Open.
The small band of pony trudged along the rocky, dusty field. The flat, empty land stretched out, bordered by high mountains, only just visible on the horizon. Ahead a miniscule break signaled an escape the burdensome heat and harsh landscape.
Spring Mist wiped his brow as he walked, squinting to see in the light. An idea struck him, and he focused his magic as he walked. His first attempt, everything went black. Not wishing to alarm the others, he walked forward as surely as he could. The bright list came back with a vengeance when he released the spell.
He tried again, focusing on refinement, like Starlight had taught him. “Sometimes it’s about the little steps. The subtle approaches. As a natural shadow user, you should understand this.” He heard her voice echo in his head as he tied his spell again.
He smiled as he opened his eyes wide, no longer blinded by the glaring sun. A dark haze covered everything, making it a little easier to see. Not that there was anything to see. Mist sighed as he felt a tap at his shoulder.
He turned around, and heard a slight and stifled “Eep!” as he did. Radiant looked worried, and Mist realized that he had no idea what his spell looked like to another pony. “Don’t worry. I did this.”
She relaxed a bit, and took on an expression of curiosity. “What did you do?”
“A small shadow spell. The sun was getting to me.”
“Huh, clever. You know, in all of those stories you read about adventures, nowhere do they talk about battling the sun. The heroes just kinda deal with it.”
“Well, I’m sorry I don’t live up to your storybook heroes.”
“No, my point is that even nowadays, nopony thinks to bring sunglasses. Even I forgot them.”
“Well, I guess they’re not on a list of priorities when planning a crazy mission like this.”
“True, but you’d think they’d get on the list eventually.”
“Maybe, but does it matter?”
“It mattered enough for you to do something about it. I see your finesse is improving. Any chance you could share the love?”
“Umm… I don’t know… You sure?”
“What are you going to do, blind me?”
“Not likely, I just have no way to judge.”
“I’ll just tell you, then.”
“Alright…” Mist focused on Radiant’s eyes, one covering them with a light shadow. His spell finished, and he looked at the mare. A shiver went down his spine. “How… how is it?”
“Perfect. You’re good at that! Do I look as creepy as you?”
“I don’t know… You look pretty creepy…”
“Awesome. Thanks, Mist!” Mist shivered again as the cheerful mare trotted forward. But the solid black eyes proved unsettling, terrifying Mist slightly. Creepy pink pony.
Coward.
Oh, not you again.
You sound surprised. I’m always here.
What do you do with your time, exactly?
Oh, rifle through your personal memories and thoughts. Nothing especially new, though. I did have a thousand years to mess with your head.
Yeah… actually, about that… why don’t I remember anything from then?
Any number of reasons. Maybe I just don’t want you to know anything. Yet. Or maybe something is protecting you from them. The mind is pretty resilient. If it makes you feel better, even after your banishment, it still took years to break you.
Yeah, much better. Thank you…
Don’t be flat with me. I’m just being honest.
But we both know that your honesty is usually connected to some grand ulterior motive.
How dare you? Have you so little faith in me?
You are the aspect of hatred and deception. Of course I have faith in you. Faith that at some point you will stab me in the back.
Ah, fair enough.
Mist couldn't help but chuckle, but it was quickly stymied. Horror overtook a small part of his mind. He shivered, and looked around at anything he could.
Of course the thing he would find would be the lumbering form of a dragon careening through the air. Growing uncomfortably close. Mist looked around, cursing himself. How did I miss that? The others were in various positions, the trained fighters taking point, guarding the others.
Chaser flouted overhead, patrolling the air. Luna stood at the point of the group. Mist’s instinct took over, and he rushed to her, standing in front of her.
“What are you doing?” she asked intensely. Mist ignored her, focusing.
Runner yelled up at Chaser, “Chaser, report!”
Mist heard the reply far above him. “Bearing towards us, not changing course.”
“Area?”
“Flats. Sulfur pools to the East. Hills too far to the north.”
“Any sign it’s headed to the pools?”
“Negative! Holding steady.”
“Damn,” Runner stomped the ground. “Group, prepare for incoming dragon.”
Luna interjected, “Remember, we try to speak to it first. It surely cannot be foolish enough to risk a war.”
“Yes, Princess,” obeyed Runner. “But we will take over at the first sign of aggression.”
“As I expect you would.” Luna smiled slightly. Mist did not move, watching the dragon draw closer.
The large beast was a brownish red color, large muscular wings beating heavily. His scales did not glisten as Mist expected, but looked worn and tattered.
Old, very old.
Not now!
You may want to listen.
Why?
I can help.
Ha! You? Help?
I’d rather you not die. Yet. I still need you.
And you can prevent that? Only so you can betray me later?
Would you rather die now? Listen to me, and I can help you. If for nothing else but to help them. Help Radiant and Luna. And the others.
Fine. I assume you have some “great wisdom” to share.
No, just experience. Now prepare. And listen to me.
Mist steadied himself as the ground shook. The vibrating landing of the dragon upset the others, and they steeled themselves. The great creature looked down at the small group of ponies. Smoke billowed from his nostrils, curling up into the air. The acrid smell of char and sulfur permeated the atmosphere, filling Mist’s nostrils.
A booming voice filled the air. “Ponies, what leads you to trespass upon these lands?”
Luna replied, voice equaling the dragon’s, “We trespass not. These lands are under no claim.”
“They are under mine. And I find you guilty of trespassing.”
“By whose authority do you make such a claim?”
“By the only authority of import. My own.”
“And just who are you to claim such authority?”
“I am Narhara the Spire-Climber, of the ancient Tovnr Clan.”
Oh, the Tovnr. Such a funny band of fools. Surprised there are any left.
You know them?
Not personally, but I… knew… a pony who was familiar. The Tovnr Clan was considered a pariah group. Dissidents. Barely recognized as dragons.
Why?
They were seen as too… annoying.
Annoying? Really?
Well, by dragons’ definition, they were a little too ambitious and careless. There’s a code that all dragons follow. The Tovnr broke that code. Repeatedly. Tread carefully with this one.
“- only to pass through to the lands beyond,”
“Still you have trespassed. And you must pay the price for that transgression.”
“Dragon, enough! I demand passage. By Royal Decree, as Princess of Equestria, and by the Code upheld by yo-”
“Ha! A pony Princess? Well it has been a long time. And there is no ‘Code’ here. That decree has no sway. My law is the only law.”
“I demand yo-"
“Demand all you wish, you will meet the same sentence as received by all enemies of the Tovnr. You will pay with your li-”
A blast hit the dragon square in the eye, turning it into a dark void. He yelled, flailing around. Mist growled slightly at the trashing dragon.
“Mist, what have you done?” Luna asked angrily.
“Diplomacy’s not working,” Mist said as he shrugged off his packs. “The Tovnr seek only blood. He was going to attack, and I wanted the upper hand.”
A stream of fire shot into the air, orange plumes swimming above the party’s heads. The dragon finally righted itself, aiming right at Luna.
Shield.
Mist’s horn flared, a green shield appearing just as the flame reached them. The heat was intense as the attack was blocked. Mist felt a twinge in his side. Finally the fire dissipated, and Mist released the shield to see Chaser darting in front of Narhara’s one clear eye, buzzing like an insect. The dragon clawed at its blackened eye, trying to clean away the shadow spell.
Mist heard orders from Runner being issued. Chaser spun around the dragon’s head, Starlight targeted spells, waiting for the opportune moment.
Tell her to aim under the arms and behind the jaw.
“Starlight!” Mist yelled, “Under the arms! Behind the jaw!”
She nodded, focusing on the key areas. Chaser flitted deftly through the air, and the dragon swatted at her. The moment his arm was raised, Starlight released a shard of ice. It flew through the air, hitting its target with expert precision. Narhara roared as the spell cut deep, spilling blood on the dusty ground. Its tail lashed out, clipping Chaser as she passed, sending her spinning.
He abandoned his eye and focused on the ponies below. Runner was ushering Radiant and Bleedingheart back, behind him. The earth pony would be easy pickings for the great dragon. He leapt, covering a short distance, drawing on Runner and the other two.
As he reared, a bolt of lightning zapped into his side. Winds picked up, swirling, throwing dust into the air. Clouds formed, darkening the sky. Lighting flashed, blue and white, hot as it struck near Mist.
Above him, Luna flew upwards, the center of the storm. The dragon shielded its uncovered eye from the storm, batting at the air wildly.
Beating its wings once, it rose into the air, releasing a stream of flame into the sky, coloring the dark clouds an ominous orange and red. Another flash of lightning torn through the sky, finding the hulking mass of the dragon, and accompanied by a familiar sound.
“BE STILL!” Luna’s voice sounded through the sky.
The dragon flailed again, firing off another stream of fire. I’d protect her. A wave rushed toward Luna, and Mist immediately threw a shield around her. He strained as the fire beat against the green bubble, so far away. Luna broke through, another flash striking Narhara. Smoke seeped from under his scales as he roared. He began a long decent to the ground. Mist rushed over to get Radiant and Starlight to safety. Runner and Bleedingheart were too far away to help. Leave them! Mist ran with the other two. Shield, Mist. Now! Just as the dragon landed, Mist conjured a shield around himself and the others.
The wave of dust and rock rushed around Mist’s sphere, clearing quickly. When it settled, Mist noticed the sky was clear again, sun beating down as if nothing had happened. Mist looked over at the news mound in the desert.
Well isn’t that something?
We did it?
I guess so. I’ve seen some things, but this…
What, you didn’t think we could win?
It was too easy. Luna is a really useful pony. I guess challenging a spirit is a bad idea.
You guess?
Okay, I know. Look at what happened to you. Now you are stuck with me. At least it didn’t involve you dying.
Ha, that’s a laugh. I very nearly did. But enough…
Mist approached the dragon to see Luna land nearby.
“Is it dead?” asked Radiant.
“No,” Luna replied. “Dragon. Rise.”
The mass shifted, dust and dirt falling and swirling to the ground. A large indentation remained in the ground. Narhara revealed his face, looking beaten and disheveled.
“Dragon Narhara the Spire-Climber, of the Tovnr Clan, you stand defeated. Submit now to me, and leave us, or face the moon’s wrath.”
“You have bested me, this time. But I submit to the moon. You have safe passage, but know that if you ever cross my path again, I shall not hesitate to bring my brethren upon you, even if we were to war against the entirety of the pony lands.”
“Then you know that you shall all meet your deaths, for the day and the night, and that which lies between and therein, will rise against you. You should fear greatly the fate of your clan.”
“Oh, I fear. But not you. Nor your lighter twin. That one. That one carries the black. Not like you, who have been touched. He carries it still. I fear not the pony lands or the fate of my clan. But you should fear. Now restore my vision, and I will be on my way.”
Mist balked for a moment, confused. Then looking at the blackened area of the dragon’s eye, he removed the spell. Peeling back, a gold eye came into view. The dragon offered a snort and a snarl, and took off to the skies.
Mist watched as the dragon departed, revealing Bleedingheart, Runner, and Chaser behind him, a short distance away. Well that was odd.
Mist didn’t wait to speak to anypony, instead heading off to check on the others. Runner and Bleedingheart were arguing over a prone Chaser. She didn’t look too worse for wear, but she wasn’t conscious.
“-an idiot!” Bleadingheart yelled.
“You will do nothing without her provision!” Runner retorted.
“I need to check her for injuries, she would understand that. You should understand that!”
“You will not remove her armor!”
“To hell with your ‘code’, Runner. I’m doing it.”
Bleedingheart went to remove her armor, and Runner motioned to attack. Mist, without thinking, shielded Bleedingheart and Chaser. Rough Runner turned, staring at Mist. He charged, grunting as he ran.
Mist hit him with a shadow spell, blinding him. The massive earth pony yelled as he thrashed about. “Hope I don’t find you; when I do, you ancient bastard I’ll-”
“What? What will you do?” Mist challenged. “What will you do, you worthless pony? Kill me? I can crush the life out of your puny, insignificant body before you could think to move!”
Mist gulped when we heard his own voice. Runner stood stock still. Everypony else, who had joined the group, stared at Mist. He looked about at their varied expressions. Ignoring them, he walked up to Runner, speaking directly in his ear.
“I get it. I understand the Guard’s Code. I know the importance. But she could die, Runner. Let it go.”
Runner relaxed his muscles a bit, and Mist released his shadowed eyes. Runner looked at Mist ushered him over to the shield containing Bleedingheart and Chaser. A slight haze appeared around them. “See, now only the doctor will see her. But you have to let him do his work.”
Runner nodded, walking away. Luna and Starlight approached him, engaging him. Radiant carefully walked towards Mist, treading on eggshells. “M- Mist? What happened? Are you-”
“I did what I had to. I’m fine. I’m in control. Just trying to keep things under control.”
“But you’re not the one to have to do that, Mist. You don’t have to at all.”
“Why not? Will anypony else?”
“Princess Luna woul-”
“Luna. Don’t bring her up right now, please.”
“But Mist, she-”
“She is the reason for all of this! She and her sister! The Nightmare, me, we’re just pieces on the board. We-” Mist noticed tears forming. “I’m sorry, Radiant. I’m just… I’m angry right now. I think… I think you should just stay back for a while…”
“I- Okay, Mist.” Radiant hung her head as she walked away, back to the gathered saddlebags and packs. Mist sighed, turning his attention back to his shield.
Why, Nightmare? Why are you doing this?
Well, that is something you will discover along the way. It’s a sad truth, I suppose. Nonetheless, you will learn it. I have no doubt about that. And when you do, everything will be clear.
Are you ever going to not be cryptic?
Perhaps.
Of course. Also, my spells… They seem… easier. It’s all you, isn’t it?
Perhaps.
I hate you.
I know.
I hate me.
I know.
Mist sighed again. It didn’t take long for Bleedingheart to finish tending to Chaser. She was awake, finally. Groggy, but awake. And soon enough, the group was once again travelling, the last stretch of the infernal desert.
Changes. Not for the better.