By scare him a bit, Arch meant to try and make us seem like some kind of evil monsters. I mean, sure I could pull that off pretty easily, but Arch is too soft and SwiftWing isn't exactly the sharpest talon on a gryphon's claw. Aceymac would be able to, but he was busy being in a cast.
So, it was up to me to 'intimidate' the dragon lord, as Arch put it. More or less it came down to me keeping him under control during our march back to Canterlot. When we set off, he was in the center of our entire remaining army. That might have worked if a dragon couldn't wipe out tired, beaten ponies very easily.
Though he didn't really try anything, he was an interesting dragon. Most would have gone berserk at being captured. He just kept moving and doing as he was told. I never would have thought a dragon would take orders from a pony. Especially not one of the middle-class lords. He kept his composure the entire time, even when some of the soldiers taunted him.
We didn't speak to each other much. I didn't speak to him because he was a dragon, and he didn't speak to me out of respect. Its not like I was a racist or anything. We were at war with them, and one doesn't typically like the race that they're at war with.
For the most part of the first day of marching, Lord Diamond kept singing to himself. He sang in the native draconian tongue. Though I couldn't make anything of it, I could tell it was a pleasant song. It sounded very upbeat and happy. How he could sing so happily while being held as a prisoner of war was beyond me.
After a while he starting taking an interest in me. He was constantly looking over at me, like he was studying me. I hadn't gotten used to that, since most ponies were fairly accepting of me. This dragon, on the other hoof, knew something about me wasn't right. He knew I wasn't who I said I was. How? Dragon magic, at least, that's my best guess.
"Tell me, pony, who are you? We do a good job of keeping track of all Equestrian royalty and leaders, and suddenly you pop out of no where and destroy entire armies." Lord Diamond asked, "You are so much like these ponies, yet, in a way that is beyond me, so different."
I didn't make eye contact. I didn't so much as turn to look at the dragon. "I am Legend, one of Equestria's many Gods." I said. I wasn't sure if there were many Gods, but it was a assumption I had made a long time ago.
The dragon raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is that so? So those idiotic pony tales of Gods and Demons are true? Interesting. Do tell, what are you the God of exactly?"
I was hesitant to answer him. I didn't want to give the enemy any information they could use against Equestria. Though, he was most likely going to die if things went Aceymac's way, it really didn't matter. "I am the God of War and Destruction. I know it may seem odd, since the pony race is all about love and toleration, and very much against war and conflict."
"Yes, it does seem odd that there would be such a God. How long have you been around exactly? I assume you're just as old as the pony princesses, if not older." The dragon asked.
"Yes, I am older than Celestia and Luna. By about three thousand years, give or take a century." I replied.
"Is that so? Then what is the reason for a God such as yourself. It appears that ponies were not always the weak, pathetic, and cowardly race they are today." The dragon said.
I glared at him. "Watch your mouth, reptile. I am, even as old as I may be, still a pony. You will not talk of my kind that way. We were once a proud race of warriors, as hard to believe as it may be." I said, bluffing completely.
"Struck a nerve. did I?" Lord Diamond said with a laugh. "Looks like time does not get rid of one's temper. I shall keep that in mind."
"And how old are you, if I may ask?" I said, trying very hard to change the subject of our conversation to him. "I am well aware that dragons live very long, and from what I know of their social structure, age, clan, and honor determines your position."
The dragon was quiet for a few moments before answering. "I am very young, in terms of dragon life spans. Some would consider me a hatchling, other maybe even still an egg," He started. "I am only two hundred and thirty eight Summers old."
Right, the dragons still used the Summer System to keep track of age. They hadn't yet made the transition to the way of using exact birth dates. One of the many ways that time has left these giant lizards behind.
"Wow, you are a young one. How did you gain the position of a middle-class lord at such a young age?" I asked. I did know a fair bit about how dragon society worked. We had to learn about our enemies before we actually got to fight them.
"The title was passed down from my father. He disgraced the title and so, in an attempt to redeem it, it was given to me" Lord Diamond said with a angry look on his face. "Though, seeing as you've taken me prisoner, there is no hope for my family's title. It will be revoked and we will be reduced to a lower one."
"I am sorry that such a thing has happened. War has a way of ruining the lives of those who fight it in ways other than death." I said.
Lord Diamond looked over to me. "Are you truly sorry? Sorry for killing all those dragons and gryphons?" He asked.
"This is war. There is no room for regret or remorse. Are you sorry that you have brought war to a peaceful race, barely making its mark in this world?" I replied.
"Do not avoid the question, pony!" Lord Diamond yelled. He sighed, then spoke in a calmer voice. "I am sorry that this war has plagued both of our people. I was one of the few that were against going to war. But, by order of the Council, we came to the aid of our allies, the Kingdom of Gryphonia."
Did he really just give me this much information? "So, you're telling me that the gryphons started this war? And the dragons simply were called to aid them?" I asked.
He looked up at me with a smirk "Oh my, it appears that I have. How idiotic of me, giving a pony such information about how the Dragon Council murdered one of its members simply because all of its members had to agree on the war declaration."
So that's how that all went down. All the members had to agree, and the one that didn't, they just killed off. "Was it really necessary to kill the member? They could've negotiated a bit more." I said.
The dragon laughed. "Negotiate? In case you have forgotten, we are dragons. We don't talk things out like you ponies. If we have a disagreement, than we fight it out. Only rarely is it to the death, though. We do not like to spill our own blood, if it can be avoided." He said.
"Really? I remember stories of how dragons killed each other over their treasures and such." I said.
Lord Diamond let out another heavy laugh. "You really must be old! Our kind has not fought over such trivial things in over three millennium!" His laugh eventually died down to a chuckle. "After the Council was formed, our unity grew stronger than we could have ever imagined. It is only recently that it has begun to deteriorate."
I turned to look away from him. I looked up to the sky. The sun was already started to set, and I had no idea whether we would stop for rest or march for the night. Arch and SwiftWing were at the front of the army, while Aceymac was at the rear being carried by the medical ponies. I was in the center, with Lord Diamond Hide and three of his subordinate officers. There were a few of Arch's Lieutenants with me, more for intimidation than actual guarding.
I turned to one of the Lieutenants. "You there, go to Arch and ask him what his plans are for the night." I ordered. The pony saluted and ran off to the front of the army.
Lord Diamond saw this and looked puzzled. "They follow and obey you, yet you are not one of their superiors. Why is this?" He asked.
I had to put this in a way where it wouldn't seem as if I was friends to them. I couldn't let him notice any ties between me and any of the others. "I am General Arch's personal guard, in a way. I have been ordered to protect him until this war ends." I replied.
The dragon remained looking puzzled. "Ordered by whom, if I may ask?" He said.
It looked like it was time for some fun. The answer to his question should make him a bit afraid. "I was ordered by my master, the Ruler and God of the Underworld," I turned to face him with a serious face. "Death."
Lord Diamond did a double take. "Death? Death does not exist. He is simply another pony legend." He said. I could sense the doubt he had in his own words.
I smirked. "I am a pony legend, yet I am here. I am real. And so is he." I turned back to look up at the sky. "I would be cautious from now on. Death does not like it when mortals know of his existence. As long as you are with me, you are safe." I looked back at him. "That is, unless you misbehave. This is your only warning, dragon."
Lord Diamond Hide quickly looked away, his eyes filled with both fear and uncertainty. It worked. Arch and the others wouldn't have to worry about him acting up anymore. He would be too busy trying to figure out if I was lying or not. He knew I was that Legend was just that, a legend. If he existed and was here, so could Death. Though he seemed to try and reason that Death wasn't real.
Whether he wanted to believe or not, there was some truth to all the stories. The stories of Gods and Demons and Angels. Be they pony legends, gryphon lore, or dragon myths. Everything has some truth to it.
Eventually, the Lieutenant I sent for Arch returned with news that we would continue marching through the night. His reason was that we would arrive by noon and Aceymac, and several other soldiers, needed proper medical attention. A letter had also arrived from Princess Celestia, saying that all officers, from Generals all the way down to the Lieutenants, are to report to her immediately upon arrival to Canterlot.
I didn't question any of it, seeing as the sooner we got to Canterlot, the sooner we would get some information out of Lord Diamond Hide. After saying he was against the war, I had a feeling he wouldn't hesitate telling us things that could help end it. Though, I could still be wrong. Dragons had a very strong sense of loyalty to their Council.
I still wasn't sure why all the officers were being called to see her. I was starting to worry if something had happened. Even though Canterlot wasn't my true home, as long as my family was still there I would defend it with my life. And with the dragons and gryphons both pushing past the borders, it felt like that would eventually be necessary.
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A/N: Sorry about the lack of updates. I've been extremely busy lately, with school and a few other important issues. I'll try to have another chapter up soon.