//------------------------------// // 81. The Dragon Mission // Story: Azure Edge // by Leaf Blade //------------------------------// The smell of smoke filled Rarity’s nose and made it hard for her to breath the moment her party appeared in Baltimare’s harbor. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the humble port city set ablaze by dragon flame, burning houses and rising black columns of smoke stretching almost as far as her eye could see, but there was a small silver lining in that the beast had yet to reach the city proper as it focused its reign of fury on the harbor. “Rainbow Dash! Spitfire!” Celestia’s voice rung inside Rarity’s head, and she realized the Queen had set up a telepathic link between the party. “We need rain, now! Once you’ve gotten it, Rainbow, you need to get people out of their homes and to safety, and Spitfire, you’re with us, understand?!” “Yes ma’am!” Spitfire and Rainbow replied in unison, flying off to gather clouds. “Countess,” Celestia spoke, “you need to tend to the injured.” “I’m on it, my Queen,” Coloratura said proudly, taking off toward the city. Celestia, Rarity, and Tempest met with a very shaky looking soldier—a member of Baltimare’s volunteer defense force, most likely—and Celestia grabbed him gently by the shoulder. “Tell me what’s happened here,” she said softly. “Th-the dragon came out of nowhere!” the man said frantically. “We shot at it with our arrows, but they did nothing, and it breathed a stream of flame and just, it just—” “It’s okay,” Celestia pulled the man into a hug and wrapped her wings around him, “everything is going to be okay. We’re here now.” And right on cue, Rarity felt the rain beginning to pour down. She wondered if it would make it difficult to see and fight the dragon, but she didn’t doubt that Celestia had a plan. “What happened to the dragon?” Celestia asked. “After it flew over,” the man said, still shaky but noticeably calmer, “it attacked the port once and then retreated, but it didn’t go far. We think it will be back in only a few minutes.” “Whoever sounded the beacon to notify us did an excellent job then,” Celestia said. “This could have been much worse if we had arrived later.” “What are your orders, ma’am?” Tempest asked. “We take this to the docks,” Celestia replied. “The less the city proper gets involved in the battle, the better. If it’s only property that gets damaged, I can easily mend it with my magic.” Celestia turned toward the shaky soldier. “Have the docks been evacuated, soldier?” “Y-yes, ma’am.” “Excellent work,” Celestia said firmly. “We haven’t a moment to lose then, so let’s go.” Celestia sparked up her horn and in an instant, Rarity found herself, her Queen, and Tempest standing on the docks, staring out over the water of Horseshoe Bay. And in the distance, just barely visible through the setting sun and the heavy rainfall, Rarity could see the glimmering scales of a green dragon. “Are you ready for this, Rarity?” Celestia asked, putting a comforting hand on Rarity’s shoulder. “My Queen,” Rarity replied with a bloodthirsty smirk, “this is what I was born to do.” “Then allow me one final precaution,” Celestia glanced at Rarity, and her eyes glistened with affection and pride, but mostly with steeled resolve. “Anything, Celestia,” Rarity replied, taking hold of Celestia’s hand. Celestia turned toward Rarity and got on one knee to reach Rarity’s eye level, her fingers gently yet firmly entwining with Rarity’s. Rarity took a deep breath and braced herself, though it was impossible to stop her legs from shaking or from allowing a quivering smile to grace her lips. She knew what was coming; it had been something she had discussed with the Queen many, many times before— a secret technique that Celestia and Rarity could do only if a dragon tore through Equestria that would allow Rarity to share in Celestia’s seemingly infinite well of magic and fight as an equal with her Queen. Celestia put her hand gently on Rarity’s shoulder, and Rarity leaned forward, closing her eyes as Celestia’s lips touched hers and the two shared a brief, tender kiss. Immediately, Rarity could feel her body welling with magic that wasn’t there before—Celestia’s magic— and she couldn’t help letting out a giggle. “This is no laughing matter,” Tempest Shadow clicked her tongue. “Perhaps not,” Celestia said with a smile as she stood to her full mountainous height, her hand still entwined with Rarity’s. “But I’m glad to see my secret weapon as it were worked. How do you feel, Rarity?” “Celestia,” Rarity said, biting her lip and grinning ear to ear, “I feel ready.”