//------------------------------// // Absence of Meaning [12] // Story: Stories in Stone, Lost Empire // by TDR //------------------------------// Stories in Stone Lost Empire By TDR Absence of Meaning [Current Day, Canterlot Hospital] Jer'rahd shifted on couch moving only a little to adjust the tiny foal he held against his chest, moving with agonizing slowness so as not to wake her. The room was quiet now as was the rest hospital though that had been a fiasco in the making itself. Celestia had needed to bring in a contingent of Guards just to drive all the media, and 'important ponies' who wanted to be there at the historic event of a Princess giving birth. All of them claimed to be there to see the important event, but none of them could understand exactly how important it was to the pair involved. Celestia, Zecora, and Twilight both had both checked over Dawn extensively while Luna and Jer'rahd both looked on in borderline panic, something that was not usual for either of them. After countless tests the trio agreed there was no trace of the Book's darkness within her. She also was not a god or anything like it, in truth aside from the oddity of her being a orange half dragon , she was a normal filly. After that monumental reveal Luna had nodded off, the stress of the events, the odd schedule, and the effort being a bit much for her. So Jer'rahd finally got to hold Dawn and he spent the entire time sitting where he was practically unmoving for fear he might hurt her. With the others, even Berry, they were all old enough to where he didn't think he would hurt any of them,though he was still careful with Pip. Dawn was a tiny thing, something he was hesitant to even breath near for fear of hurting. “You still awake Jer'rahd?” mutters a voice as the door to the room cracks open. “I am, and if this is about a interview you have until I put down the foal to run before I decorate the door with your entrails as a warning to others.” Jer'rahd growls lightly debating in his mind whether he would do it or not as he didn't want to wake Dawn or Luna. The door opens wider and Orange steps in closing it behind her in a bit of a huff as she glares at him.” So you're threatening your daughter now?” “Why are you only my daughter when it makes me look bad? “ Jer'rahd sighs. “Besides that's been my standard greeting all day and you know that.” “Don't trust the Guards to keep them away?” “I do to a degree, Celestia brought in the ones I've trained primarily, so I trust them more than the ones who haven't gone through my training. But they still found one pegasus crawling through the air vents trying to get in a spot to get a picture. I trust them to do their jobs, but I also expect the media to go far beyond sane to get what they want.” “Well at least they are out of the hospital.” Orange sighs. “Where's every one else?” “Bleu said she had to get back to what she was doing, something about some rogue dragons she and Spike were tracking down near the empire. Celestia and Twilight took Berry and Brush back home. Celestia is taking over Luna's Night duties for a little while as well. Twilight said she would let the others who didn't make it know whats happened. Starfall went to keep the trainees in line as they don't expect you to be there for a bit either.” “No. I planned to be the one watching Dawn primarily. My job is less important than Luna's. Hard to get any new recruits to take you seriously when you have a foal in one saddlebag and a diaper bag on the other. Still, might need to ask Lionheart to send some pony here that knows about half dragon foals or at least a book..” “Doesn't surprise me, though what happened to Rhede? I know he had one lump when he showed up , but last I saw him he had several.” “He decided now would be a good time to try and hook one of the twins up with Dawn. Velkorn and Celestia got to him pretty quick.” Jer'rahd chuckles. “Ahh. Well the group of them went back to their house, Rhede's going to cancel his assignment in order to stay around for a few weeks, in case he's needed here. I think he sent some one back to Manehatten for his luggage though.” “I see. So what do you and the Lillies think?” “Figured you would ask that. “ Orange sighs sitting down next to Jer'rahd. “Well?” “I've known those two for ten years and I still don't understand Berry, though she seems interested. Brush still sounds like he's reading a menu and is as impassive as ever.” “And you?” “ I don't know what to think. This is going to be a little different than raising a four year, old a pair of seven year olds, and a mare nearly legally an adult.” “Don't think we can do it then?” “I'm sure you can, though I do have some doubts that Dawn is going to like you in her teenage years. You two are already way too protective of me and Berry. I don't even want to think of what you'd do with your natural born foal.” “If you think that's bad you should hear what Luna has planned for the first filly that breaks Pip or Brush's heart. You can heal and even avoid serious injury getting thrown through a wall, but what Luna plans is insidious.” Jer'rahd chuckles. “I was adopted by monsters...” Orange sighs looking down at the gray muzzle poking out of the bundle of wraps that Jer'rahd held.” She's going to be a flier too, Judging by how big her wings are already, At least if it's the same with half dragons as it is with pegasi. Do you have any idea why she's a half dragon?” “Bleu and Celestia know, I'd figure out a way to make them tell me, but I'm not sure I really care at this point. Dawn's healthy, so that's all that really matters.” Orange smirks as she stares at him in a bit of disbelief before shrugging softly and finally noticing something. “You haven't moved since Velkorn gave her to you about six hours ago have you?” “Nope.” “Afraid you might hurt her?” “Terrified.” “You'll do fine I'm sure. Rhede didn't manage to screw up yet.” Orange laughs though she stops as Dawn shifts on Jer'rahd, gasping with a tiny cough before she throws up all over Jer'rahd's shoulder. “That makes three times. I don't know how something so tiny can hold so much vomit.” sighs Jer'rahd looking for the towel he had been using. ================================================== [Three years ago, Sub basement C, Twilight's lab.] Twilight sighs looking at the formula she had written out, and then over at the remains of the table where the formula was clearly wrong. She glanced back as the door is pushed open and a concerned looking Berry pokes her head in with a pair of safety goggles and a clear face shield on. Twilight smirked at that, she had drilled lab safety into her new assistant before they started anything , though she had found that Berry just liked wearing the goggles whether there was a safety concern or not. “I'm fine Berry. I hope you have been having more luck than I have with your project.” Twilight states noticing Berry's nod. Well it was not like she could do much else until the smoke was filtered out of the lab any way. “well let's see how your crystal experiment is going.” Twilight ducks out the door after the filly, casting a spell to get the soot from her fur and thinking back to their last trip to the Crystal Empire. ------------ The pair of them had taken a trip up to see Princess Cadence and her brother about a week ago. It was really only a day trip as Twilight had enchanted one of the tunnels with a long range teleportation gate spell with the help of Princess Celestia. This sped up the travel to the empire considerably, granted there was a limit to the mass that could be transported, so the train to the Crystal Empire generally had fewer cars and no pullers to off set this issue. It also saved millions of bits on track repair and brought New Canterlot more business as it was slowly becoming a much larger train hub for central Equestria now that the tracks didn't have to go up a mountain. Berry had been fascinated by the Crystal Empire when they arrived it wasn't her first time there either. She still seamed fixated on the crystal Dragon flies of the region. She tried to adopt at least eight of them while they were there this time and Cadence told her there was a whole swarm of them who would avoid the entire city if they even caught wind that the filly would be in town. Berry wasn't cruel, but there was only so much hugging the crystalline creatures could take. Twilight wasn't sure what the standing of the creatures were in the empire, but she didn't think they were classified as pets as they were highly intelligent and most could speak at least some pony, even if it was old Equestrian.. The had also met a unexpected pair while there as well. “BERRY!!!” shouts a voice going far into a higher pitch than Twilight was comfortable with. Oddly Berry seemed to get excited rather than hide as she normally did when some one surprised her, it didn't take long for Twilight to find out why as a mass of blue scales and wings scooped the filly up and spun her around while cackling madly. Twilight looked up at Bleu who continued to dance around like a loon with the giggling filly. She hadn't expected to see her here, though if the blue dragoness was present did that mean... “Umm, Hey Twilight.” mutters another voice. Twilight turns glancing up at the purple and green drake. Spike towered over her by at least two pony lengths, his fairly pudgy form of his youth and the awkward half growth he was in the last time she had seen him had been replaced by a larger, leaner form. He had the same build as Bleu though it was clear even without the pair standing next to each other that he was the more massive and muscled of the two. The most striking feature however was that the young drake had a fair sized pair of wings folded tightly along his back and all his spines seemed larger, and sharper. Twilight took all this in at a glance before looking back at Bleu as the dragoness' scales changed a myriad of colors to the delight of Berry. The rainbow oscillation simply made Twilight a little ill. “Hello Spike.... what are you two doing here?” Twilight asks trying to ignore the size difference between them as well as the fight they had last time they saw each other. “There's a bit of a land cross between the newly restored Crystal Empire and the former lands held by the Dragon Empire. Bleu and I came here to talk with Princess Cadence about how to settle it. I didn't expect you to be here.” “I came up to pick up a shipment of crystals for my studies. Berry came along to assist.” “Oh so she's my replacement then?” Spike asks rubbing the back of his head trying not to seem off put by that. “Like any one could replace my number one assistant.” Twilight smiles. “No, Jer'rahd and Princess Luna think that her willingness to tag along with me might help her out. She's not entirely unskilled though, she doesn't seem to like Owlowicious either.” “Told yah there was something with that owl.” grumbles Spike with a smirk. “So you're here to speak with Cadence on land dealings? I guess that means restoring the empire is coming along better than I thought.” Twilight points out. Spike looked like he was going to respond when Bleu interjects, while balancing Berry atop of her head. “Pfft of course not. Whole things a disaster. The few dragons who are old enough to remember Cindervale want nothing to do with it and the younger ones think the idea's a joke. We've managed to get a clawful to listen and help out through talking, and the rest I had to beat into submission. Literally... like with a rock, dragons tend to listen to strength and Spikey here is a piss poor dragon to start with.” Bleu rants ignoring Spike's growing annoyance. ”I had to teach the poor whelp how to be a dragon course that worked out for the best cause I mean look at him. He's not even full grown yet and DAAAAAAYM GUUUURL......” Twilight takes all this in then decides to ignore Bleu and hope she doesn't say anything that Berry might repeat around Luna and Jer'rahd. She then thinks about that for a second before slapping her face with a hoof recalling the filly in question was pretty much a mute before she looked back at Spike who was mostly red in the face from Bleu's ranting, which was still going and was about spray cheese or something now. “Dragon training?”Twilight can't help but ask, teasing her 'little' brother of sorts. “She says it like that , but it's not as if she's had any experience with draconic culture past killing them. I will admit some of what she knows is useful, other stuff isn't even plausible. She's like Pinkie Pie in dragon form some times.” Spike admits, though seems rather reluctant to continue for a moment. “Still I doubt I would have gotten this far without her help. A few other dragons thought to challenge me for my godhood. I didn't even know that was a thing and she pretty much just beat the crap out of all of them with out bothering to find out what that might entail. There's still issues with some of them doing what they want despite what they should be doing though. We've had to keep an eye on the border of the empire to make sure none of them are sneaking over to try and make snacks of the crystal ponies.” “What about the other dragon gods?” “We only found one, that smoker that you and the girls evicted, and he's still asleep. I've not seen any one else despite trying to get the word out. The only other one that's shown up is Steven Magnet, and he's not much help since he's confined to the waterways. Also he doesn't like Bleu very much.” Spike grumbles , lowering down onto his forelegs , claws scraping the crystal floor as she lowers his head to Twilight's level. “So have I missed anything in New Canterlot?” “Aside from two pony made disasters and countless Pinkie Parties,no not really.” “How's Rarity?” Spike asks reluctantly as Twilight tries to hide a flinch. “She's fine. I know you don't want to hear it but she and Lionheart are quite happy..... well I think he is any way.”Twilight sighs knowing this conversation had been coming, that and his departure had been the crux of their last argument. Bleu continued to rant to any one who would listen, which happened to be Berry and a yellow crystal dragon fly she had grabbed and trying to huggle to death. The blue dragon was talking about Kumquats or something. “That;'s good to hear.” Spike drones looking more nervous about the tone of the conversation. “The girls have asked about you a few times. Especially Scootaloo, she seems the most upset by your leaving.” Twilight struggles to change the subject. “Yeah well it's something I needed to do. I couldn't, just sit around any more. I've the chance not only to learn about my kind , but shape their very future. That's not something I can pass on.” “I never thought it wasn't something you should do.... I just didn't really want you to go any where ….” Twilight admits. “Yeah.....” Spike mutters leading everything into another awkward pause. “Look I'm sorry ab....” They both start before laughing about it. “Go ahead...” Twilight states. “Yeah sorry about how I left. I know you were trying to help , I shouldn't have snapped at you...” “It's okay … I wasn't exactly very helpful, despite the six page check list.”Twilight admits.” So still friends?” “Of course.” Spike agrees. “Good now that the re-bonding is out of the way can we go get something to eat? I'm hungry enough to eat another lamp post.” Bleu protests. “Yeah that might be an idea. Berry and I haven't had anything for lunch........ wait, ANOTHER lamp post'?” Twilight questions. “Shining Armor was not happy with us about that.” Spike sighs. “If they didn't want dragons eating the utilities they shouldn't have made them out of such delicious crystal.” Bleu states. “Everything is made out of crystal here!” Spike growls slapping his face with a claw. “Well nice to see you two are getting along.” Twilight chuckles. =================================================== [ Current day, Crystal Empire weigh station, at the border of the Crystal Empire.] “This is all your fault you know.” snaps Scootaloo. “My fault? I'm not the one who set fire to our room.” Sweetiebelle snaps. “No but you made it worse by trying to blow up the fire.” Scootaloo retorts. “It was a valid tactic. Fighting fire with fire.” Sweetiebelle protests. “Yeah if it was a forest fire, not a bed spread.” Scootaloo growls. “Both of you need to shut up or so help me I'm turning this cart around and we are going back to Canterlot if I have to walk there myself.” Pip snaps at them both from the front of the cart. “Ah ain't hauling all yer fat flanks back tah Canterlot, ah ken still get a train ticket and ride back while you all walk.” Applebloom snaps from where she was pulling the cart. ------ On the way back to Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo's room Pip and Applebloom could tell something was wrong. The sudden lurching stop of the train was the first indication. The second was the smoke that was filling the hallway and third was the screams of two fillies who were still fighting, only now over something else. Some how they pair had managed to not only light their room on fire, but to blow out the wall of the train car along with most of the roof so it looked like a dragon had attacked the side of the train. The conductor and the Guards present were not thrilled at all and wanted to toss the pair off the train immediately. Between Pip and Applebloom they managed to at least convince them to not to throw them out in the tundra just drop them at the next outpost, which happened to be at the edge of the Empire's territory. From there Pip had secured a cart from the outpost and argued with Applebloom over who was going to pull it. Since neither Sweetiebelle nor Scootaloo had the leg strength to pull everything Sweetiebelle had bought, it was left to the two earth ponies. Pip finally relented to let Applebloom pull it a while so long as they switched when she started feeling tired. Granted Applebloom immediately tapped into the draconic connection with the earth and barely even felt the cart behind her as she pulled it. Still what had been three more hours left of a train ride now had turned into another five or six on hoof. Thankfully it was nearly summer so most of the snows around the empire had melted and aside from a few stubborn passes further north all the roads were clear. To be honest Pip was not in the slightest bit surprised at the rolling disaster he was part of any more and he had set to work writing a note to send back to his parents detailing the damage this time. Again no pony was hurt, but the property damage was rather high, yet this time it wasn't insured for the CMC. With the Princess Bride, Rarity had been the one to suggest the insurance, no one thought about that for the train to the Crystal Empire. Pip finished the letter pulling out the crystal to send the message noting that the receiving crystal was glowing faintly. “Wot's this then?” he mutters pulling the crystal out and tapping it lightly to discharge the spell. The argument between the girls behind him ended at the flash of green flame that erupted from the gem forming into a scroll. Pip snatched it out of the air , before it fell. Applebloom stopped as well to look back at him curiously. “What's that?” Sweetiebelle asks. “It's a scroll stupid. What's it look like ?” Scootaloo snaps starting the argument back up again. Pip ignores them and unfurls the scroll reading it over a few moments before smiling though that fades a bit and he turns his head as if rereading part of it curiously before he smirks again. “Who's it from Pip?” Applebloom asks. “Auntie Tia. You have a new cousin.” Pip grins. “Really? What is it a colt or a filly?" Applebloom asks the cart lurching forward again sending the bickering pair crashing into the luggage. Both the earth ponies ignore the complaints. “Filly. Dawn Star, not sure which surname they are going to use though Aunt Tia wants Ma to use her last name And Da wants to use his. Suppose that won't matter til they actually get married again.” “So what is she? A pegasus like Luna?” Scootaloo asks shoving Sweetiebelle's face into the bottom of the cart. Sweetiebelle flips Scootaloo off of her, sending the pegasus spiraling into the air where she catches herself with a sudden flap of her burning wings. “ It's probably a unicorn like Jer'rahd.” Sweetiebelle points out. “Could be an earth pony. Uncle Jer'rahd's half earth pony.” Applebloom yells back. Pip sighs re reading that part of the message. He doubted Auntie Tia had spelled something wrong this grossly, even if she did she wouldn't have put 'it is a completely valid possibility given your fathers linage' right after it. “Well. What is she?” Sweetiebelle asks impatiently. Scootaloo lands on the cart again looking over at Pip curious as well. Applebloom was still walking, though much slower as she kept looking back at Pip for the answer. “Well Auntie Tia says she's a half- DRAGON!!”Pip shouts dropping the scroll and shoving Sweetiebelle down as a massive red scaled from drops out of the sky atop of them. ================================================== [Three years ago, Sub basement C, Twilight's lab.] Twilight followed after berry who was prancing ahead of her excitedly. This part of the east tower had been claimed by Twilight not long after she actually decided to move in, so to speak, with the Princess. While she didn't quite need her own room, given how big Celestia's quarters were she still wanted a place she could work on things. All she had wanted was a room or two, though Celestia had given her a whole tower that used to be part of the guest wings until the new ambassadorial section was built. Celestia justified it with the architects working on the castle and the nobles who wanted the section for themselves, by mentioning a long list of Twilight's mishaps in some of her earlier labs. After Celestia finished they all suggested a fortified bunker in the badlands instead. Still with as heavily warded as the tower now was it could also double as a fallout shelter if the rest of the Manterhorn fell on it, or if another Noodle incident happened. Most of the tower was filled with books and a number of various experiments all running at one time. She did have one room at the very top that she had a special reason for keeping apart that so far had nothing in it but a few pictures of some ponies she knew that had died during the war, and one image of herself as a filly with a goldfish bowl. Berry had take over one of the few rooms that was not in use and made it into her own lab. There were a number of books as well and Berry often did some minor experiments in there as well, nothing like Twilight did, but a number of them were a bit more advanced than what one found in the starting science textbooks. Right now she was fiddling with some of the spare crystals that Twilight had gotten from the Empire. Twilight wasn't sure what she was doing with them, but she was willing to let the filly fiddle with them. It's not like they were inherently dangerous without any spells powering them. Trotting into the lab she was greeted by something skittering for cover under the boxes and books on Berry's work bench. Twilight yelped leaping back, wondering if she needed to get an exterminator in here. Berry seemed more annoyed at it and went over tapping her hoof on the table top a few times . Very slowly the skittering thing came out of hiding. It looked like a very rough made spider formed out of a number of different crystals that seemed to have shaped and grafted together to make the form. While it was pretty, bits of it fell apart as it moved about, showing at it's rather novice construction. Twilight crouched down looking at the small golem in surprise, a soft pulsing glow the same blue coloration as Berry's magic throbbed in the middle of it. “Wow Berry. You put this together?” Twilight blinks as the small filly nods with a grin. “Hmmm. Well he's a little rough, but this is your first one right?” Twilight asks as Berry nods again, her ears perking up at the start of the critique. “Well I'm surprised you can shape crystal already , it took me a long time to learn it from Cadence. You did put too much magic into animating him though. A little guy of this size might not even need half of that......” Twilight pauses mid sentence as Berry's horn glows a little and the light in the spider dims as the filly take some of her magic back. “What...? What did you do?” Twilight asks. Berry moves over opening a book on the side of the table flipping through it to show a page of a some one using a crystal to hold a spell. “That wasn't a spell though Berry, that was raw magic..... How did you...?” Berry shrugs, and points to the list of spells that could be put in a crystal. Twilight looks them over briefly noting that a few were very advanced and others were combat based. Of the few that were at Berry's level, Twilight was rather certain Berry didn't know them. “You don't know any of these spells.....do you?” Berry shakes her head as Twilight looks over the now slightly duller crystal figurine as it skitters about, with less magic it was a bit more sluggish, but still moving about sluggishly though that was more to how it was shaped. “Can you do that again?” Twilight asks. “I mean, make another one move and glow?” Berry nods. “Can you show me ?” Berry smiles and nods. ================================================== [ Current Day, Quartz forest, just outside the Crystal Empire.] Well this day was not getting any better, Pip sighs. The four of them had been snatched up by a trio of dragons. A large red one with a massive spiked over bite and a orange fin running the length of his body had grabbed the cart hauling it into the air and dragging Applebloom along in the harness. Scootaloo had launched herself out of the cart only to get snatched out of the air by a second purple and blue spotted drake with a shock of lavender spines and sweeping horns. Pip had a moment of panic until he saw Scootaloo struggling to get out of the dragons grip. A third dragon, a dark purple one with yellow belly scales With an odd patch of what seemed blond hair that fell over his eyes flew up along side of the others as they climbed higher into the air. Pip paced as best he could in the back of the small cart as he thought, Sweetiebelle hid under her luggage behind him. He wanted to show these dragons exactly how bad of an idea it was to attack him, but he doubted he could fight off three dragons even if there wouldn't be a massive fall from the sky if he succeeded. On the plus side the three of them seemed to be more interested in carrying them some where , rather than killing them outright. Looking out over the edge of the cart at the snowy ground far below, he could make out the gleaming spires of the Crystal Empire in the far distance, though the dragons looked like they were headed to a set of mountains to the west and not towards the city itself. The glint of something near the mountains caught his eye and after watching it for a bit longer he smirked, at least until the trio started talking. “I still dun know about this Grabble. You know what's gonna happen if they find out.” comments the blond dragon. “Stuff it Spines. The more that runt tells us to do something the more fun it is to do the exact opposite.” Grabble snorts. “Yeah , but you've seen what those ponies can do...” Spines retorts looking down at the cart Grabble was carrying and Pip staring back at him. “I mean their leader freaking nearly blew up the moon.” “Pfft you worry to much Spines.”the one holding Scootaloo snapped back. “That's the leader, a pony god, these are just a couple of young ponies, if they were any one important they would have been on the train. “ “Exactly right Bulk, and once we get them to the cave , no ones even gonna know where they went. We can eat pony meat and find out if the brat is trying to hog the best stuff for himself. There's got to be a reason he keeps going to that pony city.” “Yeah but then there's her.....” Spines comments, Pip feels the large red dragon Grabble shudder enough to shake the cart. “Shut up, don't mention that one to me, ever. She's nothing special any way . The three of us could deal with that pony lover easily.” Grabble snorts , not entirely sounding confident. “When ah git my hooves back on tha ground, ah'll show yah a thing or two.” Applebloom growls still dangling from the carts harness. “HAH now that I'd love to see.” Bulk snorts in amusement. Pip blinked and grinned again. There was no way they could fight these three, but that forced him to work on another tactic that could use the CMC's particular set of skills. He didn't have his Ma or Da's flair for strategy, but he wasn't a slouch either being drilled in it by his Da almost as much as everything else, and the wisps of a plan were forming. One that should be enough to prevent them from being lunch. ========================================================== [Current day. Canterlot Hospital] “So how is she?” Luna mutters looking at Jer'rahd who still had yet to move. “Cleaner than me and a bit bitey.” Jer'rahd responds feeling his daughter shift again against him. “ I didn't expect foals to have such sharp teeth after just being born.” “Well that comes from your side of the family according to Bleu and Tia. “ Luna smiles her magic gently wrapping around the bundled blanket and pulling the small foal away from Jer'rahd, who all but leaps up in celebration at finally able to move before rushing off to the bathroom.. Luna shakes her head as he returns. “So how long have I been asleep?” “Most of the day, not that far off your normal schedule.” Jer'rahd yawns. “Did you need anything?” “No, I'm fine. Although I am rethinking my idea of breast feeding her now that I know she has fangs.” Luna mutters watching Dawn yawn again showing off said fangs. “Velkorn figured that, though she has her own issues at the moment. Seems she's needed in Gallapagos. She Rhede and the twins took a couple of Guards and a flying chariot thereabout an hour ago, she plans to send a doctor used to half dragon foals back when she gets there.” “Hmm? Whys that? I figured she would be here for a while.” Luna sighs as she unbundled the gray half dragon foal running a hoof along her back lightly as Dawn flutters tiny wings. “Given the situation it's unavoidable. Besides she already cleared you and Orange is still here just in case. Rarity evidently gave birth about three hours after you did.” Jer'rahd comments standing at the rooms sink trying to wash the rest of the foals vomit out of his fur. “I know she's not trying to, but I swear that mare seems like she's trying to upstage me. To have pregnancies and deliver dates so close.....of course I could also blame that on our companions....” “'Not our fault our mares decided that they wanted to be amorous at the same time. Lion Heart and I are both Guards, we're not about to pass when an attractive mare is all but throwing herself at us.”Jer'rahd grins. “I'm going to remember that comment Jer'rahd....” “Good, remember that you should do it more often...” Luna rolls her eyes looking down at the foal with a smile as the light gray creature squirms up against her. “ Wait, why would Velkorn need to go to Gallopagos for Rarity, wouldn't the doctors there know more about treating half dragon births even with a normal pony?” “Know more than Velkorn? No, not likely, but that's not why she went there.” Jer'rahd snorts seeming content that he got most of the mess off of himself. “Oh? Planing on telling me what's going on or do I need to guess?” Luna frowns wincing a little as the foal worms a bit lower to start suckling. “Owch. Yes defiantly bottle fed after this.” “Huh ? Oh sorry bit distracted and I still need a shower. Rarity had a colt, Elusive LionHeart, Reignolds.....” “She kept her last name?” “Lionheart doesn't have one. And the Lionheart name is usually passed on to each generation so it's his middle name, the names not the important part though.” “Then get on with it.” Luna sighs. “Right right. Elusive's a god.” Jer'rahd states flatly watching as Luna lifts her head up from their foal to look at him. “A god?” “Yes, that's what has been reported at any rate. Velkorn is headed there to find out for sure. As soon as I can get back to the castle Twilight is going to head out there as well.” “This is a rather big deal, this means that the half dragons can now be counted as a separate race from ponies and dragons. This is going to cause quite the uproar among the other races as they will need to be counted among the counsel.” “Calm down. It won't be any concern of yours for a few weeks any way. Though there's more news.” “Give me a moment I am still pondering the shock of there being another god brought into the world. By Rarity no less.” “We have more than enough to worry about with the little bundle of fangs and vomit right here.” Jer'rahd chuckles leaning down to nuzzle against the tiny half dragon's back. “ Let Rarity and Lionheart worry about their foal. We have our own to think about.” Luna chuckles then sighs.” Why does that seem like a lead up into something?” “Because it was. Pip and the CMC were thrown off the train on the way to the Empire after setting fire to one of the rooms. The Guard outpost reported they bought a wagon and continued on hoof.” Luna lets her head drop back onto the pillow with a groan. “Why did you let him go?” “Because you pointed out he wanted to prove himself to us. Besides the damage is much less that we accounted for any way. One old boat and a train car? I owe Starfall ten bits that they didn't collapse a building in Manehatten. Don't worry about Pip, Bleu was headed up that way to meet back up with Spike when we got the message, so she'll keep an eye out for them.” “Well there is that at least. Is that everything?” Luna sighs. “Hmm, almost. Nicker came by too.” “Guard Captain Fury? What did he want?” “To offer congratulations primarily, and to tell me they the last of the Red Hooves have finally been found. Scouts found a compound tucked away in the hills to the south, not far from the gate of Tartarus actually. Seems they built up some rather impressive defenses in the last ten years. It's a good location to hit both sides of the mountain and they've been smart on where they attack which is why it took so long. He wants me to head out there with a small force and deal with them, seems they've been recruiting..” “Did you tell him no, you have a foal now? Of course you didn't.” Luna growls. ”It's a fight.....” “It's fine, there's only a dozen or two tops and I'm bringing three score guards with me. “ “Yet you will be the one going into the vipers nest.” Luna hisses at him. “It wouldn't be a pretty fight, the Red Hooves already showed they won't be taken alive again and after the first time they were captured it's a safe bet the places is full of traps. Me doing the job means some other pony won't get hurt or killed. The rest of the Guards are going to be there to make sure they don't get away this time.” “And you will be doing all the work of course.” “Yeah well it won't take more than a couple of hours tops and I can swing by the Gate and see if Troph and Grace have any foal shower presents to give.....” Jer'rahd trails off at the growl from Luna. “ Or I'll just stay far away from Grace so you don't freak out.” “I am not freaking out....” “You are. Jealously doesn't suit you very well Princess.” Jer'rahd snarks. “I am not jealous. I simply do not like the way she looked at you.” “She doesn't have any eyes, and she was looking at Troph any way.”Jer'rahd smiles. Leaning in to nuzzle Luna's neck. “ You don't need to worry about another mare getting me any way. Don't forget what Element I bore.” Luna snorts and smirks a little. “I am well aware. I am also aware that you really need a bath....” “Hey most of that smell came from your foal.” “Oh, I see she is only going to be mine when she does something smelly?” Luna growls with a smile. “Just like how you say the others are mine when they get in trouble.” Jer'rahd chuckles. =========================================================== [Current Day. Some cave in the mountains. Near the Crystal Empire.] Pip watched as the dragons flew into the cave trying to ignore the cursing coming from one of the dragons claws that was Scootaloo. Judging by the plethora of selection in the verbal assault she was still alive and not terribly hurt at least. Applebloom had also started in on the cursing as the harness dug into her torso, she at least had the common sense enough not to struggle as she hung there so she didn't slip free. He had a good idea what she was going to do the moment they were on solid ground again and he actually wanted that. “Okay were far enough in we can eat now.” Bulk grins. Grabble nods dropping the cart with a crash to the ground. Both Pip and Applebloom had expected that however and had braced for it. Sweetiebelle was flung screaming from the cart however to land and roll across the caves floor only to start cursing about how her fur was getting dirty. The unicorns selection of curse words crossed into every language Pip knew of and into a couple he had no idea about, though he thought that one string might be Hungarian. “Bloom go for the fat one.” Pip states leaping out of the cart as Applebloom gets her hooves under her. The dragons stare at Sweetiebelle's tirade somewhat in shock and some what amused at the same time. . Applebloom glances back at Pip as he leaps out of the cart before turning herself suddenly. The whole cart leaves the ground and spins through the air before smashing fully into the fat dragon named Bulk destroying the cart and sending the large dragon crashing into the cave wall. Most importantly, he droped Scootaloo. The pegasus scrambled free of the claw hopping over the remains of the cart . “Stop her before she flies off.” Grabble shouts, his maw opening wide and releasing a gout of flame that engulfs the orange pegasus and the remains of the cart. Applebloom yelps and pulls free of the harness bouncing away from the blast of fire. “MY STUFF!” screams Sweetiebelle. “HAH nice shot Grabble. Little over done for my taste though.” Bulk snorts as he climbs back to his claws rubbing his face. “ That one hits hard.” “Is that the best you have? Cause if so the only thing dangerous about you is how bad your breath smells.” Scootaloo growls stepping out of the blaze of the cart shaking some ash off her coat, both she and her saddlebags remaining unharmed by the dragons flame. “What the Tartarus?” Spines questions looking at the non burnt pegasus and the earth pony pulling herself out of the remains of the harness. “Well we ken ferget getting tha deposit back fer tha cart.” Applebloom states. “I hope you three idiots have big hordes because some of that stuff was expensive and the replacements are coming out of your pockets!” Sweetiebelle rants. “What is wrong with you ponies? “ I set you on fire and you knocked Bulk out of the way with a cart? And you want us to pay for that shit... we brought you here to eat you we ain't paying for anything.” Grabble rants. “Really? I didn't know dragons were cannibals too.” Pip states not seeming the slightest bit worried about the red dragons posturing and shouting. “We... wait what.... “ Grabble blinks leaning over to Spines to whisper.“ What's a cannibal?” “He means we eat our own kind. You know, dragons eating dragons and stuff.” Spines states. “What we don't eat dragons, we eat ponies! What the pluck are you talking about?” Bulk roars. Pip grins. “Well they are dragons, or at least connected to them. Applebloom here just rattled the scales of the fat one here.....” “I'm not fat, I'm festively plump.” Bulk growls. “Like I said the fat one, and Scootaloo just showed she's immune to your dragon fire......”Pip continues. “Only partially, I think I'm gonna be ill. Do you even brush your teeth.” Scootaloo snaps. “What other creatures other than dragons could do that?” Pip continues. “Errrr.... so being a cannibal is bad?” Grabble mutters to Spines who nods. “One of the few real taboos dragons have. We'd be hunted by everyone, not just ponies.” Spines admits. “It's one of the old taboos, that's still around. Reaaaally bad if we break it.” “Well that still leaves you and the unicorn....” Bulk mutters looming over Sweetiebelle. “Nah she is too.” Pip states. “I am?” Sweetiebelle asks confused. “Yep, you're dragon born remember.” Pip smirks. Sweetie's brain takes a moment to click into gear during which time the other three ponies all cover their ears to the confusion of the dragons. Sweetiebelle grins as she finally get's it and takes a deep breath. ================================ [Gallopagos General Hospital ] Rarity sits up suddenly her ears perking as she looks around, her fore hooves reflexively wrapping around her foal. Lionheart looks up as she does his own gaze shifting around the hospital room. “Did you hear that?” Rarity asks. “I heard something.”Lionheart responds rising from the bed side to check the door. Unlike in Canterlot the half Dragons had a little more respect for a new families privacy so aside from a couple of Guards were were also looking around at the noise, the halls were silent. “It sounded like my sister.” Rarity comments. “She and the others should be in the Crystal Empire by now. It couldn't have been her.” “I suppose you're right darling. I'm not even sure what a Fuss Row Day is any way.” ================================== [Current Day. Some reverberating cave in the mountains. Near the Crystal Empire, which some how didn't shatter though the main tower did show a few cracks.] “That enough of a breath weapon for you?” Pip shouts. “WHAT?” Spines yells. “WHAT DID HE SAY?” Grabble roars. “My brother doesn't swing that way.” Bulk shouts back. After a few moments of this and a barrage of draconic curses that Pip was sure the girls were adding to their vocabularies, the dragons hearing it seemed was finally recovered enough for something of a normal conversation, though they all still shouted. “Alright so can't eat the unicorn, but that leaves you as lunch. Or are you going to tell me you're a dragon too?” Grabble snaps. “Nope. I'm all earth pony.” Pip smiles. “Oh good I'm Starving.” Bulk utters.”I'll show you fat all the way down pony.” “Buuuuuuuuut.” Pip continues. “Oh by the stars, WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?!?!” Grabble shouts pounding on the cave wall. “I am related to a dragon.” Pip continues. “What? Did some one in your family marry a dragon or something?” Spines questions. “Nah, Da's sister is a dragon so she's my aunt.” Pip continues his grin getting wider as the three dragons look down at him. “That doesn't make you a dragon! That means he's still lunch” Bulk states nearly drooling. “Aren't you going to ask what dragon? You might know her.” Pip tilts his head a little seeming unconcerned by the three of them as he looks past the trio. “Fine you little morsel. I'll humor you this last time. What flapping dragon are you related to?” Grabble growls half laughing. “Me.” states a voice from behind the trio. The three dragons slowly turn their heads around to see the cave mouth dominated by a very large blue dragon with lightning crackling around her maw. “Hi Auntie Bleu!” Pip shouts. The next noise to come out of the cave was a collective 'eeeeew ' from the ponies as the three drakes pissed themselves before Bleu even took a step further into the cave. ====================================================== [Three years ago, Princess Luna's living room] “I'm not sure I am following what you are saying.” Jer'rahd states with a sigh looking down at the roughly cut crystal dragon fly crawling across the table in front of him. It was barely recognizable as such, and it kept breaking and rejoining itself as it moved. “I thought you studied magic?” Twilight grumbles. “I did, as a colt, and that was over a thousand years ago. The Crystal Empire didn't exist then and healing crystals and message crystals were still new magic when I was well past that age.” Jer'rahd snorts.” Not to mention the theories and practices of spell matrix's and other casting tips are all evolved way past what I understand.” “So sorry our new fangled spells confuse you grandpa.” Twilight snarks. “Shut up Sparkle.” Jer'rahd growls. “So you are saying that Berry has strong magic for her to be able to do this?” Luna asks pointing at the dragon fly as it tries to skitter across the table completely ignoring the casually tossed insults. “No she doesn't. She's not any stronger than any other unicorn of her age. What I'm saying is that she might have found her talent. “Twilight sighs looking to the other side of the room where Berry was trying to scare Pip by directing a crystal spider to crawl up his flank. “The Paragoth therom shows that inanimate objects will require constant power and supervision to work properly.......” Twilight pauses as Pip yelps, though the colt jumps carefully enough that he doesn't damage the spider, clearly humoring his sister. “Berry seems to have stumbled on a way to simply ignore that rule which means that the entire theory needs to be revised and debunked and everything about it in the library is obsolete and I really don't want to tell that to Dewy because I know he would hate the paper work involved.....” “Sparkle focus. What exactly does this mean?” Jer'rahd snaps. “You mean aside from your daughter rewriting a fundamental rule of magic?” “Yes....” Luna rolls her eyes stopping Jer'rahd from what ever he was going to say. “What exactly are these crystal things?” “ Berry shaped the animals from some junk crystals I got from the Empire. There is nothing special about the crystals at all. Trust me I looked and I can't repeat what she did with any sort of ease. She put bits of her actual magic in the crystals, unformed and raw, and that animates them. “ “How much power?” Luna asks. “Barely enough to make a light spell and yet it animates these things perfectly. “ Twilight winces as one of the dragonflies wings falls off and the tiny thing falls onto it's back legs kicking feebly in the air. “ Almost perfectly.” “I am sure she will improve their design in time. Her real parents were artistic types, though there was no mention of any talent with crystal with either of them.” Luna states watching Berry chase Pip around the room with the spider on her head. “They shouldn't be able to do even half of what I've seen them do. They act independently of her , but they also follow what I assume are her directions. I've been testing one at the lab and the energy finally dissipates close to three hours after it was made. But I had the test one walking on a tread mill and the control just sitting on a shelf. The test one gave out, but the control's power level didn't move at all.” “So if all they do is sit there they may never run out of power?” “It seems that way. I'll keep watch on the control to see how long it lasts , but Berry can give or take the power from the crystals however she wants. Her own magic recovers with rest like every other unicorn, but anything she powered with these little figures remains. I've never seen anything quite like it.” Twilight sighs. “Yes, yes you have , we all have. Though I don't see a connection.” Jer'rahd comments getting a stare from Luna and Twilight. “Who do you mean Jer'rahd?” Luna asks. “Sombra. He had all those crystal golems and they could all run around without any direct control at all.” Jer'rahd explains. “This seems similar if not less powerful.” “His golems were powered by the shadow magic that came from corrupted Generosity. I could easily take control of one or two of them with my own connection to shadow.” Luna states. “Yet the spider you stole collapsed as soon as he took his power back from it.” “You think Berry has some connection with Sombra?” Twilight asks. “No. nothing like that.” Jer'rahd placates. “ It's just that there might be notes or information in the books that he left in the Crystal empire that could expand what we know about this ability. At the very lest it might allow her some direction with this ability. She hasn't gotten a cutie mark from it yet so it may not be her talent though it could be related to it. So long as there's nothing too dangerous I would suggest encouraging her to do what she likes in this regard.” “I can head back there and check, but that library is massive. Not that I mind, but I reaaaaaly don't want to annoy Dewy by missing too many days.” Twilight mutters. “Are you not his boss?” Luna asks. “Yes.” Twilight mutters flattening her ears. “I wouldn't worry too much about it. We can send a message for the librarians there to check for any books fitting what we need. We'll be heading up there any time now.” Luna responds. “The Crystal ponies, Diamond Dogs and a few Griffon Aries are tracking down and eliminating a number of Changeling nests that have popped up. They haven't found Chrysalis or Sombra yet. Cadence wants us there when they find it as it seems Shining is insisting on being there to take down the hive himself and she wants to make sure he stays safe.” Jer'rahd rolls his eyes at the thought of playing baby sitter. “They have also set up a small community for changelings that have been captured. It's a prison work camp to be honest, but they are treated fairly and considering the griffons and Diamond dogs both want them all killed, it is a much kinder solution.” Luna responds. “Yeah I know. Mom and dad are still up there studying them trying to find a way to change them back to the ponies they were.” Twilight sighs. “ No progress on that from what I understand.” “I doubt there will be progress in that.” Luna sighs. “ Jer'rahd and I know first hoof what the books can do. The changelings are not likely going to be able to return to normal.” “But the Element's restored you two to normal....” Twilight trails off at the looks Jer'rahd and Luna shared . “Err not really.” Jer'rahd mutters. “While they weakened the hold the corruption has over us and reduced the power that was provided that taint still exists within both of us and Discord as well. I doubt anything short of our deaths will rid us of it completely....” “I can attest that is not the case. Death won't either. “ Jer'rahd snarks getting a glance from Luna as she flattens her ears clearly not happy to be reminded how many times Jer'rahd had died. “Well this conversation got dark fast.” Twilight sighs. “Yes, well that is why we try to stay clear of the topic. I do not doubt your parents are formidable in their fields of study , but I do not think anything will come of it. A number of the changelings do not even have a normal form to go back to as they were born changelings. Most of the true changelings are as intelligent as a normal member of the race they most resemble. It seems that only those that have been turned are considered drones, the process removes their higher thought processes and makes them a subservient race. Tia has pointed out that was the case with all of them in the past.” “Yes I have heard that as well, but we don't know what the books did to them supposedly Solomon had Generosity and Crystal bore Honesty, but we do not even know what a corrupted honesty really can do since Claymore had a fake.” “It's far better that way trust me.” Jer'rahd growls. “Grace was not even sure what happened. Chrysalis was trapped in a pocket dimension inside Tartarus.. That place would be a gold mind for study.” Twilight sighs. Jer'rahd glances over to Luna noting her bristle as Twilight stated Grace's name and had to suppress a chuckle.” Forget it Sparkle, I've been there and that place is as confusing as anything Discord came up with. Best I can figure it's less a place and more of a crack between multiple worlds. You'd probably need several gods lifetimes to get even part of it understood.” Luna's ears remain flat to her head as the discussion continued, only perking them up as Jer'rahd moves closer to her. He lightly flicks his tail along her side, the amber colored strands much longer than usual due to Luna fussing at him to grow his hair out again. It usually only lasted a month or so before he hacked it down again, but he still did it every time she asked him. The flick was likely a subtle reminder of that, particularly since neither of them were too comfortable in displays of affect in company. Though Jer'rahd was happy to do so around Celestia if for no other reason than because it annoyed her. “So what do we do about this?” Twilight comments looking at the flailing crystal dragonfly on the table. “I suppose if they will stay still we can have some shelves built for them. I expect she 'll make more if we get some more crystals. We are running out of wall space with all of Brush's paintings. It's a good thing Pip isn't so artisticly inclined or we'd have to takeover another wing of the castle.” Jer'rahd smiles. “He is so artisticly inclined.” Luna scoffs. “A macaroni picture he made when he was seven doesn't count as being artisticly inclined.” Jer'rahd rolls his eyes only to be knocked off his seat next to Luna as she snaps her wings open in annoyance sending him crashing to the floor. “How dare you, that macaroni picture is a masterpiece!” Luna shouts. “Ow. “ utters Jer'rahd from the floor. “Yeeaaaah I should go....” comments Twilight, noticing that the pairs children had already vanished from the room. =================================================== [Current Day. Some cave in the mountains. Near the Crystal Empire.] Pip sat outside the cave with the others rubbing his head with a small grumble. The spot Bleu had wacked him hurt a bit , though the damage was more to his pride than anything else. While she thought it funny, she didn't like the idea that he had pulled a billy goat gruff ploy with his own life as well as the lives of the others he was supposed to protect. Thankfully Spike saved him more scolding by pointing out he didn't have much a choice against the three dragons. And his stalling them, plus Sweetie's yelling enabled them to be found much easier. The three older dragons were still in the cave , the occasional groan of pain emerging from the cavern, going silent as soon as Bleu glared back into it. Sweetiebelle was sort of helping by bouncing around asking Bleu a million plus questions, having never seen her teacher at full size before. Applebloom was off to side trying to wash her hooves in a small stream not far from the enterce. she had been a little to close to the dragons when Bleu came in. Spike sat across from the cave on a rock his wings folded across his back in a pony sized form as Scootaloo fluttered about him chatting up a storm, almost as bad as Sweetiebelle was. Spike for the most part seemed rather happy to see his old, friends / annoyances, again and was asking Scootaloo a few things about her wings. The trio of dragons couldn't really be punished much as they hadn't managed to actually hurt any one, just terrify them. Something Bleu ensured everyone they would pay for. Spike didn't bother to try and calm Bleu down and only interrupted the dragons 'punishment' when she looked like she was going to yank off a limb. Pip wasn't going to ask where Bleu found a Donkey Lucahdor mask in her size but the fact she even had it to put on terrified the trio of dragons even further. Pip decided to at least try and talk with Spike since Bleu was probably still annoyed with him. “So I guess the dragon empire's not going so well?” Pip asks walking closer to Spike as Scootaloo pauses to take a breath. “Hmm, you mean because of these three?” Spike asks, his voice was still cracking a little, but it was developing a rather deep baritone to it that he had only heard from Big Mac and once when Fluttershy was afflicted with poison joke. “ No it's going fairly well now, a lot has changed in three years. A great number of dragons have warmed up to the idea. Some are tired of the migration and the few older ones that remember the old Dragon Empire don't have as clear of a memory about it as they claimed. Most of them however were else where when the Empire was destroyed, though one black dragon in particular had met Bleu personally when the empire, err.... fell, she's the reason he and most of the eggs were still alive. They are all afraid of her, though they nearly all understand what I am trying to do an generally support it. It took a lot of work , but it seems it might be a reality soon.” “So basicly Aunt Bleu instills terror and you instill wisdom?” pip asks “Well that's the simple way to put it. Granted Bleu adds her own logic at times and I've had to fight a few myself.” Spike adds chuckling a little at the thought. “Well that sounds fairly good. I guess you two make a good team...” Pip notes Scootaloo's wince at that comment. “Don't try it Pip I get enough attempts at some pony playing match maker when I visit Twilight or Princess Cadence. I don't need it from you either.” Spike growls. “ My personal feelings are my own business.” “I know, but Twilight said I should ask if I saw you. So did Ma, aunt Celestia, Uncle Rhede, and even Aunt Starfall.” “Oh geez all of them..?” Spike face claws. Pip watches Scootaloo as she lands near Spike patting his side at the frustration before she glares at Pip. “Don't worry Spike none of us are gonna bring it up again .. We don't care who you're in love with ….” She flattens her ears staring daggers at Pip.” Do we Pipsqueak?” Pip blinks at the glare his ears drooping a little at the implied threat, though it upset him more that she was mad at him, still it explained a few things. “Nah, like I said I was asked to.......” Pip grumbles the response cutting off as a scream draws his attention, his ears snapping up. The whole group of them look up as Applebloom runs out of the treeline with a fairly large stripped creature growling and chasing her. Applebloom runs off to hide behind Bleu as the honey badger slides to a stop. It sniffs the air looking up at the group of ponies, and the pair of dragons. The creature blinks once and snorts before turning and trundling off back into the woods thinking better of continuing it's chase. The group stares after the creature a moment as it crashes back through the tree line. “Well I guess honey badger do care.” Sweetiebelle chimes.