//------------------------------// // So a Human, a Pony, and Two Kobolds Walk into an Empire... Funny. (Chapter Eleven) // Story: On Black Wings Unfurled, A Half-Dragon's Roar to be Heard // by Coal //------------------------------// Chapter Eleven So a Human, a Pony, and Two Kobolds Walk into an Empire... Funny. Oh night sky, sometimes I think you're my only friend~. So what, I don't count? No, no you don't. I wasn't lying to Luna when I told her that I like the night, because I really do. I don't know what it is exactly that makes me like it so much. Maybe it's the relative calm it brings when compared to the hustle and bustle of the day, or it could be I find the night sky to be soothing. Whatever the reason though, I've always been more of a night owl. add flying into the equation and you can't get much closer to perfect. I fly across the sky, every once in a while spotting the lights coming from a settlement, but I just continue past them. Although, what appeared to be a city in the sky almost made me reconsider my current destination. Man, this place is probably never going to stop surprising me. Flying past the city of clouds I continue on my way. It's smooth sailing for most of the trip, but for the oddest reason I keep feeling my pack shift around. I might have left the strap too loose the last time I took it off because I keep having to push it back into place. Eventually, I see the sun beginning to peek it's way over the horizon and I decide it's probably a good idea to get some rest. It looks like there's a small mountain not too far off from where I am now, so I start heading towards it. It doesn't take nearly as long to get there as I had thought it would have, while it was close it was still a ways out towards the horizon. Thinking about it a bit more I realize that the map had placed Canterlot and Crimson waters a fair distance apart, but I managed to cover the distance in a relatively short amount of time. How fast am I flying when I'm traveling? It's odd that I'm just noticing this now, but I suppose it's understandable considering I've been flying at night, and distances are a little hard to judge in the dark. The times I've really been flying during the day I wasn't trying to cover distance, just get somewhere close by. Now that I'm really paying attention to it I'm actually going pretty damn fast. I just keep getting more and more awesome. Yeah, keep telling yourself that. As I approach the mountain side I find an outcropping that looks fairly flat, and I begin to descend towards it. By the time I arrive the sun has almost broken free of the grasp of the horizon, and I stretch my stiff non-flying limbs. I let my bag slide off of my shoulder and lower it to the ground. For some reason it feels heavier than before but that can't be right, I must be more tired than I realized. With a delicious and crunchy gem in mind I open up the bag and- "Hiya!" A grey coated filly cheerfully greets me. Her forehooves wrapping around the lip of the bag as she looks up at me with those big magenta eyes. ... If she didn't look so fucking adorable right now I'd be pissed. "Fiery, why are you in my bag?" I ask, trying to keep my voice sounding calmer than I felt. "Oh yeah, that, well when Teacher brought me back to the class I asked her if I could go and see you again. I mean, you're nice and know the Princesses and all, but she still said no. So I decided I'd at least go and see the gardens again, and when I went to the place where we met earlier I found your bag." She gets a guilty look on her face as she continues, "And I uh... well... poked around a bit." She looks up at me, probably to see if I'm angry. Pinching the bridge of my nose I sigh and say, "Okay, I don't care if you poked around in my bag, it's my fault for leaving it there. What I do care about is why you're in my bag." "Oh that, yeah. Well, when I was poking around I heard somepony flying and thought it was a guard, so I hid in the bag." "But it wasn't a guard, it was me. So when you hid in the bag, you were inside when I picked it up." I fill in the pieces, and rub my forehead in exasperation. "Yeah mister Coal, that's right." She confirms as she tries to pull herself out of the bag, but only manages in toppling it over and sliding out. This thing is like diabetes in a can. "Well Fiery, why didn't you say something while I was flying?" "Oh, I tried to, a little, but the wind drowned it out I guess." She explains as she gets to her hooves, "Besides, it was really fun flying like that." A growl escapes her stomach and she adds, "Oh, and I'm hungry." "Fiery, this isn't the time for that. Isn't someo- somepony going to be worried about you?" "Oh no, they shouldn't be. I left a note and everything!" She says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I don't think a note can cover you hitching a ride with an alien." I deadpan back at her. "Oh, you're an alien!? I just thought you were from some really far away place. There's so many things I want to ask about!" she says, shuffling around on her little legs and grinning like a madmare. "Fiery, you have to go back home you know that right?" "Awww, but why?" She says, giving me the same puppy dog look from before. This time I'm ready for it, so I only have a mild heart attack. "Well, for one I'm going to be traveling a lot.-" "I can just ride in your pack like I did before." "I also don't have any food for a pony with me-" "We're still in Equestria right? You can just go to a town and buy some." "I don't know the first thing about looking after a filly-" "I take care of myself all the time. You wouldn't need to worry about it." "Well, ponies back home are going to miss you." "Nopony will miss me, everypony says I'm a very 'brave filly' whatever that means." "I'm going to probably be heading to some dangerous places and-" "I've always wanted to see new places, and if something happens I can just hide in your pack." ... Fuck, I'm running out of reasons to send her back. She's too damn smart for her own good. "Well, I'm pretty sure Celestia wouldn't be too happy with me kidnapping somepony. So unless you have some magic way to contact her I don't see how-" My thought is interrupted by a belch accompanied by fire, and I cover my mouth in surprise. When the black colored fire fizzles out I see that there's a small scroll sitting on the ground. Next to it, there is a quill, inkwell, and several sheets of parchment. No no no. Oh come on, the universe doesn't hate me this much does it? I slowly bend over and tentatively pick it up, breaking the seal and allowing it to unroll itself. I look at the flowing script on the page and begin to read. --- Dear Coal, I am sure you are surprised by the manner in which this letter arrived so allow me to explain. When I awoke this morning I was greeted by Luna, and she told me about the conversation the two of you shared. She evidently still wishes to hear more about you, but she knows it would be unfair to ask you to stay in Canterlot. For a time I was perplexed, I couldn't think of a way that we could keep in touch despite your penchant for travel. However, when my student Twilight and her friends gave their farewells I remembered something. Some time ago I discovered that dragon's fire is by it's nature magical, this was largely in part due to the time young Spike spent in Canterlot. With a little experimenting I had discovered that the fire could be used as a medium to carry messages between my student and myself. While your earlier display of fire-breathing was far greater than young Spike's and it took a bit of doing, I did manage to attune the sending spell to your fire. I am not a hundred percent sure if it has even in fact worked, so as soon as you are able I would appreciate if you send a reply. While certain aspects about you are very similar to a dragon I cannot be sure how deep it goes. To send a reply simply think of how you want the letter to be sent and ignite it with your fire. Sincerely, "Miss Celestia" --- Well, there goes my last argument. Someone should really shut that window. I look past the scroll and see Fiery staring up at me expectantly. Part of me wants to tell her Celestia's asking for her to be sent back, but I just can't bring myself to lie to those eyes. "Well, I've just been informed that I can contact the Princesses. If you want, I'll ask if they're alright with you tagging along." I sigh in defeat. "Yes! Okay, do it, do it, do it!" She says in an excited voice as she literally bounces around me in circles. I shake my head, unable to be completely unfazed by her exuberance. I reach down and pick up the writing materials that had been sent with the letter. Well, I've never used a quill before, but it can't be that hard right? The world simply loves to prove me wrong. After wasting over half of the sheets trying to simply get the ink to flow in a line, and not just blotch up because I've pressed to hard or left it in one place for too long. I then move on to try and get the lines I'm scratching onto the sheet to actually look like letters. I eventually get down to one usable sheet by the time I actually get my penmanship to an acceptable level. And by acceptable I mean to a level that I wouldn't feel bad about having on the fridge. It likely didn't help that Fiery was still in the throes of her elation, as she always seems to keep wanting to bounce on the sheet I'm writing on. I make sure to shift my position away from her bouncing form as I write on the last good sheet. --- Dear Miss 'Makes me burp fire in the middle of a sentence', While I'm pleasantly surprised by the new found ability to communicate with you during my travels, your timing was tragically perfect. And no, I won't explain why it was like that, just is. N-e-who. It seems I picked up a hitchhiker back in Canterlot. And no, that's gross. Get your mind out of the gutter. Fiery apparently wasn't satisfied with the terms she left on yesterday and decided to go exploring a bit more. Unfortunately I had left my bag unattended and she stumbled across it. When I came back to grab it she got scared and hid inside it, so I effectively kidnapped her. On accident, be quiet. She's bugging me on if she can come with, she says she's fine with it and that no one will miss her. A bit depressing but oh well. Seeing as I'm technically not even attached to your country I think this is something better left up to you. Oh, and you will regret telling me about this ability. Now you will never be free of my ramblings! Mwahahahaha! Sincerely, Coal P.S: Send more parchment and ink. --- Once my work of magnificent writing is completed I roll it up and toss it up into the air. I think of how I want it to be sent to Celestia as I shoot a small jet of fire at it. I take not that instead of the normal fire that comes out, this time it seems to be a black flame. The letter is soon engulfed and is gone without a trace. Is it too much to hope for that she'll burp it up too? Yup. "Alright, I sent it asking Celestia if you can come with. Still no promises but if she says okay then I can't say no." To which I'm greeted with a smile that shouldn't be anatomically possible. "Oh that's great, I'm sure the Princess will say yes, I mean, it's every filly's dream to tag along with an alien as they travel the world." "That sounds too specific to be true." "Well, maybe it isn't, but I still really want to come." "Yeah, I got it the first hundred times." I say as I rub my wrist, it's feeling sore from getting used to writing with the quill. "Oooh, and those things at the end of your front legs are really cool! Can I see!?" She squeaks out excitedly, and in a moment she's next to me excitedly watching me rub my wrist. To be honest, her horn is just a little too close for comfort. "That it, can't take it any longer! Get away from Half-Dragon!" I hear a strangely familiar voice yell out from behind me. Strangely enough it sounds reminiscent of a yipping dog. ... Wait a second. I turn around to see a three foot tall humanoid lizard, it's scales are muddy brown mixed with black. It's Nirkul. He seems to have jumped out from behind a large boulder, evidently until recently he had been hiding. What the hell is he doing here. "Nirkul, stop! Hide!" I hear Virnuln's voice fail at whispering to his fellow Kobold. "What the hell are you two doing here?" I ask, legitimately surprised by their being here. At my voice Nirkul seems to calm down from his previous outrage and look at me sheepishly. Virnuln also slinks out from behind the rock, looking like I had just caught him with a claw in the cookie jar. "I'm sorry about not telling you Half-Dragon." Virnuln says in a dejected tone. "We just wanted to follow and make sure you were safe." "Uh... yeah, what Virnuln said." Nirkul intones. Very eloquently said there little guy. "Okay, it's fine guys. I'm not upset, just surprised with the fact you're here." I say, which seems to get them to perk up a bit, then a question comes to mind, "Wait, how in the hell have you two been keeping up?" "We Kobolds have tunnels everywhere, and we build trams long before ponies make trains." Virnuln explains. Okay, I guess that makes sense... Wait a second, the ponies have trains? Well paint me white and call me Celestia. "Okay, alright then. I kind of wish the two of you would have just asked me about it. I probably wouldn't have had a problem with it." To which the two of them respond with looking guilty again. Oh come on, the filly seeming adorable is understandable. But Kobolds? The hell is wrong with me. Well, you were hitting on winged unicorn Princesses yesterday, if that's any indicator. The thought is a bit perturbing with the D&D mindset of Kobolds being creepy little bastards that are, well, monsters. However, I'd like to point out that they seem a lot less so. They're more... well, not cute, but their size makes them seem like lizard kids. It's weird I know, but that's just the feeling I get from these two. My thoughts are interrupted when I feel something pushing up against my back. Looking over my shoulder I find Fiery Thought hiding behind me and peeking out at the two Kobolds. She seems to be having a mixture of fear and curiosity going on. "Well, I guess we should get introductions out of the way. I'm not going to have the two of you slinking around in the shadows all of the time, now that I know you're here." I reach around and push fiery out from behind me and say, "This is Fiery Thought, a unicorn filly who has guilt tripped me into coming along." She gives a shy little wave to the two of them as I introduce her. Looking to Fiery and pointing towards the two Kobolds I say, "And those two over there are Kobolds named Virnuln and Nirkul." Virnuln gives a smile and waves back, while Nirkul just looks a little grumpy. "Well, now that is out of the way, how about we get something for the little filly over here to eat? If I'm going to be taking her with me she's going to have to be fed." "Oh yes Half-Dragon, of course." Virnuln says as he starts rooting around in his little backpack before pulling out some dried fruit. "This work right?" I look to Fiery and receive a nod, "Yeah, that'll be fine Virnuln." Virnuln happily makes his way over to the filly and hands her the fruit, within a few moments she's munching contentedly on it. Nirkul however doesn't seem as enthused about the little filly as he sits down in our little circle with a huff. Well, at least this trip isn't going to be boring. --- In the frosty north an armored griffin stands vigil on the old and worn battlements. He is a warrior of the republic, he is a legionary. the legions have been idle for a very long time. The Emperor grows fat and lazy on his throne while the senate is trapped in their endless petty squabbles. The Legionnaire often finds a bit of humor in comparing the Senate to a chicken coop, the way they all bluster and make fuss over nothing. He stands guard over the fort that marks the southern boundary between the Republic and Equestria. In ages past the fort was once a critical defense against those who would threaten the Republic, and it had served well during it's time. Now however it is a post for those who have been so unfortunate as to receive the ire of those in power. Little does this legionnaire know, but his lazy and dishonorable post is about to get quite a bit more lively.