//------------------------------// // III - The Unexpeted // Story: Ashes // by Olakaan Peliik //------------------------------// I was at Needle & Forge. After all the business they had gotten from dragons and other creatures, they were able to move their shop to a more fashion-centered part of Canterlot, only a few doors down from Rarity's Canterlot Boutique. Forge was helping me pick out material for Niirah's betrothal necklace, while Needle was helping pick out how it would hang around her neck. “Metal makes her scales itch, so we can't have that be what holds it,” I said. “But the pendant has to be metal,” Forge added. I nodded. “Perhaps a velvet backing to prevent the reaction?” Needle suggested. I nodded. “That could work.” Needle floated over a patch of silver velvet fabric that shone. “Oh yeah, that'll do just fine,” I nodded enthusiastically. Forge clapped her hooves once. “I have a few choice options here. Silver, steel, gold, any of which can be molded once heated to the right temperature.” “Not gonna be an issue for me.” I started picking up the different metals and teasing their weight. I liked all three of them. Steel for the shell, silver for the main body of the carving, then some gold to really make it pop. I figure I could find a gem or something on my own to put in the center of it. “I’ll take all three metals. Could you maybe make a steel shell and fill it with the silver so I can carve the metal?” “What about the gold?” Forge asked. “Leave it out, I want to add that myself later,” I explained. “Coming right up. You two figure out what to put it on.” She left to get to work in her forge, leaving Needle and me to brainstorm. “What if we make a leather collar for strength covered in black satin to keep it comfortable and looking fashionable. I can add a clip of sorts to attach the pendant later,” Needle mused excitedly. “Sounds good. How fast can you make it?” I asked. “Give me five minutes, I have plenty of scraps in the back.” He left to start work, leaving me to wonder what gem to use. I guess that was my biggest issue. I had no idea what gemstone to use. I don't think I even had any idea where to start looking for one either. It will come to me once I see it. I hope. I sat looking through a photo book of different gemstones while Needle and Forge worked. None of them stood out to me. After a time I was beginning to wonder if I was gonna have to come back tomorrow. “I’m done!” Needle called from his room in the back. “Same here,” Forge said from the forge. I never got used to how fast they could work. I could still remember when they couldn’t stand each other. They both presented their parts of the necklace. The pendant was the size of a large coin and blank, ready for me to carve whatever I chose into it. The band perfectly sized for Niirah, dark and soft to the touch. “I can't thank you enough for this, both of you. You should consider making betrothal necklace kits. Bet you’d make a pretty bit. Anyway, what do I owe you?” I asked. “Come on, I’ll ring you up,” Forge said leading me over to the counter. I couldn't wait to get started on this. Nothing, I am drawing a total blank. I sat in my office trying to think of what to carve for Niirah’s betrothal necklace and I have been having no luck in the idea department. I leaned back in my chair, smoking one of my Criollo cigars. Niirah asked me to not smoke at home cause she thinks it smells. A knock came from my door. “Come in!” I called, putting the pendant away. Smolder came in looking a little unsure, which was odd because she was one of the most confident dragons I knew. “Smolder, is something the matter?” I asked. “I wanted to ask you a hypothetical political question?” she started, shuffling her claws. “Okay, shoot.” I sat back in my chair. “If I knew a creature that has been deemed an enemy of the Dragonlands, but said creature wanted to be allied with us, how would we handle a situation like that?” Smolder asked. Smolder wasn’t the best at subtlety. “Wow. Asking a tough one there.” I had to think for several seconds. “Um…honestly, I'd want to talk to them before we reached an agreement. And if this ‘hypothetical’ creature is indeed an enemy of us and our allies, I would be hesitant but still willing to hear them out.” I said as honestly as I could. “Why do you ask?” Smolder rubbed the back of her head. “Yona had a similar question on her citizenship test, and we had a pretty big debate about it the other night. I just wanted to get a pro's opinion.” “Oh, okay then happy to help,” I nodded. “I also wanted to ask if it would be okay if I went home early today?” she asked me, shuffling her claws again. I forced my eyebrows not to rise; I’d gotten pretty good at my poker face in the past few years. This was odd; Smolder almost never went home early. I looked up at the clock. “You already went and gotten the mail, filed the time schedules, and sent the outgoing mail?” She nodded. “Then I don't see why not.” I put out my cigar. “Cool, thanks,” she said before bolting. I waited to be sure she was gone before doing what I needed to do next. After about five minutes of waiting, I pulled a large quartz crystal out from a drawer in my desk. It was a communication crystal that went directly to Queen Ember. Since the destruction of the Bloodstone Scepter, I have not been able to contact her the same way I did Lord Torch, through my magical brand. Olakaan has been making great strides in harnessing the power of the ancients with runecrafting and alchemy; I’m still not convinced he’s not a magic dragon. “Zu'u kent tinvaak wah Jud Enkii,” I spoke into the crystal to activate it. It began to glow and pulse as it worked its magic. Soon a ghostly image of Queen Ember appeared. “Speaker. How goes things in Equestria?” she asked. “Well enough, I suppose, your Majesty,” I sighed. “Is something wrong? That couldn't wait till the meeting with the generals tomorrow?” she asked, a tone of annoyance in her voice. “You know what it is I am about to bring up,” I answered. Ember folded her arms. “I know and I still don't want to bring them into it. It is our war, our problem.” “I understand. And I agree with you, but yesterday we had a close call. The House of Representatives had a five to six vote in our favor.” “In vote of what?” “Section 24F of the World Peace treaty you signed. If a civil war, like ours, crosses into an allied territory, like it has, the allied forces, after a majority vote, may provide reinforcement to the government’s armies to quell the violence, whether they want help or not.” Ember frowned. “Who is on our side?” “The Princesses, Empress Cadance, Queen Novo, King Aspen, and Rain Shine,” I answered. She was silent for several seconds. I sucked in a breath, gathering my courage; speaking out of turn to the Dragon Lord was usually a terrible idea. Speaking out of turn to the Dragon Queen equally so. “My Queen. I beg you to reconsider accepting aid from our allies. The princess could provide security for our wounded and-” “Enough!” she barked. “I will make no decisions until I have the latest after-action report from our Generals. I will speak to you then, and only then. Is that understood?” “Yes, my queen.” I started to bow to her, but she cut the spell off before I could. “Dammit,” I mumbled. I had finally gotten round to reading the letter from Dwiin. It seemed that General Revan, the general commanding Dwiin's unit, had granted some of his unit leave. Dwiin wanted me to meet them as they got off the ship, maybe give them a place to stay. This seemed like a good idea...until I saw the ending of the letter and realized the ship was coming in today. I had rushed to the docks as the ship was pulling into harbor. It was a Dragon Navy Airship, featuring a black-steel hull, a ram that could break through standard wood hulls, armored balloon, cannons. This thing had teeth, so to speak. First off the ship was the squad sergeant, a stone dragon by the name of Maant Klov, who had diamond-like-scales and appearance to him. A dedicated soldier, and loyal to his commander. “Sergeant Klov. A pleasure to finally meet you. Did only your squad get leave?” I asked. “Yes, sir. We were the only squad in Torch's Fire to be granted leave. The commander was ecstatic when he heard he was included in that list,” Klov informed me. “Wait, what did you say?” I asked. “He said ‘the commander got leave,’” Dwiin said coming down the ramp. “Dwiin! By the Spirits!” I hugged him. “Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have brought Algae with me.” “I didn't get the chance to send you a letter after I found out. I figured I'd just show up,” Dwiin reasoned. “Geez, let me have a look at you. Been a while.” I took a step back and examined him. It certainly had been a while. His natural metal plating had grown over several scars, most of which were on his wings, and he had grown easily double in muscle mass. He was a seasoned warrior now. Surviving six years of war would do that I suppose. “You look like hell,” I joked. “Thank you,” he laughed. I looked at his tired troops and got an idea. “Are they gonna need places to stay? I have housing available in the Undercity if they need it.” “That would be great,” Klov answered, looking exhausted. “Let's get you all to the Embassy so we can get you some visitors visas and keys to the temporary housing,” I said, starting to leading the way. “I haven't seen the new building yet. I left before it was completed,” Dwiin commented. “I forgot about that. Just wait till you see it, it's really something,” I said to him as we took lead in the group. “So I know Algae blames you for my decision to go to war. But I hope she can to forgive you. Other than me and the kids, you and Niirah are the closest things she has to family,” Dwiin said as we approached their home. “Well, Niirah should be here already. She and Algae were hanging out today,” I commented, turning the corner. When Algae and Dwiin’s eggs hatched, they had had to move out of the little apartment and into a little factory house in the upper city in the warehouse district by the train station. After Dwiin went to war, Algae had made it pretty clear that I wasn't welcome here; I hadn’t been down this way in a very long time. As we approached the door, Dwiin stopped, looking up apprehensively. “What's the matter?” I asked. He shifted nervously. “I've been gone five years. I haven't seen Yoz, Lomos, and Stornah since they were but hatchlings. And Kunuk and Gol; I haven't even met them, they don't know me.” He leaned against the wall and sighed. “I'm their father, I should have been here, and not at war.” “You didn't have a choice, I would've stopped the order if I could, and you know it,” I reasoned. “I could've disobeyed. Ember wasn't queen yet or even the Dragon Lord, I could've said no. But I chose to follow the order and you know it,” he snapped back. “You're gonna have to do this at some point. You can't put it off forever,” I pointed out. “I know. Best do it now before this gets worse.” He took a deep breath. “I'll go in first if that helps,” I offered him. “Maybe she’ll burn out all her anger on me.” “It might,” he muttered. I opened the door to the entryway of the home. “Hello?” I called. “Hey, love! We're in the living room,” Niirah called. I stepped inside. Dwiin stayed in the entryway, practically shaking. I entered the living room. Algae sat there helping Stornah with her homework, and Niirah sat on the couch helping Yoz, while Lomos worked by himself. Kunuk and Gol sat in their playpen. “Niirah, what is he doing here?” Algae growled, refusing to even look at me. Ouch. Niirah just looked at me questionably. “I brought a surprise,” I motioned to Dwiin to step out. “Get over here dude.” Dwiin stepped into the living room with a shy grin on his face. Niirah had to hold a claw over her mouth to keep from exclaiming out. I quickly stepped back. “Dwiin?” Algae stood and took a slow step toward him as if she was afraid this was a dream. “It's me, love,” he answered. Tears leaked from her eyes and she collapsed as she hugged him, rubbing her head against his chin. “Auntie Niirah, why is mom crying?” Yoz asked. “Because she's happy, ” Niirah answered. It took some time for Algae to catch her breath before she started asking questions. “H-how are you here? Your last letter said only your squad was getting leave.” “I don't know. Last minute orders came from above the General to let me go home with them.” “Now that I think about it, I think that was me,” I chimed in. “I said something to Viing.” “I appreciate that,” Dwiin nodded. “Five years late,” Algae snapped. “Hey!” Dwiin exclaimed. “He did what he could at the time. He's doing what he can now.” “I'm gonna try and get Dwiin reinstated as my head of security, I've gone far too long without one. Until then, you need to groom the sergeant of yours to take your place,” I told Dwiin. “If it means staying here. I'll do whatever it takes,” Dwiin answered. It was that evening. Niirah and I were in bed winding down; after dinner with Dwiin, Algae, and their kids, sleep was necessary. I lay around Niirah with my head next to her's, and my wing over her body. “Do you think Algae will ever forgive me?” I asked. “I want to think she will,” Niirah stated. “She's like family, and family shouldn't hate each other.” “Yeah.” I kissed her cheek. “Do you think Ember will accept aid?” Niirah asked me. “No; she’s too proud for it. But I hope I'm wrong,” I admitted. “You wanna do dinner tomorrow after my meeting with the Queen?” “I'd be upset if we didn't.” Niirah yawned. “Good night love.” “Good night.” Smolder was late, over an hour late. She was never late. She hated being late, cause it was like losing a race to her. I sat in my office with the door open waiting for her to arrive. I was finalizing the papers for Dwiin's squad while I waited. I had pushed them ahead and granted them visas without finishing the paperwork. I was finishing them now though. No real rush, though: not like I could fire myself. I managed to get finished before I heard Smolder's hushed voice and the quiet thumping of hoof and claw steps. “Let me talk to him first. Just stay here and be quiet,” Smolder said before she came and knocked on my door frame. “You're late,” I said as she stepped inside. She was looking down at the floor and shuffling her claws again. “I know. I'm sorry. But it was with good reason. I found some creature with vital information about the war.” She said this very fast before I could chastise her further. “Explain,” I ordered. “You know that question I asked you yesterday?” she asked. “The ‘hypothetical’ one?” She grimaced. “Yes, well…it wasn't hypothetical.” Kinda guessed that, Smolder. “Did you bring this creature who is supposedly an enemy of dragons with you today?” She nodded. “Yes.” I put my claws together and set my elbows on my desk as I rested my chin atop my claws. “You brought a creature, one of that has been declared enemies of dragons, into the Dragonlands Embassy, to speak with a dragon that has a powerful dragon artifact attached to his wrist?” I think she realized just how much of a mistake this may have been. “Yes,” she said slowly, inching towards the door a bit. “You didn't think this through entirely did you?” I finally asked. “No,” she admitted. “Now that we have that out of the way. You say this creature as information vital to the dragon war?” “Yes, and he wouldn't have risked this if he didn’t think it wasn’t important,” Smolder said quickly. Well, this was most definitely against my better judgment. I should have security come in here and arrest them. But I should at least hear “him” out first, it’s not like I’m in much danger. As I said, I have a powerful dragon artifact to help defend myself. I can always arrest them if the information turns out to be bogus. “I suppose I could give him a chance to explain. Go to the conference room, I will meet you there in a few minutes,” I instructed her. “Yes!” She hurried out to tell what I assumed as her guest and her friends. I picked up my telephone and called Dwiin and Algae’s place of residence. “Hello?” Algae’s voice answered. Of course, it was her. “Algae, it’s Krein. I need to speak with Dwiin.” She didn’t respond and just gave the phone to Dwiin. “Hello?” Dwiin answered. “Dwiin, I need you to come to the Embassy. War-related.” “I’ll be there in five minutes,” he said and hung up. I figured I had four minutes to kill before I had to meet Dwiin outside the conference room. So I got my desk straight and files filed. I also wondered what creature he brought with him. A pixie? A goblin? Discord is just annoying, he’s not really an enemy of the Dragonlands, but Queen Ember sure doesn’t like him. Centaurs are apparently our enemies according to an old declaration of war Olakaan found in his father’s library that had been used as a bookmark. Four minutes later, I heard Dwiin walk up the stairs. That dragon isn’t exactly quiet with his steps. I met him outside my office and signaled him to follow me without a word exchanged between us. We got to the door and I put a claw on the doorknob. “Stand in the corner, look tough,” I instructed. “I am tough,” Dwiin stated. I opened the door. “Exactly.” Stepping in I saw Smolder, the griffon bartender Gallus, Ambassador Ocean Flow’s daughter Silverstream, the bar owner Sandbar, a yak whom I assumed was their friend Yona, and two Kirin I didn’t recognize, a female and a particularly tall male. Okay...where was the enemy? “Smolder. As far as I know, we have peace with the Kirin. Is there something I should know?” I asked as I took my seat. Dwiin closed the door behind us taking up the spot he would’ve taken as head of security before. The taller kirin looked down at himself, “Oh, forgive us, Speaker. This isn’t what we look like. Smolder said these forms would allow us an audience with you.” My suspicions immediately grew with the thought of possible hidden danger. “What do you mean, ‘these forms?’” I asked. “Show him. He’ll trust you quicker if you get to the point,” Smolder stated. “She’s not wrong,” Dwiin commented. The two kirin exchanged glances and nodded to each other. As they looked back at me a wave of green energy passed over them, revealing their carapasses, insectoid wings, eyes, and various other features. “Changelings!” Dwiin blurted and started getting into his battle stance. “Hold fast!” I ordered. “They came to us. We will not attack unless they show some form of aggression.” Dwiin and I stared at each other, and I could tell what he was thinking: changelings had attacked my home, Niirah, and Kii. I had every reason to hate them. But my duty as Speaker of the Dragons came first. Whatever my past with these creatures was, I had to give them a chance. Dwiin scowled, but slowly nodded and stood down. But he glared at the changelings, clearly ready to pounce on them and rip them to pieces if they so much as sneezed at me. I took note of their appearance. The bigger one had light green limbs and head, a darker green body, a shiny purple-green shell on his back protecting purple wings, deep purple eyes and large orange antennas that looked kinda like a moose’s antlers. The smaller one appeared to be female. She was a light blue, red shell over her wings, and pink membrane in place of a mane and tail, dark blue eyes. “Thank you, Speaker Krein,” the bigger one stated. “My name is King Thorax. This is Ocellus, one of my citizens that has chosen to live among ponies peacefully.” She waved shyly. “Is there a reason you risked your neck just to speak with me?” I asked, forcing myself to keep still in my seat. “Easier to talk with you than your Queen,” he reminded me. “Fair enough. Let’s get on with this information you said you have?” “The Dragon War,” Thorax stated. “It was started by the Changeling Queen Chrysalis so she could breed an army of dragon-changeling hybrids. I don’t know what her plan is exactly but I can guess; breed her armies, and take over the dragonlands while the dragons are weakened by war.” Dwiin and I both glanced at each other. “And do you have any proof of this?” I asked. King Thorax nodded and tapped his head. “My memories, I have seen early attempts at these beasts. If you have some way to see my memories I ask you to exercise it.” We did indeed have ways to do that, but we would need either Olakaan here with the help of my sister to work out some kind of rune magic, or we would need to enlist the Princesses help. “Not at the time being,” I answered. There was a moment of silence. The others in the room were merely watching us. I was really hoping this changeling was wrong. But if what he says is true...yikes. We can't take the chance. “Would these Changelings be capable of mimicking any dragon abilities?” Dwiin asked. “Temperature immunities, water breathing, fire breathing, venom spitting, dragon strength, and ferocity. You name it, they’ll have it.” Thorax confirmed. Dwiin and I both flinched at the thought. “Krein, I need not remind you that if these things are telling the truth, these beasts will essentially be the perfect dragons. We will not be able to kill them,” Dwiin said aloud. “Unicorn and alicorn magic will still be effective right?” Ocellus asked. “Most unicorn magic is about as effective as throwing a toothpick at us. Alicorn magic would hurt, though,” I explained. “This is all assuming they retain that trait in the breeding process. Dragons are also stubborn and unwilling to take orders from anyone other than the Dragon Queen. While I doubt she has a workaround for that, I am unwilling to take the chance,” Dwiin added. “Neither was I,” Thorax explained. “Which is why I asked Ocellus to reach out with the help of her friends so I could inform you in person. Let me tell you, getting the Council of Queens to agree to that wasn’t easy,” he grimaced. “Council of Queens?” I asked. “There is more than one?” “Yes, and before you ask Queen Chrysalis is a rouge, and leads the banished hive. The other five hives suffer because of her actions against the world,” Thorax explained. “I know that most creatures hate us, and I don’t blame you in the slightest. But most of us aren’t like that at all!” I raised a brow. “If you’re here, does this Counsel of Queens openly offer peace to the Dragonlands?” He nodded. “Indeed they do, with a condition that I think you will agree with.” Always a catch. “What’s the catch?” “Destroy Chrysalis and her abominations. Save the hive, if possible; the Council believes they can still be saved,” Thorax requested. Save them? Save the monsters that had nearly killed my lover and my little sister? Yeah, not happen-- I thought with anger. I took a breath. Duty first, Krein. Duty sucks sometimes. “That will not be easily done. If she is in the Dragonlands, she and her hive will be in Refiner’s Fire territory where they can move unhindered,” Dwiin stated. “The Council is ready to send our warriors to aid, but you will need more than our support,” Thorax added, looking nervous at the prospect. I sighed. “I was afraid you were gonna say that.” I sat there barely listening to the “after action report” the Generals had drummed up. More like “after loss report,” they just prettied it up so it didn’t sound so bad when speaking to our Queen. I had King Thorax waiting just outside the crystal’s range. Some dragons might not like it if he heard how bad we were losing, but if we were to be allies he needed to know. Smolder and her friends were waiting in a different room while this happened. Dwiin stood behind me outside the crystal’s range as well. I wasn't about to be caught alone with a changeling. “Speaker, Krein,” Ember started after the final general ended her report. “You have been oddly quiet during this meeting, and not just vocally. What is the matter with you?” At first, I thought about sugarcoating it as the generals did, then I remembered my disdain for that. And I knew Ember hated that, too. “I received some troubling intelligence from a... source,” and so I explained, everything short of showing them that Thorax was in the room with me. Ember silently took it all in, the generals each asked the same questions Dwiin and I asked Thorax and we all came to the same conclusions without actually saying it. Soon enough the generals and I all became quiet, waiting for our Queen to say something. She looked up at me and spoke, “How do we know this isn’t a ruse? How do we know that this… Council of Queens and this King Thorax isn’t leading us into some changeling trap?” “Because King Thorax risked being roasted alive just to speak with me, and did so without a disguise,” I waved him to come forward. “Seeing how Dragons are largely immune to Changeling charms, this was particularly risky for him to come alone.” He entered view of the crystals and gave everydragon a nervous smile and a wave. The generals exchanged glances of uncertainty. Ember’s emotionless warface did her justice. “I see. Your queens wish alliance with us?” she asked coolly. “We do. Queen Elpida is willing to meet in person if you want,” King Thorax informed her. “Perhaps another time. Speaker Krein, Olakaan will come to you and confirm if what this King says is true. In the meantime, all our forces will be pulled back to defensive positions and put on high alert,” Ember stated firmly. The generals nodded obediently. “Speaker Krein, if what King Thorax says turns out to be true: I want you to go to our allies in person and ask for their help. Tell them that we are amassing a massive offensive to end the war in one fell swoop. If you feel it necessary to inform them of Chrysalis' plan do so. Best they trust us.” Ember instructed. “And if he’s lying, burn him to ashes.” King Thorax swallowed. “I’m not lying!” he protested. Ember ignored him; I had to give him a quick gesture to get him to shut up. “Understood. Can I recruit a few dragons for security purposes?” I needed a security team, we needed supplies. I needed somedragon to take my place as Representative until I get back, Olakaan would do. There were a number of things to consider. Ember nodded. “I understand, my Queen.” I bowed and the crystal's projections cut out. I let out a long breath; I had my work cut out for me again.