//------------------------------// // Anger Incites Untold Actions // Story: The Greatest Treasure // by Evowizard25 //------------------------------// I recognized this music! It was so alike that for a faint moment I thought I had stepped back through time. It’s so strange to hear this music once more. It carried the same tune and rhythm my own Equestria held after the age of Discord. It was certainly an interesting time. Reforming a country is not an easy job, not to mention all the monsters we had to face. I couldn’t help but clap along on the sidelines as the dancers stomped about on the dancefloor. So many happy memories flooded back to me and tonight I’d add a few more. I almost broke my face in half with how wide my smile was. The only downside was Smaug. An old grumpypuss is what he was being. No matter. I’d get him to open up and make friends. It’d take some time, but hey, Fluttershy tamed Discord in a day. Surely I can tame Smaug in less. If not, I’d let him tame me tonight~ I doubt he’d have any energy to do more than grumble tomorrow. I giggled at the thought. I don’t know what was going on with me. I was acting like such a teenager. Perhaps it’s been ages since I’ve had a crush. I think the last one was another god. Loki, I believe. Didn’t work out, but I enjoyed his presence. He made me laugh. Hmm, maybe I have a spot for bad boys. I hate the type, but it seems I keep falling for the same trap. Oh well….Perhaps I’m rushing it with this train of thought. I mean, we’re not exactly on the same side of the morality spectrum. This might just be my hormones taking over. Dreadful business that is. A god in heat was known to sometimes crush their lovers in their throes of ecstasy. Smaug’s made of sterner stuff though. Hmm…. Yes, I most definitely did enter an induced heat. Smaug’s alicorn form must have triggered it. I’ll have to cast a spell after the party to quell this before it gets out of hand. Till then, I’ll enjoy this party. They better have some cake. My mother only knows how much I crave it. Speaking of mother, I wonder how she’s doing? Last I heard is that she had an apprentice of sorts of her own. Pit? Was that his name? I wonder how she’d view Smaug. She was a bit scatterbrained at times...but then, look who’s talking. I giggled. I take too much after her and I love it. When I get back home, perhaps I’ll tease Twilight a bit using a trick or two from mother. She’d love Twilight. Smaug, not so much. I’ll deal with that later. I turned to Smaug, who was grumbling to himself with his arms crossed. “This is their idea of fun? Flailing about to such irritating sounds?” I rolled my eyes. “This is music and I find it absolutely delightful.” “You would,” Smaug snorted, causing me to narrow my eyes. I paid him no response about that remark. “Celestia-” I shushed him. He rolled his eyes. “Megan, we’ve come to this party and seen enough. Perhaps we can go back to the mountain.” I could plainly see how anxious he was to return to his gold. Dragons rarely left their hoards, only when they needed to hunt or during an emergency. It was only natural he would become nervous. I felt bad for taking out of his comfort zone, but I had done the same with my student. Twilight now was the princess of friendship. Smaug would do well in due time. “Benedict,” I smiled. “Relax. We’re here to socialize and have fun.” “I was having ‘fun’ with you and my gold,” he growled. “We were,” I nodded. “But it’s best if we share our fun. Remember how much you wanted to boast about your power and wealth?” “I did,” Smaug answered. “Then let us show them something to be envious of,” I grabbed his hands in mine. “Dance with me.” “I don’t dance,” Smaug grouched. “I never saw fit to learn such a thing.” “I’ll teach you,” I gave him a reassuring smile. “I’ll be with you every step of the way, Smaug. Your little treasure guiding your steps.” “You’ve done enough guiding today,” the now human drake growled, clenching his hands around mine. They hurt. Not too much, but it was getting harder to stand how he squeezed. “I have been forced to leave my hoard, come to a human festival, and change my form into...this. I will not dance, Megan. No, I refuse to.” He was frustrated. I could see that. I could feel it in my hands as she squeezed and squeezed through his glare. I didn’t move to stop him. I was too busy staring into his eyes. There was a darkness held within them. A darkness that made me shiver in the slightest bit of fear. I’ve faced down many dragons before in my time and never once backed down. I’ve even stared into Smaug’s eyes before, but perhaps I had not looked deep enough. There lied death and fire in them the likes of which rivaled Discord’s madness. I stared and he glared back. _____________________________________________________________________ How dare this mare continue to ask of me such idiotic things? How dare she? I’m tired of this town and these humans. I squeeze her hands. I don’t care how hard I squeeze, nor how hard I glare into her beautiful eyes. She is mine, not the other way around. She should be content with the rest of my hoard. No, she wishes for us to mingle with these humans. Humans! The race that drove my kind to near extinction. If not for my greatness and superb deathly habits, there would be no great fire drakes left. I save the dragons from a humiliating end. I remind these humans that they are not the greatest creatures of this world. I am Smaug, chiefest and greatest of calamities. I will not be lead around by my own property to befriend my kind’s sworn enemy. I’ll tell her this now. I’ll tell her how I don’t want to see that cute little girl anymore who held the same twinkle in her eye as did my own sister. I’ll tell her how I prefer to be alone. How the laughter and merriment around me grated on my secular ears. I’ll tell her and drag her back to my mountain. I’ll tell her and run away from here. Away from the black arrows. Away from those accursed arrows that took hurt my body and pride. Away, I say. I know they hide one around here. They want to kill me and they are using this whole thing as a means to trick me. Yes, I see what these Lakemen are trying to do. They are using Celestia to trick me. Is she in on it? Does she wish to be free of me? I won’t allow it! I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to glare at Bard. I didn’t need someone distracting me from my thoughts. His scent should have given him away dozens of yards off. He smelled of the river and fish, but he had this powerful aroma to him. Something didn’t add up. “You’re hurting her.” He said. I blinked in confusion, before I quickly turned to my hands. I was squeezing rather tightly. I let them go and...saw the broken bones and flesh in my grip. My eyes widened in anger and sorrow. My jewel was damaged. I had damaged her. My hoard is my life and I had damaged her in my anger. I looked to her face and I saw fear and pain. Fear? No, that can’t be so. “I…” I looked to my own hands. The mocking laughter and tune filled my ears as I growled. I was thinking of the worst possible outcome. I didn’t trust these humans. I was agitated and I took it out on her. I can’t be so stupid as to do such a thing. “Maybe you should get going,” Bard frowned. I could tell he held a lax stance, but was ready to fight at a moment’s notice. He would be no danger to me, but he seemed like he held an aura of importance. It was strong in his stench. Royal descendant perhaps? I turned back to my jewel as she kept her hands close to her chest. We weren’t so close to the dancers that they really stopped to notice us. A soft glow of sun magic enveloped them and they were as good as new. She sighed. “I didn’t listen to your wants, Smaug. I didn’t listen because I wanted you to be happy and...I was being a fool. If you so wish it, I will go back with you.” She sounded so... defeated. That was not the right tone for my precious jewel. I took her in my arms and held her close, relishing in her surprised squeak. I pulled back and gave her a smile. “Come, let us dance.” “But…” She didn’t say anything more when I nuzzled our noses together. “I have made you my jewel,” I said. “I keep you in my mountain under my terms. One night under yours won’t hurt...much.” I grumble that last word, causing her to giggle. I enjoy that sound quite much. “Well that was quick,” Bard let out an amused snort. “For a moment, I had thought I’d have to throw you about.” “I’d like to see you try,” I grinned deviously. It would be a great way to relieve some stress and show these humans their place. “None of that,” Celestia smiled and took my hands again. “We dance.” ______________________________________________________ I was going to mingle in a party? I never mingled. These people hated me. They always hated me, but they would prove useful. I needed hate. They had plenty of it. It will be so easy to take it. Show these pitiful nuisances who the real Master of Laketown was. It was not a man who looked like a pig. No. It was a lady of such beauty they can’t possibly understand. How could they? They were too blinded by their jealousy to see the real me? Wait, am I overthinking this? Perhaps there is another reason. Maybe...maybe they aren’t so bad. “They are, child.” Nightmare’s voice cooed in my head. She was my friend and she wouldn’t lie to me. “They are terrible and they deserve punishment. Are you going to let them get off scot free so they can harass someone else? Maybe your sister next.” I growled in anger, clenching my fists. No one messed with my family. They would all pay, but who to do so with first? “There you are,” Alfred, the weasel, approached. Perfect. “I was looking for you.” “Really?” I grinned. He grinned back. It was slimy and disgusting. “You’re going with me to this dance.” He held up a hand to stop an argument. I wasn’t going to argue with him though. Not this time. “It’s not like anyone’s going to take you. Your family history isn’t exactly flattering, but I’ve kept my eye on you for a while.” ‘I bet you have, you pervert.’ I lamented to myself. Yes, I’ve seen the way he leers at me. I want to rip it off his face and throw it in the trash where it belongs. “You’re a lovely girl,” he said, walking closer to me. “I just can’t let you walk around on your lonesome, now can I? No, that wouldn’t be gentlemanly like. Not one bit.” He stopped and played with my hair. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to smash him about for what he was doing to me. How he leered at me before and how he tortured my father day in and out. “I have a better idea.” Power flowed into me as did new ideas. I smirked. “Why thank you kind sir,” I giggled, letting him play with my hair. “I think I know just the reward for your kindness.” “And what would that be?” He leaned in close to me. I touched my finger to his forehead and a sliver of magic entered his mind. “Servitude.” The black magic twisted his being, bending it to my will. Or is it ours? I don’t know, but I like it. He was my puppet. Soon more would join. Oh this is going to be fun.