//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 "Rage of the Dragoness" // Story: Equestria Noir Season 2 Case 7 "Song of Ran'sea" // by Jacoboby1 //------------------------------// Chapter 6 “Rage of the Dragoness” There was a silence followed by murmuring among the crowd. Every dragon was wondering how the hell could more than one culprit be involved. “Explain yourself!” Car’buncle demanded. “What’s there to explain?” Tru’sent growled. “This pony is obviously mad.” “Hardly mad.” I said, I tried not to smirk. “The truth is there were exactly three dragons responsible for what happened.” “Three dragons?” Li’zael said. “That is quite a bold statement.” “Three dragons have unaccounted alibi.” I said. “In laypony, or in this case, lay dragon terms, nopony can recall where they were during the assassination attempt.” “Who are these three dragons?” Car’buncle asked. “You had better have evidence to back it up, otherwise I will reconsider even letting you stand before me.” “Yeah, thanks, Unc,” Spike muttered. “Anyways,” I said. “Allow me to explain. According to Spike’s testimony as he was about to receive the fire-” “He’s a liar!” Smog shouted. “He never did receive it!” “Smog!” Li’zael growled. Smog grumbled something about me and burning. I don’t think I need to put too much thought into that. “As I was saying,” I said. “As Spike was about to receive the fire, he entered the cavern through the only entrance possible. After talking to the spirit, Spike was about to receive it when Vol’vagia went mad and started shooting fire towards the ceiling.” “Why the ceiling?” Car’buncle said. “Surely he could’ve shot in any random direction in his distress.” “Because something,” I reached into my trench coat and pulled out the dark crystal, every dragon gasped at the sight of it. “Something was pulling it up.” “Keep that foul thing away from any dragon!” Li’zael growled. “Then you know what this is?” I asked. “Of course. Who doesn’t?” Li’zael replied. “That’s a dark magic crystal, used in the past to zap the very life essence away from our bodies.” “Luckily it’s busted now,” I said. “Because some dragon dropped it.” “Dropped it?” Car’buncle said. “Li’zael said it absorbs life essence correct? Well, a being made of fire would have it’s life essence pulled towards the ceiling, i.e. the fire itself.” I said. “So, this crystal is the cause of what happened?” Car’buncle asked. “Surely there is a lie conjured up by this pony to hide the truth.” Tru’sent grumbled. “Why are we even listening to this nonsense?” “I want to hear the whole story this, pony, has to offer.” Li’zael said. “Moreover, there does seem to be some logic to this story.” “I do believe you have a point Li’zael.” Car’buncle said with a solemn nod. “But, what were you going about saying the crystal was dropped?” “We found it on the ground with the rubble.” Twilight said. “Whoever was holding the crystal, was hiding in a tunnel above the cavern, using the crystal to drain away the energy. Also, we found the tunnel.” “Turns out, it was in Tru’sent’s cave, and it led us right to a hole directly above the cavern.” I said. “What is the meaning of this Tru’sent?” Car’buncle demanded. “He’s a liar! Nothing more! We have no proof that this thing’s testimony is even valid!” Tru’sent growled. “For all we know, the pony could have conjured up the tunnel and the crystal!” “Explain this,” Car’buncle said. “In actuality, chief, there is a witness to this crime,” I said, and then gazed directly at Smog. “What are you looking at me for, pony?” Smog growled. Spike smirked, and pulled out the orange scale from my pocket. “Recognize this, Smog? Found it in another tunnel by the cavern.” “There’s only one possible way that Smog’s scale could’ve been there,” I said, and then pointed, “is if Smog was there to witness the crime!” There was a loud clamoring among the crowd, before Car’buncle roared to get every dragon calmed. “Silence! All of you!” He yelled and then glared at Smog. “Explain this my son.” “It’s not my scale!” He cried. “It isn’t Dad! The ponies are lying again! Just like I’ve always sa-” I watched as one of Smog’s scales fell off. Spike smiled and said, “Turns out, it’s molting season for dragons. Scales fall off a lot, I should know, I’m a dragon myself.” “You have been leaving scales around the cave,” Li’zael said. “Come on, Mom! You can’t believe him!” Smog yelled. Li’zael glared at him. “You also never explained where you disappeared to during the ceremony…” “I think we can all see that Smog did witness the crime,” I said. “Now tell us, exactly what you saw.” Smog glared at me, then got a glare from both his mother and father. Finally, Smog sighed and said, “Spike...was never a liar…” “Smog…” Tru’sent growled. “I wanted to see for myself,” Smog said. “I wanted to see him fail, but, I was so mad when Vol’vagia said he could get the fire! Then...I saw Vol’vagia go nuts, and shoot the fire towards the ceiling. I panicked, and dug out through another tunnel, and then this rumbling happened.” “That sudden earthquake caused Tru’sent, here, to drop the crystal.” I said. “Now we can clearly see, that Spike’s testimony is accurate, because it’s Smog’s testimony as well.” “Why would you lie to us Smog?” Li’zael asked. “Because I didn’t want to believe that Spike was a real dragon…” Smog said, looking down. “He was raised by ponies for pete’s sake. I...I just wanted to prove that fact true…” “It doesn’t matter where you start, Smog,” I said. “What matters is the steps afterwards.” Car’buncle glared down at his son and said, “I hope you are willing to accept a long and hard punishment, young drake.” “Yes, Dad…” Smog said, crestfallen. “I’m afraid we aren’t done yet.” I said. “For Spike’s testimony has another detail.” “Yeah, I saw a fireball shoot out and hit this rock above my head,” Spike said, “I almost got crushed until Twilight saved me.” “A loose shot from Vol’vagia perhaps?” Li’zael suggested. “Hardly,” I said. “Unless Vol’vagia’s fire is blue.” Slowly, all eyes turned towards Ele’sium. The dragoness growled, “Oh, so now the pony wants to accuse me as well?” “Aunt Ele’sium?” Ran said as she looked up at Ele’sium. “You, you tried to kill Spar’kron?” “This pony is a liar, Ran’sea!” Ele’sium growled. “I’d never do such a horrid thing!” “Then explain how blue fire was there,” Rarity said. “When you said yourself that the only dragon that uses such a thing is you.” Ran took a few steps back from her aunt. “How could you?” “I was only trying to protect you,” Ele’sium said. “I went to that cavern for the same reasons Smog did. To disprove this foul mongrel's claim of dragonhood!” “He’s my brother!” Ran cried. “As well as your nephew!” “He is an abomination, tainted by ponies! He is not worthy of even being counted among our family! He’s constantly led you astray! Causing you to disobey me! To turn away from the only dragon who cared for you!” Ele’sium said, an edge in her voice. “Just because I decided to look for him?” Ran asked. “You tried to murder him!” “No family member should ever do that!” Spike yelled. “Be silent, mongrel!” Ele’sium growled. “From the moment you set foot in this cavern you’ve caused nothing but distress for me and my neice!” “Distress for Ran?” Spike narrowed his eyes. “Or just you?” Ele’sium’s slitted eyes became even more menacing. “So, what is the conclusion?” Car’buncle said. “That all three had a claw in what happened,” I said. “Specifically, Tru’sent disrupted the ceremony, Ele’sium tried to murder her own nephew, and Smog paid witness to it all, and lied.” “THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!” Tru’sent roared. “Li’zael,” Car’buncle said. “Yes, my love?” Li’zael growled. “See that his mouth stays shut for a while…” Car’buncle growled in turn. “With pleasure…” Li’zael said, baring her teeth. “You’re listening to the words of ponies over your own trusted dragons?” Tru’sent roared again. “YOU ARE NO LONGER WORTHY OF BEING OUR CHIEF!” “This is ludicrous!” Ele’sium yelled. She then put her tail around Ran. “Come Ran, let us go ho-” Suddenly, Ran took her claws and stabbed them into the tail. Ele’sium screeched in pain. She then glared at Ran’sea and whipped her tail around, hitting the little dragon across the face. “I tried to be nice, Ran’sea...but it seems more punishment is in order…” I looked at Tru’sent...his eyes showed dark magic…”As well, as a change in hierarchy…” Suddenly his jaws opened and black mist spewed forth…. “TWI! BARRIER NOW!” I yelled. Twilight’s horn glowed and the three of us were encased in a violet shield. The smoke didn’t penetrate the shield and we were safe from it’s effects. The same couldn’t be said for the rest of the drakes and Rarity. One by one they all fell, unconscious, to the ground. “It’s the same stuff Shadowhoof used at Fluttershy’s wedding!” Twilight said. “Can you clear it?” I asked. “Give me a sec!” Twilight’s horn glowed brightly, and her wings glowed in turn. She then flapped them and a gust of wind blew out at the smoke. The wind blew itself around until it completely dissipated the smoke. We watched as Tru’sent was about to bring down his claws on Car’buncle. I lifted a nearby rock in my magic and threw it at him. “Hey! Big guy!” I yelled. “We’ll handle him Spike!” Twilight said, “You get to safety!” Spike looked around and looked off in a direction. “Ran’s being taken! Ele’sium got away before the smoke got to her!” “Don’t leave your sister hanging,” I said with a smile. “I won’t!” Spike said, “Take care of Rarity!” He then took off towards where Ele’sium was flying away. Tru’sent laughed as he looked down at us, “I won’t ask how you pathetic ponies knew I was going to use dark mist. But I’m going to make your deaths slow, and painful. Then I will kill this pathetic weakling, and then bring war upon your kind, and have you worthless ponies enslaved for our meat!” “You apparently haven’t heard of our track record with dragons,” I said, drawing Silver Wolf from it’s sheath. “Oh, is that toothpick supposed to scare me?” Tru’sent said with an evil grin. “Sadly I can only use dark mist once without draining my power. But I am more than strong enough to-” I ran towards him, Silver Wolf held in my magic, and took a swing at his leg. The blade cut through his scales like a hot knife through butter. Tru’sent yelled in pain. He then looked at my sword, “Mithril…? But that’s impossible, the last mines were collapsed…” “Apparently you missed one,” I said with a smile. “No matter! I will sla-” Twilight fired a bolt of magic at his face. She then huffed and said, “Oh, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do that.” “Foul filthy equines!” Tru’sent roared, and his mouth opened. I dodged a jet of fire coming at me. I then ran under his belly, and sliced at each of his legs. He yelled in pain and almost came down on me before his wings carried him into the air. Twilight still hadn’t mastered flying yet, but she could still hit him from the ground. Her horn glowed and five magic missiles shot from it, hitting Tru’sent in the chest. I then sparked my horn, and the ground below me shot me up like a spring board. I managed to get on his back, and slice part of his neck. He roared and his tail reached back, it hit me before I could react and I took a blow to the chest. I fell off his back and I almost hit the ground before Twilight summoned a cushion of magic to soften my landing. Twilight ran to me and said, “Are you alright?” “I’ve been better,” I said, getting back on my feet. “Any idea how do that magic we did back in the mirror?” “I’ll have to get back to you on that one,” Twilight said. “Right, well,” I said, brandishing Silver Wolf. “Looks like it’s the hard way for us.” “What else is new?” Twilight said, smiling. “DIE PONIES!” Tru’sent roared. “Let’s end this!” Twilight yelled, and we both charged into the battle. _______________________________________________________ Perspective: Spike Geez, Ele’sium is a pretty fast flier. But I wasn’t about to let her take Ran’sea! I saw how she treated her! No dragon hits a family member of mine! Not even my own family… I saw Ele’sium touch down, Ran was in one of her claws. I hid behind a rock and watched Ele’sium set Ran on the ground. Ran glared up at Ele’sium and said, “What the heck is going on!” “Ran’sea, you know that’s no way to speak to your aunt…” Ele’sium growled. “You are far from any family I would want! A true aunt would never want to murder Spar’kron!” I yelled. “Why do you disobey me!” Ele’sium yelled. “I’ve done nothing but love and care for you. You are practically a daughter to me. I’ve protected for you, fed you, and loved you for eighteen years. Now you repay me by disobeying me?” “All I’ve wanted was to get to know the family I lost.” Ran’sea said. “Spar’kron was dead, now he’s alive. What sister wouldn’t find joy in that?” “I told you Ran’sea! That mongrel is not Spar’kron! He’s a trick conjured up by ponies!” Ele’sium roared. “He’s certainly acted more like family than you ever have.” Ran said, glaring at Ele’sium. “He cared for me, asked me what I thought, and above all, he came here because I asked. He let me make decisions for myself...something you seem vehemently against…” Ele’sium suddenly whipped her tail around...and HIT HER AGAIN! Ran’sea fell to the ground, flat on her face….that...evil...witch…. “All I’ve ever done is look after your welfare,” Ele’sium said, standing over her. “But like your mother you insist on disobeying me...I’m all you need Ran’sea...I am all you’ll ever need….say you’re sorry…” I saw tears...Ran’sea was crying…”I’m...sorry…” No...how could she do this to her… “Say...you love me for what I do for you..” Ele’sium said, evil dripping from her voice. “I...lov-” Ran’sea was about to say. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!! I charged towards Ele’sium, roaring at my loudest, and I suddenly grew…. I tackled Ele’sium as a full sized dragon. She flew back into a nearby rock. I roared at her as she regained her composure. “You keep away from my sister you witch!” “So, it seems you’ve let you beast out to play, Spar’kron…” Ele’sium said with a growl. “So you’ve shown your true colors after all…” “Speak for yourself,” I roared. “You’ve treated Ran’sea horribly ever since I’ve arrived!” “She is my niece! Everything I do is for her!” Ele’sium cried. “You will not take her from me!” “You don’t love her as a niece,” I said. “You love her as a pet! You couldn't stand the fact that mom left you for dad! Ran'sea your replacement for Mom! Just so you have some dragon that listened to everything you say!” “Everything I’ve done was to protect my family!” Ele’sium roared. “No, everything you’ve done is for yourself.” I growled. “If you truly loved Ran’sea, you would never have hit her. You would never have tried to kill me…” “I knew Fran’salel was making a mistake being with that foul lizard Thal’lan!” Ele’sium roared. “Don’t you dare insult our father like that!” I roared. I then looked back at Ran’sea, she was still on the ground, crying. “Ran…” I said gently. She looked up at me, tears still in her eyes, “Spar’kron?” she sniffed. “You okay?” I asked. “I, I’ve been the worst fool,” Ran’sea said. “I had no idea I was a prisoner instead of a niece.” “It’s okay Ran,” I said, lowering my muzzle to her. “When all this is over, you get to decide what you want to do in your life. Not Ele’sium, not me, not any dragon can say what you want to be.” “Spar’kron…” She said, fresh tears coming to her eyes. I suddenly got hit by Ele’sium. I almost flew back before I recovered myself. I clenched my claws into a fist and hit Ele’sium across the jaw. She staggered back and I swung my tail around to hit her across the neck again. She roared and shot her blue fire at me, when it made contact with my shoulder, it hurt! I roared in pain and staggered a little, then she headbutted me hard in the chest. I flew back into a rock. I slammed hard into it, and before I could get up Ele’sium pinned me with a claw. “Oh, I’ve been waiting to do this for a long time.” Ele’sium said, showing me crazy eyes. “The day, when all traces of that thief Thal’lan are erased from this world!” “NOOOO!!!” Suddenly I watched as Ran’sea grown into a full sized, lithe dragoness. She charged at Ele’sium, tackling her hard and sending the dragoness back. I took a breath to recover from my neck getting clenched. I saw Ran, she was a little shorter than I was, but no less powerful looking. Her spines had extended like mine, only smoother looking. She was skinnier than I was too, it seems her body was more built for speed than sheer power like mine was. She bore her fangs and roared loudly at Ele’sium. Ele’sium looked visibly shaken. Ran’sea then glared at Ele’sium and growled, her voice much more mature, “If you lay one more claw on my brother...I will kill you…” _____________________________________________________________ Perspective: Private Eye I dodged another fireball heading my way. My body was covered in bruises, some scrapes and cuts. But I was okay otherwise. I watched as Twilight ran up Tru’sent’s leg and flapped a little bit. She came to his open muzzle and yelled, “Bottom’s up!” She then fired a bolt of magic straight into the dragon’s mouth. Tru’sent roared as Twilight leaped out of the way of a jet of fire. She landed beside me, I noticed she had suffered some wounds as well. “I think we’re wearing him down.” she said. “We’d better end this quick,” I said, breathing heavily. “I’m running out of magic.” “Got any ideas?” She asked. I then looked at one of the crystals and saw how many of them there were all throughout the cavern. An idea formed alright. “Twi? Is it possible for you to put magic in me?” I asked. “There is a magical supplement spell,” Twilight said. “I could use it to transfer some of my power to you, but it’ll drain me and it won’t last long.” “Just give me enough to give this dragon an intense acupuncture session…” I said as my horn sparked again. Twilight nodded and put her horn to mine, I felt her magic flow into me and my horn sparked even more. All around me, the crystals began to reforge themselves into glowing crystal blades. At least fifty of them were made in the short amount of magical rush. Tru’sent looked around in confusion and tried to fire another fireball at me. Twilight broke the supplement spell and conjured a barrier to knock aside the fireball. She then grabbed the swords all in her telekinesis. I ran past her as she fired the various swords towards Tru’sent, I grabbed one in my magic as well. I held both Silver Wolf and the crystal blade as I charged with the other shooting blades. One blade stabbed through Tru’sent’s tail and pinned him into the wall. Others shot into his legs, shoulders, and other parts of his body, effectively pinning him to the wall. My horn then sparked and the ground below me shot me again. I put whatever magic was left in me into my two blades. I then swung them rapidly as more and more blades stabbed into Tru’sent. The dragon kept roaring in pain with each stab. I then brought my blades over my head and shouted “Requista in pain you bastard!” I brought both blades down and they shot silver sword beams at the drake, the explosion that followed rocked the cave and I landed on the ground on my hooves. Not gonna lie, that was pretty awesome… __________________________________________________________ Perspective: Spike I swung my tail like a battering ram and hit Ele’sium again. Ran’sea came around and clawed our aunt across the muzzle. Ele’sium roared and was about to fire her blue fire again. But I wrapped my tail around her muzzle, stopping that from happening. Ele’sium clawed my tail, causing me to let go. I then watched as Ran bit into her aunt’s neck….wow..she’s brutal… Ran then got hit by Ele’sium’s tail, knocking Ran’s jaw out. Ran and I stood before Ele’sium, side by side. “I’ve given you everything Ran’sea! Everything!” Ele’sium cried. “You took away the one thing I wanted Ele’sium. I won't be your little doll like mother was. You'll never use me again!” She said, glaring at her. “No, no you will love me! You won’t abandon me! Not again!” She cried, her mouth filling with blue fire. “Let’s end this!” I yelled, my own fire growing in my mouth. “With pleasure, my brother!” Ran cried, I watched as green fire of her own formed in her mouth. All three of us shot our flames at the same time. I kept my jet of fire up as our fires met. Ran kept hers up, too, a determination in her eyes I’ve never seen before, but was glad for. Ele’sium’s eyes grew wide as out fire eventually overpowered hers, and an explosion sent her flying into a nearby boulder. Both of us huffed as the smoke cleared and showed Ele’sium on the ground, blood seeping from her wounds. I watched as Ran marched towards her, a look in her eyes that worried me…. Ele’sium looked up wearily at Ran, “Fran..salel…? You...came back to your sister….you...never betrayed me...never left….” Ran then slammed her claw down on Ele’sium, pinning her to the ground. She glared down at Ele’sium and said, “You tried to take away my brother! I hope you burn in Tartarus for this!!” She raised her free claw, about to bring it down on Ele’sium, before I caught it. She looked at me, her blue eyes wide. “Spike…?” “Don’t kill her.” I said. “After all she’s done?!” Ran yelled. “She tried to kill you Spike! She tried to take you away! To make it so that...I was truly alone…” “I know, Sis,” I said, still holding her back. “But don’t become her. You’re not a killer. She may have done a bunch of rotten things, but killing her will only leave a blood stain on you that will never be removed. I don’t want my sister to become what I almost became.” “Spike…” She said, a tear falling from her eye. “You beat her,” I said. “That is more than enough. Now, let her go, let her dream, and never wake up. That is the punishment she deserves.” Slowly, Ran removed her claw from Ele’sium’s neck. I looked at my sister as I still held her arm. She looked at me and said, “Thank you, Spike. I-I don’t know what I would’ve done.” “I’m just glad I have my sister,” I said. Suddenly, something came out of my mouth. I watched as the red fire formed itself into...VOL’VAGIA?! The fire dragon stood before us both, and smiled, “You have done well, Spar’kron, Ran’sea.” “You were inside me?” I asked, shocked. “I took refuge within you after Tru’sent tried to take my life force.” Vol’vagia said. “It took me a while to rejuvenate within you, but the fire within your heart has allowed me to be reborn once again.” “Oh most honored Vol’vagia,.” Ran’sea said, bowing her head. “Please, allow my brother the gift of sacred fire he so deserves.” “I plan to give him the sacred fire,” He then pointed at Ran, “You as well.” “I, don’t know if I deserve it.” Ran said, shaking her head. “I, almost killed Ele’sium.” “Yes, but Spar’kron was here to pull you out of darkness,” Vol’vagia said. “You learned to follow your heart, to fight for what was right. Spar’kron showed his courage already, when he stayed his claws from killing Shar’drel.” Memories of that horrible battle with her came flooding back into me. But, I focused on Ran and said, “Come on sis, I can’t let you become evil. Dad and Mom would kill me from beyond the grave.” Ran’sea smiled and said, “I know now, who my true family is, Spike.” I smiled at her in turn, and Vol’vagia began to glow. Suddenly streams of fire entered both of our mouths. I felt, liberated. Like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders, I felt my wings fade away off my back, and I was becoming smaller… But...I was happy...to finally have...Ran safe… ________________________________________________________ Perspective: Private Twilight and I ran as fast as we could towards the fire. When we got into the clearing, we saw Spike and Ran standing there. Spike no longer had his wings. Did that mean the sacred fire was the cause? Who cares?! Spike was okay! “Spike!” Twilight yelled, running down to him. “Twilight!” Spike yelled, running over to her. They both embraced each other. Spike looked up at Twilight as I caught up. “It was amazing! Vol’vagia was inside me! He gave us the fire after all!” “I’m just glad everybody is okay.” I said. Ran’sea walked over towards us and said, “I, apologize for my aunt’s part in this.” “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for Ran’sea.” Twilight said. “If anything, you helped Spike take her down at last.” I saw Ele’sium, unconscious and laying off to the side. She wasn’t going anywhere. Ran looked at Twilight and said, “I, also never got the chance to thank you both for all you’ve done. Taking care of my brother, raising him, and allowing us to meet again, is there any way I can repay you?” Twilight smiled, and opened her forelegs, “How about a welcome to the family hug.” Ran smiled wide and ran to enter the embrace. We all soon gathered into a group hug. It felt like we were truly a family. It was all over...and Spike and Ran, were finally together.