//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Love Keeps Dragon On: The Return of Sapphire // by The Lord Thunder //------------------------------// “So this is where you live, huh?” Spike twisted around to pan Sapphire’s attic, not that there was much to see. Only a few boxes scattered along the wall and a broken stained glass window. The smell of dust and old musty wood filled the triangle-shaped room. Sapphire was clearly much less material than Rarity. That unicorn would probably rather die than stay more than a week in Sapphire’s attic. “So…” he turned to face Sapphire. “You’ve been living in Equestria for the last six years? Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice broke with a strong tone of sadness. Sapphire sighed and dropped to her haunches. “I… I don’t know,” she answered, shaking her head. “I guess it just got too hard. Those four years we just spent writing when my parents took me back home, I kept wishing I was there with you so I could talk to you face-to-face instead of on just a piece of paper. I wanted to see you, but I couldn’t.” Spike cocked his head questioningly at her. “After your parents’ accident, you could have come found Twilight and me. Why didn’t you?” Sapphire shrugged, not entirely sure if she knew the answer herself. “I was scared.” “What was there to be scared of?” Spike took a seat beside Sapphire and placed his hand on her shoulder to reassure her. Sapphire curled her legs in close, cradling her knees. “I was worried that after those four years you would have found someone. I didn’t want to face the truth if you had. I wasn’t sure how I’d handle it.” “Nah, not me,” Spike answered as he dismissed the idea with a negative shake of his head. “I told you all about what’s happened to my friends with the letters I wrote. Rarity’s married, Applejack’s married, Dash isn’t interested in a relationship right now. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all have dates. I’ve been single these last ten years.” “Well, I think I can fix that.” Sapphire smiled and planted a kiss on Spike’s cheek before her mouth sagged in a frown. “Listen, Spike. I know it’s been ten years and I kept hoping I’d meet you again, but I’d also wished we’d reunited under happier circumstances.” “Oh no,” Spike answered with a tone of dread. “Don’t tell me. You’ve met another dragon, haven’t you? And he’s not as nice as I am, but you still love him and that’s why it’s sad. Am I right?” “No, there’s no one else. It’s just…” Sapphire glanced over her shoulder to watch Sunset curiously toying with a praying mantis that had taken shelter in the attic. Sunset giggled in amusement as the insect rocked its body from side to side to mimic a leaf waving in the wind. “Heheheh, this bug’s dancing!” Sunset yelled to her dragon companions. She’d never seen such a whimsical insect. “You mean those dark dragons,” Spike answered. Sapphire’s sudden attention to the filly had given away the answer. “Right.” Sapphire turned her attention back to Spike. “I know you saw what just happened with Sunset, but that’s nothing compared to what I saw last night. They invaded Buckington and hauled everypony off as slaves except for the very young and old. There are fillies in that village right now who had their parents taken away from them, including Sunset Breeze. They must be so terrified.” Puzzling over this new information, Spike ran his hand across the green fins on his head. “Dragons… invading Equestria?” “I need your help, Spike. I have to help that little filly and get her parents back.” Scratching his chin, Spike shut his eyes for a moment to think. Celestia should certainly be made aware of the situation, but Spike could sense Sapphire’s desire to do this herself. “So, you’re saying we should march right into the Dragonlands, find out where they took those ponies and stage a rescue operation?” “Basically.” “Just the two of us? Two teenage dragons against Celestia knows how many adults, in a place that’s sure to be heavily fortified and crawling with guards?” “That’s the best I can come up with.” Sapphire shrugged. “Sapphire, that sounds like a really, really bad idea.” A smile slowly spread across Spike’s face. “And I think that’s what I like about it.” Sapphire returned Spike’s grin with one of her own. “So you’ll go with me?” “Of course! I can’t let you do this alone.” “Ooh, me too! Me too!” Sunset bounced up to the pair of dragons. She’d apparently grown bored of the mantis she’d been playing with. “I’m coming, too!” Sapphire shook her head at the filly. “I’m sorry, Sunset, but I want you to stay here. Remember, you promised me you wouldn’t go to the Dragonlands.” “I don’t care!” A stomp of childish disapproval tickled the old plank floor with vibrations. “They’re my mom and dad and I’m gonna help ‘em! Besides, I don’t want to go back to Buckington. What if those mean dragons come back?” “I don’t want you to go back there, either,” Sapphire replied. “You can stay here in my attic until we get back.” “Stay here? All by myself?” Sunset pivoted her head to observe the attic, trying to imagine it as if she were there alone. Just the thought of it frightened the little pegasus. “Yes.” “I don’t wanna stay here all by myself. I’m too scared to be all alone.” “I’m sorry, Sunset, but this is probably going to be very dangerous,” Sapphire answered. “But you’re both going. I’d rather be with you two than here all alone. If we work together, I know we can do it!” “You think that, do you?” Sapphire asked with a giggle. Sunset did a playful little hop. “Yeah! We’ve been friends for a long time, and I can tell you two like each other!” For a moment, the two dragons turned to each other until a twinge of embarrassment hit. Both looked away, blushing and smiling. Sunset grinned at this. “See? You DO like each other. Know how I can tell? It’s ‘cause you always smile when you look at each other.” One more time, the two dragons looked to each other and smiled. It was a bit awkward having been apart for ten years. Even though Sapphire longed to kiss Spike just once, she knew there were more important matters at hand, as well as a young filly still in the room. The romance could wait until they rescued the ponies of Buckington. “I’m sorry, Sunset. It’s just too dangerous.” Sapphire kneeled down in front of the young pegasus to look her in her big blue eyes. “I’d never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you.” “I’m going to have to agree with Sapphire, kiddo,” Spike added. “I’ve been to the Dragonlands. Scary stuff.” Sunset stomped a forehoof again. She growled in frustration as she trotted to the nose of the attic and sat with her back facing the two dragons. “Fine! I’ll just stay here ‘till you get back, all by myself! I’ll be soooooo bored! With nopony to read me stories or tuck me at night or fix me lunch or…” “I’ll get packed,” Sapphire said to Spike. She talked louder than normal to interrupt Sunset’s exasperated tantrum. If this was anything close to what being a mother was like, she’d have her work cut out for her one day. The ice dragon dug through one of her boxes and pulled out the old backpack she’d used long ago during her travels with her parents. Sapphire loaded it with her blanket, a pillow, and a couple of her favorite books. It certainly wasn’t as much as what Spike had in his large camping backpack, but she’d gathered everything she needed. “Should we go now?” Sapphire asked after walked back to Spike, who had been patiently waiting by the window. Spike rose to his hind feet. “No sense in waiting. There’s no telling what those dark dragons are planning to do with the ponies they captured.” “Should we walk or fly?” “Eh, let’s walk. The Dragonlands are only about an hour’s walk from here, that way we can talk along the way. I want a little time to catch up on things.” “I was hoping you’d say that,” Sapphire answered with a smile. She wheeled around to face the other end of the attic, where Sunset had curled herself up into a furry little ball. Sapphire wasn’t sure if this was from fright, aggravation or if the filly was just trying to get some sleep. The ice dragon walked over to her and kneeled down to put her paw on Sunset’s shoulder. “Look, Sunset, I know you want to go with us, but you have to believe me when I say staying here is for your own good. I promise I’ll come back and I’ll bring you something special when I do.” “Whatever,” Sunset mumbled. Sensing this conversation wouldn’t fare any better, Sapphire stood up, scratching her head. If only there was something she could do to make Sunset feel better. She supposed the look on Sunset’s face when she saw her parents again would be reward enough. “Ready, Spike?” Sapphire turned to face the purple dragon. “As I’ll ever be.” After glancing one last time at Sunset, Sapphire beat her wings and flew out the broken window. Spike followed close behind. Sunset lifted her head. The dragons were both gone. She galloped to the shattered window and reared on her hind hooves to peer to the ground below. Spike and Sapphire had descended to the grass, walking towards the horizon. The filly sat on her haunches, taking advantage of the sudden silence to think of what she should do next. It wasn’t long before an idea came to mind, forcing the filly to flash a sly smile. I’ll teach them to leave me behind like this!