//------------------------------// // six // Story: Jump of the Iron Dragon // by tosety //------------------------------// I was spinning my new hoofball between my hooves as I sat on the train back from Canterlot. “Earth ponies are really important to the game. It’s our job to keep the unicorns distracted so they can’t mess with the passes or rip the ball out of the pegasus’ hooves. More importantly, they need to keep their unicorns safe from the other team’s earth ponies.” “Yeah, but I still think it would be cooler to do more with the ball than just kick it for the conversion.” “I understand,” Dad chuckled, “but some of the most important jobs are the ones no one sees. They’re also the ones that are the most rewarding. Especially the ones where you’re protecting somepony important.” At this, he reached over and messed up my mane. My mom gave her usual sniff of disapproval. “I really think that game is much too dangerous. Ponies are always getting hurt.” She wrapped her wing around me protectively. I saw a dark blue unicorn sitting in a corner of the car. “It’s an important part of growing up. He needs to face a little pain if he’s going to realize how strong he can be. It builds character and gives him confidence.” I wasn’t too sure about that, but I loved the game despite some of the painful hits I took when colliding with the other colts. ~~~ The ball was zigzagging through the air towards Flitter when I saw one of the other team’s pegasi diving towards Shimmer Stream. I let go of the earth pony I was wrestling with and jumped into the oncoming pegasus... ~~~ The whole train lurched sideways and I found myself thrown to the other side of the train. My parents quickly grabbed me. They were holding each others’ hooves with me stuck between them and all three of us were bouncing around the train like we were being fought over by a couple of unicorns... I watched Twilight and the nurse work to get Steelskin’s condition stabilized. I suppressed my rage and sought to focus on finding something productive to do. I looked down at Steelskin’s friend trying to suppress dry heaves now that his stomach was empty. “Thank you for staying with him, little Rocky.” I rumbled, trying to comfort him. He looked up at me with a queasy little smile and a touch of fear and wiped away a bit of bile at the corner of his mouth. “I’ve gotten him stable, but we need to get him to the hospital. I’m going to teleport the three of us into town, please meet us by the hospital.” She glanced over at Rocky, “Oh, I don’t have the strength left to teleport four as accurately as I need to. Tallic, could you please escort him back?” Before I had a chance to respond, the three ponies vanished in a purple blaze. Turning to the little colt, I asked “Do you wish to walk or fly?” He gave the obvious answer and I knelt down so he could climb aboard. We landed outside the hospital as the residents scattered before me and told Rocky to run in and find out what room Steelskin was being treated in. I dove too early and the pegasus slammed into my side. We both fell to one side of Shimmer Stream and I looked up to see Shimmer’s magical aura guide the ball to Flitter, who landed in the endzone. ~~~ Scootaloo and Rocky were ahead of me and the tree was falling. I was running, but it was like I was swimming through maple syrup. I wasn’t going to make it... The blue unicorn had wings. ~~~ Dad lost his grip and was flung off to the front of the car, but mom held me even tighter, wrapping her wings securely around me. When we finally stopped, mom whispered “Good, you’re okay.” She closed her eyes and let go of me... ~~~ I lay under the tree, watching Scootaloo and Rocky stand up. Smiling, I closed my eyes... ~~~ I stumbled over to dad... Staring into his room, I saw the medics healing him with a mixture of salves, stitches, and magic. After several minutes, I noticed that I was tearing up the cobblestone road with my talons. That settles it, I need to vent some of this, before someone takes offense at the property damage. I set out in the direction of the forest I first appeared in, and was soon able to sight a manticore. Not really a tough fight, but it will hopefully be seen as pest control. Just in time, I remembered the human’s warning and landed in front of it to give fair warning. “Greetings, I need to rip something limb from limb, might you be able to suggest an alternate target?” The creature proceeded to not only stay silent, but move into an aggressive stance, rather than the appropriate action of cowering in fear. Apparently, it is a dumb beast. “This is your last chance before I tear you to pieces. All you must do is beg for mercy.” The creature gave no indication of comprehension, but rather leapt at me like I was a prey animal. I proceeded to rip its stinger off. It swiped at me with it’s claws. I contemptuously let them connect. They glanced off my hide unable to even scratch it. I then smashed it against a tree with one claw. The monster limped at me and tried to bite my neck. What is with this beast? Is it rabid, or just incredibly stupid? I grabbed it and wrung its neck. Ripping into it’s soft belly, my rage flowed away. The warmth of it’s blood covered my muzzle. I sat savoring my meal for several minutes... until the yellow pegasus found me. “How dare you kill a fellow creature! You have no reason at all to kill somepony in such a...” She was staring into my eyes and I sensed all her emotions on a much deeper level than I had ever experienced. I knew for a fact, that if my motivation for this act was anything but the instinctual need that it was, I would be feeling deep remorse. Instead, it seemed, the remorse fell to her. “I’m so sorry. I saw you and just assumed...” She said as she shrank into herself. “What is wrong with this land?” I growled, refusing to be mollified by her apology. “A colt survives the accident that kills his parents only to be crushed by a tree the next week! Either some minor deity has it in for him, or this place is one of the most dangerous realities I have encountered. Now, to top it off, I have a pony lecturing me on eating meat.” “I understand-” “Do you? Do you really know what it means to see those you care about violently killed? To have every lesser creature either run in fear of you or try to kill you because of what you are? To have your own instincts pushing you to give them reason to fear and hate you?” I was virtually spitting in her face as I ranted. I felt a vicious joy at how she cringed. I imagined how the snarling of my voice and the bloody mess my muzzle presented to her would affect a timid herbivore like her and revelled at her discomfort. She pulled herself together and stared at me again, but this time I felt a wave of compassion and reassurance wash over me. In addition, I felt all my tortured emotions reflected back at me. “I do know, because I have felt your heart just like I tried to get you to feel mine.” Yes, she does truly understand. This time, I let myself give in to the soothing influence even as I regretted my pleasure in causing her fear. I took a gentler stance and looked down. “My thanks, little pegasus. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.” The peace she gave me spread throughout my body. I even started to feel hopeful about Steelskin’s recovery. “How would you like me to dispose of this carcass?” I asked quietly. Normally I would care nothing for a carcass and just leave it for the carrion animals, but in our little exchange, I felt her need to show this creature respect even in death. Besides, it was the least I could do after my rant. I woke up screaming and was almost comforted by the pain I was feeling. My chest burned with every breath, both hindlegs were a mass of pain, and there was a stinging pain in my side. Turning my head, I saw Twilight and Doctor Emerald. I remembered what Rocky said about them healing him from our little ‘tussle’ as Applejack put it. Rocky Scootaloo I tried to get up. “Where’s Rocky and Scootaloo?” I tried to ask, but it came out as a garbled “Wh.. Rock... Scoo...?” Doctor Emerald Quickly touched his horn to my forehead. “Don’t worry, they’re fine.” My world faded into a happy green glow. After taking care of the corpse and cleaning myself off, I flew back to the hospital and found the knight waiting for me. He saw me coming, but did not have his sidearm drawn. Instead, he had his arms crossed. I glided in for a landing. “What’s the deal with slamming me into that wall?” The knight yelled at me when I landed. “I understand last night, but today I did nothing to deserve it. I've given you your chance. There's a clearing not far inside the Everfree, the hospital is out of pony earshot leaving just Alex being able to hear. You want a dangerous knight trying to kill you? Fine, I'll give you what you want! One or both of us won't be walking away." His intimidation was cut short by a string of coughs that spoke of serious injury. Apparently two strong impacts to the chest in such a short period had caused some harm. To his credit, I have not seen many humans able to appear so strong while they appeared to be coughing up blood. Dragon rage was still too close to the surface, so I decided to say as little as possible. “We shall talk tomorrow and see what happens. I will meet you in the field when the sun clears the treetops.” I answered. Satisfied, the knight walked away, limping slightly. Once he was safely gone, I looked into the room Steelskin was being treated in. Twilight appeared to be using her magic to examine him without waking him up. She did not seem reassured. The tree was falling and I was too far away to save them. “Greetings, Steelskin.” Time was frozen, the tree was hovering just above a frozen Scootaloo and Rocky, and Princess Luna was standing in front of me. “So, my little pony, why did you sacrifice yourself for them? You barely even know them, yet you took their place under that tree.” “I... I don’t know, I just kinda acted without thinking.” Suddenly I was under the tree with two broken legs and a branch sticking out of my side. Princess Luna was staring at me. “Am I gonna die?” “That is yet to be determined, little Steelskin, but the real question is would you do it again? If I had the ability to go back and let you choose not to save them, would you take it?” The tree was hovering over Scootaloo and Rocky again. All my emotions suddenly settled down into a sad, strong calmness. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” I said, staring into her eyes with quiet resolve. “It is time for me to go. Your father was a wise stallion, keep his words in your heart and you will honor his memory greatly” She called as she was swept up into the sky. I settled down with one eye looking into Steelskin’s room and prepared to wait through the night. Twilight came out of the hospital looking almost as exhausted as she did after our little dust up the previous night. “Don’t worry, Tallic, he’s going to be okay. We’ve gotten his wounds closed up and now he just needs rest and time for his bones to finish healing.” In addition to what I had seen in the window, there was something in her demeanor that told me she was holding back. There was more to be said. “A lie of omission is just as irritating as a false statement.” I glared at her to add weight to my words. She sighed and added “I was hoping to wait until tomorrow to tell you. We know he will live, but his injuries were so severe, we don’t know how well he’ll recover... also,” she added sheepishly “You’re scaring the other patients... I was told to ask you to leave for the night.” No! I wanted to yell, but I knew there was nothing I could do for the night. I closed my eyes and suppressed my rage yet again. Someday soon I will snap and level this town. Maybe a fight with that knight will be enough to vent all this frustration. I could see Twilight getting nervous. I wonder what she would do if I refused... No, that would be a sure way of being harassed for my entire stay here. “Fine, I shall leave for the night.” As I was getting up, I saw Steelskin open his eyes and glance out the window at me. I moved close to the window. “I must go for the night, but I shall return in the morning,” As I was getting ready to fly, I made my decision. “and I will have a gift for you.” I glanced up at the darkening sky, then, turning to Twilight, I asked “Would the town blacksmith be open this evening?” “Yes, he tends to work late into the night, you’ll find him at...” “Tallic, please don’t go yet, Pinkie Pie wanted me to ask you-” The little colt broke into a coughing fit. “What does metal taste like?” After more painful coughs, he added “She wants to make you cupcakes.” Another coughing fit followed this statement. “..And I’m kinda curious too.” He whispered. This is even better. I smiled warmly at him and gave a little chuckle. “Is he well enough to come to the window?” I asked Twilight. “I’ll help him over.” She quickly trotted inside and levitated Steelskin to the window. Meanwhile, I had thrust my foreleg into the window and was channelling as much magic I could into a loose scale near my elbow. When Twilight levitated him over, I motioned to the scale and said “Take it, and have a taste.” The little colt struggled a bit, but was able to pull the scale off with Twilight’s help. I noticed him wincing as he pulled at it. After he had it clasped between his hooves, she levitated him back into his bed and tucked in the covers around him. I did not need to wait for Twilight to finish giving me directions, I had seen the shop from overhead this morning. With one last glance through the window, I walked gently over to the blacksmith’s shop. I woke up to dad’s... no, Tallic’s voice. He was talking with Twilight Sparkle outside my window. She was telling him he had to leave. I wanted to run up and beg her not to send Tallic away, but there was a sleepy green haze all around me. Just as I was figuring out how to talk, he looked in and said “I must go for the night, but I shall return in the morning,” My fuzzy thoughts went round in circles until finally I remembered. “Tallic, please don’t go yet, Pinkie Pie wanted me to ask you-” I broke into a coughing fit, but managed to get out her request about what metal tasted like. He smiled and had me pull off one of his scales. Twi helped me back into bed and I examined it closely. The thing was about the size of my hoof and had a smooth, satiny finish. I also noticed a vibration and a low humming noise right at the edge of my hearing. I took a tentative bite of it. It tasted strong. I don’t mean that it tasted strongly of something, but instead, the taste itself spoke of strength. It also had a touch of bitterness, but that didn’t bother me. It was a good bitterness. When I looked at it, I saw tooth marks even though I barely even closed my teeth on it. I fell asleep clutching that humming scale. Miss Sweetheart walked into the hospital room to see Nurse Redheart. “I knew it was a bad idea to let him be with that dragon.” She sighed “Even if he does care about Steelskin, he doesn’t know his own strength, and now he’s knocked a tree over on him.” A tear ran down her face as she caressed Steelskin’s muzzle.