//------------------------------// // *Chapter 10: Dawn // Story: Drake's Empire // by Pentel123 //------------------------------// Chapter 10: Dawn “I never worry about action, but only about inaction” Winston Churchill Entry Seven: After I wrote my entry last night the camp was attacked by Diamond Dogs. The Griffins got ready to fight and Drake decided we were going to help them. He gave me, Flim, and Flam orders then jumped into the fray. This morning, I woke up in the medical tent. I had bandages wrapped around me, and my shoulders felt really funny, I was going to take them off but the Griffin doctor, Advallan, told me to leave them on. Apparently, I got hurt really bad last night. I don’t remember much. I know I was attacked by a Diamond Dog and I think I broke down crying in front of Drake. Aside from that I can’t remember anything. As I was leaving the tent, I ran into Jekyll. He was hurt bad and missing a wing. He said he fell down during the fight, but just as the dogs were going to kill him Hyde got in the way. He killed one, but another ran him through. When I heard this I couldn’t believe it, there was no way Hyde was dead, not after I just met him. I stumbled out of the tent and into Flim and Flam. Flam had a leg in a sling, and Flim had the right side of his face bandaged up. They brought me with them for lunch. I asked how they were coping with the battle. The answers I got were really vague. I was about to ask if they knew what happened to Hyde when a fledging, probably the same age as the CMC, showed up saying Drake was awake and wanted to see us. When we arrived, he was talking to Swiftwing and Eagle-eye. They seemed to be talking quite animatedly, well the Griffins were, and Drake was laying there more bandages on him than scales showing. In the end they seemed to calm down some As they were leaving, they told us that services were being held for the dead when the sun touched the horizon, and asked us to attend. Afterwards, they left to do whatever needed doing. We went and talked to Drake. He told us that we were going to be staying with the griffins. Because of the attack, we were going to be moving into a ruin the griffins said didn’t have any of the Fallen in it. We all asked what the Fallen were, but Drake said now wasn’t the time for that. Instead, he asked to speak to Flim and Flam privately. I guess he wanted to ask if they still wanted to stay with us, or maybe their thoughts on the battle. After he finished talking to them, Flim and Flam left to take care of the SSCS 6000, which had suffered some damage in the battle. They told me Drake wanted to see me. I walked up, and he asked if I was okay. I told him I was, but he didn’t seem to buy it. Rather than press the issue, he asked me to take down a letter for him. I had to find some parchment and ink, but Drake didn’t seem to mind the wait. It was a letter for Luna asking about wishing stars. He also included a cryptic warning as a P.S. I’m not sure what it was about, or even why he wanted to send it. Afterwards, he told me to do whatever I wanted. I looked for Hyde for a while; I just can’t accept that he is gone, before sitting down to write this. The sun is almost to the horizon now so I am going to go to the service. Hopefully I will see Hyde there and get this straightened out. -Spike I went to the services and found Hyde; he was among the dead along with ten others. All of them sat on a pyre of wood and grasses with their most prized possessions resting around them. I couldn’t believe it, he had saved my life just yesterday and we became friends so quickly. What kind of world is it where a friend can disappear as quickly as he comes? Someone can come into your life; then disappear as soon as you turn around. I asked around about the battle, and learned what had happened. From what I pieced together, I stood where Drake left me going around in circles, not fighting. Then a Diamond Dog got through and jumped me. After that, I went crazy and burned a path through them. The one thing that stands out to me is not that I went crazy against the dogs, I can believe that, after all I went mad in Ponyville once. It is that my hesitation may be the reason why Hyde is gone, I didn’t do anything, I didn’t attempt to protect anyone. If this had happened back home what would have become of my friends? Would it be their funeral instead? I’ll never hesitate ever again. I would rather regret an action than inaction. At least that way, I’ll never wonder if someone is gone because I didn’t act. I think I need to write a letter of my own. -Spike * * * * * * * * * * * * That morning, Drake’s body rested wrapped in bandages at the entrance to griffin camp. His mind however was elsewhere, floating in an empty space. It was lit, yet dark; drab, yet vibrant. ‘The hell I am,’ thought Drake, attempting to look around. Seeing nothing, he turned his eyes on himself. What he saw surprised him. “I’m human again! how did that happen?” Drake said stunned. “You are that way because this is how you still think of yourself,” A feminine voice called out. “Who are you? Where are you?” Drake yelled spinning around in the empty space. “Show yourself!” There was a flash of light, and the world resolved itself around Drake. He found himself, dressed in a black business suit with a blue shirt, standing next to a window in a skyscraper, overlooking a city devoid of life. “Welcome, would you like a drink,” the voice said from behind him. Drake turned to find a young woman standing at a conference table with a pitcher of water and two glasses in her hands, one stretched out towards him. “Thank you, that sounds wonderful,” Drake responded, walking towards the woman, and taking the glass. “If you don’t mind my asking, who are you, and where are we?” “It hurts that you don’t remember me, but to answer your second question first; we are in limbo. On a plane that exists purely for the two of us, and just while we are here,” The woman said, pausing to take a drink. “To answer your first, I am the one who sent you to Equestria. The one who made you a dragon. The one who granted your wish.” Drake shook his head, as he swallowed his own sip. “That is impossible, the one that sent me here was a star, not a pretty lady such as yourself, and spoke with a voice very different from your’s.” “At that time, I spoke with the voice of the Convention, and I appear in this form because it is one that you can converse with easily,” the woman replied. “So, why are we here miss- What was your name?” “My name is beyond your understanding or comprehension, but you way call me Kallyn. The reason we are here is because you are in a dangerous position. You nearly died last night, and that seems like a terrible way to waste your wish. You haven’t even been there for two months.” “Yeah well, I didn’t exactly plan to find myself in the middle of a battle so early on,” Drake said sitting on the table. “So what are you gonna do about this dangerous position I’m in, the better question is why do you care?” “I can’t tell you why I care, but know this: I didn’t choose this plane without purpose. Change is in the wind, change started by four of my own and you are going to handle it.” “Wait what was that, change started by four wishing stars. Change you want me to handle,” Drake was on the verge of spewing his water. “I’m just some pawn in a game?” “No! No, you are far from a pawn. Your choices are your own, and I’m betting you will do the right thing. Therefore I’m going to tell you something. I’ll give you the name of a place where you can go to be safe, train, and get stronger. This place will not be given to you freely, but if you can reach its heart, you will be relatively safe.” Kallyn looked at Drake, seriousness darkener her features. Yet a hint of pleading lay in them as well. “I don’t know what all worries you so. Understand, I don’t intend to be a pawn, but you are offering me a place to go and train. I take it I can bring others with me?” “Of course, there wouldn’t be any point if you were to go alone,” Kallyn replied her features returning to what one might consider normal. “Now, when you awake, ask the leaders of the griffins you are with if there are any ruins without Ogres. You’ll learn more of them in times to come. It is there, in a place known as Forum, you will find answers.” “So a ruin without Ogres, wait there’s Ogres in this world?” “Now is not the time to be answering your questions. Maybe some other day. For now you have to wake up.” Kallyn placed a finger on Drake’s forehead and pushed him backwards. An instant later, Drake woke up back in Equestria. Upon waking he was met by three griffins. Two rushed away, and one who asked if he needed anything. Drake asked to see Swiftwing and Eagle-eye; only to learn that someone had already gone to get them. He also asked to see his friends. The griffin with him took off rounding up several fledglings and sending them to find Spike, Flim and Flam. Not long afterwards the husband and wife leaders of the Griffin arrived to speak with him. “Thank you Drake for what you did last night without your help we would be gone,” Eagle-eye said. “Are you feeling alright, you were badly injured and our doctor did their best to dress your wounds but….” “I am fine, thank you. I have something to ask you both do you know of a ruin without Ogres, a place called Forum?” “There is a place without Fallen walking its crumbling form, but what inhabits it is no less dangerous. I don’t know its name, but it may be this Forum you seek,” Swiftwing responded. “But I wonder, for one who knows so little about this place, how do you know about Ogres or the names of ruins?” “Would you believe it came to me in a dream?” Drake asked, waving a claw in circles before halting it suddenly. “Wait, that is the third time I’ve heard you use to term Fallen, but you never told me anything about any Fallen yesterday afternoon.” “The Fallen are a curse, set upon each race that served the Empire, twisted perversion of the ones they once were. They appeared during its fall,” Eagle-eye answered. “The shame of the Griffins is the Harpies, of the Minotaurs the Ogres. Diamond Dogs come from a race which is forgotten, and the shape shifters are what became of ponies. These are the Fallen. Long ago, they tormented us and the others relentlessly. Over time they became less aggressive. However, in the past several months that has changed. Something has happened and they are becoming as legends say they once were.” Drake took a moment to digest this information, and filed it away for further consideration before returning his attention to Eagle-eye and Swiftwing. “Can you take me to the ruin I asked about? Surely, it would be safer for all us to travel together.” “We could show you, but we’ll not go with you, not to that place,” Eagle-eye replied, waving his arms across one another. “Ogres infest all ruins but that one. There is something more powerful than Ogres there; something that attacks everything which has ever entered it.” Swiftwing began to hover as she said this. “I have been there once long ago, two scout went in, one came out, missing a wing, and leg spouting nonsense about stone and metal attacking him.” She landed back on the ground. “Death awaits those who go there, I don’t care what visions a pain induced dream may have given you.” Drake looked at the two and took a moment to form his reply. “I’m going to that ruin and I’m gonna tame it. I’ll be taking my friends with me, and I’m offering ya’ll a chance to join in. Consider, the world is changing. You said it yourself. Last night’s attack may just be the first of many; come with me to the outskirts of the ruin. From there if I can’t find a way to make it safe, for you to stay, ya’ll go on without me. “No! absolutely not,” Swiftwing said emphatically. “How many died last night, how many more will if something has changed the way the winds blow. If you’ll pardon the analogy,” Drake asked. Why he was so incessant on this? He wasn’t sure, but he felt that it was in everyone’s interest to do as he had been advised. “Swiftwing, maybe we should. What would be the harm,” Eagle-eye said concern for peoples survival being greater than his fear. “Tell you what, go and think about it. In the morning, if I’m good enough to move, you can give me your answer, but please consider it.” When Drake finished speaking the pair left sending Spike, Flam and Flim over to him as they did so. * * * * * * * * * * * * Elsewhere, at a meeting of the Convention of Entities Beyond the Comprehension of Corporeal Beings. A heated meeting was occurring. “What have you done,” a voice boomed from amongst the gathered. “Our laws forbid interaction except when they see us falling in the sky and make a wish. This restriction was set upon us at the founding of time and you have ignored it.” “I did what needed doing,” a familiar female voice replied. “Is it so different from the four who freed her not so long ago.” “That was in response to a wish, four wishes for the same thing, made at the same time.” “And yet our involvement is instantaneous, why wait one thousand year to fulfill them.” “The forces at work were as great as our own if not greater. They were meant to seal an evil force more powerful than any other immortal at the time. Their power was greater than we imagined.” “And now as this world stands to suffer as it did so long. I will not let that happen while I have a means to prevent it, not given the destruction that happened before.” “That is not for you to decide. We must obey the rules of the Convention, the rules given to us at creation; no one world is worth their violation. For your actions you must be punished.” Disappointment emanated throughout those gathered. Never before had punishment been issued; never had it been need. “Fine, do to me what must be done. If he does what I know he will, it will be worth it.” “You will be silenced,” the booming voice stated. “Until such a time as your actions are of no consequence you shall be without interaction. Trapped to forever watch and never speak.” A moment later the Convention dispersed each to continue their mission as set forth at creation, all but Kallyn. Kallyn stood trapped in the skyscraper a screen on the wall displaying an injured blue dragon resting in an evening sun. * * * * * * * * * * * * It was early afternoon in Canterlot when Luna awoken, after going to bed that morning. As she went about donning her royal regalia, a cloud of smoke startled her before resolving into a rolled up bit of parchment. Luna poked it with her hoof once, then twice before grasping it in her telekinetic grip and unrolling it. What she found both pleasantly surprise and worried her. She was pleasantly surprised she had received a letter but worried by its contents. Dear Luna, What do you know of the wishing stars. I have recently had several encounters with one and they have been quite odd. We will be meeting someday before too long and I hope to talk to you then. -Drake P.S. Be watchful, danger can come from anywhere, and in any form. Luna took the letter and ran from her room. She went to find her sister, intent on discussing events from long ago which might yet have meaning. * * * * * * * * * * * * That evening in Ponyville Twilight was busy cleaning up the library after Rainbow had her meeting to inform the town’s pegasi they’d been selected to provide water to Cloudsdale. It’d been an interesting experience for Twilight, who operated the film projector. While it was simplistic in its presentation, weather production was something she wasn’t well versed in. Any information was new and interesting to her. Regardless, after the pegasi had left, Twilight was cleaning when she too was met by a waft of smoke which resolved into a letter. Twilight froze, she hadn’t received anything from Spike in over a week, she’d begun to give up hope he would stay in contact. After the shock wore off, she snapped in open and began reading over. Her excitement quickly waned, she read it again, and tears began to form as she brought her hoof to her lips. “Oh Spike, what are you going through out there? Please be okay.” * * * * * * * * * * * *