Chapter 4:Engagement
I felt myself start to reluctantly awaken, so I tried to curl up tighter to prolong my precious sleep. Even in cave in the middle of a forest, I was still not a morning person. Then my eyes shot open and I scanned the area around me. I sighed in relief. I didn't feel like waking up to a repeat of "The Spider Incident", so I was glad that this morning there were no errant arachnids waiting for me. Well, actually I didn't feel like waking up at all, but it had happened now. There was nothing for it but to go and get some breakfast. I doubted I'd find any edible fruit, judging by my luck last time, but there was always adorable avians again, if nothing else. Part of me felt guilty for that, but it was shushed by my sensible side. It had been delicious, after all, and sacrifices must be made. He will be remembered. And put in a recipe book. Mmm.
Grabbing the outfit that I had made yesterday, I made my way out into the hostile wilderness I now called home. Temporarily, at least. I had to check out that town soon.
I had a hard time finding food that day, I kept getting glimpses of similar birds to the one I had consumed yesterday, but they always flew off when I approached. I guess someone had spread the word. I was about ready to give up and try my luck with one of the various chromatic capped mushrooms about the place, when I saw something that I couldn't believe.
Is that...? I thought to myself incredulously. ...A chicken?
And indeed it appeared to be a chicken. What one was doing in this forest I had no idea, but I was not passing this up. I crept up to it as quietly as I could, lightning readied in one hand. I had practiced on some of the fruit, and was becoming quite proficient at aiming. In retrospect, of course, I probably could have just zapped it with lightning right then and there, but I really wanted to do the whole "Hunter stalking her prey" thing, and feel like a badass. And it was working, as I slowly moved closer, and the chicken just stood there, oblivious, pecking at the dirt. Then, I messed it all up by stepping on the inevitable dry twig, with snapped loudly. Immediately, the chicken whizzed round and looked in the direction of the noise, and I stopped, worried that my meal was about to run. However, chickens in this place were no less stupid as they were at home, as when it noticed me it just widened its eyes, and glared at me. Not wanting to waste this chance, and not knowing how long it would stay there, I hit it between the eyes with a crackling bolt of energy.
As I neared the "chicken" however, I noticed that my earlier assessment was not entirely correct.
About half right, actually.
Where the tail and hindquarters of a chicken would be, were shiny green scales.
"Uh... okay. That's not normal." I stated the obvious in an attempt to get my head around this. Was this chicken a mutant? Or was this creature...normal? I seemed to remember seeing something like it before, but I couldn't remember where. Which was strange.
"Hmm." My stomach growled again.
"..."
As I picked my teeth with a small twig, I noted that I had to stop letting my stomach make decisions for me. Even if they were delicious, delicious decisions. For all its strangeness, the chicken snake had still tasted just like chicken. Even the snake part. Heck, especially the snake part. Full of breakfast, I realised that I hadn't had anything planned for today, except... I swiveled my eyes towards the gem that was resting by the fire pit. I was going to make something to carry it around yesterday, but was too tired. I stood up, having reached a decision. I would make the jewel easier to carry, and then I would practice my newfound abilities. After all, you never know when you'll need to be able to lightning bolt something to death. Although considering this forest, I did. I scooped up the gem, and was about to head out, when my eyes were drawn to the discarded chicken snake skin.
It would be a shame to waste those pretty scales...
Gingerly picking up the snaky skin, I walked back to the fire pit and sat down on the bedding. I wrapped the sides of the sapphire in scales, but couldn't just stick them on, so I looked just outside for some twine or something. Finding something suitable I tied the scales to the gem in a fairly symmetrical pattern. It wasn't perfect, but I felt it was okay. The twine was too thick for the next bit, so I thinned it out using my trusty sharp stone, and then threaded it through the gap I had left in the binding, tying the two loose ends together. I looped my neck through my new shiny necklace, and admired it in the pool of water.
I frowned. I had realised that a necklace probably wouldn't be practical when flying. It would swing around too much. So, utilising the leftover twine, I tied the bottom of gem to my t-shirt, stabilising it. Now it was much more functional. It was pretty, but it didn't match my eyes, which were looking decidedly green, today. I tilted my head, and the colour shined blue. I grinned. Now it matched.
Satisfied with my unnecessary fashion statement, I flew out of the cave to practice. After flying a ways out, I decided to try some tricks. It hadn't been that long since my first flight, but I felt fairly confident. I started with a few simple loops and twists, but soon they grew easy, so I flew as high as I dared, then dived. I was going faster than I had gone before, the ground rushing up to meet me. I pulled up at the last possible second, which turned out to be very close; my wings were quite manoeuvrable. I hovered over the trees, elated at this new success. Suddenly, I felt pressure above, and an enormous shadow fell upon me. My heart thumped in fear as I looked up and saw something that I had hoped not to see again: a colossal scaled figure diving out of the sky with claws outstretched, murderous intent in its eyes. I dodged to the left not a moment too soon, and the dragon from the cave rushed past me, wind from his gargantuan wings pushing me to the ground. The green dragon turned to me and roared, then spoke.
"I have found you, thieving insect. I had expected you to be hiding, and yet here you are, proudly flittering for all to see." His eyes narrowed as he noticed the sapphire I was wearing. "And wearing my gem around your neck as if it were yours, no less! You are a bold one." The beast grinned, an action that unfortunately showed off his numerous jagged teeth.
"Did you think I would not find you? That I would not miss my treasure? You were wrong, and now, you will pay the price." He flexed his hands, and sharp claws extended, as if he were a cat.
I grabbed the sapphire at my neck and thrust it forwards.
"Wh..what? This old thing? Take it! I don't need it! I'm sorry I took it! And trespassed in your cave!" But even as I said the words, something screamed at me to not relinquish the jewel, and I was inclined to agree.
It didn't matter anyway, as the dragon just shook its head.
"Do you think it is that easy? I could just as easily kill you and take the gem. And you must pay for your theft." He leapt forwards, dealing a massive swipe that I barely dodged.
"Whoa, wait! I don't want to fight you!" In the cramped quarters of the cave, I had stood a chance, but out here, the dragon was free to exercise its entire length against me. Not to mention in this fight, it was no simple matter of just running away. This would be a fight only one could win.
And I didn't like my odds.
The lizard snorted, emitting smoke from its nostrils. "Of course you don't. But you must. You will fight, or You! Will! Die!"
It swung its tail horizontally, which I avoided by taking flight. There was clearly no way to reason with this dragon. I had no choice but to at least try to fight. I created dozens of paths to the dragon, and then pushed the power out at him.
The dragon roared in pain as multiple lightning bolts struck him simultaneously, but aside from patches of blackened and charred scales, I could see no lasting damage.
"So." My scaly adversary growled. "The insect has its sting. Good. Then perhaps I will finally get that hundred year crick out of my neck!"
His mighty wings beating slowly, he rose majestically into the air. I didn't stop to watch, though, and flew as fast as I could away from him. I had a head start, but I could hear the steady beating of his wings getting closer. I felt heat at my heels, and knew that he was getting close, if he could use his fire breath. It was unfair, really. It was huge, could breathe fire, and fly. I had no advantage...
...So I just had to make one. I dived closer to the trees, making the larger and less manoeuvrable dragon have to slow down and move his wings more slowly, then I moved as fast as I could, to get as much distance between us to allow me as much time as possible for this. When I believed I could get no further ahead, I spun round and as quickly as I could, drew paths to the dragons massive-and sensitive-wings.
I was lucky, as I caught him just as he was lifting his wings up, and had exposed them to me. The lightning bolts shot over to him, and burned great holes in the weak wing membrane. Unable to sustain its lift, the dragon crash landed, the fiery breath it shot at me whirling inches past me. I could now move faster than him; I could run, if I wanted to. But that would only buy a few days, the dragon would find me again, and I doubted I would be so lucky twice. No, I had to finish things, here and now. If I could. But I had an advantage, now. I could fly, and now he couldn't. If I used this, I could win. Maybe.
I started circling the grounded dragon, sinking bolt after bolt of energy into its thick hide. But despite the roars of protest he was giving, the dragon showed no signs of stopping. I was definitely affecting him, though. The swipes were slightly more sluggish, the interludes between fire breathing were becoming more frequent and long. But as the saying goes: I had to be lucky all the time. He had to be lucky just once. And then, he was. The spiked tail slammed into me, miraculously, none of the spikes hit me, but I was still knocked to ground, in serious pain. I was sure that some bones were broken, my leg seemed twisted at an odd angle, and my breathing was strained.
"The dragon put a clawed hand down either side of me, victorious relief evident on his face.
"You fought with remarkable cunning, insect. You were a worthy adversary. I will remember your tale, when I hold my gem, once more. However, this outcome was inevitable. Farewell, creature." He inhaled one final time, in preparation for my final, fiery moments.
Then I heard a sound. Singing, you could call it, coming from near my chest. I looked down. The sapphire. I moved my hand onto it, and the singing intensified, rising to a triumphant keening. I touched it, and felt the energies inside connect with my own, eager to help. I looked up at the dragon, and raised my palm towards him, feeling the gems power swirling within me. I connected a path between me and the dragon, and pushed.
The light and noise was disorientating, the dragon screaming as the huge lightning bolt seared through its scales. After what seemed like ages, the light stopped, and there was the blackened and charred dragon, laying still. Dead. I tried to get up, and was punished with pain from my left leg. I countered this by fluttering my wings just enough to take the weight of it, too tired for true flight. I hovered/stumbled over in a direction which I hoped was towards my cave, for what seems like hours, but must have been more like 30 minutes. Dimly I noted that the sapphire had turned grey and dull at some point, but I concentrated on moving. Then, I realised I had reached what appeared to be the edge of the forest, and gave up. I passed out, crumpling to the floor.
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Twilight sighed as she thought of how much time she had lost by attending to all of her friends needs. Not that she didn't want to! She was always happy to lend a hand, or join one of Pinkie's parties, but she hadn't really been able to focus on anything, her research at the forefront of her mind.
She hoped the Spellblooms were still there.
"It'll be fine, Twilight, stop worrying!" Reassured Spike, having noticed Twilight's agitation. "It's not like anyone would move them, right?"
"I'm sure you're right, Spike, it's just...I've had a bad feeling about those flowers since that "incident" three days ago. It's been worrying me more than it should." Before Spike could speak, she added: "But I'm sure it's nothing, I'll be fine, Spike."
They had reached the start of the Everfree Forest.
"Ah, here it is. Now, I think I remember where the flowers were, I wrote it down in my notebook... Spike?" The infant dragon was looking at something in the distance, concern etched into his face.
"Twilight, there's somepony over there! It's some sort of creature; I think its hurt!"
"What?" Twilight looked over where Spike was pointing, and saw it: a strange crumpled figure on the ground, wearing a bloodstained outfit. She rushed over to it, and saw that it had four legs, but with very strangely designed hooves on the end of them. One of its hind legs was twisted oddly. At first she feared the worst for the odd creature, but then she saw the gentle rising and falling of the chest, and knew that it was still alive, barely. She gently picked it up with her telekinesis, turned to Spike and ordered:
"Go get Fluttershy, quickly! Tell her we've found an injured animal that needs her attention!"
The dragon nodded and darted off as fast as he could towards the cottage that belonged to Fluttershy. Twilight moved after him, but moved slowly, so as not to damage the creature even more. Now it was floating, she could she that it had wings, but not feathery like pegasi. They were more like an insect. She had never seen anything quite like it. As she walked slowly to the cottage, she hoped that it would make it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Authors Note: First contact! I told you it would happen, and surprisingly, it did. Or did it? Yeah, it did. There's pretty much no refuting it, actually. And our brave little sylph took care of that mean 'ol dragon! OR...did she? Wait and see! Next chapter: Nursing, non-truths and nonsense, oh my! Remember to like and favourite if you liked it and it was one of your favourites, and comments are appreciated! Even if you didn't like it! After all, I can't change anything if you don't tell me what it is! Predator20 out.