-Dragonlands, Bronze Fields: Eleven Years Ago-
-Ember-
My little brother told me a story once. A story about a ring of mountains that pierced into the heavens...where dragons far and wide lived together in peace and harmony not only with each other, but with the rest of the world around them.
I laughed in his face and told him such fairytales were for the weak and feeble.
He laughed as if I was being jovial with him! I sneered and stepped forward to retort but he held a single claw to my gaze.
Then he told me of a feared breed of dragon that had evolved so far so as to hunt their weaker brother and sister dragons.
I practically pounced when he produced the map to the Bronze Fields...coming here proved to be a mistake.
The breath of a Bronze Dragon burned hotter than any volcanic bath in the kingdom. Their claws and teeth tore through the aged scale shield I had brought with me, and it felt as if their amber eyes bore into my soul.
These monsters would have had me for a meal had I not been saved by a massive gray scaled ancient.
Somewhere between the struggling claw and my incessant screaming did the ancient manage to shelter me from the now retreating Bronze Dragons.
“Child,” Whispered the ancient with an elderly breath. “There is no need to fear. Will you not tell an old drake your name?”
I had attempted to steady my nerves and state my name but all I could manage were stutters and high pitched squeals.
The ancient chuckled...he CHUCKLED. It wasn't the same derogatory guffaw of a normal ancient...it was the same infuriating. Jovial. CAMARADERIE! My weak excuse for a brother exhibits!
“I AM PRINCESS EMBER! I AM DAUGHTER OF DRAGONLORD TORCH AND I COMMAND YOUR RESPECT!”
I roared at him and recoiled instantly. I half expected him to bite my head off, or worse...instead what he did next made me reconsider if my brother had been right all along.
With a slow and gentle bow, the ancient spoke with respect and grace.
“My apologies your highness, I meant not be so rude.”
From that day forward we had become... acquaintances, though my brother would say otherwise. As for the dragon’s name. His name is…
-Ponyville: Present Day-
-Hero-
I could literally taste the abhorrent rage dripping from Ember as she bum rushed Big Macintosh.
“DREAD MAW!!” Was all she shouted before she was planted face first into the dirt by the chill and fear inspiring Dragonslayer.
This time, the princess passed out from the drop, though it seemed her blood lust wasn't disappearing anytime soon.
“Now ah’m sure ya have yer questions hero.” Macintosh stated, his hoof still planted on Ember's head.
“Uhh...no yeah...but later. I have like...a thousand and one things to do right now. Throw me the sword?” Lyra grabbed the blade and threw it at me, it's weight pinned me to the ground.
'Oh God real swords are heavy.’ [Realignment in progress]
A quick digital effect washed over the sword and I was finally able to wield it with the same effortlessness as the rest of my weaponry. The sword was apparently called the Frozen Dragon Buster.
That’s when a question popped into mind.
“Where's the Frozen Claymore?”
“That IS the Frozen Claymore. Big Macintosh confirmed it.” Stated Sweetie Drops.
Macintosh started to whistle rather nervously while he scratched at his leg plate.
I gave him the same cold glare he gave me not too long ago.
“First off,” I began. “The Claymore doesn't have a dragon head on the hilt.” Macintosh started to visibly sweat at this point.
“Second,” I took a whiff and a lick and immediately reeled from disgust! “The Claymore is NOT supposed to have DRAGONSBANE GALANOTH!”
He gulped. I don't think I expected this...but a main character had been rewritten with an Artix character.
Honestly I think that scared me. Have there been others? Are there others?
“Good sir?” Turner grabbed my attention back from my thoughts.
“Why do you keep referring to him as “Galanoth”?” The inventor asked.
I look back up at the crimson pony, he seems resigned to fate now.
“You wanna tell them?” I ask.
“Nnnope. Not really the best ah times, wouldn't ya agree hero?” He answered solemnly.
I sigh and look back to Lyra and Bon Bon, Bon Bon has a hoof on Lyra's leg and Lyra has a hand on Bon’s head.
“What about you two? No tension?”
They look at each other for a cool minute. They smile and then look back at me.
“Nothing's changed.” Answered Bon Bon.
I nod and walk away, once this is all over I’m gonna take a very VERY long nap in the Underworld.
As I walked back to the comfort of my own home I saw a large group of elderly townsfolk head into a cave entrance. The group was surrounded by several armored ponies and d-dogs in crystal armor...I couldn't really help it as my mouth began to water.
“I wouldn't if I were you.” Said a voice off to my side.
I looked around and saw Pinkie Pie standing next to me looking forward...only her mane was deflated.
“Twilight helped me make these crystals, the bonds that form the crystal work to not only repel, but violently backlash against physical harm,”
She finally looked up at me, her eyes devoid of emotion.
“You don't have to say it. I know you're sorry for skipping out on the party. Humanity is a complicated thing.” She said as she looked back at the soldiers and the elderly.
“You did throw that pie in my face…” I say in a near whisper. She giggles a bit, her cold demeanor wavering just a smidge. “So why all the doom and gloom?” I ask.
She sighs and her hair gains a little of it's volume. “I'm scared. I KNOW I shouldn't be, but I also know this wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this anyway.”
I sigh a little at her words. “You're being surprisingly forward and sagely. What gives?” I ask jokingly.
“I know that I don't have to hide around you. Sure ponies accept me for who I am...but none of them get it. Nopony sees the world the same way...with the same self awareness.”
She slumps down and sits on her haunches and I drop with her. My empty hand starts to scratch her ear. She pulls away from my touch.
“Nuh uh, other hand,” She then pulled my other hand out and I followed her lead. She laid her head on my lap and sighed in content.
She looks at me with a mix of worry and sadness.
“I'm...gonna be fighting with the others. I'm not going to hold back.”
“Good, don't,” I say in response.
She looks at me as if I threw a boot at her face
“Ponyville is your home. It's their home,” I say as I point at a group of children being lead by Cheerilee. I then wave my arm over the town. “Everything the light touches...is OUR home.”
Pinkie shoves her head into my hand one last time and gets back up, her hair having regained it's full volume.
“See ya on the battlefield! For Pony!” She cries bounces off to wherever it is Pinkie does Pinkie things and I head on back home.
I finally reach my door and spy a peculiar scene.
“Come on Derpy, he's just a stallion. It's only the end of the world…” In front of Turner's home was a grey Pegasus with a straight blonde mane.
“Hey Derpy!” I called out, “Doc's out right now!”
“Aah ponyfeathers!!” The mare yelled as she slammed her head on the door.
“Want I should tell him you swung by?” I ask.
Derpy’s face went flush as she began to mutter incoherently. “Guh, NO!” She finally spat out “Uh... I'll come back when we aren't gonna get torched by dragons!” She began to flutter away mumbling. “Stupid stupid stupid….”
There was something off about her...her voice seemed...older. Heck she LOOKED older. 'Mm, probably the skewed timeline.’ I thought. I reached again for my door only for a ball of pony to ram into me.
“PLEASE HELP! He’s trapped in there and I can't get him free!!” I look down and take not of the magician’s cap and cape. That and something about her voice was familiar...As if I’d heard it in a-.
“Dream…” I say in a whisper. The blue toned mare looks up at me with tear filled eyes, dirt matting her coat, and a few twigs in her mane.
“Trixie! You’re the voice from my dream!” I say excitedly as I lift her up in my arms.
“What are you doing!? We have to help him!” She cried.
“Whoever this guy is, he’ll get his help,” I kick the door twice and wait for an answer. “But we aren’t going alone.”
The door swings open and we’re greeted by Veral and the changeling I kidnapped. Said changeling was wearing a maid outfit for some reason.
“MASTER!” greeted both happily...except when Veral spied my eye…
“WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOURSELF THIS TIME!!” She screamed as she threw her arms in the air.
“No time! We have a search and rescue! To the Everfree!” With unfurled wings I jump off the steps and hit the ground flying. Veral managed to catch up with us once I hit the edge of the Everfree.
“Uh...was the forest always this lively and loud?” Veral commented. She wasn't wrong, several guttural tones, whines and howls echoed throughout the forest, but what was really surprising was that the wood of the forest itself had been twisting and writhing in agony.
Trixie began to shiver in my grasp. “He...he’ll be okay, right?” She asked in fear.
“Hard to say,” I perk my ears as they begin to follow the wolf speak.
“Hmm...the winged guardian of the forest...yuhuh... burning away the wicked serpents...yup. We're going in hot!”
I gently lower the magician in my arms and go head first into the forest, Dragon Buster at the ready! Only for several rainbow sheened vines and branches and other foresty things to wrap around me and force me back out of the forest.
Try as might I was left stunned and complacent, the sigil of Harmony shining brightly upon my hand.
Once I was deposited back on my feet next to Veral and Trixie. Both looked at me worriedly.
“Master, now's not the time for lollygagging. Start chopping down some timber so we can get in there!” Veral said as she swung her axe at a nearby branch.
Despite looking older than a rotting Deadwood, the tree didn't even register the blow.
“Veral! Phase through the wood!” With a salute, the Moglord Ghost slammed straight into the tree she tried to hack. A rainbow light pulsed at the impact point.
“Harmony. She's quarantined the forest.” I spit out.
“Harmony? The Goddess of Equestria? Why... how? I thought she was a myth…” Trixie slumped onto her haunches as she stared at the writhing forest.
“Believe the hype. As her envoy I'm forced to follow any and all directives,” I sigh in defeat and give Trixie a shrug. “It blows, but neither of us can save your friend. Not that he needs saving.”
I start to walk away and motion for Veral to do the same. Trixie ran up to me and pulled on my leg.
“No...please...I...he saved my life. I can't leave him!” Tears welled in her eyes as she pleaded more and more. “You need to do something…”
She slumps a little and I do something stupid. I offer her a weapon.
A simple stick of dynamite. Okay that's not entirely true. This particular stick not only returns to sender once thrown, it was technically a DOOM weapon. If anything could get past divine magic, this explosive would do it.
“What? What do I do with this? Moreover, why is it already lit?” Trixie asks with curiosity.
“Throw it and find out.” I say with a grin.
Veral took this as her cue to back away from the unicorn with TNT.
A light blue aura engulfed the stick as it was thrown at the wall of wood. Black skulls exploded brilliantly as a good chunk of wood was obliterated...only for a fresh wall to grow in it's place.
“No…” With a rebel yell she threw more sticks of dynamite. The constant stream of explosives finally managed to break the barrier. Through the opening I saw a clone...only this one…
He held the powers of a pure elemental.
Stone covered his legs, fire danced upon his arms, wings of light shined upon his hips and back and his massive amount of hair writhed like tendrils of pure darkness. Several dragons lay at his feet, dead. Several more had begun to charge, and he spared a moment to look back at us.
“Heee~” His head was cocked to the side and a wide grin was plastered on his face. The vines and trees of the Everfree closed the opening shut as smoke poured out from the once open forest.
Trixie rushed the new wall and started to scratch away at the bark to no avail. She slumps down again in grief and exhaustion, the outburst having taken its toll.
I move to hoist the mare off the ground and start to cradle her to sleep.
“Shh...your hero yet lives. Have faith and you may see him again.” I whisper as I head back to my home.
‘The poor girl, she shouldn't be this broken…’