Chapter 2
“Less talk, more rock.” M. Gandhi
“And so there I was face to face with the monster roaming the side streets, Okay, it had its back to me, but you get the idea. Mm what was it? Um I think it’s called a salamander. I don’t recall, my schooling was more on nonconventional things. Not dungeoneering. Oh what did I do…” He gave a wolfish grin, “Oh I think we both know the answer to that question. Uh um the salamander had the face of red dragon. What? That’s not racist. Is not. Look, do you want me to tell you what happen or not? Okay then. It had a torso like me, you know.” He started wiggling his arms for emphasis. “And below that, a long snake tail with spines going down its back.”
A dimly red hued light came off the snake monster, making the shadows climbing the walls of the side streets look like growing weeds along an old road swaying in the wind. The alleys were about two arm lengths wide. Various bits of trash littered the ground; with a light wind whipping through and picking up some lose dirt and taking it just a few feet away. The ground under the Salamander started to cook and heat up.
“Ssso looksss like my next meal had come to me. Hesss hesss.” the Salamander’s shoulders shook ever so noticeably and its tail whipped the earth.
“Nah, but I am thinking you’ll make a good hide, and it’ll sell well.” I said, through a confident smile.
That’s when it the monster spun around quicker then I expected, and got in a solid jab with the javelin. “Wait, I didn’t say it had a weapon on it… oh and it had a javelin in one hand and a bag slung over its shoulder.”
The jagged tip of the weapon sliced through the air and into the right shoulder of the robe. It cut lower than that in the flesh covered by the cloth. As the weapon was wrenched back, I skillfully twisted cutting deeper. A light shower of red flowed into the spaces between monster with a snake features and the monster that looked like a bald monkey.
I heard the sound of hooves come rushing up behind me. I didn't look back as I shoved a hand back and shouted. “Stay back!” I said looking down at the newest opening on my body, just a fair amount of blood trickled down my arm, soaking the sleeve of the robes. “So this is not a dream after all.”
“No, that's what I was try to tell you!” called out Twilight, sounding panicked.
“It’s going to kill him!” cried out Sweetie Belle, her voice cracking with tears not far behind her voice.
“Do something Twilight! Save him!” said Scootaloo.
I started by clenching my left hand then opening it slowly, then clapping both hands together, then pulling them apart, followed by flourish of rapid hand gestures. Black sparks coalesced around my left hand which was now formed into a fist. Then in a small flash, my hand up to the wrist looked to have been set ablaze with black flame that seemed to dissipate into short wisps of equal blackness. “Open wide.” I said with a shout, letting loose a beam of black light. Beams of energy hit their target squarely in the chest, causing the salamander to slide quite a ways away back.
Clutching at its newly received wound, hissing in pain, the salamander shrieked “You’ll pay! I’ll make you pay!”, its hissing sounded more like water hitting a hot stone then a snake now. It lifted it hand for the injury, showing an 8 inch scorch mark. No blood, just black on glowing red scales.
“No way…” said a breathless Twilight, “How can you use spells with no horn?”
“I thought only unicorns could use magic.” said Sweetie Belle.
I repeated the same hand motions once more, this time the beam of energy shot right into the scaled beast’s face.
An unbearable wail came from the salamander. Everyone within ear shot covered their ears to safeguard themselves from the painful noises. This time the injury dealt by the newly discovered spell caster did a severe amount of damage to the beast; its whole face was singed black and its right eye was gone.
“Ha ha! Next tim- glu-” my words were cut off by burning hot scales being pressed onto the skin of my face.
“Let’s just say I have a very high pain threshold. The beast was out cold, in a matter of speaking.”
“Get it off!” I said, or tried to say, it came out more as arms flailing and legs kicking. I couldn't move my head out of risk of being more badly burned, but even if I wanted to, I couldn't because I was completely pinned.
“Twilight, what in tarnation is that thing?” another southern female said, this one sounding similar to Apple Bloom, but older.
“You mean the burning thing, or the thing under the burning thing?” Spike the dragon said.
“The one on top is a salamander.” Twilight astutely said, “And that’s a human.” Spike cut in pointing at me.
“Hueman?” the southern female parroted. The heat from the salamander's was beginning to rise to an uncomfortable degree. I could also smell something burning that wasn't me.
“Shouldn’t we be getting that monster off him?” pointed out Apple Bloom.
“Oh shoot, you’re right!” Clamored the stunned mare.
A sharp whistle cut through the air followed by “Rainbow, fire!” At first, nothing, then a sudden torrential downpour of water drenched my body and the salamander. The flaming body of the creature sizzled until its skin cracked, crumpled, and shattered, leaving a pile of char and a small red-gold glowing, cinder lizard in its place. A salamander born anew. I slowly tried to get back up, and I felt two, maybe three, of my ribs cracked. Getting to my knees, coughing up a small cloud of soot, and grabbing my shoulder, I struggled to my feet. I walked back to my backpack, my hand outstretched. “I smell bread.” Fwump, I fell face first into dirt. The last thing I felt before blacking out was my dog licking my hand in comfort. “Good boy.” I slurred into the ground.
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“Is it dead?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“I don’t reckon.” Applejack said.
“Well he’s still breathing. He probably passed out from that blow his head took when the salamander fell on top of him.” Twilight gathered. “But he’s burnt and bleeding badly. His body has suffered a lot of trauma. He needs medical attention.”
“And some new robes!” Sweetie Belle chimed in. Twilight and Applejack both looked at the robes and saw that they were split right down the middle
“Okay then, I’ll fly him over to Fluttershy’s place.” Rainbow Dash confidently said as she lifted Leon onto her back.
“We’ll meet you there.” Twilight said as she went for the backpack, “Applejack, take care of Spike.”
“What?” Spike the dragon said, “Why can’t I come?”
“Not you, the dog.”
“Can do.” Applejack said, moving towards the dog.
“What about us?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Yeah, why can’t we help?” Scootaloo interjected.
Twilight sighed, “You three have caused enough chaos today. Just go home, we’ll talk later.”
“Okay.” All three fillies said as their faces fell.
As the other ponies left, an idea came to Sweetie Belle. “Girls, why don’t we try doing something nice for him when he gets better?” “You know, that’s a great idea!” Apple Bloom said her, mood lifting. All three rushed off, with Scootaloo at the front.