Smaug the Golden pondered his fate as he laid upon his small horde of treasure, how he managed to trick the ruler of the prey to allow him to leave. Were the creatures here so naive that they would allow him to roam free after killing? What was it about these prey animals?
He was a killer, a hunter, the last great dragon of Middle earth... and they allowed him to leave after his threats and actions. He broke the tall one's sister's wing and was about to feast upon her, yet she let him go...
As Smaug pondered this the more he realized that they didn't see him as what he was, the chiefest and greatest of calamities. It enraged him.
"They dare insult me?!" His roar shook the cave he resided in, steam shot from his flared nostrils in anger. "I will teach them never to anger me."
Smaug stepped from the hole in the rock face with a grim smirk ecthed into his scales, he reared his head back and unleashed a torrent of flames into the forest below. The woods came to life as though the forest itself tried to flee from the intense heat that spread quickly. Numerous creatures ran from burning trees in all directions for safety. Smaug turned his great maw to the unscathed parts of the forest, with thunderous boom Smaug shot to the heavens.
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Twilight Sparkle stood next to Luna as the doctor listed about dealing with a broken wing, in truth it was dreadfully boring. Luna often looked to window towards the mountain where the drake resided.
Revenge would present an opportunity later, it would only be a matter of time.
Still a deep frown stayed upon the night princess' face as she recalled the events, his injustice against Equestria would be dealt with as soon as Luna could fly again.
"Princess Luna, I will be checking in on you and your wing from time to time. Two weeks I shall visit you.... Princess?" The doctor followed her gaze to the mountain. "I suggest you rid your self of any thoughts that involve that dragon. He broke one of your wings, I don't think he would be so merciful the next time."
"We were merely looking fair doctor, we will not make the same mistake twice." Luna spoke without any hesitation.
Rainbow Dash flew into the room with a worried look and smelling like smoke, her coat seemed somewhat blackened.
"Twi... the Everfree.... is.... on fire..." These words echoed throughout the room, they held meaning of terror and brutality from a beast. The fact that the Everfree was on fire meant this drake held no reservations for anything.
"Oh no... we need to act now! Rainbow get as many pegasi as you can to make raincloulds, I will organize a safety measure here to keep the flames at bay." With a mock salute Rainbow bolted off towards Cloudsdale, Twilight quickly followed suit. Her run took her past an open field where she saw the wall of death moving rapidly, to the town hall she sprinted hoping the blaze could be stalled before reaching town.
Her steps were halted with the cries of the mayor giving orders to everypony present, Twilight felt relieved to know that the town was taking this as serious as could be.
"Twilight Sparkle, thank goodness you're here! I need you to bring up a shield on the eastern border of town, I already have twelve pegasi drowning the blaze there but they'll need help." Mayor Mare shouted over the growing chaos. "Please hurry!"
With a clear goal now in mind Twilight sprinted to the east, her eyes on the raging fire that swept over acres of forest.
The area of town was empty of civilians, only rescue operations ponies battled the blaze with their raincloulds and hope. Twilight wasted no time conjuring a shield large enough to hold the flames away from the thatch roofing of the township, at the same time she pushed the fire back with her magical shielding until the inferno was held within a dome.
"I've got the fires contained, hit it with everything you have!" Twilight's voice carried over the chaotic scene with the authority of her fellow princesses. Just as she commanded the pegasi began to drown the fires under heavy raindrops, soon the blaze died down to smoldering embers underneath large trees. "Thank goodness this was the worst of it."
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Smaug flew north where this great gem was being held, his temper pushing him harder than before. His flight through the winds of the north only made him feel worse but he wouldn't relent until they would fear him.
The Crystal Empire pillars stood out in the distance, with the keen eyes picking out the highest one to target. He picked up speed to cause the prey who no doubt will see him approaching scurry away in fear.
His wings clasped down on his side as the pillar's walls were clear as day now, with a thunderous roar Smaug smashed through the pillar. Down below ponies ran to and fro to escape the falling debris of the palace, but the dragon stood out from the damage.
Again he roared as a challenge to the guards below him, not one of them dared to step closer to the inferno incarnate.
"WHERE IS THE GRAND GEM OF THIS CITY?" Smaug bellowed to the masses, not one would say. "THEN BURN!"
As he reared his head back to unleash his wrath upon them a sudden stinging sensation ran up his spines, it was laughable if they were trying to kill him. His eyes searched to find the one responsible for this brave act, yet he found none. Seeing none with the gall to try infuriated the great wyrm more than ever, his attacker wouldn't even show their own cowardly face! Outrage surged through the colossal drake.
His fanged maw opened wide with flames dancing about, but they stopped short of the town. A shield? A powerful one too, but who casted it?
"By order of Princess Cadence, you are under arrest dragon!" A proud voice railed Smaug's earsdrums, causing the dragon to search for the owner. His search ended quickly as a unicorn smiled smugly to the drake.
"Who are you?" Smaug tilted his head to emphasize his question. "I've never met such a brave creature such as you."
"I don't know if I should take that as a complement or an insult." Shining Armor chuckled causing the large dragon to smile.
"Take it however you wish prey, it doesn't matter in the end." Smaug's smirk promised pain.
"I am Prince Shining Armor of the Crystal Empire, husband of Princess Cadence. You are a threat to this empire's security, should you comply you will be treated fairly."
"Shining Armor... such pitiful names... I am Smaug: Titan of the Skies, Chiefest of Calamities. You are nothing more than a pest to me, now where is this grand gemstone? I want it." Smaug stepped closer to the shield, his eyes trained on the unicorn's form. "I will kill you little pest, but not before I make you suffer."
Shining Armor glared daggers back to the dragon.
"I'd like to see you try."
Shining Armor instantly regretted those words once they left his mouth. Smaug roared as the challenge came and bashed the shielding hard enough to make the unicorn panic, again he hit the shield with greater results. The unicorn strained under the massive pressure of the great drake's strength, soon the shield would break. Again Smaug hit the shield with all his weight and it shattered.
For the briefest of moments the world flashed before Shining Armor's eyes as he watched this dragon break through his shield by sheer force, how could this dragon be capable of such a feat?! Terror filled the prince as he realized that now doom was upon his home.
"Pitiful, your sun horse held so much more power. Now where is this gem?" Smaug's breath caused the unicorn to quake from the scent of decay filling his nose. "I will not ask again pony."
"Please great dragon, leave this land." This new voice ushered rage forth from the drake, his head snapped behind him to see what had to be this city's ruler. A pretty little pony with both wings and a horn, were these things a rarity that they became leaders for their simple addition upon their heads? "Please, I ask you Smaug to leave."
"No." Smaug fully turned to the newcomer, his tone flat and growing with venom. "I take orders from no one, especially from prey like you."
"Smaug, if you won't leave peacefully then I shall force you to!" This princess charged her magic to blast the great drake, yet even in the land of Equestria where villains would stand idle waiting for the attack, Smaug snatched her from her position.
"I dare ask what could you do? I could have a snack right now, come to think of it I am rather famished." His teeth just inches from her face. A grim smile slowly stretched across his jaws with a devilish idea. "Is that pathetic excuse of a warrior your husband?"
"Leave Shining out of this!"
"I hoped so." With a quick snap the princess disappeared into the beast's maw earning a grand gasp of shock from the crowd before him. What the group didn't know was Cadence was still alive, her forelegs griping onto a tooth to keep her from falling down the gullet of Smaug. "Now tell me where the gem is!"
Shining Armor couldn't find the strength to hold himself up any longer, his wife eaten before his very eyes... broken and utterly disturbed by what he had seen Shining pointed to the Crystal Heart. His own heart broken and in pieces couldn't control his actions, after looking the drake in the eyes did he feel this way. He pointed it out for the dragon like a fool and stayed still... broken.
Smaug grinned as he held onto the gem that would surely be a grand addition to his new horde of treasure, with great beats of his wings Smaug disappeared from view.
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The flight back to his cave was uneventful but peaceful, he had the gemstone in his claws and the princess as well. Smaug began to plan out his next moves very carefully, the world will learn to fear a dragon's wrath.