//------------------------------// // a BURNING entrance // Story: Homo Draconis // by Timzocker201 //------------------------------// They only wanted to help Spike... They only wanted to make sure he's okay... They couldn't have known that a Dragon's sense of smell was that good. And just when Spike and Ember were about to win at that! Twilight's thoughts of regret went rampage in her head as she used her very last drop of magic to shield her friends against the wrath of the incoming Dragons. "No! Father! Those aren't intruders! They are Spike's friends! You can't kill them!" Ember tried to argue with her father. However, it was in vain. The Chief-Dragon already had made up his mind. The intruders were to die and the traitorous hatchling with them! A painful jolt surged through Twilight's body as her last bit of magic energy was drained and her shield broke down. She slumped to the ground, barely able to stay conscious, as Spike and Rarity took a protective stance before her. Rarity tried to erect another barrier, but couldn't manage any more than a few sparks and magic sputtering. The Dragons noticed the lack of any defensive measures and, as their flames were now overkill, slowly closed in on their prey, their eyes clearly showing their lust for blood. Twilight saw their impending doom and looked around, frantically trying to find one last chance of escape, one last hope, but there was none. She looked at her friends, who still hadn't moved from before her, and slowly lowered her head to the ground, accepting her fate with dignity. Suddenly her sensitive ears were assaulted by a shockwave and a loud rumble, followed by a significant loss of lighting around her. The ground shook as she heard something gigantic touch down upon it and, as she opened her eyes, she saw that she and her friends were now encaged behind four massive claws in front of her and a giant palm behind her. "Hey! Go get your own pr--...ey" One of the Dragons started shouting, but faded down to nothing more than a squeak at the end, as he looked up at the monstrosity before him. Twilight felt relieved for a short moment, as the most immediate danger seemed averted. Her relief however soon morphed into fear, as she saw a massive white head lean down to the Dragon, and she noticed what exactly had >>rescued<< them. "Your prey?" The white Dragon gave an earth-trembling laugh, expressing his over-exaggerated amusement. "I think you mean... MY prey, pipsqueak." The smaller Dragon made a few steps back and Twilight got back on her shaking hooves. Her mind was racing, trying yet again to find a chance of escape. Behind them wasn't an option, as they couldn't just run through the massive palm. to the front and to the sides wouldn't have been wise either, as, >>if<< they had gotten past the white monstrosity, there were dozens upon dozens of other Dragons waiting for their meal. Teleportation wasn't an option either, as she didn't even have enough magic left for a kamikaze-teleport. [a teleport, through which the user musters his last bit of energy to teleport him an his targets to a certain location, killing him in the process] Sighing in defeat, as she accepted, for the second time, that there was no way out, she slowly wobbled over to her friends. Her legs were shaking from the strain, but she somehow managed the two steps to her friends without tipping over. Spike and Rarity were still paralyzed from the shock and didn't move, their slow breathing being the only sign that they were not just some statues. Twilight put a hoof around both their necks and pulled them into a tight hug. "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Spike." She said, as tears dripped down her cheeks. Spike had finally gotten out of his stupor and returned the embrace. "If I would've just... If my concealment spell would've been stronger, we..." Twilight began to sob and cry, as her last bits of dignity faded over the prospect of their demise. "Darling, it isn't your fault alone. If I had just tried to not sneeze so loud... I'm sorry spikey-wikey, but it seems, we're not getting out of this..." Rarity said, hiding her clearly impending crying fit behind the last shards of her lady-facade she could hold on to. "I just wish that at least you would survive, Spike. I would gladly give my life for you..." Twilight whispered, into spike's ears and Spike in return tightened the hug. The three of them just stood there, waiting out, what they thought would be, their last moments together. Man, just diving in here without some kind of a plan wasn't really the brightest of ideas... I stood there, the two mares and the baby dragon securely hidden beneath my claws and surrounded by an army of angry Dragons. True, they all were smaller than I was, but I didn't really want to risk a fight just yet, given that I only was in this body for slightly more than an hour. Flying away also didn't seem like too good of an option, as they would likely follow me and I don't know how my speed and stamina would hold up against theirs. The best option seemed to be to stay in my current position of dominance and wait for them to make the first move... I luckily wasn't disappointed, as after a few minutes of staring-contest, a gray dragon with two large horns curling from behind his head to under his jaw and a peculiar black cuirass on his chest, who shared my proportions, set down behind the mass of smaller Dragons before me. "Who dares to defy my judgement?!" He growled as he eyed me thoroughly. "Judgement?" I answered with a low chuckle, "Judgement requires power... and I can assure you don't hold any over me." The larger Dragon growled in anger. "A rogue Dragon, who dares challenge my rule?! I, Torch, King of the Dragons, will show you power, scum!" Before I could react, the Dragon leader sent a wall of flame towards me and I instinctively shielded me and my 'prey' with my wings. I felt pain surge through my body, as the flame odem of the Dragon King burnt my scales... "Don't try to push it out, Alex! Embrace the Flame! EMBRACE THE FLAME!!" embrace... the flame? Embrace the... Flame... Embrace the Flame! EMBRACE THE- "FLAME" I growled, as my scales took on a shade of red and my whole upper body went alight with yellow flames. Torch seemingly saw this as a sign of success, as he now set even more power into his attack, unknowingly fueling my upcoming attack. The pain had long subsided, instead giving way to a pleasurable surge of energy as I sucked in all the power he spent on me. His attack started to die down and I heard cheers come from the smaller Dragons... until I pulled my wings aside, revealing my burning head and the mischievous grin I was holding. I took a deep breath and prepared for my counter-attack. The flames on my body changed from bright yellow to dark blue and red, as I charged up my attack. "My... turn..." I growled as I released all the captured Energy into a hissing red-and-blue flame. I felt my scales ache, as its heat radiation even outclassed my natural heat resistance. The smaller Dragons before me had to dart to the ground to avoid being burned to a crisp. The flame hit the cuirass, quickly melting it and exposing the voulnerable scales below. Torch growled in pain, as his chest lived up to his name. He spasmed and tried to bring his wings between me and him, but I blocked his wings with mine, still charring his chest with my fire. As my power surge ended and the fire on my back died down, I had successfully reduced his chest to nothing more than a black stain on his body. He collapsed backwards and fell into the water, his daughter quickly diving in behind him. He washed up on a large cliff and I saw his chest slowly rise and fall as he made unconscious, shallow breaths. Man, now I know what you meant with 'nobody ever dies here'... Normally he shouldn't even be able to float with he amount of damage he took. "I know, right? It sure helps with keeping those problem six alive, but sometimes, where killing would just be easier, it can really be a pain in the gut." After confirming her father's continuing life, Ember came up again and bowed down before me. "I bow before thee, who hast slain the old King and thus shall rule over the Dragons." She said, as she held what looked like some sort of a scepter out towards me. "Oh, I didn't slay the King, dear Ember." I answered. Ember gave me a questioning look upon this. "Before your father succumbed to me in duel, you have won the Gauntlet of Fire. As such, you were the rightful ruler before I even arrived here, Queen Ember." Ember's look turned into one of shock, as she slumped down onto her back and tried to shield herself with a wing. "Be at ease... I do not intend to rule over this bunch of retards." Ember slowly peeked out behind her wing. "Y-You d-don't? But who will rule us Dragons now?" I leaned down to her and pretended to think for a moment. Then, with the most over-exaggerated wise-Dragon-voice, I gave my answer. "Thou, who hast won the Gauntlet of Fire, shall rule over the Dragons. Any Dragon here, who wishes to object shall voice it now, or remain silent forever." I looked around at the mass of Dragons. Noone dared to oppose me and my choice. "Very well. You are now in charge, Queen Ember of the Dragon lands. Your thoughts are right and your word is law. Do not let others tell you how to rule. Make decisions based on your heart and mind and not on the wishes of others." Ember slowly nodded in awe, as my words slowly sunk in. "Now, I shall bid my farewell. Rule wisely, Queen Ember." I said, as I prepared to take off. Ember stood up and looked at me with a glimmer in her eyes. "Y-Yes, I will! And... Thank you... for... for saving my friends." She said, as she slowly approached my foot and reached out for what was beneath. I, however quickly closed the gaps between my claws. Ember gave me a questioning look, with a hint of fear hidden behind it. "Oh, dear Ember, didn't you know? Well, let me give you a quick lesson then. And that would be that every lesson learned has its price... Now, farewell." I scooped up what was hiding beneath my foot and took flight. I saw Ember slump down out of the corner of my eye, but at least noone was following me. After a short while of flying and making sure that I was truly unfollowed, I landed on the coast of the Equestrian mainland, emptying my claws onto the ground as I did so. Twilight was still very exhausted and barely managed to get back to her hooves. I decided to lay down beside them to lessen the strain on my neck, as I wouldn't have to lean down that way. "Now, what to do with you three?" I asked, as I looked over to my three passengers. Rarity and Twilight spun around to look at me, apparently having forgotten about me in their need to tend to Spike. I saw them shiver in fear, but Twilight gulped it down and made a few tentative steps towards me. "H-Hello M-Mister Dragon... I-I know that it is preposterous of me to ask a favor of someone as powerful as you, but..." She looked back at her friends, who were looking back at her with questioning looks, "But, if you could please let those two go? In exchange I offer you to do however you please with me..." Rarity's and Spike's jaws dropped, as they grasped Twilight's intention. Rarity visibly wanted to object, but couldn't bring out a word. I couldn't help but let out a long laughter at this. "A truly tempting proposal, Miss Sparkle. However with the size difference between us, the pleasure would quite literally rip you apart now, wouldn't it?" Twilight tensed up, as her face took on a deep shade of red, which she tried to hide behind a hoof. "N- Wai- No! that's not what I--" she paused and looked back at her friends, then at me again. She took on a determined face and... turned around. "Darling? Wait what are you... No, you don't have to..!" Twilight shook her head as Rarity voiced her objection. "No, Rarity... this... this is a small price to pay..." Twilight lowered her front half to the ground and spread her hind legs and wings, sticking her behind up towards me. "... if it means saving the lives of my friends." She stuck up her tail and was just about to brush it aside, when I grabbed her with a claw and turned her around to face me again. "Be at ease, Twilight Sparkle. I have no interest in demanding such an act from you." I said. Although I must admit that her submissiveness WAS quite arousing... I hope it doesn't show all to much or else this might get pretty embarrassing... "Oh don't worry Alex, when I made your kind, I spent almost all of your stat points on making you OP, so that none went into your reproductive capabilities." Ah, I see, that's actually quite rea-- wait, WHAT?! Does that mean I am a massive, powerful Dragon with the member of a mouse?! "No. That means you are a massive, powerful Dragon with no such appendage at all." ... ... ... Oh splendid! Now I get to die a virgin twice! ahahahahahahahaha..... FUCK! "No, NOT fuck, that's the whole point." Upon that, Navi went into another godly laughing fit, so I decided to put him on mute for now and instead turned my attention to the three very frightened beings in front of me. "S-So what do you want?" Twilight asked with a shiver in her voice. "Nothing you could give me." was my answer. Silence reigned for a moment, before Spike stepped forward. "W-Well, it seems we reached an impasse, so how about we start from the beginning? W-What's your name?" He asked, a clearly forced smile on his face. "My name... is unimportant." I answered. "H-Hello, Unimportant, I am Spike, this is Rarity and you seem to know Twilight already, so..." He said with a sheepish smile. I couldn't help but face-claw at this. "A'ight, for this I might just drop this 'ole 'wise Dragon' crap and tell ya outright: If it wasn't for me not wanting to kill ya at all, I would do so this instant, 'cause this joke was fookin' awful." This sudden change in attitude found them speechless for a moment and I couldn't help but chuckle a little myself, as my weird accent in the voice of a Dragon sounded absolutely ridiculous. "W-Wait, you... don't?" Twilight asked, as she slowly regained herself. "B-But if you don't want to eat us, then... why did you get us out of there?" She made a few steps forward and started stumbling, so I quickly put a claw down beside her to help her stand. "Well, there was someone who asked me to help you and so I did." Twilight's eyes lit up. "Princess Celestia?" I had to think a bit before I remembered who Celestia was again. I shook my head and said: "No, it wasn't Celestia, but believe me when I say that he has no evil intentions towards you whatsoever." "'He'? So it's a stallion..." Twilight started to think. she rubbed her muzzle in thought, as she rocked back and forth against my claw. It didn't take long until some sort of a realization hit her. "Wait... If you didn't want to eat us this whole time... does that mean..." She said, as her face slowly lit up again. Getting what she was playing at, I finished her sentence. "...that your act just earlier was completely unnecessary? Mmmm, pretty much, yeah." Her face went completely crimson this time. She slumped back onto her haunches and covered her face with her forelegs and wings. Rarity went in to comfort her, while I couldn't help but smile in amusement. "Now, now, Twilight, I promise I won't tell anyone." I said with a wink. Twilight however, just let out an embarrassed howl and dug deeper into her hooves. I let out another amused chuckle and chose to just watch the scene before me. That was when suddenly a bright ray of light shone directly into my eye. I looked at the sun and saw that it was almost touching the horizon. "You might want to get your stuff together and move on home, as the day won't last long anymore." Twilight now finally uncovered her face and looked towards the horizon. She made an effort to get back up, but Rarity had to help her stand up in the end. She put a wing over Rarity to keep herself on her hooves, before she turned to me. "Uhm, thank you for saving us, I guess?" She said, a remainder of fear still resting in her voice. I just looked down on them in wonder. "Do you really think you can make it home without incident? You ARE pretty exhausted after all." Twilight looked at her companions before answering. "I think we can manage. What other choice do we have anyways?" "Well, I know another way..." I said, as I lowered my wing towards them, forming a bridge to my back. Spike and Rarity looked at it in disbelief and Twilight spoke up. "Are you sure? I... mean, I think we have troubled you enough already." I shook my head and gave them as much of a friendly smile as my Dragon snout could produce. Twilight and Rarity looked at eachother and then down at Spike, who shrugged. Spike was also the first one to walk up on my wing. Next came Twilight, however she stumbled and had to set down one leg. A loud hiss was the result, followed by a shriek of pain and a thud next to my wing. As I looked at what happened, I saw Twilight laying on her side beside my wing. "Twilight? What happened?" Spike asked as he jumped down to help her up. "The wing... it is burning hot..." She said. I quickly remembered why that was the case. I thought for a moment and then looked at the sea behind me. I turned back to my passengers with a grin. "Wait a moment, I know how to fix this." Before another word could be uttered, I dove down into the depths. The water gave a loud hiss upon impact and I noticed a few scales slightly cracking from the sudden change of temperature. I hoped that those would simply heal up, as I didn't know how long it took for scales to regrow... After what felt like enough time, I re-emerged from the water and, with one mighty flap of my wings, I landed back on the shore. Once again, I lowered my wing towards them and Spike made a few tentative steps onto it. (even though he is a Dragon himself and therefore won't be burned all too easily...) Twilight came shortly after, this time with more care, and Rarity followed close behind. She hesitated as she reached my back and wanted to settle down, but Rarity signaled her to wait. Carefully, she set down a leg on my back and let out a surprised hum. She slowly lay down completely and I felt her ruffle into my scales. "Oh my, Darling. I've got to say, these scales are... YAWN... more... comfortable than... zzz" She quickly fell asleep mid-sentence and Spike rested himself against her, doing the same. Twilight giggled at the sight, before she, too, settled down, albeit slightly closer to my neck. Seeing that all my passengers had made themselves comfortable, I extended my wings and with one mighty swing, I took air. Now, luckily Navi gave me directions to ponyville, as else I would've totally taken the wrong way. Yet, I chose to fly a little slower than earlier, in order not to disturb the ponies (and the dragon) on my back. "Hey, Mister Dragon?" Twilight suddenly called out. "Yes?" "... Thank you... for helping us, Mister Dragon." She said. I must admit, I'm glad that she couldn't see my face back then, as my blush was probably very apparent, especially since my scales are white. "...Alex." I said. "What?" came the surprised response from Twilight. "My name... is Alex." Twilight settled down again. "Alex... the protector, huh? I guess that would explain something..." She said, and I could literally hear her smile. "Yes..." I chuckled, "Yes, I suppose it does." That afternoon, Starlight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash stood together around the large map in Twilight's castle. However, this wasn't just a friendly get-together, as one could hear by the heated discussion that went on between them. "Uhm... maybe they just, you know... forgot to write us and, uhm... are staying there over night?" Fluttershy said. "Forgot to write? We're talking about Twilight! If she's forgotten, then she probably has some list which tells her to write us!" Rainbow Dash retorted. Twilight, Rarity and Spike had left earlier that day towards the Dragon lands, to answer the call of the Dragon King and had yet to return or even write. "Heck, why did y'all let 'em go without us in the first place?!" Applejack exclaimed, giving Starlight an accusing glare. "Because two are easier to hide than six and also, if everypony would have gone there, who would've stayed behind in case something went wrong, just like... well, now!" Starlight shot back. "If we had come with 'em, we wouldn't have needed somepony to stay behind in the first place, because we could have solved any problem!" Applejack shouted. The room went silent again for several minutes, before Applejack started moving towards the door. "Applejack, wait!" Rainbow called out. Applejack shot around "Ah'ma go 'n try to get 'em back, don't ya try 'n stoppin' me!" "Why should I stop you? I'm coming with you!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Applejack looked through the room and Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie quickly agreed too. Now, all eyes were resting on Starlight Glimmer. "Ugh, fine! I'm coming too!" She finally gave in. She took her Saddlebags from a nearby dresser, and together the five mares gallopped out the front door. Starlight closed the door behind her, when, for a split second, something large blocked out the sun. Only a few moments after, something enormous touched down before them and kicked up a large cloud of dust. Starlight tried to see through the dust, but could only make out a silhouette... a LARGE silhouette. The dust settled down and Fluttershy vanished behind Applejack with an 'eep', as from the dust emerged a giant, white Dragon and it was looking directly at them. "What in tarnation?! Who are you?!" Applejack shouted, as she got into a lower stance, ready to buck the living tartarus out of whoever stood before her. The Dragon, however, just gave a low, growling chuckle. "No reason to act hostile, Applejack. I have a delivery for you." He turned about and set a wing down to the ground. To the surprise of everypony present, Twilight, Rarity and Spike climbed down from the Dragon's back, though it was very apparent that they were pretty beat up. Twilight had to rest on Rarity for support, as she slowly made her way to the castle, but Rarity herself didn't look much better. Immediately as they saw them, Rainbow and Applejack rushed to either side of the two mares to support them. With his cargo now unloaded, the Dragon retracted his wing. Twilight turned about and looked at the monstrosity. "Thank you very much!" "You're welcome, miss Sparkle." The Dragon bowed his head and turned around, ready to take off once again. "I shall remain in close vicinity, in case you need my services once again." The Dragon extended his giant wings and with one mighty flap, once again a cloud of dust arose from the ground and the Dragon took flight. All of the mares present, except Rarity and Twilight, were utterly flabbergasted from what just transpired before them. Twilight leaned on Rarity again and the two exhausted mares made their way into the castle. "Twi? Who in tarnation was that?" Applejack asked, as she snapped out of her stupor. Twilight turned around and, with a smile on her face, watched the silhouette of the Dragon slowly fade into the distance. "A friend."