The royal guard swarmed the skies, both solar and lunar pegasi, circling, watching, and waiting. A dragon soared over Canterlot. It had flown in, unannounced, just showing up on the horizon, flying in toward the city.
The guards dared not provoke it. It seemed peaceful enough, for the time being. It was immense. Green. As long as a tower was tall.
And it flew directly for the palace. Purpose and intent unknown.
It landed in the courtyard, causing the castle to tremble. It sat on its haunches, carefully curling its tail in, trying not to crush anything, being very careful of all the tiny things swarming around it.
Guards landed everywhere. On walls. Around the dragon. On top of the gatehouse. On the rooftops.
The solar guards were clearly terrified. You could see panic in every fluttering wing. The lunar guards on the other hoof, they knew they could take this foe, but it would be costly. They gathered around, trying to place themselves between the dragon and their smaller cousins.
Celestia emerged onto the pronouncement balcony, the high balcony where the Princesses addressed their subjects. Where Twilight had given her first address. She looked up at the enormous dragon, feeling a bit of worry. She didn’t want anymore ponies being hurt, not after everything that had happened.
The dragon looked down at her and nodded its head.
“I understand that one of my own dwell here,” the dragon rumbled, “I would have words with her. If you please.”
Celestia stood silently for a moment, confused, and then snapped into reality.
“Fetch Ivy at once.” Celestia said to a guard.
The guard left in a hurry.
The dragon looked down at Celestia, who was looking up at it.
“I hope that you have come in peace.” Celestia said, her voice booming over the commotion. “We have come upon troubled times, we do not wish for more trouble.”
The dragon said nothing, but looked down at her. It didn’t smile, which Celestia took as a good sign. A smiling dragon would probably unhinge the guard. The dragon scratched absentmindedly at its belly while it waited.
Celestia felt a tail coil around her hind leg after a few tense minutes of waiting. She heaved a sigh of relief. She turned to look at Ivy, who was cowering behind her.
“Ivy,” said Celestia, “you must be brave for all of us.” Celestia’s tone was full of encouragement.
Ivy looked up at the dragon and suddenly felt very small. It extended its claws toward her. She shook with fear but held her ground next to Celestia.
Ivy’s tail betrayed her, as it had done so many times before. It coiled around the extended claws of the much larger dragon.
Ivy’s mind raced as she was lifted high up into the air, the blood suddenly rushing to her brain. She tried to remember every single one of her father’s lessons about draconic etiquette and wished that she had paid more attention. She owed her father a heartfelt apology.
“Hello tiny cousin!” The dragon rumbled enthusiastically. “I had hoped we could speak. I have much to tell you.”
Ivy swallowed, her mouth suddenly feeling dry. She was little more than a tiny mouthful. She hung, suspended just a few feet away from the dragon’s toothy maw. The smell of smoke was strangely comforting to her.
“My name is Climbing Ivy.” She said, willing courage into her voice. “Why are you here? In my domain? I hope that you plan to leave my hoard in peace, I would not disturb yours if I was visiting you.”
The dragon stared at her, its eyes narrowing. It nodded slowly.
“My name is Jadefire. I do not desire to disturb your domain. You have a hoard already tiny one?” The dragon asked, puzzled.
“Yes!” Ivy squeaked, feeling very small.
The dragon peered at her. “I find that very hard to believe tiny cousin.”
“My hoard is all around you.” Ivy said. “I ask that you leave them in peace.”
The dragon looked around, realisation dawning. It smiled at Ivy, causing a severe disturbance among the guard. It looked down upon all of the little ponies clustered about.
Ivy smiled in return, looking hopeful.
“All of these are yours?” The dragon asked, seeming to enjoy this exchange of pleasantries.
“Yes.” Ivy said, hanging from the dragon’s finger. “Mine! Every single one that you see. Touch nothing!”
“You are going to be a very fat little dragon.” Jadefire said slyly.
Ivy looked horrified.
“My apologies.” Jadefire offered. “My comment was in jest. I did not mean to disturb you. I will not molest your valuables.”
Ivy took a deep breath. “Why are you here?” Ivy asked, getting to the point.
The dragon pointed at Celestia with its other claw. “This one is especially beautiful. Be wary. Others of our kind may grow envious.”
Ivy waited patiently, looking the dragon in the eye.
“I have come with a message.” Jadefire said. “A warning.”
Ivy said nothing, but waited.
“Many centuries ago, this one,” the dragon said, gesturing at Celestia, “prevented a group of unicorns from chopping me up for study when I was about your size.”
Jadefire paused, watching Ivy’s reaction. The dragon seemed impressed by Ivy’s sudden anger. Its eyes narrowed and a crafty look appeared upon the dragon’s face.
“I have come to return the favour. We dragons have long memories. It would be dishonourable for this debt to go unpaid.” Jadefire became very serious. “I have come on behalf of my clan. We hope to continue the peace held between us. We know that you still occasionally fight with other dragon clans, but our intentions remain peaceful. We have had visitors, strange unicorns, trying to purchase our favour with gifts and flattery.” Jadefire stared at Ivy.
“Why tell me?” Ivy asked. “You could have told Celestia.”
Jadefire began to chuckle. “I knew I was forgetting something.”
Ivy looked at him, her face stern. She pointed a talon and shook it at the dragon. “This isn’t funny. You’ve spooked my hoard.”
Jadefire looked taken aback. “I am sorry, tiny cousin.” Jadefire offered.
“Shame on you!” Ivy exclaimed, causing Celestia some extreme distress. Celestia’s wings fluttered alarmingly. “You know you are big and scary and this isn’t time for draconic humour!”
Jadefire cleared his throat with a smokey rumble, cringing, and looking slightly guilty.
“My clan has heard word of you living here among these tiny mammals. We hope that you could act as our diplomat.” Jadefire looked at Celestia, dropping his head slightly and addressing her directly. “We wish to foster good relations. There are disagreements about addressing non dragon kind. We know of Spike and Climbing Ivy. We would claim them as our own clanmates and offer them positions as diplomats. Should any harm ever come upon either of them, we would claim the right of retribution, as is the privilege of our kind. They will be our messengers. Or means of communications. I understand that you know certain spells…”
Celestia nodded, saying nothing.
“Excellent!” Jadefire bellowed. “We would like to work together. Recent events concern us. We do not want a return to the bad old days of fighting between our kind. Our hatchlings chopped up for spell ingredients.” Jadefire looked again upon Celestia. “You made the fighting stop. At least between my clan and your ponies.” Jadefire’s gaze returned to Ivy. “Should there be trouble, know that we will come if called. Our clan is most reasonable. Most of us are scholars. We hoard books. We do not wish our studies interrupted.”
Ivy heard Celestia take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“We do ask for something in return though.” Jadefire said, suddenly very serious.
Ivy heard Celestia’s sharp intake of breath.
“I ask for two treasures from among your hoard to come and live with us, as an exchange. That we might teach them. We will not allow harm to come to them.” Jadefire gazed intently upon Ivy. “At least for a time. We understand that these tiny mammals have very short lives. We do not want them forever. Just for a time. That we might learn together and exchange knowledge. We would like them when they are extra tiny, as you and Spike are now, we would love them as our own, in the same way that you are loved by these miniscule equines. It is a very reasonable request.”
“Celestia?” Ivy asked. “What do I do?”
Jadefire scowled. “She does not have a say in this. You and I must first come to an agreement before she has a say in these issues. After you and I finalise our exchange, Celestia will be free to discuss petty details with me.”
Ivy froze, her chest tightening, not knowing what to do.
“What of Spike?” Ivy asked.
“We did not know his exact location. We knew of yours. I was sent to bargain with you.” Jadefire said.
“I do not know if I can make a choice like this on my own.” Ivy said.
“You must.” Jadefire said.
“You’ve put me on the spot.” Ivy said. “Does your mother know how rotten you are? Forcing me to make a choice like this. You shame your shell!”
Jadefire visibly shrank back from the tiny form of Ivy hanging from his finger.
“If my mother was here, she’d give you such a lecturing! And you wouldn’t be the first dragon she has lectured. She’s had practice!” Ivy shook her talon finger at the dragon with every word, causing the dragon’s spines to droop.
“You must be the one to make this choice.” Jadefire said, cringing. “It is a test of your position as a diplomat.”
Ivy scowled, curling her lip back from her teeth and flaring her nostrils.
“I accept.” Ivy said in a commanding tone. “But know this, if any of my hoard becomes damaged, your honour is forfeit.”
Jadefire nodded.
“Your kind has done well raising this one.” Jadefire said, addressing Celestia directly once again. “She’s sassy!” Jadefire added, sounding eerily similar to a certain draconequus.