Starswirl and Moonswift awoke as the morning sun broke over the horizon. They noticed the raft had stopped, and Bragoon was on the shore, watching them. About 200 metresahead of him was a huge cascade of water, crashing noisily down into a pool. Starswirl trotted off of the raft and onto the land. Moonswift lingered for just a second in the boat, but she leapt after Starswirl onto the ground.
'Well, here we are," said Bragoon. "Neighagra falls. I hope ya all have enjoyed your trip, but it's about time I left."
"Where will you go now?" Asked Moonswit. "Will you go back to where we found you?"
"To be honest, missie," he said, "What you said got me thinking. I've decided that maybe I should go and pay some of my family a visit. I'm heading to the town of Canterlot; one of my uncles owns a curiosity shop there, and I haven't seen my kin for a while now."
"I hope you find your uncle," said Moonswift. "Farewell, Bragoon."
"Thank you, Moonswift. May your path flow as steady as the river."
"Enough with the nicities!" said Starswirl, somewhat harshly. " We have to set out on the journey immediately!" and with that he turned around and headed towards the waterfall.
Moonswift followed him towards the curtain of water. She turned around for a last look at Bragoon, but he was there no longer. He had appeared to have vanished.
Starswirl sat down on the grass and leviated an apple and some bread out of his pouch. He passed some to Moonswift and they sat down to eat.
"Starswirl," she said. "You don't suppose you could tell us where we are headed, do you?"
"Hmmm," said Starswirl, thinking. "You had many chances to betray me on the river, and in the wilds, but you have proven yourself trustworthy so far. I suppose I could at least tell you our destination. We are heading to the Crystal Mountains."
"The Crystal Mountains?" repeated Moonswift. "Why in the world are we heading there?"
"I cannot tell you that," Starswirl replied gruffly, "But I can tell you it will be very dangerous, probably fatal, to travel there. You can turn back if you want."
Moonswift gulped.
"I agreed to help you on this quest, and I will not leave you now." She replied at last. They got up and started walking towards the waterfall. "But Starswirl, why are we heading into this place?"
"There is something in here that should help us with our quest," replied Starswirl.
Suddenly, there was a rumble in the ground, and the water lit up the brightest gold, just for a moment.
Moonswift hid her head under her hooves. Starswirl, however, remained unfazed.
"Or someone," he muttered.
"Are you sure we have to go in?" whispered Moonswift. "I don't know if you were right, when you said that those stories were just old pony tales."
"Oh, I'm sure I wasn't right. But we're here." said Starswirl, as he stood outside the water. "Follow me or don't; your choice." And with that he walked through the water.
Moonswift stood outside. She tried to will her legs to move her forward, but they wouldn't budge. Cursing her cowardice, Moonswift sat at the edge of the water, unable to bring herself to face the terror within.
Starswirl trotted through the darkness. He illuminated the area faintly with his glowing horn. This takes up too much energy, thought Starswirl. I need to create a magical candle for this when I get back, or something.
Up ahead there was a glint of something shiny at the back of the cave, and on top, there was a large mass, which rose up and down slowly, as if it was breathing. Starswirl smiled grimly. His gamble had paid off. He grabbed his staff and hit the end of it against the ground, and he shouted his enchantment out loud.
"In the name of Orm, eldest of Dragons, I command you to awaken!"
The creature's eyes opened, and there was an Earth splitting roar. The creature was a dragon: not a very large one, he was about twice the size of a large Cragadile, but was still a mighty force to be reckoned with. It had a dark green coat of scales, a sand coloured belly, light green sharp scales prodruding from its back and two long scimitar-like horns on the top of its head. He was entirely wingless. it stared at the intruder with a look of pure loathing.
"Great Wyrm," said Starswirl, "You are a dragon, and I know your name, so you will now answer to me. Your name is-"
But he was cut short, as a huge burst of bright purple flame leaped from the Dragon's jaws. Starswirl brandished his Staff and quickly shouted out an enchantment.
"Stans Brann!" he yelled, and a blue aura formed around him, shielding him from the fire. Starswirl noticed a ledge at the top of the cave, and he teleported there in a flash of blue light. The dragon, enraged, sent another blast of purple dragonfire at the ledge, but Starswirl managed to hide himself behind an outcrop of rock, thereby escaping the blaze.
"None can know the serect of my name!" The dragon bellowed, in a deep, dark roar.
"I do," Shouted Starswirl triumphantly from above. "You are named-"
But the dragon would not hear any of it. He thrashed his long,muscular tail against the wall of the cave, causing rocks to be dislodged from above Starswirl. One hit his Staff, knocking it upon the ground. He teleported back down to the floor, but this left him in plain sight of the dragon. Without his Staff, he could not create a spell powerful enough to ward away dragonfire. As the dragon's mouth started to glow, Starswirl prepared for the end. A fireball burst from the draon's mouth and flew straight towards Starswirl. Starswirl prepared himself for the flame that would incinerate him into a pile of ash, but it never came. Instead, he saw a great sphere being hurled towards him, the same size as the dragon's fireball, with a green glow around it . It was a huge ball of water, and it quenched the purple fire. From out of the waterfall, Moonswift leapt, her horn blazing bright green.
"Get away from him!" Screamed Moonswift, her eyes alight with anger.
The great reptile slithered towards Moonswift, and was just about to swallow her whole, when a voice rang out across the cave.
"I name thee," Starswirl shouted "Limlung!"
The drake stopped in his tracks. He turned round to face Starswirl, a deep shock in his eyes.
"There is only one on this world with knowledge of my name.."
"My name," said Starswirl. "Is Starswirl the Bearded."
An instant change came over the dragon. Where once was loathing, there came a glint if recognition in the creature's eyes.
"My old master," he growled softly. Then he did something extrodinary. He bowed to Starswirl.
Moonswift looked on in awe.
"You...know this beast?" she asked Starswirl.
"This 'beast' as you call him, " said Starswirl "Was once my pet, though when I knew him he was no bigger than a small dog. He is the creature that ate something very precious to me."
"I am sorry, master," said the dragon, in a voice that made the cave rumble, "I was young and foolish."
"Yes," agreed Starswirl, "And that is why I have come here, to ask you to repay your debt. Help me replace what you stole, and your debt to me will be fulfilled, and you may once again live in peace with yourself."
The dragon looked into Starswirl's eyes.
"All this time," he growled, "I have been living here as an outcast, the guilt festering inside my heart. It turned me into a bitter monster; I cared for nothing more than the gems in this cave and the hunger in my stomach. But now see what I must do. I will do what I can to aid you on your quest, Starswirl, in the hope that I may lift the greif that has riddled my heart these many years."
"In that case," said Starswirl with a smile, "Welcome to the Company, Limlung!"