//------------------------------// // Journal of the Archivist // Story: The Dragon Lord's Guardian // by Little_Draco //------------------------------// The Dragon Lord’s Guardian Journal of the Archivist  Blacktip had helped Shadescale settle into her room, which had her a bit claustrophobic with its smaller size. “Just remember, the door can be locked or open with claws and I’m right next door if you need me.” He gently reminded her. It was a spacious room, definitely big enough but still, it was not her ideal of being surrounded by four walls and a ceiling. Nodding, she gave a small bow of her head. “Thank you Archivist Blacktip. I’ll… be sure to accumulate in time.” With some hesitance leaving her but he knew that she was intelligent enough. He nodded with a smile and left. “Good Night then,” Walking out of her room and closing the door with his tail. Sure enough, the next door over held his room and just like the rest of the hotel, this was designed for dragons his stature. Opening the door, he was greeted with a large bed, a washroom meant for his size and a desk to read or write. While technology has improved over the years, the most advanced thing in here was a radio in the corner and the lights. He opted to quickly head over to the desk area and settled the books in his satchel to the side. While he was ecstatic to be back here, a bit of more hopefulness came as he was once more in the presence of Ivory. He had missed him very much and while it was not uncommon for dragons to be a part for long periods of time, it was time itself that made him slowly aware of how much it can pass without one knowing. Yes, a year to a dragon is but a blink of an eye, but knowing that with everything transpiring all around them and the world, much change happens without one realizing it.  A passage of time without acknowledgement is a failure to understand the value of life and the precious moments they had, even if you were long lived. He settled on the desk, turning on the light by it before snapping both of his claws. One his right claw, was a white feathered quill and on his left… a journal. His personal journal that was. One he had touched in awhile. At least, one that didn’t see much action. Sighing, he opened it up and read the last entry.  ‘Year 6055 of the 2nd Draconic Era, 1st Half Moon Cycle of Spring.  Year 1022 of Equine Era, Tuesday the 3rd. “Hmm, the day of the ‘Firesnail’ incident a few months ago.” He mused to himself out loud. That was his last entry. Before that, was his introduction to the Princesses of Equestria and the knowledge of ‘Spike’s past in the months before that. And then… his last entry in this journal was almost two whole years. Even then his entry before that was acknowledging the presence and powers that the ponies had to fight in with the likes of ‘Nightmare Moon’, ‘Discord’ and other villains.  “Hmm, how time flies, even for me,” He mused. Still, it bothered him that he didn't update anything. He didn’t like leaving long gaps as it felt… unorganized and part of his mind felt uneasy. “No time like now to start,” He set the journal on the desk. He blew a small flame at the tip, charring it a bit, before writing his date and a new entry. ‘Year 6055 of the 2nd Draconic Era, 2nd Crescent Moon Cycle of Summer. Year 1022 of Equine Era, Friday the 8th. I know I am meant to update this as often but I didn’t realize how much time truly has passed between these. The other entries are short and quick. However, I feel the need to write more because… I have returned back home. At least, my home here in Dragon Town. Few, very few know that I am Dragon Lands native but here, I feel more at home because knowledge and intelligence is welcomed here. I feel comfortable and at peace as my mind is allowed to be heard without restraint from those native of Dragon Lands. Yet, my duties as the Archivist has me going back and forth, with me teaching my newest apprentice, Spike Sol Sparkle, how to Firebreak. It took me a century to master what I know now, yet his ‘gifts’ allowed him to speed that up to months. It is not wise for the teacher to be envious of their student but, I can’t help that he has me beat in time. I dare say that by the end of the year he may be where I was in 50. Speaking of, returning home also brought me back to my… Ivory. While we are not there in terms of fully mated or what have you, our hearts are still strong for one another. Yet our responsibilities keep us from fully being committed, especially with my duty to serve the Dragon Lord’s Con- err, Dragon Lord’s Guardian.  While I have no regrets teaching him in any way, it puts a certain pressure about us that we can’t maintain properly. Ivory has his students and has been teaching here for half a century, outliving and out teaching most of the professors here. I cannot take him away from his career and I cannot forsake mine. Alas, my lack of comfort is minor and my love life is inconvenient, I however chose to remain with my current trajectory until my time as a teacher comes to an end. Though I pray that it is with a happier end. He paused, thinking what else to write before continuing on.  Spike’s… moral is neither corruptible nor in debate. He shows a heart truly worthy of being written in history, which I plan to do in my spare time. However, it still bothers me that it's because of this that there may be a day where it comes into question on whether or not he can handle what is to come. As with the recent discovery of Dragon Hunters, he wouldn’t have been slain if not for several interventions and or lucky saving graces. His origins disturbs me, but no child is their parent if raised outside of their nature. I’d burn the day to never come to pass if he were to encounter his past. I pray to Draco and Wistala with all my heart that he never comes across it.  Even the thought of it hurts me… I have… developed a bond with him, such as a teacher and a student but also, as a great friend. He relies on me so much, he relies on others a lot as well, and that is what sets his character apart. A portion of my hoard would go as far as to say… he is the greatest dragon I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around. Ivory and I are something altogether but the way Spike’s heart grows, or expands towards others is unparalleled to what I have seen in my century of being alive.  Living through that time, I have watched dragons change from bad and ugly, to good and gracious even. But I have also seen much conflict and compromise arise from them as well. Subjugation behind veils and curtains, exploitation and corruption right up into the last two decades. Our luck changed, as did the world. Spike’s birth had an incredible change on the Princess and her views on us… My father always thought that we were meant to be on top, meant to be the one to strive above those he deemed weak. Yet those were words I gladly rejected when they proved time and time again how wonderful and strong they are together. A group of six ponies could save the world on multiple occasions, then a dragon could save their own scaly hide. My father was not a subject I tend to bring up for good reason, as he remains within his homeland. Me leaving is probably the greatest day for him and yet… he still tried to talk to me whenever I visited the lands. The recent visit had me at odds with him. As of hearing what has been transpiring around there, he found himself in both a predicament and hollowed feelings towards the changes. Dragon Lord Ember and her consort have made improvements far more than Torch, nor Successor Zynthia and her mate before. The fact that he acknowledges it but not accepts it, tells me something might change that. Though few remain unchanged, like my cousin Sludge, who is a useless excuse of a dragon born on my father’s brother's clutch. I hate… no, hate is too strong, but I highly dislike that drake. He is everything opposite of Spike, in heart and mind. Lazy, selfless and a disaster walking… Anyways, I am puzzled but also remaining optimistic that my father changes with the times. He really is the only one I still have a high value on. My mother left and father didn’t like the idea of his lineage being wasted. He didn’t like the idea of his son being part of pony society, but he also had some belief that me being an archivist, when I established that role to him years later, would help me find a mate. I kept him briefly entertained that I have been to a lot of areas and that I might find more dragons elsewhere. I guess that worked well for him. He always knew I was too smart to be an average dragon(far better then my cousin he would admit) but he also would hate for me to be anything less like a servant or a worker for a pony. Even now, I still smile at the thought of him losing his mind just thinking about me working alongside them instead. But back to my immediate and current predicament… Dragon hunters, powerful weapons and the changing of not just the Dragon Lands but Equestria as a whole. We are working together, we are allies, we are trade partners, we are friends and dare I say… we may even have some love grown within. Knowing this, I have no quarrel with who loves whom, just as long as it blossoms into something wonderful. Keep getting off topic here, but alas, I shouldn’t write too long but short of it. I want us to deal with these Hunters if our two races are to work Harmoniously together and keep that for years to come. I fear that this may either spark into something far worse then what had started out as. For a century, we worked alongside them to help them build this city and more. It took time, pain, blood, hate and more to come together to accomplish something and I would be damned if I just stood by and watched something as amazing as this fall back to a dark age. For I, Blacktip the Activist, will swear my undying oath to make sure we can sustain a unison between our kin. And… to make sure that Spike is the greatest of us all, to be the holder of both worlds with all the knowledge and grace we can offer him. My will, my word, my power and my flame will be offered to him. I know he has the heart capable of pulling it off.  … I just hope his heart remains strong enough to see it through. For his sake. For our sake. End Entry.