The Rise of Red Dragon

by Silver Heart

Chapter 2: Rissia Point

Its raining...

My final day in the Chateau is without incident, and that morning we find ourselves assembled in the court yard, receiving a rather motivating speech from my mother. I block most of it out, simply waiting for my unit to be called. After standing in the courtyard half the morning, it's finally called, and I see Red Star waiting for me. I'm surprised to see Fire Edge waiting for me as well. He simply smiles, explaining he has been granted a return to the front lines. He explains we will be headed to Rissia Point, an old Equestrian fort along the Gryphon Border. Red Star naturally asks many questions, though Fire Edge simply says it is a dull border town, the hire out protection from the odd bandit raid. None of this really matters to me, just being away from the Chateau is all I am looking forward to. We set out, and it takes us the better part of three days to get to Equestria. I try to keep to the air, scouting ahead a bit, while Red Star and Fire Edge simply have to trod along on the ground. At the end of the third day we stop in a small town, and rest in the local inn. I take a short flight, eventually landing and trotting about a bit. I don't know what I was expecting, but it surprises me that the townsfolk shy away from me. I do my best to ignore them, simply looking around at the wares, though after a while, I simply give up and return to the inn.

When I arrive I am disappointed to find myself stuck in a room with Red Star. I choose to spend most the evening down in the common area, listening to Fire Edge regale the locals with stories of his past. I listen but spend most the time polishing my armor, taking care to clean the gold filigree. Fire Edge seems to try every different cider offered, though we settle on a simple dinner. Every time I look up, I notice that Red Star seems to be watching me. I hide the anger from showing on my face, as I can already imagine her writing letters to my mother. I retire early that night, but sleep lightly. I hear Fire Edge and Red Star return well after the midnight chime of the clock tower, and I can hear the foolish laughter of two who have had to much Cider. I will enjoy waking those buffoons in the morning. Red Star finally finds the room, and I can see her outlined as she enters. I'm not surprised when she tries to climb into my bed. I hear her huff, and slump down, and stifle a laugh. I curl deeper into the covers on her bed, and know this will frustrate her. With the dawn I am up and ready, waiting out in front of the inn. I end up waiting nearly an hour before Fire Edge joins me. After a bit of wait and rubbing sleep from his eyes, he goes inside, returning with Red Star, who looks rather sick. I force myself not to laugh at the foolish mare, and take to the skies, as their smell begins to gag me. We travel another day, ending up at another town. Fire Edge finds us a simple inn, and explains we have three days left in our journey. The next town is two days away, and our last stop before Rissia Point. Fire Edge heads inside to procure rooms, and Red Star follows him, still looking worse for wear from the cider. I take to the skies, preferring to see the lay of the town.

This time, I'm not as surprised that that the townsfolk shy from me. I look about and find a small sweet shop, purchasing a few hard candies for the remainder of the trip. I pop a butterscotch disc into my mouth, hanging my helmet on my armor. I enjoy the cool breeze, finding a seat near a small fountain. The sound of the fountain is comforting, and it takes me a moment to realize there is a small green filly pulling at my armor. I look at her, unsure what to do, and start to look for her parents. I hear rustling, and see her dig a candy from my pouch. She starts to nibble on it and I can no longer control myself, I start to laugh. I check about me still not seeing the parents. I ask her where they are, and she simply shakes her head and shrugs. I stand looking about and suddenly I hear her hop to my back. She lays down on my armor, poking at it, then points towards the town square. I start in the direction she pointed out. As we near the town center, I see wagons and ponies setting up a small camp. Several turn to stare at me, though one runs off towards the end of the caravan. Suddenly I can hear the mumbling of the crowd. I hear a cry from the crowd, a silver mare with black mane pushing her way forward and crying out the name Emerald. I look back and open my wings, letting the filly down off of my back. She trots quickly down then gallops to the silver mare. The two embrace and I see the mares horn slip from under her mane. I notice the other ponies staring at me, and quickly take my leave.

When I return to the inn, Fire Edge is once again regaling the locals with his history, and I find a seat a bit away, staring down at my helmet. The first clue I have that something is wrong is the sudden silence around me. I look up to see the silver mare staring at me. I start to ask what she wants, when she just leans in kissing me. I... have no idea how to respond. She whispers to me quietly, "Thank you sir", and quickly trots out. I look and see Fire Edge, laughing with the ponies he was telling the story too. I see Red Star, glaring at me from the steps that lead up to the rooms. Fire Edge smirks, looking to me. "Maybe ya should grow your mane out a bit lass... for the filly to think your a lass." The room erupts in laughter again, and I do my best not to look embarrassed as I head up the stairs. Red Star tries to stop me, but I brush her off, continuing up to the rooms. I find ours, the door open and Red Star's armor inside. I close the door, and finally let my emotions catch up to me. Not only did that foolish mare kiss me, but she thought I was a stallion! Maybe Fire Edge is right... despite my pink coat and hair... maybe I do need to grow it out, it is too short.

The following morning we set out again, without a word between any of us. I took to the air scouting ahead, and we found ourselves moving for a forest. Fire Edge signaled me to return with a mirror a few hours in, and told me to search for a clearing to stay the night in. I found one nearby, unhappy that we were going to stop earlier than expected. Fire Edge builds a fire ring, while Red Star and I gather wood. When we return, Fire Edge gets the fire going, and warns us that there are things in the forest we don't need coming in to camp this night. He sets out the watch, and I find I have first and last watch. We eat rather silently, though after dinner Fire Edge tells us more about Rissia Point, and our duties when we arrive. I listen, and while it will be nice to be away from the Chateau, simply patrolling walls and watching for Gryphon's doesn't seem exciting. Our night goes quietly, though during both watches I can see the glowing of yellow and white eyes around us. Come morning I wake the others, but fail to find anything under than strange tracks. Fire Edge makes no comment, and we set off early. As the evening starts to close we arrive at Rissia point, and I am surprised to see the walled in city. Some of the wall is stone, though much is still wood. There are several stone buildings, and I find they are our barracks and living quarters. There is a caravan circled up inside the walls, and Rissia seems to me to be a frontier town. Tomorrow we will assume our duties, defending the walls, and we are given a brief orientation. I am thankfully not near Red Star, and settle down into the barracks, taking a moment to clean off my armor and prepare it for tomorrow.

I am looking forward to tomorrow.