“Hey Spike!”
Spike smiled at the sight of his new friend. “Hey Barb!”
The young dragoness waved him over. As Spike ran over, Luke and Ember’s teasing came back to him. Barb’s pale jade scales certainly were quite nice, and her long, pointy, pink spines and quartet of tiny horns framed her face quite nice.
He shook his head. Yeah, she was pretty, but his heart was Rarity’s and Rarity’s alone. Besides, she was his new friend, and he didn’t want to mess that up.
“We’re getting ready to play King of the Hoard. You wanna play?” Barb asked.
"Uh, sure," Spike said. "But I don't really know what that is. How do you play?"
"It's simple," Barb explained. "You just have to get to the top of the hoard and knock everydrake else off."
"Oh, okay," Spike said. "I can do that."
"Alright, come on!" Barb said, waving him on as she went toward a big pile of pebbles and small rocks.
"Wait, that's not a hoard," Spike said, looking confused.
Barb rolled her eyes. "Well, no duh. We can't have a hoard, we haven't molted yet. You wanna go feral?"
"Wait, are you talking about greed growth?" Spike asked.
"Greed growth?" Barb giggled. "Never heard it called that before, but it sounds about right. You get really mean and greedy, taking everything you can, getting bigger and bigger."
Spike shuddered. "Yeah, I learned about that the hard way. I went totally crazy and wrecked half the town."
Barb scoffed. "Yeah, right. That's impossible. Once you go feral, there's no going back."
"Well, I did," Spike said. "I don't remember it very well, but I remember seeing somepony very special to me. She said something that kinda just, snapped me out of it. I gave her a fire ruby I was keeping and turned back."
Barb stared at him as if he had just said he had saved the world one afternoon.
"You're serious?" she asked. "That's... Woah. You know, you're pretty awesome."
Spike blushed, feeling his heart flutter, just like it did whenever Rarity was around.
He shook his head. No! Rarity is my one and only!
"Well, come on, before they start without us!" Barb called as she ran toward the pile of rocks. "I'm queen of the hoard!"
A trio of dragons talked amongst themselves as they watched the hatchlings play. Ember had need of Star’s wisdom, and hoped to find the answer she hoped for.
Star pondered for a moment. “Theoretically, it is possible. However, I’m afraid I’m not entirely sure how to do it.”
“Really?” Smoulder said, excitedly. “So, Ember just has to figure out how it works, and she can do it? She can actually give me magic powers?”
Ember asked, “But how am I supposed to figure it out?”
“I’m not sure,” Star said. “I will have to ponder this. Perhaps I should meditate on it. If I search my memories, I may find some hint.”
“Alright,” Ember said. “I would like to give Smoulder magic before we go to Canterlot, but if we can’t figure it out before then it won’t be the end of the world.”
“Yeah, I want to be able to practice while you’re gone,” Smoulder said.
Ember chuckled. “Oh, you’re coming with us.”
“I am?” Smoulder asked, surprised.
“Of course,” Ember said. “If I give you magic before we leave, they can help you learn, and if I don’t then might be able to figure out how I can.”
Star smiled. “A wise plan.”
“So, I gotta go with you to namby pamby pony land?” Smoulder complained.
Ember shrugged. “It comes with being my protege. If I have to suffer them, so do you.”
I sat on the edge of the cliff in front of our cave meditating, focusing on my power. I was going to unlock my abilities, and I knew the first one I wanted to work on.
I was going to live up to Yomega's nickname for me.
Using my aura as a guide, I focused my will onto a rock, commanding it to move.
But, like rocks tend to be, it was too stubborn to give in and just laid there.
With a sigh, I decided to take a break.
Ember and Smoulder were with Spike on the other mountain so he could play with his little girlfriend. Seeing as I didn’t exactly know how to be a dragon, I wasn’t essential to his education. So, instead, I was trying to make our cave a little more comfortable for four.
Ember had gotten a second bed and separated the cave into three parts with stone walls, two bedrooms and an ‘everything else’ room.
Ember gave me permission to sift through her hoard to find things to decorate the rooms with. She had some pretty great stuff. Including an old set of armor that I thought could probably be adjusted to fit her. I had no idea why she would need it, but it might be cool.
There were some dinnerware, candelabras, sculptures, a few paintings, some old weaponry, and quite a lot of other stuff.
I was in the middle of hanging up a pair of cutlasses when I heard Smoulder’s voice call out.
“Hey, Luke, you here?” she asked.
“In your room,” I replied.
Smoulder walked into the room and took a look around. “Oh, cool. It’s starting to look pretty awesome. Love the swords.”
I smirked and took one in hand, swinging it and falling into a fighting stance. “Yeah, they’re pretty good quality, too.” I ran through a few moves, swinging the sword around a little.
“You actually know how to use those?” Smoulder asked.
I shrugged and went back to hammering in a hook for it. “Kind of. I trained with a Chinese broadsword, which isn’t too different. So, what brings you back here?”
Smoulder shrugged, “Ember wanted Spike to talk to a dragon that was actually a mother, so they went to meet Barb’s mom. I wasn’t really interested. My mom is enough. So... think you can teach me how to use one of those?”
I chuckled. “We’d have to ask Ember. They’re her swords.”
“Well... can you teach me how to do some of the other stuff you do? Like, the punching and the kicking?” she pleaded.
I laughed. “Yeah, that I can teach, but right now, I want to make this place a little nicer. You want to help?”
Smoulder shrugged. “Yeah, sure. Might as well. Ember wont get mad I touched her stuff, will she?”
“If she does, I’ll tell her I told you to,” I assured her. “There’s a hammer and nail by the door. Go ahead and hang up that painting over there. Star traded for those nails. They have some kind of pony magic that let them penetrate stone.”
“Oh, cool,” She said as she grabbed the tools. “So. Ember wants me to go with you guys to that Canterlot place.”
“Oh? By the sound of it, you aren’t too thrilled about that,” I observed.
“It’s not that I don’t want to go with you guys,” she said, hesitantly. “I just... I’ve never really been around ponies, before. I always heard they’re wussy and weak, but after meeting those three I’m not sure. I mean, I like Rainbow Dash. She’s the complete opposite of what everydrake says. The other two seemed cool, too... but... do you really think dragons and ponies can get along?”
I turned back around to look at her before setting down my tools and taking a seat on the bed. “Come here. Sit down and tell me what’s really bothering you.”
She tensed up, slightly. “Wh-what makes you think something else is bothering me?” I just flexed my dreadlocks.
"Oh... right," Smoulder winced.
She hesitated for a moment before she sighed and said, "it's just... I'm not sure how well I'm going to fit in there. Ponies are kinda wussy, but they're also friendly and smart and pretty and... dragons aren't. We're mean, barbaric and scary."
I couldn't hold back a laugh. “That doesn't describe you or Ember, at all. I mean, sure, you're both rough and tough, and you aren't afraid to get rough, but from what I've seen, you're both plenty friendly, smart, and pretty.”
Smoulder blushed a little at that. "You really think so? I mean, I guess I can see the friendly part, but smart and pretty?"
I nodded. "Sure, you may not have book smarts, but you have a good head on your shoulders. You're clever and learn fast. I bet if you went to any school, the book smarts would come easy.
"And of course you're pretty. You're strong, have a great figure, what's not pretty about you?"
I knew that was going to bring out some romantic feelings from her, but I felt she needed to feel good about herself.
I was surprised, though, when I didn't really feel that. I felt a ton of platonic love but not romantic.
What else I wasn't expecting was how much desire I felt.
Feeling that, though, it was less of a surprise when Smoulder said, "So... since we got the place to ourselves... you wanna have some fun?"
“uh... I, uh... I don't know...”
"Ember already said she's cool with it," Smoulder said.
I knew casual sex was normal in Dragon society, but it was still strange to me.
“Maybe another time,” I said. “I'm still not sure I'm cool with it. My people only ever do that with their mate.”
"Really? That's weird. Even when it’s not mating season?"
I chuckled. “It’s always mating season. That’s the main reason for the way my people treat sex. There’s almost always a risk of pregnancy.”
“Well, whatever,” Smoulder said, getting to her feet. “I’ll help you finish decorating, kay?”
I smiled, following suit. “Sounds like a plan.”
Star entered her cave, smiling to herself. She had to admit, that little hatchling Spike was quite the treat. He was so different from other dragons. Perhaps he would stay and that attitude will spread.
She chuckled to herself. That was quite unlikely, unfortunately. Still, if even some of him rubs off on the other hatchlings, it could only do them good.
There was time enough to ponder the fate of the next generation. She told Ember she would look into a way for her to awaken another dragon’s magic.
Star made her way to the back of her cave to a shelf filled with clear crystals. Her gaze slid along the labels, looking for one that may hold the answers.
She placed a claw against one and it began to glow. After a moment, Star grunted and did the same to another.
She repeated the motion a dozen times before she huffed. “Well, those are all useless. I guess I have no choice.”
Star went to the back wall and placed her claw against the stone. She felt the familiar pulse of psychic energy that would keep any from becoming too curious With a rumble, the rock face slid down, revealing a chamber beyond.
Star stepped inside, the chamber lighting with braziers holding glowing crystals, all surrounding a pedestal that held an ornate mirror.
Star approached and bowed. “Aki tor, volish ka do myra.”
The light dimmed and the reflections in the mirror swirled. The image was replaced with that of an ancient throne room.
“Rise, dear Star,” came a voice. “It is good to see you again.”
Star stood back up, a warm smile on her face. “And you, master.”
“Something tells me this is not a social call.”
Star sighed. “No... not this time, my Empress.”
So Star is the last guardian of Dragon's old day? Bet she has many adventures to be told.
i.imgur.com/7rm6KEm.gif
Thanks for the update!
Meh makes sense a smart empress would have a time spell to help later generations during a particular time period for them
I wonder if Spike is going to do a Pinkie, and instead of fighting his way up the outside of teh pile, waits till everydrag else is distracted then dig his way up?
I always thought, due to the greed thing and magic etc, that dragons were on demand, like cats, rabbits etc? But the eggs are viable only once laid and kept in incubation, otherwise theyre treated like chicken eggs? Dont matter how many there are, theyre delicious, or storable?
Torches Mum?
Oh
9870758
Oh, it's not a time spell.
9870760
No, the eggs are fertilized internally before being laid. If it isn't fertilized, it's laid and usually traded away for gold or gems as dragon eggs are a delicacy to some races. Also, they're only fertile once a year.
The problem with Pokemon Stories is, you have to read BOTH VERSIONS otherwise you don't get all the content :<
9870784
Cool also I've read your side story to this and you have a knack for it
9870866
Not really. Both our stories can be enjoyed independently.
9870874
You mean the mature version?
9870866
Have to? Get to, I think.
9870876
Ahem, i was just kidding about Nintendo's need to split off a hand full pokemaaannns into a nearly identical game :I
/humor.
What's this then?
9870897
Yup you have a nack with finding compatible personalities for them as well as cutting off any issues to it in the main story by stating there ages and that they mature in size slower then we thought
Yup, called it. It was really obvious when you had Star know too much.
It was a nice teaser when she knew about magic dragons. Even explained how she was old enough to be a child of one of the last magic users.
Then you gave her aura too. And she kept popping up out of nowhere meddling in Luke and Ember's life.
It was starting to become clear that she was fated to be more than just a wise old dragon that was open to giving advice to younglings that came to her. Her part would be much grander.
I admit the fact that the Empress can still communicate threw me for a loop. That, I was not expecting.
Hmm? Is that mirror perhaps like the paintings in Harry Potter?
I think my favorite part so far is definitely Spike learning about dragons from dragons. Hope to see more of that.
this is a vary interesting twist.
and at the same time i get the feeling this is going to be good.
9871472
So, not such a 'deus ex machina of exposition dumps', is she
9871571
Oh yes, she most definitely is a deus ex machina of exposition dumps. Creating an interesting backstory for this character does not change plot convenience.
9871638
But that's not a deus ex machina. A DEM is contrived and typically has no other real purpose. It just has the solution with no real, believable explination as to why.
9871648
And what is the believable explanation for her knowledge of Aura?
A trait that even among Pokemon is extraordinaryly rare.
9871837
We actually have a very good explination. Me, Symphonic, and one other person fleshed it out. You'll find out soon enough.
Welp, just finished reading the whole set in one go, and now I crave moar! But take your time, stuff this good needs a lot of it.
9870784
Wouldn't that mean that the egg Twilight hatched with her magic was one that was traded away and thus unfertilized?
That would make her the dad...
In an earlier chapter he was called her son but she seems to even be the biological/magical dad...
9872806
That's not the only way they could have gotten the egg.
However, my headcanon is just that. Spike's egg was an unfertilized egg meant for a visiting dignitary and Twilight's magic fertilized it.
Whether or not that's the case is up to Symphonic.
Alright, here we go. Gotta say, 'going feral' works a lot better than 'greed induced bigness'. (Yes, that is actually the canon term used in 'Molt Down'.)
So Empress Aurora is still around in some capacity. We'll see where that goes, I suppose ...
'before then, it won't be'
Forgot your period there.
this was interesting, been reading the main story for some time now, and this seems like a fine addition.
You should focus more on Lucario’s training, he’s getting to weak in comparison with the others.
Hope Star isnt the 'Darth Ja Jar' of this universe. Perfectly Innocent most of the time but actualy one ofthe most evil and manipulativ there are..
9870897
Dont think so... But the mature version is better
Did Aurora fak them out with the body? actually did they ever go back for it?
Lucario can learn Sword Dance at level 40. Maybe Luke can learn it.
Also, I’ve already seen how Spike ends up in Equestrian Eeveelutions, so I’m excited to see how he gets there.
Star, "So, Empress... are you actually from Spyro's world and is this going be a crossover within a crossover?"
Empress, "Ye-noo!"
Star facetalons, "Look, you KNOW what happens if too many things get crossed-over! Do you really want Deadpool showing up?"
Empress, "Hmph, fine. I'll just be a plain old magical dragon... which you can make wishes on if you gather the seven-"
Star, "NO MORE CROSSOVERS!!"
Deadpool, "Toooooo laaaaaate! I was just over there slicin' and dicin' Big Bad Bug Cell and felt the tingle in my jimmies! Let's get this party started!"
Pinkie pops out of a crack in the wall, "Did somepony say PARTY?"
Star, "Oh god no..."
Empress, "I'm just gonna go hide in my cave until this blows over, byyeeeeee!"
Deadpool, "Hells yes! And no party is complete withouuuuuuut…" He yanks out a tray, "Chimmycherrychangas!"
Pinkie and Pool's eyes meet. "I love you," Pinkie croons. "I've always had a thing for magical horsies," Pool replied. "Ponies," Pinkie corrected. "Potato-patato," Pool shrugged. And then the they fell into flagrante delicto right then and there.
Star, "This will be the end of us all... for surely this madness will bring-"
Alondro trots in, "I was just in the neeeeeiiiighborhood! Hah! Horse puns!"
Star committed harikiri.
10091308
Of course Star knew the Dragon Empress, my question is - is it the one Luke and Ember know, or somebody else?
This was a cute and interesting chapter I hope Smolder will grow fillings for Luke
9872806
9872820
While my own headcanon is that it was an egg-shaped rock. Either way, it was intended as a Kobayashi Maru sort of situation and Twilight is so protagonisty that she managed to pull a Kirk accidentally.
10091308
It's harakiri (2a2i). And at that point the only thing she had a chance to commit is sudoku. XD When the world goes that crazy you can't even properly kill yourself.