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// Chapter 0:1 - The Gift from Tyrannus 
// Story: Camaraderie is Sorcery 
// by FireOfTheNorth 
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Chapter 0:1 – The Gift from Tyrannus
Year 988 of the 4th Age


“This is outrageous!” Celestia exclaimed as she trotted back and forth angrily, “Does Ingrirtireth truly think he can get away with this slight?”  
It had been a long time since the ancient sorceress had been this angry.  Her magic was fluctuating wildly, causing the furniture in the room to levitate just above the floor, the portraits to shake, and the glassware to crack.  Things had not been going well for Celestia lately.  The premonition that something powerful was coming had been getting stronger and stronger, so much so that Celestia was unable to sleep without terrifying visions of the future invading her dreams.  She had found a spell that would allow her to rest, but she still awoke with blood in her mouth each and every morning.  Celestia had thought she had found the answer to her problems fourteen years earlier, when her decree that she was looking for an apprentice had brought a young and talented Source to Cant’r Laht.  The Matron of Sorceresses had poured so much time and effort into her, but she’d reached her limits as a magic-user.  Cadence was a powerful sorceress, but she wouldn’t be enough to stop what was coming.  Her latest progeny was also turning out to be a disappointment, mastering her magical lessons with ease, but acting cruel and uncaring toward others; she would never be the hero Equestria needed.  
The crate that had just arrived from Tyrannus was only the most recent in a line of things that upset Celestia, and it had pushed her over the edge.  She had finally found a solution to the looming threat of a dragon invasion.  Like all good compromises, it was one that pleased neither side but both were willing to accept; both Celestia and Ingrirtireth—the most powerful of the dragonlords that ruled Tyrannus—would send their heirs to serve at the other’s court as hostages.  Cadence was already on her way to the land of fire and brimstone, so it was now up to Ingrirtireth to uphold his end of the bargain.  When Celestia had received the ornate chest, she had assumed it was a gift from the dragonlord as a sign of good faith that he would send his heir soon.  That hope had all but vanished once she opened the case.  
Sitting within, surrounded by fine cloth and jewels, was an egg with a purple shell spotted by even darker purple circles.  A note seared into some animal’s hide had come with the egg.  The message was currently being examined by Raven, a sadly unmagical mare from a line of prestigious sorceresses who Celestia had accepted as a page to please her family.  She was still young, but was proving exceptionally skilled in mundane matters and gave wise council, and Celestia now trusted her in matters such as this.  
“Venerable sorceress Celestia,” Raven read aloud, her voice squeaking as she did so, “As per our arrangement to insure continued … lack of hostilities between our races, I entrust you with the care of my heir.  I am certain that you will take good care of him or her until the time comes for his or her … return.  Signed, Ingrirtireth the Destroyer, Death-Bringer, King of Scorched Bones, Fire Eternal, Kingeater, etc.  May your hunts be fruitful and your bed fiery.”  
“Ridiculous!” Celestia cried as she continued to pace.  
“Well, it is an unorthodox salutation, I admit, but nothing unusual for dragons, I’m sure,” Raven said as she examined the note again.  
“Not that!” the sorceress snapped, being much harsher to her assistant than she would have been usually, “For the next few decades, Cadence will be living in Tyrannus.  As Ingrirtireth’s hostage, she’ll give him important information on Cant’r Laht.  All I have is an egg!  You can’t question an egg!”  
“Not until it hatches, at least,” Raven said quietly, intimidated by Celestia’s rage and power.  
“Of course, but that’s not bloody likely to happen without another dragon to incubate it,” Celestia said, the room around her starting to return to normal as her mood finally began to mellow.  
“Say, aren’t there ways to cause an egg to hatch using sorcery?” Raven spoke up, taking advantage of her mistress’s changing mood, “You were looking for a trial to ensure your next apprentice is talented enough to receive your teachings; why not have them try to hatch this egg?”  
“No, this situation may be a joke, but I won’t do anything to endanger the life of Ingrirtireth’s heir,” Celestia spoke authoritatively, “I like your idea, though.  Have the aspirants hatch phoenix eggs as a trial; we have plenty of those in case they fail horribly.”  
“Yes, m’lady,” Raven said, giving a bow as Celestia turned to leave the room, “And what are we to do with this egg?”  
“Place the crate in the castle treasury,” the sorceress called over her shoulder, “I don’t expect to see it again until Cadence is returned.”