//------------------------------// // chapter 3 Edited) // Story: The Lone hunter // by Viper Pit //------------------------------// “Now.” “No.” “Yes.” “Not going to happen.” “Servants need to be punished for insolence, “ I blankly state before I ram against the cage side that's facing her chest. She catches herself by using that tricky magic of hers yet the look on her face is priceless. Our little argument continues over the course of several minutes. I have honestly forgotten when this started but I'm determined to win this argument. Aren't servants supposed to obey orders issued by their Master? They calm swaying of the cage made it partially cozy only I wish that there was more room so I could stretch my legs. Just then I notice a strange structure poking out in the maze of houses. As we get a bit closer I recognize that it's a large tree with a front door and those see-through holes with something weird in them. I notice one of those beehive structures on a small branch with a few annoying bees flying around it. “Is this house tree your library home place?” I ask wanting to know our location. “Yes, that's the Golden Oaks Library. And until further notice you’ll be staying here under my supervision, ” my servant responds happily. I'm aware that she has a name except we usually only learn the name of my family, mate, and future offspring. So until she earns the right to be called by name servant will do. Hold on, didn't I technically win the argument since she is going to let me out once inside this home. Still her not complying right away is a trait I'll have to fix with her. And there is always the option that she might try to break the servitude pack. When that happens… I will keep her as a food source. Her future fate is still undetermined for the time being, I think to myself. After taking a glance at the tree home, my servant told me this will be my shelter until I leave this area. Fluttershy explained that these are built to live in comfort for just one pony. I know that ponies at much larger than Scorponies, but why do they need all this room. Maybe for reproductive reasons. Then again larger species take longer to have their offspring, I rationalize. This displeases me because my family spent years digging our nest and fortifying it. “This territory is just downright confusing, “ I admit. My curiosity got me this deep when I got into that one creature's yard... I need to find that pony and enact the law as well. Ever since Fluttershy taught me a few things my curiosity has started to drive me toward learning more. As we get closer my servant speaks, “I would imagine so from your situation. Of course, the little bits you do understand are equivalent to what history knows about Scorponies. We'll essentially be learning from each other for a while.” What she says finally clicks just a tad and widens my understanding? So, ponies are just confused as me about the opposite kind no wonder they need simple explanations. When my servant opens the front door with her magic I get a clear view of many new things such as strange walls. There are sections with objects that have varying color and some type of black scribbles. They appear to be resting on wooden planks like the fence near Fluttershy's cottage. I see that a wooden figure fashioned in the shape of a pony's head lies on a round table. “Is that supposed to be the severed head of your enemy? Do ponies display them as a hunting trophy?” I ask and we immediately stop moving. I look at my servant's face to see the color draining at a rapid pace. “Is that a no then? Scorponies don't take trophies but Changelings sometimes do. And are those weird things in the walls the books you mentioned earlier?” I take a moment to catch my breath from that mouthful. The color returns to her face, “It’s just a figurehead, not an actual head. This one is a centerpiece decoration and yes those are books placed on the shelves in the walls.” We usually eat the flesh to get every bit of magic then leave the bones behind. But, considering her reaction might want to keep that to myself for now. “Since we're inside. Time to let me out my legs are getting really cramped in here, ” I order. She does so with her magic so I jump out of the cage onto the table and stretch my legs. I sniff at the air detecting many different scents including an avian creature. “Don’t wander too far now. My number one assistant, Spike, doesn't know about you yet so I’d like to inform him beforehand, ” she explains. I had no mind to this as I hope down the start shifting around every wall, corner, and just about anything else. I'm marking my new territory with an invisible pheromone that should only be detected by other Scorponies. As I keep marking, I hear movement from up a level so I get into a defensive position. My servant did mention something by the name Spike maybe it's that avian smell I picked up, I think. “Hey, Twilight. Who or what are you talking to?” I hear a new voice ask, this one seems to be male. Does my servant have a sibling or mate? I hear footsteps heading down the flight of stairs only they are much lighter than a pony’s. This new creature doesn't have hooves instead his feet has claws. Taking one last sniff in the air I confirm that this one is reptilian. Moving quickly I head towards one of the shelves and climb up it without damaging any books. Once his face comes into view I see two slitted emerald eyes, purple scales with green spines. I've only heard of creatures like him driven by immense greed for sparkling gems. “Dragon…” He spots me and immediately looks rather perplexed by my somewhat awkward defensive position. These things aren't creatures to mess about having impenetrable scales with high resistance. “What is that thing, Twilight?!” He asks making a quick break toward my servant. This confuses me as rumors dictate that dragons are usually much larger. She gives him a reassuring smile, “It's a bit of a long story, but do you remember that scarcely known species that I had to choose for my zoology project?” “Y-Yeah, the Scorpony or something. You had to dig through old journal reports just to get enough information for one paragraph, “ he responds while I slowly descend. “Well, Miss Viper Pit here is a Scorpony. She wandered in Carrot Top's yard by digging under the fence. Fluttershy took her to get treated back at her cottage and I rushed over to investigate such a rare specimen… I may have gone overboard when examining her which lead to Viper in acting one the Scorpony laws. To wrap things up, I'm her caretaker while she is in Ponyville, “ she explains as I hiss for the lack of proper title. He looks at me with fear in his eyes, he must be a young dragon to depend on a pony for protection. Doesn't his kind usually terrorize others for their amusement. “Okay, then why is she all hunched down like that and eyeing me like an emerald?” he asks in a shaky voice. “Viper's being defensive. She entered that position before lunging at me twice, ” my servant answers with an annoyed tone, “I'm a bit surprised she hasn't tried to attack you by now.” The drake looks up at the alicorn's eyes in shock as I decide to get some answers of my own. I enter a less defensive and jump up on the table once again then start clicking my tail to draw their attention. So, far everything about ponies has been unorthodox maybe just maybe they have a way of taming dragons. “So, what exactly is a drake doing among a group of ponies? Doesn't your kind usually incinerate the land in which weaker creature dwell? Not to mention that I can't see a shred of greed in your eyes what exactly is going on?” I ask. Both of them stare at me with complete shock written all over their features. Something that I noted about this particular dragon is a lack of wings on his back. It appears that I've asked another few questions that impose the same surprised reaction from before. “Spike isn't like that at all!” my purple servant shouts at me. “Yeah! I'm no jerk like Garble. And I would never harm any ponies like others dragons. In fact, Dragonlord Ember has been making sure dragons treat ponies nicer, “ the drake states defensively. “Dragonlord? Is that a leader among your kind or something?” I ask. He said this Dragonlord has been making other dragons behave nicely toward this species. So, this Ember must be in a high position of power. “Not only that she's the leader of all dragons, “ he clarifies. “So, then why are you living among ponies? I've heard dragons have a land of their own to live in, “ I ask. “I hatched Spike's egg a long time ago, he was never raised by other dragons. I'm his caretaker as well, ” my servant answers. It seems that they share some type of bond if this dragon sought protection from her. They both appear to have calmed down a tad from my previous questions by answering my new ones. Something catches my eye on the wall and I'm quite surprised when I see an image showing a younger version of these two. I walk to the other side of the table to take a closer look at it, I can hear them start to talk about me. “Twilight, you this is insanely dangerous, right? Scorponies are supposed to be poisonous, ” the dragon asks sounding troubled. I can hear him being pick up a few seconds later so I turn my head to see that my servant starts to shake him. I burst out laughing as she begins speaking, “But think of all the information we could gather on Scorponies! They are so rarely seen and you know the scraps of data that exist are pretty vague. This is a once in a lifetime chance Spike we need to take it in stride.” She continues to shake him rapidly until he looks like he is about to vomit. After setting him down my servant continues, “Besides, Viper doesn't mean any real harm she is just acting on reproductive instinct.” He looks at her and a dark blush spreads over his cheeks, “What?! Why?!” I laugh at his embarrassment clearly he hasn't reached that age yet. “Despite sharing the same level of sentience, Viper is still a wild Scorpony after all so when their best become overcrowded. They head off in search of a mate to start a new of their own. It's a completely natural instinct Spike no need to feel embarrassed discussing bodily desires, ” she explains as I watch the dragon still blushing. “B-But, you cannot keep her here. You know it's against the law to keep wild animals as a household pet, “ he states. Pet? I remember Fluttershy mentioning that beast I first encountered was that pony’s pet. HE BELIEVES I AM AS STUPID AS THAT BRAINLESS BEAST!!! “I'm not a pet or whatever you call them!” I yell at him re-engaging my defensive position only this time I rush near him in a faint. He falls on his back frightened as I climb up his legs to give him a death glare. “Now, listen here you oddball dragon I am not just some other animal that you find out in the wilderness. I didn't travel all the way from the Badlands just to be insulted, “ I angrily state. I may be incapable of harming a dragon physically, but I wasn't going to have him disrespect my species like that. “The Badlands?!” he instantaneously flinches upon receiving the name of my homeland. This dragon tries to put some distance between us by pushing me off, but I just get closer to his face. “D-don’t you know how dangerous that place is? Twi-twilight why couldn't you put this Scorpony somewhere else? It looks like it's about to kill me!” he shakily sputters out. “I grew up there no problem and you are the one that insulted my species, of course, I'm angry!” I shout. My servant horn lights up and I can tell it's a warning sign. I slowly descend from the dragon, “How would you feel being compared to that of a pet?” “M-mad, I guess…” he responds. “It makes my blood boil, ” I say blankly. “S-Sorry, I didn't m-mean to insult you on purpose.” he weakly apologizes. I scoff before jumping back on the table but seeing how frightened he has sparked some sympathy. “While I don't exactly forgive you, I can tell that you are being sincere so I will let it go for now. But, do not speak ill of us Scorponies again, “ I could instruct him. He's just like a young scorpony going on his first hunt and experiencing the dangers on his own. Hmph I could never go tough on my cousins when they get like this. Just as he is about to say something, the front door slams open as the pink pony from before. “I'mgoingtovisitMaud, bebackinaweek. MyfamilyisplanningasuperfunbirthdaypartyforherIcannotwait.” she blurts out quickly. This nearly scares the pincers off my tail. “Sounds amazing Pinkie, tell your sister that I wish her well. Good luck!” speaks my servant. Like before this pink pony disappears as quickly as she comes slamming the door behind her. I can't believe how unfazed she looks which makes me question whether this is a common occurrence. Should I be genuinely concerned about this? “I do believe that we should at least inform the Princesses if your that worried, Spike. I'm sure that Princess Celestia will support learning more about Scorponies, “ my servant suggests as she takes out a very thin tan material. I see her moving a feather across this like before. After about a minute of this, she wraps it in a red ribbon and hands it to the dragon. I watch as he takes a deep breath in then breathes out an emerald flame. Figuring this to be the classic dragon destruction I heard about. I am astounded at the material turns to a smoke like state and floats out one of the open see-through holes. I see my servant begin to gather more of this material along with a black substance and feathers. The dragon awkwardly walks by me as he grabs a few of her books. I hear a strange sound and see the smoke return then turn back into the rolled up material. Only this one wasn't wrapped in a red ribbon it had a yellow one around its center. I better get an answer to what just happened and how the dragon did that. I'm not calling him by his name because that is a privilege he needs to earn. I also begin to question the situation before lying down on the table top. If she does that same thing from before then this is going to be a long day...