//------------------------------// // The Dragon's tale // Story: Derpy Hooves: Dragon Slayer // by Yellowcardpony //------------------------------// CHAPTER 14: Dragon’s tale I never knew who my father was, with dragons being solitary creatures it’s quite common that the father never even sees any of the children he sires. Things were not much better with my mother, as she abandoned me as soon as I was old enough to stand on my own. She took me to a migration where she left me with many other juvenile dragons. I never saw her again; I can’t even remember what her face looks like now trying to look back. I like to think that she loved me in some way. Left alone to fend for ourselves, I banded together with several of the other young dragons. For a number of years we lived in the nearby forests, scavenging and hunting what we could to survive. When times grew tough our numbers started to dwindle. As we grew older we moved on, and those who didn’t ended up dead. Eventually it was my time to go. When I set off on my own, it had to have been about a thousand years ago. I was just coming into my own. I was about half my current height and build, but I was no pushover. After several years of wondering the lands, I came to a lush and beautiful land. It was the land you call Equestria. It was the first time I would encounter ponies. They were very fearful and suspicious of dragons and they made a point to always avoid me. I had no qualms with them either as I found my nourishment in the great river that crossed the land. It was packed with the most amazing rainbow trout that you’ve ever seen. I kept to myself and the ponies kept away as well. I still remember that day that I met her. Grey clouds were so thick in the morning, but were parted perfectly as the sun came up. Morning rain showers had left the river muddy and stirred up, which disrupted my attempts at catching fish for breakfast. I was searching for food along the riverbank or waiting out the rainwater to clear up when I came across the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. In the river before me was the grandest golden dragon. Her golden scales glimmered in the sunlight so perfectly. I spared no time introducing myself and getting to know her. Aruo was her name, the most perfect and majestic creature in the entire world. There was a touch of magic in the air, or fate, or whatever you want to call it. Something happened that day greater than anything that could ever happen to me. We both fell in love. Not just some lustful fling, but true love. Nothing else in the world matched her, I loved her with every fiber of my being, and we were truly kindred spirits who wanted only to be together forever. I spent the next few years with her, the most wonderful years of my life along that river. But it was not to be. One day without warning we were set upon by unicorns. Using their magic they quickly subdued Aruo and me. Without explanation they took us captive and locked us away in the depths of some dungeon. For years they studied us; for years they humiliated us; for years they tortured us. There were only two things that got me through the hell that was that place. One the thought of revenge I would someday bring back on these ponies and the other was to survive to see her again. Aruo was kept down the hall from me in another cage. I could make our her golden scales in the distance, but we were too far to ever talk. The torment seemed to go on without end. A great blue pony commanded the others in their duties. She was their leader and was so focused on breaking our wills and bodies. The greatest horror to me was that no explanation of why this kind of treatment was brought down on us. Nothing short of pure evil was my determination. It was another fateful day, when the caretaker of my cell left a chain restraint loose. I spared not time in freeing myself and breaking out of the prison. I left a trail of destruction as I fled the castle. I made it deep into the surrounding woods. Too weak at the time, I pledged I would return to free Aruo the moment I had my strength back. I rested and a few weeks later I returned. When I arrived the castle was abandoned and in ruins. Far more damage had befallen it, than what I had done when I was escaped. A quick search turned up my worst fear. My golden dragon was gone. I could not find any trace of her. Not giving up hope I spent the next five hundred years searching the world for her. But everywhere I went she was never there, and there was never any sign of a gold dragon anywhere. Sorrow filled my heart over the centuries as the reality set in that I would never see Aruo again. My two reasons to live were now narrowed down to one. Revenge… During this time the immortal pony god had sent forth word that she wanted to live in peace with all dragons. Many of the elders agreed and even championed the idea. But I knew better, I knew what evil lay in the hearts of pony kind and what horrors they were capable of. It was then I began to place together a plan of revenge. I lingered around the lands of Equestria, laying waste of any ponies who crossed my path or dared to wonder outside their lands. A hundred years ago I found the ruins of this place and turned it into my new lair. Now so close I began to slowly turn other dragons to my side. Over the years while the immortal princess has preached peace and love, there has been a shadow movement of her ponies who are striking out at dragons driving them off and even killing them. My plans are coming full circle. It won’t be long before we return to Equestria and destroy it. I will have my revenge. Earren lay on the floor with her head in her hooves as she wept softly as the dragon finished speaking. “I’m so sorry,” she said feeling moved by the dragon’s story. “So little pony, do you think we are alike now?” Rouw said baring his teeth. Earren slowly looked up as she got to her feet. “Yes,” she replied. The black dragon opened his mouth speechless not sure how to respond, but Earren didn’t wait as she explained. “You were so alone for so long with no one to talk to, with nothing but sorrow and hate in your heart. A friend is what you long for so much, you’re just like me.” “I think you missed the main narrative of my story,” Rouw said as he shifted his large body around. “You just don’t know it yet, like I did,” Earren continued to speak. “Having a friend is a far greater thing then revenge; it’s as great as the love you felt.” “Don’t speak of love!” Rouw cried angrily as he thrust the backside of his claw at the unicorn. Earren didn’t have time to respond as the black claw struck her across the chest and knocked her to the floor. “Are you not concerned about my plans to destroy your home? Are you not concerned about the ponies who have met their end at my claws?” Rouw roared as he spread his open palm before the stunned ponies face brandishing his razor sharp claws. “I’ll still be your friend,” Earren said softly as she reached out and touched the tip of one of his claws. The dragon’s eyes twitched with a mixture of rage and a feeling he did not understand. Shaking his fist once, he withdraws it back leaving the pony to get up on her own. Rouw turned his back to the unicorn as he fought to get control of his emotions again. He was not acting like the cold calculating dragon that he thought he was. But then again this pony is not acting how a cowering pony should act either. “You should forgive them,” Earren said as she slowly took a few steps closer to the dragon. “What!” Rouw roared losing control again at the thought. “What they did to you was very wrong and sad, but those ponies died a thousand years ago, all ponies now days are very kind and loving and whish no harm on anyone,” Earren explained. “Do you see that pile in the back there?” Rouw said pointing a claw towards the mound of bones. “Many of those were ponies, can they forgive me?” “We can’t change the past, we can only make sure the future stays bright,” Earren said simplifying things, as she tried hard not to think about the pony remains. “If you can forgive them, they will forgive you, you’ll see,” she said smiling. Rouw stood for a moment thinking over what pony was trying to tell him. He understood what she was trying to say, but he knew the rage within him was far too strong for such a gesture as to forgive and forget. Taking a deep breath he began to get control of himself once more. “What was done to me, cannot be forgiven, I’m sorry little Earren,” he said calmly. A great big smile beamed on the unicorns face as she trotted right up to the dragon’s feet. Looking straight up she spoke excitedly. “You called me by my name!” “What of it?” Rouw said looking down confused. “That makes us friends,” she replied. “No it doesn’t,”Rouw disputed as he reached out and picked the unicorn up with his claw. “Mmmhmm,” Earren mouthed as she nodded. “I see,” the dragon said as a slight grin crossed his face. He looked at the pony who got to her feet and stood on the palm of his hand. “You are just a crazy pony, an outcast because you are a fool,” he added. “I’m not!” Earren protested. “And I’m telling you, you need to let this revenge business go and forgive. Even the evil Nightmare Moon repented and is good now; she lives in peace with her sister.” Rouw’s eyes went wide and his grin was suddenly replaced with a snarled lip. “What did you say?” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m not crazy,” Earren said not sure why the dragon’s mood was changing. She was sure she was making a break through. “After that,” Rouw said coldly. “You have to forgive?” Earren said unconfident. “Nightmare Moon,” Rour muttered as he stifled a growl. “Oh!” Earren said obviously as she was reminded of her story. “Well Nightmare Moon was forgiven by her sister and she is nice and full of…” “SHE LIVES?” Rouw roared into the face of the unicorn. Earren clapped her hooves to her eyes as the dragon’s shout shook her to the core. The wind from his breath ruffled her mane as she fought to keep her balance in his paw. “Yes…” Earren said puzzled as she covered her head. The black dragon clasped his claw tightly around the pony as he shook with rage. “Nightmare Moon, was the name of the blue pony who held me captive. Nightmare Moon is the name of the pony that killed my true love!” Rouw bellowed loudly as he blew a stream of fire towards the ceiling. “You don’t know that!” Earren cried hoping to calm the dragon. “In fact she might know where Aruo is!” Rouw froze in place at the unicorn’s words. His anger halted as the hope of seeing Aruo again started to rise inside. “We could…Go to Canterlot and ask Princess Luna about her!” Earren suggested as she struggled to pull more of herself up out of the dragon’s claw. “Don’t give me false hope,” Rouw said calmly as he bent down and laid his claw open on the ground to let the unicorn girl free. Earren spared no time in hoping off of the dragon’s paw. Looking up she continued to inspire him. “Not false hope, real hope! She would have to remember what happened to the golden dragon.” Earren suggested. “After all these years… I still can not forgive…” Rouw stuttered. “Let me take you to Canterlot, we can ask her!” Earren offered. “You would do that for me?” Rouw said lowering his head to be level with the mare. “Of course, I’m your friend,” Earren said smiling warmly. “Alright Earren, I don’t know the way, guide me,” Rouw said as he motioned for the girl to climb up onto his head. “Right now?” Earren asked nervously, not sure if she was making a smart choice. “What else are you going to do?” Rouw said. “Ok…” Earren admitted thinking about the underground lair she was in. Quickly she jumped up and made her way up to the top of the dragon’s head. She found a nice spot above the crown of his head that seemed to be almost a nature spot to stand between his two red horns. “Hold on tight,” the dragon said as he stood up. Turning around he whipped out his tail to levers hidden along the walls. Earren watched in amazement as the sound of chains and wiring gears began to fill the room. The chamber started to shake and dirt began to fall from the ceiling as a large crack began split the roof a part. After another moment the clear sky above began to show as the roof was slowly peeled away. “The roof opens,” Earren said to herself astonished. “How else would a dragon as big as me get in,” Rouw said grinning. “Lead me to this Canterlot.” Earren nodded as she made sure she had a good grip on the dragon so that she wouldn’t fall. It will be this day that I finally have my revenge, Rouw thought as imagines of the cruel Nightmare Moon flashed in his mind. He didn’t care if she had been forgiven by others; she could never be forgiven by him. Despite what his little pony thought, he knew that tonight, Canterlot would burn.