//------------------------------//
// Reginald 
// Story: Crimson Chaos 
// by Phobetor_Necros 
//------------------------------//

Twilight comes to a decision, saying as she teleports them outside, "Come on, girls! We've got a dragon to visit!"

The girls follow her lead outside the magic circles as she teleports them again, this time to the entrance of a cave deep in the Everfree. Sounds of conflict, angry shouts, and crazed laughter echo from deep within.

"Alright!" exclaims Rainbow Dash, "Time for some action!"

She flies in with the rest of the girls hot on her hooves until she stops to witness the source of the sounds. Before them, Reginald swipes at a fireball bouncing off the walls, angrily cursing it as it slams into him again and again. The fireball laughs as it lands on his back and seems to start exploding repeatedly before Reginald grabs it and throws it against a wall, eliciting a pained yell as the fire dies somewhat around the being it was covering.

Landing on his feet, a human man stands, his skin as pale as Canterlot High's Rarity, his hair short and snow white, and the irises of his eyes blood red. He wears white boots, pants, and a long, hooded coat. His hood remains down, the left sleeve torn off, and the zipper open, revealing his torso. He also wear some stylized wireless headphones, the white headband bent to make it look like he has a set of cat ears. The only parts of it that aren't white are the red earmuffs and the symbol on the side. The symbol being a dual colored 5-point star, cut in halves from the lower left point to the upper right indent, the upper left half being black and the lower right half being red. 3 long gashes bleed freely along his torso, staining his coat and pants. His face also has lacerations, covering about a quarter of his face in flowing blood as it also spills from his mouth. His eyes are wide and wild, eyeing his target as he smiles maliciously, though Twilight takes note that they aren't carnivorous teeth... yet...

"It is a human..." Twilight says under her breath.

Reginald is in a similar, if not worse, state. The green dragon also spills blood from his mouth as some of his teeth have been chipped, broken, or are gone. His wings, which just used to be damaged enough to be unable to fly, are now nothing more than spindly bones clutching on to remnants of the membrane that was scorched off. Many of his scales have been singed, while several spots on his body where the human impacted have been stripped of scales, leaving blistering skin behind. The huge spot on his back where the human was exploding being especially terrible as bloody blisters pop and stain his scales with fluids.

The two adversaries stand off against each other as the human ignites himself again. The killer intent is so palpable and the tension so thick, that Pinkie cuts a doughnut out of it and stress eats it. Twilight quickly realizes that if nopony intervenes in this fight, it will ultimately end in someone dying.

Mustering her resolve, she activates her Royal Canterlot Voice and shouts, "ENOUGH!"

The two turn to her, Reginald annoyed and the human curious, his wild eyes softening. The human then smiles at the girls and gives a two-fingered salute before falling through the floor and escaping.

"How did he do that?!" Rainbow exclaims.

Reginald looks back only to see no one there anymore and in a rage he breathes as much fire as he can on the spot where the human once stood. Twilight creates a barrier to protect herself and the girls from the flames until he stops. Then he looks to the girls.

"What do you ponies want? I've already told you that I don't need your friendship, so why are you here?" he asks.

"Oh you're so hurt. Let me bandage you up," offers Fluttershy.

" I don't need your pity, either, pony! Just leave me to sleep with my hoard!" he snaps at Fluttershy.

"Well, you don't need to be so rude," Rarity scolds as Applejack comforts Fluttershy.

"Please, Reginald. We came here to see if you were alright. Can you tell us anything about that human?" Twilight pleads.

"Hmm... I guess I can tell you all that I know, but after I answer your questions, I want you all out of my cave. Now what are your questions?" asks Reginald.