//------------------------------//
// Chapter Two  
// Story: The Dragon And the Reaper 
// by Silver_Charmer 
//------------------------------//

Confusion& Memories 
Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult task.
~Isaac Watts 
Draco awoke to a warm bed and a well rested body; this was confusing to Draco since the last time he ever felt this feeling was… back home...
At the thought of his home village, Draco shot up out of the bed he was in and looked around.
What he saw confused him even more. It was a large stone room with a iron reinforced oak door, a small table with two chairs all master crafted to its finest quality all placed in front of a medium sized fireplace with a carved stone bust of Sombra. 
Draco was cut short by his observation of the room by ragged breathing from across the room. There in a second bed identical to his own, was the tall colt that he saw at the town.
Then he realized the pegasus colt wasn’t in the best shape of his life, he looked like a skeleton for a second or two. Draco carefully walked towards the mysterious Pegasus in hopes of getting a better look at him.
He looked worse than he first thought; he looked like he was almost all skin and bones with large bruises & cuts all over his body. On a even closer inspection their was a short purple horn sticking out above his right hoof.
“My god.” That was all he could utter under the shock of seeing this colt like this. “How is he even alive” said Draco aloud.
As if on cue, the tall colt’s eyes shot open to reveal a pair of deep rose colored eyes filled with shock, misery, and fear.
The ghoulish looking pegasus looked over at Draco, fearing for another beating and
with fear evident in the younger colt’s eyes, he jumped out of his bed and lashed out in pure fear and fury throwing a punch with his newly acquired horn. The blow connected to the strange dragon pony’s jaw and sent him stumbling back a few steps.
“What the hell..., how can this sack of bones throw a punch that hard?!” Draco thought to himself. Then he looked at the foreleg of the colt that hoofed him in the jaw with, it had a faint aura of the deep rose of the colts eyes around his right foreleg. It seemed similar to the aura that surrounds a unicorn’s horn before they cast a spell.
“What the hell, How can he use magic?!” Draco thought to himself, beginning to worry about the situation he found himself in.
“I’m not gonna take your shit anymore, I’m tired of the beatings and the pain.’ said the white pegasus trying to fight the exhaustion brought about by using his new power.
“What the hell are you talking about, I don’t even you!” Draco exclaimed, “So why the hell would I try and hurt you!”
“STOP FUCKING LYING, I won’t be pushed around anymore! Never again shall I be the weaker one.” Said the boney colt, anger apparent across his features as he shot forward with his magical enhanced hoof. Draco barely had the time to dodge the hate filled attack, and when the white pegasus hit the ground where Draco used to be, it made a small crater in the solid stone floor.
Draco’s eyes widened in fear at this. “What the hell is making this colt so strong?!” Draco thought to himself through dodging magic enhanced hoof attacks. Then it hit him (Metaphorically), this colt was using whatever kind of power he acquired when he took that bastard Crull’s magical force!
Draco watched as the skeletal pegasus magic aura around his right hoof begin to fade leading to him to start slumping over onto the floor breathing heavily. 
“This is my chance!” Thought Draco as he rushed forward and tackled the sickly colt with all he had. They were sent tumbling towards the door and they grappled on the ground. Obviously Draco won out and pinned the rose eyed colt to the ground and stared directly into his fearful pain filled eyes.
“Why,” the colt started weakly but got louder as he spoke, “WHY DOES EVREYPONY ALWAYS WANT TO HURT ME!!!” Yelled the bone white pegasus between sharp breathes as he tried to break free from Draco’s grasp, but lead to no avail.
“I’m not gonna hurt you as long as you calm the fuck down!!” exclaimed Draco trying to calm the pegasus down.
“Why should I trust you? You’ll just try to make me bleed for your amusement like everypony else!” He said with a pain filled voice.
“Because from what I can see from your appearance, I’m like you.” Draco continued, “I’ve lived the life of fear! Brought to this world unknowing as to why everypony hates the unknown and the abnormal. I too was forged by hatred from those god forsaken pony in that blasphemous village!” 
The younger colt calmed a bit at hearing that somepony had experienced a measure of the pain he had to go through his entire life. But then he remembered that the other foals would try and trick him to let his guard down to hurt him.
“I don’t believe you, no one is that kind to me, it’s impossible!” said the bone white pegasus believing the lies told to him by the orphan mother. "That’s what the other foals and the orphan mother said.” he sadly mumbled 

Draco looked at the tall frail colt before him. “Is he serious, does he really believe that?" the draconic pony thought to himself. 
“Do you really believe that? You’ve just lived under the assumption that nopony could ever love and be kind to you?” Said Draco in a shocked tone. “Do you really believe that you would never make friends, find a family and get your life on track?”
“If you really were in the same situation as me, you wouldn’t be so optimistic.” Phantom whispered in an agitated tone. “Why is he even bothering to talk to me, I should be bleeding by now.” Thought the taller colt.
“Well why don’t you tell me about your situation and well go from their?” said the Dragon pony in a calm voice trying to coax the other colt into calming down.
“Wha-, you… you would let me talk to you? Said a shocked voice, obviously not expecting the kindness this colt was treating him with. “And you would listen?” 
“Well of course, There’s no point in asking if I’m not gonna listen.” Said the dark brown draconic colt. "But first I guess I should get off of you right?" 
Draco got off of the pegasus and helped him up, they looked at each other for a full minute before Draco started to speak. “Why don’t we sit down at that table over there?” He said in a calm voice.
As they sat down, they were both unsure of what to say. Neither one of them ever had any "friendly" social interactions before.
“So, W-what’s your name?’’ asked the ghoulish looking pony.
“Oh, I’m Draco, Draco Zmaragdus.” He said in a friendly tone, ”What’s your name.”
A look of uncertainty was brought upon his face as he knew he couldn’t answer Draco’s question. But as he was about to say that he didn’t know, a voice in the back of his head whispered two words to him that seemed to… fit!
“Phantom, Phantom Reaper.” He said with a sure look in his eye. ”I-I’m sorry I punched you earlier.” The newly named pegasus said with an apologetic tone.
“Hey don’t worry about it; I’m sure we can both look pretty frightening eh? Draco said with a chuckle as he flashed his fangs. “I mean you look like a walking skeleton, no offense, and I look like a bat-dragon-pony-abomination-thing. Or so I’m told hehe.”
Phantom smiled at this, he had never been insulted in a jokingly way. It was quiet funny to him actually. Then his smile disappeared when Draco asked his next question.
“So what’s your story Phantom?” He said in a curious tone. Not knowing that he had struck a soft spot of Phantom’s.
With a sigh the pegasus began to respond. “Well it’s not a story for the faint hearted mind you." But, I digress... I was told that my mother died because of my birth and my father left me at an orphanage saying in the note he left on the doorstep said I was a bastard child and whoever I touch would be cursed and I should be raised in a living hell hole for who I killed.”
“The orphan mother was such a stupid bitch, that she heeded these words and made my father’s wishes a reality.” While growing up in that hell hole of an orphan home, I was always treated with disgust and distain.” My fellow orphans where instructed to take turns hitting and beating on me.” And calling me names like dæmon or monster when I did nothing wrong.”
“Most of time, I was locked up in the cellar and playing with spider webs and dust bunny’s when I wasn’t out begging for food in town.” But because of that I am able to navigate in the dark extremely well.”
“So, if I had anything to show from living there, it’s that.” Phantom completed his story. “And there’s no point in telling you the rest because you know the rest.” He said as he looked back towards Draco
Draco throughout the story had conflicting emotions about the whole ordeal, between sorrow for the young colt’s torture, to the shock and anger towards the orphan mother and the other orphan’s.
“Damn, I’m almost sorry for ask’n, but it’s good to let these things out every once and a while.” Said the brown draconic colt looking straight into the pony’s eyes for further effect on his apology.
“I-its fine, your right though, It does feel good to talk about it.” Phantom said while looking into the fire. “Could you tell me about your own past? I’d like to get to know you better.” He said to Draco unsure if that was the right thing to say to somepony you just met.
“Well I guess I do owe you that much, seeing you just did tell me a lot about you.” Draco said rubbing the back of his neck.
“Well all of it actually.” Phantom accidently blurted out then smiling sheepishly.
“Really, All of it?!” Draco said in a slightly angry voice from hearing this.
“Well if I told you all of it, I’d be repeating myself A LOT.” Said Phantom slightly ashamed for telling his new friend that.
Draco sighed at this a little disgusted by the treatment given to the six year old. If it wasn’t safe to say that he was glad that he was away from that place, it was now.
“It’s alright Phantom.” The scaly unicorn said now knowing how much that his new younger friend had to go through his entire life. At least he had his parents in tell he was Phantom’s age, But this colt had to deal with his father blaming him for his mother’s death and condemning him to this horrid fate.
Noticing that Draco was just staring off into space, he decided to wave a hoof in front of his face to snap Draco out of his thoughts.
“Oh, sorry Phantom… I just got a little lost in thought that’s all.” He said a little angered of his own behavior in front of his first new friend.
“As I was saying.” Draco continued to Phantom. “I guess I owe you as story, and a big one at that.” 
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"I came from a small but powerful citadel like village deep in the Everfree forest called Ryudo where my race lived. We called ourselves the dragon blessed due to our appearance and connection to the draconic spirt. We lived in peace with the forest and each other for many centuries but four years ago that was all destroyed and I alone am the lone surviver of that. massacre...".
“We were a relatively young race most of us were too stubborn to follow a leader, but eventually my father Draconus Ryudo, A tall Unikronogon with a dark red coat and a black mane with gold streaks running through it, a long braded tail and average sized wings with dark gold and black scales on his forelegs. He had yellow eyes and a few war scars on his body. He is the chieftain of our city state was able to unite the clans and made a mighty army, said to rival the griffon kingdom in strength to number ratio. Draco stated the last part in a boastful tone. “And with the help of our dragon brethren in the Everfree, we were able to conquer the entire Everfree forest in about five years from the clutches of the Griffon Empire and the Celestial knights that have plagued us for years.”
“Anyway, my father was a good leader and a great warrior with good tactical prowess, but…” Draco trailed of for a moment. “He was a horrible husband and father, he always beat my mother and he pushed me, my brother, and sister too hard in the arts of killing.” He had plans for each of us.
“My eldest brother Dracolus, a well-built Unikronogon with a crimson coat and a short cut chestnut brown mane and a long tail with coffee colored lines in it.” His wings where large, He had dark orang scales that matched his eyes.” He was supposed to be his houscarl and second in command for his amazing brawn and charisma,”
“ My older sister Dracona, a short (for them) Unikronogon with a dark purple coat and a pine tree green mane with red eyes and scales with average  sized wings.” She was supposed to be his court wizard and Brigadier General for her amazing mastery in magic and outstanding I.Q.”
“And I was supposed to be his dragon trainer and master of the pack for the non-sapient dragons sense I had a ancient ability to communicate with animals.” Said Draco thinking back. “I think I was the only one to have that ability sense Azourgould, the founder of the Clan of Hunt, but were getting off topic.” Said Draco looking back at an intrigued Phantom. 
“As I was saying, my father was cruel and cold, but the village needed him to lead them so i tolerated his behavior towards me and my siblings.” He did mold us into what he desired though; he made use strong and dependable in our respected fields.” Draco said.
“He got his uses out of use and he exalted us to very high spots in the Dradric Court. “Life was not bad, nor was it good; it was a boring routine with work, train, study, eat sleep.” Draco droned, bored at the very thought of it.
“But life changed on that day, my thirteenth birthday.” Draco said with a hint of sadness in his voice. “The day everything went to hell.”
Flashback four years ago 
Draco sat in his dragon cave meditating with the pack of dragons he was training, “These will be my finest pack yet.” Draco thought to himself while looking over the three dragon pups before him. 
The first dragon, Felious was a green wind dragon with two straight horns jutting out in front of his head, with triangle shaped snout plate going up to his eyes and the turning a tenth of the size to cover the rest of the body, with golden eyes and golden short curled claws and a long tail with two gold colored scale blade running along the length of it. he had massive wings with small horns on the jointed parts of them. He had a kite shield shaped breast plate and spiked shoulder plates made all of his scale, powerful hind legs for taking off on a moment’s notice.
The second dragon, Electrose, was a tall blue lighting dragon with white streaks going through the blue scales; he had a myriad of horns all over his body. With four spiky lightning bolt shaped horns on his head angled back from his front his body set was more ridged and sharp than the wind dragon next to him as was his scales, he had a spine horns sticking out of is back going to the end of his tail with long narrow wings meant for speed and agility. His scales were like sharp threads going along his entire body all pushed back for speed. He was the fasted of the pack without a doubt, but was not the most gifted endurance; he had long lightning bolt shaped white claws and fangs with a forked tongue like all lightning dragons do
The third, Dionma, was the smallest but most agile of the group, she was a purple poison dragon with black cloud shaped blotches on her scales she had two medium sized curled horns on her head, she had small diamond shaped scales that had little poison barring spikes in the middle, she had long fangs and curved wings for slow but steady flight so when flying over the battle field she can blow a large amount of poison gas evenly above her enemys. She had red eyes and matching curved claws. 
She was by far the hardest to tame, seeing her kind are so rare there aren’t any notes on taming them, “In tell now.” Draco thought to himself proud of his work. 
He was interrupted by a voice behind him “Lord Draco, Lord Draconus wishes an audience with you in the garrison at once! Said the guard, panting a little from flying so fast to the dragon cave.
“Alright what’s the emergency?” Draco questioned the guard. “My dragons aren’t ready to go to battle yet so if that’s the case then I have no need to go.” He said a little annoyed by his father’s war lust.
“That’s just it.” Said the guard. “An army marches against us! And were going to need your dragons, we’ve counted about ten thousand Strange wolf pony hybrid things marching on us not counting their war machines!”
Draco eyes widened at this “WHAT ten thousand! are you certain iv never heard of an army of such a caliber before! And wolf ponies? I’ve never heard of them before.” Draco said in an astounded voice.
“Yes my lord, please we must hurry to the village with fervor.” Said the guard motioning for Draco and his dragons to follow.
“But they’re too young to fight yet I just got her first nest of eggs, they need more time to mature.” Said a distraught Draco.
“We have no choice Lord Draco, they must fight or were doomed! Argued the guard trying to get him to follow>
Draco paused for a moment and looked at his pack of dragon and the closed his eyes and entered there minds to tell them what must be done
Mind link
Felious, Dionma, and Electrose all looked at Draco like he had grown a second head
“So the time has come already, Alright I will fight with you Draco, for all you have done for me I think I owe you my life.” Stated Felious bravely accepting his fate whatever it may be.
“Ha stop trying to be so cool Felious; I’ll go to if he’s going I can’t let him out do me. Said Electrose loud as ever even when facing a life threatening challenge.
“I will kill them in mass with my poisons, if it means keeping you three safe.“ Said Dionma.
Draco was surprised with their maturity and willingness to fight for him. “Are you sure? You don’t have to do this.” Draco said worried about his students.
“I will not idly sit back and watch my master and his brethren fight and die without doing something about it Draco.” Felious said. “No matter the cost.”
“I agree with him, I wont sit back and watch these things kill your brethren.” Said Dionma in a certain voice.
“Hmm small chance of success, no certain reward or outcome, and high possibility of death. Well… what are we waiting for?” Said Electrose.
Draco sighed and smirked at his student’s bravery. “Well then if you are sure you want to do this, lets go.
Break mind link
The guard watched as Draco just sat there with his eyes closed, as did his dragons. “What is he doing!” thought the guard. “We need to go now!”
Just as he finished that thought Draco and the dragon’s eyes shot open and Draco spoke. “Let’s go.”
As they flew towards the village the guard briefed Draco on the situation, it was pretty bad, an unknown army of ten thousand wolfpony hybrids with seventy five timber wolf titans and five thousand griffon mercenaries barring five hundred of their trademark airships mounted with Ballista’s, Catapults, and Harpoons. All against five hundred Unikronogon’s and seven full grow dragons of each base element wind, fire, water, lightning, earth, wood, and sand. And one hundred of the Buffalo that were patrolling the area and decided to follow the army and came to aid us seeing were allies, and Draco and his dragons.
“Seventy five Timber Wolf Titans that would require all the timber wolves in the Everfree!” Draco exclaimed not believing somepony would use this much for against his kin.
“I know I can’t believe it either but we’ll have to fight them nonetheless, they’re threatening our home and people and I will fight to the end to stop them.” Said the guard with a determined look in his eyes. 
Draco nodded in agreement and looked forward to see the villages twenty five feet high, two feet thick European style triangular walls were in sight with the massive foot thick Everfree oak doors with iron beams thinking its defense open up for them to run though and get to the Garrison at the right corner of the village.
They ran past the small amount of stone houses and the statues of past heroes and warriors made of obsidian and gold, and arrived at the village Garrison, although it was more like a small keep attached to the right corner tower of the wall. 
Draco told his dragons to stay put until he came back. And the two went inside to find a large table with his father Draconus and his two elder siblings looking over a map with two other clan heads, the Buffalo chieftain, and Draconus’s advisors.
They were auguring over what tactics they should use against their foes and how to us them.
“With all due respect Thunderhooves.” Said Rezeldu the clan head of the Sword. “I think that tactic will be ineffective in the wooded areas; there simply isn’t enough room to do that maneuver.
“Well then what do you porpoise?” I don’t see you making any suggestions.” Said the Chieftain of the Buffalo not liking the situation one bit.
“How about we use the old castle south of here as our first line of defense, And when it crumbles to the point where we can’t use it we fall back to our second line of defense. The lonely mountain keep, Helms Deep, which we found a few years back but never put it to use. This is where we will hold out until reinforcements from Equestria and the Dragnor mountains arrive, and if all else fails we will fall back here and fight them to the last!” said Dracona trying to save her people from certain doom that was this new nameless army.
“That might work Dracona, we will commence with occupying these strategic points right away.” Commanded Draconus. “Is there anything else that needs to be said? No, then this meeting is adjourned.
Seeing that they were done talking the guard spoke up. “My Lords, I have brought Lord Draco to you, per your request.” Said the guard while saluting.
“Thank you Captain Bhalif, you are dismissed and will be briefed shortly by Colonel Brawn.” Said Draco’s father.
“Yes my lord.” Said the Captain before leaving to scramble his solders for occupation of the midnight castle.
Draco sat at the table with his family and waited for his father to start telling him what his role is to play in this conflict.
“Draco,” his father started. “How capable is your current dragon pack? And do you think you can lead them to battle at helms deep?” But before Draco could respond, Draconus put up his hoof signaling for silence. “I know that you care deeply for this pack, and that they are too young to fight yet,” He stated. “That’s why they will be used to kill the vermin safely by flying high and doing poison drops and dropping derbies on the enemy masses once they’re in the mountain curve.”
Draco thought for a moment and spoke. “Personally I think they are more than capable of this task, they are the best pack I’ve had the honor of teaching. They’re like children to me and I’m only thirteen.” Draco said honestly. “And I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
Dracona and Dracolus smiled at this and his father nodded in approval at his son’s early maturity. “Well then, little brother.” Said Dracona. “You better get them to Helms Deep as soon as possible and get that poison dragon to start filling barrels with that vapor of hers to use against the enemy, she is one of the most important aspects in my strategies and is a key role in victory.”
“Go Draco.” Said Dracolus. “I trust you to get this done and help save us all, all our fates are riding on that dragon of yours.” He stated while saluting, which Draco returned and began to leave.
“See you at the front son.” Draconus said while leaving to the armory.