Healers gathered and informed me that thirteen of the Dragons were heavily malnourished and seven of those were very sick. They all showed signs of physical and heavy sexual abuse, and most of them would never be able to lay eggs ever again due to internal damage. I told them that whatever they needed would be provided by me, and they seemed to accept this. For the most part, the Healers had very kind and giving natures on their own. When I mentioned this to Ember, she explained to me that Healers, while necessary in the Dragon Lands, were seen as outcasts because of their kind nature. They were recluses, for the most part, keeping to themselves and mixing brews and salves in their caves. The more I heard about them, the more I drew plenty of connections between them and Zecora.

Of course, one of them, an older Dragon male with a somewhat twisted leg and who walked with a cane, had an attitude that reminded me heavily of Doctor House, at least, what little I'd seen of him on YouTube clips. He was perfect in dealing with the two females who had only recently become part of his hoard, the ones who had bite.

I had also been told that the Dragon Lord, in accordance with tradition, had been cremated and his belongings now belonged to me. I then remembered that sickening necklace he'd worn around his neck, and when I was told that was also part of his effects, I ordered that the remains be each placed in coffins and watched over until I could properly return them to their countries. Celestia and Luna had immediately teleported the Pony and Crystal Pony remains back to the Canterlot Castle Morgue, and I ordered the Dragon remains cremated with all honors attributed.

Before nighttime fell, Celestia and Luna ordered the Mane Six back to Ponyville, but not after a long farewell. Pinkie promised to make me a large Congrats On Becoming Emperor party when this entire affair was all over, which made me smile. The others wished me well and made me promise to write to them as often as I could until we saw each other again. Since Spike had insisted on staying with me, I promise that I would. However, Zecora, Scarlet, Gemini, Mica and even Sunset insisted on remaining behind to help me. I wasn't surprised that the first four wanted to remain behind, but when I asked Sunset why, she told me that she knew a bit more about Dragon culture than anyone else. Celestia acknowledged this as well. An idea for how Sunset could further help started forming in my head, but I let it keep for the time being.

After the Elements of Harmony left, and I realized I hadn't eaten in more than a day, I asked Ember if the Dragon Lands had food available for Ponies. She told me that there were some who did have vegetables in their diet, but she also mentioned that when she lived in the tower, her father had a personal chef and a small staff of Dragons. She led me to a massive kitchen which looked like it came out of a medieval castle: large cauldrons sitting over roaring fires, spits, cupboards with golden plates, cups, spoons, forks etc., and about ten worried but healthy looking Dragons all looking at me. I ordered a simple meatless meal for the Ponies who remained behind, and a meat-filled meal for myself, Ember and my Lycan guards.

Dinner was a quiet affair, for the most part. Zecora remained close by my side, her mere presence there a massive comfort to me as we ate. I had to admit, the spit-roasted pig (which Ember assured me was just a dumb animal when I asked) was prepared so well the meat melted in my mouth, and the potatoes they served were boiled in such a way that they tasted more like mashed potatoes. The chefs prepared a fruit salad as well as freshly baked bread and warm melted cheese to dip said bread into. The more extravagance I saw displayed in Torch's old home, the angrier I became, or I would have been had Zecora not been there to comfort me. Her presence through all of this had been a Godsend, if I was honest with myself.

After our dinner was finished, I went outside for a walk by myself, although Gemini and Mica insisted on coming with me. I ordered them to keep some distance so I could at least pretend to be wlaking alone. I was sitting on the shores, looking out at the setting sun when I heard Celestia and Luna walking up behind me. Celestia told me that they had extended the deadline of the Council of Equestria to begin in three days, December 14th. The two Princesses had told me earlier at dinner that they had to return to Equestria to prepare for said council and to give Cadance and Blueblood a break from running the normal court.

"It's been a very hard few days for everyone," I said as I stared out at the lake while the sun reached the western horizon. "I still can't believe it's only been four days since this shit started. It feels like a lifetime."

Celestia, who's horn was glowing now, nodded as the sun quickly descended. Afterwards she sat on the black obsidian sand beach on my left, with Luna on my right, both in a regal Ponyloaf form. In the high western sky, the moon was nearing its first quarter, and the Lunar Princess was staring at the moon's reflection in the lake. When the sun finally was below the horizon, Celestia moved closer to me. "These past four days have been extremely hard for everyone," she agreed. "You especially."

"Hey, don't think I haven't noticed the bags under your eyes. Both of you," I said, pointing at both of them.

Luna snorted. "Any lack of sleep is well worth your safety. You are a Knight of Equestria, still."

I frowned. "That'll conflict with my new duties as a foreign monarch," I pointed out. "I might have had this authority thrust upon me without permission, but now that it's mine, I'm not just going to shirk it." I stared out at the water for a while and sighed. "I've been thinking of making Ember into something like a Regent or like a Hand of the King from Game of Thrones."

The two Alicorns sat silently for a while. Then, Luna spoke up. "Delegation is a wise course of action for any ruler, especially in a situation where you know not the state of the land."

"Just don't put too much on her shoulders all at once," Celestia cautioned.

I nodded. "I know she can handle being a ruler if she's given the opportunity, and I believe she would be a friend of Equestria. Besides, having her on my side gives my new reign some legitimacy, don't you think?"

Celestia nodded. "Having royalty from the previous dynasty on your side would give reassurances to the Dragons." She leaned over and gave me a quick nuzzle before she slowly stood. "Now, may I speak to Emperor Jethro?"

Recognizing her shift in tone, I slowly stood and faced her, my head held up high. "You are speaking with him," I said.

Luna joined Celestia, standing by her side. The Solar Diarch lifted up her horn, and with a flash a sealed scroll appeared hovering between us. It floated towards me, and I took it in both hands. Breaking the seal, I opened it, and by the dimming light of the sunset, I read the following:

To his Esteemed Imperial Majesty Jethro Bethridge of the Dragon Lands,

You and one guest are cordially invited to attend the Council of Equestria, to be held on December 14 at the Palace of the Two Sisters near the Everfree Forest in order to discuss current events and to hopefully come to an agreement as to what can be done to ensure peace between our nations. It is my hope that recent events will not lead to any sort of conflict between any nation. Everyone's voice will be heard and every opinion taken into account. All we want is to undo the damage done to our nations. Please attend.

Best Wishes,

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of the Diarchy of Equestria

I held back my smirk as I slowly and carefully rolled the scroll back up, then faced both Princesses. Spreading my wings, I said, "Your Highnesses, I would be pleased to attend this Council. I will be there with my guest." Then, I dropped the new royal façade I'd been trying to maintain and grinned. "You didn't change the wording at all."

Celestia smiled warmly, then walked up and wrapped one foreleg and both her wings around me. "We didn't think we needed to change anything," she whispered in my ear gently before releasing me. As Luna herself wrapped her own wings and foreleg around me, Celestia continued. "No matter what happens, you will never stop being a Knight of Equestria. And our dear friend."

"She is correct," Luna said as she broke the hug. "And we can see your fear at being a ruler. So far, you have been exemplary."

"I hope I can keep on being that way," I replied, exhaling shakily. Then I stood straighter and faced them once more. "Until then, your Highnesses. Have a safe trip back."

They both smiled. "And you keep yourself safe here, your Grace," Celestia said as her horn began glowing. I saw a Phoenix land on her withers before they were both enveloped in a bright flash of light, leaving only their hoofprints on the sand as they teleported back to Canterlot.

"I hope I can," I said as I turned and walked back towards the tower entrance…

Half an hour later, I was back in Torch's room, lying on my bed. The fire was roaring in the fireplace, my new royal clothes were hanging carefully on a few hooks near the door, as was my sword and scepter, and Zecora was snuggled up close to my right, her muzzle buried in the crook of my neck. My arm was around her, my hand stoking her mane lovingly. To my left, Scarlet lay, already sound asleep and snoring very softly.

My eyes were just starting to close from exhaustion, when I heard Zecora whisper gently in my ear, "Are you asleep, beloved?"

"I almost was," I whispered back, pulling her closer to me. I repositioned myself so that I was spooning her and I kissed the nape of her neck. I felt her relax and her tail wrapped around me gently. As I stroked her mane once more, I continued, "How are you feeling about all this?"

Slowly, she turned around to face me. "Don't go trying to hide, I plea. It's how you feel that's important to me."

I smiled at her warmly, then my eyes began to water. She wrapped her forelegs around me and pressed me against her barrel as I finally just let loose. "I'm so sick of this," I whimpered. "I just want to go home. I want to go back to being just me! Does the universe hate me, or something?! I never wanted this! How the fuck am I supposed to be an Emperor! I'm not ready! I don't think I'll ever be ready! FUCK TORCH!"

Zecora stroked my hair lovingly. "Let it all out, my dearest love," she said softly. "I'm here. I will never leave you."

The floodgates opened, and I wept. Of course, I cried quietly since I didn't want to wake Scarlet, but when I felt another presence pressing against me from behind, I knew that wasn't gonna happen. So…I cried louder as both Scarlet and Zecora comforted me. The stress, the anxiety, the fury, everything I'd felt and kept hidden that day came bursting forth in that moment. Scarlet even wrapped her wings around me and Zecora.

No more words needed to be said. There was nothing more that could be said. I was frustrated. I was angry. I wanted to run and hide, but more than anything I just wanted my calm life back.

And that's how I fell asleep that night.

"So, basically, you're telling me that the Great Dragon Migration is a tradition to remember the time the Ruins of Dormog was finally abandoned and the Dragons retreated to the edge of Old Aelyssia territory?" I asked the next morning at the breakfast table. I was there with Zecora, Scarlet, Sunset, Spike, Gemini, Mica and Ember, who had been busy telling me a few important aspects of Dragon culture I might need to know during my speech to the Dragons later that day.

After I woke up earlier that day, I actually felt a lot better. Crying and screaming all of my frustrations out while being comforted by my marefriend and potential other marefriend had helped me calm down, and if that hadn't been enough, a good night's sleep definitely was what was called for. But now that I was awake and ready to face the day, there were plenty of other things I needed to get done before the Council resumed. I already knew who I was going to take with me as a guest, and all I needed to do was inform said Dragon.

Ember nodded in response to my query, taking a bit of sausage and swallowing before replying. "We follow the path that my Dad led us on when we escaped."

"Your Dad led you? Even though he was only a hatchling?" I asked.

Ember sighed. "He was the closest living relative of the Emperor's royal family," she said, "but just not close enough to be the Dragon Emperor, only Dragon Lord."

"What exactly is the difference between the two?" I asked before taking a drink of water.

"The Dragon Lord can rule in the Emperor's stead, but their authority can't supersede the Emperor's," Sunset Shimmer quickly explained.

Ember glared a bit at Sunset, clearly upset for being interrupted, but held her tongue as she nodded. "That's right."

"So, did Torch want the Sunsword so he could become Emperor?" Spike asked as he took another bite of a sapphire.

"That would make sense, at least in the context of whoever wields Eclipse is Emperor," I replied.

"Dad always hated that he would have to step down eventually," Ember said. "He had…a massive appetite for almost everything. Wealth. Power. Females, apparently." She spat out that last part with pure venom

I nodded sadly. "I'm sorry…"

"Don't you dare apologize," Ember said, glaring at me. "I was a fool to even try and be loyal to that bastard!"

"You aren't a fool," Spike said quickly in an attempt to be reassuring.

"He's right," I replied. "Loyalty in and of itself is never a bad thing. You just need to learn to be more discerning on who to give your loyalty to."

"Don't expect instant loyalty from me, Your Grace," Ember said, rolling her eyes.

"I'm not holding my breath," I chuckled as I took a bite of the large grilled breakfast sausage. Torch apparently had a big appetite, since his food stores were full of plenty of food and many gems Ember described as better than the average gem. We all ate in silence for a while before I asked, "Ember, I've got to call every Dragon back to the Dragon Lands. How do I do that?"

Ember swallowed some of her breakfast, wiped her mouth with the back of her claw then pointed to the Bloodstone Scepter that was currently standing upright in the chair next to me thanks in part to a spot in the chair where I could place the scepter. "Dad used that to issue the Call," she said. "I don't know how he did it. He never really told me. I remember him speaking to the Scepter sometimes, though. But I never knew what he was saying."

I looked at the Scepter, remembering what I'd done to try and find Ember earlier, although that had been instinctual. I reached out, wrapped my right hand around it and concentrated on it, trying to get a feeling for how to use the Scepter itself. As I concentrated on it, once more the gem began to glow. As it did, I spoke to it, but instead of using Old Draconic, I switched to an older Dragon language: Aelyssian. "Dragons of the Wide World, come to me. Your Emperor has need of your presence."

With that, a wave of magic spread out from the Bloodstone, spreading through the stone walls. When it impacted Ember and Spike, both of them began to glow, but not in quite the same way as the Call of the Dragon Lord. The glow was golden instead of just pure white. Ember looked at herself with amazement, then looked back at me. "It…doesn't itch. And it doesn't burn, either!" She sounded extremely relieved.

Spike looked at himself as well. Unlike Ember currently, he was actually now wearing some clothes. He had on a pair of dark brown slacks and a gray long sleeved shirt. The parts of him that were visible were glowing in a similar manner to Ember. He put down the half-eaten gem in his claw and rubbed his claw gently. "You're right…it doesn't!" he exclaimed.

"Maybe that's the Call of the Dragon Emperor," Sunset said as she took a small bite of her morning fruit salad.

"I wouldn't be surprised," I said as the doors to the dining hall opened and Lahar, also glowing, walked in.

"Your Grace," he said, bowing respectfully, then looking back at me. "I bring news from the Healers."

I had left instructions with Lahar and the rest of my guards to inform me if the Healers reported any change to my guests. "What is it?" I asked.

"One of the Healers told me to inform you that one of their charges is asking to speak to you, You Grace," Lahar reported.

I quickly wiped my mouth clean, grabbed the scepter and stood. "Take me to them," I said.

Lahar bowed, then turned and headed out into the hall. I strode after him, Zecora, Spike, Scarlet, Ember, Gemini and Mica following close behind me as we made our way down to the impromptu hospital. Lahar had found what was probably soldier's barracks the day prior, and after it had been cleaned with the help of everyone, all of Torch's former victims were moved into beds in the barracks. I gave orders that anything the Healers needed was to be provided.

The impromptu hospital was a massive rectangular cube of a room with approximately a hundred large beds placed against the walls on either side. There were crumbling wooden walls between each bed so that there was at least some semblance of privacy, although most had rotted away. Above each bed was an oil lamp which provided light during the night and at the other end of the room was an arched window which faced west, letting light in. Fifteen of the beds were occupied with the recovering slaves, many of whom were currently asleep. The only one who wasn't was the orange scaled Dragon I remembered as being the first one I freed the day before. The Doctor House-esque Dragon was using some sort of device to look into her ear. When he heard the door open, he turned and stood. "This one wanted to talk to you," he said, grabbing a large metal cane and limping over to another patient. "Keep it quick. She needs bedrest."

Lahar looked shocked at the attitude this Healer was giving me, and said, "He's our Emperor now! Show some respect!"

"Yeah, no. Respect is earned, not given," the Dragon said with a snarl.

I smirked, then said, "What's your name?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but it's Mantle," the Dragon Healer said.

"Mantle, huh? Good to know these women are in good hands," I said.

"Just don't expect them to come out to whatever meeting you just called," he scoffed as he sat next to another patient and began looking over her. "They're still too weak and sick to move."

"I wasn't expecting them to," I said as I turned away and back towards the large female Dragon who was sitting against a number of pillows. She was facing me with nervous eyes, but I raised my hand. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you like Torch did. Are you the one who wanted to see me?"

"Y-Yes, Your Grace," she said softly. Her voice was weak, but I could tell she had once had a very beautiful voice.

I took a seat on the stool next to the bed. I felt silly sitting there since I was too small for it and my feet hung down like I was on a stepstool. However, I made an effort not to show my embarrassment as I sat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zecora and Scarlet smirking in amusement, and I even caught a glint of humor in Gemini's normally stoic eyes. "What did you want to tell me?" I asked.

"I-I was wondering if…if you could help me find my children," she said.

"Oh?" My heart sank, believing she meant any of the eggs she might have laid that Torch smashed. "Um…listen, miss…?"

"Fumerole, Your Grace," she said, bowing.

I held up my hands. "Don't move around so much," I said. "And about your children…do you mean the eggs-?"

She fervently shook her head. "No, not them. I know what Lord Torch did to those eggs of mine he fertilized," she said bitterly, gritting her teeth. "Before…before he took me, I had two children. I beg you, Your Grace, help me find them!" She looked at me with tears in her olive-colored eyes. "I need to see them!"

I was taken a bit aback by this once more, but suppressed my surprise. There was genuine love and worry in her eyes. I nodded. "You have my word that I will do what I can to find your two children. May I ask their names?"

"I named them Garble and Smolder, Your Grace," she said.

I didn't react, simply nodded. However, inside, it clicked into place. She looked like an older Smolder, but with Garble's eye color. "Could you describe them for me?" I asked.

"Your Grace? Did they not appear in this entertainment that Eris spoke about?" Fumerole asked.

"Ah, so even in your cages you saw what Eris said," I said with a sigh. "Yes, both your children did appear in the My Little Pony show, but I wanted to be sure I was looking for the same ones."

Fumerole nodded, then went on to describe them. As I suspected, their coloring was identical to the ones I'd heard of from the show. When she finished, a tear fell from her eyes as she lay back. "I…I need to see them…before…before I…"

"Oh, shut up and rest," Mantle said, suddenly appearing on the other side of her bed. "You're not going to die, so just sleep and let your body heal itself." Mantle looked up at me. "You and your companions need to leave. You're disturbing the other patients."

Ignoring Lahar's incredulous glance at Mantle, I jumped off of the bench. "Sure thing, Reggie."

Mantle looked at me with some slight confusion. "My name's not Reggie."

"Hah! True enough, but your name reminds me of an old comic book character from my old world," I said as I grabbed my scepter and headed towards the door. Come along, everyone. Let's leave the Healers to their work." And with that, we all left the room, the massive double doors closing behind us with a loud bang.

Once again, it was high noon. An hour earlier, I had been fitted out with not only the same clothes I had worn the day before, but I was also being fitted once again with the armor I had fought Torch in, minus the close helm I'd worn. Instead, I was now wearing a crowned helmet that, according to Hestia, also belonged to the last Emperor. When I asked her why these fit me so well, she explained that the last Emperor had sadly perished only three years after ascending the throne during the siege of what eventually would become known as the Ruins of Dormog. He was only a youth when he perished, but even in those three years he'd done what he could to assure the continuation of the Dragon Race, including invoking lost Dragon magic to protect the city and keep and secretly having his family and the inhabitants of the city escape through hidden tunnels to freedom near the edge of Old Aelyssia.

I was sitting on a simple chair that itself sat on top of the broken throne in the middle of the former battlefield, watching as many glowing Dragons stood on the ledges that formed the natural coliseum surrounding the throne itself. Lahar had returned to my side, standing guard with both arms at his side. Even in this moment, Zecora refused to leave my side and sat on her haunches next to me on my left. Ember stood tall and proud to my right, with Sunset Shimmer and Scarlet sitting next to Zecora. Gemini and Mica were both standing a short distance off on either side of the stone chair I sat in, keeping a wary eye on the incoming Dragons. Spike was standing nearby too, armed with his dagger. The young drake never once suggested he wanted to be anywhere else, and insisted he come.

Finally, I looked out and didn't see any new Dragons appearing, so I grabbed the scepter, then looked at it. In Aelyssian, I said, "You have answered my summons." A large blast of magic burst outwards, and the moment the shockwave hit any Dragon, they stopped glowing. I stood, approached the edge of the Dragon Lord's former throne, and looked out at the gathered Dragons. Almost all of them had looks of derision and mistrust on their faces. Taking a deep breath, I bellowed out, using the Royal Canterlot Voice so I could be heard, "I am greatly pleased to see all of you here. Thank you for answering the royal summons. As many of you know, if not all of you, the former Dragon Lord Torch is dead, slain in battle by my own hand. In his dying words, not only did he name me ruler over the Dragon Lands, but he named me Emperor because of my claim to this."

I reached behind me and drew Eclipse, letting it glimmer in the midday sun. It gleamed brightly, and like the Sunsword had done during my fight with Torch, was surrounded immediately with a bright white aura, miniature solar prominences leaping out of said aura. The Dragons below now looked at either me or Eclipse in awe and shock. Now that I had their attention, I said, "Behold, the sword Eclipse, otherwise known as the Emperor's Blade. Forged from the Sunsword and Moonsword, this is the first time this blade has been seen in daylight since it was created two days ago." I turned to Ember and nodded at her.

Ember stepped forward, and bellowed out, "Listen up! We all know about Eclipse! We know that whoever wields it is the Dragon Emperor! Yes, this human isn't a Dragon, but he managed to defeat my dad the former Dragon Lord! You saw the size difference between them! Also, we all know what a fuck up my dad was! You think we could do any worse?!"

I smirked. I knew Ember wasn't one to mince words, and I could appreciate her honesty. Sheathing Eclipse, I turned back to the Dragons, many of whom were nodding their heads in agreement with their former Princess. "I don't know much about Dragon history," I admitted, "but I do know that you were once a strong race! Your former Emperors were capable of moving the sun and moon with the same amount of ease as the Diarchs of the Kingdom of Equestria have now! The Dragon Lands-no, Old Aelyssia was a magnificent land! Full of prosperity among each and every Dragon who lived back then! But now look at you! The Dragon race has fallen far and hasn't even attempted to rise back to its former glory!" I put my hand to my ear, cupping it as if listening to someone saying something. "I don't need to be a mind reader to know what you're thinking! 'Why do you care? You're not a Dragon! You're just some interloper who doesn't know a damn thing!' And you're right! I'm not a Dragon! But that doesn't mean I am going to shirk any of my responsibilities as your new Emperor! It is the duty of not only the Dragon Emperor, but any good ruler in general, to ensure that his subjects are kept safe! There's a perfectly good empty set of ruins just sitting and waiting to be restored and inhabited! Princess Ember told me about your migratory tradition earlier! You once fled from that city in shame, but I think it's time to return to it in triumph!"

"You talk a big game, but you're sitting up there with a bunch of Ponies!" a random Dragon called out. "We know you're a so-called Knight of Equestria!"

"You're right! I am! But I am also the Dragon Emperor," I replied. "That means something to me! I know your former leader wasn't loved, and I understand why, but I intend to try and bring great changes to the Dragon Lands."

"Old Aelyssia is dead!" another Dragon shouted at me.

"Again, you're right! I don't intend to bring the old Aelyssia back! I want to usher in a new era! An era where a Dragon doesn't have to suffer in search of a place to sleep! An era where you won't have to fear that your own leader will kidnap and rape your mothers and daughters! An era where peace can be assured! I'm not going to lie! This will require plenty of work. The Ruins of Dormog might have stood for over a thousand years without major damage, but they still need to be tended to and upgraded! I don't want to see another Dragon in the state I found Torch's victims in ever again!"

"Listen to him!" a new voice said from behind me as a Dragon landed. Startled, I turned only to see a determined looking Fumerole. She looked weak, but she still walked beside me. Ember moved aside, looking as shocked as I felt. The orange female Dragon looked down at the gathered crowd, who took in her appearance with a look of horror. Despite her looking ill and beaten, she still stood tall and proud and looked down at me with a kindly expression. "His Grace not only freed me and fourteen others from our cages, but found Healers to help bring us back to ourselves! He even promised that he would help me find my children, Garble and Smolder! He might not be a Dragon, but he has our best interests at heart!"

As murmurs spread through the crowd, I saw two smaller Dragons flying up towards the throne. I turned, ready to fight, but stopped when I saw a young orange scaled and purple finned Dragon with aquamarine eyes, along with a dark crimson teenage Dragon with orange fins and a few holes in his wings, both flying up towards us. "MOM!" Smolder called out as she rushed into her mother's waiting arms.

Fumerole started tearing up as she hugged her daughter close. "Smolder…my darling baby…"

When Garble landed nearby, he was holding back his own emotions as best he could. "H-Hi, Mom," he said softly.

Fumerole turned to face her son. "My strong young Dragon," she said happily as she reached out to him. "You've taken care of your sister for me very well. I'm so proud of both of you."

Unable to hold back, Garble rushed to his mother and hugged her, tears of joy and relief being shed.

I watched all of this, unable to stop from smiling. I couldn't help but be glad of their reunion. Behind me, I heard another Dragon land. Turning, I saw Mantle, panting heavily. "Ugh…patients never know what's good for them," he grumbled as he walked over to Fumerole. "What the hells do you think you were doing?"

"I came to help my new Emperor," she replied with a growl. "And to see my children again!"

"Well, you need bedrest! You won't get any better if you just go flying around. Now, come on!"

"Not without my babies," Fumerole insisted, pulling her two children close to her.

"You willful little…fine. Fine! They can come! Now let go!" Saying that, he grabbed her, lifted her up in his arms and flew away, Garble and Smolder following close behind, but not before Smolder turned to me and bowing reverently.

"Certainly wasn't expecting that," I muttered to myself before facing the Dragons again. I froze when I saw the looks on their faces. Almost all of them had a look of awe on their faces, and some even had a small look of respect on their faces. Clearing my throat, I continued, "To continue, I also wanted to say that I am well aware of the recent troubles that Dragons have gone through in the past month! What Eris has done will not go unanswered!" I held up the scroll Celestia gave me the night before. "I have been summoned to represent the Dragon Lands in the newly formed Council of Equestria in order to discuss not only this event, but how to better cooperate in the event of a world wide catastrophe like what Eris did to us! Yes, I said us! As your Emperor, your safety is paramount to me! I'm sure you still don't trust me, and that's fine! None of you wanted this, but as your Emperor I'm going to make sure all is put to right! LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!" And with that, I held up Eclipse, pointing it towards the sky.

I was surprised when almost all the Dragons began to shout, "LONG LIVE EMPEROR JETHRO! LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!"

"And you thought you weren't leader material," Spike smirked, nudging me.

"Oh, shut up, Dragon boy," I replied out of the corner of my mouth.

"As you wish, Your monkey man Grace," Spike chuckled.

Slowly, I sheathed Eclipse, and held out the Bloodstone Scepter. "In due time, when the Council of Equestria is ended, I shall begin to make preparations for the triumphant return of the Dragons to Dormog! The years of wandering through the desert is over! Very soon, you shall return to the Promised Land!"

Every Dragon was shouting now. Screams of "Long live Emperor Jethro!" and "Glory to the Empire!" could be heard everywhere. I still couldn't quite believe what I was seeing, but I maintained a stoic appearance. Of course, all I could think now was, What have I done?

I might not be able to upload this weekend due to power outages in my area.