The souls of the foul abominations were drawn into the void and their constantly regenerating forms died. A seal was placed on the great drain. But now Equestria was dead, and Canterlot a ruin.
—Pena “On the Origins of Ponies*(*and Others) and Magic”
The speaking circle was livelier, as dragons came and went.
The Kobolds found it a new center for their work as they were asked to being food and drinks. A dozen were scampering back and forth fulfilling various draconic errands.
But in the center of the circle 4 dragons talked late into the night.
Dust, Searcher, Garble and the appropriately small dark gray and dumpy looking Klump, (lately awakened), talked through the possibilities in the speaking circle. Kobolds brought refreshments as dragons came and went. Scorcher had gone back to his hall.
The dark dragon Clump rolled a bright round sapphire between his toes. “How about a beer?” he asked.
“What?” asked Garble.
“I think better with a drink,” said Klump, “…but I was thinking,” and here he rolled the completely round sapphire again. “About the big shield of Smolder’s.”
“What about it?” asked Searcher.
“Is it a sphere?”
“What the shield?” asked Garble.
“Well yea. I mean, is it? Do we know if it like…”? he rolled the sphere again slowly across the stone. “…goes all the way down?”
Dust looked up. “You know, I have no idea. Searcher?”
Searcher twitched. “I don’t know, it stings like lightning, and I don't want to get near it.” he said.
“Well, we wouldn't have to,” said Garble. "I would guess it’s a sphere though, why wouldn't it be?"
"Well,” said Klump "it’s like the shield Shining Armor, the unicorn used to protect Canterlot when the Changelings attacked it."
"It's bigger and clear, well usually clear," said Searcher.
"Well sure, its dragon magic, and Smolder is fricking huge. Still... the changelings got into Canterlot. Some of them. They infiltrated from beneath. From the crystal caverns. It’s how Chrysalis was able to come and go and coordinate things while pretending to be Cadance, Shining's wife. I mean sure, they attacked from above, but they were already within the walls."
"How do you know so much about this?" asked Garble.
"I make statues, I was commissioned by Princess Twilight to make one to commemorate the battle on the twentieth anniversary." said Klump.
"Heh" said Garble. "Yes, the ponies like dragon art. They're not so bad once you get to know them. I used to hate them. Back when I was younger. But everyone changes." He sounded regretful and introspective for a moment. He was thinking of his sister Smolder again. Then he shook himself.
"Anyway. we can definitely check it and find out." Garble said. "Those Kobolds are tremendous diggers, regular Diamond Dogs. Dust, I bet if you asked, they could try and find a way to go under.”
“Why me?” she asked.
“They like you more than the rest of us.” Garble said.
“That's cause you guys are jerks, well not you Klump I don't know you that well. Or you Search, you’re always polite.”
“Hey, there are only the four of us!” said Garble.
“And yet… my statement remains.” She said with a faint smile to the large red and yellow Garble. “Still though, I think it's worth a shot, I’ll talk to the Tarnish the kobold All-Watcher,” said Dust, smirking. “Maybe there's a cave or tunnel or old mine that already goes part of the way?”
“That guy is so creepy. He looks like Drizzle if Drizzle was, you know, a guy, and well a kobold”. Klump said. “He’s really in charge?”
“Has been almost his entire life,” said Dust.
“What, why?” asked Garble.
Searcher started to explain. “He was born into it. Hope for an Untarnished Future’s egg was laid on the day the previous All-Watcher died. Big kobold hero. Saved a bunch of kobolds and the dragon hatchlings from a mine collapse.”
“I remember that story” Dust said. “The stone in the old hatchery had cracked, and it began to give way and collapse right when a bunch of hatchlings were in the nursery playing games with the young kobolds.”
“Right. The old all-watcher was named Hope something. Hope for a Glorious Future or something. Anyway, he organized an evacuation, even while rocks were still falling. He personally stayed behind holding up a support beam. They saved all the eggs, even one that had been laid that very morning. It was the last egg saved, and just as it was taken out, the entire chamber collapsed, with him in it.
“The left it as a monument for him,” concluded Searcher.
“As far as I know he’s the only kobold with his own tomb.” said Dust.
“Then in typical Kobold fashion, they made the new thousandth egg their next leader.”