Spike was lounging in one of the castle’s many recreational rooms when he felt something coming from his throat. For a moment, he was startled. He had not felt this sensation in over a year, but he recognized it. A letter was coming through magical fire.
Looking around, Spike made sure there was nothing flammable. Seeing no danger, he released the fire and watched as it burned away, turning into a scroll. Grabbing it, Spike looked for a name but could not find one. He looked for a seal, but there was none. He tried to identify the penponyship, but couldn’t find any familiar markings in it. He couldn’t even make out the language at first.
Only one part of the scroll could he identify: the name at the end. Dragonlord Ember. Smiling, Spike decided to bring it straight to Twilight to identify what, exactly, it said. He found her on the balcony, overlooking ponyville.
“Hey, Twilight,” Spike said as he approached. “I got a scroll from Dragonlord Ember, though I can’t read it.” Immediately, Twilight burst out of her chair, a grin splitting her face.
“Is this her reply to my last message?” Twilight’s smile became contagious, and soon Spike was smiling as well.
“I think it might be, but she wrote it in weird letters.” Spike held up the scroll, which Twilight took a look at.
“These are… dragon runes,” Twilight concluded, with a bit of astonishment. “I didn’t even know dragons still used these archaic letters.”
Spike looked at the page, and felt another strange sensation, this time in his eyes and head. As he looked at the scribbles, it began to click. What were once random signs became letters and words. He could only make out a couple of words, but the paper was slowly being translated by his mind.
“Spike, are you okay?” Twilight touched a hoof against Spike’s shoulder, snapping him out of his trance. Spike shook his head before looking at Twilight.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He took another look at the letter. “I don’t know. I felt something and now I can kinda read this scroll.” Twilight’s eyes brightened slightly, as if the sun had just caught them perfectly. Using her magic, she summoned a notepad and quill.
“Describe it,” Twilight commanded. “This could be an important discovery.”
“Uh, it started when I was looking over this again…” Spike described the situation as best as he could, but he couldn’t seem to find the words that fit correctly. After a few minutes, Twilight moved on back to the topic of the scroll.
“Do you think you can read the scroll to me?” she asked with a smile. “We can translate it later.”
“Sure, Twilight.” Spike opened the scroll as Twilight sat down on her chair. With a proud voice, he began.
To answer your question, you need to understand our history. It is a mixed bag, but I think it will show some things to you ponies. This is our history, passed down from generation to generation. This is the second time it will be set in writing.
Dragons were born free. We carved out our ancestral homes in what ponies call the badlands. We grew strong, powerful, and numerous. We were once the pride of the world. Nothing could surpass our vaults of treasure, nor our abilities in combat. We ruled the world when it was young, before pony civilization could conquer the wide reaches of Equestria.
However, a millennia past, something changed. It is a history that all dragons remember, and one that is ingrained within us from the moment we are born. Most dragons suppress these memories, but as the princess, I had to remember everything from the darkest time. The time in which our master bound us to his will. Once, we were slaves.
The next few runes Spike couldn’t read, but that didn’t matter. His eyes and head began to burn. He lost all sight, all vision, all senses. Everything was black. He was in this state for several seconds, losing all sensations and stimulus. Soon, memories began to surface.
Sombra, king of the crystal empire and master of mind magic was facing defeat. Already, the forces of Equestria were gathering against him. They would be able to get through to fight him within the next year. In short, he was running out of time. He needed allies, but nopony in the world would ally themselves with his cause.
His mind control armor concept still had a few years before he could even build the first prototype. He needed to experiment, but crystal ponies were naturally resilient against his magic. Cursed happiness, love, and joy.
Instead of looking internally, Sombra cast his gaze on the map of the known world. It wasn’t completely correct, but there were many key empires that he was willing to contact. Saddle Arabia wasn’t going to join him, they were going through a civil war at that point. Zebrica, while a strong nation, readily defensible, was not going to join him. Apparently, his tyrannical control of the populace was against their beliefs.
That left one faction that he could call on for ready reinforcement and supplies: the griffons. Griffon mercenaries could aid his cause greatly, and they would only require gold to work. Unfortunately, he had no gold to give them. He needed help, he needed allies, he needed money. Again, he cast his gaze to the map.
The only area he had not reached out to had been the badlands, where dragons reigned. But no one dragon could command another, and they only looked out for themselves. There was nothing to bind them to a lasting contract, they were simply animals.
A sudden idea came to his mind, and then Sombra had a plan, a devilish plan that would require a grand scheme, courage, and deceit. Conquering the dragons would give him the supplies and money he needed, as well as an army. He would, of course, have to make an example from some of the elder dragons. If it kept the majority of dragons in line, that was enough. Fear was always a great motivator, after all.
Sombra readied his supplies and donned a disguise. The populace was afraid of him, and a crystal clone wasn’t too much trouble to create as a stand-in for a few weeks. It would weaken him, but it was too good an opportunity to pass up. Before his departure, Sombra went into his most secret place, past a door only he could see, up stairs only he could climb. In this place was his most prized possession: The Crystal Heart.
“It’s about time you were of use,” he said with an evil smile. He struck the crystal heart’s outermost edge, breaking off a small piece. “This piece will do nicely.” He paused, looking at the crystal heart again, feeling its pulse wash over him. Even in its weakened state, it was still enough to cause him discomfort, even at a distance. Grabbing the piece, he felt a part of his hoof disappearing into smoke. Thrusting the shard into a prepared bag, he focused his energy on restoring the burned flesh. Darkness leapt from his shadow, attaching to his armored hoof. After a few seconds, it was whole once more and he glanced at the heart again. “If only I could destroy you as easily.” He returned to his throne room and waited until night had fallen. The next morning, a clone had taken his place and he had gone south east.
Sombra arrived to the dragon lands with very little difficulty. He only had to kill one squad of Royal Guards after they had, foolishly, got in his way. He looked at the new land he had arrived at. Dark orange, brown, and red stones for miles, with very little vegetation. The sun beat down on him, rising from his skin. Sighing in annoyance, he kept walking.
He had walked around two hours into the badlands when a creature landed behind him. It was pure black, a slender head, wings that stretched for 40 meters, and a mouth that could kill him in one bite. Sombra, however, was more than confident he could defeat this foe.
“Why have you come, pony?” the dragon asked. Its head travelled around him. Sombra found it slightly unnerving.
“I have come with a proposition,” he answered with a smile. He had stowed away his armor and cape some time ago, leaving him bare and unassuming to the beast in front of him. “I wish to help unite the dragons of this fair land.”
“You wish to help us?” it sneered. “We do not need the help of some insignificant little pony, no matter what he wishes to do.” It took a few steps away, but was halted by crystals grabbing its foot.
“I am no ordinary pony.” Sombra struck a pose, crystals lifting him into the air. “I am King Sombra, Protector of the Crystal Empire and one of the greatest magi who ever lived.”
“Are we supposed to be impressed by that?” came a scoffing reply, though the dragon did not move away as the crystals receded. “What is it you wish to do?”
“I want to create an artifact capable of providing order and discipline into dragon culture, creating a king that would be able to control them all.”
“We do not need such trivial and unimportant ideas such as order or discipline.” The dragon began to move away again, it’s wings unfurled for flight. “And certainly no kings.”
“And what if you were the one in charge?” Sombra watched as the dragon paused. He could see the dragon’s mind working, going through the scenario. If it was in charge, it would have absolute power. And if what Sombra was saying was the truth…
“We… you and I, will have to discuss this,” the dragon finally answered. “Please, follow me. I know somewhere that we could speak privately.”
“Of course, but do tell, what is your name?” Sombra finally asked. “If I’m to work with you, it would be a useful piece of information.”
“Ah, of course. My name is…”