//------------------------------// // The Dragon Meetings // Story: Equestria Lost: Dragons beyond time // by Tythen //------------------------------// "Mym! Are you there? It's me! Euden!" A young man called, "My Darling? Is that you?" "There is something I must tell you... come with me." The Prince beckoned and waltzed down the Halidom hallways. The human Flamewyrm alluringly followed, hoping to reach her beloved with dancing steps of her own. Down the lane, up the marble stairs, and into his own personal chambers. "Come..." The Prince gently held her hands, "I need to talk with you about your love... our love," "My Darling!" Mym gasped with shock, "Surely you jest! You would NEVER approach me with this!" "I do not jest, Mym. This is important to me as it is to you." Euden started, "I have given a lot of thought about your love. And I will confess... until now, I have never seen the importance of your magnitude to my life... and I want to apologize..." "No!" Mym shook her head, "You don't have to! What really matters is that you have acknowledged me! That much is more than forgivable!" "Mym..." The Prince worded slowly, "I'm afraid you will never forgive me..." "I would dare not! As long as we are pactbound, we are destined to be together!" "Which is why you will never forgive me... for the pact we share will part..." "What???" Mym went pale, "No... I said I was fine with the differences in our ages, remember?" "Look, it doesn't matter how old we become!" The Prince bellowed, "I will pass away! Whether by age or in battle!" Mym backed away with a yelp. Never had she felt such rage and frustration from her kind Prince! The prince realised the reaction from his voice, then exhaled, "I'm so sorry Mym... It's just... you know how much I yearned to get Zethia back. That's when I realised out of everyone, you supported me because you cared for me just as I did for her... I realised that only too late." "Darling..." Mym slowly placed her arms around the Prince, and drew him into a warm hug, "You are the only one for me, ever since our paths crossed... I love you so much, even should our pact wither away." "What if I wither from this world?" The Prince responded, "I could not fathom leaving you alone." "Don't say that dear..." Mym placed a finger to his lips, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it..." "Mym..." Euden gently pried her finger away, "I hope you're ready to when it comes. But... would it be selfish of me, to ask that I remain by your side in memory and spirit?" "Of course not!" Mym shook her head, "I would do anything for you!" "Then promise me... the love and care you harbour... share it with others." Euden requested, "Just as you shared it with me, share it with the other humans and sylvans, now and in the future generations to come... you and I know the bonds between human and dragon is far more precious than all the riches in the world. Very few humans make a dragonpact. Please bridge that bond out to those who can't. Only then can mankind truly see the importance of our bond... our Dragalia." "Darling..." Mym teared up, "I will promise to do that... for you, I will try and lend my aid to humans without Dragonblood." "Then..." The Prince smiled, "As long as we share that love, we will always be together." And gave her a big long hug, "Oh, Darling..." Mym smiled back, "I promise you, I will forever treasure the time we have that we are together!" "As will I. But I hope you will be ready for when we must say goodbye..." The Prince laughed, "I will," Mym promised, "I... will..." Ms M's eyes opened, facing the ceiling of her bedroom in the pitch black of the night. A tear ran down from her unblinking eyes. "Goodbye..." She wept, clutching her custom-made plush of the Prince, "... My Darling..." As the sun rose beyond the horizon, a smartphone vibrated and 'beeped' sharply. Irritated, the Crimson Teacher swung her fist down at it. Instead, she heard a nasty crunch and froze. Calming down, she slowly hopped out of bed and picked up her phone, tapping the 'dismiss' button. She rubbed her eyes and adjusted her tank top, then propped her Euden plush upright on the bed. "Ugh... I need to keep my temper in check..." Ms M sighed at her inanimate victim, "... This is the third bedside table this month!" Ms M waddled towards the bathroom and looked at the mirror. The white of her eyes was a little red, her face all pale and groggy, her hair all ruffled and sticking out. She was truly a mess. "I had that dream again..." Ms M spoke to her reflection, "No... a nightmare. I mean, a memory of my past! ... Argh! I can't think! Gotta get ready for work again!" In ten minutes, the human dragon took a quick and thorough shower, dried her entire body, gently brushed her hair, lightly put on makeup, polished her horns, buffed her wings, filed her tail, and put on a fresh set of clothes, ready to take on the world. Walking into the living room of her own flat, she poured herself cereal and milk and checked for events and reminders on her phone while still thinking about her dream... and her bedside table. Meeting with Principal and Vice-Principal about Adagio (3rd Period) Meeting with Belles, Apples, and Sentries about Adagio (After School) Meeting with the Greatwyrms about the five (7 pm) Ms M narrowed her eyes. Today was definitely a different day. Usually, she would go to school, greet and teach the students, fulfil the assigned duty on the schoolyard, go back to teaching, stay after school to plan for tomorrow's lessons, fly around Grastaea and Mount Adolla to maintain the volcano's mana and slay some fiends to protect the peace, have dinner or drink at home or in the shopping area, then return home and sleep. No. The meetings today would not only affect her future but possibly all of Canterlot. She sculled down her cereal and milk in one go, wiped her mouth and lips, double-checked her bag, and exited the flat. Ms M strode down the dining street, where restaurants of different sizes lined up. Ms M would always take a big whiff with every store she passes. The smell of meat in Pide Paradise, the best place for Turkish Cuisine. The scent of fried patties and chicken in Dragali Burger, Canterlot's own local fast food joint with great tasting food and comedic service. The warm and exquisite aroma of Spring Rolls, Pho, Com Chien, and many more Vietmarese delicacies in The Floating Lotus. Then there was one particular restaurant always had a long line of hungry people waiting outside; Kagutsuchi Kitchens. It was a Neighponese Barbecue Restaurant only open on the evening and night; providing the best quality meat, fire and sauces said to be made exactly like its nation of origin. This overall fusion of culture and dining experience earned its popularity among the locals, though only partially. Its main glamour was their trademark Kagutsuchi Fried Chicken available all-day. Fried to a golden crisp, a single bite through its harmonic sensations of crispy and soft skin and its succulent flesh would unleash a tremendous flavour of the likes that Equestrians had never known. It was a favourite snack and dish for both young and old, listed as one of Canterlot's must-haves in various food magazines, and even had a special mention in one of Equestria's National Radio stations. Canterlot High School. Despite the Maroon-tiled roof and Fuschia-painted walls as its colour scheme, its design boasts inspiration of the Medieval Castle. On every corner of a roof, rests a golden-like bust of a horse or crown. Between the eaves of these decorums had carefully measured and lined parapets, resembling the battlements on castle turrets. To top it off, reaching for the sky was this castle-like tower, complete with flag and room, situated on top of a glass dome with diamond patterns. In the entrance courtyard, there lies a magnificent statue of a proud horse placed on top of a large pedestal with a glass mirror on each of its four sides. After living in this nation for Goddess knows when, Ms M could never grow tired at marvelling the school she had the honour to work in. Off the street and onto the courtyard, she spotted a group of girls talking outside the entrance to the school building. Teachers commented that they were a melting pot of hardworking, troublemaking, yet supportive students. To fellow students, they were popular yet humble, and well-respected by most. To the Principal and Vice-Principal, they were model students that hold the values of Canterlot High School dear to their heart. This in turn supported the entire school cohort and staff through incidents and adversities, metaphorically and literally. After being acquainted with one of them, she could definitely confirm those claims! "Ms M!" One of the girls called and waved to Ms M, "Good Morning!" "Good Morning, Rarity!" Ms M called and waved back. Amidst her other friends waving back, Ms M noticed that the fashion-focused girl had her smartphone out while in discussion with her other friends on what it was showing. Perhaps the latest fashion trend, Ms M thought as she left them be and entered the school building. "What gave ya' the idea to pursue this?" Applejack asked, "Aside from completing two challenges made by Dragons," Rarity shared, "I confess that I'm a little inspired and a bit envious of Sweetie and Flash's endeavours to acquire their own powers and magic over in Grastaea." "Oh..." Rainbow gave a smug look, "You just don't want to be outplayed by your little sister. Eh? Eeeeeeh?" "It doesn't mean I want to leave behind the powers of New Alberia's former fighters. As I said, I really like Estelle's style... and her Loving Hand." Rarity 'innocently' smiled back. "W-Well, I think it's totally your style!" Rainbow quickly chuckled with approval and gave a double thumbs-up. "Other than that, this would also be a wonderful opportunity to prepare for any future incidents if someone causes a ruckus with any Equestrian magic-enchanted items of artefacts." Rarity added, "Or worst-case scenario, fiends." "Yikes!" Pinkie gulped, "I've seen some pics about them last time we visited the Halidom. They look super scary!" "Not to worry," Rarity assured, "The magic we have is more than enough to repel them!" "That's so cool!" Scootaloo exclaimed, "That means you'll never have to go thirsty! Man, I want mana already!" "Oho! It is not for the faint of heart. But should you seek to discover your mana, then by all means!!!" Sweetie laughed like a noblewoman, "But seriously, all you have to do is come around to the Halidom often and make sure you breathe in tons of the air there. And maybe get on the good side on the Greatwyrms." "Show us what you can do!!!" Applebloom encouraged, "Hmm..." Sweetie's eyes swept the hallways. Which target would be perfect for a demonstration? Overload the drinking fountain? Cause a frothy mess from the Janitor's Mop Bucket nearby? Or maybe... she stopped upon Diamond Tiara - a classmate of the same year, and a condescending bully. She and her sidekick, a bespectacled girl of cornflower bluish-grey hair and skin known as Silver Spoon, were making a loud mockery over another student, with light olive blonde hair and light grey skin, that paid no attention to what was in front of her and slammed into a locker door. "Look at Diamond, and watch where her sparkling, 'priceless', Diamond Tiara hairclip flies," Sweetie informed. With one eye closed, and making a finger gun gesture... "Boom," Sweetie whispered. A thin bolt of water shot from her fingertip. It sped towards the girl in question, arced itself towards the hairclip, and knocked it right out of Diamond's hair. Diamond's head was pulled back from that force, creating a sharp sting of pain from her hair. The next second, she noticed her hair clip was gone, and the hair it held together in disarray. This time, it was the student's turn to laugh at the little bully, as did others passing by. Even Silver Spoon couldn't help but laugh at her best friend. "H-Hey!!!" Diamond rasped, "I... what... who did this!?!?" "Oh, that is so cool!" Scootaloo laughed as soft as she possibly could, "Yes..." Ms M chimed in, "It surely is." The Cutie Mark Crusaders ceased their laughs and swallowed hard. "G..." Sweetie slowly turned around, "Good Morning, Ms M..." Ms M disapprovingly shook her head. "I understand that Diamond and Silver are consistently condescending to almost everyone," Ms M sighed, "But two wrongs don't make a right!!!" "It was her idea!!!" Applebloom and Scootaloo defended, "Hey!" Sweetie retorted, "Save it," Ms M snapped, "Fortunately, I have a lot on my plate today, so I won't keep you in for lunchtime as a punishment." "Phew..." The crusaders sighed with relief, "I'm not finished. Expect a rough disciplinary course alongside training in the Halidom, Sweetie." Ms M continued, "And this time, the two of you will be joining as well!" "What? Oh no..." Applebloom moaned, "Oh yes!" A sly smile came from Scootaloo, "But what about Diamond and Silver? Derpy doesn't deserve their mockery!" Sweetie defended, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to humble the two of them. You have my promise," Ms M assured, "In that case..." Sweetie's frown turned into a smile, "I'll hold you to it! See you at the Halidom?" "I sure will!" Ms M winked, After sending the three on their way, Ms M turned around to the bewildered Diamond, ready with a set of stern remarks. "Uh-oh..." A spectating student whispered to his friend, "Out of the fire..." "... And into Ms M's jaws!" The friend finished, After two history lessons carefully organised for their respective year group, and thankfully an uneventful time of recess duty without any issues, the first meeting that decides Canterlot's fate was about to take place. Ms M strode to the Principal's Office and knocked on the door. "Come in," A mature feminine voice instructed. "Principal, Vice-Principal." Ms M greeted the two as she entered the room. The elder one sat behind a well-organised desk. The younger, stood next to the Principal. "Punctual as always," Principal Celestia addressed. She had long wavy hair with a radiant combination of hair colours, and a light gold dress shirt with the cutie mark of the sun. "Please have a seat," "Can I get you something to eat?" Vice-Principal Luna offered. Her equally long and wavy hair had colours that similar to the clouds and sky at night, and wearing a purple collared-dress shirt (with the cutie mark of a moon on the collar) and a leather belt around her waist. "No thank you," Ms M politely refused as she eased down on the chair and glanced at a clock in the room, "This will only take but a few minutes." "I'm afraid it will take much longer than that." Celestia responded as she pulled out a completed application form from her desk drawer, "Allowing her into the school after what she did to everyone is madness." She slid the form into Ms M's view, with a small mug shot of a smirking Adagio. "Granted, it was a few months after you started working here." "I've heard the stories from both the students and Adagio herself." Ms M nodded, "Then you know why we are against this. To be frank, I'm amazed that the media and the Educational department did not notice!" Luna added, "The only school who knows about magic is Crystal Prep, and they've agreed to keep this a secret. If other schools or third parties find out, they may misinterpret this force as a threat to the students or worse, the entirety of Canterlot." "I am on very close terms with Adagio's guardian. After a few months under her strict but kind care, it would be remiss for her not to have another shot at education. And a chance to redeem herself." Ms M reasoned, "Admittedly, she's only appeared during the Mane Event music showcase. After that, she was never seen again. There's no official record of enrolling those three into the school, but it could be possible that they... mesmerised us into letting them in." "And with all due respect, I haven't met her guardian. What if she raised her to be the opposite of what you expect?" Celestia questioned, Ms M was about to open her mouth until two sharp knocks came from the door. "Oh! That must be her." Ms M turned around with glee. "Come in!!!" "I beg your pardon for being late," The visitor apologized as she walked in. "The only directions I got for the school was to get the 'visitor's pass'. It also didn't help that a majority of the students just stared at me rather than help. Thankfully, one of them snapped out of it when I had to ask for directions." The Principal and Vice-Principal's jaws dropped. "My! What--long and thick hair you have!!!" Luna blurted out, "And your height! You're--" "Luna!" Celestia coughed, "Thank you for your compliment." Cleo curtseyed, "That being said, I think your hair is just as fascinating. It's almost as if I'm seeing the moon in the night sky!" "Apologies for my younger- I mean the Vice-Principal." Celestia stood up and offered a hand, "I believe you are Adagio's Guardian? My name is Celestia, the Principal of Canterlot High School." "Indeed I am. My name is Cleo," Cleo shook hands, "I was hoping to meet you. I take it Mym didn't tell you that I would come?" "No," Luna shook her head, then stared suspiciously at Ms M. "I hope I didn't miss out on anything," Cleo continued, "Not at all," Celestia assured, "In fact, it is a perfect time. As you have been taking care of Adagio Dazzle for these past few months, I presume you know her history here?" "I do." Cleo nodded, "And I know that her actions justify against enrolling her. However, I can ensure you that she is unable to repeat her past misdeeds to the school." "And why is that?" "She, as well as some students, said her magic was destroyed when she lost to the Rainbooms," Cleo reported, "I see... when did you first meet her?" Celestia continued, "Many months ago, on one rainy day..." Cleo reminisced, "I saw her lying on the ground, famished and exhausted. I couldn't just leave her there, so I took her back to my home and gave her refuge. Of course, when I learned about her stories and history, I was very disturbed that I was giving refuge to some power-hungry manipulator. However, I could sense that somewhere deep inside, she harboured regret of what she did; having her only tie to her original identity destroyed, and separating from Aria and Sonata. From her story, I decided to personally take care of her and forge her a path to be forgiven." "An interesting choice..." Celestia complimented, "But I imagine it didn't go as you wanted," "Her initial negative attitude is what I would expect from someone who wanted to control others and wanted attention. We'd occasionally have fights with each other. I even threatened to kick her out if she didn't pull herself together. But as much as we argued about how to live life, she couldn't bear to leave when I gave her the opportunity, and that's when I realised that she truly had a desire to change, to atone her wrongs..." "May we ask the reason why?" Luna jumped in, "She and I share a common history filled with loneliness, sorrow, loss, and regret. Because of that, she was willing to stay and change alongside living with me from then on." "I see..." Celestia blinked, "Then if I may also inquire, what has Adagio been doing with you these past few months?" "I sell fresh produce to the Canterlot locals through self-delivery." Cleo stated, "When Adagio came, she became responsible for deliveries to our customers. As her negative reputation spread throughout the locals, no one would likely accept her service if she went as herself. So, I had her put on an unrecognisable disguise and identity so no one could tell the difference. But going on, she is starting to dislike going into town as a disguise, so that's why she and I decided to ensure that she can be accepted as her changed self in Canterlot." Celestia fell silent, as did Luna. An uneasy atmosphere of silence hovered over the four ladies. After that, the Principal spoke up. "You have a very compassionate heart, Ms Cleo." Celestia opened, "But your care alone will be hard to reach her within the school. If she relies on your care and presence to show her reformed self, it needs to be replicated within CHS." "But if we were to guess..." Luna followed up, "We assume you have some people in mind, Ms M?" "I do," Ms M chuckled, "One, yours truly. And two, the seven students who defeated Adagio, along with four normal ones. They've been keeping in touch with Adagio, and they're trustworthy enough to assist her through school. I've talked with them beforehand, too." "May we know their names?" Luna pulled out a notebook, "So we can notify them, of course." "Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Sweetie Belle, Big McIntosh, Flash Sentry, and the other new student I've recommended." Ms M listed, "You have her enrolment form. Right?" "Accepted." Luna reported, "The IT tech crew are now applying her details into the school system. We will expect the two of them to start together next week." "Start together? So does that mean you'll accept Adagio?" Ms M gasped, "Luna and I gave this some thought before the meeting. Following school values, it should be fair that we give her a second chance. But we have a condition," Celestia clarified, "I'd like to see a weekly report on her behaviour, and how you and the other students encouraged her. You are to hand it in before every new week." "I can do that," Ms M firmly nodded, "... I still think this is a crazy move..." Celestia sighed as she picked up a stamp and dabbed it in some ink, "But we shall be the judge of that when she comes." With a loud thud, the large word 'APPROVED' right in the middle of the paper. "Oh, and one more thing," Celestia remembered, "Should she cause havoc intentionally, I will expel her from the school AND put your actions into question, Ms M." "I won't let you down, Principal," Ms M stood up and saluted, "Then this meeting is over," Celestia concluded, "It's wonderful to meet you, Ms Cleo." "The pleasure is mine," Cleo curtseyed again, "Mym? Can you guide me back out, please? I'm afraid I'm still unfamiliar with the school." "No problem," Ms M smiled and opened the door, "After you!" "Hmm..." Celestia mused as the door closed. "I have no qualms about Ms M's diligence and strictness to teaching and discipline, but I do worry comparing it to Adagio's previous actions. It's not her magic that the school is wary of, but her own personal ambition." "If Adagio was still the same as she was before, then one way we can get her to listen is to remind her that she has no power. Sunset and the other girls are proof of that." Luna suggested, "But for teachers like us, Ms M will have to be so imposing that even an immortal magician would cower from her existence alone. Her ferocity and assertion should match a fearsome beast. A dragon, for example!" "AAAAACHOOOOOO!!!" A sneeze as loud as a volcano erupted outside the room, spooking the sisters. "Was that Ms M?" Celestia asked, "Well, at least she's as loud as one!" Luna joked, The fourth period of study involved teaching the senior class. Ms M had to be extremely thorough with her classwork and material. "In your last year of high school, it is your last opportune moment to improve your overall grades. Furthermore, the structure of your upcoming history exam will resemble the ECT and SAT tests. And I implore you to ask any question if you are still unsure about a topic or subject. Don't you DARE 'wing' it on your exams," Ms M warned, "Now, we're going to be discussing Equestria's contribution to the Second World War..." After the gruelling class, Ms M calmly dismissed the class, though she noticed that Big Mac was rather slow in packing up. "McIntosh?" Ms M came over, "You seem slower than usual. Something amiss?" "Uh... nope..." Big Mac gave a weak smile, making Ms M frown. "It's better you share what's plaguing your mind. Let it out with words to support that sorrowed soul of yours." "Applejack and Applebloom pitched a hissy fit at me..." Big Mac relented, looking out the window, "Apparently, they received a picture of me holding 'Dagio's hand during that challenge by Mercury last week." Ms M froze, though she still tried to maintain a caring smile. "I didn't think... Sweetie would have the nerve to send it to your siblings." Ms M spoke, "Wait... ya know?" Big Mac looked into her eyes, "I apologize," Ms M sighed, "When Sweetie was guiding you through the water maze from above, she snapped a few photos of the four of you and your creative ways." "Ah... 'splains it," Big Mac blinked, "This is a big misunderstanding. Applejack and Applebloom should know that you were holding onto dear life." "They knew 'bout my fear way before this," Big Mac responded, "Ah held on to Granny Smith an' Applejack when we rode one as a kid. The speed n' the splash made mah heart stop." "The only one to blame here is Sweetie. And me for not noticing." Ms M defended, "This isn't your fault!" "Take it easy, Ms M." Big Mac shrugged, "Ah'll get over it. Besides, Ah know they're jus' concerned about ma wellbein'. Ah'd feel the same if an enemy yer tryin' to forgive is gettin' cosy with a loved one." "If that's what you believe, then I'll trust you. But if Applejack and Applebloom are still bugging you about this. You have to let them know the truth. And I can be your witness too." Ms M offered, "Appreciated. Glad to know you've got mah back, Ms M." Big Mac smiled, "But we're goin' to bring the focus on 'Dagio soon. It's gonna be a lot of work when she starts comin' back." "Of that, it will." Ms M agreed, "For all of us." Ms M had free time for the final period of instruction for the day, so she quickly strolled out of the school and returned with a hot piping box of Kagutsuchi Fried Chicken. The fried savoury smell of the chicken squeezed through the cracks and smidges of every classroom door she passed, spurring the attention of hungry-eyed students and teachers. Quickly, she fled into the confines of her office before the final bell of the day rang. The members of the second meeting are about to come in a few minutes, and she'll need to be as hospitable if she can get if they can agree to her proposal. Ms M set up her classroom as a meeting formation in less than a minute, then dashed out with bated breath. She breathed a sigh of relief once she spotted CHS' loving lunch lady Granny Smith standing with four casually dressed adults around the Wondercolts statue. Two of the adults were conversing with two other students, who Ms M recognised as Flash and Scootaloo, before sending them on their way home with a smile and wave. "There she is!" Granny signalled, "There's our history teacher!" "Granny, Mr and Mrs Sentry, and Mr and Mrs Belle!" Ms M greeted, "Thank you so much for taking the time to come," "No worries!" Mrs Belle, a Pale Fuschia lady with Indigo and Persian blue hair styled in a beehive. "It sounds rather exciting!" "I hope this doesn't mean our children are misbehaving... are they?" Mr Sentry questioned, "Absolutely not!" Ms M shook her head, "The four of them are on their good behaviour, and are doing well in History! That being said, it is related to them... as well as another new student. First, we should go to the front desk and get a visitor's pass for all of you." "Lead the way!" Mr Belle, a light grey well-built man with a dark greyish brown hair slicked to the back with bushy eyebrows and a small moustache. "Hey..." Mrs Sentry gave a curious whiff, "That smell. Isn't that... Kagutsuchi Fried Chicken!?!?" "Oh! Er... it is. You've got quite a sharp nose, Mrs Sentry!" Ms M awkwardly complimented, "I... bought a box to share in case any of you were peckish!" "Aww!" Mrs Sentry melted, "That is so sweet of you!!! My strait-laced husband caused quite an awkward situation while on our way here that only Kagutsuchi's signature dish can diffuse!" "Is tripping over a cutpurse and returning the stolen bag to the victim a detriment to social reputation?" Mr Sentry declared, "Of course not. In fact, your actions would do the Goddess proud! But even she would feel embarrassed that after returning the bag, you spat out the most ridiculous one-liner with a voice crack to top it off! Living out one of your endless unachieved childhood moments?" Mrs M countered, followed with a shared chuckle out of everyone. "We are done talking about this," Mr Sentry spoke firmly, "Let us go." They first made their way to get their visitor passes, the six adults sat in the meeting-oriented classroom, posed to hear what the teacher had in store. "So as I mentioned, there will be a new student coming to Canterlot High School, and a group of students will be helping her transition to school. Your children are a part of that group." Ms M briefed, "Oh, that's lovely!" Mrs Belle clapped her hands, "Well, this is also a big ask from them too. The new student has been known to be a 'troublemaker' due to an incident long ago. The students and most of the locals has a bad impression on her." "Is the new student Adagio Dazzle?" Mr Sentry deduced, his lips covered with canola oil. Granny Smith widened her eyes. "You catch on quick, Mr Sentry." Ms M nodded, "Are you madder than a wet hen!?" Granny jumped in, "Is this official!? Did the Principal allow this!?" "Yes..." Ms M bit her lip, "I know it's hard to take in, but as a school who values team spirit, camaraderie, and friendship, forgiveness and acceptance is an important aspect within all three values." "Adagio Dazzle? Such an intriguing name... what has she done for the school to turn sour on her?" Mr Belle asked as she wiped his fingers with a serviette. "She and two others forced many CHS students to competitively be aggressive to one another for a musical showcase, and for the staff to go along with it." "Hearin that I've been singing along to a tune that encourages fightin' don't feel right." Granny testified, "Worse, Ah 'ave no recollection of it, but Ah had some nightmares about seein' mah own children tryin' to ." "Yikes..." Mrs Belle uttered, "That sounds extremely unnatural!" "Well actually--" Mrs Sentry started until she felt a subtle nudge. "Never mind. It's irrelevant to the issue." "Now, the school and your children are giving her a second chance, and I would like to ask if you, their parents, would give the same assistance when necessary." Granny and The Belles shivered. The Sentries remained calm. "We've met her before. Outside, and where she resides." Mr Sentry shared, "Compared to Flash's impressions back during this music showcase, she certainly has changed for the better over the past few months. She may look intimidating with her gaze, tone, and her clothes, but Flash and the others visited her quite often, and she's not against that." "Basically, there's a hard-to-get sweetheart within that spiky and prickly outside!" Mrs Sentry giggled, "So the two of us can be inclusive to her!" "Well it seems that there are some good and bad things," Mrs Belle spoke, "But I'm afraid to say that neither Hondo nor I know anything about her. We even don't know what she looks like!" "Would you like a picture?" A seventh person entered the room, "Oh, thank you!" Mrs Belle accepted from Cleo's hands and observed the girl in the picture, "She wears purple, huh? That's quite stylish! Though the spike accessories do make her look like a delinquent. And that curly orange hair! How did you get a-- hang on..." She glanced at the sudden appearance of the purple-haired sylvan, "W-Who are you!?" "I am Cleo," Cleo introduced, "Adagio's Guardian. You must be the parents of Rarity and Sweetie Belle. It's wonderful to meet you." She turned to the rest, "And good to see you again Granny, Mr and Mrs Sentry... and Mym." "Oh!" Mrs Belle spoke, "Nice to meet you too... wait, WHAT!?" She performed a double-take, "You raised this troublemaking girl?" Mr Belle spoke, "No," Mr Sentry defended, "Adagio and her sisters instigated this incident on their own. When it was foiled, the three ran off, broke apart from each other. It may sound cruel but true - they were homeless girls who didn't have any parental figures to support their growth until Cleo found Adagio." "Oh... I see," Mr Belle sighed, "Sorry for misjudging." "It is fine. If there is anything else concerning Adagio, I can answer them." Cleo offered, "Well first..." Granny asked, "How did you take care of someone like her?" "Where to begin..." Cleo began. Just like with the Principal and Vice-Principal, she told a similar story to the parents. To Granny and The Belles, they were quite blown back. "You have to be one of the most loving and patient people to encourage her to stay. To go even far as to disguise her identity to work in the community is definitely convincing to me that she has changed!" Mrs Belle answered, "Oh Ah agree. She definitely sounds pretty as a peach now. Better than some smooth-talkin' salesmen Ah know..." Granny slowly nodded, "Still... Ah never would 'ave thought the energetic delivery girl Francesca would be Adagio... and just when Ah teased her 'bout bein' a good match with Big Mac last week..." Everyone fell silent and stared at the Apple Granny. "What?" Granny raised an eyebrow, "Ah want to see mah own grandchildren growin' up and settlin' down, you know. There ain't no problem with that." "But in any case, if we do meet her in person, we'll be sure to include her and offer any support." Mrs Belle agreed, "What do you think?" "Sure thing!" Mr Belle gave a thumbs up, "What about you darling?" Mrs Sentry asked, "Fine by me," Mr Sentry nodded, "Since she's goin' to be part of the school soon, Ah'll treat 'er with the same respect as every other student!" Granny stated. "Thank you so much, everyone." Cleo curtseyed, "And if there is anything else, don't hesitate to contact me." "Sounds good! May I have your phone number?" Mrs Belle requested, "Sure," Cleo pulled out a brand new purple mobile phone, "Including the area code, it's (174) 217-4123," "Ehh... got it. Thank you!" Mrs Belle keyed in, "Interesting..." Mr Sentry spoke to himself before raising his voice, "In that case, let me give you mine..." After a quick exchange of phone numbers, it was time to bring the meeting to a close. "Thank you for coming today," Ms M greeted, "I hope I haven't taken too much of your time..." "Not at all!" Mrs Belle bashfully chuckled, "Sure, I was expecting a delivery from Shadowsun, but Rarity and Sweetie can pick that up for me!" "Y'all take care now, y'hear?" Granny smiled, "Bye!!!" Mrs Sentry waved as The Belles and Granny departed the classroom. "You should be heading home too." Ms M turned to The Sentries, "Flash and Scoots may get a little naughty if parents aren't around!" "Should they do that, they would be grounded for a month." Mr Sentry crossed his arms, "And they've experienced what it felt like." "You have an extremely tight leash on your son." Cleo shuddered, "You make us sound like we treat him like a dog! That's rather mean-spirited..." Mrs Sentry winced, "We, or at least I, treat him like a puppy!" "I don't think that helps your case..." Ms M spoke uncomfortably, "We have two questions that require answers." Mr Sentry interrogated, "Let's start with the easiest. How did you get a phone, Cleo? Given you're living in a castle and all, I don't see any home phone. Should be important given that you're running a business." "Mym and I went shopping for one last Sunday. I chose this particular phone because it's rare to see a device that matches the colours of my hair. I'm still a bit new to using this 'mobile phone', but it's rather similar to a device wielded exclusively by one of our former allies..." "'Wielded'?" Mrs Sentry repeated, "One of New Alberia's heroes used a phone as a weapon?" "Let's not deviate from the main point," Mr Sentry reminded, "But I wanna know how she does it!" Mrs Sentry pouted, "Does she throw it? Blind enemies with its flash???" "The latter answer," Ms M revealed, "Oh..." Mrs Sentry blinked, "Okay." "The second important question... why didn't you tell Mr and Mrs Belle about how Adagio was able to really control the school? Or that she's not human either?" Mr Sentry continued, "That's a very good question!" Ms M raised an eyebrow, "But how did you learn that?" "Sweetie's videos. We assisted her with filming." Mrs Sentry responded like a student answering a teacher, "She transformed into a Siren in front of my eyes, and the camera too." "True. But not the answer I was expecting," Ms M rephrased, "Okay... but do you know about the incidents of CHS beforehand?" "We do." Mr Sentry replied, "Granted, we just learned everything about it today. Flash and Scootaloo gave us a quick rundown before the meeting, as they said it's important we know." "The two of them trust you a lot," Cleo complimented, "Trust is important in the family, as it is in friends and clients." Mr Sentry declared, "It means admitting secrets and vulnerabilities to one another, but for being honest or having a confession, it means supporting and empowering each other to do what's right, instead of solely berating or scolding. Of course, hiding secrets like these is a sign of distrust, and I will not tolerate that. Which reminds me... I need to find the right punishment for Flash for not telling me all this beforehand." "W-Woah!" Ms M paused, "Don't you think that's extremely authoritarian?" "I assure you, we would not be so cold and heartless. A sign of trust is a sign of care and love," Mr Sentry explained, "On the other hand, we had to be a lot stricter given that Flash got expelled from one school, and suspended in the next for seriously harming other students out of 'noble' anger, to put it truthfully." Mrs Sentry added, "Of course..." Ms M slapped her head, "Why did I forget that? Anyway, what I'm getting at is Flash trusts you a lot that he would tell you this event. What about Rarity, Sweetie, and Big Mac with their respective parents?" "They should," Mr Sentry remained adamant, "Such a danger must be reported. Otherwise, it would leave their parents extremely distraught and upset." "You have a point darling, but so does Ms M," Mrs Sentry interjected, "As kids grow into teenagers, it's natural that some things they experienced in life would be kept to themselves and friends that were with them. At worst, teenagers foolishly want to break free from their parents by intentionally doing things without their permission and not letting them know about it. At best, teenagers don't want to rope their parents into their own troubles because they believe it would make life harder for themselves, and their parents. No offence, but I think some would criticise how we raised our child as tyrants." "Hmm..." Mr Sentry remained silent, "Very well. It is up to them, not us. In that case, that is all from me." "In that case, we'll leave too! Thanks once again, and thanks for the chicken too!" Mrs Sentry waved goodbye and led Mr Sentry out of the room. "Surely Mym, you could have moved this particular meeting to another day. It would save all that travel time in between for making progress in cleaning more bedrooms and taking out clothes to dry." Cleo moaned, "Says the girl who uses the misty portal to whisk herself wherever she desires. You know it doesn't take so long to reach your destination!" Ms M rasped, "But you know how long it takes to go back home." Cleo glared, "Fair enough. Worry not though, I will fly us to our third and final meeting of the day. Aren't you gonna be happy to see the last two Greatwyrms after so long?" After packing up all they need, the two Grastaeans snuck out to the car park behind the school, where not a single soul was seen in the dusk sky. With the coast clear, Mym took a deep breath and enveloped herself in a body of faint flames. Her hands and arms grew in size, morphing from skin and fingers into scales and talons. Horns protruded from the temples covered by her hair which curved downwards then outwards. Wings sprouted out from her back, and her tail sprouted from below. With one obscuring burst of fire, the teacher transformed into her true form, a large red dragon known as Brunhilda - The Flamewyrm, and the Crimson Sweetheart. "I hope your dress clothes are okay..." Cleo noted while holding the dragon's bag of teaching materials, "Sometimes I have no idea how you could come fully dressed when you turn into a human, but also wear clothes made by others. I hope they don't burn up every time you transform." "Do not fear, Cleo." Brunhilda laughed, "Though my mana is of fire, it preserves the clothes I wear. Besides, I'll be wearing this to the meeting anyway. Now hop on!" The Flamewyrm lept into the air and boosted forward with a mighty flap of her wings. The two soared above the Canterlot business district and travelled over Mayleaf Park and its widespread forest beside it. As they continued flying above the forest, both Brunhilda and Cleo felt a surge of energy within their bodies as they passed a certain point. Once they did, an entirely diverse geographical region revealed itself before them. What only consists of thick trees and empty skies were magically replaced with a castle breezy forest, a vast clearwater lake, a steady volcano, a towering range of mountains, and many more things hidden within the eyes of the world. "Hold on Cleo! I'm going to make a sharp turn to the left!" Brunhilda warned, "I got it!" Cleo replied and clutched on to her shoulders. With a hard bank to the left and a lift in the wings, the dragon veered west towards the Dornith Mountains and boosted forward once she aligned herself. "Now approaching, Dornith Mountains!!!" Brunhilda announced, The Flamewyrm gracefully landed on the thunderous summit of Dornith's highest mountain, where four other dragons waited. Two of them were Midgardsomr and Mercury, the Windwyrm and Waterwyrm respectively. "Welcome, Flamewyrm." Midgardsomr greeted, "For the Dragon to call the Greatwyrms together, it is a surprise for you to be the last to arrive." "The previous meeting with the parents took longer than expected. And I had to consider passenger safety," Brunhilda retorted as she let Cleo off and coated herself with fire. "Oh??? You wish to discuss this in your human form?" A yellow dragon with teal-coloured eyes playfully chirped. Unlike the other dragons, the dragon had wings instead of arms and claws, thin black legs, a beak instead of a jaw, and the exterior of his scaly body and tail grew yellow feathers with black tips on his wings and tail, or red tips poking out behind his head. If not for his black curved horns and his featherless chest and underside of his tail, one would mistake the Lightwyrm Jupiter to be a bird. "Yes," Ms M emerged from the fire, with not a single tear or burn on her clothes. "Not only do I have the duties of teaching and making appointments, wearing this attire has a personal significance to our discussion." "I can sense a looming threat that dares to impact not just our own hidden land, but the land occupied by today's generation of humans." Mercury warned, "Should this threat fall upon us, I wish to defend them all. However, that involves the cooperation of Dragonkind, and who better than to start with us?" "Well, Chthonius is missing..." Jupiter counted, "Are you sure you forgot to invite him? Yeah, I mean he's experienced death before, but he's still alive!" "He has turned down the offer, so instead I told him of my proposal. He answered that if the plan works for all five of us, then we should seek him out." Ms M explained, "And what, pray tell, is your proposal?" Asked Zodiark, the Shadowyrm. Like Mercury, he stood on all fours, but a majority of his purple scales, flesh and bone had horrifically rotted away over his existence, from his skull all the way down to his spine and tail. One glance at his purple-eyed glare from his almost-hollow eye sockets would strike fear into those who dared approach his presence. "To rekindle our bond with humanity. For centuries, we have lived and protected them from the shadows, as we promised Prince Euden after our tragic but inevitable parting with him." Mercury answered, "With this threat, we can only do so much. Thus must we seek humanity's aid once again." "Ooh! You sure about that?" Jupiter looked excited, "If humans today would see us, they'd run away screaming, yell at us to stand down, or attempt to strike us down with their weapons, which if you ask me, are completely worthless compared to Grastaea's prime!" "Not all humans are like that," Ms M retorted, "We met with a rather unique group of young humans that know of our existence. They are capable of harnessing the workings of mana, as well as the powers of the same allies we've fought alongside. Aside from good character and attitude, they do have a magic of their own." "Really now?" Jupiter raised his eyebrows, "Do tell!" "They may not be royalty or carriers of Dragonblood, but the magic and power they harness come from the same values that define our bond with humans." Ms M explained, "As you know, I have taken my life as a teacher to help empower and teach students the skills necessary to take on the outside world. But ever since five of them had walked into our world and showed their promise of bettering the Halidom where we once lived, I thought to put them through a little test or challenge of my own making. They blew my expectations as they completed it. As such, I formed a pact with them through word, and since then assisted them in any Grastaean mysteries, alongside classwork." "Speaking of which..." Cleo directed her tone to Jupiter and Zodiark, "If any of you felt the corrupting disturbance of black mana last month... it has something to do with those five Equestrians." "Tell us the story of what happened in the Binding Ruins," Zodiark demanded, "First, we came to the Binding Ruins in order to seek Midgardsomr to call the smithwyrms and rebuild the Halidom. This eventually led us to seal the Flow Eternal..." Ms M started, "... But one of the five Equestrians, who wasn't human, absorbed it in an attempt in order to regain her true form and fulfil a grudge against those that exiled her from her homeworld." Midgardsomr continued, "So the other four, as well as Cleo, Brunhilda, and I, brought her back to her senses..." "... their efforts intrigued me, and I wanted to know more about them. Last week, I personally went to meet one of them, and to put all five of them through my challenge." Mercury picked up, "Just like Brunhilda's, they completed it. I in turn gave them my pact by word." "I get it!" Jupiter deduced, "So you want the rest of us to rekindle our bond by putting your unique humans into trials or challenges of our own. Just like how each of us tested the Prince's strength and character!" "Yes," Ms M replied, "One little problem. If this threat affects both the humans and us, why don't we just parley with them and forge an alliance? It would save time needed to organise a silly challenge! Plus, today's folks just aren't up to the standards of the Prince and his fighters..." Jupiter challenged. Mercury whacked the back of his head with her tail as an answer. "We all know we DON'T work like that. Alliances are temporary and can be ceased at any time without the knowledge of both parties. The only way we can truly lend our power with humans is to personally understand their soul and strength." Mercury scolded, "Furthermore, it doubles as training for the Equestrians so they can grow just as strong as our former allies." "Heh..." Jupiter smirked, "Your accommodative personality hasn't eroded in the past centuries. The humans you briefly described already had my attention so I'm in. No! Wait... I want to be the first to put them through the wringer!" "Are you sure???" Cleo sharply asked, "It will take some time to prepare, and I must learn of the humans' nature." "Here," Cleo dug through Ms M's bag and pulled out copies each filled with information of the five Equestrians, "Mym and I filled out a personality and behaviour report for each of them." "Perfect," Jupiter took a set with his beak, "This will speed things up very nicely..." "You can have them too, Midgardsomr and Zodiark." Cleo added, passing each of them a set, "And if possible, I'd l like to know if you want to be second or last." "Thank you," Zodiark thanked as he took the papers, "As for when, I do not mind. Let Midgardsomr have the first pick." "Hmm..." Midgardsomr paused, "Having fought alongside them a month ago, I can faintly remember the extent of their abilities. If I truly want to test their power, I want to do it at a point where they have truly improved. Perhaps a challenge that could individually test each of their mettle." "So does that mean you'll be the second?" Mercury asked, "No... my challenge will take a lot of time to prepare, and I will need to reach out to some of our dragon allies. As such, I hereby choose to be the last of us to challenge them." "Wow..." Ms M blinked, "You sure?" "I am sure," Midgardsomr nodded adamantly, "Very well." Zodiark agreed, "Then I shall produce the second challenge." "Interesting..." Cleo mused, "Midgardsomr was the very first dragon to form a pact with Prince Euden out of the five. Now, he's opted to be the last." "Set it up to your conditions and your objectives to your heart's content. You can test either one or all of them. Think outside the box, use the environment to help. Remember, if anyone gets dangerously hurt, you need to postpone the challenge and get a healer like Cleo on the ready. Try to formulate a challenge that can push their limits, but don't you DARE think about killing them." Ms M instructed, "I'm looking at you, Jupiter. If I see any influence of wounding each other, I will reduce you to cinders!" "Okay okay..." Jupiter held up his wings. "Right, are there any other questions?" Ms M asked, "Nope!" Jupiter laughed, "I've got just the plan for them!" "None at all," Zodiark shook his head, "I do have one," Midgardsomr spoke, "Do you have a prediction on when this threat may come? Or at least what it is?" "I'm... afraid that I don't have an answer for either of them. While I can sense things with my mana, I will also need more than just one of my senses to detect any trace of the threat. All I can say is it doesn't stem from the waters." Mercury sadly shook her head. "Hmm, then perhaps a preparation is necessary after all," Midgardsomr concluded, "I mean, we can try searching it out." Cleo suggested, "Most of my deliveries are handled by Adagio, so I can use my free time to go patrol Canterlot. Hinata can do the same when she's free." "You mean that little fafnir of light?" Jupiter remembered, "I thought she stuck close to the Dragon Law and helping others without being seen!" "She's grown stronger," Ms M smirked, "Enough to assume a human form!" "Dang." Jupiter whistled, "We really need to keep in touch with the rest of the dragons." "In this case, this meeting is over." Ms M announced, "Thank you so much for coming." Once everyone had said their goodbyes, Brunhilda dropped off Cleo back in the Halidom and flew back to her apartment, making sure to transform in a well-hidden spot before walking out in the streets at night. The Crimson Teacher made it back to her apartment without any problem. Following her routine, she took out some leftover curry from the fridge and heated it up with her heat rather than a microwave or stove. With her meal gobbled up, she took another shower, though a much longer one where she lathered soap on her human skin with great care. Leavin the bathroom with her usual clothes that she sleeps in, she checked and ticked all the meetings today on her phone, and added some more notes for the days to come. After an hour of going through both her schoolwork and dragonwork, it was time to go to bed. Holding her Euden plush tight, she tried to drift away to sleep, but alas... two things kept her awake. One was that she forgot to make a time and date to go replace the bedside table. And the other was the fear of the Lightwyrm's challenge for her students... out of the Greatwyrms, he was an extremely, crafty one. The Dragon Meetings The End Sweetie's Little Steps of Life Part 4 is next!!!