//------------------------------// // The dragon rises // Story: Six wishes for six elements // by Malcolm Merlyn //------------------------------// [Canterlot Castle, conference room] "Now I am sure you all have many questions..." Celestia tried to say as the din of the room made it impossible to hear anypony. "But can we plea..." "Your majesty... is it true that these humans broke into the castle and injured many members of the royal guard?" One of the reporters asked. As she remembered the events of last night, she had recalled the one known as "Slade Wilson" and his comment about the royal guard. "Worse than low-budget mall cops". At this point and time, she may have to agree. How does anyone fail to keep the reporters out?! How?! She calmed herself for a moment. They didn't fail to keep anyone out. It's just that the entire castle failed to keep the information of humans in. No matter how discreet they were of sending the humans back, word got out. Word always seems to gets out around here. "WE WOULD REQUIRE SILENCE TO FUNCTION." Luna said or more like yelled. The royal canterlot voice, maybe annoying most of the time, but it certainly had it's uses here and now. Those words alone drowned out the entire room and got every pony to shut up. For the time being at least. "Now then... like I said... or rather, was going to say..." Celestia said slowly. Few things in this world managed to irritate her, but this was one of the things. "One at a time. Questions... raise your hooves please... you there." "Your majesty..." The reporter pony began as he began to scribble down notes. "Is it true that the humans had broken into the castle and injured several members of the royal guard?" "Only partially." Celestia replied. "You see... four humans had arrived in the beginning and hadn't as much as lifted a hoof. But two others had came later at night and snuck in..." The last part caused a virtual uproar within the room as words like "inadequate", "failure" and "useless" were being used to describe the royal guard and the overall security of Canterlot. Throw in a few witnesses of the Changeling invasion and there was the giant mess of noise once again. It would take ages, as it felt that long to finally shut every pony up. "Now then... before I was interrupted I would like to continue on what I was speaking of. Two of the six humans had snuck into the castle having been misinformed of the nature of their fellow beings reasoning of being here. While a few fights had broken out, no pony was seriously injured, what should be taken into note is the apex fighting capabilities of the humans." "Hold on! If these... humans didn't break into the castle, then why are the elements of harmony gone?!" Another uproar and incomprehensible yelling. Great. "I heard it was a dragon! A big black dragon that broke through the walls and had..." "No. There was no dragon." Princess Celestia said very quickly. "Royal guard reports have indicated that Changelings were behind the matter and we are now positioning ourselves to retake the elements." "Then what do the humans have to do with this?!" "We are still unsure of how they got here." Luna replied. "It is assumed at this point and time that there had been an accident with some form of new teleportation spell. However... they have agreed to help us retake the elements so long as we find a way to take them back to where they came from." Unfortunately for Luna. That led to the question. "Where were they now?!" "Oh god... thank you so much." Armin gasped as they finished loading the minerals on the van, a few bundles having to placed on the roof. "I thought I was never going to get out. She just wouldn't let me leave." "Mhm." Slade said as he carefully drove through the streets of ponyville, noting the awed glances his van was getting. "So how does this thing even work?" Armin asked as he took a look at the van. "I'll explain later. Now, I got to go get Sanya but I am a bit hungry. You still got any coins left?" "Yeah. Why?" "I want lunch." Slade said as he passed what he believed to be a restaurant. For a moment, he watched with some amusement as Armin tried unsuccessfully to open the door. Only on the umpteenth time did he finally manage to open the thing, which gave Slade a small chuckle. "Hmm... now then..." Perhaps just to test if it worked, Slade took out his smartphone and activated his tactical vision. Good. Everything was functioning normally. Something in the back of his head told him that he would be needing it later on. "Um... what can I do for you..." The waitress asked nervously as she saw the two... things approach. One of them was quite tall and frankly, gave her the willies. Standing at well over 6 feet, this creature was almost twice the height of the average pony. It's strange clothing vaguely resembled that of armor, and the many tools it seemed to carry sent alarm bells in anyone's head. This thing was not to be trifled with. Perhaps what was most intimidating was it's face. The black eyepatch that covered it's eye didn't cover up any assumptions. Whatever this thing was, it was tough. Mystifyingly enough, despite it's white mane and beard, it didn't look too old. Whatever this thing was, it was dangerous. The other... well... wasn't so outrageous. Dressed in what can be described as regular clothing amongst it's kind, it didn't look so fierce. The mane looked rather out of place and it's face was a mask of discomfort. It didn't want to be here. No. Especially not when it was being pushed around by it's larger and definitely more fierce partner. "Man up kid." Slade hissed into Armin's ear. "They're just out of a little girl's imagination, they aren't going to hurt you." "I know... I know..." Armin said nervously. What he really was afraid of was Slade and not the small colorful horses which he felt some what of an... interest in. Of course, he wouldn't tell Slade that he was afraid of him for rather obvious reasons. "So... what do you sell?" Slade asked as he found a place to sit down. "Umm... do you eat hay?" "No... but..." He knew the answer to the question, but for no reason at all, felt like asking. "You have any meat?" "What?! Eh... I mean... no... no..." "Oh well." Slade said to himself. "You have any... you know what, how about an apple pie?" "Sure! We have apple pie... lots..." The waitress babbled on nervously. "Get me some." Slade said as he tossed her the coins. "Get him some too." "Right a..away... s..sir..." He sat down on his chair, only to realize it wasn't a chair but rather a mushroom and felt somewhat like an elephant in a phone booth. But who cares? He didn't as of now as he grabbed two things. One of which was his smartphone, and the other was a canteen containing some rum. He took a swig from the latter, and began to play around with the former, seeing if by any chance it would actually work. Heh. If Google Maps worked here... "Thank you again, Twilight." Sanya said softly as Twilight took out the new glove. "No problem!" The lavender alicorn said. "Now let's see here..." Using her magic, she slowly slid the white glove onto Sanya's hand. The moment she did, a pair of black ears that would only be found on a cat popped straight out of Sanya's head whilst a black tail slowly formed itself. "Is that supposed to happen...?" "Yes..." Sanya said as she tried her ability once more. Listening.... listening... but all of a sudden... "Lein engein wah mii, dovah. Nunon med vir hi engein wah mii." "What the heck..?" "Shhhh!" Sanya hushed as she continued to listen. "I think... I think I am listening to a dragon!" "What?! How do you know?!" "I just do! Please... let me listen..." Faraway, in the badlands, a long dragon was trapped. It's wings torn and broken against the many thousands of changelings that now surrounded it. Upon it's chest stood a tall changeling. The changeling queen. "You fool... you came here all the way to threaten me? Queen Chrysalis?!" "Hi los sahlag ahrk hi los funtaas." "You dare to threaten me?" "Zu'u dreh ni. Nuz drog do feyn dreh." "The lord of banes? Do you jest dragon? But humor me... tell me about this lord of banes..." The vile cackling that came from the dragon would send shivers down even the queen of changelings. "Uv aalkos tovok fahvos hi verut mok?" "What... are you...?" Chrysalis asked. Something was wrong. "Nii dreh ni trun fos mu los. Fos trun los un mein. Nid gein geltkey wo Zu'u lost erei Zu'u lost lein ko dii jusk" Without warning, the dragon's body exploded. Just like that, exploded in a massive wave of fire and light which sent many changelings hurtling in all directions. Chrysalis looked up, to see this time that the dragon with the broken wings had grown much larger, it's black curved horns and dark pools of eyes glared at her and her army. She was speechless. It was true. The lord of banes wasn't merely an old wives tale. He was real. She opened her mouth to say something, maybe a command to order her changelings to attack. But nothing came out. She simply had nothing to say. But he had something to say. "Aam...aar...Sil!"