Dragon Eye

by Zubric

Prologue

In a cavern system hidden beneath Equestria a group of ponies had broken into an argument about their secret project. A muscular blue unicorn turned away from his workshop station slamming his hoof down upon the large table that took up the center of their hideout. Several gemstones clattered to the floor as the table rattled. "The longer we sit here arguing the more likely it is that Discord will find us. I can control the device no matter what guardian says." He said angrily his eyes fixed on a tunnel at the far end of the room.
An Earth Pony at the far end spoke up "Mars, Guardian said dragon eye wasn't ready to be used yet, something about a lack of surge protection."
Mars reached towards his neck grabbing a golden necklace. "Then why in the world would I need this then. Isn't this supposed to channel everything?" As he moved the necklace around light from the cave's torchlight shimmered off its surface.
A unicorn who stood behind Mars reached for a series of papers. After a bit of shuffling he spoke "We've speculated that even with the necklaces buffer the users magic would still be at risk."
Mars turned around glaring straight into the eyes of the scientist "You recruited me because I have the ability to channel more magic then others you have found." His hoof gestured toward the far tunnel "So why in the wild world of Equestria do we trust a dragon with the master key of the darn thing. I mean how does a dragon control unicorn magic anyway?"
The scientist back away as he replied "Without him we wouldn't have the focusing crystal and from what he's told me he says he can use the key to channel it for him like a horn. I still don't get how that will work."
Mars looked about the room "Oh yeah give almost unlimited power to a dragon nothing could go wrong."
"It's not like that; we need both of you to make this plan work." The earth pony replied.
Mars looked at the earth pony annoyed, "Of course I'd hear that from an earth pony. What do earth ponies know about magic anyway?"
The earth pony approached Mars and shot his hoof into the air "You unicorns are all the same. Do you think I would even be here if I didn't?"
Mars shook his head his anger building by the second "Regardless, I don't trust..."
Their bickering was quickly interrupted as the cavern around them shook. The trio quickly climbed into the table as pieces of equipment started toppling over.
"Earthquake!!" the earth pony said as he tried to stay upright.
"No look" Mars said as he pointed down the far tunnel. A series of bright red and blue lightning bolts shot forth from the opening as the shaking continued. "It's Guardian he's betrayed us. I told you this would happen!!"
The trio scrambled to their hooves as they charged down the tunnel toward the device chamber dodging several bolts as they snaked along the cave floor. As they reached the chamber, they were met with what could only be described as a multicoloured lighting storm.
Standing in the middle of the storm of light was a teenage sized dragon. A bracelet on his right arm glowed with such intensity that from a far it looked like a mini sun. His black and purple scales almost seemed to glow as lighting shot out of his body in every direction. Beside him lay a large pyramid shaped device. On top of the pyramid sat a large red crystal which glowed as bright as the dragon's bracelet. The blue gemstones that run down the sides of the device also shimmered shooting out bolts of energy toward him.
The group's progress into the chamber was halted as intensity of the lighting made it nearly impossible to pass. Mars could only watch as the dragon squirmed about as the energy continued to rage around him.
"Guardian you traitor you said you were on our side." Mars shouted his voice just barely audible through the roar of thunder around him.
The dragon looked up his eyes shining bright red "Stand back." Guardian's movements seemed to be random as his limbs waved in the air "You shall not have me you monster." He shouted to no one in particular
Mars dodge a strike of lighting as he shouted back "I knew you would do something like this, you dragons and your greed couldn't resist could you."
Guardian fell to his knees as he grabbed his right arm. "No, it's not like that...you got to get out of here..." His body continued to thrash about never stepping away dragon eye.
Mars's adrenalin raced "Why so you can take horde the power for yourself." He said as he tried to proceed forward only to be knocked back as a bolt exploded the ground in front of him. Mars vision blurred for a second as he clambered back to his feet. His vision cleared just in time to see the pyramid light up an inferno.
"You shall not have me." Guardian shouted as him and the device became surrounded by a dome of blue and red energy. The dome warped as the two coloured mixed into a vibrant purple. The entire chamber became illuminated in purple.
Mars made his move as the dome dispersed the storm of lighting. His horn lit up as he charged forward with all his might. All the while the dome became brighter and brighter. Like a battering ram Mars slammed his horn into the barrier. The dome exploded in a flurry of light, a loud thunderclap following in its wake.
The other ponies who had watched the entire ordeal from the entrance looked back into the chamber. Dragon eye was now gone the only remnant was a black scotch pattern showing where it had once been. Mars had disappeared as well leaving only Guardian lying in the center of the chamber. The two began to enter the chamber to help Guardian but suddenly stopped when they heard the main chamber door burst open.
The two ran up the tunnel and where terrified at what they saw, before them stood the god of chaos himself. Discord laugh as he spoke "So this is where you have been hiding all this time. I must say your noise maker sure lead me right to you. Now it's time for chaos."
Discord snapped his fingers as a dog whistle appear in his paw. With a single blow, groups of large dogs made of pure shadow emerge from the walls. The ponies attempt to flee were soon proved futile as the beasts jumped on them absorbing them and taking them away to who knows where. Discord stood for a moment laughing at his chaos. Noticing the several scorch marks along the tunnel pathway he decided to check it out.
Guardian felt drained as every muscle in his body screamed at him to just pass out, but he knew that if he passed out now Discord would have his way with him or worse find out what power his bracelet had. HIs vision was unfocused but he could see clear enough to see Discord approaching him from the chamber entrance. With his last bit of strength he had he channel the aura of the world around him into a spell.
Discord rubbed his hands together "Well been a while since I had a dragon puppet to play with, hahaha." He cackled slowly approaching enjoying every second. Without warning, his prey began to glow. He watched as the dragon's form transformed into energy and warped toward the bracelet on his arm. Before discord could even blink, the bracelet disappeared. Discord merely stared onward "Well whatever puppets were so three weeks ago anyway."
While the bracelet had managed to teleport itself away, Guardian's weakened state had caused a side effect. The bracelet hurled through the void until it ended up in totally different world from which it came. Now rendered dormant it was nothing more than a shiny trinket.

Mars opened his eyes to find his surrounding had completely changed. Looking around he could see he was in the middle of a large forest. He shook as his body tingled with an unknown sensation. His hooves gave off tiny sparks of light for a few seconds and faded. His body filled with rage as he screamed into the sky "Even if it takes me forever I will find Dragon Eye. Count on it Guardian!" Now determined in his goal he turned around and walked further into the thicket. As he did, his necklace pulsed with a low yellow light matching his own magic aura.