What If #1: Dealing with Dragons
Three Years Ago…
“Dragons?” Dr. Sorou asked. “You have dealings with…” He gulped. “…Dragons?”
“Yes, I do.” Princess Celestia replied. “I made a treaty a long time ago with them, but I fear that treaty may soon come to an end.”
“Why?” Dr. Sorou asked.
“Because the parents of a certain dragon are sure to awaken, soon.” She replied. “And I must be there for negotiations.”
Dr. Sorou knew the dragon she was talking about. Spike. He had been a good friend to the Doctor, and he and Twilight were as thick as thieves. Dr. Sorou couldn’t imagine a Ponyville without Spike. “If Spike is somehow involved…” Dr. Sorou asked. “Will he have to leave?”
Princess Celestia nodded. “Yes, he will. If it’s the only way to ensure there remains peace between Dragonkind and Equestria.”
Dr. Sorou couldn’t believe what he was hearing. The Princess would willingly shatter the kinships of some of her closest subjects in order to protect her kingdom, when there was a better way? A way where there would be no sacrifice? The way he was thinking of, there would be no bloodshed, and no tears shed for anyone important. He would have to do research, though. Much research. He stood. “Princess, I thank you for your hospitality, but now, I need to get back to the lab.”
Princess Celestia nodded, understandingly. “Yes, Doctor. It’s always a pleasure to have you at the castle.”
Dr. Sorou dismissed himself from her presence, and began to work.
Present day…
Dr. Sorou entered the library behind Rainbow Dash. “Wow, Spike!” He said, holding out a knuckle for him to bump. “More power to ya, buddy!” Behind him, John and Geo entered the library, similarly congratulating the young dragon and his new fillyfriend. Everyone showed up for the festivities, and enjoyed the congratulatory atmosphere, until Twilight shouted “ENOUGH!”
Everypony suddenly backed away, and began questioning Twilight as to the reason of the interruption of the merriment.
Applejack spoke softly, “Twi, you can tell us anything. We’re your friends and we are here to help.”
“I know,” Twilight answered. “I know that you will all find out one way or another. I was hoping to speak with Spike alone, but you all deserve to know.” She inhaled deeply, the tears threatening to resurface. “I arrived from Canterlot last night. Spike wasn’t home, so I decided to wait, and sent the Princess’ chariot away until I summoned them again.
“I must have fallen asleep because the sun was up and Spike was gone this morning when I awoke. I didn’t want anypony else to know that I was back before I was due, so I waited for him to return so I could tell him –”
“Tell me what?” Spike interrupted.
“To tell you that you need to come to Canterlot because…” she lost yet another battle with her overpowering tears. Spike hugged her harder, upset with his best friend’s sadness.
“Because your parents are looking for you.”
The room fell deathly silent then. Rarity’s jaw dropped, Rainbow Dash stopped flying, Pinkie Pie’s eyes widened and Fluttershy simply whimpered again.
“My,” Spike worded slowly, “parents?” Twilight nodded, closing her eyes.
“I don’t think I understand, Twi,” Applejack found herself wanting to pull Spike closer to her.
Twilight looked at her and said, “I think you do, AJ. They have come to Canterlot.”
“You mean my mom and dad are still around, and they’re in Canterlot as we speak?”
“Yes, Spike. That is what I am saying,” Twilight confirmed.
“And they want to see me?” Spike’s eyes widened at the possibility of seeing his true mother and father, something he secretly wished since his hatching. Why then, was Twilight so sad?
The realization hit him. “They want to take me with them.” Twilight nodded, clenching her teeth and holding back her sobs.
Dr. Sorou looked grimly. “I knew it would come to this.” He stated, as Applejack shook her head in disbelief of what she was hearing, fighting back an onslaught of tears. She looked over at Dr. Sorou. Everyone did.
“You knew?!” Applejack exclaimed through choked tears. “You knew all along, and you didn’t tell anypony?!”
“I didn’t need to.” Dr. Sorou reasoned, a look of seething anger crossing his features. “Princess Celestia told me about her treaty with the dragons three years ago. Since then, I’ve been preparing a third option, in case their negotiations went poorly for Equestria.”
“A third option?” Twilight sniffed. “What do you mean?”
Dr. Sorou took a microphone from his PDA, and sighed, as he steeled himself for a command he thought he’d never have to give. “Commence Operation: Immovable Object.” He stated, before moving out of the library. “Come on with me, everyone.” He called, waving for his friends to follow him. “I need to speak with Princess Celestia.”
“We’re going to Canterlot?” Twilight asked. “How are we going to get there?”
As if on cue, a robotic flyer from Dr. Sorou’s lab descended, and touched down in front of the group. “Much faster than a Pegasus chariot, that’s for sure.” He said, climbing into the back of the machine. “Hop in. Everything will become clear once I meet with the Princess and the Dragon’s leader.”
*
The flyer drew closer to the Canterlot castle, with Dr. Sorou at the helm. “Alright, everyone. Let me state my peace. Then, we’ll see if the dragons want to renegotiate their contract.” The tone in which Dr. Sorou said this worried everyone in the flyer. The Doctor had never taken such a tone before.
“What are you planning, Doctor?” Geo finally spoke, as the flyer made its final descent.
Doctor Sorou unbuckled his seat belt, and moved to the back of the flyer. “Not planning, Geo.” He looked back, and gave a foreboding smile. “Planned.” He faced forward, and the group saw Princess Celestia approach, an unreadable expression upon her ageless visage. They all bowed, humbly.
“It is a pleasure to see each of you.” Celestia stated. “I only wish it were under more pleasant circumstances.” She sighed lightly. “Please follow me. Spike, your parents are waiting.” The little dragon followed behind the regal mare, barely keeping up with her billowing, celestial tail. Through the audience chamber and down the cavernous halls lit by countless torches set aflame, the group proceeded. The starry sky met them upon their final approach to the royal gardens.
Before Spike’s eyes could register what they bore witness to, a great voice preceded any understanding, “Hatchling of so many years before, stolen and yet kept safe, thou hast returned at last!” Spike shrank before the crimson-armoured male who received him. The large head of Royum Dadaelus swayed to face his mate, speaking, “Timid, is he not?”
“It is to be expected when all others tower above you.” Royum Nalthanida’s cool green eyes met the fiery ones of her husband.
To this, Dadaelus simply grunted and faced Celestia, “You ponyfolk have made him soft, and have dulled his senses with your kindness, your laughter.” Steam rose from his flaring nostrils. Spike cringed and the ponies brought themselves closer to him, as Twilight mentally prepared herself for a quick teleportation to spirit the group to safety, should the elder dragon’s temper grow worse. Geo and John fell back in fear, and Dr. Sorou merely glared angrily.
“Being in the company of the purveyors of the Elements of Harmony,” responded Celestia, unmoved, “I would expect nothing but great things from your son, my old friend.” Dadaelus grunted dismissively. “Do not write him off so easily.”
“I assure you, Celestia, that if I deemed him unworthy of his heritage, he would not have lived so long as he has before my presence.” Dadaelus drew himself to full height as his claws raked across the prim lawn, producing deep gouges beneath his steel-black claws.
Celestia’s expression did not shift with this display, but simply said, “My gardeners will not be pleased with those gouges, Dadaelus.” The Dragonlord returned to his relaxed position on all fours, a dangerous smile upon his reptilian lips. A long silence settled between the pair of rulers.
Nalthanida lowered her head and locked her green eyes upon Spike. When she was level with him, she spoke softly, saying, “Come to me, little one.” Spike gulped and obeyed, shuffling quietly toward her great snout. When he was mere feet away, the lady dragon drew a deep breath and inhaled his scent. Instantly, her large eyes widened with recognition. “Thou were the egg that I would have named Severezhad, had thee survived the hatching. The smallest and softest of my entire clutch, yet cherished all the same.”
“Mommy?” Nalthanida grinned as Spike’s own emerald eyes widened, his ear pricked with a sound he had all but forgotten. Her voice was a sensation that echoed with the undeniable truth. These were his parents. His very soul bore the brunt of that truth. He reached a claw out to her and pressed it gently upon her blue snout.
Twilight wanted to say something, anything, but she simply stared at the exchange. It was so seamless, so natural. She watched as the lady dragon extended a hand toward him, scaly palms open, welcoming. She dreaded his step toward the dragon and wanted to scream when he did. But, before he went any further, his head turned and their eyes met. Hers, a pleading purple hue, moistened with ready tears, while with his, a faint emerald glow, much like his mothers, denoting both uncertainty and fear of submission.
“Let us go now, Severezhad.”
Applejack crept closer to Doctor Sorou, and nudged him. “Partner, if yer’ gonna say something, it’s now ‘er never.” She said, as she met eyes with Spike. The doctor merely shook his head. “Not yet.”
Spike’s eyes then narrowed as he turned to face his mother,“No.”
“What?” Dadaelus barked, shocked. His eyes brightened into malicious red torches. Nalthanida drew her head back, her icy eyes melting with hurt before they evaporated into rage, though she said nothing.
“I said no.” Spike glared at the towers of scale and anger that stood before him.
“Then you condemn Canterlot and these ponies to death!” Dadaelus bellowed. He reared his great head back and fire sprang from his mouth in an upward plume. Twilight and the rest of the ponies ducked and hid themselves. Celestia and Sorou stood perfectly still.
“Why?” Spike shouted back. “Why am I suddenly so precious to you! Where were you all those years ago?” Black smoke puffed from his nostrils. Nalthanida simply stared at her son. Eventually Dadaelus brought himself to look upon his defiant offspring.
“I’ve lost you once, Severezhad.” The lady dragon brought her head low so that Spike could see her at his level. “I am willing to do whatever it takes to never lose you again.”
“Even burn down Canterlot?” Spike asked.
“I would burn the entire world if I could but have all my children return to me.”
“All?” Spike became confused.
“Yes,” Dadaelus interrupted. “You were the last among several Royumi.”
“But the only one to survive.” Celestia chimed in as both adult dragons eyes fell upon her.
Finally, Dr. Sorou began laughing. Laughing like a mad man. All eyes suddenly focused on him, as he continued this laugh. “Alright, alright.” He said, trying to compose himself. “This has gone on long enough.” He stepped forward, catching his breath. “Dadaelus, was it? You have how many dragons ready to burn down Canterlot?” He asked.
Dadaelus huffed out a cloud of smoke at the arrogance he perceived in Dr. Sorou. “One-“
“-Thousand.” Dr. Sorou said in unison, nodding. “I thought so.” He then resumed his manic laughter, before taking a deep breath. “Then I’ve already won.”
A look of confusion and anger crossed Dadaelus’ face. Between his son’s refusal to cooperate, and the arrogance of this creature, he was at his limit of patience. “Explain yourself at once! Or be beheaded!” He drew a claw back, ready to strike the Doctor.
“Ah, ah, ah!” Dr. Sorou said, wagging a finger, and opening his coat, to reveal a device connected to his chest. “If my heart stops, or if I think I’m in danger of being killed, then you can kiss your sorry asses goodbye! Now settle down, and have a seat! You’re gonna wanna hear this!” The ponies were completely shocked by the Doctor’s behavior. John and Geo looked flabbergasted.
Geo started towards him. “Doctor, what’s going-“
“You shut up, too! And back off!” The doctor said, staring Geo down into moving back over to the ponies. Dr. Sorou then faced Princess Celestia. “Now then, your highness. I mean no disrespect, but what I do now, I do not as a citizen of Equestria, but in service of Equestria. You are indeed a wise, fair, just, and powerful ruler. But you are hardly a General or a Conqueror. In most cases, this is a good thing. But your inability to prepare for battle has brought us to this impasse.” Slowly, Dr. Sorou turned to the garden’s balcony, and walked toward it. He stopped, gazing down at Canterlot below. “You could say I’m something of a…patriot. I do not respond kindly to threats against my country in any capacity. That is why I’ve taken matters into my own hands.”
Just then, a Pegasus of the Royal Guard was seen swooping down into the garden. “Your highness!” He called. “I bring an emergency message from our garrison near the Dragonlands!” All attention was on the newcomer, save for the good doctor’s, who was raptly observing the streets of Canterlot. The Pegasus trotted immediately up to the Princess, and bowed his head. “There is a great host of machines, gathered on our side of the border! They seem poised to strike at the Dragonlands at any moment!”
“Don’t worry, they won’t attack unless I tell them to.” Dr. Sorou announced calmly, and confidently, as all eyes began to focus on him. “Messenger, why don’t you give us an estimate of the troop count in the host? How many machines are there?”
The Messenger looked to Celestia, whose shocked expression looked back at him. She slowly nodded. “T-Ten thousand strong, at least.” The messenger stuttered out.
At this, Dr. Sorou began laughing. “Only ten thousand?” He guffawed, looking back at the messenger. “You call that an estimate?” He inhaled sharply, turning back to his place at the balcony. “That’s not even half of the guns I have pointed at the Dragonlands.”
Dadaelus let out a roar of outrage. “Fool! You dare mock dragonkind with empty threats?! We dragons are mightier than any contraption you can build!”
“Are you?” Dr. Sorou asked, smirking. “Because it just so happens I designed these weapons to specifically eliminate dragons.” Dadaelus let out a flash of flame, which Dr. Sorou ducked, before righting himself after the discharge was over. He brushed himself off, before giving the dragon a mean look. “Temper, temper.” He said, reminding him of the monitor hooked up to his chest. “You don’t want to cause the extinction of your race, do you?” Once he saw that Dadaelus was settled, Dr. Sorou continued. “Good. Now then, as I was saying. I have spent the last three years researching weapons capable of penetrating your scales, and armor capable of withstanding your flames. After gaining a sample of dragon DNA, I was able to clone a hide, and a breath weapon, to great effect. And using these clones, I developed a particle beam capable of piercing dragon armor, and a heat-resistant alloy capable of deflecting dragon’s flames. I then used these materials to secretly construct an army of battle-bots in hidden factories across Equestria, specifically designing them to hunt down and destroy dragons.”
Spike remembered shedding a scale three years back. A scale that the good doctor was very interested in obtaining. At the time, he seemed harmless enough with it, but looking back, the Doctor’s adamancy scared him. “You used me…” He said, looking up at Sorou in disbelief.
Dr. Sorou looked solemnly at Spike. “Please, Spike. Understand that I had no choice. We have no assurance that the Dragons will not simply turn around and destroy Canterlot once they have what they want.”
Lord Dadaelus growled. “You dare question the honor of a Dragon’s word?!”
“I do!” Dr. Sorou retorted. “The only honorable dragon I know is Spike, and he was raised by ponies!”
“You will address him as Severezhad!” Dadaelus demanded.
“I will address him as a friend!” Sorou shot back. “And if you have a problem with that, I dare you to take my life, and ensure that there’s no stopping my forces from crushing your lands!” Surprisingly, Dadaelus settled again, knowing he was beat. The only thing stopping him from killing Dr. Sorou was the fact that there was an army poised to strike at his home, a fact that Sorou was milking to the last drop. Sorou began chuckling, then laughing again, his maniacal cackle scaring everypony (and the other humans) there. He inhaled, and looked at Dadaelus. “And my suspicions are confirmed.”
No one spoke, but all continued to have eyes on Sorou, expecting an explanation. “I’ve crunched the numbers. You dragons are pretty big, and I’ve seen the amount of gems, meats and vegetables you consume. According to my calculations, the Dragonlands can support an estimated number of around, two thousand dragons. Afterwards, I delved more deeply into that number. I know your culture. Other dragons attack nests that don’t belong to them, and destroy the eggs there, to ensure the survival of their own genetic material. It’s Darwinism at its finest, or worst, depending on which way you look at it. Now, I’ve calculated the size of families. It would be around two to five dragons per family, with each family having zero to three children.
“Suffice to say, when you add it all up, you’re near your population cap. You either need to declare war on another nation, or destroy part of your own civilization just to support your own eating habits. Thus, we can’t trust that you won’t attack Canterlot anyway, once we hand SPIKE” Sorou put emphasis on Spike’s name, knowing that Dadaelus didn’t like it. “over to you. This leads me to believe that you just don’t want to needlessly sacrifice any draconian lives in order to ensure the survival of your own species. Am I hitting close to home?” Dadaelus, not wanting to answer him, let out a short bark of outrage. Sorou smiled menacingly. “I’ll take that as a resounding ‘yes.’ Oh, but it gets worse, doesn’t it?” The dragons were paying rapt attention to Sorou, wanting to slaughter him, but staying themselves. “Y’see, after factoring in families to your population cap, I estimate that roughly half of your population are hatchlings and juveniles. And half of two thousand is…” He grew silent, a wise smile showing on his face. “How many dragons did you say were ready to strike Canterlot?”
“One…”The dragon lord hesitated. “…Thousand.”
“Five hundred fathers, and five hundred mothers, correct?” Sorou said, triumphantly. “So, if all the dragon’s mommies and daddies are here, because you don’t seem the type who would put kids on the battlefield…” He looked grimly up at Dadaelus. “…Then who’s in the Dragonlands, defending the children?”
A collective gasp and shouts of disbelief echoed from the ponies. “Doctor, you can’t be serious!” Princess Celestia exclaimed in fear. “Please, think about what you’re doing! They are younglings, for goodness sake! They…they don’t deserve to die!”
“Well maybe, the dragons should’ve thought of that before they positioned their forces outside of Canterlot, Princess!” Sorou reasoned. “They should’ve thought of all the innocent mares, colts, and especially foals living in this peaceful city, and how, if they razed it to the ground, they would’ve ended up killing thousands of innocent creatures! If they show such blatant disregard for our own young, then maybe we should do unto them, what they would do unto us! It’s a package deal! If they consider our children to be a viable target, then there’s nothing saying we can’t go after theirs!” Before anyone else could speak, Dr. Sorou pointed a finger up in the air. “Now, how this is going to go down depends entirely on the decisions of one individual.” He pointed at Dadaelus, and glared at him. “The moment one of your dragons so much as sneezes in the direction of Canterlot, my armies will march in to your nesting grounds, and kill every dragon there. But if, perchance, every dragon you’ve summoned returns to their nests peacefully, and in an orderly fashion, without a single drop of pony blood spilled, then my forces will withdraw, and return to storage until they are needed again.”
“You would have us leave without our child?!” Nalthanida spoke.
“If you can call him that.” Sorou stated. “No, I’m giving him a choice. And I expect both parties to respect the choice he makes. He will either stay in Equestria, with the friends he made, and the people he’s grown to know and love, or he returns with you to the Dragonlands, and you raise him like the parents you were supposed to be.” The Royam couple looked at each other. “You need not agree with this deal, because I’m not giving you a choice. The choice is his, and whatever choice he makes, both armies WILL withdraw peacefully, and no war shall be waged between Dragonkind and Equestria. Do I make myself clear?”
After a long and hesitant silence, Royam Dadaelus spoke. “Truly, you are a worthy opponent. Were it a pony making the same threats, I would’ve scoffed, and had him slain. But you…you are different. You are of a species who knows violence and war, a species which thrives in battle. Your insight has granted you a terrifying advantage. You are willing to sacrifice your very innocence to protect that which you care about, and you disregard the consequences of your actions, if it means the safety of your way of life. All are admirable qualities.” Dadaelus looked over to Celestia. “Princess, you have my word. No matter what the decision of our son, we shall leave in peace.” The Royam dragons turned to Spike. Spike looked up at his parents, and stepped forward.
Spike sighed. “Mom, dad, I’m sorry. But there are ponies here that I care deeply for, and I wouldn’t be the dragon I am today if it weren’t for them.” He stood firmly where he was. “My decision is still ‘No.’ I’m staying here.”
Nalthanida looked heartbroken, and Dadaelus tightened his expression. “I see. In that case, we have no choice. We shall leave.” Dadaelus and Nalthanida began beating their wings, the gusts of wind almost being too much to bear. “We shall dismiss the Thousand, as promised. Farewell, Equestrians.” And with that, the dragons took off into the sky, leaving the ponies and the humans down below.
After they were out of sight, Sorou grabbed the microphone from his PDA. “Keep me posted. Once confirmation that all dragons have departed Equestria has been obtained, Operation: Immovable Object will be considered a ‘Success.’” He put the microphone back, and quickly made for the exit, but was quickly intercepted by a seven colored streak across the air.
“Hold on a second!” Rainbow Dash said, her expression full of scorn. “You wanna tell us when you decided it’d be a good idea to create an army of killer robots?!”
“I don’t need to explain myself to you.” Sorou stated, shoving Rainbow Dash out of the way, and continuing back toward the exit.
“Yes you do!” Twilight exclaimed, both hurt and angry that a friend would do something so drastic. “It’s completely immoral! Especially the way you threatened to kill innocent children!” She hugged Spike close to her, tears welling up in her eyes. The doctor ignored her, continuing on his way. “Do you think the very lives of everyone on the planet are nothing more than your playthings?! Don’t you care about any of us?!”
At that last statement, Dr. Sorou shot a glare back at the group. If looks could kill, the entire garden would be a field of corpses. Sorou sighed out his frustration, and turned away from the ponies. “I do care. It’s because I care that I did what I did. I gave Spike a chance to remain with the ones he loves with no ill consequences to the rest of Equestria.” Sorou turned towards the exit. “But after I’ve shown what I’m capable of, I fear I may never go back to how I was before. You won’t want me anymore, so if anyone needs me, I’ll be in my lab.” At this, Dr. Sorou left, taking his flyer back to Ponyville.