The Reunion of Flame

by PaulToon

Part 2 - Dracopyros

All eyes turned at the sight and sound, panic setting in almost immediately. Screams and shouts ripped the previously calm day. Ponies started running for their houses and loved ones as the still blurry dots grew.

“There’re so many of them! But the last migration was only a year ago…”

“That’s… what I was going to… say Twilight…” huffed out Spike. “One of the dragons I met on my journey… he just contacted me... said a horde was coming to Ponyville and as a dragon I should join them…”

“A horde? A dragon invasion?! Why would they attack us?”

“I don’t know! He just said they were coming.”

Rainbow Dash and Applejack shot up in anger, but not sure what do to next. Fluttershy let out a pathetic shriek and curled into a tight, shaking ball. Rarity and Pinkie Pie screamed, flailing their hooves about. Twilight’s mind was racing, trying to think of what to do.

“Enough!” commanded Pyros. All six froze and looked to him. “If dragons are declaring war, we need to act fast. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, gather up everypony on the edges of town and get them inside. Fluttershy and Pinkie, get ponies and water buckets to stem fires. Rarity, find unicorns and tell them to meet in the middle of town.” They stared for a moment more then ran off with their orders. “Twilight, do you know any barrier spells?”

“Uh... I’ve read about a few, but I don’t think I can make it powerful enough to cover the whole town.”

“I have faith in you. Get to the town center and start casting one. The unicorns will join you and add their magic to strengthen it. I will help gather more.”

He ran off. Spike hopped up onto Twilight’s back as she rushed to the town square and ran through the barrier spells she knew. Most would not stand up to a single dragon, much less an entire horde, but she could try the one Shining Armor used to protect Canterlot during the Changling Invasion. When she reached the middle, she saw ponies rushing about, but unlike the panicked gallops of a few moments ago, these seemed to be with purpose. A small group of unicorns already stood in the middle, waiting for her.

“Twilight! What’s going on?”

“Listen up everypony! Dragons are invading and we need a barrier to protect Ponyville. I’ll cast the spell, but I need the help of every unicorn to keep it strong.”

With that, Twilight bared down, concentrating hard, her horn glowing. A bubble, she pictured. A giant, impenetrable bubble, surrounding the entire town. There was a flash and a column of white light shot up from her horn, stopping at fifty feet and slowly spreading out, taking the shape of a massive purple dome that lowered itself back to the ground. The unicorns pointed their own horns at Twilight. Tendrils of mystical light drifted from them to her, speeding up the dome’s formation. Within a few moments, the dome was set and Twilight opened her eyes. She saw Rainbow Dash and Applejack rushing towards her.

“Ah think we got ‘em all. What now?”

“We’ll have to set up defenses if they break through. Move carts to make blockades and shelter. Dash, find Pinkie and get some buckets. Then organize some pegasi into teams for quick responses.”

“You got it!” Rainbow threw a salute.

Twilight focused once more and cast another spell to strengthen the dome. The extra power from the unicorns kept her from feeling weaker.

“Twilight, I think I’ve gotten all the unicorns here.”

“Good. Stay here with the rest and help me cast another layer.”

“Twi! Twi! We have buckets and pots and barrels and tea cups and…”

“That’s good Pinkie. Put the barrels and anything else large at various spots around the town and have teams with them. Fluttershy, we’ll need some ponies for medical aid. Go with Spike to find the doctors and nurses.”

“O-okay Twilight.”

“Aww, but Twi…”

“No buts mister!”

Spike grumbled a bit, but went off with Fluttershy as Pyros finally got back to the center. “Good job. The town’s defenses are coming together.”

A thunderous roar announced that the dragons had reached the dome. The ground underhoof quaked from the power. The nearby ponies shook with fear, but stood their ground.

Three leading dragons began whacking at the dome with their tails. Deep thumps reverberated through the inner town, but the barrier stood. Even more dragons joined in, biting, clawing, and beating, but Twilight’s spell was too good and withstood the physical blows.

Then the dragons stopped. Glaring at the ponies below, they began backing away. As one, they drew a collective breath.

“DRAGON FIRE!!” shouted Twilight. Her wings flared out as she immediately cast another spell, holding it as a mix of the visible spectrum rained down on the barrier from all angles. On the outside, the magical layers protecting Ponyville seemed to melt away under the heat and power. Twilight kept the dome strong, the column of white light linking her to the top. Every unicorn gritted their teeth and concentrated harder. Several began feeling weaker from putting their all into supporting Twilight.

The fire stopped and another collective breath was drawn as a second scorching began. Unicorns began fainting from overexertion. Even Twilight was starting to feel the effects of holding the spell so long. This only hardened her resolve, concentrating as hard as she could.

High above the shield, two blue and one red dragon met. Claws held together, they began chanting in the dragon tongue. A red flame sparked between them, dancing in midair. As their chant continued, the fire swelled, forming into a giant column of pure blue fire. With a final shout, the column shot down directly to the barrier, the three dragons diving behind it. Pyros looked up just before impact.

“Oh no…”

With resounding clash, the fire shattered the barrier, hot wind sweeping though the town. Everypony in the town center was blown away, slammed into buildings, and cast several blocks from where they started. Twilight’s spell rebounded, slamming her to the ground and leaving her weak and groggy. She could vaguely hear the screams of ponies and the victorious laughter and yells of the dragons.

“Twi! TWI!” Pinkie Pie had gotten to Twilight, shaking her. “Are you alright?”

“Ugh… Y-yeah…”

Just then, the leading dragons hit the ground hard. The red dragon who landed in the town center turned, literally face to face with Pinkie. For once, she was rooted to the spot. “Uhhhh… h-hi there, Mr. Dragon…”

The dragon let out an earsplitting roar, blowing over the near-by trees and shrubs. He stood on his hind legs, preparing to use his fire breath. Pinkie grabbed Twilight and tried to run, but it was too late. Fire rained down, fanning out in a majestic display of destruction across the whole square.

But it never reached the ground. It didn’t even reach the roof-tops. Somehow, the flames twisted up, harmlessly into the air. The dragon was just as confused as the ponies. Pinkie glanced behind her. “Wow Twi! How’d you do that?”

“I… I didn’t… Nopony living has power to manipulate dragon flame like that.”

“That is not entirely true, Twilight Sparkle.” The girls looked behind them for the strange voice. Pyros stood behind them, his eyes burning with a bright white fire. “Thank Divine Sufta I still walk this earth.” With his teeth, he grabbed his bulky and shabby brown cloak, gracefully pulling it off. Beneath, a pair of large wings flared out.

Twilight’s eyes grew big. “An alicorn?! Huh? How? What?!”

The red stallion ignored Twilight’s bewildered protestations. He flew up towards the dragon, growing in stature as he did. The other dragons and ponies paused, mesmerized by the sight and the loud, deep, booming voice seeming to emanate from the midst of fire itself. “I AM PYROS, PRINCE OF THE FLAME! I AM THY MASTER IN THIS LAND, OR HATH EVEN THE LONG MEMORIES OF THE DRAGONS FORGOTTEN?”

The dragon stopped, amazed at the boldness of the creature before him. “Foolish pony! You know nothing of our power or our ways, whatever tricks you might have.”

“Oh? I know that the dragons never begin a war without the consent of The Elders and never attack without one present. Bring him to me!”

The dragon drew another breath and fired, hitting him directly. The alicorn did not even flinch as fire consumed him. Then, as the dragon drew back and the flame died, the horse was still there, unscratched. “How… how…”

With another flash of his eyes, Pyros’ mane and tail flared into an ethereal state, mimicking the dancing of white-hot flames. “I SUMMON FORTH THE CROWNED ELDER! SHOW THYSELF OR FACE MY WRATH!”

The dragons muttered amongst themselves until far in the back, black wings spread. The largest of all the dragons present flew to the front. His faded black scales and spines were cracked from long age, but it was clear that he was still the strongest in the horde. Setting down next to the red one, the old dragon peered at the relatively minuscule horse.

“Ah, Krynn,” said Pyros. “I remember when thou were hatched. Blessed amongst the dragon-kind, in the Year of the Spark and under the sign of the Dual Horns, thou were long marked to be a leader of thy people.”

“Yes…” the elder spoke, in a voice as deep and wise as the alicorn’s. “Prince Pyros of Equestria; known for his honesty and furious temper. Yes, I remember you at my ascension to the Elders.”

“Aye, thou hath nay forgotten me. Then why hath thou forgotten the treaty that I negotiated declaring peace and friendship between our peoples?”

“The Elders are much younger, Pyros. Many have passed on and their successors did not see the old events unfold. They thirst for a fight as all young ones do. And with Equestria just to the North, and the untamed Everfree Forest remaining virtually unclaimed… the temptation for them was too great, and it passed by one vote.”

“The Everfree Forest beith within the borders of Equestria. And this city is most certainly under Celestia’s domain! Doth thou have no respect for her sovereignty?”

“I could ask the same of you. We do not care for Celestia’s wishes or rights to rule. She has even gone so far as to place an Equestiran Princess on the throne of the Crystal Empire.”

Pyros eyes grew wider. “The Empire hath returned?”

“Aye, it has. In short, Celestia has done nothing to prove herself to us or earn our respect. But you… you we respect. You long ago demonstrated yourself to have the strength of a dragon.”

“Elder,” interrupted the young red dragon. “Why should we listen to this weak mortal? He is just a pathetic pony!”

“And you, Charizard, are naïve. This ‘pony’ as you call him, has passed gauntlets even some of the Elders have not faced. And without him, we would have been crushed under the claws of Sirrush.”

“A hatching’s tale!”

“No,” said a third green dragon. “His attempts to grab power were very real. I was young, but I remember how he crushed foes and laid waste to so many clans. It was said in our clutch that a traveler from a distant land helped save us.”

“Indeed, Uther. And here he hovers before you.”

“Then wilt thou withdraw?” asked Pyros. “Cease this invasion of Equestria and return to thy lands?”

Krynn thought for a moment. “Aye; we will withdraw.”

Cries went out from half of the dragons present, none louder than Charizard. “NO! Elder, they are weak and this land is deservedly ours. And the vote of the Elders was in favor of war!”

Krynn’s tail whipped around with incredible speed, striking Charizard in the gut and sending him staggering. “I am the Crowned Elder! As I did not cast a vote at the time as is the tradition, I do so now against the war. We are tied and the order is void.” He turned back to Pyros. “We will leave, but I feel the time has come to negotiate a new treaty.”

“So it would seem. Much hath changed in my absence.”

“Aye; we should both take time to acquaint ourselves with the changes. Visit the Elders in a year’s time to begin work.”

“Agreed.” Pyros placed his hooves together, bowing his head. “Mindok Faal Mulaag Ahkrin Se Dovyol.”

Krynn placed his claws together and bowed. “Ahrk Dein Akatosh Voth Hio. Dragons, return home.” With that, he spread his wings and began flying Southeast, followed by the rest of the dragons, some more reluctantly than others.

Pyros hovered back to the ground, his eyes, mane, and stature returning to normal. The ponies in the square hesitantly backed away, except for Pinkie who began bouncing around immediately. “Wow! That was like so amazing the way you talked that dragon down and that one part where you caught fire and I was sure you were a gonner and we’d have to throw you a funeral but you didn’t and you’re alive so we can throw a big ‘Congratulations on Still Being Alive and Saving All of Ponyville’ party which is always so much more fun the last time we had one would have been after Trixie took over though it’s not like anyone was really gonna die she was just really really mean and snootie and…”

Twilight was far more reserved as she approached him. “So… you’re an alicorn… I didn’t know there were any male alicorns.”

“Yes. I was hoping to keep that part of me a secret, but... well, I could not let the town burn.”

“Why hide it? It’s part of who you are.”

“You of all ponies should know by now. Alicorns are treated differently in Equestria. Other parts of the world do not know what an alicorn even is, but here, no pony would approach you, fearful of your power. Especially mine.” He absent-mindedly glanced at his cutie mark – a three-tongued flame under a simple four-pointed crown.

“I... I suppose you are right.”

He gave her a smile. “Oh well, it is of no concern. The damage to the town seems minimal, and there seem to be no medical emergencies, apart from those that overexerted themselves and really all they need is rest…”

To the left, Spike and Fluttershy returned. “Shame really,” he said. “A couple weeks ago you probably could have used the Elements of Harmony to send them away.”

“Do not be ridiculous,” interjected Pyros. “Even if we had the Elements here and Celestia to wield them, they would likely have little power to stop the dragons and their own magic.”

“… Who’s this guy? What, have you been under a rock for the past three years?”

“Spike, don’t be rude,” said Twilight. “It seems you really have been away from Equestria for some time. My friends and I found the Elements and controlled them. That is until very recently when they were returned to the Tree of Harmony.”

Pyros’ eyes went wide with shock. “Th-the Elements are reunited? But then…” His voice trailed off as he fell into deep thought.

“Is, um, is everything alright?”

He glanced at the others. “Oh… yes; fine…”

The other three ponies rounded a corner to the right, all of whom were stunned at the sight of Pyros and his wings.

“Whoa! I wouldn’t have guessed that! You just became awesome!”

“Such magnificent, elegant wings! And that ethereal mane was so gorgeous; why don’t you keep it all the time?”

Applejack walked up to him, shaking slightly, and bowed. “Yer majesty… Ah didn’ reckon…”

Pyros placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Arise, Applejack. I am no true Prince or deserving of such displays.”

She looked up to his calm face, noticing the fondness in his eyes. Standing, she said, “Alright then. Hee, ah felt like there was more to ya than ya were lettin’ on.”

He chuckled. “So Pinkie… I do not believe we ever had lunch. Would you be so kind as to let us sample some of your latest culinary creations?”

“SURE!! We’ll have to bake up a storm and have a party for saving the town tonight oh it will be so much fun…”

As Pyros walked off with Pinkie bouncing at the front of the group, Applejack hung back with Twilight and the others. “What a day, eh? Make a good letter ta the Princess, won’ it?”

“Yes… I don’t know what to make of our alicorn guest though…”

“He seems genuine enough. Ah can’ quite place it, but ah feel like ah kind of know him…”

“Darling, it feels like there’s something you are not telling us.”

“It’s just… that kind of power… a male alicorn… how he seems to know so much… I just don’t get it.”

“Do you not trust him?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“It’s not that… I just think he isn’t telling us everything. I feel we should keep an eye on him.”

“Um… you could let him stay in the library tonight.”

“Not a bad idea, Fluttershy; and I’ll write to the Princess tonight. Maybe she knows something we don’t.”

With that, the ponies arrived at Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie immediately went to work with her baking storm, dragging in the Cakes, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and a dozen others while some of the other ponies started setting up other things to celebrate the retreat of the dragons. By sundown, everything was prepared. The town was aglow with lantern lights while the ponies from all walks of life converged on the square. Pyros was the hero of the hour, soliciting a mixture of respect and gratitude, but also reverent anxiety. Twilight, meanwhile, drafted her letter to Celestia.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Today was a more than eventful day in Ponyville. A dragon horde descended upon the town, trying to stake a claim for the Everfree Forest; but then, an unknown traveler saved us – a red alicorn by the name of Pyros. He was able to negotiate a withdraw, keeping Ponyville from being destroyed.

I must say, it is interesting to see yet another alicorn here. It seems only yesterday you were the only one. Now, Princess Luna has returned, Cadence took her place, and even I am one! And now a fifth has shown up. I was hoping you may be able to shed some light this turn of events.

Your friend,

Twilight Sparkle

With a last flourish of her quill, Twilight rolled up the parchment and handed it to Spike to send off. Walking back to the party, she noticed a figure on top of one of the houses. Pyros sat there, gazing at the stars.

“You know Pinkie will clip your wings if you leave a party she’s throwing for you, right?”

“Heehee… this is a celebration for the whole town, not I. And she is currently entertaining the young fillies and colts with her jokes. Care to join me?”

With a purple flash, Twilight vanished from her spot on the ground and reappeared next to him on the roof. The stallion continued to contemplate at the sky. “Such beautiful nights in Equestria… Truly, even over the vast emptiness of the Zevanna, no nights are as magnificent as Equestrian.”

Twilight looked up at the stars she saw every night. “If you say so. I know about the star charts from other positions of the world, but never seen them for myself.”

“There is only so much that can be conveyed though papers and books. Oh, for completing all important magic and research they are fine; but for the pure, evocative beauty? Only experiencing it for one’s self can do it justice.”

“You must have seen a lot, experienced a lot.”

“I have. But none of it could match my joy to return home. Still, I had expected more to change in appearance since I left. But no… it seems that what has changed is much, much deeper and I am at a loss as to what to do.”

“Well, you know a good place to start learning about these changes?”

“Where would that be?”

“A book!” Twilight grinned.

Pyros smiled. “Hoisted on my own petard, it would seem. You run the Ponyville Library, right?”

“Yep!”

“I will pay a visit tomorrow morning to begin my research.”

“Why start tomorrow? Stay over at the library and you can start tonight!”

“Really? Thank you, Twilight Sparkle.”

A whoosh of wings and rainbow tail ended their conversation. “There you are, Pyros. Come on, Pinkie is having a fit trying to find you. And you still haven’t given me a chance to prove my ACTUAL hoofracing skills!”

“Very well, Rainbow Dash. Fly off to the North edge of town and we will race from there to the statue in the square. Twilight, I will no doubt see you at the library tonight.”

With that, Rainbow and Pyros streaked off as Twilight hopped down from the roof and returned to the party. For a few more hours the celebrations went on. At the end of the night, when Pyros was finally able to shake off the over-excited and sugar-high Pinkie, he met Twilight at the library where she, sleepy baby dragon on her back, explained in lengthy detail about her library system and where to find all the different books. With that, she went upstairs to put Spike to bed and get some sleep herself while he began browsing.

***

Twilight woke up in the middle of the night. She didn’t know why; she wasn’t having a nightmare, or even a particularly troubled sleep. Groggily, she started making her way towards the stairs to get some water, but at the start of the stairwell, she could have sworn she heard voices. Tense voices in the middle of an argument in the library. Quietly, she tip-hoofed down the stairs, trying to hear what they were saying. It seemed like a stallion and a mare. Well, the stallion would be Pyros, but who was the mare? It seemed familiar; did one of her friends come over for something? She peered down into the library to see… Princess Celestia?!

“I can’t believe you came back,” said Celestia. “After all that happened.”

“I saw the signs,” replied Pyros. “It was time to return.”

“You left with such conviction, such anger. I want to know you are not back to hurt us.”

“I am not. But you do not believe me.”

“As always, the good of my subjects must take precedence.”

“To the point where you cannot even trust your family? Your own brother?”

“BROTHER?!” shouted Twilight.

*End of Part 2*

Comments

[Dark starlight]

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[PaulToon]

2954631
Pretty much, yeah!

[PaulToon]

3263228
Howdy, CtrlAltDeleteMan!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for the review!! I mean it. You're right that this is my first attempt of pony writing, so anything that helps is greatly appreciated. I'll fix these issues a.s.a.p.

[Dick McKickEm]

Oh lordy, it seems I have my work cut out for me. Time to get editing...