//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 
// Story: Requiem of Darkness 
// by ChaosDragoon 
//------------------------------//

Celestia was pacing back and forth mumbling to herself. It had been two months since Drake went to the dragon lands. He had sent a letter reassuring her he had arrived safely, but after the initial letter, she hadn't heard from him. The door to her room opened as Luna walked in with a letter in her magic. Celestia snatched the letter from Luna's magic with her own and tore into the envelope. Her eyes raced down each line and with every second that past her eyes began to fill with tears. After she finisher, her magic disappeared from the letter and it gently fell to the ground as Celestia collapsed to the floor. Luna's horn glowed and her magic wrapped around the letter. She brought it to her face and began to read:

Dear Celestia,

Sorry I haven't written to you in two months. So many things have happened and I haven't found the time to write. I should start from the beginning: when I first arrived, I was amazed at how many other types of Dragons there were. Large, small, skinny, chubby, some looking like snakes while one had so many legs it reminded me of a millipede. However, they all had the same annoyed angry look on their face. None of them seemed to like one another and seemed to bicker with one another.

I know Dragons like to be secluded with their horde, but I figured they liked being with their own kind. There was this roar that shook the air and ground as the Dragon Lord descended from the heavens. By the gods, I'd never guess a Dragon could grow to such a massive size. When he arrived, all the Dragons fell silent. He wasn't like the royalty I'd read about in books. He didn't command by loyalty. He commands by fear and I could fell the fear in the air. It was like a weight had slammed into my chest.

He stared at us for what felt like an eternity before he finally spoke. He told us we were here because he needed a successor to his throne. He went on to tell us he would have his kin take the throne, but because he wasn't able to have kids (I'm not going to write down his actual words because I don't think you want the mental image of two dragons making a kid stuck in your head)he could.

He told us of a competition he'd devise to find his new heir to the throne. I thought it be some kind of obstacle course and figured I'd just lose on purpose so I could come home early. However, I was wrong, so very wrong. His competition was a battle royal. Dragons would fight in stages before the remaining two could fight for the throne. He then said there were two ways to win: your opponent gives up or is dead. Figured I'd just give up in the first round.

I was about to quit, but the Dragon I was fighting wouldn't let me. He kept coming and attacking. I had no choice. He was going to kill me. I killed him with my own claws. After that, I knew I had to quit in the next fight. However, I overheard the Dragons talking about what they do if they became Dragon Lord. They would have done such horrible things to Equestria. If even one of them won this competition, Equestria would be desolated. I made my choice to stay and fight. I'd force any Dragon I fought to quit.

Celestia, these dragons were stubborn. I did my best to make some quit, but they wouldn't. I had to kill so many of my kind just to protect you and Equestria. I can still see the blood on my claws now. No matter how much I wash them I can't clean them. I finally made it to the final round of the fighting. I was broken by this point and to make matters worse. The Dragon I was fighting looked as though she was enjoying the fighting. I tried so many time to make her quit, but she refused. She wanted to win and burn Equestria to the ground so she could eat the ashes that remained of the ponies that lived there. I couldn't let her win and she wasn't giving up.

I had no choice. The sound of her neck snapping will hunt me for the rest of my life. I'm sorry Celestia, but I won't be returning to Equestria. I'm sorry.

Love,

Drake.

Luna looked from the letter to Celestia who was now sobbing into her front hooves. Luna walked over to Celestia and laid her right wing over Celestia's back. she lay down on the floor next to Celestia and reassured her, "I know you want Drake here with you, but at least you know he's safe."