INCIDENT IN A DRAGON'S CAVE
By De Writer
Ponies are not usually the best of spelunkers. In spite of that, here I was, working my down into the guts of the mountain. I was slinking with care down the boulder strewn cavern, working by feel alone.
I'd heard a rumor that the dragon Cargon was away on a raid and that meant that his hoard was unguarded for the moment. That hope alone was enough to set me on such a dangerous quest as seeking dragon treasure.
I owed too much to the Changeling Syndicate. I should never have bet on the Grand National Hoofball game!
I was coming out of the Ponyville Pub and Grill when they bracketed me, on on each side. They looked like almost any pony but they weren't ponies at all. One said, "Keep it up, Norbert. You have a whole twenty four hours before we come to collect. We are only here to remind you. You lose, you pay. If you don't pay, you will still pay.
"We like it when ponies don't pay, my buddy and I. You might as well reserve a traction room at Ponyville General Horsepital. The sound of pony bones breaking is sweet music to our ears."
"Um, I have a farm. It might take a few days to sell but it might bring enough to pay the Syndicate."
"Nope. Not even sorry. We had it appraised. By the time the sale is final, you won't get but about half of what you owe.
"A pleasant last day to you." They vanished, chuckling.
I was passing the Adventures Guildhall when a fluttering notice caught my eye. It had just been posted and said, "The Dragon Cargon has been seen flying off to the North."
That was all. Still, there was nothing to the north for a long way. Haulmarket was about the nearest place. Hours of flight time. Maybe . . . A mere rumor. Really, what did I stand to lose?
Still, rumors, even from the Adventures Guild, are rumors. That is why my spelunking was not up to pony par. I was using no lantern to light my way. If the rumor was not true, the light of it would alert Cargon and I would, most likely, be his dinner. Not an outcome that I wanted any more than a Syndicate sponsored trip to the Horsepital. Of course, if Cargon WAS here, my problems would certainly be solved!
My hoof stirred something that did not rattle like bones or shattered and scorched armor. I risked lighting my lantern. My breath caught at the immensity of the hoard. Not taking the time to be selective, I began to scoop coins, gems and jewels into my saddle bags
Too late, I heard it. Hearing things moving about in a dragon's cave has been known to be bad luck! There was a scraping, slithering sound coming from the treasure chamber’s entrance cave. Too late to shutter my lantern, I saw him. His body filling and blocking my only exit was a big green dragon. The head of the great green dragon was darting about, as he viewed every part of the vast chamber.
Both of his red glowing eyes focused on me. A wisp of flame curled from his nostrils! Smoke drifted lazily from his mostly closed jaws. I was sure that I was going to be the main and likely only course for a dragon barbecue!
It is hard to read the expression of a dragon’s face. The tilt of his head and the set of his body looked like he was amused.
I was petrified. Then he spoke. “Pony thief, do you gamble?”
Shivering in raw terror, I replied, “I do. I would not be here if I was I not willing to take risks.”
The dragon appeared to be considering something. “I thought so. You have no reason to trust me at all. Still, since I can simply kill you and eat you, what have you to lose by a game of chance?”
Shaking so badly that I could almost not answer, I replied, “Nothing at all. What have you in mind to play?”
The dragon simply picked up a platter of silver and suggested, “How about this? I will flip this in the air like you might do to a coin. The dished side will be a win for you and the reverse, a win for me. We will have three goes. The one who wins twice, wins the game, life and treasure, all that the winner can carry. Fair enough?”
Steadying some, I replied, “What if you should lose? I do not wish your life. Only safety and this treasure that I have in my saddle bags.”
The dragon nodded agreeably, “That is well said. For that, should you lose, I will let you go in safety but keep all the treasure for myself. Should I lose, I will escort you and your winnings safely away to the desolation’s edge, nor will I attempt your life at all.”
He flipped the big platter. It tumbled through the air and fell with a clatter. Dish side up.
The dragon let out an amused curl of flame as it said, “You have won this toss.”
He took the platter and gave it another flip. Clanging about when it landed, the platter lay bottom up.
By now, I had as good a grip on myself as I was going to get and spoke in turn, “A win for you! The next toss settles all.”
The dragon wriggled his huge serpent like body in excitement. He took the platter and gave it yet another spinning toss. It arced high, tumbling through the air. It hit a stone and rebounded landing almost at my feet. Dished side up.
Now totally amused, the dragon said graciously, “Your win. I will escort you and your bags of treasure to the desolation’s edge as I promised. Will you allow me a few moments first?”
Having no choice, really, I agreed, “Certainly I will. Why?”
Eagerly scooping up treasure into a large bag of his own, the dragon replied, “I want some of this, too! Old Cargon won’t be back for simply HOURS!”
~!THE END!~