═ The ══════════
Ambassador's
══════════ Son ═
Chapter Seven
Thaumomancy
An MLP:FiM Fanfiction by Midnight Shadow
Chip sat on his haunches as the last of the dragons melted away into the shadows. He shivered.
“Chip, kid, you okay?”
Chip looked up at Carmine, his green eyes wide, “I... I think so. You?”
“Yeah. My wing hurts but nothing serious. I was more worried about you. That was...”
“Awful?”
“I was going to say amazing.” Carmine stretched, chewing at her wing with her beak before flexing it experimentally.
“I killed him...” Chip looked down morosely at his tail, the crimson stain drying to an ugly brown across his chestnut strands. He could still remember the moment. His sides stung where claws had penetrated his hide, his buck and simultaneous tail-flick had been a natural pony response to such a pounce, but he’d mixed it with the draconic fighting style that Sharptooth had been drilling into him. It had just happened, and he’d... he’d slit that troll’s throat like he was tearing through paper.
“Yeah, why didn’t you say you could fight like that? I thought those tail-things were just... jewelry or something.”
“Dad’s been teaching me but...” Chip whimpered, “I didn’t mean to, he just... he attacked me!”
“Dumb mutt was gonna kill ya, kid. You did good.”
“I killed him.”
“Snap out of it, things get killed all the time. Better him than you.” Carmine spat feathers again. She fluffed up her neck-ruff and added, “Or me.”
Chip couldn’t help but crack a small smile, “You like me, don’t you?”
“Dweeb!”
Chip’s grin faded, “Celestia’s beard, what’s dad gonna say? I promised him I wouldn’t...”
As if on cue, a circling shadow alighted in front of them, revealing itself to be a familiar emerald green dragon. “You promised me you wouldn’t what?”
Chip turned white, flicking his tail behind him. “I, I, I...”
Sharptooth strode across the small distance and picked up the foal, “Hey, hey, it’s okay. Tell me what happened...”
“I killed him.” came the muffled sobs as Chip started crying into the dragon’s chest. Chip started blubbering words and phrases, often choked out by sniffling.
The dragon held him tenderly, just listening, murmuring softly. Finally, Sharptooth turned to the griffon, placing the pony down. Chip still sniffled, but at least he was calmer. “Miss Carmine, I presume? Since Chip here is a little... indisposed, would you mind telling me just what in the nine realms is going on?”
Carmine clicked her beak softly, then scratched at the ground, “We... we were just hanging out when these two diamond dogs appeared. They... they attacked us. Chip killed one, some big blue dragon took the other one. Said he was Lord Sapphire.”
“Sapphire, hmm?
“He s-said to g-give his regards to Lord Diamond. That’s you, isn’t it?”
Sharptooth nodded slowly, “That I am. Did he say anything else?”
“He... knew my name. He said Chip was worthy. He said it was a clean kill. It was, sir, Chip was awesome. He killed that mutt like it was nothing! ...I mean, uh...”
“Quite alright, Miss Carmine. As one hunter to another I appreciate your accolades. So does Chip, or he will. Ugly truths aren’t less true for being ugly, and savagery amongst our kinds is one of them.”
“Where did he learn to fight like that?”
“He is a dragon, Miss Carmine. I have been teaching him.”
“You keep saying that but...”
“Rather unusual I know, but humour an old dragon. I also teach him to fly. Would you care to join us for a flying lesson? Something to celebrate my son’s first blood is in order, perhaps?”
“That’s another thing, s-sir, how exactly does a po- a dragon without wings, fly?”
“Let me demonstrate...”
♦♦♦
Carmine flew below the clouds, craning her head around for the swooping shape of the dragon. Above the sound of her wings flapping, she suddenly realized she could hear a strange cry, it was almost like a siren yet obviously made by a creature, not a machine. As it got louder, she realized it sounded a lot like Chip, screaming his head off.
“...YaaaaaaAAAAAAAHHHH-HHOOOOOOOOO!” the pony yelled as he plummeted through the clouds.
Carmine squawked and flapped, losing a few feathers as she twisted to first avoid and then keep and eye on the insane equine. Just as she was about to dive after what had to be a pony in a fatal plunge to his grisly, flat and wide death, an enormous bat-winged shape rocketed past her and swooped up under the pony, turning his fall into a long curve upwards and over. To her amazement, the crazy four-legged and zero-winged creature decided to leap off of the dragon’s back at the apex of his parabolic course to speed with outstretched hooves towards her. Somehow, Chip twisted in the air, looking graceful and athletic, as if he were ice-skating or dancing. She put one paw to her beak and giggled. He was mad, but he was kind of cool.
Once again, Chip dropped past her. This time the dragon caught the pony in his talons, spinning around to throw the pony upwards towards her.
Chip was shouting something now, something which she couldn’t hear as he was so far away, it sounded like... she bent forwards to get a better look and maybe hear what he was trying to say...
“Hey-Carmine-what-do-you-think-of-my-flying-”
Chip had misjudged the trip up, and Carmine hadn’t quite realized she should have moved. Chip’s muzzle, almost perfectly, came to rest for a single moment in mid-air, pressed up against Carmine’s beak.
Framed by the setting sun, thousands of feet in the air, they accidentally, but very thoroughly, kissed.
Carmine all but fell out of the sky in surprise. Chip did, screaming all the way. Carmine laughed, and turned a barrel-roll before diving after him. It wasn’t what she’d call flying, but it was falling with style, which was just as good.
♦♦♦
Celestia opened her eyes at the musical tone. It was the insistent yet kindly sort of tone that she had decreed would be used to indicate that her presence was required, and that ignoring it and sleeping would be a faux pas. Amusingly enough, it annoyed her. Something more intrusive could have real hate directed at it, and then it could be forgotten. An insipid, friendly simpering alarm made it somehow worse.
She sighed, and rolled over to get comfortable. “Yes?” she asked, addressing the air.
A globe of light appeared, solidifying into a head. The head was that of a medium-sized green dragon with white horns. “I hope I am not overly disturbing you, Tia.”
“Sharptooth! ...You are.” The princess frowned.
Sharptooth visibly smiled at her mock-anger, “You should know I wouldn’t be contacting you without good reason. This is about our... mutual friend.”
“Oh?”
“Indeed, he had two visitors today. One of them is no longer with us, the other is now an extended guest of my fellow dragon lords. I add that it was my own son that saw off our guest.”
“Sharpie, you can speak freely. Are you saying you were attacked?” Celestia sat up in bed, despite the awkward position, and fixed her gaze on the spectral dragon.
Sharptooth nodded, “As you wish. Two diamond dogs, Tia, at the Tacksworn Fair. Young Chip killed one and very likely would have killed the other if Lord Sapphire hadn’t intervened.”
“A pony? A foal at that? Killing a fully-grown diamond dog?”
“Tia, I did warn you. Chip is my son, that makes him a dragon. Were you not aware of the import of this?”
“I asked you to shelter him, what have you done?”
“I have taken my pawn, dear Celestia, and promoted him. I expect you to aid me in my endeavours to protect your subject and whichever part of the sanctity of your crown you feel was threatened by the unexpected and all-too-neat death of his parents.”
“I am not sure he is my subject any more, Sharpie, if you have made him your son.”
Sharptooth frowned, “Don’t split hairs with me, Celestia. I may not be our emperor, but I do not take kindly to a brushing off, even by you. You do not get to drop this... whatever this is on me and vanish.”
Celestia sighed, “You are quite right, my old friend. I was hoping that my fears were ungrounded, it seems not. Ambassador Sharptooth, Lord of the Diamond Expanse dragon clan, you have my full support.”
Sharptooth rumbled his discontent, “I was afraid that might be necessary. What can you tell me?”
Celestia shook her head, “Very little, just that whatever this is, it is important to some factions which have caused trouble in the past, and young Chiphoof is right in the middle.”
“Go on...”
“Well, as you know, diamond dogs are natural miners...”
♦♦♦
“...and they are actually capable of mining through almost anything. In some cases, even solid rock is no impediment.” Miss Calligraphy said brightly, changing the picture.
“Wooowwww.” the class said, as they gawked at the slides displaying a burrow from a diamond dog warren.
Diamond dogs. Chip felt sick to his stomach. He hadn’t wanted to go to school, but Sharptooth had made him. He kept expecting trouble any second, somepony to charge in and shout murderer! That’s the one! Get him! before dragging him off for imprisonment. Or banishment, and imprisonment where he was banished to. Chip’s mind wandered away from the classroom, back to the previous night. He still didn’t understand.
Sharptooth shook his head, “You were a dragon, in the draconic demesnes. Trespassing on draconic territory is unwise at best and often fatal. Attacking a dragon on top of that was already a death sentence for them.”
“B-but...”
“No, young one, this is part of who you are now. What were Lord Sapphire’s words?”
“H-he said I was worthy. I don’t understand...”
“The old rogue was watching every move, young Chiphoof.”
“Did you tell them I was coming?”
Sharptooth shook his head, “Of course not.”
“Th-then how did they know I was a dragon?”
“Quite apart from your fighting armor, every dragon knows another dragon when he sees one.”
“I ate rock-cakes.” Chip said, suddenly.
“Ah. Did you like them?”
“Yes! ...Am I going to die?”
“From rock cakes? No, don’t be silly.”
“But...”
“Chip,” Sharptooth bent down, “understand this, even if you don’t understand how or why. When I made you my son, I bestowed upon you the potential of my clan. It is ancient magic, we dragons are steeped in it. Ponies are creatures that have lost part of their nature, I refer of course to earth ponies. That, too, is your heritage. These twin legacies move within you. Let it happen.”
“So... am I becoming a dragon?” Chip asked, a strange expression on his muzzle.
Sharptooth shook his head, “No, young one, you already are.”
“...Dragon.”
“Huh?” Chip shook his head, and looked up into Miss Calligraphy’s face, “What?”
“Can you answer the question?”
“Um, can you ask it again please? Please?”
“I asked what are the defining aspects of a dragon?”
“Well some think it’s our scaly skin, wings and claws. It’s not.”
“No?”
“My dad says not all dragons have wings, or claws, and some aren’t scaly. I think it’s magic. Ponies come in three tribes, earth, pegasus and unicorn. All have magic, even earth ponies, but it’s what dad calls intrinsic, at least for earth and pegasi. It’s what they are. Unicorns cast spells, but pegasi can fly and earth ponies make things grow. Dragons are... like earth and pegasus ponies, they have magic inside them... but they can do things with it like the unicorns.”
Miss Calligraphy blinked.
“They... also eat rocks?” Chip grinned, hopefully.
“Were you listening to anything I said, young Chiphoof?”
Chip shook his head, “Sorry Miss, but... I’m right, aren’t I?”
Miss Calligraphy narrowed her eyes, “We shall speak of this later... but yes, very insightful. This leads us nicely on to the laws of nature in Equestria. As you know, all flighted creatures possess the ability to perch on clouds. This is, as Chip here said, intrinsic. It is within them. Unicorns have the ability to cast a temporary spell to allow cloudwalking which bestows that same aspect, but it is temporary and it will fade. Pegasi have the innate ability to lift objects and carry them when they fly, this is a direct form of powerful magic which would be very tiring for even advanced unicorns to keep up, yet a pegasus can do this for hours without faltering. Investigating this is part of a growing field of magic called thaumomancy, the examination and control of magic itself. Some of our most talented unicorns have invested a lot of effort into understanding how such magic is bestowed upon objects by simple close proximity, and so effortlessly.”
“Miss?” asked Chip
“Yes, Chip?”
“You mean... that there is magic that can... give abilities from one species... to another?”
“Yes. Pegasi can pull a cart in which can ride produce and goods, even other ponies, and the cart and everything in it will fly almost by the will of the pegasus. Every pegasus can do this, some better than others, but do not underestimate it simply because it is an everyday occurence. It is powerful magic, all the more so for it being subtle, intrinsic and effortless.”
Chip sat back, looking at the slideshow. He still didn’t understand, but it was starting to make sense.
“Now, class, we have our pegasus teacher Southern Storm who has fetched a cloud for us, and our unicorn teacher Whisp Spark who can cast the cloud-walking spell. We will examine the behaviour of our test-subjects both before and after this example of thaumomancy, and we will write an essay on our observations.”
There was a chorus of groans.
“And if you’re all very good, we may go on a field-trip to the local weather-factory, if we can scare up enough unicorns from the fair to cast the necessary cloud-walking spells.”
The groans turned to cheers, even louder ones when Miss Calligraphy suggested they would visit the rainbow and snowflake factories.
♦♦♦
School was out for the day. As Chip walked out of the old schoolhouse, his mind was on the day’s lessons. Thaumomancy, he thought to himself, is that what Sharptooth did? The dragon’s words echoed in his ears, you already are a dragon. He didn’t feel like one, he guessed. Or maybe he did, it was hard to tell. He didn’t have much to compare it to. When, in fact, had it happened? He idly kicked stones across the school yard as he walked.
“Rock cakes.” he said to himself, “I wonder...” He bent and took a particularly large stone in his muzzle. It was admittedly dusty and gritty, but now as he played with it in his mouth he realized that it... almost had a flavour. Sometimes, when he’d been with his parents, they’d bought him boiled sweets. Hay cakes and carrot smoothies were staple surprises in the Irontail household, but boiled sweets were something different. He remembered them, now. Hard candy, gobstoppers... he almost laughed to himself. He had to be going nuts, but this rock... it reminded him of a gobstopper.
There was a sharp intake of breath somewhere ahead of him. He raised his head, gobstopper-rock in his jaw, to see Butch. Reflexively he grit his teeth. The rock burst, and he swallowed the pieces.
Butch, the top dog in the school, biggest hound on the block, turned white. He’d been planning to lay into the four-hooved pipsqueak, to make an example of him for showing him up twice, but now... he watched aghast as the pony ate rocks. He took several steps backwards, turned, and ran.
“Butch, wait...” Chip called.
Butch turned, “W-what?”
“I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to hoof you in the family jewels, okay?”
“Sure, just... yeah. Back off.”
“I-I’m sorry about what happened at the fair, too!”
Butch sniffed, and then snarled out a reply, “I didn’t want to come into your stupid dragons’ den anyway. Smell ya later, pipsqueak.”
Chip watched the dog troll go, loping across the fields back towards town. One thought rang clearly in Chip’s head as he headed to the rendezvous point where Sharptooth would pick him up, and that was that Butch didn’t know. In fact, Nopony knew. More to the point, nopony would know. He swallowed again. Something was up, something big, and whatever it was, he was right smack in the middle of it.
There was only one place he could go, and it wasn’t home - he would have to go to Lord Sapphire. He would have to be quick, the fairground wasn’t far from the school and wasn’t far from where he usually got picked up, but he needed answers. He gulped again. He was going to demand answers from a dragon.
♦♦♦
Chip quivered in front of the large blue dragon. The creature’s eyes glowed in the semi-darkness.
Lord Sapphire leaned forwards, “Trouble?”
“Y-yes, sir.”
“Why would you be in any trouble?”
“The diamond dog...”
“Ah, of course, your trophy.” The dragon snapped his claws, and a smaller dragon skittered in from somewhere in the shadows. It was carrying a small box, which was placed in front of Chip. “I understand your eagerness, young one, your first trophy. Your adoptive father will be so proud.”
“I...”
“I took the liberty of having it thoroughly cleaned. The hide was unsalvageable, I’m afraid. They are not a good beast for decorative leather, at least not for anything other than mats or wash-cloth.”
“Thank you, s-sir.” Chip looked down at the box, aghast. He daren’t open it.
“It’s quite alright. Snack?” The dragon snapped his claws again, and a trolley was brought in, laden with what appeared to be precious jewels. “Go ahead, young one, you have earned it.”
Chip blinked, and squeaked out another “Thank you!” before picking up what appeared to be a ruby in his teeth. He rolled it around with his tongue, to his immense surprise it tasted peppery and strong, like one of those strange chili-things he remembered his father liking - though Chip had never understood why it was called a chilly if it was hot.
“Ah, Fire-rubies, they’re rather my favourite. Good show, though you don’t have to impress me by eating it.” The dragon had clambered down off his throne, and slapped Chip rather heartily on the back. Chip hiccuped, and bit down hard on the fire-ruby. He felt it shatter, and once again he swallowed it. His eyes started watering.
“I remember the first time I ate a fire-ruby - ha! - could barely taste anything for a week!”
Chip hiccuped. There was a brief flare of flame. He squeaked, and covered his muzzle with a hoof.
“I’d never seen one before, and your father neglected to inform me! He thought it was hilarious. I see you’ve inherited his taste for spicy food.”
Chip hiccuped, a gout of flame spurting around his hoof. He nodded dumbly, eyes streaming.
“Was there anything else?”
“Why?” Chip croaked, as he hiccuped again, ignoring the spurt of flame this time. “Where did they come from, and what did they want?”
Lord Sapphire’s eyes narrowed, “That is a very good question, young Chiphoof, unfortunately not one we have been able to answer. Our other guest wasn’t exactly forthcoming.”
“What happened?”
“It seems diamond dogs aren’t made quite so tough as I remember them being.”
Chip hiccuped again, breathing another burst of flame.
Lord Sapphire nodded, “Quite. Come, I believe your father is waiting for you, and is rather unimpressed at being kept waiting. I think one of these fire-rubies will pacify the old blaggard, yes?”
Chip hiccuped yet again, singing the bow on the cardboard box containing his ‘trophy’. Lord Sapphire, for his part, roared with laughter and led the way out of the tent.
♦♦♦
110296
I was going to go with a Skyrim joke, but then I took an arrow to the knee...
Another excellent chapter, and an interesting expansion on the theory of the magic of earth ponies and pegasi. Keep it up!
Oh, delightful job of disarming an awkward scene with even more awkward (fiery) slapstick! Bravo!
And I see the Dragons like to play their game close to the chest; a very insular group. They are prideful, steeped in tradition, and jealously proud of being themselves, I'd wager. Your dragons' society has a very realistic feel to it.
I rather wish I could keep throwing my stars at this
Earth Pony starts becoming more and more draconic... guess he will be breathing fire before long.
I don't often star a story before it has ended, but by Celestia I'm starring this one. It keeps on getting inconceivably better and better.
Ahh quite marvelous explanation on Chip's sudden found abilities, well done, Im glad to see that there is a well enlightened person behind this facinatin piece of literature, I take off my hat to you friend, Ill be eagerly awaiting for the next instalment of your story
110441
I thought it was time to lighten to tone just a tad, even if it was by being a mite grisly.
110468
I figured it was time to reward the patience that readers have shown with this rather odd insistence of Sharptooth's about Chip...
I was waiting for Chip to think of a guard saying "STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM!" but apparently you took a sword through the chest
110459 I agree chapter by chapter it sucks you in deeper and deeper...
Shits starting to get real...
chip can eat rocks AWSOME.............
Chip eating Rocks? Awesome, I mean Rock-cakes were obviously accidental but now that Rocks have flavours I can imagine Chip trying everything .
Great chapter Midnight, I see you made a Skyrim joke in the comments. Now all I'm waiting for is Chip to Roar and Cry out FUS RO DAH. Nah I'm kidding don't do that, this story already has an excellent setting and story, no need for Skyrim references in such a Great Story .
“Yes. Pegasi can pull a cart in which can ride produce and goods, even other ponies, and the cart and everything in it will fly almost by the will of the pegasus. Every pegasus can do this, some better than others, but do not underestimate it simply because it is an everyday occurence. It is powerful magic, all the more so for it being subtle, intrinsic and effortless.”
Heh, my favorite quote from this story.
I just can't get enough, great story. Although I am wondering when Luna will show up in the story, I saw her in the tags, but the only mentioning of her was the moon in the 2nd chapter I think.
110564
She does actually show up, as does Celestia... just they're not in it yet c..c
Amazing chapter, as always. Kudos!
You know, when I first started reading this, I thought I would not like it. Rather, I find it to be an intertaining and fun story to read, with some depth hidden withen it, and a plot that still is growing more complex. Good job.
Thaumomancy? Magic magic, like necromancy is death magic?
110877
yes, magic that affects magic - meta-magic, if you will.
Take the pegasus cloud-walking skill - pegasi have the innate magical capability (as do all flighted creatures in Equestria) of walking on clouds. The transformative magic to give another pony wings was hard for Twilight, but to give the same ability of pegasi to cloud-walk to other ponies (as well as herself) was relatively simple - simpler enough that she could do it five times and not be overly taxed.
What if that is because the spell doesn't require magic itself so much as it shapes the magic that the earth ponies already have and moulds it into something different.
110968 I see. I thought it was a comedic and redundant way of saying magic and making it sound official.
fantastic
More please.
This is DEFINITELY one of my favorites! It's such a good story, and really well written too. I am eagerly awaiting more. This story really does just keep getting more and more interesting.
I hope that the trophy is not Diamond Dog meat. Mmmmmmmmm, dog jerky.
110450 He already is (or hiccupping it at least anyway.)
110518 He probably could too, what with him actually being a dragon (that would mean that his soul is both a Pony Soul and a Dragon Soul mixed into one I am going to assume.) And yes rocks. Mmmmmmm. Yummy, yummy rocks.
That's one way to disuade a bully, chomp down on a rock, shatter it, and then swallow the pieces. If that doesn't say "Look out. We've got a badflank over here." and that he's not to be messed with, I don't know what will.
Well, it's about 3:55. It's (past) time for me to go to sleep. Good night everypony(, dragon, griffin, diamond dog, brony).
Put too many emoticons into that last one. Oops.
111534
Oh ye of little faith.
112277
I'm taking that as a good thing.
110759
It is hard to write OC's for two reasons. The first is that, in fanfiction, using non-canon characters begs the question of why bother. The second is that you have to make them a C before they are O. I hope that I'm expanding the world of Equestria for my readers in a way they find engaging, and that the characters I have seem natural and believable.
I'M THROWING MONEYS AT TEH SCREEN BUT NOTHING HAPPENS!!!
f5 f5 f5!
Violence in mah mlp, and it still tastes good!
110877
Strictly speaking, 'thaumomancy' refers only to divination with the use of magic. Meta-magic would be thaumaturgy.
116494
I'm pretty sure there's a better word than the one I used, but it was the closest I could get.
Thaumaturgy is rather literally translated as "miracle worker", and doesn't explain what I wanted very well. A thaumaturgist would be a magic-worker, or in other words just a plain old magician or sorceror.
Thaumomancy on the other hoof is the knowledge or divination of magic itself, so a literal meaning is rather close to "working magic with magic". Thaumology would be the study of magic as a field of science, and a thaumologist is one who does this.
117151
Remember that Tacksworn is old, generations old, dating back to some time after Equestria - Alpha Stallion doesn't denote that there weren't Alpha Mares too, and it has changed a lot since its inception.
...And as for the chess, as with any overdone cliche'd metaphor, it will come up again later :)
The diamond dog that got questioned would have been able to get away but then he took a arrow to the knee....
I'm starting to think that all the rulers are trolls.
Also, the Mountain and Ice Troll are cats and bears, I'm calling it right here.
I'm loving the world-building you are doing for this story.
At the end of this chapter, Eldenath wanted MOARRRRRR!
Tomorrow.
She doesn't entirely trust Lord Sapphire. Of course, to be fair, I have been using a very... evil... voice for him. Heh.
I love that you managed to put in a freeze-frame shot in worded form for the kiss.
As soon as I read that, I was immediately able to visualise it in my head, which just made it all the more awesome.
So, kudos.
My God, I am enjoying this story entirely too much. Everything you do just works so well, and I honestly can't get enough of it! You've got the adorable foal being adorable, you have him growing up, you have him--in a sense--learning how to be a dragon, and you even have young love. You know what that makes when it is all violently thrown together, and is compacted by your writing? An amazing story, that's what.
Then you have hidden plots of discourse mixed with methodically plotting monarchs, just to throw a little spice into the mix. With the cherry on top being that you spoil us with theories and speculations on and about magic, how it is controlled, how it can be morphed, and how an earth pony foal can become a dragon with a mere spoken word.
I feel oh so very spoiled, Mr. Midnight Shadow, and I love it
Okay, to break things down a little more, I really like the entire concept you have here. An orphaned foal is now being raised by a dragon. It's not overly complicated, and by itself it would be pretty good. You didn't just leave it at that though, no you threw in an over arching story plot that is hidden, and as a result we can only tag along until we find out just what it is. It's all very interesting. To move on to slower segments, the little slice-of-life moments are great. Going to school, making friends and, in turn, making enemies as well. Then you just have the moments where they hang out and just get to be what they are, kids. That said, they live a hectic life for kids. Well, Chip does at least.
Then you have world building, beginning with this little outskirt town and it's mixed population (I find the mix great, by the way. Wonderful way to compare cultures and life styles.) I just love world building in general, so whenever I get to read about it in a fic, it's an added bonus. Then you have the discussion about magic and it's effects. You even have the topic of magic and how magic can manipulate magic, which, to me, is greatly interesting in itself. It's stuff like that that make fics completely worth while.
Anyway, there is one thing that I find funny. It's the way you handle the pony being a dragon thing.
How can I be a dragon, I'm an earth pony!
*Dodgy and enigmatic answer*
How can I be a dragon, I'm an earth pony!
*Perplexing and ambiguous answer*
How can I be a dragon, I'm an earth pony!
It's magic
Oooooooohhh
It truly is a wonderful world, when that is all you need to say
I'm only reading this now? I've been missing something wonderful.
great chapter can not what too read next part of it soo ya have a pinkie ish day
"Becoming a dragon." I'm rather impressed by the gravity of what's happening to Chip. It begs intriguing questions, like can earth ponies eat rocks with no ill side effects naturally, and simply don't as it's not a part of their culture? (If pegasi and unicorns lack that ability, it would also explain a reluctance to do so, after the tribes united, that would have then faded the ability from their memory.)
Or is what Sharptooth said true? He's so cagey, it's hard to take anything he says at face value. Good job, there.
The other thing I'll comment on is the forced shipping (yes, it's forced; yes, that makes it shipping) of Chip and Carmine. It seems completely out of place. That and I am a bigot and species should not be in relationships argh. Not a deal breaker by any means, but I am disappoint. :V
i'm the same!
Hah! I see what you did there. Chiphoof Irontail. Well played.
2720730 Probably an Aztec/Mayan/mesoamerican word.
7106126 I thought it was because they were from Chile.
‘Bakka! You and your dumb football-head!’