//------------------------------// // A Seer For A Dragon // Story: Aftermath of a Fallen Star // by Rated Ponystar //------------------------------// Marc left Rupert’s establishment after getting a mug of ale. He needed it after what he had learned tonight. Not only did Aquilina almost get herself sold into slavery like her mother, but the young dragon he had met on the docks not to long ago managed to pull on hell of a rescue. A lucky one at that. Even if he had the size to sneak aboard, a phoenix to assist him, and also the abilities of a Fire Caster it was still one hell of a lucky break to come out of there alive and with so many rescued. The Fire Caster ability was what really interested Marc. It was a rare breed to find in a dragon, one that could be a benefit for the Red Lightnings if he trained Spike well enough. Aquilina had all but begged for Marc to let Spike join which wasn’t a surprise. Aquilina might be a rude little brat sometimes, but she wasn’t an ungrateful one and knew when to pay her debts. Marc was going to let him in anyway after his little stunt in saving all the little ones. It was daring and crazy, the kind of thing you needed to be in the Red Lightnings. Not to mention all the other guilds would be grateful for what Spike did and, in turn, would be grateful more to the Red Lightnings if he just so happened to be one. Still, there was an even bigger reason that he had to let Spike in. One that had been planned for about a year now ever since that deer told him a small purple dragon from Equestria would seek to join his guild. One that he was to train if he proved himself in Marc’s eyes, and boy did he ever. When they say never bet against a deer, they meant it. “Is he well?” asked a voice from the shadows behind an ally. Turning around, Marc saw the cloaked buck with a short white blond mane appear with runes carved into his antlers. His eyes were giving that weird purple glow that all deer held from birth as a sign of their ability to see into the future. “Aye, he's well. Little tyke is just crashin' after a bloody hard day,” replied Marc as he smirked. Leaning against a nearby lamp post, he crossed his arms. “Ye were right. A little purple dragon would come and impress me by saving one of me own. Guess ye deer folk really ‘r smashing at seeing the future, aye?” “The future is always changing, but this had to happen. This was the best path he has to fight the Black Star and the darkness that is to come,” replied the deer, stoic in expression. “Do you agree to take him in, and train him as agreed?” “Sure, mate. Deal is a deal, and a job is a job as they say. Ya got the brass?” asked Marc. The deer’s horns glowed as a pouch of silver was handed over to Marc who began to count it one by one. “You can lose the accent you know. I know you’re just faking it, Ashwing.” The blue dragon stopped before sighing and spoke with an accent that sounded not only more common, but noble as well. “Nothing gets past you deer, huh? Did your eyes tell you about me?” “I know about you because every dragon in the world outside of the islands still speaks of your name with a cursed breath with a desire to piss on your grave,” replied the deer. "Glad to see nothing has changed," replied Ashwing, bitterly. "Why are you doing this anyway? I thought you deer were suppose to be neural in everything?" “It is true that I am not supposed to be here, but unlike my brothers and sisters I cannot stand aside and risk the worst happening. All I can do is use what sight I can see into helping things along the best hoped path. Even now, despite my efforts, the future still looks grim yet if the light can shine just a bit more it may be enough to save us all. My fellow deer would stand by, and let the world as we know it possibly end without intervention unless necessary, but I must do it now if there is to be anything worth saving.” “What’s gonna happen? Some kind of war?” asked Ashwing, raising his eyebrow. “A war to end all wars. A war that will put even the gods above in terror. This is a war where everyone will be effected and all must unite or all will fall. Even the afterlife will feel this effect of such a grand war,” replied the deer. “And Spike’s the key to it?” asked Ashwing. “He is a key to it. There are others that will play a part. But he will be the one to lead them or else all is lost,” replied the deer, staring at Ashwing. “You will play a part in this war as well.” “No thanks,” replied Ashwing, shaking his head. “I choose my own destiny. Regardless of what the gods say.” “You made that very clear when you made your choice long ago and ruined everything your father and others worked hard for.” Ashwing stopped and growled at the deer. “Was it worth it? Choosing her over all others?” “Yes,” replied Ashwing, standing tall. “Yes, it was. Not that it mattered because she rejected me in the end. I sacrificed everything for her. I fought for her. Killed for her. And I...” He closed his eyes as a tear threatened to fall from his eye. It would do no good to think of her. Not after it's been so long. “It doesn’t matter. What I want will never be mine and nobody, not her will forgive me. I will never be forgiven and I will never go home.” Home. The Dragon Lands. His clan and his family. How long had it been since he had seen them? His father all but disowned him after what happened. Any dragon outside of the Erebus Islands would kill him upon meeting him. This island was as much a prison as it was his home. All because he decided that one dragon meant more to him then his entire race. And he would have to live with that forever. “I’ll just train the kid like you asked. I don’t know what’s in my interest to do this. Besides the whole ‘save the world’ thing,” replied Ashwing as he counted his coin again. The buck was silent before he answered, “Because when the call of the dragon lord comes, he will be the one to save the life of your sister, Ember.” A coin of silver fell from Ashwing’s claw and fell onto the floor before a long silence.