At the Twilight of Harmony

by Rammy


A Warm Welcome Unwanted

43 days since the Nameless One’s escape  

17 days since the fall of Traxti City  

Early morning, Nearing the south arctic


“...The question to whom or what is the dragon angry about?”

Another roar rang out, louder and closer. It would not be long before the dragon found them, if the dragon hadn’t already. From the size of the movement the dragon stalking about was most likely fully grown.

“I don’t remember crossing any territorial markers…” Medallion fearfully wondered as a third roar rang out, “you?”

“No…” He of Music shook his head.

“Any chance the dragon will move on and leave us alone?”

“Not likely… our battle left scorch marks and large ice unnatural ice formations.” He of Music pointed to and example, a spiky pillar of blue ice.

“I wasn’t hoping you wouldn’t say that.” Medallion sighed putting her head into her claw. “I’d really rather get back to the lovely dream I was having.”

A glint of light blue flashed in the storm so faint that He of Music almost didn’t see it. “The dragon has spotted us… prepare yourself sister.”

“Yes, brother.” Medallion nodded.

The mass became bigger and bigger, it’s ice blue eyes glowed in the semi darkness. Suddenly, the from of the dragon pierced through the veil of snow and ice. One look confirmed the obvious, the dragon was an ice dragon, no surprise from where they were located, and as suspected was fully grown. The ice dragon had to duck his head to avoid hitting the overhang. That was all the the further the dragon went his wings opening fully.

The dragon was pearl white and with belly scales so pale that it was hard to see that it was blue not white. A pair of bull like horns adorned his head and long needle like spines ran from the tip of the snout to the back of his head. He had no spines or tail weapon but his scales were curled upward the entire length. The opened and large wings, typical for ice dragons made him even more imposing. At least the open wings kept the wind and cold from assaulting them. Sure they were protected from the elements but somehow He of Music and Medallion couldn't help but feel the same coldness coming off of him as the wendigos.

He of Music pulled off his headphones so that he could appear more respectful. That and he wanted to gauge the dragon’s song to minimize the chance of a violent confrontation. Hopefully, the dragon only wanted to talk. Even with the wings blocking out the most of the storm his hearing was still hampered. The song he heard didn’t particular sound confrontational but it, however, did sound cold, relentless, determined. Without getting closer that was all he could get.

“What are you doing here?” The dragon finally spoke. His voice was cold and icy just like everything with the dragon.

“Hello Dragon of White and Pale Blue Scales, I am He of Music, this is Medallion.”

“Skip the warm pleasantries and get to the point.” The dragon barked. “I despise warmth.”

Clearly. He of Music thought. “Uh… Right. We are here under our Claws’ orders to assess and neutralize if necessary a possible incursion of wendigos past their territories.”

“Clan dragons… I should’ve known. Weak. You two are no dragons.”

At that, both Hourglass dragons growled threateningly. It was clear that the dragon had a problem working with others, judging from his remarks. Both dragons would have been fine with the dragon not wanting help as it could make the dragon feel weak. But to call them weak for being clan dragons and by extension Sentinel who both thought was the strongest dragon they knew. Not that their other clanmates were not weak.

With the war beginning to pick up and with Sentinel being a warrior, the entire clan, even their Firstclaw, looked to him for guidance. Of course, when the war ends, if they survived… it would likely change. There was something between Sentinel and He of Hourglass that seemed to go beyond First and Second Claws… something deeper. How else would an alicorn be so interested in the clan and specifically their Firstclaw long before anyone knew, especially the alicorn, that the Secondclaw was the alicorn.

“You can bad mouth me, fine.” Fire began to leak from He of Music’s maw as his rage built. “But if you ever bad mouth our clan you will never again feel cold comfort. Matter of fact, you won’t feel anything again.”
 
“You can handle my aura.” The dragon eyed He of Music very closely. He said nothing more.

For a long time all the could be heard was the sounds of the storm and the breathing of the three dragons. He of Music and Medallion both looked at the ice dragon hard and with little hidden rage. The ice dragon gaze back, his expression never changing.

“He of the Barren South and I can handle the problem, alone.” He of the Barren South finally broke the silence.

“No offense, He of the Barren South.” Medallion countered. “There is more going on then just rampaging wendigos.”

“And that concerns me how?” Medallion took a half step back from the glare from the ice dragon.
 
“It does if the Nameless One comes and stirs trouble.” He of Music put a comforting wing on Medallion. “And with how far north the wendigos have gone and the numbers...I’d say he has.”

“I said I can handle it myself.” He of Music could feel the breath of the ice dragon wash over him, ice crystals forming on the tip of his snout.

“And what the South Crystal City? What about other dragons? No offense, but the south arctic is a large area and the wendigo herd that attacked us is quite large. You may not feel you need our help but others may, and we are under orders to assist.”
 
“I will escort you to the golem city.” He of the Barren South finally spoke. “If they need assistance... Assist. Them. Then leave.”

“Very well,” He of Music resisted the urge to sigh. He was not going to push as truthfully this area was not his territory. For that matter, they no where near his territory... if he had one.. As a clan dragon he had none. The clan, as a whole, had a territory. Some days he wished he had his is own territory but then he wouldn’t have Sentinel or He of Hourglass, and his entire hoard minus his ocarina and bass guitar was comprised of things that either one gave him. “I will need to notify our Secondclaw.”

“Fine.”

He of Music pulled out a scroll and quickly composed message to Sentinel. He made sure that He of the Barren South was unable to see what he was writing and to be double sure he used code that Sentinel had drilled into all of them when he was still an alicorn. He was not going to take any chances at this stage. He finished composing the message and sent it off. All they could do now was wait for the response.

He of Music,

That fact that you were attacked by a fairly large hard as far north as you were means that my suspicions are right. The South Crystal City may be in trouble. For the moment, render any assistance they may need.
 
As for the dragon you describe. I don’t recognize the territory title off claw and I doubt he has that kind of honor to be able to keep you from the south arctic. The area is about as big as Equestria, and the dragon, to have that level of honor, would have been well known… It is more likely a bluff… However, I will memory walk all the memories I have of the Migration and see if I can find anything on this dragon. He spent time in the south arctic but those memories will be harder to track down. Either way this will take some time… In the mean time, you know the code. If a dragon doesn’t want your assistance then stay out of their territory. Keep me or Firstclaw informed.
 
Secondclaw

“And?”

“We are to head to South Crystal City and render any assistance they may need.” He of Music answered. “And to follow the code if a dragon does not wish for assistance.”

Without another word He of the Barren South flapped his wings and climbed into the storm. He of Music and Medallion after a second of hesitation quickly followed.

Medallion motioned for He of Music to fall back a bit. “What are we going to do?” She spoke in as quietest voice she thought that could be heard over the wind.

“Well, according to Sentinel he thinks that he is bluffing… I’m inclined to agree… It’s also possible that we could be near his territory and he feels threaten.”

“You assume.” Barked He of the Barren South. “Tell your clan leaders to stay out of my affairs. This doesn’t concern them…”
 
“They are the Alicorn and Dragon Keepers of Harmony it does concern them.”
 
“Land. Now.” He of the Barren South snapped, already making his descent.

The dragons had only barely touched the ground when He of the Barren South flung open his wings and stalked right up to He of Music. He of Music stood his ground though his heart was pounding. “He of Harmony, a leader in your clan. An actual dragon clan?”
 
“Yes, an actual clan,” He of Music narrowed his eyes, not liking the insinuation. Though he knew that the question would be expected he already didn’t like the dragon all that much and was not in a very forgiving mood. “And it’s Sentinel now not He of Harmony.”
 
“Impossible. ‘Sentinel’ as you call him is pony.” He glared at He of Music before he turned to face Medallion. “Unless somehow Keepers can pass on their duties…”
 
“He became a dragon and is no longer a pony. He Chose.” Medallion proudly defended her Secondclaw.
 
If He of the Barren South was shocked he sure wasn’t showing it. All the two dragons from Hourglass could see were the same unwavering cold, almost soulless eyes that bore into them. Time passed almost to the point to cause discomfort for the Hourglass dragons.

For the first time in over a day they could feel the approach of a dragon’s territory ward. Normally, given that they were flying high, it was moot. Territory wards meant nothing high in the air otherwise dragons would never be able to go anywhere. The exception according to Sentinel was the Dragon Migration as He of the Flight got permission for the migration to fly over any dragons territory that crossed the path of the migration just in case of any emergency that might require landing.

The problem was this ward seemed odd. How it was odd neither He of Music or Medallion could tell. And that was worrying for both. It did seem familiar, however, to He of Music but he couldn't place how.

He of the Barren South apparently beat them to the punch. “It’s mine.”

As soon as they crossed the ice dragon seemed more relaxed. The snowstorm that they were flying though suddenly felt less vicious even though the snow was still coming down as hard as before. Both dragons thought that it was strange. Why and how could the storm change like that the moment the cross his wards. This made their uneasiness rise a bit more. Enough for them to look surreptitiously around.

Something below and behind them made He of Music shiver. He fell back to a further distance than the last time they needed to talk alone. With any luck, He of the Barren South wouldn’t overhear it. “We are being followed.” He spoke in the same small voice as before.

“By…” Medallion questioned, trying to keep her fear from leaking into her voice.

“Two, maybe, three wendigos,” He of Music countered, “possibly more. It’s hard to tell without letting our guide know what we are doing.”
 
“Leave my hoard alone.” Came a cold growl from He of the Barren South.

If He of Music and Medallion thought they had felt chilled by his presence the revelation that his hoard contain wendigos was enough to make them feel like they were frozen solid. In their shock all they could do was gaze in horror at each other. How could any self respecting dragon have wendigos in their hoard? And who could control them without resorting to dark magic as neither of them felt any dark magic...