“Ready, sir?” asked Tacki as he finished buttoning his uniform.
“You bet!” exclaimed Lucky Find as he stared towards the horizon.
Lucky Find and Tacki had just reached the Equestrian outpost of Caldera, which was a small town mainly populated by members of Celestia’s royal guard. Beyond its walls was a vast, scorched landscape in which had long been noted as dragon territory. It was for this reason that Princess Celestia sent special orders along with Lucky Find and Tacki instructing General Gallop to allow them access beyond the outpost so they could go about their special mission of better understanding dragons and, with any luck, befriending them.
“General Gallop seems uncertain of our success,” stated Tacki as he hopped upon the orange-colored, earth pony’s back.
Lucky Find nodded as he replied, “I guess we’ll just have to show him what a little bit of luck can do.”
The red, baby dragon smiled as he proudly proclaimed, “That’s right, sir!”
The pair continued along while taking notice of all the sulfurous springs, lava flows, and scarce amount of edible greenery along with drinkable water.
“This is quite different than what I’m used to,” stated Lucky Find as he waved his hoof in front of his nose.
Tacki breathed in the strong scent of sulfur and brimstone before letting out a gentle sigh.
“No disrespect, sir,” he said. “But, I must say I feel right at home in these surroundings.”
Lucky Find smiled as he replied, “Well, little buddy. If you like it that must mean we are on the right track to finding your brothers and sisters!”
Tacki cooed at the thought of soon seeing some of his own kind. It just seemed too good to be true that, perhaps around the next turn, he could come face-to-face with a dragon who had not been Equestrian born. Perhaps, if he was really lucky, he might even find his real parents and show them how ponies can be befriended and make his success with Lucky Find a real family affair.
As the two traveled along, Tacki opted to remove his uniform in lieu of how “It just felt right.” Lucky Find was most certainly okay with this as, for him, it meant they must be getting close to where all the dragons were.
The sun was about to set when the pair came to a fork in the road.
“Sir!” cried Tacki as he pointed towards the sky. “Twilight comes and I feel it best we make camp soon.”
“Good thinking,” stated Lucky Find. “How’s about we take one more path before calling it a night?”
Tacki shook his head as he stated, “No disrespect, sir. However, the sun will soon set and we may not be able to locate a suitable spot in which to take cover for the night.”
“I hear you, buddy,” said Lucky Find. “However, something is just telling me we need to go…”
Lucky Find raised his hoof and pointed between the left and right routes before angling himself towards the right and trotting ahead.
“This way!” he finally proclaimed.
“But, sir,” stated Tacki. “This route appears quite narrow and would offer us little to no maneuverability if we come across any hostiles.”
“Hostiles?” wondered Lucky Find. “You really think your brothers and sisters would be hostile?”
Tacki blinked his eyes as he thought for a moment and began to smile.
“No, sir!” he proclaimed proudly. “Let us carry on!”
The pair traveled for about five minutes down the narrow path until Lucky Find suddenly tripped over a rock.
“Oof!” gasped Lucky Find as he stumbled forward.
“Sir!” cried Tacki as he ran in front of his friend to help him keep on his hooves. “Are you alright?”
“Aah!” a voice cried from above.
“SIR!” shouted Tacki as he pulled his wooden sword.
“Whoa!” cried Lucky Find as he suddenly felt a heavy object land on his back followed by another. Both seemed to make sounds as they plopped on him and rolled to the side.
Tacki couldn’t guard against both of the assailants, but he did promptly get the drop on the tallest one.
“Friend or foe!” he cried as he pointed his weapon towards whatever the blue, green, and white creature was before him.
“Please!” cried the creature as it rolled over. “Please don’t eat her!”
“Eat her?” wondered Tacki as he turned and noticed a small Pegasus pulling herself to her feet.
“A pony?” he wondered. “Here?”
“Hey!” greeted Lucky Find as he pulled himself up and spotted the black coated and orange maned Pegasus.
The Pegasus seemed to quiver as she was addressed by Lucky Find.
“You… You?” she asked with disbelief as she looked at her hoof. “You’re just like me…”
“Minus the wings,” added Lucky Find with a laugh.
FWOOM!
Tacki had been distracted by the mysterious Pegasus to the point he didn’t realize the creature he had his sword to had unfurled its wings and was about to pounce on him.
“Don’t hurt her!” it cried as it tackled Tacki to the ground.
CRINKLE-CRINKLE
The familiar sound of a diaper made both Tacki and the creature stop and face each other.
“You’re…?” asked Tacki in a hopeful tone.
“A hatchling…?” the young, blue dragon wondered as he gazed down upon Tacki.
There was a moment of awkwardness as the Pegasus didn’t know what to say to Lucky Find and Tacki didn’t know what to say to the blue, baby dragon before him.
ROAR!
“They’re coming!” the green eyed dragon cried as he quickly picked up his lute and put his green cap back on his head. “Run, Nana! Run!”
“Wait!” cried Tacki as Lucky Find reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small, yellow gem.
“Get on my back!” cried Lucky Find as he tossed the gem out towards where a number of large shadows were beginning to come into view.
SHING-POOM!
Lucky Find and Tacki were galloping off as the gem exploded with a light as bright as that of a phoenix’s flare. Lots of roaring could be heard as the light enveloped the entire canyon and covered the pair’s escape.
The pair dashed away from the impending danger until they suddenly caught up with the blue hatchling and young Pegasus.
“Wait!” cried Lucky Find.
“We’re friends!” proclaimed Tacki.
“Friends?” the diaper-clad, blue dragon thought aloud as he began to slow down.
“Toroth?” asked Nana as she wondered why her green-shirted colleague was falling behind her.
Seconds later, the four were gathered together under the cover of one of the few shade trees that made up the region.
“Why are you running?” asked Lucky Find.
Toroth sighed as his diaper grew heavier before replying, “They want to eat my Nana.”
“And I don’t want to be eaten!” added Nana with fear in her eyes.
Tacki inspected the two. Nana seemed quite afraid and was quivering while Toroth was obviously putting on a strong face for his companion despite the fear that could be read all over his face. His diaper also suggested they had been on the run for quite awhile and that he could benefit from a change.
“You look in need of a fresh diaper,” stated Tacki. “Might Lucky Find and I offer an assist?”
Toroth sighed as he fell with a squish onto the ground.
“That would be nice,” he replied with a blush.
As Lucky Find and Tacki worked together to change Toroth, they got the blue dragon to share his story with them. Apparently, Toroth had taken quite a liking to the lute upon realizing how soothing and fun it could be as his mother played one to him to help him sleep. Since his mom didn’t want him to use her obviously oversized lute, she and Toroth’s father fashioned one that would be just his size so he could practice what he had come to enjoy so much.
Toroth didn’t like how the other yearlings made fun of him for how he liked to play an instrument over participating in dragon battles. So, he found a secluded place near the forest to practice playing his beloved instrument while his mom and dad were out hunting. It was here that he was greeted by a young Pegasus pony. The music seemed to call to her and Toroth liked the attention. So, the two eventually developed a plan to meet every day as the sun was about to set to share in music and friendly adventures.
Nana continued telling the story as she explained how she didn’t know how she ended up in such a dangerous place. All she remembers is being up in the air until suddenly crashing to the ground. Fortunately, she felt the fall was slowed by something, presumably her wings, before landing in the very forest she and Toroth had met in. It was here she got her first lesson in survival as she was attacked by a monster. She ran and ran until she found cover in an unused burrow that she soon made into her home.
Toroth seemed most delighted in the Equestrian diaper he had been changed into. It was far more comfortable than the diapers he and other yearlings he had met often wore. Moreover, the scent was very soothing and reminded him of his mom. This made him cry a bit as he finished the story by sharing how, on this very day, he and Nana had met up for their daily fun until they were suddenly surrounded by a group of older dragons. They were apparently heading into the forest to do a raid when they spotted Toroth. The initial intention was to pick on the still diapered yearling. However, one of the dragons spotted the dark colored Pegasus hiding behind a tree and the new plan became to have a little snack before doing what they were going to doo on their raid. It was at this point Toroth used his fire breath, which was more of a smoke, to distract the raiders as he and Nana ran for their lives.
“Nana?” wondered Lucky Find. “That’s an interesting name.”
“Toroth named me,” she replied. “He said I was his Nana and I liked it as it reminded me of what I so badly want to do.”
“What’s that?” asked Tacki.
The Pegasus seemed more relaxed and more determined as she replied, “Find my parents!”
ROAR
Although the sound of an adult dragon seemed far off, Tacki felt it was best that they all make their way back to Caldera so they could better get to know each other under safer circumstances. So, after a quick diaper change on Tacki’s part, the group headed back to the Equestrian outpost.
It was nearly dawn by the time the group reached the gates of Caldara. At first, the guards were reluctant to let Lucky Find and Tacki back in. However, the sight of a young Pegasus with a sleeping, baby dragon on her back made them quickly reconsider.
Nana was amazed to discover how there were other ponies just like her living in the area. For years, she was the only one of her kind she had ever seen in the forest she inhabited and seeing such an abundance of ponies living under such comfortable conditions amazed her.
Lucky Find and Nana took Tacki and Toroth up to the local inn so they could get the sleep they needed as they met with General Gallop. Although the General wasn’t overly pleased about another dragon in his outpost, he was quite excited over learning of a Pegasus pony who had survived under such harsh circumstances. Since Lucky Find and Nana both were in desperate need of some sleep themselves, they decided to meet in the inn’s diner that night to catch up on all that had happened since Lucky Find and Tacki crossed over the border.
That evening, Tacki and Toroth spent lots of time talking about their respective lives and experiences as Lucky Find and the General brought Nana up to speed on what it was to be a pony and how they would work to acclimate her back to Equestrian life.
It was apparent now that a number of new adventures were ahead for Lucky Find and Tacki. Could befriending Toroth be the key to making relations with the dragons? Would Nana ever find her parents? Was it possible that Tacki and Toroth were actually brothers? Do boots really look good on a dragon? All these questions, and more, can only be answered through further adventuring in, and around, Caldara and that is just what the four intended to do in both the name of Celestia and brotherhood.