As soon as our cave was unsealed, I ran to check on our egg.
"I told you, it's fine," Ember said as she helped Smolder to the bed. "It's an egg. It can't exactly run off or get into anything."
"Yeah, well, I guess I'm just a better parent than you," I said, turning my nose up in mock indignation.
We had only spent another two days in Canterlot after Smolder woke up. After the doctors said Smolder was free to go, Celestia arranged for a chariot to fly us home.
She also gave us a magic crystal that we could use to contact each other, which Celestia said she would use to contact us as soon as Garble was awake.
We considered letting Smolder stay in Canterlot, but she would have just spent all her time moping and being miserable. Surprisingly, it didn't take quite as much convincing to get her to leave as I thought it would.
I think the cooling weather played a role in that. Dragons don't exactly like the cold.
"So, what's winter like around here?" I asked.
"On the mountain? Pretty much the same as summer. The magma keeps everything warm," Ember said. "The forest, though, stays white almost the whole time."
I shuddered, sitting down on the bed, holding my egg close. "That part, I'm aware of. I don't know about you, but I'm not planning on going anywhere near the forest until color returns."
Smolder put a claw on my shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. You're with us, now. You don't have to face the cold."
"Was it really that bad?" Ember asked.
"Every day, I was certain, was going to be my last. Every morning I woke up, I was genuinely surprised... and not necessarily pleasantly surprised. Some days I found myself actually hoping I wouldn't."
Those memories of my time on my own in the wilderness were all unpleasant, but winter was the worst. I wasn't suicidal, but I had to struggle to maintain my will to live. It was a struggle I didn't always win, yet somehow I managed to survive, anyway.
I took a deep breath and gave the ladies a smile. "That was before, though. I don't have anything to fear, now. I have a beautiful mate, an awesome best friend, and come spring, I'll be a father. Life is looking up for me."
"Aww, I know I'm awesome," Smolder said before getting a confused look. "Wait... did you mean me or Leo?"
I grinned. "Yes."
"Knock, knock," came a familiar, aged voice.
"Come on in, Star," Ember invited the elder in.
"I thought I felt Luke's aura," Star said. "I take it the beast has been dealt with?"
I looked at Ember and gestured for her to go ahead.
Ember groaned and began. "Yeah, things are a bit more complicated than we thought.
I may not have known Star for that long, but even I knew enough about her to know she didn't really fear anything. She was at that age where not even death concerned her.
Thus, when I felt pure terror coming from her when Ember told her what Nergal did to Smolder, I found myself feeling more than a little bit afraid.
"Star, what do you know about this?" I asked. "I can tell you know something."
Star closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Yes, but not enough. Please, give me some time. I will tell you everything I know, but first I need to... consult my books."
We were silent for a moment before Ember said, "Fine, but promise us you'll tell us everything you know."
Star nodded. "I swear, I'll tell you everything as soon as I can."
And then, she left in a rush.
"She knows a lot more about what's going on than she's letting on," I said.
Ember sat at the edge of the bed. I could sense a touch of betrayal and worry as she said, "She... she wouldn't keep a secret like this without a good reason."
"Then for now, we'll assume she has a good reason. She said she'll tell us, and unless you feel we have reason to think she won't, there's no reason to dwell on it," I said. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm starving." I tried to put on a carefree face, hoping we could forget about everything for a time.
I prepared a simple meal. I didn't really have the energy to try doing anything special, so I just made a squirrel stew. Plus, we didn't have a whole lot. I was going to have to go hunting before the cold really set in. We needed enough food to last through the winter, after all.
Luckily, Ember assured me she and Smolder could survive off their gems alone until spring, so that made it a little easier. Of course, I was still going to try to get enough that they could share.
Anyway, after we ate, we all decided to turn in. We had a long week and we just wanted it to be over.
I whistled happily as I made my way back home. Not only did I have a good day foraging the day before, having found quite a few nice fruits and vegetables, but today I managed to bag a bear.
I was only going after a nice group of rabbits when the thing attacked me. Normally, I wouldn't go after something like a bear, but it managed to surprise me and I didn't have time to run.
Dragging the massive thing was no easy task, more because of its bulk than its weight, so it took me a while to get it back.
"Ember, a little help!" I called as I entered the cave.
"Allow me." Star said as she relieved me of my burden. "Quite the success. This will go a long way in keeping you fed."
"Hello, Star. I wasn't expecting to see you today," I greeted. "I'm guessing this is about Nergal."
"Not exactly," Star said. "I was awaiting your return because what I'm about to tell you is going to affect you nearly as much as it does Ember."
That got my attention. "Oh? Now I'm just curious."
"Yeah, spill already," Smolder said from her cushion in the corner. "We've been waiting for, like, four hours."
Ember chuckled. "It hasn't even been an hour."
"Well, it feels like four," Smolder insisted.
Star chuckled. "Very well." She turned toward Ember, addressing her but talking to all of us. "Your father has decided that he is to retire sooner than anticipated. The Gauntlet of Fire shall be held in three days time."
All three of us were stunned. We all knew Dragon Lord Torch was going to retire, but it was supposed to be in a couple years... Earth years, not Equestrian.
"Father's retiring already?" Ember nearly collapsed onto the floor.
"Yes," Star said. "He will be putting out the summons in about another hour or two. You may want to send a message to your Equestrian friends so they will know what is happening with Spike. The poor dear is going to be confused as well as itchy, otherwise."
"Yeah, good idea," Ember said. "Smolder, you feel like writing it?"
Smolder shrugged. "Sure."
She gestured toward the writing desk and levitated it to her, pulled out a quill, ink, and parchment and got to writing.
"You're advancing quite quickly," Star observed.
Smolder shrugged. "Well, it still hurts to move too much, so I've had to practice."
"So, do you know the form the Gauntlet of Fire will take?" Ember asked Star.
Star shook her head. "Unfortunately, no, but I have no doubt you will be victorious."
I raised an eyebrow. "Forgive me if this is a silly question, but if it's the Gauntlet of Fire, wouldn't it be a... you know, gauntlet?"
Star chuckled. "Originally, yes. However, there have been occasions where a different contest was used. My personal favorite was Dragon Lord Obsidian's 'Do something and if I like it, you win'."
Ember snorted. "Dad told me about that one. The winner actually stole the scepter not long after the contest started and replaced it with a fake. No dragon even noticed for three days. Obsidian liked his audacity so much, he declared him the winner."
"So, the name is more just a 'that's how it's always been' kinda things?" I summed up.
Ember shrugged. "Pretty much."
"Done," Smolder announced, lightly blowing the ink dry before sealing it with wax. "Here you go. I don't know how to send letters, yet."
Ember took the letter and, instead of burning it the way Spike did, it just dissolved and flew out the cave as sparkly smoke.
"Oh, I told him to send us something back if he's coming," Smolder said.
Ember just nodded. "So, Star, since you're here, are you ready to talk?"
Star gave an apologetic smile. "I would rather wait until you are Dragon Lord. When you are the new Empress, all my secrets shall be yours, secrets even your father is not privy to."
I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. "How many secrets are we talking?"
Star laughed. "I'm the oldest living thing on this planet. Even I don't know how many secrets I have. I've probably forgotten most of them."
I just sighed and shook my head. This dragon was impossible to get a read on.
"Star... exactly how versed are you in the use of aura?" I asked.
She laughed. "Oh, not very. My teacher was killed before I learned much. Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious how a dragon even learns to use aura and why. After all, magic seems so much more powerful."
She nodded, sagely. "It seems that way, yes. However, that isn't necessarily true. Magic is more versatile, by far, but it isn't always more powerful in a fight. Aura is easier to learn and more specialized for fighting than magic. That was why the paladins learned to use aura instead."
"Can any dragon learn to use aura?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No, those connected to the weave cannot use aura, and it requires one's soul to be 'awakened'. Sadly, I never learned how to do this."
There went that idea. I was hoping I could teach others.
"Hey, maybe you'll figure out how to do it," Smolder said. "Then you could teach whoever you want."
I smiled. "Perhaps, but not today."
A trail of green, sparkly smoke drifted in and coalesced into a rolled scroll before Ember. She quickly snatched it out of the air and looked it over.
"Thank you for the warning. Unfortunately, we won't be able to make it. There's just too much going, with winter starting and everything.
"Twilight wants me to ask if somedrake can take notes for her. She said she can compensate them for their time, if needed.
"Anyway, good luck and kick some tail.
Your friend, Spike."
I scratched my chin in thought as I said. "I suppose I could take the notes, but I'd have to send it to Yomega to translate. Unless you want to take the notes, Smolder?"
She snorted in amusement. "And spend the whole thing writing stuff down? No thanks."
"Well, then, I hope Yomega feels like translating," I said with a shrug. "Unless one of the others can write, too."