Emotions, Are Powerful. Far More Than You Can Even Imagine.
“I see. So that is the reason you have come here” Pyre said thoughtfully.
Twilight nodded. “Yes, while we were coming here we happened to gain quite a bit of attention. Mainly because of well...Spike” Twilight said gently running her fingertips through her number one assistances spikes.
Spike had fallen asleep shortly after arriving and was now using Twilight’s own lap as a pillow.
Zuko sat not too far away from the others, looking at both Spike then Pyre.
Dragons, the thought came to him. Few existed around the outskirts of the Fire Nation many many years ago. Dating back to his own grandfather Sozin, there had been an abundant amount. But as the military rank of the fire nation grew more and more commanders began making it a feat of courage to test themselves in an attempt to see just how strong they could be.
To think dragons as strong as this one were ones our own soldiers fought, Zuko thought.
“Well then, I suppose you have some questions then for me is it not Sir Zuko?” the older dragon’s voice asked catching Zuko’s attention and pulling him away from his thoughts, Zuko looked up at Pyre for a brief second momentarily lost and unable to pick up where he had left off in the conversation.
Pyre waited patiently for the creature that greatly resembled a minotaur to get back on track.
A few seconds passed before the question actually registered within Zuko’s head. Blinking with a slight start he turned to look at the others only to see they were waiting for him to speak now.
Right, Zuko thought wearily. “Yes I do actually. But instead of asking you a multitude of questions I’ll just stick to one. Why do the dragons and ponies in this town hate each other?”
Pyre went silent, but judging from Zuko’s determined stare it seemed the boy wouldn’t be leaving his home without an answer. And so with that Pyre rose from his own large seat, and moved around his guests to a window just adjacent from them.
For a few seconds he didn’t say anything. The silence brought an eery feeling to the room they were in. Covered in gold from ceiling to walls, to the diamond gems that made up the floor beneath them, ones Rarity had almost squealed over but managed to compose herself when Twilight, Pinkie and Zuko gave her a look to keep quiet.
“Is that your only question...” Pyre paused as if he wanted to add something else but thought better of it and remained silent.
Zuko nodded his head solemnly and glanced over to the others, everyone aside from Pinkie (and Spike) who had lost herself in some of the walls decorative colors, nodded.
“Yes, that is the only question we ask answered.”
Pyre glanced over his shoulder at the boy and then the Ponyvillians. It was brief but for a second Zuko thought he saw a sad smile.
“Well then,” Pyre began as he moved away from the window and back to his own seat. “Sit tight then, because before I begin the history of this town, I have a question to ask you all myself.”
Zuko’s brows knitted together in slight agitation. He didn’t have time for this but seeing as this dragon was several times his size and much more stronger than him, he saw no point to argue. A wise decision indeed as the agitation Zuko radiated was not lost on Pyre, simply glanced over.
“Oh! If we’re doing questions can I ask when’s your birthday?” Pinkie asked, raising a hand.
“Pinkie” Twilight began but the pink mare was already on a roll. “Also, how did you get those green gems to match the gold like that? It looks so hypnotic almost. And before you ask a question can the others ask questions also- OH! Should I get popcorn?! Popcorn would be great right about now, I think-”
Pyre raised a claw for silence and much to everyone’s surprise Pinkie quieted down almost instantly.
The older dragon smiled at the element of Laughter. “Thank you, young one. Now” he said turning his gaze back to the entire group.
“My question is this. What do you think, is strongest trait a sentient being possesses, aside from being able to feel love and anger? Once you have answered me this I will begin my tale.”
Twilight’s muzzle scrunched up in thought. “But” she began, pausing as her brows knitted in thought. “But- there’s so many choices. There’s sadness, joy, passion, there are just too many to pick from. What if we get it wrong?”
“I only require your honest opinion. The answer does not need to be correct.”
At this Twilight seemed to calm just a bit.
“Then....my answer would be the ability to make strong bonds; Compatibility.” Twilight
Pyre nodded and looked at Rarity. “Oh me? Well um, I suppose my answer would be, compassion? Without it I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Again Pyre nodded and looked at Pinkie. “And you miss?”
Pinkie giggled. “Well it’s obvious, Joy! Making people smile is the best trait anyone could ever have!” she said with a little bounce.
A smile formed on Pyre’s maw at that sentence and he nodded his head in agreement. “I agree.” Turning his head to Zuko he stared at him and asked him as he had the others. “And what do you think Zuko? What do you think the strongest trait a sentient being can possess is?”
Zuko said nothing, as he sat on his knees his gaze now fixed on the older dragon. The question now working its way in his head.
He could feel it. Eyes on him. Just like back then, just like that day. A slight stinging sensation began to pass through that scar, but Zuko merely ignored it.
“Zuko” Pyre’s voice called out to him, and the boy snapped out of his daze. He had been staring Pyre in the eye this entire time and only blinked once in the past minute.
“Your answer, Zuko?”
Again Zuko paused. But they did not wait long as he cleared his throat and spoke. “Fear.”
“I see” Pyre said nodding his head in interest. “May I ask why you chose that one in particular.”
“You didn’t ask the others why they picked theirs so why me?” he said in a calm tone but it was obvious his anger had spiked.
“Simply curious is all” Pyre responded calmly.
Zuko’s hand tightened briefly before he released his constricting grip. He sighed. “Fear. Fear can blind you, destroy ideals or opinions you hold of others or yourself and break you. It can blind you to other emotions as well, spreading throughout your body like poison, almost like-”
“Like a fire...isn’t that what you were going to say?” Pyre asked. Zuko’s silence was answer enough.
“I see. Thank you all for your answer. Now then, I will tell you the correct answer that only one of you had right.”
Everyone looked up at the dragon as he leaned back in his seat and spoke. “The answer....for the strongest emotion a being can possess aside from love and anger, is indeed: Fear.”
“Do not misunderstand” Pyre stated under Twilight’s confusion. “Compatibility, being able to form bonds are a strong trait one can have. For without bonds, ponies, dragons and all other creatures alike are lost. Without a bond people become confused, when there is no one to support them or aid them in dire situations. They detach themselves from society or others, become dejected or even erratic and break down as time continues till there is nothing left of what once was.
“Miss Rarity you said compassion. This is also true. Compassion is a powerful trait one can have and since you are the Element of Generosity, I understand why you say this. Without compassion when others are in need they will find no light that offered them that moment of kindness in their darkest hours.
“And Miss Pie, joy was also a correct answer. With joy one can see the light beyond the dark. Those that are joyous, optimistic such as yourself are able to bring light in the gloomiest of moments when no one can see it is there or just beyond their reach. It is the joyful ones that help us out the most when we see that there is only darkness ahead.”
“But, if all our answers are correct then why is Fear the correct one.” Rarity asked with some confusion, but a slight sneeze from Spike drew her attention.
“Because I asked you for the strongest trait. Not the best traits, but the one that has the most impact on an individual. Fear, is strong, just like love is powerful and can breach walls and level nations as it has in the past, fear is something often underestimated and overestimated at the same time.
“Yes love is a powerful emotion. With it you can do anything, hence I am not surprised Princess Cadence has been doing so well in ruling her Empire as of late, but if you look back in the past what did the previous ruler use?”
Twilight’s ears dropped a bit at the recall of Sombra. It had been almost two years since then and she’d almost forgotten about what happened back then. “He...he used fear.”
“Yes, and look at what he was able to accomplish. I am not praising him young princess” Pyre said to Twilight’s somewhat confused and shocked look. “I am simply saying look at what he was able to do.
“After he overthrew the last ruler of the Crystal Empire, Pristine Spirit, Sombra had deemed unworthy to rule their home since all were still freezing due to the cursed winter storm that surrounded the Crystal Empire at the time, Sombra began dabbling in dark magic. Ask yourself why.”
“Because he was a uncouth lout” Rarity stated frankly. “He enslaved his own citizens and made them harvest crystals for him to fill his obsession for gems.”
“Ah that’s what history says” Pyre stated as he leaned further back in his seat. “But is that actually what happened?”
All three ponies now stared at each other confused before looking at Pyre skeptically. “What are you saying Mr?” Pinkie asked, her eyes narrowed.
“I’m saying that with fear, Sombra did a lot for his people, even though he didn’t go about it the right way he managed much. Yes he did harvest Crystals. Yes he did enslave his own kind, but by becoming a sovereign to them, he minimized much. Past reports on crime in the empire while Sombra was under rule showed that crime was gone, because they were afraid to do it. Fearing the punishment Sombra himself would give them. Fear is a powerful emotion, it clouds your better judgement, it confuses you, perturbs you and makes you think in a way you wouldn’t think of normally.
“And this is how fear relates to this city’s history. Dating back to 300 years ago, when I was but an adult and not as old as I am now.
“300 years ago, before Ponyville would be found a century later, Fillydelphia was being constructed. The name Fillydelphia came from a group of mares that decided to build this place as a city for the lost, weak and forgotten.
“300 years ago, times were not as peaceful as they are now. Back then many problems were being faced. The Crown was in a constant power struggle with the seven nobles that had aided the princess in keeping Equestria stable since the moon walker was banished.
“And even then times were still rough. With power struggles, pirates, slaves, and fights between not only a few of the races but different species Equestria and Equus itself wasn’t looking too good.
“Months went by with no change, with nothing knew happening, and some dragons as it were for the most part some were getting tired of being pushed out into the wilderness to fend for their young and families and so a discussion was made between the Crown, the leaders of Fillydelphia’s sorority and the Dragon Lord.”
Both Twilight and Rarity’s ears perked up instantly. “Ah” Pyre said thoughtfully. “You’ve met the Dragon Lord haven’t you?”
“Er, yes. Yes we have. Actually” Twilight smiled at the sleeping Spike. “Spike here was the dragon lord for a few seconds before he gave up his throne to a dragon he believed would be a better ruler.”
Pyre’s eyes widened slightly before resuming their normal position. “I see.” Pyre said deep in thought. “He must be the wisest drake I’ve met yet. And at such an age also” Pyre said his reptilian eyes now fixed on Spike.
Silence transpired for a bit before he coughed rather loudly to clear his throat, Spike shifted in his unconscious slumber from the cough, groaning at the noise.
“As I was saying. Times were rough. With the princess struggling to keep up the liberal system she had built and making sure she could maintain power, my best friend at the time, Imperius, brought me as his advisor to the meeting.
“Now Imperius, was a strong dragon. He’d inherited the right as Dragon Lord from his father, beaten every other dragon including his younger sister, to gain the right as the next dragon lord and with it he made sure he made some decent changes to most of the Dragon ways. He did well at being only the young age of 300, and I was proud of him. But, as you know with every monarch there will be times where the subjects do not agree.
“And as such, my friend underwent quite a bit of pressure as it is” the older dragon said sadly. “Ruling dragons is not easy. As you may have experienced young princess and friends, Dragons are stubborn. We are stubborn and do not take no for an answer, my friend sought to change that if only a little, but as it was he was still a new ruler and while most dragons gave him the respect he deserved and rightly earned there were still others that disagreed with his actions.”
“Much like how the nobles thought they should be running Equestria” Twilight said in response.
“Exactly” Pyre replied.
“So the day of the meeting my friend told me of his plan. Dragons and ponies were creatures who had not gotten along for a long time now. Even after Equestria was founded we never were on good terms, and though his father never tried to change that Imperius wanted to do something to better the relationship so long as the ponies did not break their traditions.
“And for the most part I agreed with him, his younger sister, Igna also agreed with him. It was a smart choice and when he wanted to go through it we encouraged him since we all knew that with Equestria’s current status, the Crown would not want a war with us.
“And so the day of the diplomatic discussion came. I went as my friend’s advisor and Celestia brought her own advisor with her. I believe his name at the time was....Turner? Or something of the sort relating to time, anyway once the leaders met our discussion began.
“Wages were made and declined, few accepted but not a plenty. Ideas exchanged, possible solutions to problems were discussed. Our meeting lasted well through the afternoon and fairly into the following day, to the point that Princess Celestia herself had to leave between intervals to lower the sun and raise the moon.
“Then finally Imperius who had begun to lose his patience...snapped.” Pyre sighed. “He had been ruling for at least a year and a half at that point. The pressure must have got to him, in dragon years he was an adult but all the work load was getting to him. Heck it even got to the former Dragon Lord sometimes till finally, well...Imperius snapped.”
“Oh my...he didn’t. He didn’t try to attack the Princess did he?” Rarity asked with concern.
“That would be a major no-no.” Pinkie said with a frown.
“Oh no, no of course not. He did lose his temper, but he did not resolve to attacking. When the Princess returned from raising the sun that following morning, 13 hours into our discussion, he demanded a fair chance to offer a solution that would aid the residents of the constructing Fillydelphia, and his own kind as well.”
Twilight’s ears perked up once again as her mouth began to drop in awe. “You mean...he proposed dragons and ponies live together?”
Pyre nodded. “It was something that interested your Princess greatly. However the leaders of Fillydelphia didn’t seem to be as pleased with the idea. They told the Princess that the city they were building was meant for the weak and the harsh lived. They were trying to recruit the mares that had been sold as slaves or any other slaves that had managed to escape and make it far enough to Equestria’s borders. At the very least they could be providing a home for them.
“It was a noble cause, looking back at it. Those four mares were brave. I had heard rumors of their stories and how they came to be free. One was badly scarred along the arms. Received a flogging everyday if she didn’t obey her superiors or comply with a wish that I would not speak of even to this day.
“Another captured by pirates. Her name was Cheerish Honesty.” Pyre expression grew grave as he recalled this particular mare. “There was nothing cheerful about her demeanor. Not after I later came to hear her story months after the meeting.”
“Please” Rarity’s somewhat pained voice cut in. “Do skip over the details, if it wouldn’t be a bother.”
“I intended to” Pyre nodded agreeingly. “These four mares were against the ideas of having dragons in the town they were building, and well you know stereotypes. Word gets around after a few hundred years, rumors evolve into terrible drabble, and then there’s nothing but lies spreading around with only bits and pieces of the truth. The four leaders of FIllydelphia sadly to say, but still rightfully so due to their own separate pasts, threw these rumors in the Dragon Lord’s face, blatantly I might add. And....” Pyre trailed off.
The older dragon didn’t say anything for awhile. In fact to Pinkie it didn’t look like he wanted to go any further just based on the great wrinkles his forehead made with that heavy frown.
“And what?” Pinkie asked gently.
Pyre didn’t reply just yet. He allowed his back to fully lean against his seat as he glanced back at the others ran a claw over his mouth, then turned his attention towards the window leading outdoors to the rest of civilization.
“That day...I promise you on life. Never before had I seen Imperius so angry in his entire life. If there were ever a time I would see him so angry it would be three times, and this was the first. His features didn’t show it, but-....” Pyre swallowed as if a lump had formed in his throat. He did not speak for a few minutes as if to compose himself.
“But what?” Zuko pressed. He could tell this was difficult, but if he wanted to continue what he came here to do he needed answers and one way or another he would get them.
“But what?” Zuko asked again, more emphasis this time when Pyre refused to speak.
When Pyre looked back at the group everypony went silent. A calmness yet sadness they had not seen before draped itself over the old dragon’s face as he ran a claw through his spikes then down to his white beard. “But his eyes” he said in a low voice.
“His eyes burned like Tartarus itself had unleashed it's greatest horrors upon the world.” Pyre said looking outside once more.
“Imperius said nothing towards the rumors, but it was sometime before he spoke. Celestia’s advisor scolded the mare’s heavily, for their accusations but Imperius merely brushed them off as if they were nothing, but I knew him. I knew him like a brother, and I knew how he really felt about it.
“You see, dragons have always been creatures that were feared for not their stubbornness, greed or power but for their ferocity. Many times Imperius had tried to incorporate dragons into a society outside of Equestria, only for them to return with the same statement: “They’ couldn’t live there because of the rumors. Or every time they moved through a town it felt like they were being judged", so Equestria had been my friend’s last card.”
Twilight placed a hand over her own muzzle when she heard this. “So when he heard those rumors then” she whispered in a voice of fear and pain.
“He...began to doubt the ponies right then didn’t he?” Rarity asked.
Pyre nodded. “The moment those rumors left their mouths.”
“Eventually we were able to reach a conclusion. The dragons would help the mares build their city and in exchange both species could live together. If any trouble were brought it would be settled by the leaders of each town respectively. And so after 15 hours of discussion our meeting finally came to a close.”
A slight chuckle escaped Pyre’s lips as he had just recalled something in the past.
“What? What’s so funny?” Zuko asked.
“Oh it’s. It’s nothing” Pyre said dismissively.
“Now now” Pinkie said trying to lighten the mood a bit. “I’m sure we could all use a laugh after such a...” she smiled sheepishly. “Big revelation, c’mon tell us. Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease-”
Rarity covered her mouth. Glancing at Pyre with a small smile, she said “You don’t have to tell us.”
Pyre thought about it, and after a measly second he shrugged. “I suppose it will relate to the question and answer I asked of you from before I began.”
“Later that day as we returned home to where Igna and most of the dragons that cared were waiting, I asked Imperius a question.”
“Which was?” Zuko asked.
A nostalgic smile crossed Pyre’s face. “I asked him if he was alright.”
Pinkie’s expectancy at the punchline faded almost instantly. Her ears drooped and she stared with confusion and a bit of sadness. “I, uh, don’t get it” she said and was about to say more till Twilight’s strained, hush voice, said “PINKIE!”
Pyre chuckled at this. It reminded him of the times of when he was a youth. The times him, Imperius and Igna had all been close.
“What did he say?” Rarity asked once the old dragon was done laughing.
“He told me: “I’m fine. It was just rumors and I didn’t need to worry about him so much.”” The nostalgic smile faded, into a prim thin lined curve at the end of his lips. “That was what he said but I-...I knew my friend was disturbed by their words.”
“Even on that day when we returned and he greeted the waiting dragons, and whelps with a smile I knew. I knew that deep down he was-”
“Angry?” Twilight cut in, gently running her hand through Spike’s own spikes, as a form to comfort her adoptive brother but herself as well.
“Disgusted?” Rarity quipped with uncertainty.
“Leaking with fury the size of the sun!?” Pinkie contributed.
Her friends looked at her. “What?” she said confusion in her voice.
“No, nothing it’s just. That was an interesting analogy” Rarity said with a small smile, one which Pinkie returned.
Zuko’s sigh made the three mares grow silent. He was giving them a look that told them to stop talking. Right. Now.
Turning his attention back to Pyre the former prince said, “Please continue.”
Pyre nodded. “On that day, his sister came to me. Igna asked me why her brother was acting strange but I. I didn’t have a reply. I couldn’t tell her about the rumors. It was and still is in this part of town a sensitive topic, one no one brings up. So I said I was unsure, perhaps under the weather but now that I look back it was a mistake.
“He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t disgusted with the mares, nor was he furious. He was in fact scared....he was afraid unlike his father he’d fail at leading dragons to a peaceful life for as long as he reigned and I think the fear of failing, was what drove him most.
“No, it was fear itself that pushed him so far. As I said and as I’m sure you all have experienced in some point in your life. Our emotions are strong, and with strong emotions there can be different outcomes. Ones where we do good or bad depending on the situation we are in.
“My friend made mistakes, but it was allowing his fear to consume him that was his biggest mistake of all.
“And so young ones before I continue. Before I tell you the rest of this town’s history I want you to remember one thing.”
Everyone went silent as Pyre paused to lick his dry lips.
“Emotions are, powerful.
"Anger, Happiness, Fear, Lust, all of these and our traits and attitudes are influenced by one another. So never forget this; your emotions can influence you, just as Sombra let fear influence those he controlled, never forget or underestimate that. That if you allow your emotions to control you they can blind you and lead you down a path you never intended to travel in the first place, now. Do you understand?”
The group went silent as this powerful message was spoken. For Zuko it was even more so than he could imagine.
“Do you understand?” Pyre asked once more when none responded.
Pinkie was the first to respond, and for the first time Zuko had ever met her she sounded serious. “Yes.”
Twilight followed. “Yes, I-I, I understand.”
“I believe I do as well” Rarity said last.
“And you Zuko?” Pyre said his eyes now focused on the former prince. “Do you understand?”
Zuko’s throat went dry, he swallowed some of his own saliva and allowed his voice to work its way back to strength before he spoke.
“Yes. I understand, emotions can be a weapon. Play with them and you aren’t the only one that gets hurt. Let them play with you and you can hurt others” he finished and as he finished a thought popped into Zuko’s head.
This almost sounds like something Uncle would say.
“Good” Pyre’s voice said as he rose from his seat towards the kitchen. “If you’ll excuse me I’m parched. I’ll get a drink, you’re welcome to ask for any if you want. I’ll be back shortly.”
And with that the old dragon who now seemed wiser than when Zuko first met him, rose and disappeared into the kitchen.
When he returned he would be back to continue the story. The story of why the dragons and ponies of this city hated each other so much, and maybe then, Zuko could finally move on in helping these four with their duty so that he could get back to what he truly came here for.
His true purpose.