//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 - The Dragon's Lair // Story: Equestria at War // by Krystal Dusk //------------------------------// Chapter 4 Soot spurt up from the ground as he landed at the border of the Dragon’s Lair. A shuddered went through his body as he did, the charred dead land making him feel uncomfortable. This was the environment his kin thrived in, yet he shunned it as much as anypony would. He couldn’t help but feel a bit domesticated, but he knew his friends loved him. This was only the third time in his life that he sat foot on his native land and it has been several years since he helped Ember ascend the throne as Dragon Lord. Spike puffed the air by instinct and inhaled the soot that still swirled around his face. It was strangely satisfying as the soot coursed through his lungs… one of the many things about himself that he knew nothing about, yet his body did. I should come here more often, he thought. But Twilight had been insistent on having him by his side at all times. He didn’t blame her for this, considering all her friends were out in the war, some already dead; she needed at least one constant in her life, which made him feel all the more guilty for disobeying her. A pang of regret struck him as he imagined Twilight worrying all by herself in her gloomy castle. It only now occurred to him that Twilight was afraid that he would never come back, once he returned to his people as an adult dragon, his instincts could overpower him, as it had done many times before. He’d liked to believe he could control such feelings… Regardless, he truly thought he could make a difference. Who else but a dragon could infiltrate a dragon’s lair? As he walked closer to where the throne and assembly was, at least used to be, he could hear a yell voice ahead. He recognised it instantly and hurried forward. As he got closer another voice reached him, this time deep and rumbling, making the earth tremble. The voice was unfamiliar and he approached casually. Arriving at the edge of the amphitheater, he crawled on the ground and scanned his surroundings. At the throne, he saw Ember standing with the Bloodstone Sceptre in her hands. She was glaring at a massive creature across to her. An unfamiliar dragon, at least same size as Lord Torch was. They argued loudly but it didn’t seem threatening, so Spike decided to lay low and observe the conversation, as many of the other dragons at the amphitheater did. Despite his interest in the unfamiliar dragon, he couldn’t take his eyes of Ember. She was beautiful, he thought. Her scales curled slenderly around her waist. She had grown a bit, he noticed. Still a bit taller than himself, but not by much. He was still younger after all. As he kept staring at her, he forced his attention to the large “unknown” dragon next to her. The beast’s scales were thick and rough. Some cracked around his jaw, making his face look jagged and threatening. Suddenly, the unfamiliar dragon turned his attention from Ember and addressed the crowd: “Look at yourselves. Big strong dragons taking orders from a little girl. Have you lost your pride and tradition? Only the biggest and strongest dragon can claim the Fiery Throne. It’s despicable!” Ember flew up to his face, holding the sceptre tightly in her hand. “Back off you brute,” she said. “We do things differently now. being a ruler isn’t about strength, it’s about wisdom, wisdom that you severely lack considering you dare to show yourself here again.” The large dragon grinned, amused by her lack of fear. “Your father was strong,” he said, “stronger than anyone. He deserved the throne, and I accepted my lot. But now he is gone and there is no-one that can tell me what I can and cannot do. Such a shame none of his greatness has passed on onto you.” Amber growled at the insult, making the sceptre glow. Spike was surprised to hear her voice rivalling the larger dragon’s in both tone and power. The Sceptre must aid her by amplifying her voice, he thought. He continued to listen. The large dragon glanced and narrowed his eyes at the Sceptre. “So this is the proof of your reign? How dull.” He tried to pinch it with his massive claws from her hands, but she avoided him and created a distance between them. The large dragon snorted, seemingly uninterested in taking it from her any longer. “I cannot fathom why we have such a thing,” he continued. “What use is a sceptre to a being that can breath fire? Our ancestors must have truly gone senile when creating the ridiculous thing.” “Or maybe,” Ember reverberated, “they were wise beyond your comprehension, Fiurion…” Ember landed landed by the throne and then pointed the sceptre at Fiurion. “Enough of this! What is your reason for coming here? Or are you just here to argue?” Fiurion, cackled deeply at her spunk. “No, my dear, Princess,” he emphasised, robbing her of the title as Dragon Lord. “I’m here to claim my right as ruler of the swarm. I’m strongest! And I heed you all to listen: It is time to reclaim the sky as our own. For too long have the ponies of Equestria dictated how we live. Preventing us from sleeping where we wanted, to hunt where we wanted. But no more! Celestia is dead, Luna is gone and only her little prodigy remains…” there was a pause, “And only I can take her out.” Spike, still hiding at the edge of the amphitheater, felt a chill down his spin. He was after Twilight’s head. Twilight had been right to be cautious after all. And he was glad that he himself hadn’t been. Just as he was about to make his way to Fluttershy’s camp, he stopped as he heard agreeing cheers down below. It couldn’t be… his kin actually supported this stranger’s claim? Spike scanned the crowd again, finding, to his relief, that not all seemed so eager to go to war. And most importantly, Ember stood stiffly gritting her teeth, refusing to acknowledge what had been said. Fired by the crowds support, Fiurion rose to the sky and bellowed that he would return Twilight’s head shortly, and then he dashed over Spike’s head. Ember stood as if in daze at all that had happened, and Spike watched as the flying calamity moved towards Equestria. He realised there was nothing he could do to warn Twilight in time, but there was something he could do for Ember, he thought, looking at Ember’s blank expression, dazed by Fiurion’s actions. Spike hurried down his hiding place and shouted to get Ember’s attention as she stood on on the throne above, her head drooping. “Spike!” she cried when seeing him and she flew down to greet him. Spike almost went in for a hug but hesitated as it’d been so long since they last met. But she embraced him quickly and asked. “What are you doing here?” The dragon subjects murmured as their affectionate display and Spike opened his mouth to answer, but his words died on his lips as he saw Fiurion suddenly veer to the left. He jerked his head around to see where he was heading. Without asking for permission, Spike grabbed the Sceptre while Ember still held it. “I’m sorry,” he said. Then they vanished out of thin air - both of them. *** Fiurion couldn’t help but feel satisfied with himself. For years he had flown endlessly on the eastern wasteland, a wasteland he was sure his kin had created long ago. As such, much of the land furthest to the east had begun to recover and he found it amusing to devastate it once again, giving tribute to his ancestors antics. It was the duality of a dragon’s existence, for they cherished destruction, but when there is nothing to destroy, they felt empty. As empty as he had felt for centuries now. Drifting aimlessly upon lands that was already charred and lifeless. No matter. He will have his fun again, as soon as he proves his worth by destroying this “Twilight Sparkle”. She couldn’t be half the protector as Celestia was, and even if she is, he would still try. Dying in battle… what could be more fulfilling? As his mind drifted, imagining the upcoming fight, a falcon suddenly appeared at the corner of his vision. For a critter to leave its hiding place while he was nearby… there must be something wrong. He turned his head in the direction the falcon flew and at the other end of the ocean, sitting by the cliffs on the continent, a group of ponies stood peering in his direction. Fiurion chuckled with an evil smile on his face. Those crafty ponies, he thought. Fire splurged from the gaps in his teeth and he veered at the ponies direction.