//------------------------------// // Chapter 22: Shattered Trust // Story: Our Little Brother, Spike // by Hope Caster //------------------------------// For the last hour, Topaz had lain waiting in silence, pondering, her rows of vials and tinctures untouched. Before her lay sprawled, on the floor of the cave, one of the various objects which a dragon would have struggled to craft by themselves, here in the sparse environment of the Dragonlands. A rubber mannequin shaped like a small drake, complete with foldable wings on its back. Topaz had carved an incision into the mannequin for today’s lesson with young Gemstone, to help her practice her sutures. Seeing the statue littered with closed gashes and sutures, she knew that she'd eventually need to replace the mannequin, and truth be told, Topaz felt faintly uneasy at the sight of even the faux wound. After everything that had happened with the ponies, the sight drudged up old memories from before Meadowbrook. She tried not to reflect too long though, they were better left in a box in the back of her head. “I’m sorry I’m late,” a voice called out. Topaz watched as Gemstone Steelspine stumbled into the cave, her eyes gone bloodshot. Red eyes might indicate rage and the thirst for violence in a dragon, and Topaz could tell just from looking that Gemstone was not in a good place right now. Certainly not a sound state of mind for a healer-in-waiting to be practicing medicine. But Topaz also knew the redness in her apprentice’s eyes, born from grief, was no sign of mere bloodlust. Although Gemstone would seek to conceal it as any dragon would, even now rubbing her eyes as if wiping sleep-dust away, there was no fooling Topaz. Gemstone had been crying. With how she looked, likely most of the night. Still she had chosen to appear today, at the appointed time for her lessons. As if all were normal. “Is there anything you need done, Master?” Gemstone asked, getting to her knees. “No,” Topaz said, keeping any emotion out of her voice. “You should go home, Gemstone. You are in no condition to work today.” “I’m fine, Master,” Gemstone assured her, again rubbing her eyes. It was obvious that she was trying to keep her tear-stained cheeks from shining in the sunlight, which poured in through the cave’s entrance. Such was a trait universal to dragons. Stubbornness. Two could play at that game, however. Topaz pushed the suturing mannequin towards Gemstone, pointing towards the large gash. “Then if you’re fine, suture this for me. Simple for someone of your talent, is it not?”  “I feel like I’m being talked down to,” muttered Gemstone. “My apologies, but I need you to show me you can do this. Just stitch that gash in the mannequin, and I won’t doubt you a moment longer.” Gemstone looked at the make-believe gash and steeled herself. She picked up a needle, and tried her best to keep her claws steady. The needle shook as she brought it close to the mannequin. The first attempt did not go deep enough. A good tug would pop the stitches, or have them tear through the mannequin’s figurative skin. Fortunately, the insert wasn’t even halfway through. She could still correct the mistake. She tried again, only this time, she sent the needle deep into the mannequin. Gemstone cursed, and pulled out the needle, thread hanging loose in the hoop. Her third attempt missed her mark completely, with the needle sent into the opposite end of the gash. Gemstone let out a cry as her claws racked across the material, which had the effect of tearing three new, large gashes. “Suturing mistakes aside,” Topaz scolded her, “if that was a real dragon, you would have just killed them.” “I know!” Gemstone snapped. She took a deep, calming breath. “I know. I just-I need to focus on something, anything, that's not Onyx.” “I know it must hurt, but you need time to mourn, Gemstone. Time to process. Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical well-being. You’re upset–” “Of course I am!” Gemstone hissed. “Torch and that damn pony princess, they let two slayers go free! Two slayers, for one sniveling coward! They all deserved to burn. Every last one of those beasts!” The rage had only been growing inside Gemstone, ever since she and her family had been allowed to face Polymath, the pony who had caused them a near-endless amount of grief. He’d told them everything he knew about the first attack. About the unknown mother, how adolescent dragons had come to save her, and how one slayer managed to escape and still roamed free after having sought to rob a mother of her child. Upon hearing such an accusation, Torch nearly sent paladins to drag Celestia before him to explain, but he'd taken a moment to think before giving such an order. To Torch, there was something odd about the story. Eventually, the Dragon Lord had talked it out with his mate. A smart move, Blaze had a good head on her shoulders.  Perhaps Topaz was imagining things, yet Torch seemed to have changed some. He was a bit wiser, not as quick to anger, a tad more open to criticism and advice. He was also growing tired, day by day, bit by bit. She wondered how long it was before he finally stepped down, and passed the scepter on to a new Lord. “Allegedly,” Topaz told her student. “It’s not a tale that holds water, Gemstone. If ever a dragon were attacked by slayers, the Dragon Lord, every dragon in existence, would have been told about it, the rescuers would never cease bragging about it, nor should they. That pony was lying to you, Gemstone.” “No,” said Gemstone. “He kept babbling the name Short Fuse. The pony Celestia took was called Air Break. There’s another slayer out there. We're expected to just let them go. Dragons at least make sure transgressors are punished.” Instantly, Topaz’s thoughts turned to Gemstone’s father. Ever since Kalamet attacked Torch, Gemstone’s father had become a divisive figure. Some saw him as just, others as a treasonous wretch. Regardless of what most thought, Flare had empathized enough with him so that Kalamet’s sentence was nothing more than a slap on the wrist. It did worry Topaz that Gemstone didn’t speak about it. Perhaps it was because the blood money they lost had come from Celestia so it wasn’t worth being upset over, perhaps it was due to most of it going to Topaz’s family instead. It was hard to argue with that decision, though. Kalamet had sought to strike his Lord, and Flare had defended his Lord. “We know for a fact that there’s one slayer,” said Topaz, hoping against hope to divert Gemstone’s train of thought. “He was let go so Celestia could deliver his employer to Torch. Anything else is conjecture. Show me the victim, show me the rescuers, anything that lends credence to the story.”  She knew Gemstone couldn't. Not that there hadn’t been a lack of trying. Torch had called every dragon between the ages of sixteen and fifty, the age when a dragon's height would range from six to eight feet. But not a single one bore signs of getting run through with a spear, nor did any claim to be victimized by dragon slayers. Every adolescent or recently turned-adult dragon had been called upon as well, yet none came forward as victims or heroes. Torch would have rewarded the rescuers handsomely if they had. Their deed would have been celebrated throughout the land, for defending a poor mother and her child. Yet despite a dragon’s love for fortune and glory, there was nobody to claim such a boon. There was nothing to substantiate the story, so it had to be false. Nothing more than a desperate lie by a stallion trying to save himself. Topaz saw anger in her apprentice’s eyes. “My father,” whispered Gemstone, two words which almost got Topaz to flinch. “My father was told by Air Break that there’d been another failed attack, it was the only reason he was let go. He had heard it from his employer. Everyone seems happy to overlook this.” “Gemstone,” Topaz said softly. “Let’s concede that this Polymath was telling the truth. So what? The victim likely thought it best to let it go. If she didn’t step forward, then, ugly as it is to say, she may even have felt too ashamed to talk. She was in Equestria, of all places. She had to have known the risks. Whatever the reason for not talking to Torch, this Polymath was the root cause. Take solace that he is dealt with.” “‘So what’?” Gemstone repeated, almost choking on her incredulity. “Two slayers are still out there! One who attacked a girl my age for her egg! The other helped murder my brother! How dare you!” Topaz shrunk back. That was a poor choice of words, to say the least. “Forgive me, Gemstone,” Topaz said, abashed. “You have a right to be angry, but I need to know something. Suppose that the slayers were brought before you, to do with as you will, would you feel better then?” “Of course I would.” “Are you sure? I have known many dragons who have harbored similar grudges in my time. They were rarely satiated by dealing with those who had wronged them. Most were never satiated. I don’t want to see you go down that path.” Gemstone’s fists clenched. “Like you can talk. You’ve never lost anyone to those murderers.” Topaz’s eyes narrowed this time, and she stood up. “You’re right, no renegade swinging a spear took my loved ones. They were felled by worse. Do not forget, Gemstone, I lived through the war that birthed Magnus and Grimhoof’s ilk. I saw the carnage they could bring. Do not say I don’t know what you’re going through.” It was Gemstone’s turn to shrink. “Apologies, Master.” A short silence prevailed in the cave, before Topaz released a sigh. “If you need something to do, take inventory. See if we need any balms made. If we do, make them.” Gemstone bowed her head and left to the back of the cave. Topaz was again left alone to stare down at the sliced-up mannequin. She rubbed her temples and tried to drown out the noise of pounding drums inside her head. It only took half an hour until her apprentice returned, treading softly. “Balms and ointments are in good supply,” Gemstone murmured. “However, I’ve found that we’re lacking bandages and rinsing solutions.” Topaz raised her head and began to run the numbers mentally. It had been about three months since her last visit to Squires Gate, three months since her last visit to the village. Long enough for those precious supplies to run low. Topaz knew she needed to fetch more immediately, but bringing Gemstone to the village was out of the question. “Then we truly are done for the day. Go home.” “What? But you said–” “I know what I said,” Topaz told her firmly. “We are stocked up on ointments and balms. Go home. Rest. Spend time with Slicer.” “But, I can help. If you take me with you, it would take half the time to–” “No. Forage for a good gem if you must, but I shall handle the supplies.” Topaz’s tone was sharp, signaling to her student that she would not allow a rebuttal. To emphasize her point, she pushed her apprentice towards the mouth of the cave, giving her a stern look.  Gemstone’s face fell, realizing that there'd be no point in arguing. Beating her wings, she lifted herself into the air and listlessly made her way home. Topaz, watched as she vanished into the horizon, and waited for a short while, staring heavily into the craggy expanse of the Dragon Lands, until finally, with a sigh, she too took to the skies. Unbeknownst to her master, Gemstone had paused her flight once she was behind cloud cover. She recalled that her Master had always told her that the place to find bandages, sutures, and disinfectant was a trade secret, which she’d let her in on once she was ready. However, that seemed unusual to her. Why keep the Foraging spot a secret to start with? The common dragon couldn’t care less about medical supplies unless they were actually hurt, and even then, it was cheap enough to see a healer for such matters.  The only thing that came to her mind was a raid. If Topaz had to raid a village every time she needed supplies, there was a real reason to keep her ignorant until she was ready. A tiny part of her mind told her it wasn’t surprising, dragons didn't have the materials to make such items. She pushed those thoughts aside almost immediately, growling under her breath. Topaz would sooner die than risk something like a raid. Her master was too gentle in that regard. There had to be something else. Whatever the reason, Topaz was still strong enough to brave a journey. Gemstone envied that. She felt diminished, weak and she had no desire to feel weak, especially now of all times. Her master had already seen her in far too vulnerable a place with her failures at today’s tasks. If a healer faced a difficult and dangerous task in acquiring these materials, she should find out just what to expect. She waited, moment by moment, with bated breath, watching from behind the cloud while down below, Topaz did nothing at all. Nothing except stare into the distance. From this distance, and her sights made hazy by the billowing wisps of the cloud, Gemstone could not discern the look in her eyes. At long last, Topaz took off, and Gemstone followed her master. She followed her for hours, always keeping a safe distance. The day was cloudy, giving her cover, but it helped that a grown dragon never had anything to fear in the skies. As such, they would never think to do something as simple and easy as looking up. If Gemstone’s senses could be trusted, judging by the position of the sun at this hour, they were heading North-West, towards the sea. Sure enough, beyond the lip of the horizon, a streak of blue soon appeared, and Topaz still continued on, leaving their land behind until only water stretched beneath her. This was not too unexpected. Impoverished as the griffons of the North were, there’d be little to get from them. Somewhere South was Klugetown, which was no better, if not worse. Gemstone wasn’t entirely sure what lay East. Gemstone’s nerves began to get to her as time marched on. They had crossed the sea, and yet Topaz had not stopped in the jungle. The land was growing greener, while the air acquired a moisture that was lacking in either the Dragonlands or the Forbidden Jungle. Gemstone couldn’t help suspecting the two of them had crossed over into Equestria by now. ‘No wonder she said I should forage for a gem instead,’ Gemstone thought, a slight chill running up her spine. Was her master searching for ruins? This was not the jungle, forbidden to all but intrepid creatures such as dragons. Everything here looked so fresh and lively. Time continued to pass, perhaps another half an hour, before finally Gemstone saw her master’s destination. Her heart seized. Topaz was flying towards a pony village, an inhabited one. Had madness taken her master? Was this the foraging she had to do every time they needed supplies? Raids on villages in Equestria itself? How had war not broken out? How had Celestia not demanded blood? Surely, if Topaz had attacked pony villages, slayers would be swarming their lands by now. She thought about the supplies that Topaz would get, how important they were for their work. Would Topaz need any help? Her help? Could she even help if needed? Overwhelmed, Gemstone flew up and behind a stray cloud, lower than the rest in the sky. Seeing the small specks she knew were ponies, Gemstone felt her blood freeze and then slowly boil. She could only watch as her master landed near the village and slowly advanced towards it. She waited, and waited, feeling the urge to cry for her master, until she noticed something odd. There was no screaming, roaring, nor cries of terror. The ponies seemed calm. What was stranger was that Topaz seemed to be communing with the ponies. Little foals stopped, waved to her, some even seemed to hug her. Gemstone tried to process what it was she was seeing. Topaz was talking with them, she could even just about hear her faint chuckles and joyful hums. Gemstone’s insides began to churn. Without thinking, she flew back the way she came as fast as she could, unable to make sense of what she’d seen. She flew for what felt like days, until upon reaching the shore of the Dragon Lands, she saw a cave in the closest mountainside, and darted straight for it, landing and falling to her knees. Tremors wracked her body. Her claws were clamped around her mouth as she felt the bile rise, only barely holding it down. Countless questions surged through her mind. But soon, she found herself asking the same question that had nagged at her ever since Onyx was killed. How had the slayers found them? How could they have known her mother had an egg? Torch told her family it was mere happenstance, but had it been? What if someone told them? Topaz communed with those creatures, getting supplies from them. The foals and bigger ponies alike looked happy to see her, so it was obvious she was no threat to them. But if that was so, what was the cost of those supplies? Topaz didn’t have gold with her. What if, and it was a terrifying possibility, what if the cost was something else? Scavenging. Gemstone scoffed. She had so naively believed that lie. Yes, her master foraged perfectly preserved bandages, needles and thread, and disinfectant. It was much easier to buy it for a price was it not? Those books and mannequins had likely come from the same place. What did those cost? A clan name, a cave that had an egg? Was that what her little brother was worth? A few books Smolder could read? And Topaz had likely made sure her family was safe. No use in placing them at risk, after all. Gemstone finally found the strength to stand, and flew back home, faster than ever. She did not know that, back at the village, she had been spotted. Albeit not by her master. Topaz walked through the streets of Squires Gate. Taking time to enjoy the relatively cool air. Summer had come once again, and children ran about, free from the watchful gaze of both their parents and teachers. Many foals waved and hugged her, some shouted their greetings. Others were too involved in their games to notice her, no more than they noticed any other adult. While seeing children act so carefree carried a slightly bitter edge to it, knowing what had happened to Gemstone and her family, Topaz nonetheless let it act as a balm upon her heart. She soon came to her usual supplier, who was waiting on the stand which opened out onto the street. General Supplies, read the sign above the store, accurate if a little prosaic. Next to the store clerk was a pretty large crate for a pony, though a mere wedding-ring box for a dragon. The crate was labeled, with the inscription saying nothing more than ‘Topaz’. The store clerk held a puzzle-book open and was mumbling as he tried to solve the current challenge.  “Hello, Topaz,” the clerk waved, without looking up. “Hmm, no, five wouldn’t work there.” “I suppose it’s the usual price, then?” Topaz asked amiably. She felt her side for the bag that usually held gold and jewelry as payment, but felt nothing. “Damn it,” Topaz groaned, realizing she must have forgotten it back home. After coming all this way, too. “I do apologize, little one, but I haven’t brought my usual payment. If you could please hold these until–” “Just take them, we know you’re good for it,” the clerk assured, focused on his game. “Nine goes here, seven goes here,” he muttered to himself, “meaning that– No, it doesn't work.” Tongue between his lips, the store clerk began to erase his mistakes. Topaz chuckled quietly and lifted up the crate, only to pause when a new voice called out her name. Her head turned, and she saw an old, white-maned stallion approach her. Page Turner. He was not merely old, he was a bony stallion now. “Hold on, Topaz,” breathed the village elder. “Glad I caught you just in time. You’ve got another box waiting for you. Weren’t you told?” Either hearing the tone in Page Turner’s voice, or sensing the glare on his forehead, the store clerk finally looked up from his Sudoku, cheeks flushed. “Oh,” said the clerk, abashed. “Sorry, yeah. Hold on.” He leaned down to bring out a small wooden chest, small enough that a pony could easily lift it. “What are these?” Topaz asked, peering inside the chest. “Gifts,” explained Page Turner. “You said you were looking for a few things last time. Special things. We figured you might like them.” She examined the content of the wooden chest. To her relief, it was not too much, after all. The chest contained a little outfit, a little frilly dress just about Smolder’s size, and another book all about princesses and love. For Spike, there was a toy sword and shield, like the ones on the cover of Burnferno. In fact, the gift-givers had even included the next book in that series. “Those are good gifts,” Topaz acquiesced. “Thank you, Page Turner. But young dragons shouldn’t get too much. They tend to get greedy.” “Bah, if your grandchildren are anything like you, I’m sure they’ll be fine,” the old stallion said. “Besides, I’m feeling my age, Topaz. Best give gifts while I still can.” At this, Topaz frowned. It had nearly been a century since she first saw Page Turner, held by his mother, scarcely able to move his newborn body. She didn’t need to leave right away. Topaz made herself comfortable on the cobbled street, and asked Page Turner if he had time to talk.  The two spoke for nearly two hours. They talked about how the world had changed from their youth, and what hopes they have for the young in their twilight years. The hopes they had for the newest Alicorn Princess, and Garble’s misadventures with the little princess, and his dream of being Dragon Lord.  Once Page Turner at last retired to his little bookshop opposite to the general supply store, Topaz was quite ready to turn and leave, her packages in hand. That is, if she hadn’t felt a tug on her spiked tail. She turned her head to see little Star Tracker desperately trying to get her attention. He was a young foal, freckled, his coat some shade of purple that complemented his blond mane, although Topaz could not put a name to it. He had recently earned his cutie mark, which given its starry design. This likely pertained to his fascination with astronomy, but for all she knew, he was simply good at magic. “Hello, little one. Do you need something?” “Not really, I just wanted to know who the dragon with you was.” “Beg pardon?” Topaz said, stiffening. Star Tracker shrugged. “I saw a dragon leave after you came. Do you know them?” Topaz paled and she swallowed a stone that had formed in her throat. She prided herself on dragons not following her when she visited Squires Gate. She loved the town and was happier knowing that dragons only knew about this place if she chose to tell them. By that logic, when a little foal like Star Tracker told her he’d seen a dragon following her, she had cause for concern. “Did you recognize them?” Topaz quickly asked. “No.” “Did you see what they looked like?”  “I dunno. Dark, I guess. They were pretty far away.” “Could you guess their size?”  “Uh, I’d say small. They looked really small, smaller than you. Why?” Instantly Topaz’s mind turned to Gemstone. Time and time again the older dragon had pictured bringing her apprentice to the village and introducing her to the friendly equines who lived here. Now she wished that her student didn’t know what an equine was, much less about Squires Gate. But perhaps she was getting ahead of herself. Suppose it wasn’t Gemstone, what then? Now that they knew the town existed, what would the unknown dragon do, what would they think? Should she risk leaving the village now to pursue the spy? What if they were too far ahead of her? What if they planned to return as soon as possible to terrorize the town, and in larger numbers? Could she afford to leave Squires Gate unguarded? It was her fault a dragon had not only found the the town, but seen her visiting it. “Star Tracker, thank you for telling me about our little guest,” Topaz said, forcing herself to smile at the foal. “I guess she was just shy. It happens to everyone, even dragons. I’ll be sure to properly introduce you another day. Why don’t you run along now?” He nodded and waved goodbye, heading towards a little pond in the nearby park where his friends waited for him. Topaz took a deep breath, before leaving to talk with the mayor. Celestia had hoped that she would never again hear the word ‘dragon’ for at least a year, yet she was being summoned to speak with one at the request of a town official. The telegraph system set up throughout Equestria was not the fastest means of communication, compared to some magical options Celestia had known back in the day. But it was the one most inexpensive and available for public use. Evening had broken by the time the message reached her. Not for the first time, Celestia wondered if there wasn’t a spell Starswirl wrote that could help messages reach her faster. If she ever sent Twilight out into the world when she was older, such a spell would be invaluable. Celestia arrived at the outskirts of Squires Gate as her sun began to set. She chose to teleport to the town. Although it cost a taxing amount of mana, even for an alicorn as powerful as herself, the matter was urgent enough to warrant the cost. This also meant that she could only bring a skeleton crew of Guards along with her. Once the three of them had appeared in a flash, accompanied by the familiar smell of ozone, Celestia motioned for her guards to leave her alone with the dragon, which they obliged. The dragon in question was unusually calm and collected. She did not seek to intimidate Celestia, she just looked at her strangely. “I am Princess Celestia of Equestria,” greeted Celestia. “To whom am I speaking?” Her voice was clear, and she spoke with an authority that made everyone, even foals, stand at attention. Everyone, save for the dragon, a creature who stood perhaps two stories tall. “Topaz Goldwing of Clan Goldwing.” The dragon tilted her head to the side. “I always thought you’d be bigger, more imposing,” added Topaz, after a short silence. Celestia straightened herself. “As opposed to what?” “So small, so old, and so tired.” The words were blunt, yet bluntness was a draconic trait. Celestia doubted she meant to be rude. ‘Tired’ was an appropriate word for her. Few creatures were as old as she. She wondered how old this dragon must be,  for her to see past her youthful exterior and glimpse at the ancient pony that she was. “Madam Topaz. You said it was urgent you speak to me. Let me ask, what are you doing here?” “Purchasing medical equipment. I’ve been alive a long time, Your Majesty. I’m what you might call a doctor. I came to Squires Gate for my supplies, as I have done for centuries.” “I know,” Celestia said simply. “I have been aware of your shopping habits for some time, Madam. I would have liked to speak with you in the past, but I felt you might consider it intrusive.” Squires Gate had always been a richer town than its humble origins and isolated placing would suggest. Where that wealth came from had been a mystery for Canterlot’s accounting office, until Celestia had chosen to investigate surreptitiously, some decades ago. After which the answer had come to light rather quickly. A dragon did her shopping here.  Admittedly, the covert side of Celestia who liked to indulge in steamy mystery noir novellas was hoping for a drug-smuggling ring that needed to be stopped by a handsome and tragic stallion who needed a gentle and cultured mare to mend his heart. “What makes today different?” Celestia asked. “Today I was followed,” Topaz said, frowning. Celestia felt her stomach twist. “Followed. You mean by another dragon. Do you know by whom?” “I cannot say with absolute certainty, but I have a hunch. You remember the egg that was shattered by slayers, correct?” “Yes,” Celestia said as the memory filled her with sadness, for more than one reason. “I turned those involved in that incident over to Lord Torch.” “Some would beg to differ,” Topaz scoffed. “I believe a stallion named Air Break was let go. When his employer was delivered to Torch, the name Short Fuse came up once or twice in that pony’s babblings.” “Air Break was released on the condition he give me the name of his employer,” said Celestia. “Lord Torch agreed to that proposition.” “And what can you say about this Short Fuse?” Topaz demanded. “Many of us think his existence is a lie. But I do wonder, did you hide a slayer from us?” Celestia took a deep breath. “Like I said, I turned everyone involved in this incident over to Torch. No more, no less.”  “I see.” Topaz gave Celestia another look-over. There had been another attack. A failed one, all things considered. Why had no one said anything? Why had Celestia said nothing? Topaz glanced around, and saw the numerous pony villagers who milled around in the failing light of the evening, to observe the conversation. A meeting between the princess and the town’s beloved thirty-foot dragon could not be ignored. There would inevitably be gossip. “I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume your reason is a noble one,” said Topaz. “The dragon that followed me won’t be so merciful. Us dragons treasure family more than we do our hoards. I believe I was followed by a dragon named Gemstone Steelspine.” Alarm bells flared in Celestia’s mind. “No,” she said in a horrified whisper. “You know her?” Topaz tilted her head. “Not exactly. I met a Steelpine, Kalamet Steelspine,” Celestia said, recalling the towering dragon. The mourning father who’d placed the shattered egg before her. They wouldn’t take their fury out on an innocent town. Or would they? “So you see the issue,” sighed Topaz. “Gemstone is grieving, she’s not in her right mind.” It was Celestia’s turn to look over the dragon. The fear she saw in those eyes unsettled her too. “Except there’s something else, isn’t there?” “I see something growing in her,” Topaz said darkly. “I’ve seen it before in dragons who lost their loved ones to slayers. They lash out, hurting those that were innocent to their loss. I’m holding out hope, trying to help her see reason. She’s a healer, after all. We try to dissuade needless violence.”  “But you’re not sure that you can.”  Celestia, Sun Princess of Equestria, understood all too well the position this dragon was in. She felt her heart go out then to Topaz Goldwing. She herself had failed twice. Like she had failed Luna, the Moon Princess, her dear sister. Like she had failed Sunset Shimmer, who was her student. “Do you plan on getting Torch involved?” Celestia asked. Surely if Torch knew, he would put a stop to it. “I do,” Topaz said, “but similar orders have been issued before by other Lords, and they were promptly ignored. A Dragon Lord’s voice compels dragons to an extent, but it does not rob us of our free will. I tremble at the thought of Torch’s decree being ignored. This village, its people have helped our lands, my people, my family. I want them safe. I suggest that you evacuate the town.” With that, Topaz fell silent. Celestia waited a short while for the dragon to continue, but soon she released a sigh and met Topaz’s gaze with determined eyes. “Madam, I cannot let a dragon fly into my kingdom and raze a village. Empty or otherwise, tragedy or no.” “But you can let two slayers evade justice.” It was a low blow, but it did ring true. One slayer was sympathetic, the other was sociopathic. One slayer froze once the reality of his actions dawned on him, the other hadn’t cared. Both had been able to walk. One slayer because the mother, and now Celestia, stayed silent, the other because Celestia and Torch made a deal. “What would you have me do?” Celestia finally asked, falling to her haunches. She rubbed her eyes. “Renege on my promises? Should I let this Gemstone run loose until she decides to stop?” She sighed. “Torch let one go, the other was hidden from everyone for years, and I only just found out about it.” She was a mare in a difficult situation, to be sure. It’s not like Topaz’s was much different. Topaz loved Squires Gate, but here she was telling Celestia to let Gemstone raze it in a fit of anger and not lift a hoof to stop her. “She’s my apprentice, Princess,” Topaz said at last. “I don’t want to lose her.” “And these are my subjects,” Celestia said. “I can’t just sit by and let their town be destroyed. Tell her that I’m going to station guards to defend this town. They will not hold back if threatened. I know what you must be going through, and I sympathize with you, truly I do.” “Do you?” Topaz asked. “Have you ever been put in a position like this?” Celestia seemed to hesitate, infinitesimally, casting a glance at the last glowing line of her sun, gone red, beyond the horizon. When she addressed Topaz, it seemed that she avoided looking at the evening sky, where a few stars had started to shine. “Her name was Sunset Shimmer,” said the Princess. “I have not seen her in years, and I pray every night I won’t lose another student as I lost her. There were others before her. Always, the people I love. Someone I fell in love with is currently a statue, on display in my garden because he was spreading insanity! Yes, I have been here before, and know what happens when words fail and what needs to be done when they do. Madam Topaz, I’m praying for the best, but am expecting the worst.” Topaz chided herself. She could tell from just a glance that Celestia had lived for a very long time. Of course she’d know loss and tragedy. It was worse for the Princess, though. Having to fight your own loved ones. She wondered, would she have that same will if it came to Gemstone? Her mate? Her descendants? Some small part of her was thankful that she wouldn’t need to find out. If the worst did happen, if she couldn’t convince Gemstone or stop her some other way, someone else would. “She’ll be killed if I can’t dissuade her,” Topaz said mournfully. “Then dissuade her,” Celestia said quietly, praying that Topaz would reach her apprentice. Gemstone stumbled into her family’s cave, the day nearly at its end. Gemstone wanted to lay down and sleep, but any fatigue was second to the sick feeling in her stomach. She took another few ragged breaths to calm herself, before continuing on her way. She found her brother asleep, his tail curled about his little body. She shook him awake. He rubbed his tiny eyes open, allowing them to get used to the evening light that still managed to enter the cave. “Gemstone?” he asked with a yawn. “Morning, sleepyhead.” She gave her brother a hug. “How are you?” “I’m hungry.” “Didn’t mother feed you already?” Gemstone asked with a chuckle. Her mirth quickly faded as she got a look at her little brother. Slicer had a look, a very unique look when he was hungry. He’d tried to replicate it to get another snack, but it was easy to see through. This was real. “Let’s get you fed, then.” She went deeper into the cave and took a good sized sapphire from her parent’s hoard. Slicer happily ate his meal, before asking Gemstone how her day was. “Enlightening. I do have some good news for you, I’m going to be home more often now.”  “Really? Why?” “I discovered that being a healer meant doing things I’m not comfortable with. So, I’ve decided to quit.” That earned her a smile from Slicer. “Does that mean you can help me make Mom feel better?” Gemstone bit her lower lip. She steeled her nerves. “I think there’s something I can do to help her. Slicer, where’s Mother now?” “All the way in the back of the cave. She hasn’t moved all day.” “I see. Could you go outside for a bit? Mother and I need to talk alone.”  Slicer obeyed, unquestioningly. Gemstone took a deep breath as she approached the back of the cave. She found the dragon exactly where her brother had said she would be. “Mother, how are you?” Gemstone asked. She knelt before the larger dragon, placing her head against her snout, as if to comfort her. “I’m an awful mother, Gemstone,” Pala said tonelessly. There was a twinge of discomfort in Gemstone. “Mother, please–” “Your brother needed me today. He needed comfort, and I just couldn’t give it to him. I could barely move. I just keep thinking about Onyx. My little baby.” Pala silently cried, recalling her precious egg. “Then your brother, he keeps trying to comfort me while I neglect him. I don’t-don’t even know if I fed him today.” Gemstone bit her lip. “I-I took care of him, Mother. You don’t need to worry. I’m going to be around more often. I can help take care of Slicer, while you take the time you need.”  “I keep failing, Gemstone, and I can’t stop,” Pala said in response, as if she hadn’t heard her daughter. “No one can expect you to just get over it. I know what it’s like. Knowing he’s still out there, that Torch let a slayer go after what he did to Onyx, that there’s another one just like him out there,” Gemstone kept down a snarl, and looked her mother in the eye. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I have something to tell you. I think I know where the slayer is.” “What?” Pala ceased her crying, her eyes widening. “Mother, let me tell you about a village my master visited today.”