//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Strange Occurrences // Story: Of Fire and Death // by Puzzling Frost //------------------------------// “Ugh, what’s wrong with this thing?!” Ember roared from her royal cave. The last few days have been annoying, first the newborn dragons all suddenly starting crying without reason. While not uncommon amongst babies, for all of them to start acting up at the same time was odd. Then the lava spouts started going crazy, spewing more lava than normal causing earthquakes across the dragon lands.  “And now this thing is acting up!” Ember growled as she shook the Bloodstone Scepter in her claws. The large red gem glowed erratically and had been letting off pulses of energy at random. “This makes no sense! I’m the Dragon Lord so why isn’t this thing working!?” She roared letting out a blast of fire in rage.  “You sure you haven’t broken it?” Former Dragon Lord Torch asked.  “Yes Dad, I’m sure I didn’t break it! I’ve been following the advice of the elders, but this blasted thing keeps acting up!” Ember huffed with embarrassment. She set the thing down on the stone slab in front of her. Torch looked down at the tiny (to him) scepter closely.  “Are you sure you didn’t smash it against a wall or something?” Torch said with his arms crossed.  “I didn’t smash anything with it! I’ve treated it with the utmost care like I would with my hoard!” Ember sighed, rubbing her face. “Has this ever happened when you were Dragon Lord?” Torch paused as he stroked his chin in thought.  “In all my years as the Dragon Lord, nothing like this has happened. It is quite strange indeed.” Torch said looking back to the glowing stone. “If the stone is damaged in any way we will have a big problem. Without the Bloodstone Scepter, we cannot keep the dragons in check, and many are not fond of this ‘friendship’ direction you are taking the dragons in.” Torch groaned in worry.  “I will not have an uprising within the first decade I’ve become the Dragon Lord!” Ember stomped before angrily grabbing the scepter. “Obey me you stupid rock!” She yelled, the Bloodstone glowed before letting off another pulse of energy knocking it out of her grasp. “Gyah!” Ember yelled as she was flung from the scepter, landing in the outstretched palm of her father. “Ugh! Stupid thing!”  “Um...am I interrupting something?” Smolder said, stepping into the cave.  “Smolder? What are you doing here?” Ember said in surprise as the orange dragon walked in. “I thought Princess Star Spankle’s school was back in session? You aren’t ditching are you?”  “Um no? They’re having another pony holiday so they gave the next week off. Also, I think you mean Twilight Sparkle.” Smolder corrected.  “How many holidays do those equines have? One for every day of the year?” Troch said, rolling his eyes. “They don’t have that many former lord Torch,” Smolder said with a snicker before pausing. “At least I think they don’t. Professor Pinkie treats every day like a party so it could be either way. So what’s wrong with the Bloodstone Scepter?”  “The scepter is acting strange, it hardly follows my commands and has been glowing weirdly lately.” Ember sighed. “It lets off these pulses of energy, and I think the Dragon Lands is reacting as a result.” Just as she said that an explosion was heard from outside as a young dragon flew through the air covered in lava. “I’m okay!” The random drake shouted.  “Ahh that. I was wondering why there was more lava than usual.” Smolder said. “Have you tried asking it nicely?”  “Nicely? No Dragon Lord asks the scepter to work, they command it!” Torch roared his voice echoing through the cave.  “Dad, I told you no yelling in my cave!” Ember groaned as her ears rang.  “Oh right. Apologies daughter.” Torch said in a quieter tone.  “Ugh, well it couldn’t hurt to try?” Smolder said, shaking her head from the noise. “Professor Fluttershy says it’s the kind thing to do?”  “Fine, I guess I’ll give it a try.” Ember groaned as she walked over to the fallen scepter. Picking it up she stared at the gem in question. “Could you please follow my commands?” She asked in a strained voice. The gem glowed lightly in response, Ember flinched back waiting for another pulse. Nothing happened.  “Huh, it worked,” Smolder said as she poked her head out from a nearby stone pillar.  “What? You didn’t think it would work?!” Ember yelled angrily at the young dragoness. “And why are you hiding?!”  “Well, I don’t know how old magic artifacts work! And I didn’t want to be blasted away if it didn’t!” Smolder retorted before stepping out from her makeshift shield. “Maybe ask it why it went bonkers?”  “The Bloodstone Scepter isn’t a living creature! It’s an item to command all dragons!” Torch responded in annoyance.  “Well do you have any better ideas?” Smolder asked, crossing her arms. Torch raised a claw to answer but paused when he had none. Ember slapped a claw to her face before groaning.  “Okay, whatever, I’ll try anything at this point” Ember grumbled before looking back at the scepter. “Okay uh Bloodstone, does the recent strange events have to do with you acting up?” The stone shook before shooting out a ray of light above them. The light formed a glowing claw. The claw shifted before forming a thumbs up. “Well, that’s new,” Ember said as she and the other dragons in the room looked up in shock.  “That’s not possible?” Torch said, confused. “No record told that the scepter could do this!”  “Must be a new feature or something,” Smolder said. Torch and Ember gave her an annoyed look. “What?”  “Okay. Bloodstone are you the reason why all this has been happening?” Ember asked, the claw shifted again making a thumbs down. “I’ll take that as a no then. Great.” Ember deadpanned.  “Maybe Princess Twilight can help? She knows all about magical artifacts.” Smolder suggested.  “Well, that’s the best option we have now.” Ember groaned. “Father, can you keep the other dragons in line while I’m gone?”  “Fine, but you best hurry. There’s something strange going on and I don’t like it.” Torch said.  “Alright then, Smolder led the way,” Ember said looking back to the younger dragoness. “What? But I just got back!” Smolder whined.  “No buts, this is an order from your Dragon Lord,” Ember commanded. “Besides I wanna check in on your progress at the school while we’re there.”  “Is this because you still can’t tell the ponies apart from each other,” Smolder said with a smirk.  “Hush or I’ll make them give you more homework,” Ember said with an embarrassed look. The two waved to Torch goodbye before flying out of the cave and toward Equestria.