//------------------------------// // Shaky Decision // Story: I Am Fire, I Am... Death // by Raven Shadow //------------------------------// "Anything Nurse Redheart?" Celestia asked with worry wrinkles etched onto her once pristine face. "Will she able to fly?" "Not for six to eight months, no. Considering the extensive damage to the joint connected to her shoulder, she is lucky to just have one wing broken." Redheart told the solar diarch with a smile. "Just don't push her off a cliff and she'll be fine." The curtain hung against the walls of the window, Luna sat quietly watching the still form of Smaug outside. Her gaze hardened as his eye zeroed in on the hospital. "Luna, we might have a slightly more problematic situation on our hooves... according to Twilight and her friends." "What wouldst thou mean sister?" Luna still glaring at the colossal beast with extreme rage. "Well this dragon killed changelings, we both know how protective Chrysalis is over her own... what they were doing here I haven't got a clue. Should Chrysalis learn the demise of her own we could be..." Before Celestia could finish Luna cut in. "We would have war." Luna turned to face her sister with a somber expression. "Yes we very well could have a crisis on our hooves because of one dragon, one I plan on speaking with shortly." Celestia's voice dripped with venom once she spoke about Smaug. "He will not worm his way out." "Just be careful with it sister." Luna added as her sister made her way towards the door. Out the hospital Celestia stood watching the massive beast writhe in his chains to no avail, slowly she began to walk closer. There she was on the street with determination written into her kind eyes, this dragon would speak to her regardless of how prideful it was. "Dragon we need to talk." "Talk does nothing PONY!" Smaug spit with venom dripping from each word. Unholy glowing grew from his chest as his fires wanting to bathe this small wretched town were willed inside. "Why do you threaten me dragon? Is it just your natural instinct to do so, or your false sense of entitlement?" Celestia smirked as she hit a nerve within the great beast. "I will make you regret your words dear child, I will show you terror." "Silence! Your threats carry no weight with me. Are you such a blind fool that you know not what your actions bring to this land? You should be grateful that you are my prisoner, the changeling queen would have no doubt dissect you." Celestia warned Smaug as he glared fully at her, his eye trying to make contact with hers. Zecora stumbled to the princess with a chorus of gasps at her appearance, her front left hoof swollen with a large cut down her right side. She kept moving forward to her goal. "Princess stay away from this dragon, his breath reeks of carrion. He has proven to be a killer, unlike we equines who are lovers." Zecora fell before the solar goddess with her pleading eyes begging for safety from Smaug. Smaug chuckled once he saw the zebra, his dark laugh wasn't something to trifle with. "You still live, your durability is remarkable." "You would dare to act in such a manner even when at my mercy?!" Celestia cried in rage. Smaug only huffed at her outburst, his eyes locked onto Zecora like the predator that he was. "I already had pony flesh, curiosity has left me wondering what she would taste like." Celestia's eyes widened. "Already had pony flesh?! Just what does that mean!?" "Oh a male of your kind back in the cave where they discovered my horde, Fancy Pants, I do believe funded the dig." Smaug growled with a small chuckle not masking his meaning. "They won't be digging out of their tomb anything soon." Celestia's eyes widened even more at this disturbing revelation from the cruel dragon. "You trapped them in a cave?!" "I didn't want them to spoil my existence and they won't because here we are, pony." The chains rustled as Smaug began to worm his way ever so slowly out. "Now you will release me, and I won't burn that dark pony you care about." "You will not dare threaten my sister's life!" "And what is to stop me?! Just you. Release me and we won't have unpleasant business, or you just want to have an enemy that sees you as you really are?" Smaug shot back, his words sinking in Celestia's mind. She needed to help the ponies that were trapped, but she didn't know exactly where that would be. After a long pause she had made her choice. "I will let you go... if you show me where that cave is, and I swear on my crown I will not hunt you down myself." These words struck Smaug deeply. Would she really let him go for the lives of her subjects, if so then the drake underestimated her fully. Not man nor dwarf would make such a deal, was she truly mad? "I agree with your demands pony, I will lead you there." As he accepted her deal he felt the chains drop from his form. His wings popped from being held for so long that it made Celestia cringe from the noise. "But do not cross me, those who have met with fairly grisly ends." Zecora's mouth was unhinged at Celestia's actions, trusting an evil dragon to lead her to this "cave" sounded more like to the princess' doom. But before she could voice her warning Celestia soared into the vast deep blue sky. Smaug walked towards the edge of the small hamlet to return his legs' feeling, as the numbness dissipated his wings launched his form high above the town. His powerful wings pushed past Celestia with a single thrust, within minutes the pair disappeared into the distance. Leaving a dumb struck Ponyvile in their wake. ########## Celestia was having a difficult time processing that a dragon of that size was so agile in flight, having past her with a sharp turn in order for her to keep up. Her wings flapped twice as hard to even stay near Smaug's tail. "So tell me pony, why take the deal of a dragon?" Smaug asked. "Because no matter what the lives and well being of my subjects is the most important thing to me. I cannot change the past for those you... ended so viciously." Celestia words could chill the blood of any being of Equestria, Smaug just flew ahead. The wall of rock became more than just a distant sight, within a few minutes the pair reached their destination. Smaug began to rip away the stones holding the ponies beneath, his talons slicing through like butter. Ten minutes the hole was uncovered, with the distinct smell of stool hanging in the air. After a short time those who were buried peeked out with extreme caution, among them was Fancy Pants. "I have held my end of the bargain, pony. I expect you to do the same." Smaug calmly spoke to the goddess beside him, his words still edged with deep loathing, causing those who were coming out of hiding to dart back inside. The princess took notice of how they fled from the dragon, a small part of her cried out to know they were traumatized by Smaug. "Yes, I will. But if the changelings come for you, I can do nothing for you. Now begone vile creature." The sound of his wings lifting his form was the only sound for miles and once he left all was deathly quiet. Nothing stirred for minutes as the tension from the drake resided at the mouth of the cave. "Is he gone?" "Did it leave?" "I will never do this kinda of trip ever again." "My little ponies, the dragon is gone. He won't harm you." Celestia called to her subjects, hoping she wouldn't be wrong.