//------------------------------// // An Accord with Scales Part 1 // Story: A Future Worth Saving // by Flashgen //------------------------------// Twilight’s hooves landed firmly on the ground. The portal behind her glowing a vibrant white that easily illuminated the cave she now stood in. Its walls were a mixture of smooth and jagged rock, with an occasional crystal jutting out near the ceiling. She turned and examined the walls for an exit, noting an odd crack that ran along one of the walls. Finally, she looked at the massive archway around the portal. Several etchings covered the simple stone archway, with identical unicorns on the right column, with two large dragons on the left, and she could barely see a drawing of the sun and moon at the arch’s peak. The portal fluctuated, shifting to a mixture of blue, red, and, green. After a few moments Spike stepped through on his claws, his neck bent low to fit through the archway. After he exited the portal, its glow dimmed, and a small white orb remained floating at the center of the arch. He stood up on his hind legs, stretching as he let his wings unfold. He looked around the cave, though the walls were no longer visible. “Well, I’m glad that worked out, but are we really here, Twilight? I mean, is this Kraulith?” He bent his neck down to Twilight. “I’m not sure, Spike,” Twilight said, floating Princess Celestia’s spellbook in front of her as she glanced through its pages. “I cast the spell just like the book said, so we should be there, though I’m more worried that I didn’t see a way out.” Twilight rubbed a hoof under her chin as she placed the book on the cavern floor. After a moment of thought, Twilight focused. Her horn glowed brightly, shining a beam of light against the cave wall that followed her vision as Twilight searched for a way out. The beam landed on one of the crystals above, reflecting internally before the light splintered towards several other crystals near the ceiling. Soon the cave was illuminated, and Twilight kept the beam from her horn pointed at the crystal. “Much better,” Twilight said. Whoever designed this must have put a lot of work into it. I wonder how long ago it was made?” She turned to face the crack which ran along a wall in front of the archway. The crack formed a long arch, cutting out a section of the wall. The section was covered with several scattered, jagged sections of rock, which cut off unexpectedly at the crack. Twilight gave a small nudge to the wall in an attempt to see if it would budge. Her efforts carried no results, however. She turned back to face Spike. “I think this might be a way out, Spike. Can you move it?” “Of course,” Spike said with a nod as he stepped up to the wall. He put as much of his weight as he could into the wall, but even after several attempts it stood unmoved. Spike frowned as he looked down at Twilight. “I don’t know Twilight, it’s just not budging. Are you sure there isn’t a door?” “If there is, I can’t see it anywhere,” Twilight said, squinting at the other walls. “Why would the gate be in a room with no entrance?” Twilight ran a hoof up and down the crack, and her horn brightened as she looked up at the crystal she kept lit. A small orb of light formed off the tip of her horn and floated above her, keeping the beam of light focused and the room illuminated. She leaned forward, her horn pointed at the wall as she focused, a small bolt of magic leaping from her horn and striking the wall. The wall shifted in response, grinding across its counterparts as the ceiling sent loose pebbles and shards of rock down towards Twilight. Spike moved quickly, sheltering Twilight from a shower of boulders with his wings. After a few moments, the wall began to pull away, and something massive was moving just outside the light of the crystals. Twilight moved back and craned her neck upwards, bending her legs as she prepared to run, or if need be, fight. With every second, the massive form pulled farther away, and soon left Twilight and Spike face to face with an endless expanse of darkness. After over a minute of hesitation and silence Twilight stepped forward and called out into the shadows, “Hello?” In an instant, the darkness before her gave way to a monstrous face, easily as large as Spike and covered with scales withered by age. Its nostrils flared, a trail of smoke floating towards Twilight and Spike, and its red eyes looked the two over attentively. Its mouth soon bent into an odd grin, its teeth bared in the process. “Well, well, well,” he mused. His voice was deep, echoing through the niche Spike and Twilight stood in. “I haven’t had guests in...” He paused to let out a lengthy yawn. “Quite some time.” Spike was down on his claws, wings spread in a vain attempt to intimidate the giant. Twilight’s legs quaked in fear as several beads of sweat dripped from her forehead. She tried to rationalize the situation in her mind: The Princess wouldn’t send me here if it was not safe... If he was trying to kill us we’d be dead... I have to be strong, I have to. She breathed slowly, her eyes closed for several seconds before the quaking of her legs began to die down. Once she was calm she opened her eyes, keeping them locked on the massive dragon as she spoke, “Is... this Kraulith?” The dragon chuckled, sending short gusts of wind mixed with smoke towards Twilight. “Where are your manners, child? Guest should introduce themselves, no?” Twilight cleared her throat, trying to keep herself calm as she spoke, “My name is Twilight Sparkle, and this is my assistant Spike.” She motioned a hoof towards Spike who gave a shallow nod in response, but kept his stance low and his wings extended. “I see, an oddity as well: not only guests, but a pony with pet in tow.” He leaned closer, his nostrils idly blowing smoke at Twilight as he towered over her. “Yes, you are on Kraulith, though your welcome is running short, little one.” He leaned down further, his eyes as level with Twilight as they could be. “Why are you here?” Twilight stood firm and stamped a hoof down, her back arched and her head raised. “I’m here to enlist the aid of dragons in freeing Equestria from Nightmare Moon.” The dragon’s grin twisted before he burst into laughter, nearly falling onto his side. After nearly a minute of glares and confusion from Twilight and Spike, he wiped a tear from his eye, and his laughter began to subside. “That is a rich joke, isn’t it?” He raised an eyebrow at Twilight’s silence. “Oh, you didn’t find it funny? No matter.” A massive claw reached forward, lifting Twilight off of the ground with amazing speed for its size. She soon found herself seated within the dragon’s palm as his neck bent to inspect her closely. “Hey, let go of her!” Spike shouted as he launched into the air, but found himself blocked by another giant claw. “Patience pet,” he said, waving the free claw in Spike’s direction. “You are outclassed, and dwarfed to boot.” “Please,” Twilight said, backing away slightly from the dragon’s gaze as she glanced at Spike and the arch. They were almost a speck in the distance. “This is very important. We need your help to-” “You don’t need anything young one, except maybe more lessons in manners.” His eyes finally left Twilight as he glanced back to the gateway and the ground in front of it. Twilight could see a glimmer of gold within his irises as the spellbook she had sat down so carefully jetted through the air. The book came to an abrupt stop in front of her, with a faint golden glow around its bindings. “It has been a while,” he muttered to himself. “Is it three oddities now? A guest, pony, and thief all in one?” “Thief?!” Twilight shouted, shaking her head. “No! I’d never steal this from Princess Celestia! She gave it to me!” “So easy to say, but not to prove, especially with such similar ornaments.” The spellbook hovered away from Twilight as she felt the necklace and tiara she wore tugged away from her for a moment. The dragon’s eyes pierced her, and it was several moments before his eyes relaxed and he smiled. “You may call me Grados, Twilight Sparkle. I must ask, if thievery did not gain you such a priceless artifact, what did?” “It was given to me,” Twilight stated, not backing down from his gaze. “Princess Celestia herself made sure that it came into my hooves.” “Did she now?” Grados scratched his chin with a claw. “I suppose if she knew before, she would not have left it to fall into her possession. Yet who is so important to ensure its well-being instead of an end by flame, then or now?” Then or... now? Does he mean? Twilight thought. Grados leaned down, placing his claw and Twilight within a few feet of the floor, leaving the book at her side. After Twilight jumped from his clutches, landing safely on the floor, he looked up, took a deep breath, and blew a small burst of fire towards the ceiling. It ignited a crystal, and its light spread through the cave in moments, just like Twilight had done before. Twilight stared in awe at the cave Grados stood in, towering even above his massive stature. His scales were a faded grey, easily blending into the cave walls, but along his back were a row of vibrant golden spikes, shimmering despite their age. After ensuring the cave stayed lit he lay down, curled up as his head rested before Twilight. “Tell me, how did you know your Princess, Ms. Sparkle?” “I was her student,” Twilight responded, placing her teacher’s spellbook securely in her saddlebags. “A very long time ago in fact.” “I would hope it was in the past, considering her likely predicament now.” Grados covered his mouth, hoping to suppress a yawn with little effect. “Just a student then? Not many can claim such a thing though, especially now.” “My friends and I, we were the Elements of Harmony, the ones who stopped Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago.” Grados raised an eyebrow at Twilight’s words, but let her continue. “But... she came back. She trapped us, froze us in time. Now we’re trying to fix things, to make things right.” “A noble task, especially for six young ponies. Yet, why do you need us?” “Princess Celestia left some... thing to advise us, a part of her. She told us to come here, to seek your help in stopping Nightmare Moon.” Twilight stepped forward, her head tilted slightly. “You can help us... can’t you?” Grados took a deep breath, a thin trail of smoke flowing from his nostrils. “So she doesn’t recall does she? I expected as such, and yet...” He sighed, shaking his head. “No, I am afraid you are mislead Ms. Sparkle. You will find very little help here, even as her pupil. What little respect that bears, of course.” “What, but why?” Twilight asked, looking back at Spike. “I know dragons haven’t been to Equestria in a while, but that’s no reason to-” Grados’s body stretched out as his head craned upwards. “Reasons are deep things, and it takes far longer than you know to find the tips of their roots.” Grados traced a claw along the stone floor between him and Twilight, cutting smooth, shallow lines into it with ease and elegance, like a painter with a brush. “Tell me, being a student, what do you know of your history?” Twilight smiled, breathing a sigh of relief. “You mean about Equestria? I’ve read a lot of books on it, and-” “No, child. Of your race, of all races. What do you know of the world’s history?” he asked, his claw frozen in place, only to continue cutting and digging moments later. Twilight frowned, her head tilted. “I don’t quite understand what you mean. I know a bit about other kingdoms, but there’s not a lot of books about history before the princesses’ rule.” “Of course not,” Grados muttered to himself as a second claw joined the etching, soon followed by two others. “Do you know of those that made this world, who brought forth life and your princesses as well?” Twilight tapped her chin with a hoof as she hummed to herself. “I have read some books about mythology. Do you mean the two gods from the creation myths?” “Mythology, an odd name for factual tales,” Grados muttered to himself, his front claws and eyes preoccupied with the floor. “Alas, yes, those two.” His clawing slowed before he finally stopped. He rested an open palm in front of Twilight and motioned with his other hand for Spike to follow. “Please. Let me enlighten you if I may.” Twilight reluctantly stepped into Grados’s grasp, and found herself high above the cave floor once again. Spike hovered nearby, and the two looked down at the floor that had been covered in a multitude of marks. With a golden glimmer in Grados’s eyes the lines sparked to life, glowing a vibrant blue. They lifted off the stone floor and began to hover at varying heights, bending and twisting until they became connected. “Long ago,” Grados began, a burst of light filling the already bright room, “there were two celestial beings who built and cared for the endless expanse of the universe.” As the light faded two silhouettes hung in the air, forming a circle with one another. A series of images appeared in the center of the circle as Grados continued, “Galaxies, stars, planets, moons, comets, and meteors. Everything within their imagination and will they created. Then, one day, they gave birth to their child. It was a planet, one which would bear their limitless children: plants, creatures both big and small, and limitless wonders beyond their prior work.” Twilight nodded. “Right, and they inhabited the world with all their creations.” The images faded and were replaced by pictures of the races of the world, each one glowing at Twilight’s call. “Gryphons, earth ponies, zebra, elk, pegasi, ibex, camels, buffalo, unicorns. To every race they gave life and form, and a home within an endless paradise. Even the smallest creatures were given shelter and care from the other races, which is why ponies care for animals, plants, and the seasons in Equestria.” Grados chuckled. “Some of that does carry, yes.” All of the images melded into one: a roaring dragon with its wings spread wide. “However, above all else they needed protectors, guardians of their world, and their vision; a vision of harmony. And so we dragons were born, tasked to protect this world and its creators’ greatest treasures.” The dragon’s image faded and condensed into a faint glow before bursting into a dazzling display of color and light. Before Twilight and Spike were six glowing orbs of light: red, blue, green, black, violet, and gold. “The Elements of Harmony,” Grados began, motioning a hand to the orbs. “Together, they were the most powerful magic in the world, and yet even alone they were strong. Six breeds of dragons were created, and one from each born to hold their burden eternal. To the Blue, playful denizens of the deep sea, was given Bliss. To the Red, steadfast protectors of the sky, was given Duty. To the Green, tenders of the vast paradise, was given Empathy. To the Black, vigilant guardians of the earth, was given Balance. To the Violet, helpful wanderers of the world, was given Profusion. Finally, to the Gold, watchers of unicorns and keepers of magic, was given Potential.” Twilight watched in wonder as the orbs of light twisted into draconic shapes with Grados’s words, until five of the figures, red, blue, black, violet, and green, formed a circle around a golden center. “I-I’ve never heard this before. Nopony knows how the Elements were created... and you said this ‘Gold’ flight watched over unicorns?” “There is more than one reason for that,” Grados stated as the five dragons around the gold image vanished. The golden dragon grew as several ponies, unicorns, appeared underneath its daunting form. “They were our flock, and we, their shepherds. We were told to give them our knowledge, to teach them to wield their Potential.” “Potential?” Twilight asked. “Wait, you said that it was one of the Elements. Why don’t we know them by those names?” “A shift in purpose and power,” Grados flicked a claw through the air. The images faded, and were replaced by several races once again, each with a different colored glow within its form. “Potential is the most powerful and primal of mortal magic. When the gods created this world, all their creatures were given it. All of them could wield it, and each developed it differently. Your kind were the only taught to master it.” “But, there’s nothing about this at all in Equestrian history. There aren’t even any myths or legends about it!” Twilight looked up at Grados, a hoof rubbing across her forehead. “This is just... it’s a lot to take in.” “Yeah, I haven’t even heard about this,” Spike said, crossing his arms at his chest. “Not unexpected from a pet,” Grados said to Spike before he turned back to Twilight. “Hey, stop calling me that!” Spike shouted, his eyes narrowed as his nostrils began to fume smoke. “Grados, please. Spike is not my pet, he’s a friend and assistant to me,” Twilight pleaded, offering a smile. “Very well. Do you wish to continue?” “Yes, please,” Twilight said with a nod. Grados sliced the image with his claw, twisting it with his fingers. A simple circle formed, split into three pieces: one with gryphons and pegasi, one with earth ponies and zebra, and a third with unicorns and dragons. “Your race, ponies, were scattered around the world. We kept watch over unicorns, ensuring their safety and teachings. Pegasi lived with the mountain dwelling gryphons, even though their companionship was tenuous, and the zebra had taken up residence with earth ponies, whose care for the earth accented the zebra’s affinity for the spiritual.” The pieces of the circle split and drifted apart, revealing two figures behind it: tall, slender ponies with wings and a horn. “That is when your princesses arrived... Perhaps the dragons had fallen from our creators’ favor for... previous misdeeds, or mayhaps their plans simply changed. Regardless, Celestia and Luna came to us and explained that they were to gather all of their subjects, earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns for their new kingdom of Equestria, and that they would require the Elements of Harmony on their parents’ orders.” “Their parents? You mean the-” “Yes, the gods which created this world, though of all their creations they only claimed true parentage to them. Against our judgement and prejudice we conceded on the terms that we would decide when they were truly worthy to wield the elements. From us, they learned and grew, and though it took years, they finally left through the same gate you entered.” Several glowing unicorns formed on the floor of the cave, trotting in a line into the gateway before vanishing. “I-I’m sorry I had no idea about... about any of this.” Twilight turned to fully face Grados, gazing up at him. “Is... this why you won’t help us?” “I wish it were child,” Grados said as the images faded completely, the lines on the cave floor slowly smoothed away. “We cannot help you because your rulers committed an atrocity that cannot be forgiven.” “An Atrocity, the princesses? There’s no way they’d-” For the first time since her arrival, Grados’s voice was strained, barely drowning out the grinding of his teeth, “There is more about them than you could or would know, Twilight Sparkle.” He leaned down, letting Twilight step onto the cave floor again. His voice was calm as he continued, “All tales are not without tragedy, it seems. One day, a great shadow fell upon this world. We knew its cost as soon as it appeared... The gods that created us all had fallen.” He placed a claw on his chest, clutching his scales tightly. “We could feel it, a part of us was lost, and while their other creations did not know of it, the tragedy still affected them.” “Affected them how?” Twilight asked as Spike landed next to her. “War. Disease. Famine. It had many faces, but the darkness was the same: a living nightmare that began to tear the world apart. Your rulers were quick to act, thinking they knew the source of their ailments. The Elements were combined with the draconic magic we taught them, and it cost the world its greatest gift to save it from the flame: Potential.” Grados sighed and lay down, his face level with Twilight’s. “It had been used as a tool for war and death, rather than harmony and peace. With one fell swoop, the Potential of all life sealed, and their memories were taken, everyone's.” Twilight stared blankly at Grados, her eyes aghast, slowly shifting to the floor as her mouth hung open. She was at a loss for words and breath as her mind tried to wrap itself around everything she had been told. Could all of this be true? Were Celestia and Luna hiding this from everypony for a reason? She shook her head, trying to remove her daze before she spoke, “I-I can’t really grasp all of this Grados, but... are you really sure about this?” “I am, Ms. Sparkle, for I have seen all of it first-hand.” He looked up at the ceiling, almost staring through it. “Perhaps you need some rest. I can answer your questions after you’ve had a chance solidify and differentiate them.” Grados walked away and lay down at the center of the cavern, facing away from Twilight and Spike. Twilight sighed, rubbing her head lightly. She trotted back to the gateway, her horn glowing faintly as the orb of light that kept the area lit returned to her and faded. After taking a seat near the shimmering orb within the gateway she gazed idly over its etchings. “Is it really all true?” Twilight asked herself, glancing back at Spike. “Spike? Did Princess Celestia ever tell you any of this?” “N-no, of course not,” Spike said, lying down at the foot of the gateway. “I never heard about any of this, even when we were waiting for you all to come back.” “I thought so, but why isn’t any of this in a book? Why wouldn’t the princesses want us to know about it?” Twilight laid her head down, her mind busily trying to both grasp and question Grados’s story. There had to be a hole, a gap, something that made it a lie, but even as Twilight began to drift off to sleep with her mind in the past, she could find nothing, at least nothing she could prove or disprove. When Twilight’s eyes opened, she was alone, but not in the cave she had fallen asleep in. All around her, the only thing she could see was white, an endless expanse of nothingness in every direction. She slowly rose on her hooves, turning around as she called out into the void, “Hello? Is anyone here?” A dream, she thought, this has to be a dream... but is it like the other ones? As she took a step forward, the featureless ground under her hooves took color and shape. A circle of grass formed around her, swaying gently in a breeze she could, for some reason, not feel. She heard a chime in the distance, a clear tone that resonated around her. With each step forward, more of the world took shape, accompanied by another clear note. Flowers began to spring up in the meadow around her, coupled with the gentle strums of a harp, and a tree sprang to life at her side, beckoned forth by the low hum of a bass. A path cut through the grass, leading up a gentle hill in the direction of the music as the harmony of a piano joined the symphony. Her pace quickened as she stepped onto the path, but the music stopped suddenly. The white floor before her seemed to give way as her hoof simply fell through it. She was sent her hurdling into nothingness as the meadow above her dissolved. Even the void began to fall apart as she screamed, her fall without end as she was engulfed by darkness. Her eyes were glued shut, and she began to mutter to herself, “It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream, it’s just a-” A cold shiver ran down her spine, forcing her eyes open as she gasped. She was frozen in place by a mixture of fear and shock, staring at a pair of pure black eyes, which somehow stood out from the darkness around her. They grew closer with each second, joined by a mouth only inches away from her, its teeth bared before it opened wide to engulf her. Twilight jolted upright, sweat pouring from her brow. She could still feel the bitter cold down her spine, but it slowly faded as a warm glow enveloped her. She looked down, her eyes wide when she saw the ground in the distance below, and Grados’s face a few feet in front of her. “You have some odd sleeping habits, child. Not many send themselves on a fall while they slumber.” Twilight floated down to the floor, landing gently on her hooves as the warmth faded from her body, the frigid feeling along her spine gone as well. Spike was quick to be at her side, holding her close for a moment. “Twilight! A-are you okay?” Twilight smiled, trying to wiggle free of Spike’s grasp. “I’m fine Spike, please. You can let me go. It’s just a little tight...” “Oh, sorry.” Spike frowned, a small blush visible under his purple scales as he placed Twilight back on the ground. He backed away before Grados moved closer to Twilight, leaning down to her. “I- my dream, it was... I mean I was falling, but... It was actually happening?” Twilight muttered as she took deep breaths, hoping to calm herself. She looked up at Grados as she continued to shudder and shake. “How did I get up there?” “I would assume you either teleported or levitated. The only signal you gave was your screaming.” Grados bent forward, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air around Twilight. “There is... a stench about you Ms. Sparkle. Something very dark, and old.” His claws ran over Twilight’s body lightly, barely touching her coat while he scratched his chin. “Odd that I did not sense it earlier. Perhaps you managed to keep it at bay.” “What are you talking about?” Twilight asked, careful not to yank her body away from one claw into another, shivering. “You mean magic?” “Yes... child. Has this been the first?” “With me almost falling to my death, yes,” Twilight said, rolling her eyes and forcing a chuckle. She shuffled a hoof against the ground, bending her head down. “It wasn’t the same as the other ones. They were scattered and meaningless, like flashes of memories.” She looked back up as she continued, her body finally still and calm. “But, no, it wasn’t the first. There were even times when I...” Twilight placed a hoof on her forehead, shaking her head. “When I’d get a headache if I tried to remember what happened before.” “Magic can evolve on its own will once it has been freed to the world, and often grows far beyond its owner’s intentions.” Grados’s eyes shimmered, his claws pressing against Twilight’s coat. Her body was assaulted by warmth, slithering across her like a snake. It began to build and focus, the warmth becoming a burning heat in her forehead. Twilight began to wince, tears on her cheeks as she grunted in protest. “W-what are you doing?” Spike tried to jump forward, but found himself stopped short by Grados’s massive tail flying at him. Spike flew backwards, his wings barely stabilizing him before he hovered down to the floor. “Calm yourself, pet, she will not be harmed.” Grados breathed in and out slowly. Twilight’s protests began to calm as she mimicked him, and the searing heat in her forehead slowly died out. Her eyes opened slowly after Grados pulled his claws away. He bowed his head to her, smiling. “Perhaps you will find clarity now.” Spike timidly stepped towards Twilight, lying down on the floor next to her. “Twilight, are you okay?” Spike asked, his tail curling in an arch around her. Twilight was still, her eyes darting back and forth as she scanned an invisible canvas with fevered urgency. After an extended silence she turned around. Her face was stoic, her eyes focused on Spike. She simply nodded. “Yes Spike, I’m fine, and I know what happened to us. I know what Nightmare Moon and Trixie did to my friends, and worse, what they did to me.”