//------------------------------// // Prolouge: Galloping in Fiery Dreams // Story: Dragons of Hourglass // by Rammy //------------------------------// A cool breeze wafted through the trees. Stars twinkled through the canopy above. An owl hooted before silently gliding off. The sounds of hoofed creature could be heard walking in the underbrush. A snapping twig scared a rabbit which suddenly burst out of a bush fleeing in a zigzag pattern down a small trail. Out from among the trees Harmony stepped out. His fur and feathers, like always, shifting colors. His snow white mane glowed in the pale light. His sleek, black tail, however, was so dark it absorbed all. He stopped for a moment, peering around. He snorted lightly before walking onward. Gazing downward he saw the trail used by the rabbit earlier. The alicorn stepped out from the underbrush and began walking down the trail. He followed the trail deeper into the forest. As the vegetation thickened tree branches and brambles scratched his sides. Ignoring the irritation he trudged on hoping that he would eventually break through the forest to get a better idea where he was. He couldn’t remember how he got here nor where ‘here’ was. With any luck he would find a clearing to allow him to see enough of the starry sky to see where he was. If not, he could at least get above the tree tops. So intent on looking around for a clearing that he missed seeing the vine that was growing across the trail. He tripped over the vine he stumbled into a thorny bush adding many more cuts and scraps. Growling in irritation he got up and brushed off some of the brambles and dirt ignoring the bleeding. He took a few cleansing breaths before moving on. After what seemed like too long, he finally saw an opening through the trees. Breaking into a fast trot he pushed forward. The opening in the trees led into a meadow. Above him where stars should be shining clouds swirled around except around a group of stars. The hole in the sky had a shape that made it easy to identify the constellation. “Draco?” He questioned outloud. That was odd. Why would the clouds open up in the shape of a dragon and have the constellation Draco in the middle of it? Something was definitely wrong. He ears twisted about trying to pick up a sound, any sound. The sounds of nighttime forest were absent. Even though he was in a meadow and was not within the trees themselves he should still be hearing sounds of animals. He couldn’t even hear any rustling of leaves with the breeze that was still in the air. This lack of noise was not good. Harmony warily eyed the forest trying to peer into the darkness to see what if anything was stalking the forest. After scanning the forest twice even using magic to enhance his vision he could find no signs of movement nor of a creature hiding in preparation of jumping out to attack. This was not making him feel any better. He took a moment to again look up at the sky. Nothing was different than before. The cloud still swirled angrily and the constellation still twinkled.   His eyes seem to dwell on the stars a bit longer than needed. It was as if they were gazing back at him. The longer he looked the more to him that it seem to be eying him with greater scrutiny. It was like a hawk bearing down upon him like its prey. He couldn’t help but to cower in fear willing that it would stop. A beastly roar filled his ears dispelling that it was all in his head. The stars comprising Draco turned blood red. Smoke suddenly filled his nostrils. Looking about he saw that the forest around him was suddenly a roaring inferno. He could feel the heat bearing down on him. Black smoke obscuring all of his vision and coating his lungs making it harder to breath. In a panic he galloped around the clearing trying to find an opening, any opening. He couldn’t find any only increasing his panic. Every time he thought there was a break in the fire a wave of heat and flames would crash against him driving him back. He even tried smothering the fire with his magic but the fire seem to ignore his magic as if there was no magic trying to interfere. The fire had to be magical in order to not be affected by magic. The question was what type of magic fire could be strong enough to not even be affected by alicorn magic!? The question was driven out of his mind and the fire flared up suddenly and started burning through the tall grass toward him. He had no choice but to back up towards the center of the meadow. The smoke and fire would make it outright impossible to fly out leaving only his magic to save him. While it was dangerous to teleport out without knowing where to go he needed to get out and fast. His horn glowed in preparation to teleport out but couldn’t get his magic to respond. His horn had frizzed out. He tried again only for his aura to fail again. He screamed in pain as the embers from the approaching fire landed on him setting his fur and wings on fire. He gritted his teeth both from the pain and the attempts to concentration on any spell that could save him. Nothing came. He was losing, fast. The smell of burning fur and flesh overpowered his nostrils. He collapsed as he began losing consciousness. A dragon roar filled his ears as his vision faded. Draco was the final thing to fade from his vision. “EEEEEEEEE YAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!” He screamed nearly jumping in fright. His fur and mane were mated in a cold sweat. The moon could be seen shining through a hole in the roof. “Luna I can take care of myself.” He grumbled a bit, trying to calm his nerves. The moon slowly moved away from the hole and the room darken. Shaken, Harmony sighed a bit than slowly laid back falling once again into a troubled sleep.