ബഐബഐബഐ Spike ബഐബഐബഐ
I swear if Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, or both, most likely both, put itching powder in my bed again I'd... I opened my eyes and my irritation was momentarily replaced with confusion. My blanket is light blue not light purple...and leathery? Also why is there so much light in my room? The window faces away from the sun... This seemed a bit too elaborate to be a prank from those two so maybe Twi was sleep casting again? She had a tendency to do that when she got extremely stressed and she had to be extremely stressed between the threat of war and with me... not... being...
Suddenly it came back to me, I was not in Equestria much less anywhere near the library and my bed. Last thing I remember was talking to the white dragon that looked like H.K. but really wasn't H.K. because he was dead or something... Yes, I understood that 'H.K. is dead' spoken in draconic meant that he was dead but yet here he was alive in front of me but as a dragon. How can he be dead but not dead at the same? Could he have been reborn like a phoenix which would mean that he technically is alive again, right? Ugh, headache.
Wait! I know when I had fallen asleep I was near the edge of the mountain... so then where am I now? And also, why am I glowing!?
Okay what is going on? I wake up to a burning itch, my scales, for whatever reason, are glowing, and I am cocooned in something that looks leathery... Please let it not be from a Ogres and Oubliettes monster... Please let it not be from a Ogres and Oubliettes monster... I chanted inwardly I slowly reach out to touch the leathery 'blanket.'
"Okay... okay I'm up." Came a familiar deep voice except more gravely and muffled.
"Whoa!" I shouted in shock as whatever surrounded me was suddenly no longer there and I tumbled to the ground.
I looked up to see what I thought was a blanket cocoon was really the leathery wings of the 'white dragon' from the day before. A quick glance around told me that I was in the same spot as last night.
"Who or what are you?" I demanded fighting back the pain of the becoming all too familiar headache...
"I am dragon as for who... that's a bit more complicated as..."
"No, stop. I don't want the long compli... " A really painful spasm ran up and down my spine, cutting of my rant mid word. This burning itch is already so infuriating that I want to scream! "Complicated stupid non answer especially with this burning itching that will not stop!"
I backed up a step in mild disgust as the dragon suddenly shoved his nose right up to me sniffing long and deep. Why was he sniffing me like a dog?!
"I'm not sure..." He shrugged then scratched his head like a dog. I swear if he starts barking or panting with his tongue... "Come, if the shaman is still here he might have a better idea then I."
I was about to protest when I heard a loud growl. Grrrreat I'm hungry on top of itching... what's next? Holes all over my body like changelings?! A sudden urge moo like a cow and give milk?!
"I suppose it has been awhile since you last ate... I wonder how that will be like..."
If I wasn't so itchy and now hungry I would have made some snarky remark how strange and creepy that phrase was. For now all I was willing to give him was a weak. "Whatever."
If the white dragon was concern about my indifference he didn't show it as he turned around and became to walk back towards Hourglass City. I will never admit it to my dying breath but I eyed every tree we past daydreaming that they were oversized back scratchers.
Where is every dragon at? They weren't outside in the plaza and I don't see them in here either. I had originally thought it is possible that they were sleeping on the other side of the gem pile, but I knew that wasn't the case when they didn't pop up when one dragon shaped gopher started tunneling through it, making all sort of 'happy' noises. It would have been almost comical if it wasn't for the fact it was H.K., 'not H.K.' and the infernal itching that still would not stop!
At least the I could deal with my hunger by popping a few gems into my mouth. I was about to grab another handful of gems when I heard the tale tell steps of the shaman. Please, please tell me he knows whats going on and even better if he can stop it.
"So the lazy ass finally decided to step down... I just hope whomever takes over is better then him... Ha."
"What are you talking about?" I asked as the shaman sat down next the gem pile.
"Scales glowing along with a burning itch?" I nodded slowly. "It's how the Dragon Lord of the Wasteland dragons summons his dragons."
"But I am from Equestria!" I protested as I used a quartz cluster that had a particularly long crystal to sooth my aching shoulder blades.
"True, but if this is what I am sure it is then this is a summoning for all eligible whelps within range of the call for the Gauntlet of Fire which will determine the next Dragon Lord. Strange, though, you are not a whelp..."
"Spike is more whelp then hatchling... possibly more..." The white dragon answered, popping out from the pile. I cringed when he put a ruby and emerald into his mouth. As festive those two are for Hearth's Warming they are only good when gazed upon not when eaten together... shutter... "mmm rubies and emeralds is such an interesting contrast between..."
"You!" The shaman roared smashing a fist down on the pile missing the dragon and sending coins and gems flying all over the place.
"I am not the result of necromancy!" The white dragon yelled as he back fliped away from a claw swipe.
"Lies!" The shaman roared before spewing a large stream of flame.
"Es theeslu theürolathciāla rezultāts..." The dragon repeated in draconic. I really got to learn that language if only to snap Twilight out of her frequent manic episodes. Being set back to magic kindergarten I mean come on! "I am the result of the Rite of Guardianship."
The look that the shaman gave the dragon reminded me of Twilight when she first encountered Pinkie Sense. "I should have just left yesterday..." He finally groaned after a minute. Sadly I knew how the shaman felt except replace 'yesterday' with 'never should have come...'
All this talk of the white dragon origins, who wasn't H.K, but was H.K., but wasn't, was not something I could care about right now, especially as I didn't need a headache on top of my itching. If what the shaman said about it was true maybe if I go to these summons and maybe if I become Dragon Lord I could stop the war before it started...
"So... about this Gauntlet..."
"You are not going anywhere near the Gauntlet of Fire." The white dragon snapped, stomping right up to me, angry.
"It's a great honor and responsibility and you have no right to..."
"Shut it." The white dragon hissed. The way he said those two words that reminded me of the fury that H.K. unleashed the night that we arrived. It apparently was enough to stun the shaman as he backed up a step.
"Brother," The dragon softly spoke as he turned back to me, "if you survive whatever challenge put forth by the Dragon Lord, and that is a big if, given the high number of deaths that are common, and if you managed to then somehow claim the scepter you won't remember me, your sister, the fact that you have lived with and loved ponies, or anything, but your name."
"What are you saying?!"
"Young dragon," the shaman sighed, clearly not happy about the white dragon said, "the scepter will destroy all of your memories."
"That just sick! Why would any sane being think that total memory wipe is a 'great honor!!'" I roared in horror and frustration before I collapsed, exhausted. "Why was I cursed being born into a race that thinks that is okay? Or torture... or..."
"What matters more my brother?" I shuttered as the white dragon put a claw under my chin and lifted my head. "The who, the what, the how, and the why of the Dragon Lord or the vengeful conflagration that is about to consume your home, your friends, your everything?"