//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: A New Mentor Part 2 // Story: The Fable of a Lost Wolf // by Solaris Night //------------------------------// "My name is Ageny. Who are you?" Spike's eyes were firmly locked onto the giant maw of the creature that was looking down onto him. He tried to reply, but no muscle in his body wanted to budge and the only thing that escaped his mouth was a squeal. "It seems you have forgotten your manners hatchling." Ageny spoke, his voice calm, yet terrifying. "Or are you simply so rude as to not address your elders?" Spike remained frozen for a few more seconds, before he finally moved. "H-h-hi, m-my name is S-Spike." he stuttered his response, awkwardly waving his hand to the creature above him. The giant didn't respond, instead the two giant eyes continued to observe the scared drake, looking him over with a scrutinizing gaze. After a while it sighed and closed its eyes. "Spike, huh?" he scoffed, his voice showing displeasure. "And how did a hatchling like yourself stumble into my abode?" "I-I-I just walked here, s-sir." the young dragon answered. The creature opened its eyes again, this time however they were filled with anger. "Just walked here?" he repeated what Spike said. "Do not take me for a fool hatchling!" he roared, making the entire cave shake. "This cave is cut off from the outside world! No mere mortal could 'just walk here' unless they possessed powerful ancient magic, like alicorns, ancient relics or ..." He stopped his shouting, as something came to his mind. He lowered his head down to the now shaking Spike and took a deep sniff. "Discord." he grumbled, his voice filled with rage and annoyance, while at the same time showing a sign of melancholy. "That trickster brought you here." "Discord?" Suddenly Spike stopped shaking from fear and looked at the giant with inquisitive look. "You know him?" "I do." Ageny replied. His mind tried to comprehend why Discord would send a hatchling like Spike here and allow him passage into the cave. Then he remembered their last conversation. "This is the one he sent to continue my legacy? Raijat even in death you continue to mock me." he thought, showing displeasure on his face. "Leave at once!" he spoke to Spike and began to turn away. "Wait!" the drake cried out. "You said Discord brought me here. But how? And why?" "Let it be child. Don't think about that madman's actions too hard. Spare your sanity." Ageny answered. "Just leave." "No!" The reply stopped Ageny and he again looked at Spike, this time with slight intrigue. "I knew Discord and while we weren't the best of pals, he was still one of my friends. So if he brought me here for a reason, then I demand to know why." Quickly he realized how he sounded and gulped. "I-If that's fine." "He was one of your friends? That is what you said correct?" Spike nodded to Ageny's question. That put a perplexed expression onto the giant's face. "Who are your other friends?" The question caught Spike by surprise. "W-Well there's Twilight, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity-" "Those don't sound like dragon names?" Ageny cut in. "Because they're pony names." Spike replied. "I was raised by ponies ever since I was hatched, so it's obvious that I would have ponies as friends. Now where was I? Oh right, there's also Applejack, Dash, the CMC ...” The answer brought a smile onto Ageny's face. "Perhaps Raijit was right." he thought, as he continued to listen to Spike and the adventures he had with his friends. Almost an hour has passed since Spike arrived to the cave and he was in the middle of one of his stories. "So then I jumped off of the tower and caught the Heart, but Sombra was just inches away from me, so much so I could smell his bad breath. And right before he reached me Trider comes hurtling right past me and-" "I'm afraid I'll have to stop you right there hatchling. I’ve heard enough." Ageny said, cutting Spike's story short. "What do you mean?" the drake asked. Ageny didn't answer; instead he smiled and asked Spike a question. "Tell me, why did you decide to leave your friends and went out on this journey?" The expression on Spike's face turned to one of sorrow. "A short while ago we were attacked by very bad people and we lost several friends to them, while others were badly hurt." he explained, clenching his fists. "And I was useless in that fight. If I had been stronger I could've protected my friends, but I-I couldn't." He repressed his tears as he spoke and Ageny looked at him with sympathy. "What if I told you I could help you in your quest?" Lifting his head, Spike gazed at Ageny, his eyes full of hope. "Really?" Nodding his head, Ageny smiled to the sudden shift in young drake. "However first you will have to listen to my story." Spike remained quiet, as he adjusted his sitting position. "Tell me what did Discord tell you about the events that happened 5000 years ago?" "Well he said that after the war of gods he and the two siblings collected all the corruption and sealed it away. Then the brother of the siblings was corrupted and waged war on the world with a damned army." Spike recollected the story. "Then the three fought and the brother was sealed away, the sister died and Discord became, well, Discord and that was all." Ageny nodded along with the story. "I see. Well do you know what happened afterwards?" "No." Spike answered, now intrigued at what he was about to tell him. "Ten thousand years ago gods ruled this world, but alongside them stood mighty creatures that could rival them in power." Ageny said. Suddenly the cave started to shake again, as the walls once again moved. This time however once they moved they revealed an even larger cave, one the size of Canterlot. The walls were adorned with bright luminescent crystals which illuminated the whole cave. Spike watched the whole scene unfold with wide eyes. And when he glanced back to Ageny his eyes became even wider. The walls of the previous smaller cave, were in fact part of the giant's body. His body was enormous, easily the size of several castles. His body was covered in ashen grey scales, while giant white spikes covered his entire back and tail. He proudly spread his white wings and lifted his head to the cave's ceiling, his golden eyes full of pride as he observed Spike's shocked expression. "Those beings were called dragons." Spike was left speechless, which brought a smile onto Ageny's face. After a few seconds he laid back down onto the ground and continued his story. "We dragons didn't partake in the war, instead let it play out and waited for the outcome. But we too would pay for it." he said. "After the war was over we were approached by three young gods and asked to help them restore the world. Some turned their heads, saying it was their fault the world was in ruin, while others wished for the world to return to its proper state." Spike continued to listen intently, as he swallowed every word Ageny spoke. "It took millennia, but they managed to save the world and peace was brought back. Until the brother was corrupted and the world was once again at war. But this time we dragons wouldn't sit idly by." he spoke, his voice filled with sorrow as he continued. "Many of our kind perished, but we were victorious in the end." "And the brother was sealed away, right?" "Correct." Ageny replied. "Raijat and the sister created the key, which was broken and scattered across the world. But fear still loomed that the realm would be once again opened, so we dragons decided to keep watch of it." "But wouldn't the corruption corrupt them as well?" Spike wondered. "We thought that we would be fine, since we believed that we were better than gods." Ageny closed his eyes and sighed. "How wrong we were. The corruption touched us as well and you can see the results of it. Dragons nowadays are associated with greed, violence and the like. Not honor, pride and righteousness, like before. We forgot everything about ourselves, even our full potential." "I'm sorry." "Don't be. We were foolish. Luckily I was not as foolish. I managed to get away before the corruption affected me as well." Ageny said. "Now I am the last of the true dragons and I am reaching my limit as well. I thought that with me the knowledge would die as well." "If that's so, why didn't you teach some other dragon about it?" Spike wondered. "None were worthy. All of them would just abuse this power to get what they wanted." he angrily responded. "I believed that someone worthy would never appear." He turned his head towards Spike and looked directly at him. "Until now that is." "You mean?" Spike said and gulped. "Correct." Ageny said, while nodding his head. "Discord said that he had found someone worthy of my teachings and I judged you worthy. I can see that you are noble and righteous, and I know you will only use the power to protect those closest to you." The giant dragon stood up and said in a booming tone. "Spike, was it?" Spike quietly nodded. "I shall give you the knowledge and the power of the true dragons. Will you accept me as your mentor?" Spike was left speechless. "I'll be honored." he said determinedly and bowed.