//------------------------------//
// New Goal 
// Story: My Son, My Soldier, My Hero 
// by That_Random_Pony 
//------------------------------//


Climbing up the mountain was proving to be difficult for the gang. Ember's leg condition forced Draco to carry her, while Moon was trying to climb a bit below them. 

"Moon, hurry up," Draco called back, his smell of the hybrid waivering.

"Y'know it isn't easy, being on four legs and all?" Moon shouted up at him. 

"We could just wait for another patrol," Ember said. "They have to be looking for us."

He shook his head, pulling himself onto the ledge. "They go every hour. We're almost there," he insisted. "The next one'll leave in another half hour."

They waited for Moon to climb up, the boy and him panting as they tried catching their breath. After a five minute break, Draco started climbing again. It looked as though the higher they went, the steeper it became, making it even harder for them to climb. Even with the possibility of death from a single slip, neither of them looked down or hesitated to keep going. 

"Draco," Ember whispered. "I know you're angry about your friend."

"I'm not angry," Draco said in a low tone. "I'm pissed off."

"Listen," she hissed. "Don't be mad at my father for lying to you about Equestria's involvement in the war."

"You mean both of you?" he growled. "Now I see why my mother sent me away."

"Draco, don't you dare blame your own mother," she growled loudly. "My father-"

"Your father what?" he grunted, pulling them both higher. "My mother sent me here, not him! What, was I so out of control she sent me here in exchange for an army?!"

Moon's ears perked up and he glanced up worriedly.

"My father wanted to help you!" she argued. "Your mother just wanted to make sure you wouldn't hurt anypony or yourself!"

"Oh sure," he scoffed. "Then why couldn't I stay in Canterlot and let her teach me?"

"No pony--not even your mother--has the discipline of a dragon," Ember reminded him. "You still need to learn how to control yourself."

Draco grunted in annoyance at her argument, his hand reaching a flatter surface than the rest of the mountain. He pulled him and Ember up, Moon coming up soon after. The fighters stopped rushing around to prepare for another scout to go when they saw the two. The fighters helped Ember to her room, while they watched the wolf-pony with interest and question. Sticking close to Draco, they made their way through the main tunnel. Draco ignored their shocked faces as he marched on, reaching the stone door to King Draco's throne room. Shoving it open with one hand, he could see the king busily ordering the search leaders their assigned locations. 

King Draco stared with his jaw dropped as Draco and Moon walked in, both bloodied and covered in dirt. "Draco!" the king shouted, pushing past his fighters and running to him. "Where's Ember?!"

"The dragons took her to get her injuries treated," Moon said, surprising the dragon king.

"What are you?" 

"He helped keep Ember healthy while she was down," Draco explained. "And he helped us fight the griffons."

The king shook his paw gratefully. "Thank you," he smiled. "Draco, the Black Beaks-"

"Why didn't you tell me who was really fighting the griffons?" Draco questioned suddenly.

King Draco's eyes widened in shock. "What do you-"

"Why didn't you tell me my mother traded me for an army?" Draco growled, getting closer to the king.

"She never-"

"Because of you, and her, I lost a friend!" Draco shouted, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles were turning white. "I watched him die, knowing I couldn't save him!"

The king's expression softened as he saw the tears on Draco's eyes fall. "I'm sorry, Draco," he sighed sadly. "I never meant-"

"I'm gonna kill the griffon emperor," Draco interrupted. "You're going to teach me how to keep myself in check and train me to fight."

"Draco, I promised your mother-"

"I don't care what you promised!" he shouted angrily. "Tell her you haven't found me, or I'm dead! I don't care! I'm gonna rip that damn griffon's head off, and you can teach me how to do it, or I'll go in there myself!"

The king stared at Draco as he cried and pantsd in front of him, his anger showing as his own. "I told your mother I'd have this war over by the month."

"Then tell her it's over and keep the griffons in their cities until I'm old enough," Draco snorted. "This war will end when I kill that damn emperor."

"You can't do that." Both Draco's and Moon turned to the entrance, Ember being assisted by a fighter. "Not without me."

"Count me in," Moon nodded.

Ember's father walked over to her quickly, hugging her carefully. "I'm fine, Father," she said. 

"I thought I lost you," King Draco whispered. "I'm not throwing you out at the griffons."

"Father, you and mother always told me to do what I feel I want to do," she said. "And right now, it's being there for my friends."

King Draco looked at her with uncertainty and concern.

"Please, Father," she whispered. "This is what we want."

"We've got each other's back," Moon called. "Every step of the way. Right, Draco?"

The boy nodded, a determined glare lingering. "We'll end this war and all go home," he said. "I can control myself, this war ends, and Ember comes back. Everyone and everypony's happy."

King Draco looked to each of them, unable to ignore the fire in their eyes. They'd train themselves if need be, and fight with or without his permission. The bond they shared was unlike anything he'd ever seen. They'd all go through Tartarus and back if it meant sticking together. It only gave him one choice.

"I'll have a room carved for your friend."

                                                                                      



Canterlot Castle, Late Afternoon

Celestia lowered the sun just like always and raised the moon. As she passed an open window, she spotted a platoon of Solar Guards returning. Given how early they were, she had to assume they had some news. She trotted hastily to the throne room, awaiting their return. It was several minutes before her top lieutenant, Shining Armor, came in quietly. She could see the sad frown, and as he reached the bottom of the steps, he removed his helmet. 

Celestia had seen those eyes before. The eyes of a father telling his wife they're son wouldn't be coming home. The sadness of a brother seeing his elder lowered into a grave. The pity of a stallion seeing a mother cry over her husband's casket. It was the face she dreaded seeing from one of her guard's.

The Lieutenant climbed the stairs, farther than any stallion would ever, and held out a scroll with his hoof. The lump in her throat only worsened as she saw the seal of the Drago King. Nodding to him, and watching him leave, she opened the seal slowly, then unfurled the parchment. 

As her eyes traveled farther and farther down the letter, the lump was replaced by a cracking sound. Her heart shattered in her chest, and her mouth slowly opened. She only needed to read half of it before her magic dropped it to the floor. The clunking of it as it fell down the stairs was blocked out by the eternal silence of her mind. She tried so hard to just imagine she never had a son, that this was a very long dream she would just wake up from.

But no pony can feel pain from a dream. She slumped back in her seat, clenching her teeth so as to not sob. It was all in vain as she buried her face in her hooves and sobbed, whispering her son's name. 

Shining Armor didn't wait around to see the princess crying. He needed to tell Cadence while he could. He wasn't aware of a certain purple filly moving from cover to cover behind him. She was planning on scaring him, but the frown he had looked serious. Like when their grandcolt Shooting Star passed away. She decided to tail him and see what was bothering him. 

The lieutenant knocked twice on his marefriend's door. It was Blueblood who opened the door, yawning slightly before greeting him. "I'm guessing you're here for Cadence?" Blueblood sleepily asked.

"Actually, I think you both need to hear this," Shining said softly, getting the tired prince's attention.

"Shining!" Cadence exclaimed, calming herself when she saw his glum expression. "Shining, what's wrong?"

He hesitated, looking at his own hooves as he thought about what he could possibly say. There was no way to lighten the blow, but he couldn't just spit it out like a flankhole. Sighing softly, and rubbing his head anxiously, he looked at them both and took a deep breath.

"They found Draco." Cadence's demeanor uplifted drastically, and a smile came to Blueblood and Twilight's face. When they noticed his frown was still present they rose their brows. "Draco… didn't make it."

Twilight's mind went blank as she stared at her brother. This… this couldn't be happening. No… Draco… Draco was… he couldn't be. The same reaction went for Cadence, whose shocked eyes filled with denial.

"No. No, he's not dead!" she shouted. "He wouldn't just die!"

"Cadence, they were Black Beak!" he said. "Even we can't take them head on!"

Cadence stomped out of her room and pushed past her coltfriend to the throne room. Shining galloped to her, doing his best to keep up beside her. "Cadence! Cadence!" he shouted desperately. "CADENCE!"

"HE CAN'T BE DEAD! HE CAN'T BE!" she yelled, crying softly as she did her best to glare at him. "Those… flankholes couldn't've… I'll show them-"

"Cadence," Shining said softly. She collapsed onto the rug and sobbed as quietly as she could manage. 

Shining knelt beside her and comforted her as best he could. She hugged him tightly, sobbing into his mane and wetting some of his coat. Blueblood sat on his bed, still processing the news at his own pace. He wasn't alone. Twilight watched her brother comfort Cadence as she cried desperately. She finally allowed it to sink in, and she galloped out from her cover. Her big brother spotted her as she ran down the hall.

"Twily, wait!" he called after her.

But she didn't stop, she didn't slow down, she galloped. Her tears fell behind her as she went straight into her room and locked it behind her. The weakness in her hooves finally made her buckle. She curled up as tightly as she could, then cried. 

Draco wouldn't be there to hug her whenever she was said. He'd never run around the halls, or study with her, or even say hi to her ever again. He was gone, and that fact tore her heart up. She kicked her leg out to the nightstand, then gasped as something soft dropped onto her side. She grasped it with her hoof, bringing it up to see. 

It was Draco's guard plushie.

Sobbing lightly, she climbed into bed and hugged the toy tightly. She'd never let go, even as the night persisted. It was all she had left.

All she had left of Draco.