A young man, who has detached himself from the world is offered a chance to be reborn into a new body and world, in which he could actually have some decent fun.
Alexander, an intelligent, young man has seen enough. The way the world runs disgusts him and the decisions made seem to be outright wrong and thus he retreats to the realm of fantasy and fiction, until one day, a magical entity has a very tempting proposal....
Hi, I'm Alex, or Alexander... or even Alexandros if you want. I am what you could call a full-on shut-in nerd. If you were to learn anything new about Fantasy or Sci-Fi, then I probably already know. From Dragons to Basilisks, from the Borg to the Cybrex, I probably know them all. Heck, I even watched a cartoon series about talking ponies, just because!
But I haven't always been what I am now. I actually once had, what one could call a functioning life. It all began with some smaller things. Diplomats being Diplomats, things in the south going south and then, to top it all off: Brexit. I lost my job because due to the new adaptions to the law, my employer couldn't afford my position anymore and kicked me out. I ended up in a very dire situation, my savings slowly being drained and me unable to find a job.
In the end, I swallowed my dignity and started receiving social care. That was when I dove into the vastness that is fantasy for the first time and I soon realized that it is far more pleasant to be in than reality. Also, my laptop doesn't need much in terms of electricity and after I moved into a flat that's more functional than I originally had liked, the money I saved on meals that I didn't need easily made room for the higher electricity bill.
Now, shut-in doesn't really cut it, I believe, as sometimes even I made the mistake of leaving the claustrophobic security of my one-room flat in the fair town of Bournemouth. Today was such a day. I left for a little stroll through town square, maybe getting a thing or another for my fridge, which, as you might guess, was fridgeningly empty. (And that's why I didn't become a comedian.)
I looked through the stores and stands, seeing what they had and slowly made may way through it all. When I crossed a major road, however, it happened. Only a few feet before reaching the other end, I heard a horn, looked to my left and saw them. The two headlights of impending doom.
Time slowed down, as my mind was assaulted by images of dozens of low-budget isekai anime and then... nothing. I didn`t feel a hit. I didn't feel pain. It all just went... black.
"Hello Alexander."
A voice called through the darkness. I tried to look around and locate it, but quickly found that seeing doesn't really work without light, does it?
"Uh, good day, mate. How'ya doin'?"
"Reasonably well, I suppose. It's only that, you know, existence can be... quite boring." The entity said. I stopped trying to locate it, as its voice now seemed to come from... everywhere.
"Existence, huh? Does that mean that life doesn't really apply to you?"
"Indeed. You see, I am a god by your worlds standards."
"Oh, you are a god? I don't suppose you are the god of the world I come from, are you? Else I would like to file a complaint, 'cause this world SUCKS, mate."
An echoing chuckle emanated through the nothingness. "No, I am not. I am the god of another world. That isn't to say, however, that I have nothing to do with your...exit."
"Ah, so it was you who let that Truck run me over?"
"Mmmm... not quite. The actual act was done by your god. You see: I happen to rule over a world in which everything bad has its happy end and it's just plainly boring! Noone ever gets killed and any injuries sustained only amend to some minor bruises and scratches. I needed something to break that cycle. That's where you come in. You see: your god noticed that you don't really fit into this world. From what he's told me, you've shut yourself off and only focused on things that were regarded as fictional in your world?"
"Hmmm, yes, that's what you could call it."
"Indeed. Now, I asked him 'Hey bro, you have something for me to ease my boredom? Some little disaster that I could bring to my world or somethin' ?' He, however, didn't give me a new disaster to test out, but instead, he pointed at you. 'That guy there doesn't really fit in here. Do you want to take him?' So I went like 'yeah sure, why not' and pow, here we are."
I pondered for a moment. Being transported to a fantasy-universe? Heck yeah! But not in this body. I'm sure, in this body I would die as soon as I woke up.
"So, are you going to give me some special stats or something? 'cause if I were to hit your world like this, I'd be pretty fucked."
There was a short bit of silence before the answer came.
"You know what? You're right! Since I want you to make things more interesting, I will give some ABSURD powers! I shall make you more powerful than you could have become in your entire life! You shall leave this world as a human and enter my world, your new world, as an... Albino Elemental Dragon!"
Before I could ask any more questions I was engulfed in a bright light. It felt like I was pulled through an infinetily tight tunnel and I soon lost conciousness.
As I regained conciousness, I found myself surrounded by some weird looking bushes. They looked almost like they were... painted? Also, I could already see the first effects of my new Dragon form: my massive snout.
I looked around at my body and mustered myself. At least those parts I could see. From what I could tell I had four legs and a pair of wings. The legs ended in four claws each, which were arranged like the fingers on a hand, except they were missing the middle one. I also had grown a tail, which helped me balance when going four legged. I stood up on all fours and found that it wasn't really all too hard. Probably instincts helping me out a little. The most notable change, however was that my skin, or rather my scales were completely white. Except those on my belly, which had some sort of a beige tone to them.
I practiced walking a little and found that it, too, wasn't too much of a challenge. That's when I noticed something else: Those things around me weren't bushes. They were trees and I was just fookin' hooghe, mate!
"Do you like it?" The voice sounded through my head again.
"Yeah, it's pret--" I startled myself, as I found that my old human voice was now replaced by a low, menacing dragon-voice. "Cool." I stated "That's some sick voice you gave me here."
I heard the entity laughing in my head. "Well, glad you like it. Now, let me show you how to properly control your new self."
"Wow, not only do you give me a new chance in a new world with a frickin' cool new body, but you are also kind enough to give me a Tutorial? Damn, I like you already! Hey, can you please go over to my world's god again and tell him to ditch that crappy observer-bullshit and finally get some things straight?"
The entity gave a long and full-hearted laughter and it took actually quite a while for him to calm back down. "Well, that would be a splendid idea, but I suppose you would want to stop talking aloud, wouldn't you?"
Oops, sorry.
"No problem. Now: let's get you started. I will begin with class specifics. You are an Albino Elemental Dragon, which means that you have absolutely overpowered stats. You are almost immune to normal heat damage, have magical flame, lightning and poison resistance and you can copy any dragon odem you come into contact with. Additionally, If you've already got the odem you were atacked with, you can suck up its energy and use it for your own attack. The only thing that you're really voulnerable against is dark magic. If a Dragon with a dark magic odem were to come along, you also couldn't copy or use it."
I nodded along, as I listened the entity explain my charactersitics. We went through the use of my claws, their specific break-resistance, my scales, my teeth and my diet. Then, it got interesting.
"Now, with the boring part done: let's make some fire!
He instantly had my undivided attention again.
"You've got four kidney-like organs arranged around the base of your throat. Those are your odem-glands. They suck magic from your surroundings and use it to project the odem of your choice upon the air that you're throwing out. Currently you only have your standard flame odem, albeit slightly stronger. Why don't you test it out?"
I looked around me. I stood in a clearing in the middle of a gargantuan forest.
Don't you think, spouting flames in a forest is a bad idea?
The entity... I don't know how to describe it... I couldn't see it, but I could feel that it was shaking its head.
"Ah, don't worry Alex, it's all going to go well."
I shrugged. I took a deep breath, thought about the Odem of my choice (as if I had any at that point) and gently breathed out nearly set the whole forest aflame.
After that minor incident, the entity, which I had dubbed Navi, quickly decided that I had enough practice with my flame and it was now time to fly, which actually went quite well. Albeit I have to admit that the natural dragon instincts Navi had given me really helped out. Nevertheless, once on the air, flying really was a blissful experience. From up there I could see things far and wide. I could see forests, mountains and a peculiar Castle that stuck out from the side of one. It looked very familiar, but I couldn't really say why just yet.
So, where should I go first?
"Well, since you're a Dragon, I suppose the Dragon islands would be a good first stop. They are to the south-east of your current location"
I took off into the direction Navi had pointed me and went into Auto-Pilot. While flying, I enjoyed the view I had. I could see some villages and towns in the distance and decided that I better avoided them for now. I didn't know how the local guard would react if suddenly a Dragon flew overhead.
After what seemed like an hour of flight, I reached a set of volcanic isles, upon one of which I could spot a few dragons encircling... two ponies and... a salamander?
Wait, I think I recognize them... Twilight... Twilight Shimmer? No, Sparkle! Twilight Sparkle! And that other one... R-R-R-Relativity? No R-Ra-Ra-Rarity! And that other one... Spike the baby dragon. So you're the god of this Pony-Universe, huh? I thought, while I started to fly circles high above the whole scene. The Dragons were spouting their odems toward the Ponies, but every time either Twilight or Rarity barely managed to erect a shield. It was clear however, that they were slowly losing.
"Ah, that's not good. To think they got themselves detected..."
What? Didn't you say you were a bit pissed off that no one was ever dying in this world? I think that would be a nice change of pace, wouldn't it?
"Yeah well, I DID say that. Problem is that those mares down there are kinda important, so if you could... you know..."
I looked down to the whole scene and saw that the shield erected by both of the mares had failed entirely and they were now completely voulnerable to the dragon's attacks.
Yeah sure, I've gotta test my new skills anyways.
"Much appreciated, mate."
I dove down towards them a made myself ready for an epic entrance.
They only wanted to help Spike... They only wanted to make sure he's okay... They couldn't have known that a Dragon's sense of smell was that good. And just when Spike and Ember were about to win at that! Twilight's thoughts of regret went rampage in her head as she used her very last drop of magic to shield her friends against the wrath of the incoming Dragons.
"No! Father! Those aren't intruders! They are Spike's friends! You can't kill them!" Ember tried to argue with her father. However, it was in vain. The Chief-Dragon already had made up his mind. The intruders were to die and the traitorous hatchling with them!
A painful jolt surged through Twilight's body as her last bit of magic energy was drained and her shield broke down. She slumped to the ground, barely able to stay conscious, as Spike and Rarity took a protective stance before her. Rarity tried to erect another barrier, but couldn't manage any more than a few sparks and magic sputtering.
The Dragons noticed the lack of any defensive measures and, as their flames were now overkill, slowly closed in on their prey, their eyes clearly showing their lust for blood. Twilight saw their impending doom and looked around, frantically trying to find one last chance of escape, one last hope, but there was none. She looked at her friends, who still hadn't moved from before her, and slowly lowered her head to the ground, accepting her fate with dignity.
Suddenly her sensitive ears were assaulted by a shockwave and a loud rumble, followed by a significant loss of lighting around her. The ground shook as she heard something gigantic touch down upon it and, as she opened her eyes, she saw that she and her friends were now encaged behind four massive claws in front of her and a giant palm behind her.
"Hey! Go get your own pr--...ey" One of the Dragons started shouting, but faded down to nothing more than a squeak at the end, as he looked up at the monstrosity before him.
Twilight felt relieved for a short moment, as the most immediate danger seemed averted. Her relief however soon morphed into fear, as she saw a massive white head lean down to the Dragon, and she noticed what exactly had >>rescued<< them.
"Your prey?" The white Dragon gave an earth-trembling laugh, expressing his over-exaggerated amusement. "I think you mean... MY prey, pipsqueak."
The smaller Dragon made a few steps back and Twilight got back on her shaking hooves. Her mind was racing, trying yet again to find a chance of escape. Behind them wasn't an option, as they couldn't just run through the massive palm. to the front and to the sides wouldn't have been wise either, as, >>if<< they had gotten past the white monstrosity, there were dozens upon dozens of other Dragons waiting for their meal. Teleportation wasn't an option either, as she didn't even have enough magic left for a kamikaze-teleport. [a teleport, through which the user musters his last bit of energy to teleport him an his targets to a certain location, killing him in the process]
Sighing in defeat, as she accepted, for the second time, that there was no way out, she slowly wobbled over to her friends. Her legs were shaking from the strain, but she somehow managed the two steps to her friends without tipping over. Spike and Rarity were still paralyzed from the shock and didn't move, their slow breathing being the only sign that they were not just some statues. Twilight put a hoof around both their necks and pulled them into a tight hug.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Spike." She said, as tears dripped down her cheeks.
Spike had finally gotten out of his stupor and returned the embrace.
"If I would've just... If my concealment spell would've been stronger, we..." Twilight began to sob and cry, as her last bits of dignity faded over the prospect of their demise.
"Darling, it isn't your fault alone. If I had just tried to not sneeze so loud... I'm sorry spikey-wikey, but it seems, we're not getting out of this..." Rarity said, hiding her clearly impending crying fit behind the last shards of her lady-facade she could hold on to.
"I just wish that at least you would survive, Spike. I would gladly give my life for you..." Twilight whispered, into spike's ears and Spike in return tightened the hug. The three of them just stood there, waiting out, what they thought would be, their last moments together.
Man, just diving in here without some kind of a plan wasn't really the brightest of ideas...
I stood there, the two mares and the baby dragon securely hidden beneath my claws and surrounded by an army of angry Dragons. True, they all were smaller than I was, but I didn't really want to risk a fight just yet, given that I only was in this body for slightly more than an hour. Flying away also didn't seem like too good of an option, as they would likely follow me and I don't know how my speed and stamina would hold up against theirs. The best option seemed to be to stay in my current position of dominance and wait for them to make the first move...
I luckily wasn't disappointed, as after a few minutes of staring-contest, a gray dragon with two large horns curling from behind his head to under his jaw and a peculiar black cuirass on his chest, who shared my proportions, set down behind the mass of smaller Dragons before me.
"Who dares to defy my judgement?!" He growled as he eyed me thoroughly.
"Judgement?" I answered with a low chuckle, "Judgement requires power... and I can assure you don't hold any over me."
The larger Dragon growled in anger. "A rogue Dragon, who dares challenge my rule?! I, Torch, King of the Dragons, will show you power, scum!"
Before I could react, the Dragon leader sent a wall of flame towards me and I instinctively shielded me and my 'prey' with my wings. I felt pain surge through my body, as the flame odem of the Dragon King burnt my scales...
"Don't try to push it out, Alex! Embrace the Flame! EMBRACE THE FLAME!!"
embrace... the flame? Embrace the... Flame... Embrace the Flame! EMBRACE THE-
"FLAME" I growled, as my scales took on a shade of red and my whole upper body went alight with yellow flames.
Torch seemingly saw this as a sign of success, as he now set even more power into his attack, unknowingly fueling my upcoming attack. The pain had long subsided, instead giving way to a pleasurable surge of energy as I sucked in all the power he spent on me.
His attack started to die down and I heard cheers come from the smaller Dragons... until I pulled my wings aside, revealing my burning head and the mischievous grin I was holding. I took a deep breath and prepared for my counter-attack. The flames on my body changed from bright yellow to dark blue and red, as I charged up my attack.
"My... turn..." I growled as I released all the captured Energy into a hissing red-and-blue flame. I felt my scales ache, as its heat radiation even outclassed my natural heat resistance. The smaller Dragons before me had to dart to the ground to avoid being burned to a crisp.
The flame hit the cuirass, quickly melting it and exposing the voulnerable scales below. Torch growled in pain, as his chest lived up to his name. He spasmed and tried to bring his wings between me and him, but I blocked his wings with mine, still charring his chest with my fire.
As my power surge ended and the fire on my back died down, I had successfully reduced his chest to nothing more than a black stain on his body. He collapsed backwards and fell into the water, his daughter quickly diving in behind him. He washed up on a large cliff and I saw his chest slowly rise and fall as he made unconscious, shallow breaths.
Man, now I know what you meant with 'nobody ever dies here'... Normally he shouldn't even be able to float with he amount of damage he took.
"I know, right? It sure helps with keeping those problem six alive, but sometimes, where killing would just be easier, it can really be a pain in the gut."
After confirming her father's continuing life, Ember came up again and bowed down before me.
"I bow before thee, who hast slain the old King and thus shall rule over the Dragons." She said, as she held what looked like some sort of a scepter out towards me.
"Oh, I didn't slay the King, dear Ember." I answered. Ember gave me a questioning look upon this. "Before your father succumbed to me in duel, you have won the Gauntlet of Fire. As such, you were the rightful ruler before I even arrived here, Queen Ember."
Ember's look turned into one of shock, as she slumped down onto her back and tried to shield herself with a wing.
"Be at ease... I do not intend to rule over this bunch of retards."
Ember slowly peeked out behind her wing. "Y-You d-don't? But who will rule us Dragons now?"
I leaned down to her and pretended to think for a moment. Then, with the most over-exaggerated wise-Dragon-voice, I gave my answer.
"Thou, who hast won the Gauntlet of Fire, shall rule over the Dragons. Any Dragon here, who wishes to object shall voice it now, or remain silent forever."
I looked around at the mass of Dragons. Noone dared to oppose me and my choice.
"Very well. You are now in charge, Queen Ember of the Dragon lands. Your thoughts are right and your word is law. Do not let others tell you how to rule. Make decisions based on your heart and mind and not on the wishes of others."
Ember slowly nodded in awe, as my words slowly sunk in.
"Now, I shall bid my farewell. Rule wisely, Queen Ember." I said, as I prepared to take off.
Ember stood up and looked at me with a glimmer in her eyes.
"Y-Yes, I will! And... Thank you... for... for saving my friends." She said, as she slowly approached my foot and reached out for what was beneath. I, however quickly closed the gaps between my claws. Ember gave me a questioning look, with a hint of fear hidden behind it.
"Oh, dear Ember, didn't you know? Well, let me give you a quick lesson then. And that would be that every lesson learned has its price... Now, farewell." I scooped up what was hiding beneath my foot and took flight. I saw Ember slump down out of the corner of my eye, but at least noone was following me.
After a short while of flying and making sure that I was truly unfollowed, I landed on the coast of the Equestrian mainland, emptying my claws onto the ground as I did so. Twilight was still very exhausted and barely managed to get back to her hooves. I decided to lay down beside them to lessen the strain on my neck, as I wouldn't have to lean down that way.
"Now, what to do with you three?" I asked, as I looked over to my three passengers.
Rarity and Twilight spun around to look at me, apparently having forgotten about me in their need to tend to Spike. I saw them shiver in fear, but Twilight gulped it down and made a few tentative steps towards me.
"H-Hello M-Mister Dragon... I-I know that it is preposterous of me to ask a favor of someone as powerful as you, but..." She looked back at her friends, who were looking back at her with questioning looks, "But, if you could please let those two go? In exchange I offer you to do however you please with me..."
Rarity's and Spike's jaws dropped, as they grasped Twilight's intention. Rarity visibly wanted to object, but couldn't bring out a word.
I couldn't help but let out a long laughter at this. "A truly tempting proposal, Miss Sparkle. However with the size difference between us, the pleasure would quite literally rip you apart now, wouldn't it?"
Twilight tensed up, as her face took on a deep shade of red, which she tried to hide behind a hoof.
"N- Wai- No! that's not what I--" she paused and looked back at her friends, then at me again. She took on a determined face and... turned around.
"Darling? Wait what are you... No, you don't have to..!" Twilight shook her head as Rarity voiced her objection.
"No, Rarity... this... this is a small price to pay..." Twilight lowered her front half to the ground and spread her hind legs and wings, sticking her behind up towards me. "... if it means saving the lives of my friends."
She stuck up her tail and was just about to brush it aside, when I grabbed her with a claw and turned her around to face me again.
"Be at ease, Twilight Sparkle. I have no interest in demanding such an act from you." I said.
Although I must admit that her submissiveness WAS quite arousing... I hope it doesn't show all to much or else this might get pretty embarrassing...
"Oh don't worry Alex, when I made your kind, I spent almost all of your stat points on making you OP, so that none went into your reproductive capabilities."
Ah, I see, that's actually quite rea-- wait, WHAT?! Does that mean I am a massive, powerful Dragon with the member of a mouse?!
"No. That means you are a massive, powerful Dragon with no such appendage at all."
... ... ... Oh splendid! Now I get to die a virgin twice! ahahahahahahahaha..... FUCK!
"No, NOT fuck, that's the whole point."
Upon that, Navi went into another godly laughing fit, so I decided to put him on mute for now and instead turned my attention to the three very frightened beings in front of me.
"S-So what do you want?" Twilight asked with a shiver in her voice.
"Nothing you could give me." was my answer. Silence reigned for a moment, before Spike stepped forward.
"W-Well, it seems we reached an impasse, so how about we start from the beginning? W-What's your name?" He asked, a clearly forced smile on his face.
"My name... is unimportant." I answered.
"H-Hello, Unimportant, I am Spike, this is Rarity and you seem to know Twilight already, so..." He said with a sheepish smile.
I couldn't help but face-claw at this. "A'ight, for this I might just drop this 'ole 'wise Dragon' crap and tell ya outright: If it wasn't for me not wanting to kill ya at all, I would do so this instant, 'cause this joke was fookin' awful."
This sudden change in attitude found them speechless for a moment and I couldn't help but chuckle a little myself, as my weird accent in the voice of a Dragon sounded absolutely ridiculous.
"W-Wait, you... don't?" Twilight asked, as she slowly regained herself. "B-But if you don't want to eat us, then... why did you get us out of there?"
She made a few steps forward and started stumbling, so I quickly put a claw down beside her to help her stand. "Well, there was someone who asked me to help you and so I did."
Twilight's eyes lit up. "Princess Celestia?"
I had to think a bit before I remembered who Celestia was again. I shook my head and said: "No, it wasn't Celestia, but believe me when I say that he has no evil intentions towards you whatsoever."
"'He'? So it's a stallion..." Twilight started to think. she rubbed her muzzle in thought, as she rocked back and forth against my claw. It didn't take long until some sort of a realization hit her.
"Wait... If you didn't want to eat us this whole time... does that mean..." She said, as her face slowly lit up again.
Getting what she was playing at, I finished her sentence. "...that your act just earlier was completely unnecessary? Mmmm, pretty much, yeah."
Her face went completely crimson this time. She slumped back onto her haunches and covered her face with her forelegs and wings. Rarity went in to comfort her, while I couldn't help but smile in amusement.
"Now, now, Twilight, I promise I won't tell anyone." I said with a wink. Twilight however, just let out an embarrassed howl and dug deeper into her hooves.
I let out another amused chuckle and chose to just watch the scene before me. That was when suddenly a bright ray of light shone directly into my eye. I looked at the sun and saw that it was almost touching the horizon.
"You might want to get your stuff together and move on home, as the day won't last long anymore."
Twilight now finally uncovered her face and looked towards the horizon. She made an effort to get back up, but Rarity had to help her stand up in the end. She put a wing over Rarity to keep herself on her hooves, before she turned to me.
"Uhm, thank you for saving us, I guess?" She said, a remainder of fear still resting in her voice.
I just looked down on them in wonder. "Do you really think you can make it home without incident? You ARE pretty exhausted after all."
Twilight looked at her companions before answering. "I think we can manage. What other choice do we have anyways?"
"Well, I know another way..." I said, as I lowered my wing towards them, forming a bridge to my back.
Spike and Rarity looked at it in disbelief and Twilight spoke up. "Are you sure? I... mean, I think we have troubled you enough already."
I shook my head and gave them as much of a friendly smile as my Dragon snout could produce.
Twilight and Rarity looked at eachother and then down at Spike, who shrugged. Spike was also the first one to walk up on my wing. Next came Twilight, however she stumbled and had to set down one leg. A loud hiss was the result, followed by a shriek of pain and a thud next to my wing. As I looked at what happened, I saw Twilight laying on her side beside my wing.
"Twilight? What happened?" Spike asked as he jumped down to help her up.
"The wing... it is burning hot..." She said.
I quickly remembered why that was the case. I thought for a moment and then looked at the sea behind me. I turned back to my passengers with a grin.
"Wait a moment, I know how to fix this."
Before another word could be uttered, I dove down into the depths. The water gave a loud hiss upon impact and I noticed a few scales slightly cracking from the sudden change of temperature. I hoped that those would simply heal up, as I didn't know how long it took for scales to regrow...
After what felt like enough time, I re-emerged from the water and, with one mighty flap of my wings, I landed back on the shore. Once again, I lowered my wing towards them and Spike made a few tentative steps onto it. (even though he is a Dragon himself and therefore won't be burned all too easily...)
Twilight came shortly after, this time with more care, and Rarity followed close behind. She hesitated as she reached my back and wanted to settle down, but Rarity signaled her to wait. Carefully, she set down a leg on my back and let out a surprised hum. She slowly lay down completely and I felt her ruffle into my scales.
"Oh my, Darling. I've got to say, these scales are... YAWN... more... comfortable than... zzz" She quickly fell asleep mid-sentence and Spike rested himself against her, doing the same. Twilight giggled at the sight, before she, too, settled down, albeit slightly closer to my neck.
Seeing that all my passengers had made themselves comfortable, I extended my wings and with one mighty swing, I took air. Now, luckily Navi gave me directions to ponyville, as else I would've totally taken the wrong way. Yet, I chose to fly a little slower than earlier, in order not to disturb the ponies (and the dragon) on my back.
"Hey, Mister Dragon?" Twilight suddenly called out.
"Yes?"
"... Thank you... for helping us, Mister Dragon." She said. I must admit, I'm glad that she couldn't see my face back then, as my blush was probably very apparent, especially since my scales are white.
"...Alex." I said.
"What?" came the surprised response from Twilight.
"My name... is Alex."
Twilight settled down again. "Alex... the protector, huh? I guess that would explain something..." She said, and I could literally hear her smile.
"Yes..." I chuckled, "Yes, I suppose it does."
That afternoon, Starlight, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash stood together around the large map in Twilight's castle. However, this wasn't just a friendly get-together, as one could hear by the heated discussion that went on between them.
"Uhm... maybe they just, you know... forgot to write us and, uhm... are staying there over night?" Fluttershy said.
"Forgot to write? We're talking about Twilight! If she's forgotten, then she probably has some list which tells her to write us!" Rainbow Dash retorted.
Twilight, Rarity and Spike had left earlier that day towards the Dragon lands, to answer the call of the Dragon King and had yet to return or even write.
"Heck, why did y'all let 'em go without us in the first place?!" Applejack exclaimed, giving Starlight an accusing glare.
"Because two are easier to hide than six and also, if everypony would have gone there, who would've stayed behind in case something went wrong, just like... well, now!" Starlight shot back.
"If we had come with 'em, we wouldn't have needed somepony to stay behind in the first place, because we could have solved any problem!" Applejack shouted.
The room went silent again for several minutes, before Applejack started moving towards the door.
"Applejack, wait!" Rainbow called out.
Applejack shot around "Ah'ma go 'n try to get 'em back, don't ya try 'n stoppin' me!"
"Why should I stop you? I'm coming with you!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Applejack looked through the room and Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie quickly agreed too. Now, all eyes were resting on Starlight Glimmer.
"Ugh, fine! I'm coming too!" She finally gave in.
She took her Saddlebags from a nearby dresser, and together the five mares gallopped out the front door. Starlight closed the door behind her, when, for a split second, something large blocked out the sun. Only a few moments after, something enormous touched down before them and kicked up a large cloud of dust.
Starlight tried to see through the dust, but could only make out a silhouette... a LARGE silhouette.
The dust settled down and Fluttershy vanished behind Applejack with an 'eep', as from the dust emerged a giant, white Dragon and it was looking directly at them.
"What in tarnation?! Who are you?!" Applejack shouted, as she got into a lower stance, ready to buck the living tartarus out of whoever stood before her.
The Dragon, however, just gave a low, growling chuckle. "No reason to act hostile, Applejack. I have a delivery for you."
He turned about and set a wing down to the ground. To the surprise of everypony present, Twilight, Rarity and Spike climbed down from the Dragon's back, though it was very apparent that they were pretty beat up. Twilight had to rest on Rarity for support, as she slowly made her way to the castle, but Rarity herself didn't look much better. Immediately as they saw them, Rainbow and Applejack rushed to either side of the two mares to support them.
With his cargo now unloaded, the Dragon retracted his wing. Twilight turned about and looked at the monstrosity.
"Thank you very much!"
"You're welcome, miss Sparkle." The Dragon bowed his head and turned around, ready to take off once again. "I shall remain in close vicinity, in case you need my services once again." The Dragon extended his giant wings and with one mighty flap, once again a cloud of dust arose from the ground and the Dragon took flight.
All of the mares present, except Rarity and Twilight, were utterly flabbergasted from what just transpired before them. Twilight leaned on Rarity again and the two exhausted mares made their way into the castle.
"Twi? Who in tarnation was that?" Applejack asked, as she snapped out of her stupor.
Twilight turned around and, with a smile on her face, watched the silhouette of the Dragon slowly fade into the distance.
The Princess of Friendship and local Town Librarian, Twilight Sparkle, was reported missing earlier this week. The reports say that her friends and her student were about to begin a search, when an angelic being of pure white hue descended from the skies. Local Town citizens described the being as an 'enormous angel, with a skin, as white as Celestia herself and with a wingspan as wide as Sweet Apple Orchards'. It touched down just before the princess's castle and, as her friends got ready to fight, gently set down the princess in question. The being and the princess shared a passionate kiss, before the being took flight again. Our local reporters, who were at the scene by accident, reported her friend, Applejack asking for the being's identity, which the princess answered with two simple words: 'My Stallionfriend.' The important questions remain though: who or what was that being? What were its intentions? And most importantly: how does the princess accomodate the size difference? Read more about the princesses's love life on page 9!
"Ah shoot, when do these tabloids get things straight for once?" Applejack exclaimed, as she slammed the paper down onto the table. "It's 'Sweet Apple ACRES', not 'Sweet Apple Orchards'!"
"Well, if that's your only Problem, then I'd gladly switch bodies." Twilight said, her forehooves placed on the table and her face dug into them. "Thanks to that paper everypony thinks I'm bucking a Dragon!" She exclaimed, before quickly hiding her shame behind her hooves again and leting out a frustrated growl.
"Oh, Darling, it could've been worse." Rarity tried to calm, but Twilight just shot her an incredulous look.
"Oh yeah sure, it could've come worse! It's not like I couldn't leave my castle for the last two days straight!" She said sarcastiacally, pointing a hoof towards a window and the wall of reporters building behind it.
Starlight used her magic to blacken the window panes and then looked at Twilight. "You know, maybe you can tell them the true story and get them to go away?" She asked with a sheepish grin.
Twilight looked at Starlight with a deadpan expression. "Yeah sure, and while I'm at it, I could just hand in the next Article myself! 'Twilight Sparkle: futile attempts in covering her love life!'" She slumped back down into her hooves, letting out another, very agitated, groan.
"Yeah, probably not the best idea..." Starlight noted.
Meanwhile in the Everfree
I've been a Dragon for three days now and so far, I'm really enjoying it. Nobody who's bugging me to get a job, no rents to pay, no agency that wants to see, if I really need social care, and the best thing is: I get to sleep without the noise of car horns or my phone constantly telling me, which celebrity just fucked whom.
I've taken residence in the Everfree forest. From what I remember from the series, the Everfree seems to be pretty dangerous for ponies, except some random zebra that somehow manages to get by just fine. Since, however, most of the dangers in this forest are waaaaaay below my size, I don't really need to worry. That isn't to say however, that some desperate (or stupid) animals don't get stupid ideas.
That morning, I was awoken by something tapping against my scales. I blinked the drowsiness out of my eyes and, as I turned my head, saw that a Manticore was stabbing away at my hind legs. I chuckled at the sight and, just because I can, started petting the creature, while getting back to sleep. That is, until I felt a clenching sensation around my claw.
"OY, that beast BOITS!" I exclaimed, as I bring my claw up to my face. The manticore was dangling from it with an aggressive look on its face and trying to bite harder onto my claw. Suddenly, this whole scene was interrupted by a loud, low growl. I looked in the direction it came from and let a smile form on my face. I looked back at the bugger, who still hadn't eased down.
"You know, I think, I've got a name for ya." I said, a wide grin showing my massive teeth. "Breakfast."
I yanked the beast off my claw and, before it could do any more, brought my jaw up for a massive bite. I felt my teeth grind through its spine, as I slowly severed its front from its rear. The sweet taste of blood coated my tongue, as I crunched down on its head and forelimbs. I kept munching, enjoying the sweet flavour of flesh and the feling of blood, slowly coating my teeth in a rusty red. As the flavour slowly began to fade, I swallowed, savouring the delicious aftertaste of crunched bones and flesh.
I ripped off the hind legs from the rest of the carcass and, after I freed them of their flesh, used them as toothpicks, before sending them, too, into the depths of my stomach. I threw the rest of its hindquarters into the forest, as I wasn't really longing for the taste of its stored-up shit to reach my tongue, and took for a stroll through the forest.
When I say 'stroll through the forest', I, of course, mean, that, completely by accident, I took a course that would get me close to Twilight's castle and, while I was at it, I would, by utter chance, happen to see what she was up to. Yep, one of the cons of being a Dragon is that you don't really have much to do.
I reached the edge of the forest and immediately had to stifle a chuckle, as I was greeted by the sight of hundreds upon hundreds of reporters laying siege upon Twilight's castle.
It sure seems like the press is just as discreet here, as it was in my old world.
"Indeed, and it's also just as presumptious. Have you seen this morning's headlines? 'Princess Sparkle and her angelic lover' or 'The Princess' New Sex-Toy'. You sure have left quite the impression around here."
Navi went down into another laughing fit, so I promptly muted him again. I watched the scene for while longer, before I finally decided that it likely would be better if I helped.
I quickly stomped up behind the reporters, which, through their own screaming, didn't even hear my heavy stomps up until I was right behind them. I nudged one of them with a claw, who immediately shot around.
"Ey, watch where you're go--" His words stuck in his throat, as he registered, what was standing before him. He tapped a few other reporters, who then, too, looked up at me and soon, I had the whole crowd staring at me. I let my teeth show through a malicious grin, before I uttered three simple words:
"You look delicious."
I never saw a crowd disperse so quickly. All they left behind was a cloud of dust and a few hats and cameras. I let out the most devious chuckle I had ever heard from myself as I watched the fleeing reporters run for their lives. As all of them had left my vision, I turned around and knocked at the door, which caused some agitated muttering from inside.
"Ah swear, these reporters are worse than these vampire fruit bats!"
Applejack yanked the door open and screamed outside: "CAN'T Y'ALL JUST GO BOTHER SOMEPony... else?" She looked around at the mass of leftover items. "Where is everypony?" Her eyes widened, as she noticed the four massive feet before her, and slowly her gaze wandered upwards until she locked eyes with me.
"Ahahahha shoot, Twi? I think here's somepony for ya." She said with a very insecure smile and tone.
"What? Who is it? It better not be one of these pesky reporters." Twilight answered, with a clear hint of annoyance. Said annoyance was also easily visible on her face, as soon as she came out. However, as soon as she saw me, I saw her expression change from annoyance to relief.
"Oh, hey Alex!" She chirped and flew up to my eyelevel.
"Hey Twilight. I see you got famous while I was away?" I teased with a grin.
"Yeah, yeah, make your jo-- why are your teeth all red?"
I ran my tongue over my teeth and - sure enough - had a fresh taste of the remaining Manticore-blood.
"Oh, yeah, sorry, I just had breakfast, that's all." I quickly said, while licking my teeth clean.
"Yeah, ah can see that." Applejack commented, while big pearls of sweat were dripping from her face.
"Wait, wha-? No! I didn't eat them! I swear!"
Twilight meanwhile set down on my head and shouted down to Applejack: "Applejack, Alex would never do something like that! Even though they would've deserved it..."
"Wow, you only know me for a few days and already trust me this much? Who says that I really didn't eat them?" I said, showing my teeth. My stomach chose this exact moment to growl.
Twilight giggled in response, before she leaned down to look into one of my eyes. "Your stomach, obviously." She said with a smirk.
Another loud growl sounded through the air and, again, my stomach got all the attention.
"Whoah nellie, you sure are hungry..." Said Applejack, while she was slowly retreating into the castle.
"... That wasn't me."
I suddenly felt something splat against my neck and catched it witch my claw. What I found when I looked at it, was a cyan pegasus mare with a Rainbow mane, lying on her back and panting heavily.
"D-D-D-D-DRAGOOOON!!!!" She suddenly started to scream.
Twilight looked down on the mare in my claw and gave her an incredulous look. "Yeah, I think we've established that already, Rainbow."
The mare in question quickly rose back to her hooves and pointed into town. "No, not he! A green one! It's coming into town!"
At that moment, I saw said creature break through the treeline and head for the town. Like Rainbow said, it had a green texture to it, a very bulky head and a short torso. The most notable thing, however, was that it had only two legs and was using its wings as frontal limbs.
"Dragon? Looks more like a Wyvern to me." I mused.
"What's the difference?" Twilight asked from atop my head, but before I could answer, Rainbow interjected.
"Who cares?! It's heading towards Ponyville!"
Twilight gave a sheepish grin and jumped down from my head. "Yeah, right. We need to make a plan..."
They started babbling something about luring it away from town or something... I didn't really listen, as I was occupied otherwise.
Yo Navi, what can ya tell me 'bout this bugger?
"Hmmm, let's see... Poison Wyvern. Like the name suggests, its odem is Poison Gas. It also has Poison Immunity and, as with all Wyverns, he is very fast and agile in flight, but has difficulties on the ground."
So basically a Hitler-Wyvern
"Yeah... wait, a Hitl- Oh, yeah, I get it... Anyways: I brought it from another Universe once to get things more interesting, but that lazy piece of crap just lay down in the Everfree and slept for a hundred years."
Is it sentient?
"Nah, the beasts I've brought here, except you, aren't sentient, so you only have to worry when you're facing down one of the indigenous Dragons. Why did you ask anyways?"
You up for some Dragonfightin'?
"... Wait a sec, lemme get my Popcorn."
Sugarcube Corner was full to the brim with customers. Strangely, today there were so many Ponies around to eat cupcakes that Pinkie had to rely on her PinkiePort(TM) multiple times to not let them wait for all too long. What was also strange about them was that most of them wore Fedoras or had cameras with them...
Oh well.., Pinkie thought, while happily bouncing around and serving Cupcakes, The more the merrier! Hey, maybe they want a little 'Sugarcube Corner is full to the brim'-Party?
Just as she put down the last order, she felt it... her Pinkie Sense... Signaled a Newcomer in Ponyville...
"Oooh, a new Pony! I've got to find him! That's gonna be the best 'Welcome to Ponyville'-Party EVER!"
She sped out of the bakery, leaving the customers there to watch in confusion. She searched everywhere, comically appearing from behind lampposts, sticking her head into trashbins and jumping in an out of bushes and all that while constantly shouting: "Hey, mister Newcomer! where are you?! We need to have a Welcome Party for you!"
She reached Townsquare, her mane deflating, as there was no place left to search. Just as she was about to turn back to Sugarcube Corner, her Pinkie Sense went haywire. She turned around and saw a large, green figure standing behind her.
"Oh, are you the new Pony in town? Yay, we can have a Party for you!" Pinkie exclaimed, while happily bouncing up and down.
The creature just tilted its head. Then, it leaned its head back and breathed in deep...
"... Yes, I know, but as long as we don't know, what this thing can do, we can't just barge in there!" Twilight said, seemingly very agitated.
"Oh, come on, Twi! The longer we take discussing a plan, the more time this thing has to harm Ponyville!" Rainbow quickly countered.
"Well, we would HAVE a plan already, if you two could stop arguing!" Starlight pointed out.
Twilight put a hoof to her face. "Look, Rainbow, if we go in there without proper preparation, we might get all of Ponyville destroyed and us killed! Alex, please help me out here." She turned around to face her white friend... only to not see anything at all...
"Hey, where's Alex?" She asked.
Rainbow flew up into the sky and looked around. Then she saw him. There in the distance, heading for Ponyville.
"There he is!" She shouted to her friends, while pointing a hoof towards him. She took off to follow, the four remaining mares quickly following behind.
She catched up to him as they reached town square and she came just in time... to see the the green Dragon breathe a big, green cloud towards...
"PINKIE!!!"
Dash prepared herself to intercept, but a big, white wing suddenly blocked her path... and she had to watch in horror as Pinkie was engulfed in a thick cloud of green poison gas.
"No!!... Pinkie!... no..." she broke down against the wing that stopped her, sobbing over the loss of her friend, with anger slowly rising in her throat.
Welp, that's it for Pinkie
I thought, while I watched the whole scene. I barely managed to stop rainbow from a suicidal attemp to rescue her, which would have most likely ended in her getting gassed herself. I didn't have time to be sorry for her or something like that, as I had a bigger problem standing right before me.
I let out a mighty Dragon-Scream and quickly got the attention of my opponent.
So, now to get rid of that poison...
I gave a mighty flap of my wing, quickly dispersing the poison cloud and blowing it away. Though I have to admit: what was revealed underneath had me speechless for a few moments. There, before me, stood Pinkie Pie, with a gas mask, which she got from I-don't-know-where. I decided not to think to hard about it, as, if I remember one thing from the series, then it's to never question Pinkie Pie.
Pinkie put down her Gas Mask.
"Whooo, you are a stinky one!"
This caused a gasp to emanate from behind my wing, followed by a rainbow trail heading straight for Pinkie. The mare barely managed to brace herself before she was quickly covered by a mass of cyan fur, happily staining her pink mane in her tears. That, however, didn't make the Wyvern disappear. On the contrary: It saw its opportunity for a two-at-the-price-of-one-snack and made its move. I quickly intercepted it with a headbutt to the face, bringing it off course.
"I'm glad that you're happy, Rainbow, but we DO have a few other things to care about right now, don't we?" I scolded.
Rainbow dash quickly got off of Pinkie and gave me a sheepish grin. She and Pinkie then quickly got behind me and I heard the other mares arrive. The Wyvern, meanwhile, got back to its feet and breathed in.
"Oh, no you don't!"
I quickly gave it another headbutt, sending it tumbling a few steps backwards. during this short period of stupor, I got onto my back feet and brought my frontal claws down onto its face and, using the leftover momentum, bit down on its neck. Unfortunately, seeing as it, too, was a dragon-like, its scales were too strong for me to immediately punch through. However, I still had a very decent grip on its neck now and I used it well, by smacking its head into the ground multiple times, before flinging it off, a good few hundred meters into the distance. Seeing as, while it shared roughly my height, it was only about a third my length (with tail) and a lot less volumptuous, that was actually fairly easy.
Unfortunately though, this also turned out to be a major mistake, as the beast only barely missed Sugarcube Corner... where the reporters from earlier had gathered to watch the fight... and the Wyvern, due to its agility, managed to land on its feet and was now eyeing the reporters with bared fangs.
I quickly took off to bring myself between the Wyvern and its chosen meal and barely managed to bring my wings up as a shield, before the Wyvern began breathing poison again. Didn't do much on its own, though, seeing as it wasn't a focused beam like that Dragon King's flame, but rather a big cloud of gas. I had to blow into the cloud in order to get rid of the gas that creeped around my wings.
"Don't try to block it, Alex!"
Oh, let me guess: 'Embrace the Poison'?
"... Euh yeah, pretty much."
.... Ah shit, here goes!
I took a deep snout full of poison and concentrated on it. My scales took on a shade of poisonous (haha) green and I felt pores open up on my wings and back, sucking in the poison around me like the fookin' Air-Vent I apparently had become.
Great, and now: get fucked by your own poison, fucktard!
"Eh, not likely. Like I said: Poison Immunity."
Really? Ah well, It'll shroud its vision at least.
And so, I gave that beast a taste of its own poison, shrouding its head in a thick, green cloud of gas. What I didn't incorporate in my calculation, however, was that it, too, can move. And move it did, bringing its massive wreckingball of a head down against my snout, sending me tumbling a few steps back, which I barely managed to NOT place on the reporters behind me. However, that bugger was far from done, as it used my stupor to lunge itself towards me, biting down on my left wing. I roared up in pain and saw the red fluid of life drip down on my membranes. Luckily, I was a Dragon and not a Wyvern, giving me the advantage of having frontal limbs AND wings. I quickly made use of this and brought my right claw up into a massive Dragon-bitchslap. The Wyvern tumbled back a bit, but before I could pull the same biting-stunt from earlier, it quickly made a leap back, taking another deep breath.
"Not this time, you moron!"
I bit down on its snout, clenching it shut and preventing it from breathing more gas. I then gave it a quick yank to the side, followed by a slap from one of my wings, making it take a few steps back. I quickly tried to charge up a flame of my own, but underestimated the time needed to do so, quickly receiving another headbash.
I took a few steps back, preparing myself for it to lunge at me again, when the Wyvern was suddenly hit by three blasts of magic. A rainbow trail emerged out of the corner of my vision, quickly taking a lap around the Wyvern's head and then hovering before it.
"Hey you fartbag, over here!" Rainbow shouted, barely evading a bite from the bugger.
Rainbow quickly led the Wyvern away from me, giving me enough time to disperse the cloud of poison I had created, before charging my flames once again.
This time, seeing as there was no one to interrupt me, I managed to produce a wall of flame, which I quickly sent towards the bastard, which... ... ... simply evaded it with a single flap of its wings, landing on a nearby roof.
DAMMIT
"Yep, those Wyvverns are a lot more agile than you could ever hope to become."
Yes, I knew that already, thankyouverymuch.
With a mighty leap, the Wyvern set down in front of me, yet again trying do give me a taste of gas. I, however was prepared and had already charged a flame. I made a dash forward and breathed out... only to realize that, apart from a few sparks, nothing happened. In a quick reaction, I gave a punch with my claw, followed by a roundhouse-whip with my tail, sending it flying a good distance.
Yo, what the fuck?! Why can that beast fire its odem so quickly, and I do not?!
"Eh, well, you see, poison odem only needs one gland to be used and he has two, so he can use one, while the other one is recharging. you can theoretically do the same with your flame, but considering that most dragons have at least slight flame resistance, I would never go lower than two."
Oh, so I can also do rapid-fire if I just charge two at a time? Neat, didn't know that. Though, I will probably just give this one a full-on blast and be done with it.
"Well, your fight, your choice. On another note: CONGRATULATIONS, New Unlocks: Poison Odem."
Oh really? Neat. Too bad this bugger has Poison Immunity.
The two Dragons were exchanging blows and breaths, each trying to get the upper Hand. They smashed each other to the heads, shrouded each other with gas or bit down on their opponent, completely ignoring their surroundings. On the sidelines, there were six mares watching the fight, eager to step in, but able to do nothing.
"Aaah, dear Celestia, that hurts!" Rainbow lamented, as Starlight was tending to her wounds. While she was leading the green one away, she didn't look where she was flying and crashed into a roof, which sent her tumbling through the air just when Alex unleashed his flame. Luckily, Twilight could teleport her out of there before she was burned to a crisp, but she still got some decent burns from it.
"It's not my fault that you didn't watch where you were flying, now hold still!" Starlight struggled to put bandages around Rainbow's burns, as each time she touched down on one, Rainbow began to squirm and wiggle in pain.
"There has to be something we can do ta help, without getting ourselves killed!" Applejack said.
"Yeah, well, I'm open for any ideas. I have burnt through all my magic trying to keep us alive, so I'm out. Rarity doesn't seem to fare any better, either." Twilight said, while she was tending to her own wounds.
Pinkie sat in quiet, contempt on watching the fight and, for once, actually thinking what she could do to help. it turned out, she didn't need to.
Both Dragons faced each other once again. The poison Dragon took a deep breath and Alex did the same. The green one was faster, sending another cloud of gas towards Alex. Starlight, giving up on trying to bandage Rainbow, watched, awaiting Alex to turn green again and suck in the poison. However, he didn't. Instead, he made a lunge towards the stinker, yanking its jaw wide open with his claws and sending a lance of flame down into his opponent. Starlight's eyes widedned, as she saw the Wyvern wildly flail with its wings in an attempt to get airborne. However it was unable to lift the additional weight of Alex, causing it to merely swirl up some dust.
Soon, smoke began to rise from its nostrils and its squirms picked up in intensity in a last, futile attempt to break free. Then, with a pop, the flame broke through the Wyvern's hindquarters and its body went limp. Alex let go of it, letting the carcass fall to the ground with an earth-trembling rumble. He looked over to the mares, which by now were looking at him in awe, before he bit down on the Wyverns neck, bringing it onto his back with a swing.
"Ehehehe, I sure am glad, that he's... You know.. on our side, because I certainly don't want to know, what that felt like..." Starlight commented. The other mares nodded absentmindedly, as they watched Alex and his prey slowly vanish behind the treeline.
You know... normal people usually are pretty pissed when they get tapped out of sleep in the middle of the night and I won't claim that I was any different when I was awoken by something tapping against my snout. I wanted to snarl out for it to fuck off, but I decided otherwise, when I saw what actually took me from my slumber. There, before my eyes, was a foal. Only that it had two leathery wings, pointed ears with a plush on their tips, a dark purple mane, slitted, yellow eyes and cute, little fangs poking out from its tiny mouth.
"Awww, aren't ye a cute little bugger?"
The little one was now eyeing me curiously and I couldn't help but bring a claw up and start to pet him, for he was just so awfully cute!!! As I was now petting away at the little bugger, I looked around for anyone that could come up to be his mother or father. Surely he didn't come out here into the everfree all alone, did he? I wouldn't search long though, as I suddenly felt a pinch between the scales on my claw. I looked down on it and saw the little beast thoroughly latched onto it.
"OY, what is it with these buggers BOITIN', SERIOUSLEY!"
I tried to gently shake him off, but he had a pretty strong bite on me. I didn't want to pull him off either, as I probably would have crushed him if I tried, so instead I did something different.
"Oy, lil' one, would ya please let go o' me?"
The colt shook his head, while still being latched onto me.
"Why not?"
"Mpf pfmfmfmf mpf mpfmpf mm mpfmpf" came the answer.
"Euh, sorry, what was that?"
"'Cauph mommy phad thagonph are ebil." he replied. This time he took his toothes slightly from their bite, as he tried to speak a little clearer and it immediately gave me a good idea.
"Sorry, little one, but didn't quite catch that either."
The colt took a deep breath and opened his mouth wide.
"Because mommy said that Dragons are evil!" he shouted and I took the opportunity and quickly pulled my claw away from him. He looked at it for a few moments, before looking straight into my eyes, with a cute blankness in his expression. After a while of intense staring, he gave a childish giggle.
"You got me there, mister."
I leaned down to him and smiled at him.
"Yer mommy said that dragons are evil, so ya just bit down on one, instead of running away? My, we are quite the warrior, are we?" I said, giving him a gentle ruffle through his mane.
The colt puffed out his chest in pride and beamed. "Mhmm, when I grow up, I'm going to become a Lunar Guard!"
This caused me to chuckle a little. "Oh, no you won't, little one."
The colt looked up at me with a deep frown. "Aww, why not?"
"Because you don't have what it takes to become a lunar guard. I tell ya, me lad, you are going to become the princess's personal guard!"
The little colt beamed up at this and began jumping in circles before me. "The princess's personal guard! The princess's personal guard!
I watched the happy colt for a while, before I remembered, what I was looking for earlier: "Yeah, yeah, alright, calm down. What are you doing here anyways? All alone, in the Everfree and at night... is your mom around here somewhere?"
The colt stopped his hopping and looked down to the ground, drawing circles with his hoof. "Uuuhh, you know, I kiiiinda snuck away to go find something to show what I can do and then I got kiiiiinda lost in the forest?" He said with a sheepish grin.
Eh, should have known, that's basically what all the foals in this world are up to, isn't it?
"Don't ask me, I don't have any..."
Just at that moment, a feminine voice called through the forest.
"Fruitbite! Where are you?"
The colt beside me snapped towards the call and smiled. "Oh, it's mommy!"
The voice drew closer and soon, I could see a mare, sporting the same wings, eyes and ears as the colt, albeit with a more brownish mane. The mare called out once more and Fruitbite responded.
"Mom, I'm over here!"
The mare looked over to the waving colt and let a relieved smile show on her face, only for it to be replaced by a panicked look, as her focus shifts over to me.
Then, we just stood there. her gaze locked at me and mine locked at her. And then, I couldn't take it any longer. I made a dash forward and... ... ... began petting her.
"Aw, you cute little bugger, don't mind me, I'm just a pervy Dragon that's way too attracted by cuteness..." I said, while I enjoyed the blissful softness of her mane and fur.
"What the BUCK are you doing, you pervert?!" She suddenly exclaimed. I immediately recoiled, upon which she gave me a questioning look.
"Why did you stop?" Now it was my turn to give a questioning look. "You just surprised me. It actually felt quite good what you did there."
I carefully inched my claw closer to her head and began scratching behind her ears. She let a pleasured hum escape her lips and leaned into it, as I kept on scratching. The colt beside her, meanwhile started jumping in place.
"Me too, Me too!"
And so, I came do indulge in the bliss of petting two absolutely cute buggers at once. Absolute heaven, I tell ya. At least until...
"Hold on, Honeybun, I'm coming to save you!"
Suddenly, I felt a tapping sensation on the other side of my body. I turned my head to see what was going on and saw a Pegasus Stallion furiously tapping against me.
"Yo, what's up?" I said, without sopping to pet the two on the other side.
The stallion looked me into the face and froze. He then came at me, with a very fear-filled expression. "H-Hey you, s-s-s-stop h-hurting my mare!"
Before I could say anything, the mare in question called out. "Oh he isn't hurting me, hun! It actually feels amazing!"
The stallion looked at me in confusion, before he took at look at what I was actually doing on the other side. Meanwhile, his wife had gotten down onto her belly, still just enjoying the gentle scratches of my claws.
The stallion landed on my back and his jaw dropped immediately as he saw what was actually going on. I braced myself for some family drama like I had seen dozens of times on TV and was expecting him to accuse his wife of cheating on him. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when he simply just gave a relieved sigh.
"I'm glad that you two are okay. I didn't expect to find you being petted by a Dragon though." He chuckled and raised an eyebrow at me while smiling.
I let out a short, thundering laugh at this. "Well, I wouldn't have thought I would actually end up petting two ponies sometime, so I guess the feeling's mutual."
The stallion gave a short chuckle, before letting out a long yawn. "Whoa, I think we should head home, I need to get out early tomorrow." He set down beside his wife and I stopped petting both of them. They bid their farewell and turned home and I overheard one last bit of conversation:
"Oh yeah, Fruitbite?"
"Yes, mom?"
"You're grounded."
It was a sunny day in Ponyville. Rainbow Dash was floating about on a cloud and taking a nap. Rightfully so, as she was the reason the day was so sunny in the first place. Soon, she awoke at her usual time. She got up and stretched her back thoroughly, before doing a multitude of warm-up exercises. She took her flight training seriously. Every day, at the same time, she would do two hundred loopings, followed by eighty corkscrews, fifty immelmans and two flatspins. The latter mostly being accidental than an actual exercise, though.
As she finished her last immelman, though, she saw something interesting. Down there, deep in the everfree forest, she saw a big, white chunk of scales and meat resting in a clearing. Immediately, a devious plan fomed in her mind. She quickly collected as uch vapor as she could find and formed it into a large cloud. She then charged it with as much electricity as it could hold and pushed it over to the sleeping dragon...
I was taking a nap in my clearing. Seeing as my night got cut short by my unexpected visitors, I suppose there was nothing wrong with that. Well, I supposed there was nothing wrong with that, but apparently a certain, rainbow-maned Pegasus thought otherwise, as I got ripped out of my slumber by a sharp zap to my romp.
I woke up and immediately let out a loud growl. However, what came out of my mouth wasn't just sound... As it was, I found myself sending a beam of lightning into the forest.
Wait, what?!
As the beam slowly powered down, I sat there, dumbfounded. I looked at the mare in question, who was sighly in a similar standing as I was.
"Woah, what the buck was that?!" She exclaimed, as she regained herself. she set down onto my back as she tried to take in, what just happened.
Yo, Navi?
"Huh? Oh, Alex, wait a second, let me come over. I was just currently watching princess Luna."
Isn't Luna asleep around this time?
"Yes, why?"
So, you're peeping on Luna?
"Yeah, so what? I'm a god, I can do what I want. What did you call me for, anyways?"
Ah, yes, sorry. Euh, Rainbow has zapped me with a thundercloud.
"Oh, really? HA! I would have liked to see your face! Hahahaha"
Yeah, um, right, about that.... apparently it made me spout lightning.
"Hahaha-- Wait, what?"
Yep, that was pretty much my reaction. Any explaination for that?
".......... hold on a sec, gotta look something up."
While Navi was looking something up, I turned to Rainbow Dash again, in order to give her the yell she was still due to get. However, as I looked at my back, I found her sleeping peacefully between my scales.
Yo, what the fuck?! Do my scales have some sleep-inducing effect, or what?!
"No, it's just that, while retaining all of the resistances of your other scales, those on your back feel actually more akin to feathers when you touch them.
I kept my gaze on Rainbow. No matter how hard I tried, seeing her so peaceful and helpless actually made me forget how mad I was at her, over just how adorable she looked.
"Peeping at Rainbow, huh?" Navi said, the smug on his face clearly projecting into my mind.
Hey, it's not my fault that she is sleeping on my back!
"It's not my fault, that Luna is sleeping in my world!"
Well, uh, it kinda is, since you've created her and this world in the first place.
"... Okay, fuck, you are right."
Anyways, what were you looking for?
"Oh yeah, about that... umm, I don't know, how she did it, but... euh.... CONGRATULATIONS: New Unlocks: Lightning Odem!"
Oh really? Nea-- ... euh, how did-- I mean-- What?!
"Exactly."
Now, with a new odem, a sleeping mare on my back and a MASSIVE headache, I decided... ... that it was time to resume my nap.
Another morning, I took a walk through the Everfree forest, this time not accidentally headed for Twilight's Castle. Seeing as she was currently in Canterlot, doing some princess-stuff, that would have been pointless anyways. Thus, I wandered aimlessly, occasionally eating a manticore, nearly stepping on Zecora's hut and almost falling into a giant pit with some glowing tree in a cave inside it. After I've reached my clearing again, I lay down and went back to napping.
You know, being a Dragon sure is a chill life.
"Don't say that too loudly. In this world, Murphy's law is strong AF."
Really? Oh well, in that case:
"Man, I love chilling as a Dragon!"
"... Your funeral."
I waited around for a while, but nothing happened.
So, what was that about Murph-
"Alex! Alex, where are you?!"
Suddenly, the voice of a certain Dragon Hatchling rang through the forest. Spike stepped from the undergrowth into the clearing and, as he saw me, took up his pace.
"Alex! Twilight's sent you a letter!"
"Oh, I feel honoured. would you be so kind to read it to me?"
"Sure!"
Spike cleared his throat and began to read. Apparently, Celestia called Twilight to Canterlot because they've found a strange souce of magic energy underneath the City. As they went in to investigate, however, the earth suddenly began to shake and a sinkhole appeared in the middle of town. They went in to investigate and, doing so, stumbled upon a giant, crystalline entity, which seemed to sleep. "Seemed" is actually quite a fitting formulation, as it seems that it was awoken by some accident involving Rarity and a giant Diamond. Long story short: canterlot is now under siege by a massive, crystalline Dragon entity. the six, as well as Starlight and the princesses have tried to bring it down with magic, however it seems like they are unable to pierce its thick skin.
"Okay, so a giant crystal Dragon is attacking canterlot, huh? Why doesn't she just befriend him like she always does with these villains?"
"Yeah, about that... It says here that this Dragon doesn't seem to be sentient, so befriending won't work."
"Okay... Then throw him off the mountain and let him shatter on the ground or something, I don't know..."
"It also says here that the Dragon has hit Twilight and she is now suffering from a broken wing and barely managed to write this letter while the others kept the Dragon busy."
... ... "ALEX SMASH!"
Dozens of ruined buildings donned the capital and one could hear the sound of a fleeing herd of ponies from the center of town. A large, blue, crystalline figure towered over the buildings, its eyes seemingly consisting of red flames. A rainbow trail was flying circles around its head, in a desperate attempt to distract it from the three wounded ponies in front of it.
Celestia and Luna had tried to face the creature before it could do any harm, but harshly underestimated its power. Before they could put up appropriate defenses, a single strike from its claw sent them to the ground. Both had two large clawmarks along their bodies, showing the exact location in which they had been hit. Twilight Sparkle was resting beside them. She had tried to erect a barrier to shield the princesses, however the barrier didn't hold long and she soon felt the the full force of the Dragon's claw hit her wing, almost ripping it off. With a last spurt of magic, she managed to send a desperate plea for help to ponyville, in the hope that it may reach the only being she knew of, that could save them now. She sent the letter away with whatever magic she could muster and as she saw the signature mist fade from view, her vision went black.
She awoke in a ruined house, close to the central plaza. The roof and upper stories had been completely shattered, leaving only the walls of the first story and a big pile of rubble as a hint that there might have been something. The first thing she saw as she opened her eyes, were her mentor and princess Luna, who both had been tended to. She also saw a purple mane hang into her field of vision and felt something gently shoving and tucking on her wing. She let out a series of pained moans and stifled screams, as her stupor wore off and she felt how her two friends were trying to realign the bones in her broken wing.
"Oh, I'm so sorry dear, but we must do this, or else the wing might not heal properly." Rarity said, as she and Applejack continued to wrestle with her wing's bonestructure.
"Don't ya worry, Twi'. We're almost done here." Applejack said, as a few last, painful pushes made Twilight screech in pain. Twilight felt numness overcome her body again and she fought the blackness in her vision, as yet again she felt like she was losing consciousness again.
"I hope you're done soon! I don't think, Rainbow will hold out any longer and my shield will die down soon, too."
Starlight had erected a barrier before the three princesses in order to protect them, while Rainbow tried her best to keep the Dragon busy. Fluttershy was tending to the other princesses and Pinkie tried to aid Rainbow in her attempts.
Princess Celestia had to watch Twilight writhe in pain, as she lay helpless by her side. She herself didn't fare much better, her own body covered in bandages which were painted red by her own blood. She leaned down to her former student and gave her a gently nuzzle.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Twilight. I didn't expect this foe to be of such formidable strength."
She looked at the Dragon, which was still trying to swat Rainbow out of the air, while Pinkie tried to gain its attention with confetticannons. Around the pair, there were the few Guardsponies that dared stand up against the Dragon to protect their princesses... or at least, what was left of them. She looked back at her sister, who was currently getting her bandages changed by Fluttershy. She carried similar wounds as herself, two long cuts along the left of her barrel. Beside her lay her old set of bandages, completely soaked in red blood.
Celestia sighed and looked at the Ponies around her, before she spoke up again.
"Everypony, I am very sorry for this all. It seems, we might not survive this."
Luna's head shot around. "Sister, thou art not giving up, art thou?"
Celestia slowly turned to face Luna, but an answer was unnecessary. A loud roar sounded over the plaza, followed by Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie hitting the upper edge of one of the walls, before coming to a hard stop in a pile of rubble.
"Rainbow! Pinkie!" Applejack hurried over to her friends. Luckily, Rainbow was conscious and, apart from her tail being singed black and her nose bleeding, she was relatively okay. Pinkie, however, was less lucky. She apparently had tried to save Rainbow by throwing herself between the Dragon and her friend. Her being Pinkie Pie had somehow magically averted any mortal wounds, but she still lost conciousness from the impact.
Applejack helped Rainbow Dash to her hooves. "Come on, Rainbow, we need to gain some time for Alex to arrive."
"Ah, I'm sorry AJ, but time seems to be up already." Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof toward the plaza. Celestia turned her head to follow her point and tensed up in shock, as she found the Dragon staring intently at the Ponies gathered before it.
It took a deep breath and spouted flames against the barely holding shield. Rarity tried to help Starlight, but the shield already started to flicker. Celestia saw that it wouldn't hold much longer and, with a last sigh of defeat, she lowered her head, waiting for the hod embrace of the flames.
She heard the shield die and prepared for the flames... only for them to never arrive. They weren't gone yet, as she could hear their distinct hissing close by. She slowly opened her eyes and gawked at what she saw. Before her, there were two massive, red wings shielding her from the flames. She slowly followed their structure, to see whom they belonged to. She tensed up in shock, as she saw that they, too belonged to a Dragon, only this one shining in a bright red, his head alight in yellow flames.
Celestia couldn't believe her bad luck. Not only has Canterlot been destroyed by a single Dragon, but was also about to become the center point of a territorial dispute between two Alpha Dragons. At least she thought that until she heard her student exclaim beside her.
"Alex, you're here!"
"Yeah, dude, took you long enough." Rainbow chimed in.
Celestia and Luna gave Twilight an incredulous look. "Thou hast befriended a Dragon?!"
Twilight just tilted her head and smiled. "It's quite a long story."
Celestia looked back up at their saviour, who in turn gestured a slight bow with his head. "Good day, Princess. I hope you don't mind the lack of an introduction, but we do have more pressing matters to discuss. I will stall this brute here for a while. You use that time to get somewhere safe, so I don't have to worry about you."
Applejack quickly secured Pinkie on her back, while Rainbow and Fluttershy helped Rarity and Starlight back to their hooves. Twilight was still a little wobbly on her hooves, but managed to stand and Celestia and Luna supported eachother. Twilight gave Celestia a quick nod, before they made haste out of the back of the building and down the street behind it. They got into the first intact building they saw and took shelter in its second story. Celestia walked up to one of the windows, which let her overlook the plaza over the ruined buildings. Her eyes widened, as she realized that not only the Dragon's head, but his whole body was on fire.
"Don't worry, we can rebuild canterlot later on." Twilight said from beside her, a reassuring smile on her lips. Celestia looked at her student, who was visibly worn out.
"Do you think, your... friend can handle this?"
Twilight's smile faded and she looked out the window in concern. She saw the Dragon, who was still spouting flames at Alex.
"I can only hope."
Okay, Navi, what the hell is up with this guy? He has been spitting flames at me for ten minutes straight! How does he do this?!
Yeah, well, remember how I told you that you have four Odem-Glands? Yeah, this one has eight."
Oh great, let me guess: he is firing just two at a time, which gives him enough time to fully recharge before he comes in for a second round, right? Great.
I slowly inched closer, pushing against the pressure of his flame. As soon as I was close enough, I bashed my head against his chest, causing a few crystals to crack, and instantly opened up with a searing hot flame of my own. The Beast roared up, as it was hit by my dark red odem. However, suddenly his color changed from light blue to a fiery red. His screams immediately stopped and my flames seemed to lose all effect.
Ah, flame resistance, huh? Well, the hard tour then.
"Yeah about that..."
I quickly gave the Dragon a whip with my tail, sending it stumbling a few steps. I then brought my front legs up in a slash, however I forgot that this time, I wasn't fighting a wyvern, resulting in me getting a good bash to the chest. I quickly regained my balance andprepared my glands for a lightning attack. The Dragon before me tried to copy my attack from earlier, giving me a good view of his belly. That was when I blasted my odem, sending a beam of lightning zapping into his chest. I heard a few crystals burst and his shade slowly dimmed into a darker blue, before he slumped to the ground.
Well, that was fairly easy.
I turned around and saw Rainbow head straight for me. She stopped only inches from my nose.
"Dude, that was totally awesome!" She exclaimed, as she threw her hooves in the air in a cheer.
"Yeah, uhm, Alex?..."
"My congratulations, Darling." Rarity said, as she and the other slowly came after Rainbow Dash.
"Alex?"
"I must say, I am glad that Twilight has sent for you. Without you, we might not have survived." Celestia said.
"Oh, you're welcome, my princess. I only helped a friend in --"
"ALEX!!!"
WHAT?!
"As much as you deserve your praise, this fight is far from over."
What do you mean?
I looked back down at my friends and saw them all tense up in shock and abject horror, as a shadow slowly rose above me.
I suddenly felt a spike of pressure hit my body, which caused me to lose my footing and skid along the floor.
Whoa, what the fuck was that?!
"Yep, I tried to warn you. Your little attack there didn't really do much, you know?"
I quickly got back to my feet, barely fast enough to counter a bite-attack with a swipe of my tail, hitting him across the face. The Dragon roared up and I had to leap back, as he swung his tail around towards me.
Oh great, not only do I have no idea, how this guy is still alive, but he's also copying my moves? Fuck.
"Oh, I can tell you, how this guy's still alive. You just never asked."
He came towards me again, this time catching me off-guard. He bit down onto my neck, where luckily my scales were strong enough to protect me. I tried to get him off somehow, but his bite was very strong. Finally, I managed to hit his legs with a claw, causing him to stumble slightly and loosening his bite. Making use of my chance, I quickly twisted myself out of his bite and began my counter-attack. I reared up on my hind legs and smacked down upon the Dragons face. I felt a few of his crystals give way, as my claws connected full-force, causing his head to smash into the ground. Not wasting any time, I immediately bit down on his neck... only to be met with a multitude of sharp crystals which bore into my cheeks and head. I immediatley reared back, giving him enough time to recover and get back to his feet. Before he could do anything else, however, I gave him a good ram into the guts, sending him stumbling a good distance.
So, why didn't my odems work?
"Oh, that's simple. you see: this guy is comprised of magical crystals, which he can adapt to give him 100% protection against either Flame or Lightning odem."
Really? Oh great. You could have told me that there are more Dragons with OP protection, you know?
"Hey, I only ever said that I would make you A powerful Dragon, not THE powerful Dragon."
The crystal bastard launched himself toward me once again, clawing me once across the face. I felt some of my scales break, as the sharp crystals hit them. I sure wouldn't be able to win this in the long run, I had to find an effective method against this guy, quick. It was then that I noticed that I had three odems at my disposal. I charged at him once again, only to use my momentum in the last moment to bring my back around and smack him with my tail, causing him to lose his footing and roll over a short distance.
I quickly ran after him charging my glands and, as I came close enough, spouting my poison odem straight into his face and covering him completely in a green waft of gas. I looked around to see, if the others were safe and sure enough, they were standing a safe distance away from the gascloud. I turned my attention back to the Dragon. More precisely: I waited, listening if I could make out any signs that the poison was taking effect.
"You can wait forever if you want, that thing doesn't breathe."
AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS NOW?!
A loud roar suddenly sounded from inside the cloud and I saw that crystallized lizard jump out of the cloud... directly toward the group of ponies, with its throat aglow. I barely managed to bring myself between him and my proteges, before he brought his flame upon them. I sucked in the energy from his blast, but what use was it if he could just shrug it off? That's when I got an idea:
Yo Navi, can he split his defenses? Like 50/50 on Lightning and Flame?
"Euh, no, he can't, why?"
And what about me? Can I go like two glands for flame and two for Lightning and spout them both at once?
"Uh, yes you can, but wh-- OOOOH, I get it. Good plan, let's make some fireworks."
I looked down at the nine mares seeking shelter under my belly and, when I was sure that they were okay for now, I called out:
"Rainbow!"
The weathermare instantly sprung to attention.
"You remember what you did with that thundercloud? I need you to do that again!"
Rainbow gave a salute and quickly got to work.
"Hah, I'm gonna give that Dragon a good zap!"
"No, not him! Zap me!"
"Huh? Bu-"
"No buts, just do!"
She made haste and collected a sizeable thundercloud. Then, on my mark, she let a lightning spring forth and hit me. I felt a surge of energy go through me and I absorbed as much of it as I could. The change was immediately visible, as now, blue lightning was thrashing between the flames that covered my back. I grinned at the sensation and, in addition to the absolute power currently inhabiting my body, I felt anticipation give me an additional push.
I gave the Dragon before me a slap with my wings and instantly unleashed my almighty odem. A dark red flame, surrounded by a bright, blue lightning was the result. The crystal moron changed colors once again, into a dark shade of red. The flame hit the Dragon, flame hissing against its crystal armor. However, the damage done by it was rather miniscule, if there was any at all. What clearly DID some damage, however, was the Lightning. As soon as it hit, the Dragon roared up and I could hear several crystals crack and burst. He quickly changed his color to a slightly dimmer blue, but that only caused the Flame to become effective, causing even more crystals to burst. He backed up, but I followed close, always keeping my flame on him. He frantically tried to cover a certain spot on his belly with his wings and I decided that I should definitely check that one out.
I grabbed his wing and pulled away, exposing what seemed like a glowing spot in his chest. I supposed it was a core of some sort, so I gave it a good dose of my odem. The crystal fucktard squirmed and screached as my flame slowly bore through its armor. Soon, it hit the core and in an instant, the magic that held the crystals in place was gone and they all well to the ground, into a large, shimmering pile of gems.
I turned back to see if the ponies were still alive and sure enough, if one ignored their panting from the intense heat they had to sustain just now, they all were doing reasonably fine. Celestia, Luna and rarity were just standing there, jaws and eyes wide open, while the rest was tending to each other.
Luna and Celestia looked up to me, awe still in their expression, while Rarity was still intensely staring at the pile of gems.
"We... we thanketh thou for saving our Ponies, Alex." Luna spoke up and bowed down. Celestia beside her did the same. I must say, I did feel very honored, sure, but I had more important things on my mind. I stepped over to where Twilight and the others were tending to themselves. apart from Pinkie, they all were conscious, however as I looked over their wounds, it wasn't hard to determine that Twilight's wing was definitely out of commission. She looked up at me and probably saw my concerned expression, because she gave me a calming smile.
"Thanks Alex, without you this would definitely have turned out far worse." She said. I felt deja-vu hit me and turned around. This time, luckily, the Dragon didn't get back up again.
"So, how do we get home now? I don't think any trains are going for a decent while." She asked.
"We will gladly have a chamber made ready for you, so you can stay until the next train can depart from here." Celestia answered. Twilight shook her head.
"Thank you, Princess Celestia, but I have to check on Spike. Couldn't you just send for a chariot to take us home?"
Celestia looked over toward town square, where the bodies of the guards were still laying around. Wincing, she looked back at Twilight.
"I doubt that there are any guards left to pull that chariot, Twilight."
"No one to pull that chariot? Hah! I can easily pull that thing!" rainbow Dash exclaimed. She went on pulling a few air stunts, loopings corkscrews and then... crashed straight into a pile of rubble.
"Ouch... scratch that, I can't pull the chariot."
Twilight's pupils narrowed down and she began hyperventilating.
"What? We can't go back? But what about Spike?! Oh Celestia, I hope he's okay. I mean, he could have accidentally started a fire! Or maybe he got lost in the Everfree! Or... Or..." she went into a complete breakdown, nearly choking on her own attempts to breathe. I watched that whole ordeal go down with a raised eyebrow, before I finally decided to step in. I cleared my throat to get their attention and spoke:
"Um, excuse me, but aren't you forgetting a third option?"
Twilight looked at me as if she was frozen mid-breath. Then, slowly, her mouth morphed into the shape of an 'o'. she gave me a sheepish grin and laughed humorlessly, then cleared her throat.
"Alex, would you please take us back to Ponyville?"
I bowed down deep and said "Of course, your Highness.", mockingly pronouncing 'Highness'.
Before they boarded Alex Airlines, however, we made sure that I would not deep-fry my passengers this time. Clouds of water vapor surrounded me, as Rainbow used a few rainclouds to cool me down.
"Dude, that looks sick! I mean, how all that vapor is swirling around you makes you look absolutely AWESOME!"
At this, I couldn't resist, I just had to... "Yep, Alex the Dragon sure is... hot."
I don't think I need to tell, how many face-hooves I got from that. Anyways, we spent the whole flight after that in silence.
Spike was already waiting outside the Castle when we reached Ponyville. He jumped up and quickly came running towards me, as I set down.
"Hey Alex! Did you find Twilight? How is she? Is she alright?"
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" I said, as I turned my head to look at my back. "Hey girls, we-" I stopped mid-sentence, as my gaze met the forms of seven mares, peacefully sleeping on my back. I couldn't bring myself to wake them and since Celestia was lowering the sun already anyways, I instead just looked at Spike and put a claw up to my mouth. Spike smiled and nodded, before he went back into the castle. I myself comfortable beside it and soon, Spike came back with blankets, with which he covered the mares, before snuggling down beside Twilight and quickly dozing off. I decided that I probably should do the same and made myself as comfortable as possible, without squashing my passengers.
The rebuilding of Canterlot made fast progress. Most of the houses were repaired within just a few days after the incident. Celestia and Luna were running an inspection, ensuring that everything was done as fast as possible. Well... Luna was running the inspection, at least. Celestia, however, had other matters on her mind.
"... and the main plaza will soon be accessable again." Luna read from a scroll, levitating before her.
"Good." Celestia answered.
"Sadly, many of our fallen guards have yet to be buried. We should give them a proper funeral as soon as we are done with rebuilding."
"Indeed."
"Also, some of the nobles have proposed that some of the now free space should be given to them..."
"I shall see to it."
Luna's head shot from behind the scroll around to her sister. "What?! You mean to grant such a selfish request?"
"Sure."
"Tia, you cannot be serious! The nobles are much too audacious as they are, but what would happen if you were to grant... this?!"
"True."
"Not to mention... are you even listening?"
"Yes."
Luna's gaze narrowed.
"I will eat all your cake."
"Good."
"Okay, Celestia, what's wrong?"
"Indeed."
"Celestia?"
"Yes."
"Tia?"
"True."
"TIA!!!"
Celestia shot around to Luna, a very puzzled look adorning her face, as if she was just ripped out of a dream.
"Tia, do you feel well?" Lun asked as she looked over her sister with concern. Celestia let out a sigh and shool her head.
"I cannot say that I am, no. Ever since the... incident... I have been thinking about this Dragon that Twilight called upon. Not only did he possess powers strong enough to defeat an enemy whom we couldn't even hurt, but he also did all this without asking to be repaid. I have never heard of a Dragon being this benevolent, so what are his motives? How did Twilight come to know such a being anyways?"
Luna tilted her head to the side. "Maybe he was a villain and Twilight has reformed him?"
Celestia shook her head. "No, I haven't felt any harmonic powers being used since they defeated Tirek."
Luna sighed and gave a slight smile. "I suppose, the best and easiest solution would be to simply ask Twilight. Why don't you pay her a vistit?"
Celestia looked around. Everywhere around them were buildings which lay in ruin, some already being worked at, others still unattended. "Because I cannot leave, Luna. I have to be here for my little ponies, especially during such a time of need."
"Tia, frankly speaking: It won't make any difference if you remain here in your current state or are entirely absent. Please, you, too, need to see to your own well-being. If that Dragon bothers you so much then go ahead and ask Twilight about it. I can handle Canterlot alone for a while."
Celestia opened her mouth to say something, but closed her mouth again and instead shook her head and gave a smile.
"I suppose, you are right Luna. Very well, I will send Twilight a letter and leave for Ponyville later in the day. Now, shall we finish this inspection?"
Celestia reached Ponyville later in the afternoon. She stepped off her golden chariot and made her way to the front door of Twilight's castle, knocking three times at the door. It wasn't long until Spike opened the door.
"Oh, hello princess Celestia! Twilight is waiting in the Library for you. TWILIGHT! THE PRINCESS IS HERE!"
Celestia entered the Castle and followed Spike to the Library. Twilight was already waiting inside, her left wing still covered in multiple bandages.
"Hello princess." Twilight chirped as Celestia entered the room. "Please, have a seat." She gestured to a table which stood in the middle of the room and Spike went off to get some tea.
"So, the letter you sent me said that you had some questions?"
Celestia seated herself on a chair directly opposite of Twilight. "Yes, indeed. It is about your Dragon friend."
Twilight tensed up and shifted nervously on her chair. In that moment, Spike came back with the tea.
"Ehehe, so what's about Spike?" She asked with a sheepish grin.
Celestia raised an eyebrow, before hangin her head and sighing. "Twilight, you know exactly, whom I'm talking about."
Twilight's grin faded and her ears drooped behind her head. She looked down to the ground, trying to avoid direct eye contact with Celestia. "I-I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about him eralier... I-I didn't think it would be necessary... Please don't be mad."
Celestia chuckled and smiled calmingly at Twilight. "Twilight, I'm not mad at you."
Twilight looked up at Celestia again. "Y-You don't?"
"No, Twilight. You're a princess now and thus don't need to tell me everything anymore. Just, now that I know about him, I would like to know more about him and how you got to know him."
Twilight smiled and sighed in relief. "Of course, Celestia. Well let's see..."
She told Celestia the whole story, how they wanted to help Spike, how they were detected and how Alex had rescured them. Though she 'forgot' to mention a certain incident after the rescue. She proceeded to then tell her about the Wyvern attack on Ponyville and how Alex successfully defended the Town.
Celestia kept a calm surface, but on the inside, she was in absolute awe. She thought that what she'd seen in Canterlot was a notable act, but standing up against the Dragon King to protect a set of strangers was certainly worthy of a special reward. Before she could decide to declare him a hero, she would first have to learn his motives. Sadly Twilight couldn't give her that information either. She did, however, know where he could be found...
Another peaceful day in the everfree. The battle a few days ago definitely was a straining event, so having a few days to chill out was very nice.
Aaaaah, yes, back again to my absolutely chill life.
"Remember what happened last time. Don't jinx it."
Yeah, I know, but seriously, what could be better. Sleep, chill, beat up another Dragon occasionally, chill again...
"Mister Alex?"
...get interrupted by some pony... ugh, man, I should really stop jinxing it.
"Hehe, told ya."
I opened my eyes and, to my surprise, found Princess Celestia standing before me. I raised my head up and gestured a slight bow.
"Ah, Princess Celestia. What a surprise to see you here."
Celestia returned the gesture and made a few tentative steps towards me. "Now, mister Alex, you might have guessed already that I'm not here for no reason. I would like to ask you some questions, if you don't mind."
Uh-oh... Navi, she wants to ask questions, what should I do now?
"Just play along for now. Remember: if things go south, you can always just deep-fry her."
"Oh, I don't mind, princess. But please, call me Alex."
Celestia set herself down and smiled politely. "Of course. In that case, you may call me Celestia. Now, I may start with the question that's most difficult to answer: What are you?"
Oh shit, Navi, she knows, what do I do now?
"Relax, this isn't an interrogation, Celestia doesn't do stuff like that. Still, please don't tell her about me or about earth, ok?"
"What do you mean exactly? It is quite obvious that I am a Dragon, is it not?"
"From the outside, yes, but you are more intelligent than the brutal Dragons and are more pony-friendly than the Dragon Kingdom. You don't fit into any niche I could think of, so I may ask again: What are you?"
"Well, that is because I am not from here."
"What are you doing? I just told you to NOT mention earth!"
Calm down, I won't, don't worry.
"Oh, so where do you come from?" Celestia tilted her head and raised an eyebrow.
"It is a country further away than your eyes and ears may reach, Celestia. However, I may prefer to not further elaborate on my origins."
Celestia sighed, though I could not determine which emotion was behind it. "Very well, I may ask my next question then: Why do you keep helping my little ponies? What is your motivation to do so?"
On that one, I actually had to think a bit. What was my motivation? At first I only got involved with ponies, because Navi asked me to, but after that...
"In all honesty... I don't know. Initially, I only rescued Twilight, Rarity and Spike, because a friend of mine, whoes anonymity I may preserve, asked me to. After that, I just did so because it felt right... I guess I just like to help whenever I am needed."
Yeah, ok, that was a slight overstatement, I know.
"A slight overstatement? If Spike hadn't said that Twilight was hurt, you would have just stayed here, so..."
Celestia smiled slightly and gently bobbed her head back and forth. "I see. I can't sense any lies with what you've just said, so I guess you are trustworthy."
She sighed, this time clearly in relief. "Please excuse that I had to ask those questions, but I could not quite be sure that you are really just as good-hearted as you are."
"Oh, don't worry, Celestia. I know very well that you have a whole country to care about, so you can hardly risk any thoughtless moves on your part. That being said, I am quite sure that those questions weren't all that you came here for, weren't they?"
Celestia smiled and shook her head. "No, they weren't, indeed. I am here because I felt that, after all what you've done for my ponies, you deserved a reward."
I cocked an eyebrow at that. "Oh? What might you have thought about? Surely Twilight has told you that I am not interested in most of what you could offer me."
"Oh, I think, I've got just the perfect reward for you."
Celestia stood upon a stage in the middle of the central plaza. Luna stood beside her and the Elements of Harmony were also present. In front of the stage, a large crowd had gathered. Celestia stepped forward and began her speech.
"Ponies of Canterlot! We all remember the tragedy that occured only just a few weeks ago. Most of you lost their houses. Some of you even a loved one. We all lost something that day, but there are two things, that remained for all of us. Canterlot, the beautiful City that we call home, as well as our very lives. Though, I cannot claim this achievement for myself, nor can the Elements of Harmony or my sister. We all owe our lives to one certain somepony, who willingly risked his own life to help and rescue us all. Today, we want to repay this favor. Today, we shall thank the one, who, on multiple occasions, has set his own life on the line to save that of others. Now, without further ado: Let me introduce you to Alex, the Albino Elemental Dragon!"
Suddenly, a gigantic, white entity set down behind the stage, the earth trembling as he did so. He reared up on his hind legs, spread his wings wide and let out a thundering roar, that could be heard all the way to Appleloosa.
Celestia turned toward the creature and he gestured a bow with his head.
"Alex. On multiple occasions did you protect my little ponies, even though your own life was endangered by it. You came to aid, when our power was not enough AND you have saved the very lives of Luna and me. For this, you deserve a reward of the highest kind, I can offer to you. Thus, from this day onward, you shall no longer be known just under the name of 'Alex the Dragon'. From this day onward you may call yourself...
... Alex, Guardian of Canterlot and Protector of Equestria!"
"Alex the Dragon was made the official guardian of Canterlot and furthermore granted the title of Protector of Equestria. His many exploits having saved Equestria more than just once, he quickly rose to a position of public worship. He continues to aid anypony in need and resides in Canterlot to this day. The End."
Applejack closed the book in her hooves and put it aside. Her daughter, Applepunch, was jumping up and down in front of her.
"That was a great story, ma!" She said, jumping around like the hyperactive filly she was. "Ah wish ah could meet him too! Ya've told me so many stories 'bout him already! Ah wanna meet him, mommy!"
Applejack quickly leapt down from her sofa and caught her little pogo-filly, nuzzling her belly and blowing a raspberry on it, causing the young filly to laugh frantically.
"Ya know... Yer Birthday is next week, so if ya behave like a good filly, Ah' might have a special gift for you." Applejack told her daughter with a motherly smirk.
The filly immediately squee'd and resumed jumping around.
"Hehe, now be a good filly and go to bed."
The filly stopped in her tracks and with a short and enthusiastic "Okay, mommy", she was gone, leaving only a cloud of dust behind.
A week later, Applepunch's birthday came around and Applejack was due to fulfill her promise. Before they went to the train station, however, they made a short detour to the castle's library to hand in some books, first.
Applejack knocked against the door, which opened after just a few seconds of waiting.
"Howdy, Luna!" Applejack greeted the former Lunar princess, who was now inhabiting the Library together with her Coltfriend and her Sister.
"Good day, Applejack. What brings you here today?"
Applejack took the books out of her sadddlebag and hoofed them to Luna, who took them with her Magic.
"Oh, Ah'm just 'ere tah bring ya these books, before we go t' Canterlot."
Luna quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? May I as, what's the occasion?"
Applepunch started jumping around Applejack again. "It's mah Birthday and mommy promised to show me Alex the Dragon!"
Luna smirked at Applejack and levitated Applepunch up to her face.
"Oh, really? You better watch out then. After all, he is a big, scary Dragon!" Luna cooed. The litle filly giggled as Luna set her back onto the ground.
Applejack ruffled her daughter's mane and waved a hoof in the pony-version of the 'follow me!' - gesture. "Alrighty then, Ah'ma get goin, see ya, Luna!"
"Wait a moment please, Applejack!"
Applejack turned back around and looked at Luna with a question visible in her face.
"May we accompany you to Canterlot?"
"Uh, sure, why?" Applejack answered.
Luna looked over her shoulder and levitated a pair of saddlebags out in front of her. The bags were filled to the brim with books and the like and bore Twilight's Cutie Mark.
"We found these, when we were cleaning up a little and this would be the perfect opportunity to bring them back, don't you think?"
Applejack let her head drop forward, smiled and chuckled over Twilight's good old forgetfulness. "Yeah, Ah'm pretty sure she already lost half her mane in search for these."
Luna gave a slight chuckle, before turning back inside and shouting into one of the corridors. "Sweetheart, Do you want to come along to Canterlot with us?"
After a few moments, a young stallion's voice replied: "Yeah sure, wait a second, I'm coming!"
A minute later, a grey thestral stallion came into view. He had a dark purple mane and his yellow, slitted eyes glinted in the morning sun.
Seeing that everypony was ready, Applejack now turned around, again, and began her walk towards the station. The train ride didn't take long. Mostly because she was in the good company of the former princess and her coltfriend, who were happily chatting with her, while Applepunch sat beside her and drew little paintings.
They got off the train and made their way towards central plaza. They didn't stop there to go into one of the shops, though. Instead, they crossed it straight and walked into a large road that led directly toward the mountain. In the distance, one could already see a set of giant doors leading into a cave in the mountain.
Applejack picked her daughter up and put he on her back. She then pointed a hoof forward and said: "See that? That's where we're goin'."
Applepunch squeed happily in eager anticipation.
You know, I always wanted to be famous and such, but this? This is too much!
"...and then she took all MY bits and left with our foals!"
"Oh, YOUR bits?! Excuse me, it's only right that you pay me foal support with every bit you make!"
"Oh yeah? And what should I live off of?!"
"I don't know? You're the one that always knows everything! Why don't YOU think about it?"
Did you catch, how that all started?
"I think she caught him cheating or something. I don't know, I have stopped listening after two words or so."
Nah, not that. I mean, when did I become the local family therapist? Seriously, they've got a literal PRINCESS of love and they ask ME about their little family problems? Geez, give me a break.
They completely ignored my obvious annoyance and continued on battering and insulting each other and in the end, all they managed to do, is to annoy me even more.
"ENOUGH!!" I shouted. Both of them immediately were silent. I turned to the mare and began talking. "Firstly.: You can't just take all his bits and leave without a word. Not only is this theft, but just taking the foals might just be considered foalnapping." I rose high over them and stated my sentence. "You are to repay his bits and let him see his foals again. As for your family situation: you shall seek judgement from a court or even directly ask the princess for guidance. This verdict is final, now begone!"
Both of them bowed and left the hall. Just as they passed the gates, four other ponies entered.
Oh great, more subjects seeking guidance from the almighty Dragon god... wait, I think I know them...
I squinted my eyes, as I tried to see against the invading light from outside. The gates closed again, holding the bright light outside and leaving us in the light of the torches on the walls. Now, I could clearly see the orange fur, blonde mane and stetson hat of a certain farmmare, as well as the dark figure of a certain princess. Seeing them immediately made my pent-up tension fade and I immediately dropped my 'wise Dragon' - attitude.
"My, it's good to see ya again, Applejack and Luna!"
Both mares stepped forward and I could see a little filly hiding behind Applejack. I knew that Applejack had a daughter, but I never saw her before, as she normally only visited for larger events or when Friendship council was meeting again.
"And hello to you, little bugger. What'cha hidin' for?" I asked with a benevolent smile and a tilted head. The filly slowly crept from behind her mother and made a few tentative steps toward me.
Applejack chuckled at her daughter's antics and looked up to me. "That's mah daughter, Applepunch. It's her birthday and she wanted to see ya."
"Oh, I feel honoured that such a fine filly wanted to see me." I reached a claw down to her and petted her head. "Happy birthday to you, little Applepunch. As my birthday gift, lt me give you some good advice from the almighty Dragon god: Do what your mother tells you. Sometimes it may seem nonsensical, but I can assure you that she always knows, what's best for you."
"For someone who never had kids, you are pretty fatherly, you know?"
Oh shut up!
The little filly giggled and I turned to Luna. "Now, what might the occasion be for you? Because judging by the saddlebags you are carrying, I am not the one you wanted to go to, am I?" I looked back to her companion, who was shaking his head with a smile. Now that I had a better look on him , he did look familiar...
Luna took a hoof up to her muzzle and gasped. "Oh, I almost forgot..." She turned around to her companion. "Fruitbite, would you please take those to Twilight?" She asked, as she levitated the saddlebags over to him.
Fruitbite? I KNOW THIS STALLION!
"Yo, little bugger! Long time no see, eh?"
The Stallion smiled up at me, supposedly happy that I remembered him. "Hey, Alex, it's been a while."
Luna gave us alternating looks of confusion. "You two know eachother?"
"Yeah, he found me in the everfree, back when I wasn't the almighty Dragon just yet."
Luna's face scrunched up and she gave me an incredulous look. "That's impossible! He must have been a foal back then!"
"See? I told you, I was already brave back then!" Fruitbite quipped.
"I might prefer stupid..." Luna countered. Fruitbite smiled and, with a short chuckle, hung his head in defeat.
I gave a short laugh, before turning to Fruitbite again. "Well, good to see that ya haven't given up on yer goal of becoming her personal guard."
As a response, Fruitbite gave Luna a flirty smile, who in return blushed and quickly looked away. I put two and two together and gave a short, but wholehearted laugh. "Ha! It seems you'd only settle for the most personal of guards, eh?"
"Heh, sure! Always aim as high as one can get, that's what you told me back then! Now, I should really get going, see you later!"
He ran off through the doors and turned directly towards the castle. While he was gone, Applejack, Luna and I took our time in catching up on what everyone else was doing. After all, I hadn't seen Luna in a while and I didn't see Applejack all too often either. Suddenly, the doors opened again and a certain purple Alicorn stepped through, accomanied by Fruitbite and a set of guards.
She turned around and spoke to them: "You may wait outside, I believe Alex the protector will be enough to guarantee my safety." She said in a way that strongly reminded me of Celestia when I saw her last... Now that I think about it: she had even grown to look like Celestia, apart from her colour scheme.
The Guards saluted and trotted off, while Twilight made her way towards us. As soon as the Guards were gone, though, she immediately dropped the princess-facade and embraced both, Luna and Applejack, in a tight hug.
"I'm so happy to see you girls again!" She said, as she loosened her hug.
"Ah would be very offended if ya weren't!" Applejack quipped with a smile. The engaged in a happy chatter, leaving Applepunch, Fruitbite and me to ourselves. I must say, the time here truly went by like it was nothing. One day I was hit by a Truck and brought into this world, only a few hours later, I was already having my first fight, protecting those little buggers. Then, a few days later I successfully defended Ponyville from a rogue Wyvern, only to repeat the same thing in Canterlot, this time against a Dragon. Shortly after that, I became their official protector, the duty of which I'm carrying to this day.. and only a few years later, Twilight became princess already and now we're here. But hey, no time yet to drift through the past, there's still a LOT ahead of me. After all, Life...
This is an important notice to everyone who is still tracking this: The Sequel is live and it carries the absolutely creative name of "Homo Draconis 2"! Don't worry about the EqG-tag, it's just the prologue and will likely be removed with the next update.