Ember loves being able to conquer other creatures with her friendship – rather than having to use force. Even so, she loves having a safe way to enjoy a rampage – to show that she could be a ferocious conqueror if she wanted to. One day, Celestia wanted to do some landscape renewal for her kingdom. It would also double as a big Nightmare Night prank. For this job, she wanted none more than Dragon Lord Ember!

Ember could hardly believe her ears. A foreign ruler … inviting a dragon to destroy parts of her own kingdom? And offering the magic to become a giant monster?! But why? asked Ember. She was very confused.

Equestria’s landscape had become infected with urban sprawl, and with it a big rise in crime. Sunburst theorized that cities should not exceed 300 creatures. Beyond that, it becomes too difficult to know one another well. And without a solid community, those who want to cause trouble have far more power to do so. Starlight forwarded these findings to Twilight and Celestia … and that was when the fun-loving cake-eating Princess got some big ideas. Really big ideas.

Celestia also invited Ember’s boyfriend – King Thorax. She brought the two friends to the Crystal Empire, and she presented the parts of the land that she wanted to reshape. Celestia said, “Destroy this land to your hearts’ content! Burn some cities! Crush some mountains! Tonight, you can have your friends and eat them, too!” For a moment, Ember and Thorax were worried that Celestia wanted them to destroy many of her own subjects. Celestia laughed and explained – the magic of friendship would allow them to act out their destructive fantasies and give everyone a good time. They wouldn’t be causing any major trouble.

Standing under the Crystal Castle, Ember and Thorax received a sudden burst of power from the Crystal Heart. Suddenly, it seemed they had been transported to another place. They looked down toward the ground. It seemed as if they were floating miles above the land, judging by how tiny the cities and mountains seemed to be. Then Ember saw that her feet were on the ground – and Thorax saw that his hooves were on the ground.

This was amazing! Ember and Thorax were far bigger than they could have imagined. Each of them could destroy a downtown with one stomp – along with much of the surrounding area! Ember could hardly wait to show off her feet – and grind a metropolis into dust. She could hardly wait to show off her fire breath – and rain a storm of fire onto a defenseless city. And to think – everyone will still be alive and well!

The sun was down, and the sky was glowing a beautiful twilight. It set the perfect mood for an evening of romance – and apocalyptic destruction. Ember and Thorax could see the lights of many cities and towns. The urban sprawl looked like sand and dirt for Ember to dig her toes into. No wonder Celestia wanted this metropolis destroyed, remarked Ember. The light pollution was a grave offense to nature. And the natural environment had been mostly destroyed. Ember had to admit, the metro looked kind of pretty in its own right, a testament to what little ponies could engineer. But it would look even prettier once it was reduced to her footprints!

Thorax himself had to admit, he enjoyed causing an apocalypse with each casual step. Too many times, he has felt like a pushover. Being able to put his hoof down – and everyone helpless to do anything about it – that gave him a great sense of relief. As for actively destroying things, Thorax wasn’t nearly as excited as Ember. Even so, he loved watching his little girlfriend having fun. It felt so cute to him, seeing her beautiful body dominating the landscape, a great force of nature raining her punishment onto the urban sprawl below. His favorite thing to do was to be her big and supportive boyfriend, handling her with all gentleness, even as she stomped on millions of tiny ponies.

Finally, Ember started to get tired. The fun was wearing her out. By that time, she had caused all the apawcalypse she’d ever wanted. She had crushed all the cities she’d ever wanted – burned all the cities she’d ever wanted – and crushed all the mountains she’d ever wanted. Now she just wanted to sit back and admire her new landscape … with her big boyfriend cuddling with her … along with thousands of admirers caught under her feet and between her toes.

Ember picked up the charred and melted remains of a city she’d burned to the ground. She could hardly believe it – but everypony was alive and well. Their fur was blackened by her firestorm – but they looked up with great admiration – that their great Dragon Lord could be so ferocious yet spare every creature! If she really wanted to seize them for herself, they would be happy to serve her.

In the end, everypony had to admit, this was the greatest Nightmare Night prank ever – even greater than the one pulled by Smolder (see “Smolder’s Urban Renewal”)! For Ember and Thorax, it was one of the greatest nights of their lives. If the magic of the Crystal Heart was anything to go by, it shouldn’t be long before they become husband and wife!

Ember really wants to be a mother for her fellow dragons. The more she’s learned the magic of friendship, the more she appreciates that she needs other dragons’ goodwill to wield her Dragon Lord scepter effectively. Moreover, she’s learned that all races of creatures are valuable. Creatures of all races are worthy to join her army, and be her faithful subjects. The compassion she shows Spike, she has started to show to others at least as vulnerable as him.

Ember recalls the kindness her father has shown her. Her father wasn’t normally affectionate, and he wasn’t always nice with his words or rules. However, he was fairly gentle with her. He could have crushed her like a bug if he had wanted to – but she was his precious gem. Ember wishes she could see all creatures as precious things. The more that Ember senses the devotion of creatures who admire her, the more she appreciates that they have her best interests at heart. This is what she seeks in her future children.

Art by Rai-Kun. Slightly edited by me.