Spring had finally come and with it the yearly shedding of our skin. Unfortunately for me, I had also caught a cold at the same time. Which meant I was always cold, had work piling up at the embassy, and I was itchy from the dead skin. Aleazh was looking for a way to hasten the shedding process, so she could get back to work in the Moonlight Diner. Nikta had yet to begin shedding, and Kii was almost done, just a few pieces left for her.
Whenever a dragon sheds their skin after is usually when dragon eggs appear in spades back home. I shouldn't have to explain why. A dragon’s scales are more vibrant in color after shedding. I’m guessing it’s a mating thing left over from when we were more primitive.
I found myself curious as to how Niirah would look after her skin was done shedding. She’d probably look nice. Dammit, I thought these feelings for her would be gone by now.
“Sir, do you need anything else?” Dwiin, my new personal guard asked me. Viing had not been kidding when he said his scales were like metal. Metal-looking natural plating covered his body; he was about my size, just a lot more muscle. I envied him. He said that he has never had to shed his skin. Lucky jerk.
I was curled up on my bed with as many blankets I could find, even the fire-wolf pelt. “No Dwiin. Unless you know of anywhere I can find some medicine that is dragon-friendly, no, there is nothing.”
“If you change your mind I’ll be down the hall, sir,” he said with a salute and left my room. He had to stay in our guest room for the time being until I could find a better solution to this issue.
I hate being sick. I was the one to protect my family, but this was when my family had to take care of me. I hadn't been sick since before Kii hatched, but this was a very bad cold. And for fire dragons like myself, that meant our inner flame was temporarily out. With nothing to warm us, we start to freeze, so keeping warm is essential. Were this a fever it would be the opposite effect; too much fire, and we start burning everything we touch. There is the in-between area we usually are at, that's normal.
With that thought, I figured we should invest in a room where we couldn’t burn anything. Or at least fireproof blankets.
I heard knocking on the front door. “Dwiin, could you get that?!” I called with the loudest voice I could and immediately started coughing. Trying to shout with my throat in its current state was a bad idea.
I didn’t hear a response but I could hear Dwiin’s heavy steps going down the stairs. Hushed voices from downstairs. More movement heading up the stairs now, and approaching my bedroom door.
“Come in,” I called before they could knock.
The door opened and Nandak entered. “You look like wyvern dung,” he said.
I sniffed and smiled. I had missed my brother. “Hey, brother. I’d hug ya’ but you might get sick too.”
“Yeah, I’m good here by the door. You gonna be good for our hatchdays next week?” Nandak asked.
I shrugged. “Hopefully. I’m kinda on my own here, since we don’t exactly have a doctor we can go do.”
“Well, what about that dragon Spike? He’s been in Equestria all his life, right? Surely he knows who to go to,” Nandak suggested.
“If I give you his address could you go ask him?” I asked. I hadn't even thought that Spike might know where to go.
“Um, yeah. After I go visit Alezah and Nikta, sure. Where does he live?
“In the Golden Oaks Library, Ponyville,” I told him and sneezed.
Nandak rolled his eyes. “Right. Because I haven't spent enough time in a library for the past month.”
“Olakaan?” I asked, raising a brow.
He nodded. “Yeah. I learned things that I didn't realize needed to be known; he even made me learn a lot of ancient dragon. But I'll go see our sisters and then see about finding you a plague doctor. Or maybe an undertaker.”
“I will sneeze on you,” I threatened.
“Then you’ll never get help,” Nandak grinned and left my room.
I growled to myself. I suppose the best I could do was wait and rest.
Several small hot meals and a bunch of restless naps later, I was being dragged down to Canterlot’s undercity by Spike and my brother. We had convinced Dwiin to stay behind, insisting that with all the security in Canterlot he wasn't needed. He just wanted to do his job so I couldn’t fault him for that. But he’d barely been here a week and he was almost always hovering over my shoulder. It was getting annoying.
Spike was leading the way as my brother made sure I didn’t pass out on the way. “Who are we going to see again?” I asked with a sniff, leaning on Nandak.
Spike slowed down to be beside us. “An old friend. Twilight found him down here when I was still a hatchling. I had gotten a cold and Twilight didn’t know what to do. None of the doctors in the upper city knew what to do until a patient in a hospital sent us down here to a clinic.” He explained the story.
“Sounds like you’ve had an excellent history with this place,” Nandak commented.
“I would always come here if there was something wrong with me when Twilight and I lived here,” Spike explained. “Now I go to the Zebra Village just within Everfree to see Zecora.” We turned down an alley.
A lit sign over a doorway read “Clinic.” There wasn't a line or anything despite the building looking more modern and clean than the surrounding structures. When we entered the clinic the other patrons—a griffin, two zebras, and an earth pony stallion—all looked up in surprise. The receptionist was a unicorn, taking down names and wait times.
Spike and I walked up to the receptionist, while Nandak found a seat. “You look like a walk-in. I don’t recognize you as a regular,” she observed as if it wasn't obvious.
“Daktari is an old friend. If you could tell him ‘Spike is here with a new patient’, I would appreciate it,” Spike smiled kindly at her.
“Is he the new patient?” she asked, smiling back at me.
“Yup,” I said confirming it and sneezed loudly. I couldn’t help but talk in a grumpy tone of voice. I was cold and away from my comforting blankets. How would someone expect a dragon to talk when he’s sick?
She seemed unfazed by my attitude. “If you could fill this out while I tell him, and what is your name?” She levitated a pen and clipboard with a form on it, over to us.
“Krein,” I said dryly. “K-r-e-i-n. Pronounced ‘Kr-reign’,” I told her.
“He’ll be with you shortly if you’ll just have a seat while you wait,” she said writing down my name.
We sat by my brother, whose wings were twitching. I didn't have anything else to notice as I filled out the standard form of “have you ever had this illness?”
“Itching to get moving?” I asked, checking another ‘no’ on pony pox.
He shrugged. “Can you blame me? I wanna see what's out there, but our sisters would never forgive me if I miss their eighty-eighth.”
“Neither would I because I would have to hear about it from them,” I joked.
He must've had a thought because he made an odd face. “Hey before I forget, some weirdo stuff happened in the Dragonlands last week. Know anything about that?” Nandak asked.
“A thing named 'Discord’ escaped a magical prison, brought chaos down on our heads, and was re-imprisoned, all in a day,” I summed up.
Nandak nodded. “That explains it.”
“Why? What happened?” I asked.
“Everything was opposites. Volcanoes were cold, Shadow dragons we're mute and clumsy flyers, I could breathe ice for a few hours, it was odd.”
“We had flying pigs. Did the sun and moon switch rapidly for you?” I asked.
He looked at me with confusion. “Yeah, they did. What was the point of that?”
I shrugged. “Krein!” the nurse called. “The doctor will see you now.”
I stood with Spike. Nandak stayed in the waiting room. The nurse led us to a room, with a medical table that all seemed appropriately sized for a dragon. Spike sat in a chair.
We only waited for a minute before a zebra male wearing a lab coat stepped in. He was thin, but not overly so, about the standard height of an earth pony. I couldn't see his cutie mark because of the coat. His eyes were a purple.
“Good morning. Swell to see you again, Spike my friend,” he said. His accent was foreign.
Spike smiled. “Hey Daktari, think you can help my friend here?”
“What seems to be the problem?” he asked me.
I sneezed before I could answer. “Cold,” I wheezed.
“Ah yes. Open your mouth wide and say 'Ah,’” he said, getting a little wooden stick. He proceeded to peer down my throat. “So Spike. How is Miss Sparkle?”
Spike respond. “Ma is keeping busy. I think she is having a picnic with her friends in Ponyville today.”
Daktari nodded. “Ah yes. Picnics are a good way to get fresh air. We all need it.” I rolled my eyes. This conversation was unnecessary. The doc pulled away from my mouth. “Let me see your ear.”
I turned my head, and he stuck a cold thermometer in my ear. Very uncomfortable. “Tell me, Krein. Have you used your fire breath much lately?” he asked.
“Haven't had a need to use it much lately,” I said.
“Soaked up sunlight regularly?” he continued.
How did he know that? “Not as much as I'd like.”
He pulled the thermometer out and clicked his tongue. “Yeah, this is the common dragon-cold. I recommend a cup of fire tea every morning when you wake up, and every night before bed. Every day until recovered, and longer to prevent more cold illness.”
“Fire tea? What's that?” I asked. I felt as though I should know what it was.
Daktari went over to a cabinet and pulled a small jar of crushed red leaves out and gave it to me. “A pinch of these fire salts steeped in boiled water for ten minutes.”
“Alright. Is that it?”
He nodded. “Yes. I've given Spike the same remedy several times.”
“Alright, I guess. How much I owe you?” I reached into my coin bag.
“I'll let you talk to the receptionist about that. I have many more patients to attend to. Good day, and get some rest.” Daktari walked out of the room.
“So?” Spike asked.
“If this works. I'm gonna ask if he'd like to have some helpers from the Dragonlands,” I said, tapping the jar of fire salts with a claw.
Fire salts are magic. Plain and simple. Okay, I'm sure they aren't magic, but it seems like it. Only a couple days later, and I felt pretty good already. Good enough that I was back at work. But I was still not well enough to breath fire. A few more days and I'd be fine.
I had a letter from one of the dragons who moved here; she was asking if it were possible to go into business here in Equestria, buying property and the works. I'd have to talk to Fancy Pants about this, business investments are his thing. I know all the dragons here right now can't purchase property yet; they gotta be a fully-fledged citizen first. Right now renting property is the best they can do. I was fortunate to get here before all these rules.
After explaining that in detail, I began looking at an incomplete inventory report from Algae. It was supposed to log the inventory of our warehouse in Baltimare and the one we have here in Canterlot, but it was incomplete.
I stood up and left my office. Niirah was at her desk reading a textbook. She looked nice today. Bite your tongue, Krein! I yelled at myself.
“Is Algae here yet?” I asked.
She looked up at me. “Um, yeah, but where is Ash? I haven't seen him at all today and he's usually here before me.”
Was he gone? Oh right, that was my doing. “Oh, I figured we could use a break, so I sent him to Baltimare to make sure the warehouse guards are in shape. He left earlier today.”
Niirah let out a sigh of relief. “Thank the Spirits, peace at last,” she mumbled, going back to her studies.
I knocked on Algae's office door. “Algae, I need to talk to you.”
“Just a second.” I heard her moving around on the other side. “Come in,” she called at last. I opened the door, and she had on a casual sweater with a hood, big enough to go over her head.
“This Inventory report is incomplete. I'll need you to redo it,” I told her, then I noticed that she was making an effort to hide her face from me. “Is something the matter?”
“What do you mean?” she tried asking innocently.
“Oh no, I know that routine. You're trying to hide something. Take off the hood and take your claws away from your face please,” I basically ordered.
She hesitated, but as she removed the hood as I asked. When she did I felt myself gasp in shock; black bruised scales dotted her face, there was a swollen cut on her lip, and her left eye was shiny and swollen. More bruises covered her lower neck, all the approximate size of closed claws. Scratches that were not deep enough to cause serious injuries, but certainly sting.
“What happened to you?” I asked, putting the paper down and leaning in to get a closer look, the big brother in me taking over.
“I-I fell,” Algae mumbled.
I stood tall, knowing that stairs can’t claw a dragon’s hide. “The truth. And don't think me some imbecile who will believe a lie,” I said. “I practically raised a little sister on my own.”
If she could bite her lip without causing herself pain, she probably would've. “A-Ash gets angry sometimes, a-and I do the dumbest things…” She started to cry.
“Ash did this to you?” That's it. He's done. But I need a replacement for him first. “Dwiin! Get up here, I have an assignment for you!” I roared.
“Really, sir it's no problem. He just loses control, and I deserve it most of the time…” she started before I cut her off.
“Why are you defending him? He is abusing you. Using you as a punching bag. I will not have a dragon on my staff behaving in such a dishonorable manner, especially since we represent Lord Torch here,” I almost barked, trying not to send my anger to her.
Algae looked down at her desk. “I-I see your point.”
Niirah had wondered over and peeked into Algae's office. “What’s going...I'm going to kill him,” Niirah declared after seeing Algae's bruises.
“I got the first go. You can have what's left,” I agreed with her.
“You called, sir?” Dwiin asked, coming up the stairs.
“I want you to take Algae here down to the clinic by the air docks, and get her a full check-up.” I wrote down the directions. “Tell them to send the bill here.”
“Yes, sir,” Dwiin nodded.
“You are not to leave her side. Until I can do something about Ash, you're glued to her. Understand?” I stated clearly.
Dwiin hesitated. “But sir, my orders are—”
“I know what they are. I heard. I can handle myself for the time being. Just go, protect somedragon who actually needs it,” I interjected.
Algae put her hood back on, stood and started toward Dwiin. She stopped and looked at me. “Thank you,” she said, giving me a quick hug. Then she walked out with Dwiin.
“What are you gonna do?” Niirah asked.
“Call Ash’s boss,” I answered. “And until your brother responds, we behave like normal. Ash is not to go near Algae, and Dwiin is not to leave Algae's side.” I walked back toward my office.
“So we can't actually kill him?” Niirah asked, obviously disappointed.
“Sadly no, we have to be evolved about this,” I answered.
“Being evolved is starting to suck sometimes,” Niirah said bitterly.
I sighed sitting down. “There are times I agree with you on that.”
Algae had been cooped up in her office ever since Ash returned. Needless to say, he wasn't happy with my decision to separate him from Algae, and he definitely didn't know Viing was searching for a viable replacement for him. Dwiin had started staying at Algae's apartment to make sure Ash didn't get any ideas. That was four days ago.
But today, we were in Ponyville. I had told Algae and Dwiin to come with Niirah and I to Ponyville today because I was hoping to send a few of the small families of dragons here. But only if I could find places willing to hire them. I asked for their help, but it mainly to get Algae out of her office and into the sunlight. Perhaps we'll go by one of the lakes so she can get her scales wet, her being a sea dragon and all.
“This place is nothing like Canterlot,” Algae observed, pulling her hoodie back slightly so she could look around.
“Yeah, no upturned noses and everypony minds their own business for the most part,” Niirah agreed.
Niirah didn't want to hang around the office with Ash there. They didn't get along, with good reasons...and personally, I was pretty sure that she would try to kill him if I left her alone with him. Algae and Niirah lead us through Ponyville, while Dwiin and I followed behind. We weren't heading in any particular direction so it didn’t matter that they didn’t know where anything was.
I had my own agenda for this visit: talk to Pinkie Pie about the four birthday parties I want her to put on. I had three days. Getting Pinkie onboard seemed like the easy option.
“Hey, why don't we go to Sugarcube Corner for some shakes?” I suggested.
“Yeah, I'm starving.” Algae agreed.
“You weren't doing too good this morning,” Dwiin commented. “You sure you want to eat?”
Dwiin had become friends with Algae fast, and she was trying to loosen him up. So far she's gotten him to the occasional open comment; that question was probably the last we'll hear from him for another half hour. Dwiin had no further objections to protecting her right now. He even kept her company on his lunchtimes.
Hold on. “What does he mean you haven't been feeling well?” I asked as we all rounded a corner and Sugarcube Corner came into view.
“It was just this morning. But I felt fine once I got to work,” she informed me.
“Odd,” I pondered as we walked into Sugarcube Corner.
My thinking was interrupted by a blur of pink. “Hello, my dragonly friends! What can I do ya’ for?” Pinkie Pie asked in a fake silly accent, wearing a waiter’s costume and a fake mustache.
“A table to rest, a chocolate shake…” I pointed to Niirah.
“Strawberry,” she said clearly.
I moved my claw to point at Dwiin who looked up at a menu they had behind the counter. “Vanilla I guess,” he shrugged.
I pointed at Algae but she hesitated. “Um... I've been craving something actually. If I could just whisper it to you?” she asked Pinkie.
Pinkie Pie nodded and stuck her ear toward Algae. Algae leaned in and whispered just quiet enough where I couldn't hear. I doubt Dwiin and Niirah heard it either.
When she was done whispering. Pinkie simply smiled. “Done and done. There is a nice dragon-sized table over there by the window. I'll have your shakes out in a jiffy.” She bounced
We all went and sat down. The girls sat beside one another in front of the window, Dwiin sat beside Algae, and I sat beside Niirah.
I couldn't help but ask. “What did you ask for?”
“It's best if you just see for yourself,” Algae said as she shied away from me and scooted closer to Dwiin.
Conversation kinda died for a moment, but I was curious about another thing. “Niirah, how goes school? Alezah tells me you've taken up an instrument.”
Her face turned a little pink. “Ah, um, yes. The Harp.”
This was interesting. “Really?”
“It's just beginning lessons at the school. Nothing big.” Niirah scratched her arm nervously.
“Well, when you get to perform am I gonna get an invite?” I asked.
“As your sister’s plus one,” Niirah said.
“That hurts. Truly, I am wounded,” I said seriously. We all laughed, except for Dwiin, who just kinda smiled.
Pinkie came over with our orders and passed them out. “Chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla shakes. Then lastly cheesy fries, red peppers and avocado on top, and a vanilla shake for you.”
We all gave Algae a questioning look. “What?” she protested. “I can't explain it. I've just wanted this lately.” She sunk into her seat, looking embarrassed, and took a bite of the strange food combo.
“Say, Pinkie Pie. I was wondering if I could get your help with something,” I said, turning to her.
“Is it another party? Please, say it's a party,” she said, crossing her hooves.
“It's not a party,” I said crushing her hopes momentarily. Her mane deflated like a balloon and her eyes widened into an expression of dismay. When Niirah jabbed me in the rib with a claw I continued. “It's four parties over four days. Hatchday parties for my siblings and me.”
Pinkie’s mane immediately bounced back to normal as her eyes grew large and a big grin spread across her face. “Oh my gosh!” she squealed. “I know exactly what to do. You will not be disappointed. Gotta go!” She bounced off.
“Is that the whole reason you wanted to come here?” Niirah asked, seeing through my plans.
“Primarily, yes. I was actually thinking about Fillydelphia to put more of the dragon families we have wanting to come here. There is a whole three-block section of the city in the southern area completely vacant. I was thinking about talking to Princess Luna about it,” I explained.
“Why are you asking us about this?” Niirah asked.
“Because I want to hear your thoughts on the matter,” I answered.
Algae seemed to give it some thought. “Well, I think the apartments we have in Canterlot should be reserved for those working at the Embassy. If we put all the others in Fillydelphia and find them jobs within the city, it will be a perfect little community. And a school, they need a school.”
“Very well put—” Niirah started.
“And a playground,” Algae clapped cheerfully.
“You were saying?” I asked Niirah.
Niirah coughed, looking irritated at being interrupted. “Like I was saying. Very well put Algae, but there are other things to consider.”
“Like?” Dwiin asked.
“Security. We will need to figure out how to assist the Fillydelphia Guard with maintaining the peace,” Niirah pointed out.
“Perhaps that is a job we could offer. The first Dragon-Pony joint security team.” Dwiin suggested. “I could run some numbers with Algae if she helps me with the logistics of it.”
“You think you can drum up a presentation I can give to the princesses?” I asked him.
“I can give it a try,” Dwiin shrugged his wings.
My hatchday was first-up. I rolled out of bed and took a shower. Once I got out and started toweling myself off, I realized how quiet it was. Normally, Kii would be up by now.
I walked downstairs to find the house empty. No dragon or pony was here.
I went into the kitchen and found my fire salt tea already brewed with a note on it. “Go out back,” the note read. “Why?” I asked the cup. Of course, the cup didn’t answer.
I took the fire tea in my left claw, using the wing on the same side as a surrogate walking limb, I made my way to the back sliding door.
Opening the glass door I could see all the dragons that mattered to me and a few ponies. Several presents on a table to the side. A breakfast buffet on a long family outdoor table was on the other side of the yard.
“Happy Hatchday!” every dragon and pony cheered.
“What’s all this?” I asked in confusion. “I mean, I know it's my hatchday, what's with breakfast outdoors?”
“Well, we mentioned to Pinkie that you liked mornings so she put together a Hatchday Breakfast Party.” Kii smiled.
“Well alright then.” I shrugged, joining the festivities.
We ate, we laughed, every dragon and pony had fun. Guests stayed until early afternoon and then Nandak went and got pizza for dinner. It was the first hatchday I’d had with my full family and with friends, and not just Kii. And I couldn’t wait for next year.