//------------------------------// // Chapter 27 // Story: Six wishes for six elements // by Malcolm Merlyn //------------------------------// "I hate this forest." Slade said as he almost went leg high in swamp water as a weak section of earth gave way, revealing the massive stretch of muddy water. "So... around or through?" Armin asked as he took a look. He could see the other side, though he wondered how long this entire place stretched. Pretty damn long from what he could gather. "Through." Captain America said as he tried to spot a way to go around. "Just stick to the drier paths and we can go through without taking mud all the way to our knees. Sanya's catlike ears perked up as they began to step one by one on the dry yet still muddy path. She could hear it, the swishing of water and the deep breaths. Something was out there. As the water around them stirred and bubbled, the mud and the dirt would soon be the least of their problems. "They're gone?" Twilight asked with disbelief as Spike hurried back. "Back... to where?" "I dunno." Spike said rather hopelessly. "It's not like they said anything or as much as left a clue!" "Great... just great! So how can we..." "Does it REEEALLLY matter?" Rainbow Dash asked. "I mean, why can't we just find the elements ourselves?" "I mean... they're probably going off to find something them..." "Rainbow Dash... hold on a second..." Twilight said as the last part of the sentence began to sink in to her. "What did you just say?" "They're probably going off to find..." "OH MY GOSH! That's it!" Twilight said as she almost jumped up and down with excitement. "They're going to the crystal empire!" "Wait... what... how do you know that?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked at all the other ponies who wear similar masks of confusion. "Oh... right... I should have told you girls, Slade and Sanya came the other day asking for a book on Dragon to Equestrian translation. Or English... that's what they call it anyways. But what happened was, I didn't have the book, and neither did Canterlot library when they went to go grab it... but there's just one place which may have anything about ancient dragons... a place just as old!" "The crystal empire! Of course!" Spike said. "Should I get our things packed?" "No Spike... because we're walking. Didn't you hear the news? The train station and a good portion of the tracks was destroyed by a dragon. Seems almost as though they're on to us..." "What if they are?!" Spike asked. "Don't be silly Spike!" Rarity cut in. "How can those brutes ever know what we're planning? It's not like they're telepathic or anything!" "Well... you gotta a point there... but what if..." "Besides... how could they listen without us noticing? I know there's a lot of spells and all, but I should easily be able to detect them if they were using magic to listen on us!" To the three eavesdroppers on this conversation, they all just burst out in deep, muffled laughter at the sound of this. Hundreds of miles away, perched upon a once again burning mountain, were three dragons. As the noise of conversation dinned down once again, one dragon opened up it's massive mouth and said the words. "Zul..gir..stirn!" They were all gods once. Rulers of the world, all corners of the earth were bent to their will and their words were law. Their power was invincible. The feeling was perhaps what many of the dragons of the old missed. Perhaps none missed it more than the dragon king himself, Feynaltdrog, bane of the world, destroyer of nations. As of now, he would go on a stroll to memory lane as he flew high above the skies, circling Manehattan, one of the largest and most populous cities in all of Equestria. He looked down at the city, the many ponies and buildings looked like ants to him from this high above, his mouths would open in wicked anticipation before he called force his self-restraint. He hadn't eaten in so long, but for now, he wanted to conquer. And conquer so he shall. Readying himself, the massive jaws opened to say the word. "Dovah! Hah! Kroved!" His words, were not said, rather roared as a bright aurora filled the sky, invisible to all but the king of dragons himself as he watched the wave spread far and wide. It stopped at three points, a dragon sunbathing on a rock at the coast of the sea, a sleeping dragon within it's cave, and yet another dragon on the flight. Something within them... whispered. Power. Wealth. Godhood. All merely at the price of allegiance to a master, and the domination of all "lower orders". Power and wealth seduced a dragon as easily as a hoard of hive of honey seduced a bear. They fell right under his spell as they flew to their new king, eager to serve. Addressing him as though in the ancient dragon tongue. A language that had been lost to them until now. "Mu kriist nuk wah aam. Ofan mii hin suleyk ahrk hin faraan." "Pruzah. .. pruzah. .. daar hiim. .. ag nii wah kii." The warcry of a dragon could be heard from miles away, and still be enough to cause the lesser creature to lose their hearing for the better part of the day. Imagine how the thousands upon thousands of ponies felt when they were so close, many of them would lose their hearing from that day forward as the three dragons plunged down onto their city. Fire burning away at the buildings, sending screams and shouts across the streets as buildings erupted to fiery deaths. Many of the inhabitants would share similar fates to their homes as they were burned instantly, the dragon fire flaying their flesh straight off their bones. High above, the dragon king looked into the fires and laughed to himself. Amusing how such weak creatures attempt to resist him, attempt to defy him. Why haven't they surrendered already? When the hungry changelings bent knee at the sound of his voice? Or how the minotaurs practically threw themselves at their feet when they landed in their cities, surrendering without a fight? Whatever the cause he didn't care. As of now, he was enjoying himself as he saw a mare try to carry her foal away from a huge fiery explosion. "Twi... this is a VERY bad idea... just saying... no offense..." Applejack began as they began their journey through the everfree forest. "C'mon girls! I know what I am doing! Just because we don't know where they are doesn't mean it's hopeless!" "Of course not! But why do we need them anyways? Why can't we just waltz into Feyn... oh brother, how do you even say his name? Why can't we just waltz up that mountain and take the elements back rather than let some petty thief keep them?" "Because A... dragons are quite big and ferocious creatures! With the exception of Spike..." Rarity began. "Oh come on..." Spike muttered to himself as he rolled his eyes. "And B... because these humans... oh... they're such heroes! Heroes of fashion! And probably heroes... in general. Except for that Slade Wilson... his ARMOR! Such a crime against fashion!" "You probably shouldn't say that!" Pinkie Pie said as she hopped around energetically. "He might be VERY upset." "Oh come on! Surely the man can take a bit of criticism!" "He can! But he doesn't like that! And you all know what happens to things he doesn't like!" Wat? "I... don't understand..." "Oh you're so silly Rarity!" Pinkie Pie said as she began to do this. "You all know what I am talking about? Right? Right? RIGHT?!" "Get a move on Pinkie..." Rainbow Dash said impatiently as she waved her forward. "Who are you looking at anyways?" "Nothing! Just the people who are reading this!" "What? Who's reading what?" "You know... the people reading this? Duhhhh...." And this is what most ponies would call Pinkie just being Pinkie.