//------------------------------// // Clydesdale Rumble // Story: Night Patrol 2: Awakening // by Foxgear //------------------------------// Night Patrol 2 ch 59 By Foxgear How fast can Dragons fly? Various studies estimated the average adult dragon could reach over fifty wing power (975mph). That was all well and good, but how fast could a dragon lord fly? The zenith of dragonkin? Twilight estimated it was about seventy-five to a hundred wing power, equaling roughly 1,755 mph, or so she estimated. The young unicorn was fuzzy on the math as she was currently doing all she could to remain rooted to Dragonlord Oberon’s back! “This is amazing! I can’t wait to present this to college!” The unicorn declared giddily. Earning a disapproving shake from Essex, followed by a forehead flick. “Don’t spread my friend's secrets like that or treat him like a guinea pig. The world is not for your amusement.” “But scientific study…” “Ah said, pick a windae or yer leavin'! keep acting lik' a glaikit lassie 'n' ah will spank lik' a neuk whore at th' howf neuk!” Essex switched to a heavy Clydesdale, her words all gilt and bite. Leaving Twilight more confused than scared. What did scare the unicorn was the burning fire in Essex’s eyes. It was the same look her mother would give when she had seriously screwed up. “Ok, ok, I understand… to a degree.” Twilight scooted over to Sixes asking for a translation. The elder Rinin gave a half shrug, “Something about beating you like a whore with a beer bottle or something. Clydesdale is more organized gibberish then an actual language to me.” Essex replied with, “Och, screw aff! tis a bonny word o' tongue, ye juist hae tae git intae it!” “Yeah, like that. I only got half of that.” Then in a much clear, slower-paced Clydesdale Sixes said, “Calm doon, she's nae yer daughter or anythin'. Sae stoap acting lik' se is.” “Ah, braw!” Essex waved dismissively before clearing her throat and began speaking proper. “Fine, fine. She’s still an annoying lass. Oops, still speakin’ a bit rough there. Ah, I’ll take a minute to get out of it.” The next few minutes were Sixes and Twilight watching Essex clear her throat while muttering obscenities in Clydesdale. Finally, after a cough and a loge, she cleared her throat. “Sorry, I always seem to get a frog in my throat when I swap dialects. Must be out of practice.” Essex said with a laugh. The lady rinin then took a deep breath, exhaling with a content sigh. “Ah, I can smell the isles.” Oberon’s body moved beneath their feet as the dragonlord began to slow. “Indeed, my friend, we are here.” The dragonlord announced, descending towards the ground. Instantly the three ponies were greeted by lush fields of green and moss-covered rocky gray peaks lightly covered in white mist. It was a beautiful sight—a stark contrast to the volcanic wasteland the Equestrian dragons inhabited. “Wow, it’s hard to believe you’re the same species,” Twilight uttered aloud, producing a snort from Oberon. “We are wind and water dragons; it benefits us to have an environment suitable for our needs. Such as clean air and water.” Twilight felt a blush come on as Essex glared holes into the side of her head. “Right, it was foolish of me to make assumptions.” Essex backed off, but Twilight still took a powerful jab in the ego curiosity of Oberon. “Fear not little unicorn, the youth are usually ignorant of the world. I’ve come to expect it of short-lived creatures such as yourselves.” “Thank you… I think? Speaking of age, how old are you?” “Just under three thousand. I tend not to worry about it.” Oberon said, veering towards a particular mountain. The mountain in question was smaller than the rest, with broken moss-covered statues and pillars that gave it a temple vibe. The entrance was a long staircase leading down to a square platform with an Alicorn's crumbling statue. Also, there was another dragon of similar size to Oberon. With another smaller slenderer dragon behind that one. Both with brilliant emerald scales. “Brother Puck, my love Aerwyna, any news?” Oberon asked upon landing. His mate, the slender dragoness, affectionally embraced him. “I see. So, she’s still inside? What of the betas?” “Oh, we’ve dealt with them.” Puck winked mischievously. “Little Sis and I have kept alternating watch. Catching a few little sneaks that tried to take advantage of the situation. Are these the ones you spoke of?” Puck leered at the three ponies atop his brother’s head. “Hmm, they don’t really match your description. Well, one does, I suppose.” Oberon took the three ponies in his palm, presenting them to his brother and wife. “This is Essex, we made her and her husband members of our clan a thousand years ago. This is her brother, Sixes, and the other is a nosy unicorn.” Puck looked at the three, his gaze focused on the rinin. “I would have thought you’d be bigger, but I suppose you look dragon enough to be called ‘Dragon Ponies.’” “Oh, hush, you,” Aerwyna scolded her brother-in-law. “You act as if your own daughter is much bigger or even my Obara.” “Aye, Aye, sister, I understand. Though Obara and Hippolyta have room to grow, they are only a few hundred or so years old.” Essex excitedly bounced in Oberon’s palm. “How big did little Obara get? The last time I saw her, she was only this big.” Her claw rested at her knee. The Dragon Queen smiled nostalgically, “Oh, has it really been that long? She was so cute. You were a lifesaver too, Essex. Thank you for watching my young one when I needed a nap.” Aerwyna extended one of her massive talons for Essex to hug. “Think nothing of it!” Replied Essex patting Aerwyna’s talon. “I was happy to help. You and Oberon did so much for me, and Lucky, letting you take a five-year nap was the least I could do.” “Is that why you didn’t come back to Equestria right away?” Sixes asked. Essex scratched her cheek well, looking away. “That was part of it.” She admitted. “And you come to my add again. Thank you, my friend. Please save my precious daughter.” “Leave to me,” Essex pounded her barrel confidently. “I will do everything in my power and more to ensure Obara is brought back safely.” “Thank you again, and though I dread to think of it, please don’t blame yourself should the worst come to pass. It has been several days, possibly a week since Obara entered that accursed place.” “Do you think Obara is already…” Essex couldn’t complete the sentence. Not wanting to even entertain the possibility. “I haven’t given up hope, I assure you,” Aerwyna stated dejectedly. “But I can’t help but fear the worst, hoping I’ll be proven wrong.” Essex nodded, “I understand. Sixes?” She looked to her brother, who nodded confidently. “Let’s move out.” Sixes barked, leading the way up the stairs in full mission mode. Which was reassuring to the dragons. Though Twilight being dragged by the rinin’s tail while prattling on about every sand scribble they passed was less so. “Oh! That predates the founding of Equestria! Oh! And this. And that! And this!” Sixes blocked out whatever babble Twilight was prattling on about. The unicorn was going off a mile minute, acting like a filly on Hearth’s warming. (I guess it’s better than her being anti-social.) Sixes mused. Perhaps feeling a bit responsible for Twilight’s ‘maturing’ or regressing into a loner, as Celestia put it. He’s received many complaints from the Sun Princess, her friends, Cadence, her brother. Even Luna sometimes. (They ask me to train her and then complain about it, typical.) “Hey, bookworm, translate the door.” He snapped upon reaching the entrance, bringing Twilight to attention. “Right, right! It says… that’s ancient Clydesdale.” Twilight puttered out pathetically. “I’ve yet to study that one.” A strangled groan came from Essex as she pushed past the unicorn. “You nothin but a tagalong! So, stay in the back, where ya belong, ‘k? And tis says ‘The Great one sleeps, here, fear all would-be trespassers. Something like that. Don’t worry about it.” Passing through the ivory doors, the three ponies entered the darkened hall. Twilight and Sixes ignited their respective horns, casting a mix of pinkish-orange light. Twilight produced a small sphere of light, while an elaborate design lit up on Sixes’ horns. “Magic is handy, isn’t it?” The young unicorn broke the silence, feeling like the third wheel on the sibling’s journey. “Say, Miss Essex.” “It’s Mrs. Shamrock if you’re going to be formal,” Essex informed her dully, her eyes squinted in the low light. “Dammit. You know Sixes, and I have decent night vision, right? This light makes us blind to what’s up ahead and gives away our location. Don’t you know a night-vision spell? Or just have night goggles?” “I’m sorry, and yes, there is probably a spell, but I don’t know it. We left is such a hurry, I didn’t have time to grab the proper gear.” “Well, Oberon was a bit unreasonable,” Essex said under her breath. “Though I can understand being concerned for Obara. I hope she’s alright. She was barely a hatchling when I last saw her. I wonder if she’ll even remember me.” “She must not have grown too much, considering she can fit in here.” Sixes pointed out, indicating the ceiling. It probably only nine, maybe even eleven feet high. Large for ponies, but barely passable for even the smaller dragons. With the hall only three ponies wide, it was no wonder most dragons could not enter the temple. “She can’t be much bigger than Torch’s daughter then,” Twilight added, leaning closer to the depictions on the walls. Essex forced her in the center of the group to keep her from reading every passage. “Don’t get distracted.” She snapped. The wall murals showed a tribe of green alicorns fighting a mysterious enemy, depicted as a blob of darkness with a faint purple aura. A few murals down, the form was replaced with something vaguely pony shaped, possibly another alicorn. After that, the tale ends, the depictions unreadable for several passages. Until the last mural at the end of the hall showed the green alicorns being laid to rest. As the three stood before the half-opened door, their nostrils wrinkling from the smell of decay and stale air. It was evident that this temple, was in fact, a tomb. “Smells like death,” Sixes muttered, leading the way inside. Torches, alight with a green flame, burned on the pillars casting a line of caskets in emerald light. A few of the stone coffins were opened, their contents scattered across the ancient floor. “Disrespectful,” Essex mewed, picking up a horned skull. “I hope Obara wasn’t the one to do this. Though it may be a false hope.” She mumbled, finding claw marks on the floor. “I guess I can’t blame a dragon for not caring about old pony graves.” Sixes picked up another piece of the skeleton. Inspecting it closely. “Unless these bones aren’t what they seem.” He pointed to the fractures alone the femur he held. The cracks flesh. “It’s possible they attacked her. Some sort of necromancy trap? Or puppets? That sort of thing is common, right Twilight?” The unicorn reluctantly agreed, “It’s possible. Though it would need a magical source. I’m not sensing anything, though. Miss Obara could have just wrecked them just because.” “I highly doubt that not all dragons are meatheads, Twilight.” “I know! But if there’s no magic…” “Maybe the source is already gone?” Essex interjected hotly. “We don’t know what happened, nor does it really matter. We’re here to make sure Obara is ok. That said, she deserves a lecture if she did all this for no reason.” She finished quietly, setting the skull in a casket. Sixes called the two mares over, “Got another door over here. Already unlocked too.” The door leading to the next chamber sported a broken lock, a stairway leading further down to a room with even more coffins—an unmistakable trail of burning green torches leading the way. “I guess she went this way.” Sixes took point once more, following the light of the torches. “This place is undoubtedly larger on the inside. They must have hallowed out a good chunk of the mountain. “It’s certainly possible with magic, but why go through the trouble? And what we’re they fighting in the mural? It looked like pure darkness or maybe the pony of shadows or something.” Twilight babbled, casting her light onto the wall, finding more depictions. Her stomach churning at the description. “What is this?” The two rinin stopped, studying the horrible images of ponies behind drawn and quartered. Another mural was of a mare with foal, with a horrid monster opening the mare’s stomach. The next picture was said monster being beaten and decapitated, yet the same monster appeared again in a different image—this time eating a pony in a gory fashion. “What the hell is that? I’ve never seen anything like it.” Essex cocked her head, trying to remember every creature she’s studied, yet drew a blank on the beast. “Are they, ogres? No, it’s Something else. I think its name is written here, Campe. Campe’s crime!” She blurted aloud. “The old hag of Tartarus? Is this her?” Sixes, having seen Campe once before, squinted at the picture. Take off the wrinkles, add some youth and well-kept hair. Yes, he could see the resemblance. “She didn’t age well.” “Campe was cursed for a horrible crime. This is probably a record of what she did… but…” Twilight shuttered. “There was defiantly some censoring in the version I read. This is horrible.” “Yeah, but I never understood these divine punishments.” Sixes voiced aloud, tilting his head at the pictures. “She did these horrible things, and they punished her, sure. But why make her immortal?” “But, they didn’t!” Twilight argued. “It says she’s bound to serve as Tartarus’s jailkeeper for all eternity.” “Sounds immortal to me, besides, she can get out uncertain conditions. Luna told me if the cells of hell ever empty, Campe is free of her duties. For what purpose is a jailer with no prisoners. She also is freed from her cursed form and will most likely revert to whatever she was before. Something like this, I assume.” Sixes directed Twilight’s attention to the mural at the opposite end of the room. The first depiction in the line of horrid crimes showed a beautiful pinkish alicorn being worshiped. Below was a description in Clydesdale. “Mother of Monsters, The Demon bringer Campe,” Essex translated. The next picture showed various creatures. At the center was a goat-like being. “Campe’s Spawn, the twelve terrors. This is Grogar, isn’t it? That legendary monster?” Essex looked to Twilight for the answer, the young unicorn nodding, yes. “This is the find of the century!” Twilight’s smile was dazzling. “We have to…” “Find Obara,” Essex said flatly. “Try to leave here without her, and Oberon and Aerwyna will kill you. Even if we only bring back a body, it’ll be proof we didn’t abandon the mission, at least. Come on now. We’ve sidetracked enough.” Essex forged head, crossing the room to the jarred door to the next room. Again, they were met with stairs that lead into a narrow hallway. Forcing the three to descend in a single file line. “Can’t spread my wings in here.” Sixes noted with his wing’s half out. “This is a bad position.” “I agree,” Nodded Essex, picking up the pace, a slight panic in her voice. “Are you by chance…” Twilight began but was interrupted by Sixes, who shook his head. “Don’t bring it up, it’ll only make it worse.” Essex was almost galloping down the stairs, her orange braids whooshing in the wind. The green flame of the torches zipped by as the three rapidly dived further and further into the depths of the tomb. After what seemed like forever, they reached the bottom. “Thank, Luna!” Essex heaved a sigh of relief to be wide open space. Spreading her wings wide for the sheer sense of freedom. Once she was calm, Essex took in their surroundings. “What is this place, though?” This floor appeared to be the bottom of the temple. Glittering piles of gold, gems, and other treasures were piled everywhere. Buried in said piles were the bones of what might have been guards or marauders. The vast majority of the skeletons were crushed, the bones were broken into small fragments. However, there were a few outliers, where the cause of death was a clean single cut. “What could have caused this, I wonder?” Sixes mumbled, picking up a pony’s remains and fitting them back together. The cut in the femur was so perfect he could match the ends easily. There was no sawing or anything of the like. “A magic blade or perhaps a spell?” “Come look at this!” Essex called out to him, motioning him and Twilight to the what seemed to be the center of the room. A circle of pillars surrounded an even greater gold pile, half-buried in it was a massive skeleton of some creature. It’s jaws large enough to swallow a pony whole, its jaw elongated like an alligator’s. The creature’s spine coiled around the gold like a serpent. It was apparently very long. The line of vertebrae stretched deep into the darkness. “A hundred, maybe two hundred feet in length,” Twilight intoned, examining the remains with fascination. “It continues even more. Maybe it’s even three hundred feet in length!” She buzzed excitedly. “It’s an impressive predator, but why is it here? It can’t be a guardian, can it?” Essex asked, standing beside Sixes. Letting Twilight indulge in her archeological mischief. “What do you think, brother?” She asked awkwardly with a blush. “It probably just moved in. Maybe it was intelligent enough to realize all this gold was good bait for treasure hunters. I’m sure it ate well for many years. That said, it’s weird for it to just die here. Unless it died from old age. I don’t see any wounds.” None of the creature’s bones appeared to be damaged. Not that Sixes felt inclined to check them all. “Maybe it nested here when it was young, and couldn’t get out when it grew to adult size. I do not see any holes or tunnels. Granted, I can’t even see the walls from here. This place really is massive.” Essex hummed, flying towards the ceiling for a better bird’s eye view. The green flame torches' flickering light created a neon green hue as far as she could see. In what she assumed was north, there was another light shining in the darkness. “There might be something at the end of its tail.” “Then let’s go check it out. It worries me we haven’t run into Obara yet.” “My thoughts exactly, she has to be near,” Essex replied, dropping down beside Sixes. “Unless we missed something? There was another route up above. We just followed those torches because we assumed Obara lit them.” “Let’s get this room checked first and then worry after that.” Sixes replied, trying to be reassuring. He tried to say more, but his words failed him. Instead, he switched focus to Twilight as they passed her. Pulling the unicorn long by the collar of her cape. “Wait! Wait! I’ve almost finished looking at it! This creature is amazing! Do you know what this is? This is so rare!” More then rare, it’s super rare! “Oh, by the gods, what is it, lass!” Essex grumbled out. “I think it’s a Levant!” Twilight squealed. The unicorn’s words made the two rinin stop short. “A what?” They turned in unison, Sixes let go of Twilight’s cape, letting the unicorn right herself and project a magic board. Clearly about to put her magical creature degree to use. “The clip notes version, please.” Essex implored the unicorn. Resulting in Twilight to appear crestfallen. “Fine… but’s it’s fascinating!” “I’m sure it is, we don’t have time.” “I can explain the basics in under three hours?” “Twilight!” “Ok! Ok! Short version. Levants are believed to be ancient dragons or perhaps even Dragon predators. Their enormous size resulted in them needing enormous amounts of meat. It’s believed they would hunt by attacking from underground. Some believe Dragons developed wings to escape these creatures, which lead to the Levants to starve from a lack of adaption. That’s the college’s theory. When I asked Celestia and Luna, they said Levants were even before their time, so it really all speculative.” “So, all of that is bullshit.” “It’s based on archeological study!” “Like I said, bullshit. Archeology is playing with bones and creating fantasies based on their imagination.” “It’s the best we got to find out about extinct species!” “You have a literal time travel spell!” “That’s banned for obvious reasons!” Sixes cut in between the two females. (And here I thought, I didn’t get along with Twilight.) “So, summarize, Levants are huge creatures that hunted dragons, and are now extinct, right?” “In summary, yes, but answer me this, Sixes, how old do these bones appear to you? They’re awfully intact, right?” Twilight hinted, earning no favor from the siblings who were unreciprocated to her attempts to teach them. “Fine, look how well preserved they are! Sure, the remains are down here in a sealed ruin, but there’s little cracking or breakage in the bones. I think this creature died in the last century. I’d have to take a sample to be sure, but the species might still be alive! It could have offspring for all we know!” Essex became very serious. “Slow down, Twilight, how long do you think these things can live for?” The unicorn could only shrug, “About as long as dragons can? Hundreds of years, thousands of years might be nothing to it.” “But they’re extinct.” “We believe them to be, but there is a theory that Levants might have adapted a long hibernation cycle. If you look at this way, they could very well be sleeping in remote places like this temple. Kira can something similar, right?” Sixes looked at his sister regretfully, “She does have a point. Dragons are known to sleep for a hundred years easily. Whose to say other creatures can’t? That said, we need to stay on task, Twilight. You got some kind of sonar or radar spell?” The young mage nodded, “I know one. Its range is limited, but this chamber doesn’t look that big. Give me a second.” Twilight closed her eyes, searching her vast mind for the niche spell she looked up many moons ago. “Ok, do this and that and Quaerere!” A flash of misty purple exploded from Twilight’s horn, spreading like a morning mist across the chamber. Eyes wide and ears twitching, the young unicorn felt her brain muscles flex as every bit of information of the surrounding area was force-fed into her head. “Wow, this is very detailed, ugh I’m getting a headache,” Twilight complained, pressing a hoof against her skull, her left eye twitching violently. “Agh… something is alive … over that way.” She pointed straight ahead. “Thanks, let go!” Essex shouted, running off. “Wait, I!” “Good job, Twilight.” Sixes patted her neck, massaging the base of her skull to ease her headache. “Thanks, but there’s, ugh… this is worst than that week-long reading marathon I did!” Ahead of Twilight and Sixes, Essex darted through the piles of treasure and bones, desperate to find the young dragoness. Her heart pounding with hope and fear. “OBARA!” Essex screamed into the darkness, her eyes shining. “It’s Auntie! Auntie Essex! Can you hear me!” Catching a leg on some piece of treasure, Essex spread her wings and soared over the ground, darting her head side to side in search of Obara. “How big is this place? It’s like the fucking catacombs under Canterlot!” Feeling a breeze on her neck, Essex turned towards the source, her eyes catching a faint light. Perhaps the same one she saw before. Immediately Essex veered towards it. Performing a speed boasting maneuver, a sharp crack filled the vast room as she propelled at neck-breaking speeds. Without her goggles, her eyes began tearing up, blurring the light she saw. Closing them tightly to get the moisture out, Essex opened her eyes and saw a silhouette against the light. “OBARA!” Closing her wings, Essex hit the floor, digging her claws deep to slow her speed. Instead of stopping, Essex rolled with the momentum, running into the green cast light. The wall of the chamber loomed before her, a grand bazaar burning with an eerie green light, before a splendid throne. At the base of small stairs sat a chest, and propped up beside said chest was a petite green dragon, adorned in armor. As the Dragon’s helmet was removed, Essex didn’t need to second guess her eyes. This was Obara. Apparently sleeping soundly. The shallow rising of her chest was she needed to see to feel relieved. “You’re gonna make my heart give out before your mothers, you little shite.” Essex drawled. Relieved to see the dragoness. “I see you haven’t grown much over the…” Her words died on her tongue when Essex felt something wet on her boot. Lifting the stained boot into the light, she was squeamish, dreading the familiar sticky texture and iron scent. With the bazaar inadequate for light, Essex spat glops of red magma to better light the area. In the brighter orange hue, she got a better look at Obara’s pale complexion and her lack of a left arm. “OBARA!” Essex rifled through her saddlebags, pulling bandages and glaze out with abandon. Hastily she wrapped a tourniquet around the young Dragon’s arm to apply pressure and stem the bleeding. Quickly followed by cleaning and dressing the wound. If that was all that was wrong with the dragoness, it was bad enough, but there were many more wounds to see to. “Oh, come on, my little hatchling. Stay with me!” Obara began to moan, her eyes fluttering open. Weakly she caressed Essex’s cheek. “Auntie?” She meekly mewed with the strength of a newborn kitten. “Aye, tis me, my little bonny. Just ye hold still, Auntie Es, is gonna fix, yer up!” Essex slipped into Clydesdale, unable to keep up her Avalonia, with her worry and focus on Obara. Once Obara’s arm was tended to, Essex began working on the other wounds. “This might sting a bit, but bear with me, lass.” With an alcohol dowsed cloth and a needle and thread at the ready. Essex cleaned the most extensive wound, brushing off the bits of crusted blood. “I’ll get you stitched up, here right quick, don’t worry now.” “Auntie…” “Hush, child, time for that later.” “Essex,” Sixes sharp voice cut through the air like a sword. Essex’s ears twitched, but her claws did not stop working. “What is it?” She sharply replied. “There’s something else here!” Twilight blurted in a panic. “And it’s big!” The entire room seemed to shake, a deep rumbling passed beneath them. Bricks popped out of the floor. “Fuck grab her and go!” Sixes switched to bipedal, hosting Obara onto Essex’s back. “Go, go, go!” He spurred. Essex taking flight, Sixes grabbed Twilight by the waist and carried her. A massive scaley blur broke through the floor and slammed into the ceiling. The creature roared in anger, rearing it’s giant skull-like head back and bellowing at them—a bright green light shining from its mouth. “Ah! It’s a young Levant!” “Not the time, Twilight!” He growled as the Levant gave chase. It was much smaller than its skeleton parent, but its body seemed equally endless as it kept stretching and stretching, its massive jaws snapping at them, quickly gaining on them! “Essex! Flame boast!” “Got it!” Both rinin did a quick spin, fire exploding behind them, rocketing them forward. The Levant matched their speed quickly, opening its mouth wide for the kill. “Break!” Ordered Sixes, he and Essex turned in opposite directions, the Levant slamming into the wall. Chunks of stone fell, burying the monster and revealing the staircase to the upper level. “Lava!” Dropping their cargo on the demolished staircase, the Rinin siblings inhaled in sync, their chests ballooning with red hot magma pulsing beneath their skin. As one, they spewed hot molten rock on the rubble atop the Levant. Slabs of hardened lava rock quickly formed, welding the debris into one colossal cluster. “That should slow him down,” Essex said confidently. Suddenly a far-off pillar exploded, then another and another, a blur tore up the floor like a cable being pulled out of the ground. “What’s that?” “It’s tail.” Sixes answered, pulling his sister to the upper floor. Like a whip, the Levant’s tail cracked, ripping stone-free and launching debris everywhere. “How big is this thing!” Essex screamed as she and Sixes flew to the upper floor. They didn’t get much of a reprieve as the floor cracked beneath them. The loud ear flinching sound of stone being ground had them folding their ears against their scalps. The massive head of the Levant burst through the staircase. Bits of molten stone dribbling down the monster's body. It swayed side to side as if trying to decide which one it wanted to eat first. “Auntie!” Obara came flying from the shadows. Her left arm glowing with an elaborate pattern of green energy. “Gearr!” With the shout of a word of power, a glowing emerald sword materialized in Obara’s claw. She hacked at the creatures offending fangs with a great roar, seemingly trying to get inside the monster’s maul. “Oh, of the love of luna!” Essex rushed into the air, snatching Obara, and hung from the ceiling with her claws. “Are you trying to die!” “The Bloodstone!” Was Obara’s reply, pointing to the flashing green light in the Levant’s teeth. “I need it!” “We can’t always have what we want, honey.” Essex retorted, putting Obara in a chokehold. The dragoness going limb in her embrace. “Twilight!” “Yes, ma’am!” “I’m getting Obara out of here. You back up, Sixes!” “Understood!” Drawing her quarterstaff, Twilight gave it a twirl as it lit up with many runes. A specific series of runes light up, causing the magic around Twilight’s horn to swirl faster. “Focus, +20!” Complicated magical formulas breezed through Twilight’s mind, four magic arrays appeared behind her, pieces of rubble were dragged into the circled, compressed, and then released. “Railgun!” Four blasts of super-condensed matter peppered the Levant; it hollowed and screamed, its flesh burning from the superheated stone. Twilight’s attack wasn’t over, though; she created another set of magic arrays on either side of the monster. Black spheres appearing in both, mini black voids, each trying to suck the Levant in. This attack should have torn the creature to ribbons. Yet the Levant seemed unperturbed by the incredible force of gravity pulling at its body. “How can it withstand this much force! This is impossible!” Twilight stained scream revibrated through the air, her horn sparking like fireworks as her spell collapsed. With a pain-filled roar, Twilight ran blindly as the Levant bodyslammed the floor, nearly squishing her. “Over here!” Twilight was pulled to safety by Sixes, who dosed her burning horn with water. “Did any of those college seminars tell you to kill this thing?” “Starvation?” “I doubt we have the time for that. Besides, this thing is a lot smarter then I gave it credit for.” Sixes commented as he hopped from pillar to pillar, avoiding the Levant’s headbutts. “How so? It doesn’t seem that smart.” The Levant missed for the fifth time, smashing its head into the wall, which was pure mountain granite, the force of the blow was strong enough to collapse several pony-made structures. Yet the bone covered skull of the Levant seemed undamaged. “I mean, look at it.” “It’s not stupid, it’s inexperienced. It’s never had to work this hard for its prey before, so it doesn’t know what works yet. Now pop quiz time, why was Obara still alive when we found her?” “Was it waiting to see if others would come to find her? Or did that blazer keep Obara safe somehow? Even if it was waiting to see if others were coming for Obara, it didn’t need to stave off eating her.” Twilight’s mind was working hard, putting the pieces together. As they zoomed past the creature, she got a good look at its eyes. “I see.” Waving her horn, Twilight created fire, as bright as she could make it. When Sixes clamped his feet to the wall, he held his position. The Levant was staring right at them, but it didn’t move. In fact, it looked to be in pain, blinking rapidly before squeezing its eyes tight. “It’s adapted to near dark conditions, it can’t handle bright lights!” Twilight exclaimed. Sixes covered her mouth. The Levant looked towards them but shunned away from the light once more. “It can still hear us,” Sixes whispered with a growl. “That said, this gives us options.” “Like what?” “Well, it probably won’t leave this place, so we could more than likely just leave it be. The problem is we’d just have to deal with it later or somepony or Dragon will. There’s no way it’s getting enough food down here. It’ll brave to the outside someday in the feature. When it does, it’ll have to adapt to seeing the sun or just hunt at night. The only problem with leaving it for later is that it’ll be a lot bigger and smarter. Who knows how many lives it could take.” “Who says we have to take care of it? This is dragon territory after all.” Sixes’ lips curled into a smirk. “Gotta love loopholes. Can you teleport out?” “Probably, I got a good look at the entrance, so I should be able to get there, at least.” “Alright, go give them a warning. I’ll lead it to the surface.” “Roger that!” Twilight let the light die, vanishing in a shower of sparks. Leaving Sixes alone with the now unencumbered Levant. He bared his teeth, his body pulsing with power as gold veins appeared along the surface of his skin. An intricate glowing pattern lit up his horns as molten gold spilled out between his teeth. Sixes rose to bipedal, already crafting weapons for his use. The Levant, seemingly sensing a threat, reacted warily, bobbing its head for an angle of attack. Two bright golden spears materialized in Sixes’ claws. “Alright, ugly, come to me!” “Obara!” Aerwyna screamed in a panic when she saw the state of her daughter. “Oh, my poor baby! What did this to you!” That concerted tone quickly switched to a much darker, enraged one, that promised retribution. “I’m fine, mother,” Obara muttered, more embarrassed about her injury then upset. “Some stupid beast got the better of me is all. Sorry.” The Dragon Queen’s expression softened once more, taking her daughter into her palm. “Oh, my little one. No amount of pride is worth risking you for.” The queen looked to Essex. “Thank you, my friend, for bringing back my daughter, mostly whole.” Essex bowed, “I only wish I could do more. Well, I can’t, but I have some friends that could make a prosthetic for Obara. That will have to wait, though. The creature that took Obara’s arm is still at large. It’s called a Levant if that means anything to you.” Oberon swaggered forward, his grip tight on his scepter. “I have heard the legends. Are you certain?” Essex shook her head, “I wouldn’t know, but Twilight seemed sure about it. As much as she annoys me, she’s is smart.” The mountain began to shake beneath their feet. Slabs of the temple crumble, tumbling down the steep into the misty abyss below. The signature flash of teleportation drew everyone's eyes, Twilight appearing at the top of the temple stairs. “Everyone! Sixes is luring the Levant to the surface! Get ready!” Streaks of golden light exploded from within the temple, completely demolishing the last of its structural stability. With an eep! Twilight teleported to the others as Sixes came flying out of the dust cloud, the Levant hot on his heels. A shining spear in his claws, arching back, the spear became a flash of light that smashed into the Levant, making it recoil but left little noticeable injury. “Try this then!” Spitting a glob of gold into his claw, Sixes levitated three spheres of equal size with his horns, molding them into three elaborately carved spears engraved with various runes. “Spears of Solaris (Semi-Perfect.) Rifling!” The spears began to spin at a high RPM, Something he could never have done before his horns sprouted. He fired the harpoons rapidly with a snarl, each one a spiraling streak of light against the evening sky like shooting stars. The spears' extra spin, combined with the ability to magically catapult them with ballista like force, gave the attacks a lot more firepower. Each blow had the levant recoiling, rearing back in pain as they drilled into its bone-like skin. Huge flashes of energy illuminated the darkening sky as the spears exploded into massive clouds of destruction. From within the smoke, the Levant moaned, it’s head lumbering out of the black cloud sported three deep holes, yet no blood flowed from the wounds. Shaking its head, the Levant snapped blindly at Sixes, it’s eyes unable to handle the glare of the setting sun. “We gotta take it out before nightfall! Hurry!” Bellowed Sixes crafting a very long length of chain. He snagged the hook on the monster nostril and crafted strength accessories to keep the monster from looking away from the sun. (I lost track of time! I didn’t think we were down there that long!) “Twilight! Essex! Anytime!” “Right on it!” Essex appeared feral, her hair waving wildly as orange cracks spread across her body. Spitting lava, she formed a twisted set of lava rock nails on her claws. Sinister energy wafted from the crude creations. Flying at the Levant's exposed body, Essex raked her black talons across the creature's scales. Screaming, “Peele’s curse!” Leaving deep lacerations on the harden plates, and from those rifts, impossible amounts of lava spewed forth like a geyser. “Don’t forget about me!” Twilight stepped forth, creating a single complex magical array. The array gathers loose debris, compressing and then firing them rapid-fire. Not much different than a rapid-fire Gem blaster. Each shot makes the monster bellow but leaves littles results. After creating another stream of lava that was now pouring down the Levant and onto the mountain, Essex screamed. “Don’t you know any bigger spells!” Twilight’s reply was, “I do, but I can only do them once a day! This more cost-effective!” “It’s ineffective is what it is!” The female rinin retorted as a few of Twilight’s shots skimmed past her. “Watch, were you aiming!” “Stay focused!” Sixes rebuked the two of them, tugging hard on his chain. The Levant followed his lead, opening its mouth wide. His muscles bulging with veins, Sixes spared a glance at the Dragonlord, who had yet to enter the fight for reasons unknown. His mate was protectively cradling Obara, with Puck standing defensively in front of the mother and child, yet none of them seemed eager to jump into the fray yet. “Maybe they need some more motivation.” Crafting a second chain, Sixes whipped at the shining green light in the creature's mouth. Luckily, he hooked what he wanted and pulled glowing stone and something else from between the monster's massive teeth. The stone and the other item landed before the dragons, making the lot of them recoil at the sight of Obara’s severed arm covered in slime, bones jutting out, and clearly unattachable. There was no telling what kind of bacteria was living on the thing now. The muscles already rotting. Oberon’s grip on his mighty staff tightened, his eyes glowing a sinister dark green. Perhaps it was the Levant's legend that stalled him; maybe he didn’t believe this creature was the thing that hurt his child. Or that since the ponies had enraged the beast, it was their problem, not his. Whatever his thoughts had been, no longer mattered. He rosed to his full height, still only a fraction of the creature, yet he did not care. Raising his staff, he let loose a loud and terrifying roar. A bright emerald pillar shooting into the sky. “HEED THY CALL OF YOUR LORD! TO ME!” Oberon’s voice shook the air and sky, spreading across the land. The response was a chorus of roars. Dragons of every shade of blue and green and all in between took the sky. This was not like the Equestrian horde, made up of young teenagers and adults. These were all full-grown adults. Many of them were scared of previous battles, only making them look much more dangerous. Twenty in all heeded the call. “Dragons of Clydesdale! Attack!” Oberon’s chest ballooned, glowing with green, from his mouth come not fire, but plasma. The combination of wind and lightning shattered the Levant’s scales, ripping them free from the flesh. Sixes let go of his chain, “Essex, get out of there!” He barked, swooping down to drag his sister away as the other dragons took their shots. Each one unleashing similar attack as their lord, green heat beams blasted the young Levant, searing its body like a steak. Smoking hot scales rained down, exposed roasted flesh smoked, and burned in the chilling air. Nightfall was close, and the Levant would soon have its vision. Even now, it peaked out to view its many enemies. If it had been older and more experienced, it would have realized it was in a dangerous position. It would have dove back underground to recover. But it was young, it was confident, and it was hungry. It had burned much energy merely moving to the surface of its nest. It knew that even though a part of it was telling it to retreat, it knew it would never have a chance to feast like this again. So the Levant roared, blue veins appearing along its serpent body, a bluish-white light gathering in its mouth. The Dragons surrounding it rained hot plasma on it, burning it, disintegrating its flesh, but even that wasn’t enough to be fatal. It let out a challenging roar, ready to unleash death upon its prey and feast! When the most enormous Dragon, the Dragonlord, came into his sight, its scepter raised high. “Begone, foul beast!” Oberon thrust with his staff, unleashing a concentrated beam of magic that shot the blue building energy back down the monster's throat. Green began to overtake the blue, the monsters veins bursting into geysers of blood the ignited with the air. The Levant let out one last definite cry before slumping forward to the ground. The life leaving its eyes. Oberon raised his staff, declaring victory for his kind. After the battle, Dragonlord Oberon declared a hearty feast of the slain creature. Its remains were to be given to all dragons within his realm. There were vast amounts of it to go around, but the ones to partake in the battle got first dibs on their choice of cuts. In the canyon were the bulk of the Clydesdale dragons made their nests, a great fire ragged as more culinary gifted of the species salted and seasoned the meat over the great fires. The young dragons were charged with cutting smaller pieces to be sorted in the mountains' chilly depths for lather. From atop Oberon’s nest, he and his guest partook in the feast as well. Though they did so privately, deep within the multi-chamber burrow. “Twilight, you're rude.” Essex chides like a mother. “I’m a pony.” “Oh, don’t use that old excuse!” “Meat is not part of my diet! I don’t have the teeth for it!” The unicorn emphasized by showing off her blunt teeth. Essex shrugged off her protests and counter with, “Then use that morph whatever spell, turn into a rinin or even a dragon.” She said, well tearing into a huge (for her) piece of skewered Levant—the juice dripping down her chin. “Oh gods, this is delicious! Why can’t we have this at home?” “Because it’s freaking me out!” Twilight shouted, watching with a churning stomach as once-living flesh as torn between the rinin’s canines. “It’s regrettable,” Was Sixes’ input, indulging in the rare treat of meat. “Tastes even better after not eating it for a while.” “I know, right? Maybe we can jerky some of it? Take it home, and just hide it or even better, we could invite everypony out here! You wouldn’t mind, would you, Oberon?” “Of course not my friend. There is plenty to go around.” Oberon said softly. His gaze fixed on his daughter and what was missing. “Will your friend… Platinum, be able to give my daughter a new arm? Truly?” “You have my word! Platinum as three legs of metal herself.” “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves now, but I’m fairly confident she can do it myself.” Sixes added. “She already has experience making mechanical claws, so I think it will be relatively simple for her. That is all for later. Let us get to the main topic. Namely, this.” With a clatter, Sixes dropped the stone Obara had risked her life to get in the center of the group. It green and shined with a pulsing energy that he knew well. It was an Alicorn Amulet, though Obara insisted it was a bloodstone. “That’s mine!” Obara declared, only to be shooshed by her mother. “We already have the Green and Emerald Amulet, so what do we call this one?” He asked passively, not really looking for an answer, but “How about Mint?” came up, Essex, the one to suggest it. Though he was having a hard time telling if she was serious. “Good enough, if you don’t mind, Lord Oberon, we’d like to take this with us. I also have a few questions for your daughter in regards to her abilities.” Sixes regarded Obara with keen interest, most notably, her tattoos. “Are you a rune user as well?” In the well-lit cave, Obara was clearly defined for the first time since their meeting. She was similar in stature to Equestria’s Dragonlord Torch’s daughter Ember. Obara perhaps slightly taller and featuring a green color scheme. An intricate whirl pattern traveled the entire length of her arm, with designs on her legs as well, each one a rune. “That’s Secare and Obstructionum? Correct?” Sixes inquired, earning a surprised and eager look from the dragoness. “You know of them? Awesome! But I use the Clydesdale version, Gearr, and Bloc. Though I suppose all languages share some roots.” She smiled graciously when examining her missing arm. “I guess I overestimated the force of that things jaw. I saw it coming and tried to block it, and it swallowed everything, shield and all.” “What are you two talking about?” Cried, Essex. She never got the hang of runes or the principles behind them. It was all over her head, really. Curses, though, those were her jam. They were simple and easy to use. There were adverse effects, but if you knew how to exploit loopholes, they weren’t a big deal. “Well, by inscribing a word of power, one can…” “The grade school version, Twilight. I didn’t exactly go to magic college or school for that matter.” Essex interrupted the incoming lecture. “Oh, ok, umm…” Sixes sighed, annoyed, “Just show them if you can.” “Gladly,” Obara grinned, stretching out her right arm. “Gearr!” A transparent sword of green energy formed in her palm. “It’s only good for one hit, but you’d be surprised how many dragons fall for it.” “So, it’s a spell that makes a magic sword? Is that all?” Essex muttered between bites of meat. “How are those stitches holding up?” “They’re fine, Auntie, don’t worry so much,” Obara nonchalantly brushed off Essex’s worries about her thread and needle skills. Besides her arm, Obara sported many other injuries that required the most advanced healing spell Twilight knew; even then, it still took something physical to keep the Dragon together. “For a non-unicorn and non-pony, that’s really impressive,” Twilight interjected about the runes. Her offered meal still untouched. “Most ponies can’t even manage that, even after Magic College.” “I feel like she’s looking down on me, does anyone mind if I cut her head off?” Obara bared her teeth at the unicorn, her Gearr, still materialized. “You pompous ponies always seem to think the world revolves around you, that ticks me off! You know? If even ten percent of the dragon population was more intelligent or more ambitious, you’d find a cave and stay in it.” “Well, maybe dragons aren’t as mighty as we believe!” Twilight barked back, horns flaring. Only to get a forehead flick from Essex. “When did you get so high and mighty? You couldn’t scratch the Levant and your sitting across from the Dragon that killed it. Sorry, Oberon, she’s smart but dense.” “HEY!” Oberon merely chuckled, sipping wine from his skull cup. “Ponies have their strengths; if I were a more self-conscious dragon, I would kill you know before you became a true threat, young Twilight.” Essex elbowed Twilight in the ribs, “Oh, look at that lassie! That’s high praise from Oberon, for sure!” “Um… thanks… I guess.” Twilight levitated her wine, grimacing at her skull cup. “Don’t worry; it’s not a pony,” Aerwyna assured her. “Right…” She drowned her drink in one go. “Uh, this tastes… good. Did you make this?” “It was a tribute from one of the pony villages. I much prefer their whiskey.” Oberon said, slugging down a barrel of the stuff in one go. A chant of ‘Drink, Drink, Drink!’ filled the chamber. No creatures’ cup was ever empty. For those of lower tolerances, the effects were beginning to set in. Twilight was sloshed on the floor, Sixes was a bit flush, entertaining Obara with his knowledge of runes. Oberon, Puck, and Aerywna watched their guests with amusement, wondering how much longer they would last. The only one keeping pace with the dragons was Essex, who took a moment to reflect, staring at her visage in her drink. “It’s like old times, isn’t.” She uttered softly, her heart yearning for Lucky Shamrock. Unfortunately, the good times must come to an end. “Aerwyna, Puck.” “We understand.” The Dragon Queen and the lord’s brother moved to the front of the cave, guarding the entrance. Oberon picked up the stone his daughter had risked her life for and held to the Emerald bloodstone in his scepter. The two gems resonating with each other. “This Mint Amulet, as you call it, is remarkably similar to my bloodstone. With it, my daughter could forge another scepter. Thus doubling our power in an instant.” Oberon looked sadly at the stone. “I don’t understand how such a powerful item has gone unnoticed in my own territory nor how my daughter knew of it. As for you taking it, I will entrust it to you, Essex.” “Me?” She gawked. “You’re not going to keep it for yourself? Give it to Aerwyna or just let Obara have it?” “Father!” “My daughter doesn’t understand the delicate balance of our world. Each region's Dragonlord has such a thing in their claws. Most use it to determine leadership and boost their power. As of now, we are all roughly equal. To upset that balance would ignite a war. Even with two amulets, I could not defeat the other four lords. Besides, there’s always a chance it could be used against me. I cannot condone having such a threat to my rule in reach of my rivals.” Essex nodded, accepting the Mint Amulet while looking apologetically to Obara. “We deal with these things on the regular, so we’ll take care of it. But how did you know where to find it? Or was it just by chance?” Obara puffed her cheeks and awkwardly tried to cross her arms with her stub, clearly upset by having her prize stolen from her, “There are many ruins around here. Obara could have stumbled upon it by chance, but I feel it unlikely.” Oberon said pointedly, giving his daughter a light tap with his tail. “Don’t be so upset. You brought this upon yourself, and your Aunt has generously offered to replace your missing claw. Compensation is required.” “Fine…” Obara said begrudgingly. “Good, now did you chance upon the gem, or did some dragon tell you about its location?” Oberon pressed his daughter sternly. Obara stubbornly refusing to talk. The dragonlord raised his staff. “Do not force me to compel you.” “I promised not to tell! But it wasn’t a dragon.” Essex joined in on the interrogation. “Was it a pony then? Or perhaps a griffon?” Obara struggled to keep her lips closed, refusing to meet either Essex or Oberon's eyes. The pressure mounting. “It wasn’t a griffon.” “So, it’s a pony?” “She was pony like I guess,” Obara admitted. “A half breed.” That got the two rinin’s attention. “Define half-breed.” Obara tilted her head, “I suppose she was more pony like. She was kind of like you, Auntie. Kind of pony, kind of Dragon. A half breed, I guess.” “What was her name?” Essex demanded, grabbing Obara by the shoulders. “What’s her name?” “Well, she was pale, like white, and wore Nippon clothes, I think her name was some kind of drink?” “Sake.” “Yeah, that was it! Sake was her name.” “No,” Sixes said sharply, pointing ahead to the entrance. “Sake’s right over there.” Everyone turned, following the point of Sixes’ claw. Sure enough, the rogue Princess of Nippon was standing in the archway behind Puck, who bewilderedly looked from the new arrival to the entrance. “I didn’t let her in.” There were many questions on every creature’s mind, but Essex was the first to blurt out. “What the hell are you doing here?” Sake, garbed in some sort of traveler’s grab, stood up straight. Perhaps to look essential or confident. Sixes didn’t know. What he did know is despite her look of confidence, there was fear in her eyes. Was she afraid of him? Of them? Hard to say. “Sake, why are you here?” He tried more gently. The Rogue princess licked her lips nervously. “I need your help.” From her saddlebag, she pulled a scroll. Showing off the infinity symbol sealing it. The seal was unbroken. It was addressed to Sixes. “Take it. Please.” Sixes took the scroll, breaking the wax seal. There was nothing written inside. Instead, there was a scrap of a newspaper. The date was not today nor tomorrow. It was three days from now—another of Dusk’s little hints. “What does it say?” Twilight asked, leaning over Sixes’ shoulder. “No… that’s… impossible.” The headline of the date yet to happen read: PRINCESS CELESTIA OF EQUESTRIA ASSASSINATED! THE WORLD DESCENDS INTO TOTAL WAR! “How does this happen? How do we stop it?” Twilight asked in a panic. Sixes had to physically restrain her, or else she would have probably run off blindly. He slipped an anti-magic ring on her horn, just in case. “Calm down for a second, Twilight.” Sixes barked, pinching her neck. She winced as he forced her to the ground. “Just take a breath and think clearly. Your better and smarter than this.” After the seventh exhale, Twilight’s breathing had returned to a regular rhythm. “I’m ok.” “Sure,” Was Sixes’ reply. “There’s no article. Only the headline.” And a tasteless picture. What did the press think would happen, posting a photo like this? The image below the headline was of Celestia on the ground, dead, from what seemed like a slash wound. Her white coat so stained with her blood he couldn’t make out the injury. Sake shook her head. “I have nothing else to give you. Besides, too much information muddies the future. I’m not sure how likely this one is to occur, either. Only that it is significant. That is all I came here to do; I have other business to attend to.” A mirror-like accessory dangled from Sake’s neck. It was perhaps no bigger than a pocket mirror and had a rosary for a chain. When she spoke a particular word, a blue portal appeared, and she stepped through it, disappearing. As if she was never there. “That pony certainly is a mystery,” Obara commented. “Disappearing like that all the time. She did the same thing last time.” “She probably just went home is all.” He had found it weird how well-behaved Sake had been over the years. Seems she was still moonlighting as Dusk’s messenger. No real surprise there. Sixes saw no reason to make a fuss about it. Right now, at least. “Never mind her, we’re going to Freiberger.” “Can we really get there in time?” Essex asked. “I’d like to take Obara back to Evernight and get Platinum to work on that prosthetic.” “Priorities, Essex, that said, flying under our own power, we won’t make it in time. And it’s too far a distance to teleport. I’m sure we couldn’t just pop in anyway. The peace summit will have anti-magic measures in place.” Sixes looked up at the towering Dragonlord. “Could we trouble you for one last favor?” “I cannot enter pony lands so brazenly. I would only cause panic. Equestria was the exception.” Oberon pointed out. Stroking his chin, looking at Obara. “However, I would be inclined to agree under certain conditions. Though the best I could do is take you across the channel to the borders of Prance.” “I’m sure you still owe us a favor.” Sixes knew what the Dragonlord was implying, wanting none of it. “Ah, but it was I who slew the Levant that you purposely lured out. I’m willing to overlook you endangering my subjects by making us fight that beast with little notice. It’s not that much trouble, surely.” The two leaders eyed each other in a battle of wills. After a minute, Sixes relented with a “Fine. I guess we're already babysitting one tagalong.”