The group made their way through the dense forest. Rarity and Twilight followed Spirit as he used his sword to cut through the occasional brush and vines. The weather was much more humid than they were used to.
“How do you know where we are going?” Rarity called up to Spirit
“Well” he began as he hacked away at more vines “The map shows the edge of the lava fields starts when we get through
this forest. The beach we landed at….”
“Crashed at” Rarity said
“The beach we crashed at was the closest point to leave from so if we walk in this direction for a while” he pointed in front of
them “we should come out at the lava fields.”
“We should be getting close Rarity why don’t you see if you can sense any gems.” Twilight said
“Sure thing” Rarity focused “then began to cough and brought he hoof to her nose “Ugh what’s that dreadful smell?”
Spirit began to sniff the air “Sulfur” he said as he ran forward
“What did you call me!?” Rarity yelled to Spirit
“It’s sulfur Rarity” Twilight began “Lava usually gives off that smell.”
“This trip keeps getting better doesn’t it?” Rarity said dryly
“Come on lets catch up” Twilight ran after Spirit
Rarity and Twilight burst through some trees to see Spirit standing on the edge of a steep cliff. The forest abruptly ended at
the cliff. In the valley below pools of lava where scattered all around the ground was black from where lava had been
cooling. The valley continued as far as the eye could see.
“So the elder dragon is here?” Rarity asked
“Hopefully this seems the most likely place” Spirit said looking down the cliff “Come on there’s more of a slope over there we
can get down that way.
They carefully made their way down the slope till they reached the valley floor.
“Watch where you step” Twilight said as she eyed the ground around here
“Rarity try your spell now” Spirit said
“Right” Rarity again focused on finding the largest amount of gems “Woah!” Rarity said as she began to float out toward the
lava field
Twilight and Spirit both grabbed Rarity before she got any further
“I take it you sense something?” Spirit asked
“I’ve never sensed something like that before” Rarity said
“Well looks like that way is our starting point” Spirit began walking toward where Rarity was floating to.
The group walked in the direction with Rarity checking every so often to see if they were getting closer to the source. After a
few detours past rivers of lava and tar pits the group traced the source to a large cave opening. They crouched behind a
large obsidian boulder watching the cave intently.
“You think it’s in there?” Spirit asked
“No doubt” Rarity said
“Let’s wait and see if a dragon comes in our out.”
“That’s probably not a good idea.” Twilight added
“Why?”
“Dragons can stay in their cave for over a hundred years if they have too.”
Spirit let out sigh “well I guess we’re going to have to go in. Wait here I’m going to take a look inside I’ll call you over.”
Spirit ran from behind the boulder to the edge of the cave and peered into the opening.
“This doesn’t seem like a good idea” Rarity told Twilight
“Come one we’ve taken on dragons before so what if this is the most powerful dragon around.” Twilight said making herself
nervous.
Spirit waved back to the waiting ponies.
“Come on” Twilight said
Rarity and Twilight ran over to the waiting Spirit. They stood at the entrance of the large cave and peered into the depths.
“Hurry up lets go in” Spirit said as he walked into the cave
It wasn’t long after the group entered the cave when the light from outside was no longer reaching them. The cave was
gradually sending them under ground the further they went the darker it got.
“Twilight, Rarity think one of you can give us a little light?” Spirit asked as he narrowly avoided a low ceiling
“Sure thing” Twilight responded.
The cave was filled with a purple light that was emitting from Twilights horn.
“How far do you think it goes?” Rarity asked as they stopped for a moment
“No clue this cave was probably created by lava a long time ago.” Spirit said “Can you sense anything”
“It’s strange” Rarity as she tried to sense gems again “Earlier it was one powerful vibe now I can sense two things.”
“Can you tell where they are at?” Twilight asked
“The weaker one is up ahead and below us, the other seems like it’s very deep underground”
“No time to waste let’s keep moving, Twilight can you keep the light going?” Spirit asked
“It’s no problem spells like this are simple and don’t require much concentration” Twilight answered
The group traveled further into the cave system till eventually they turned a corner and could see a room that was well lit.
“Put your light out Twilight!” Spirit whispered
The three stood in the darkness their eyes focused on the lit room. They could see movement in the room from the
occasionally shadow would pass in front of the entrance.
“Should we go in?” Twilight asked
“Well we did come to meet a dragon Rarity is this where your gem sense is leading us?”
Rarity focused again “Yes this is the weaker one”
“Stay close and be ready to run. Twilight probably a bad time to ask but can you make a magic barrier that can protect
against fire?”
“I don’t know dragon fire is one of the most powerful things around but I can try”
“Better than nothing”
The group quietly approached the entrance. With a better view inside they could see mountains of gold, silver, and gems of
all colors shapes and sizes. The light was coming from a large hole in the roof of the cave. On one side of the room the
group could see a large brown dragon sleeping on top of a pile of treasure. The group entered the room proper being
careful not to wake the sleeping beast.
“Well now what?” Rarity whispered
“I can’t believe I’m staring at a dragon” Spirit said awestruck
“We found one so what we just ask for it to kindly help us?” Rarity continued
“Sure” Spirit said “Excuse me Dragon!” he yelled
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Rarity yelled as she dropped to the ground
“ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Twilight followed suit
The Dragon awoke and stood on it pile of treasure. It stretched its wings which reached almost each side of the room. The
dragon towered over the human and ponies, its large yellow eyes were fixed on the three in front of it.
“I’m going to look like a roasted marshmallow” Rarity cried
“Sorry to bother you but” Spirit cleared his throat “we need your help…you see there is this uh...”
The dragon lowered its head to get a better view of the human
“and we already got the gryphons…and uh” Spirit began to ramble as the dragon got even closer
“I never thought I would see a human again.” The dragon said in a female voice
Twilight both looked up from their spots and stared at the dragon.
“I haven’t seen your kind in over a thousand years.” The dragon said
“A thousand years…so you remember what happened.” Spirit answered
“I will never forget that time” The dragon began to think back “So many losses, so many friends”
“That’s why we’re here” Twilight began as she stood back up “That evil is back”
“I know child, he never left” the dragon responded
“You knew?”
“Ever since your kind thought it defeated and the humans disappeared I knew. I knew it would return someday which is why I
have made it my duty to protect this place.”
“Why protect this place?” Rarity asked “I mean it is nice treasure but the location”
“This treasure is nothing compared what lies below”
“Below?”
“When that wicked orb first appeared we dragons thoguht of a way to beat it, The Blood Ruby”
“I’m sorry but I’ve never heard of that” Twilight interrupted
“It is an ancient treasure that has been gifted down to the eldest dragon when their predecessor has passed. It is said to
have untold power.”
“So why didn’t you use it before?” Spirit asked
“It was lost” the Dragon said sadly
“What happened aren’t you the elder dragon ?”
“Not at the time human. When the orb attacked, it attacked us all many where lost and scattered our elder was the first to
go. He hid the Blood Ruby and was overwhelmed before he could tell his successor, me its location. But I have found it; it’s
here at the bottom of this cave system.”
“That terrific news” Twilight said as she looked at Spirit “Will you use it to help us fight Shadow?”
“I’m sorry child but I miss spoke. I found the ruby but I have not yet acquired it.”
“Why?”
“When my predecessor hid it here this was an active volcano since then the lava has left small shafts scattered throughout.
The ruby has settled in a deep narrow shaft In case you haven’t noticed I’m not made for caving.” The dragon again spread
its wings
“But it is here right?” Spirit asked
“Yes”
“Well no problem we’ll get it on one condition”
The old dragon laughed “I always liked you humans you may be small but you have ways to bring others to your side.
What’s the condition then?”
“You and your kind help us fight Shadow and we’ll give you your Ruby after we win.”
“I can see nothing wrong with that I want to defeat that thing as much as you do. It’s a deal As a symbol of our agreement
have this” The dragon plucked a scale from its back and handed it to the human.
Spirit held the scale up with both hands. Even thought it was a large as his upper body it was a light as feather and felt very
sturdy.
“Show that to any dragon you meet and they will know that I have vouched for you.”
“Thank you...I’m sorry but we never introduced ourselves I’m Spirit this is Rarity and Twilight Sparkle” Spirit gestured to the
two ponies
“You can call me Twilight ma’am”
“An honor to meet you my name is Valam”
“I have to say” Rarity said “Your quite different from other dragons I’ve met”
Valam laughed “I’m far too old to play the fearsome fire breathing dragon. I can still show the younglings a thing two though.”
“How old are you exactly?” Spirit asked
“Now that’s just rude Spirit” Rarity scowled the human
“Age is a badge of honor to us dragons. Our lives are filled with danger to live to an old age is something to be proud of. I
have lived for over three centuries.”
“Centuries!” Spirit gasped “That’s amazing”
“I have seen much in my time…tell me human what brings your kind back to us?”
Spirit shrugged “I honestly don’t know I was in trouble and when I came too I was here”
“Interesting, enough talk you have a Ruby to find then we have a battle to plan this way”
Valam led the group to another cave system on the far side of the room.
“Down this cave is a series of shafts. I have found no other way to the bottom of them besides a sheer drop. I believe that all
the shafts lead to one central chamber inside that chamber is the Ruby.”
“How do you know it’s there?” Spirit asked
“I can sense it.” Valam told the human
“We’ll be back in no time” Spirit said as he headed toward the shaft.
After almost an hour the group reached the series of shafts Valam had told them about. They peered over the edge the
light from Twilights horn could not reach the depths of the hole.
“How far down do you think it goes?” Rarity asked as she backed away
“Let me check” Spirit pulled three small tubes from a bag he had
Rarity and Twilight watched Spirit attempt to break the tubes in half. They gave a loud crack then a green glow emitted from
them.
“What are those?” Twilight asked as she dimmed her horn
“Glow Sticks” Spirit said as he tossed them over into the darkness.
They all peered over the edge until the glow sticks stopped falling and were barely visible at the bottom of the shaft.
“Alright we know how deep it is how do we get down there?” Rarity said still looking at the bottom of the shaft.
“We climb” Spirit had already taken off the bulky armor and was wearing his tan clothing from before
“How it’s a straight drop?” Twilight said watching the Spirit dig through his bag
“I’m going to rappel” Spirit began to tie rope around his waist and tied the other end to a stalagmite.
“Rappel? Wait you’re not going alone!” Twilight interrupted Spirit