//------------------------------// // Chapter 9: How to Deal with Dragons // Story: PonyFable // by Omega_code //------------------------------// “Well I could try…no that would just insulted them.” Jack continue his pacing, trying to think of a plan where they got the helm and everyone gets out alive. Sadly none of his plans were looking too promising. “Any luck,” Wistala ask. Jack shamefully shook his head. “Don’t worry you figure something out.” She watched Jack in his pacing before she said, “How about you ask the ponies and even Spike what they could do to help in anyway.” Jack looked at Wistala, “It wouldn’t hurt you to ask. You never knew what others can offer if you never ask. They were able to fool you, which not many people can do.” “Sometimes I wonder just how wise you really are.” “That’s for me to know and you to find out.” Jack looked towards the area where the ponies were waiting. It seemed that they were talking to each other. “You had a little talk with them I see.” “Just want to make sure they understand what they are about to head into. I don’t think they will back down though, maybe Fluttershy, but no one else.” She got up from her setting position, “I also believe that they can truly help.” “I hope you’re right.” Jack walked up to the ponies, his mood cooled down from earlier. “So,” he called out, “what exactly can you do to help?” Rainbow Dash answered, “Well Twilight got her magic, Applejack is incredibly strong, I got your lightning fast speed and weather management, and Spike here can tell you about Equestria dragons’ physiology if you need it.” I guess I start with that, Jack thought as he turned to face Spike. “So Spike, how are Equestria’s dragons different from Lore’s dragons?” “Well…um, we don’t have wings at such a young age, we only breathe fire, have very thick scales, immune to fire including lava, and can walk on our hind legs like you Jack.” “Are you implying that I have weak scales,” Wistala shouted, “I show you who has weak…” “Bad time for pride Wistala,” Jack interrupted. Wistala back down, glaring at Spike. “So Wistala won’t just fit in with the crowd, but being able to use other types of elements will help. And since dragons are fire type, my Vanilla Ice Katana should be able to deal with them if we have to fight.” “What’s a Vanilla Ice Katana,” Twilight asked. “The Vanilla Ice Katana is a sword made out of magical ice, it’s my most powerful ice weapon that I have so far, very useful when facing element of fire minions. “ “You’re prepared for anything aren't ya,” Applejack said. “I try to be,” Jack replied. Jack started to pace again with a hand under his chin. “Do the dragons view themselves just as prideful as Wistala, Spike?” “HEY!” Wistala angrily spoke out. “Ummm I guess so. The dragons I was with view themselves higher than any other race.” Jack smile, perfect he thought. “I think I have a plan. Now listen up.” Everypony (and dragons) gather around Jack to hear his plan. ******************* Man, this is a steep climb, Jack thought as he looked up the path, noticing a raven flying around in the sky. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash flew into a forest near volcanos by walking distance; there everyone will go to their place for the plan. Fluttershy will stay and watch the chariot, which she was happy to do, Applejack went a separate path to the volcano, Twilight teleported ahead, and Rainbow Dash flew ahead high in the sky. Spike was with Jack and Wistala leading them into one the dragons’ den. They reach the top and look into the crater where they were met with hundreds of dragons of all different size and color. Some were siting piles of jewelries and gems. “Right, lets do this.” Jack descended into the crater with Wistala and Spike right behind him. Lot of the dragons looked up to see the unexpected visitors walked right in there homes. Some of the dragons huffed small puffs of flames and smoke, warning their guest. “So Spike do you see the dragons you met from last time,” Jack ask. Spike did a quick scan, “Ummmmmmmmm… I don’t see them anywh…Oh there they are.” Spike point one of his claws towards a pool of lava. In the pool there were half a dozen, of what Jack could guess, teen dragons. They were looking at the oncoming visitor, when a red scale orange fin dragon smiled and got out. “Well if it isn’t the pansy pony dragon Spike, coming back for more humiliation. Whose are these weirdoes?” “I’m Jack Truman, a human from plant Lore. And this here is my dragon partner Wistala.” “More like a hairless monkey and a deformed dog,” a brown dragon sarcastically remark. The teen group laughed out loudly, and Jack heard Wistala growled angry. “While that seem funny to you all, I came here looking for a helm of resistant magically properties that you supposedly have,” Jack said. The red one stopped laughing and angrily look at Jack, “Why are you trying to steal from my father’s trove.” “If I were trying to steal, I wouldn’t have walked here openly,” Jack said. “Plus, I was hoping to either trade for it or convinced to let me borrow it for some time.” “Like that will ever happen. Why should we even consider do either?” “Because Equestria is in danger, that’s why,” Wistala spoke in. “This helm is somehow imported to a pony who very powerful who just stole another object just like it, right under the two Princesses in Canterlot.” The dragons bust out laughing again, harder than last time. The red one spoke, “IF this pony is so powerful to defeat two weak princesses then you lot are stupid to walk in here thinking any better. Kind show how weak you are for even trying.” “Then let us prove how strong we are,” Jack said. The group of dragons looked at Jack. “Two fights, one with Wistala and one with me, one on one. If you can defeat us both, then you can keep the helm. If we both win then you let us talk to your farther, and we can work from there for the helm.” Jack smile, “If you don’t want to test your strength against us, I can understand; I guess you’re also weak as well if don’t think you can handle us.” The red dragon was enraged by what Jack said; smoke was rising out of his nostrils. “All right we play your little game.” Narrowing his eyes, “Who’s first?” “I go,” Wistala answered, “And I want to fight the brown one.” She looked at him and smile smugly saying, “I want to show him what this “deformed” dog can do.” She walked away from Jack and head near the center of the area where the two groups were standing. The brown dragon giggle, “Ha, I show you what a true dragon can do.” He walk forward towards Wistala and looked down at her. “Ready?” “Your move,” she replied. Instantly the dragon swigged his club like tail at her, and Wistala jump back dodging it. She promptly released a ball of energy at him, hitting him square in the face. The dragon lost his balance and stumble back a few paces. Frustrated he regained his balance and look at Wistala who now was hovering in the air. “Come on, you’re going to have to do better than that.” The dragon roared out with rage and let force a stream of orange flame at her. She rolled to her left to get out of the way and shoot another ball of energy. They continue their fight in this way for a while. Wistala flew around in the air, taking cheap shoots at the dragon, while the dragon tried to hit her with his roaring inferno. The area quickly started to get hot, Jack hold a hand in front of his face to suppress the heat in front of him. He took a quick look up in the sky to see some clouds formed above the two dragons in the sky with a raven circling right under them. The brown dragon stopped unleashing his flames and shouted out, “Why don’t you fight me face to face, too afraid to face me hea…,” he didn’t finish his sentence as a purple blur went by his face and pain in his cheek soon follow. He held a claw to his face and felt something wet, his blood. He looked back to Wistala and her right claw had few drops of blood on its tips. “If want to fight claw to claw, you should’ve made it clear with your first strike.” She flew right towards the dragon and did quick jabs to his chest. None of them drew blood, but she did loosed few of his scales. The dragon slashed his claw down at her only managing to make a nick at her side. Now the two dragons were fight in close quarters using both claws and flame at each other. The clouds continued to build up in the sky and a Jack could see some blots of energy flashing in them. Both dragons separate from each other, breathing heavily. “Give up,” she asked. “Give up? GIVE UP! You got to be kidding me. You’re more fatigue than me. I think you’re the one who need to give up.” “I take that as a no.” A loud boom erupted overhead. The brown dragon looked up to see a small thunder cloud over him. Then bolts of lightning came down right on top of him. He screamed out in pain as his body flash from the energy the bolts were emitting. Once the lightning strikes stopped the dragon fins stood up with small smoke lines coming off them, and he fled down on his bottom. “How ‘bout now?” “I give, I give, no more.” He held his arms up to prove his point. Wistala nodded her head and went back to Jack. The brown dragon was help up by a dark purple dragon with blond hair. The red dragon was not too happy of what just happen. “Kind ‘a flashy,” Jack whispered to Wistala. “Had to make it believable,” she replied. “True.” Jack looked at the furious red dragon. “I’m next; I let you decide my opponent.” “It’s already been decided. Me.” The red dragon walked forward, but stopped when Jack held up one arm. “Something wrong?” “No, I’m fine with fighting you; I need to get ready first.” Jack set his backpack to the ground and kneeled down. He opened the main flap and pull out the Vanilla Ice Katana and his DragonLord Helm. The helm was design to look like a snarling dragon face, so that it will strike fear and awe into the Dragonlord’s foes. Jack put the helm on; it was customary made by Cysero so that his head would be a snug fit, with maximum protection. He then grabbed the katana and got up. “Now I am ready.” Held the sword in a fighting position and yelled, “Defend yourself!” He rushed forward towards the red dragon and swinging his sword diagonally right at him. The red dragon barely had time to side step out of the way of Jack’s sword. The dragon lashed out one of his claws at Jack’s face, which Jack easily stopped with his left gauntlet. Jack then gave a thrust with his right hand to the dragon’s head. There was a hard smack and the red dragon took a couple steps back from the blown. The red dragon shook himself out of his daze and tried again to slice downward at Jack. Jack held the sword to stop the claw from coming down on him. The claw hit the icy blade and the red dragon yelp in pain as he was burn by the sudden coldness the blade emitted. The dragon withdrew his arm and rubbed it; enraged he open his mouth to unleash a roaring red flame at Jack. The flame engulfed Jack, but Jack seemed unfazed by the sudden change, he raised his katana and gave a swing in front of him. The katana glowed and an icy wind came forth and diminished the flame. The red dragon was shock at what happen. “You’re going have to do better than that,” Jack said. “This armor was designed to face attacks that you’re bashing out. If that’s all you have, then you should give up now.” “NEVER!” The red dragon leapt into the air and flew to ram into Jack. Jack reach for his magic, he held his arm out to the ground and quickly raised it up. A wall of rock appeared right in the way of the red dragon collision path to Jack. The red dragon tried to stop but he rammed hard right into the wall, making a very loud thud. Jack lowered the wall and walked forward and placed his sword on the dragon’s neck. “Submit,” he said. “I said I will nev…” “That’s enough,” a voiced boom out. Jack looked up to see an adult crimson dragon flying down. “You lost Flare, this human has beaten you.” “But father.” “I said that’s enough, you and your friends leave, I wish to speak with this human alone.” “No…NO!” Flare rush forward towards Jack, when something hard slammed into his chest stopped him. He held his arm across his chest, he look up to see a rock coming at high velocity towards his head. It smacked him and knocking him out, making him fall down to the ground. Everyone look towards the area where the rocks came from a seen a small dragon standing alone. It left one of its legs to its head and pulled it back to revile an orange pony, Applejack. “Nice shooting,” Jack said to Applejack. Two teen dragons pick Flare up and walk off, leaving Jack, Wistala, Spike and Applejack alone with Flare’s father. “Now, I like you to explain why you come bursting in and trying to get my helm, and this pony who is fighting with the princesses.” Jack explained the battle at Canterlot and his reason why they need the helm before Obsidian. Wistala also spoke in about the dragon golem that she fought with; how strong it was, its resistance to fire, and its unnatural speed. “It’s more than a match to face more than one dragon, I was lucky to take it down,” Wistala said. “Whose know how many of these type of golem Obsidian have, but it only take a few to steal the helm.” Flare’s father chuckle, “I must admit, you told convincing story. However, I must ask, why do you think it is better for you to have, rather leave it with the hundreds of dragons that are living here?” “Didn’t we already tell you why,” Jack said. “No you told me why you’re here, and the power that you saw from Obsidian. Yet you didn’t explain why I should let you guard the helm.” “Because I’m strong enough to guard it,” Jack replied. “That isn’t a good reason. Why waste strength for a world that isn’t yours?” Frustrated Jack was about say something else when he remembered a conversation he had with his father long time ago. ********************* “Please Dad,” Jack begged to his father. “Why? Why should I get you a sword,” his father asked as he was putting his Guardian Helmet on. “So I can be strong warrior like you.” Jack’s father shook his head slowly then he serious looked at Jack, “In that case…No.” “But…” “But nothing son,” he reach for his blade and held it up and it gleamed in the sunlight that was coming from the window. “A blade is not going to make you strong Jack. A blade doesn’t make anyone strong in fact. If a person has strength alone, he will fail in his task. You need to be cunning, able to adapt to your surroundings and others thing if you want to be a great warrior like myself or any other Guardian. But most importantly you must have heart.” “Heart, you mean love?” Jack’s father chuckle, “No, I mean the heart of do the right thing. Protecting others from danger; risking your life so that others might live. To look at evil right in its faced and not batted an eye. It takes a strong devoted heart to do that and many others deeds.” He sheathed his sword and kneeled down putting a hand on Jack’s shoulder, “You too young to fully understand that just yet, but you will when you grow up.” Jack slowly nodded his head as his father got up. “Now I think Rebecca needs some help getting supplies for supper today…” ********************** Jack stood there for a moment while Flare’s father was still waiting for an answer. “Because it’s my duty,” he stated. He arc his head to look at the dragon, “It’s my duty to risk my life so that others may be spared. My duty to stop evil before it’s gets to powerful. Yes I’m from another world, but it changes nothing. Lives are at stake, and I’m going to stop it from happening.” Flare’s father looked at Jack for a moment; he then lowered his right claw near to the ground and opened it. An object fell and landed on the ground making a hard thud. “In that case, I wish you luck and hope you will succeed.” Jack walk towards the object to see that it was the helm. The helm was no bigger than Jack’s own head. A clear cut four sided (not square shape though, more like two triangles sharing the same base) diamond was place on the center. The helm seemed to be design around the diamond, since it was pretty much the same shape. There were also four moveable fins coming out of the side of the helm. There no way for a living thing to put this on its head, Jack observed silently, which kind-of prove Luna suggestion. Unlike the others pieces this one didn’t have the symbol engraved on any of its side. “Now, I think you and the three ponies should start heading out, before some random dragon decides not to follow my orders and attack you.” “Wait, you knew about the other two ponies?” “Of course, I’m one of the leaders of the dragons after all. It’s my job to know,” Flare’s father smuggle replied. ******************** “IT”S NOT FAIR,” Flare shouted out as he lashed a tree with his claw leaving a gashed in the bark. “I was humiliated right in front of my father, and he doesn’t even care!” “Cheer up Flare, maybe you get that human next time,” the brown dragon said. “No I won’t have another chance Boulder! I lost that chance the moment my father intervened with our fight.” Flare grinded his teeth as he said, “He knew that I was too weak to face some freak, I need to be stronger.” “If strength is what you need, then I can help out,” a voice spoke out. Flare and the three others dragons looked around the forest trying to find the source of the voice. “Who are you,” Flare asked. “Just a friend; a friend who understands your pain and just wants to help you out,” the voice replied. “Why?” “Because, Jack is not what he claim to be; he’s just a sniveling lying thief. Stealing items from me and others, preventing me to save Equestria, not harm it.” “He seemed kind strong for a thief,” the blond hair dragon stated. “That because he’s using my items that I made for his power. He is trying to get many powerful items so that he can conquer this world, not to save it. “ “I don’t care,” Flare shouted out, “If you can make us stronger, we take it and pound that human and his dragon to dust.” A blue unicorn with orange glowing blue eyes step from the shadows, “Excellent, let’s get started shall we,” he said. Dragonfable is copyright to Artix Entertainment, LLC. MLP: Friendship is Magic is copyright to Hasbro and whoever else has the rights. All charters that belong to their companies are rightfully theirs. This writing is for fun and nothing else. DUN..DUN..DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN. Next Chapter: A Taste of Doom. Dragonlord's Helm Vanilla Ice Katana Thanks you AE forums for the images.