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// Chapter 1 - The Three Friends 
// Story: Those things we leave behind 
// by OrganicPsycho 
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“Tia?” came a familiar voice.
The Mare looked to her side and saw her sister. Luna was older now. She had grown significantly. Her horn and wings now all but fully grown. Her coat still a beautiful midnight blue, and her long, flowing mane still the same shade as the night sky, dotted with what looked like the stars themselves.
“I’m sorry Luna. I was just thinking.”
“I know sister, you tend to do that a lot.” Luna giggled.
Celestia was older now too. Her horn and wings slightly larger than Luna’s. The only real difference, aside from size, was her mane. No longer the pure pink it once was, it was now a veritable rainbow of pink, blue and green. It was the result of the last spell she had used on her hair. It had ended up being far stronger than she had imagined. Though she was young, the spell had proven far too strong for her father to reverse, so she had kept it.

“Are we just going to keep pondering on our memories, or are we going to explore?!” came a third voice.
Both girls looked to their left to the voice. Standing slightly taller than both of them, the creature looked like a mismatch of parts from all sorts of animals. Although his head was that of a pony, he had two horns, one that looked like it was from a goat, and one that was from a deer. His arms were from a lion and an eagle, and he had one leg from a goat, and the other from a lizard. The creature was none other than a Draconequus. They had been friends with the odd creature for some time now, and the three loved to go exploring together. 

It was rare that ponies and Draconequui ever became friends. The two lived on opposite sides of Equestria and rarely came into contact. The two ponies had been on the borderlands when they had met him. They became fast friends and stuck together. The story of how they had fended off an angry Gryphon was legendary! Or at least they thought so. Ever since Celestia and Luna’s parents had passed away, the two had been travelling; looking for a place they could settle down and call home. They had yet to find someplace like that, and had a feeling Lancie wanted to keep it that way so they could keep having fun.

The three of them pressed on into the dark, dank cave.
“Tia…” Luna started.
“I know.” She replied gently.
Celestia’s horn began glowing a bright yellow. Moments later, each of them had a small but powerful glow accompanying them that allowed them to see. She had developed a penchant for light spells lately and they had come in very handy.
Before she had even finished the spell, Lancie had charged off into the cave. Celestia rolled her eyes as she and Luna ran to catch up with him.

As they got further into the cave, they heard an odd rumbling noise, as if something was stirring deep within.
“I don’t like the sound of that…” Celestia said, apprehensively.
Luna’s eyes darted all over the cave, trying to see what was there.
“Oh come on already. You two can handle whatever it is.”
“And what about you mister. What would you do to help?” Luna asked, eyeing Lancie suspiciously
“I’d run away and leave you to whatever is there of course.” He said sarcastically

They carried on through the cave, jumping down from rock to rock, descending into more darkness. The rumbling only seemed to get louder and take the shape of a roar. Distant still, but a roar nonetheless…
“Seriously Lancie…if you’re doing that, then stop.” Celestia said firmly.
Lancie looked at her, a little hurt by her words.
“I might come from a trickster people, but I’m not that cruel. Whatever’s down here is real, and we’re getting closer…”
“Maybe we should just leave?” Luna asked tentatively.
“You can if you want, but we’re going on. Right Celestia?” he asked.
Celestia glanced between her sister and her friend, unsure.
“Oh come on. Be brave, ‘Tia’.”
Lancie carried on down into the darkness.
Luna looked up nervously at Celestia. She had heard that kind of roar once before when she had dared venture into a cave alone. She hoped beyond hope it wasn’t the same thing she found that day lurking in this cave too…

Wordlessly, Celestia descended into the darkness, Luna following close behind her. Soon enough, they came to a part of the cave that was lit and incredibly warm too.
“Lancie, are you-“
Celestia was cut off by Lancie rushing to her and covering her mouth with his hand.
“Shhhh…be quiet!” he whispered frantically.
The three of them walked silently forward to see what was there. Celestia and Luna took silent gasps when they discovered they had come across the nest of a Dragon.
“Tia…we have to go…now!” Luna whispered desperately.
“No, no. Let’s take it’s gems. It’ll be hilarious!” Lancie said hushedly.
“That’s…no! That’s disgraceful Lancie.” Celestia said annoyed, but quietly.
“Awww, you’re no fun.” He sighed.

There was a distinct snore from the emerald green beast laying asleep in front of the three of them.
“We’re leaving…now…”
“Oh alright.” Lancie sighed, disappointed.
As the three of them turned around, Lancie smirked and reached his long arm back and laid a finger on the nearest ruby, trying to pluck it..
Celestia stopped and turned sharply.
“Lancie, what are you-“
She froze mid-sentence. Her eyes staring at the singular, yellow eye staring at the three of them.

“Oh look.” Came an angry, deep voice, “A midnight snack.”
The three stared in horror as the Dragon rose to its full height and took a deep breath in.
“LET’S GET OUT OF HERE!” Lancie roared, terror in his voice.
He and Celestia turned tail and ran. Celestia stopped seconds later, realising Luna wasn’t with them. She rushed back and saw her sister frozen to the spot.
“LUNA!” she cried out. A second later, the dragon breathed its powerful flames down on the pony sisters. Lancie could only stare in horror.