Destinations and Desires.
"And that one is the ‘horse head’ nebular," Twilight pointed out excitedly as she angled her telescope to focus on the constellation in question.
"Which one is that then," Warden replied as he sought out which group of clouds and stars Twilight was referring to.
Twilight giggled at Warden's wonder as Spike 'humphed' below. The trio had gathered on 'Spike's Plateau' which was what Twilight had begun calling the flat expanse of grass covered rock the young dragon used for his training grounds. This star gazing was all old news to Spike, he having sat up with Twilight many a night, but Warden was just soaking these sights up like an eager acolyte.
"Well you see the pinkish/red haze there?" Twilight pointed with a hoof even though both creatures’ eyes were still focused through their respective telescopes.
"Mhm, I see Miss Sparkle," Spike could almost have laughed out loud at Warden's eagerness. Since the test of the defence barrier for the newly titled "Bloomberg" Warden had spent less time with Spike's training and more time learning with Twilight. He insisted that Spike was pretty much done and there was only a few rounding off lessons to be taught, but if Spike didn't know any better he would have said Warden was stalling for some reason.
Warden showed no signs of his previous concerns and was every bit the attentive student; Twilight for her part was only too happy to share her knowledge on every part of pony life and customs she could. This had left Spike feeling a little pushed aside, if he was completely honest Spike was jealous of Warden. He'd only just gotten Twilight back and now she was spending most of her time with this new dragon.
"Well there is a small black indent at the bottom, see how it looks like a horse head?" Twilight went on completely oblivious to Spike's discomfort.
"Ahhhh, you mean the dragon's tail?" Warden grinned as he raised his head from his own telescope to smile at Twilight who looked confused. He stooped once more and pointed with a claw of his own, "You can see it curling up and to the left, with the two pronged spike at the top."
Twilight giggled again and Spike huffed out another cloud of smoke as he rolled his eyes. "No no, that's the horse's ears surely you can see it?" There was a short pause as Twilight looked closer, "Though I do admit it now you point it out, I can kind of see the tail as well."
Warden smiled, "I can also see the ears of the horse as well." There was another quiet moment where both stargazers saw eye to eye, seeing the same thing from different perspectives.
"Are you two finished?" Spike just couldn't help himself.
Twilight and Warden looked back at Spike, who was digging small furrows in the dirt with his claws in an absentminded way. "Oh come on Spike, you used to love helping me map the stars of a night; I'm just showing Warden some of the things we have learned."
Warden agreed, "Indeed, I am coming to see what Thortax meant. The land of Equestria has much to be admired." Spike thought he caught the briefest of glances at Twilight from the older dragon at this gesture and a small fire was lit in his heart’s core. It was a crazy idea, but could he? No... Spike refused to even think that way and with a low growl turned about and headed for his cave once again.
Twilight looked hurt, "Spike, where are you going?"
"Doesn't seem you need me around right now..." Spike grumbled as he began to climb down towards his lair.
"Spike," Twilight shouted once again when she suddenly felt a gentle claw on her shoulder.
"I think I know the problem Miss Sparkle, I'll have a talk with him," Twilight looked up into Warden's impassive eyes.
"Oh okay, if you think that's best. You have brought my Spike back to me Warden and I thank you for that," Twilight stared with her honest open eyes while the old drake smiled in return.
"It will be fine, although I should warn you it may be.....loud. Whatever happens, you stay right here okay?" Before Twilight could ask what Warden meant by loud, His wings unfolded and he swooped down after Spike who's tail was just disappearing into the cave below.
Warden touched down with a clatter of talons on the stone base of the cave mouth, the darkness within was complete apart from a pair of green eyes which seemed to glow as their owner studied Warden dangerously.
"Well hatchling, it truly does seem you've learnt almost all I can teach you. I am frankly very impressed by your tenacity, but I fear I have stoked a 'fire' in you by mistake," Warden didn't press further into the cave but paced back and forth at its mouth. The only reply from within was another growl and he sighed.
"Look Spike, when a dragon cares very deeply for something they can become very protective. I know this isn't new to you, but I fear I may have accidentally crossed a line in your mind in regards to Twilight," A brief flash of green flame was Spike's entire reply.
"I'll take that as a yes then," Warden’s tone had taken on a weary element now, "Normally two dragons would have to fight it out when they have a disagreement of this kind. They would need to 'burn out their rage' as it were, but I know you Spike, you're a dragon with immense self control and a gleaming moral code." This time there was only silence to Warden's inquiries.
"So I think I can try a more, gentle approach here: I can promise you, one dragon to another that I have no interest in Twilight beyond the purely academic. She is an impressive pony, but still a pony and it would never work for the likes of us," There was still no further action from Spike and Warden hoped that he may have been able to get through to the younger dragon before a huge roar sounded and Spike charged out of the shadows right at Warden. Guess not. he mused sadly before wrapping his magic around himself......
The first indication that something was wrong below was when Twilight heard an earth shaking bellow and a massive blast of green flame flowing out of the cave below. The princess spread her wings and made to dive down and see what was going on when she remembered Warden's warning and halted.
There was a heavy impact that caused the whole plateau to shake, followed by further roaring along with yet more flashes of green flame. Twilight was forced to steady herself as another blow caused the whole rock to shudder once omre. "Spike! Warden? What's going on!" Twilight felt small and frightened as the sounds of destruction resounded from below.
There was no answer to her calls, but what Twilight did feel was magic being drawn and focused, soon the flashes of green fire were countered by enveloping darkness that seemed to pull the warmth out of the air around her. Still the sounds of shattering stone and angered bellows echoed around the mountain top.
Twilight didn't know what to do and the sounds below only added to her fears. The echoes of battle raged on and Twilight desperately fought the urge to curl into a ball and place her wings over her eyes. Her two friends were fighting again and she bemoaned the seemingly cruel fates that kept throwing challenges like this in her way. Just when she thought it was time to catch a breath.
Twilight found she couldn't bear not knowing what was going on. Spreading her wings and lifting into the air Twilight finally caught a look at events below and instantly wished she hadn't. She was forced to duck a large chunk of spinning stone which emerged from the cloud of darkness below. The missile past mere inches from her head and Twilight wisely chose to duck back down again before surrendering to her fears urge and curling up after all.
"Well I see I have come at an interesting moment in Spike's Education." Twilight started and raised her wings to reveal her wild eyes to a surprised Luna, who was standing tall and unafraid beside the Twilight.
"Princess Luna! Thank the heavens you're here, Spike and Warden are fighting! You have to stop them," The panic in Twilight's voice only caused Luna to smile.
"Dearest Twilight they're not fighting, I have seen dragons fight. This is just a minor disagreement," Luna calmly settled down next to Twilight and gently covered the scared pony with a blue feathered wing.
"But-but they could get hurt," Twilight tried again only for Luna to place a comforting hoof over Twilight's mouth as another heavy impact shook the ground.
To Twilight's indignation Luna only chuckled in the gentle way she did these days, "Oh I doubt it, from what I hear Warden is very good at his job."
"But..." Luna shook her head once again at Twilight, "Bu..." Luna's face became stern.
"Enough Twilight, do you really think I would arrange for a dragon who would hurt Spike to come and teach him? I am fond of your adoptive brother almost as much I am of you and your friends. I would never allow any harm to come to any of you if it was within my power," Luna didn't shout, she didn't scold but Twilight knew she was being reprimanded in a gentle way.
Despite the fear gnawing at her core Twilight felt the simple reassurances of Luna begin to calm her beating heart. Of course it made sense when Luna put it that way. Twilight stared at Luna's regal face, which held no fears in it, then back to the ongoing 'disagreement' below. She still couldn't see what was happening but at least she wasn't so scared any more.
"So this is how dragons settle their differences," Twilight asked in a quiet voice.
"The younger ones yes Twilight, they are far more hot headed than the older drakes," Luna confirmed as yet another boulder flew past the watching pair.
"What could have caused Spike and Warden to fall out so badly? Surely that's terribly dangerous," Twilight's inquisitive nature was coming to the fore again as she overcame the initial shock.
Luna nodded in agreement, "Yes it can be, many dragons are badly wounded in these fights; they are seldom killed though."
Twilight's ears flattened, "Killed?"
Luna nodded again, "But as I told you Warden is one of the best, any dragon can bash the other until there is only one is left standing: It takes skill, and years of practice to make sure they don't hurt each other.....," Luna's explanation was cut off as an angered grunt rent the air: The sounds of a dragon in pain, "too badly." Luna finished off in a way that didn't reassure Twilight in the least.
There was a final roar, the sounds of a thunderous charge followed by another impact which caused the ground to shake a final time before an ominous quiet settled on the mountain top. Twilight felt her fears creeping back, what if something had gone wrong? The pair of ponies sat in tense silence for a few more moments before the outline of a dark dragon could be seen beating its wings steadily in the rising cloud of smoke.
"As to what they are fighting over, this may help in your understanding," Luna levitated a scroll over to Twilight who gingerly received with her own magic.
The scroll was adorned with a broken seal that Twilight didn't recognise, with mounting curiosity she unrolled the scroll and began to read with vigour. The writing was neat and formal and Twilight instantly recognised it to have been penned by Warden himself.
To the regent of the Moon,
I am writing to report to you my progress with the hatchling known as Spike. Though dubious when I first revived this assignment from my Lord Thortax, I have done my best to put aside these concerns and have been pleasantly rewarded for my efforts. The young dragon Spike is in a far better state than I feared he would be. From what I can gather this is from the most singular attentions of your fellow ruler Princess Sparkle.
I had expected to find a hatchling with severe problems in self control, temper, hoarding and a terrible sense of lost identity: This could not have been further from the truth; all things considered he is a well rounded dragon with a good moral centre from which to draw on. I am pleased to say that he has responded very well to the lessons taught and in fact has taken to them with an eagerness seldom seen these days in the younger drakes.
This once again I put down to the remarkable efforts of his adoptive sister Twilight, and though I found some oddities which were to be expected in such an unusual case, I am overall very pleased with his outcome and I am confident that his lessons will conclude shortly.
P.S I would humbly request that I may spend some more time in your lands: I have found the young Twilight to be a source of ‘stimulating interaction’ and I would take great pleasure in learning more of pony ways and customs before I am to depart.
Honoured guest in your lands,
Master of the Hunt, Chief Story Holder of the Ash-Wind Flight and humble servant of Thortax; Lord of Mount Ash-Wind,
Warden.
Twilight blinked a few times at the paper, not grasping what Luna was getting at, "Princess I don't understand, I can't see anything here that would cause Spike and Warden to fight?"
Luna laughed heartily at Twilight's bemused face and wiped away a tear, "Oh Twilight I forget you're not ageless like Celestia and I, you haven't seen a tenth of what we have." Twilight's muzzle showed annoyance now, but Luna didn't stop smiling, "Sorry it's just so simple that you have missed it dear Twilight. They are fighting over you."
Twilight just stared at Luna in utter incomprehension, "What?" Was all she was able to stammer out.
Luna hugged the smaller pony tight as Twilight's face began to form a blush, "Dragon's are very protective of the things they hold dearest. You should know it is almost unheard of for any dragon to refer to any other race as ‘being a source stimulating interaction' and once I read that I knew there could be some trouble and headed right over.
Twilight stared at Warden as the dragon gently touched down on the grassy expanse before shaking the dust from his scales and noticing Luna's presence. "Ah your Majesty, I did not think to see you here. I trust my report made it safely to you?" Warden bowed as Luna got to her hooves once again, quickly followed by a rapidly reddening Twilight.
"I did yes thank you Warden, but I see I came a little too late. I trust Spike is will recover?" Warden stiffened before rising back to his full height.
"I am very sorry you had to see that princess, it was my fault. I got a little carried away with my own studies, otherwise I would have foreseen such trouble and prevented it." Twilight found she couldn't keep eye contact with Warden and stared fixedly at the gently waving grass.
Luna cocked an eyebrow at the apologetic dragon and her face morphed into another knowing grin, "It's okay Warden, but I think you need to set a few things straight with Miss Sparkle here." The Princess of the Night leaned over the ridge to see the unconscious form of Spike lying on the ground. The purple dragon was face down in the dirt and there were an impressive number of 'dragon head’ shaped dents in the stone walls all around, "And Spike too when he wakes up, I think you owe him the biggest apology."
Warden bowed again before Twilight galloped forward and looked at the battle scene below, "Oh Spike you big...." she began before Warden interrupted her once again.
"No Miss Sparkle, he's a victim here and I'm terribly sorry. I should have recognised the consequences of my actions sooner. I humbly ask for your forgiveness," Warden's eyes held a strange hunger in them that Twilight had never seen before and she took a couple of steps back.
Warden winced, blinked and the emotion was banished instantly, "I fear I have let my heart get the better of me this time princess, but please do not be offended I just found you fascinating and I trespassed into what Spike considered was rightfully his."
Twilight felt the blush forcing its way more boldly onto her face despite her best efforts to hide it as Warden continued, "Please understand that I hold you in the highest intellectual regard princess and I do not mean to pursue such inclinations further; maybe had you also been a dragon it may have been a different story, but sadly for me this is not the case."
Twilight was flattered, confused and more than a little shocked by this revelation. This all mixed up in her head making it impossible to say what she was thinking. "Um thank you Warden, I think..."
The sounds of Spike stirring below drew Twilight's attention back to her adoptive brother. She quickly spared a look to Luna who nodded with approval before leaping down to check Spike was alright.
Twilight lead the unsteady dragon back to his cave, all the while reassuring him that it was all going to be fine. Spike nursed his sore head with one unsteady talon as he wobbled his way alongside her. Luna and Warden watched the pair disappearing through the battered entrance before the blue pony addressed the dragon.
"Well Warden, I can only say that you fixed that reasonably well, but you really should have stopped things before it ever got this far. Thortax assured me you would be the best," Suitably chastened.
Warden bowed his head in shame. "I know princess, I just got carried away. I wasn't prepared for how interesting Twilight would be, for a dragon who's so into his history she is very compelling company......"
Luna chuckled and put a comforting hoof over the dragon's shoulders. "Fair enough I guess, Twilight is something special there is no doubt about that, but now we come to the matter at hoof: You want to extend your stay here correct?" The look the older dragon gave Luna could only be described as pleading and caused her to smile indulgently. "The way to a dragon's heart is truly through gems of great worth, even if they are pearls of wisdom and knowledge."
Luna sighed, knowing she was going to have to disappoint the drake, "I believe I can trust you to keep things level with Spike, he's hot headed and you provoked him by mistake, but that's been resolved. If it were down to me I would let you stay Warden, but I didn't come here just to stop you two beating each other to a pulp." Warden's expression changed instantly and he watched Luna with a hunter's focus.
"I also received this today," Luna levitated another scroll, which looked as though it had been written on the skin of some animal, rather than the normal paper the ponies used and Luna was obviously uncomfortable holding such. "It is for you Warden."
He took the proffered message, noted the already breached crest of the Ash-Wind flight and he opened the missive before reading its contents. Warden's face became stern as he took in what was written there before giving a resigned sigh, "It seems my time here is coming to an end one way or another Princess."
Warden looked to the cave where Twilight had conjured a large block of ice that was hissing gently on Spike's very bruised head, "Do you think he will be willing to come? I mean we have no authority to force him as he is technically Equestrian?"
Luna thought for a moment before her smile returned, "I think he will and what's more as an official citizen of Equestria I feel it's only right that we send some company to go with Spike. That way you can spend more time with them both."
The older dragon glared into Luna's playful eyes, "You know Princess you can really be a mischief sometimes and I can see why Thortax thinks so highly of you."