Chronicles of the Protectors

Magia blinked rapidly as she looked toward Twilight, watching as she wiped her eyes.

“Princess Sparkle...” Magia sounded disoriented.  “What happened... Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.” Twilight said, wiping the last of her tears.  “Just a bit nostalgic... Magia, I cannot stress this enough: You hold the spirit of generosity.  You must call upon it whenever you need to.  The Elements have done some amazing things in the past; I've no doubt that they can do it again.”

“Alright.  Thank you, princess.”  Magia collected herself, smiling at Twilight.  “I will cherish what you have taught me always.”  Magia turned and walked toward her friends.

“Well, Magia, what do we do now?” Flood asked, a smile stuck on her face.  “You're in charge.” Magia thought for a moment before turning back to face Twilight.

“We attack.” Magia said, closing her eyes.  “Degnemico has gone far enough, and it's up to us to stop them.”  The party nodded determinedly and confidently.  Magia gave a respectful bow to Twilight as she and the group turned and began walking back to the transport rune.

“You're not planning on walking all the way there, are you?”  Twilight called out. As Magia turned around, she saw Twilight, still standing before the window.  A massive shadow encompassed the entire room, darkening the hall.  A mighty windy noise rushed through the hall, as the light quickly faded back in.  Beyond the window rest a gargantuan purple mass, accented with green, resting on the charred ground below.  Magia ran to the window, peering out in awe. Her mouth hung agape as she gaze upon a colossal winged dragon, gazing back up at her with giant emerald green eyes, a look of solemn greeting on it's face.  Qul and Tera' ran over and looked out, each of them struck with disbelief.

“The stories are true...” Qul remarked.

“The Dragon of Legend exists...” Tera' completed.  They looked on in awe as the dragon's face began to stir, and it's mighty maw opened, just barely revealing a green blaze glowing in it's throat.

“Dragon of Legend?”  The colossal dragon spoke, slowly, yet mightily.  “Is that what they're calling me?”  The dragon laughed heartily.

“That's Spike.  He has been with me for nearly as long as I can remember.” Twilight said, smiling at him. “Can you believe that I hatched that giant dragon?”

“I have stayed by Twilight's side for my entire life.” Spike spoke once more, his voice booming and loud, yet joyous and calm.  “In over two hundred years, I have never left her side, nor has she left mine.”

“Two hundred years?” Qul sounded surprised, “Dragons seldom live over one hundred years.”

“Oh I've been meaning to die for about a century now.” Spike said, stifling a mighty chuckle.  “I just can't find the time to do so, I suppose.  Regardless, I will stay by Twilight's side for as long as she lives, so I'll have to wait just a few more millennia.” Twilight smiled as she shook her head joyfully.

The rest of the group had joined Magia in looking at the dragon. Spike finally grew impatient.

“Are you planning on coming out or not? I'm more than just something to stare at.”  Spike flapped his wings slowly.  Magia looked toward Twilight, her face reflecting a feeling of surprise and excitement. Twilight simply nodded affirmatively.  As Magia and the party descended, approaching Spike, his eyes grew teary, holding a hint of nostalgia.  “My... You look so much like her...” He said quietly, staring at Magia.

Spike lowered his wings to the ground as the party approached.  Magia trembled in awe as she drew nearer to the Dragon of Legend.  She herself was only as large as but one of his many scales.  She carefully stepped onto his lowered wing and climbed onto his titanic back, finding her grip amongst his rough, scaled body.  As the party shuffled onto Spike, Twilight, Qul, and Tera' stood aside, remaining on the charred ground.

“Princess Sparkle. Are you coming with us?” Magia asked, looking to Twilight. She simply shook her head.

“I can't.  There are others. Other unicorns, back inside the sanctuary.” Twilight said, “These dragons and I must stay here with them. That means that it's up to you to rescue all of the ones Degnemico captured.  You six are the protectors of magic, and it is my honor to bestow upon you the title of Magi.”

The party looked at Twilight in shocked confusion, as she looked upon them with a gaze of fabled respect.

“You truly mean that, princess? Magi?” Duster asked.

“I do. You four have shown the utmost selflessness in this dark time in taking it upon yourselves to fight. To fight for a once again unified Equestria, and for the freedom of magic. It is in this, that you have well earned the title given to only those who have proven themselves in the eyes of magic.” Twilight said, a look of pride in the party spread across her face.

“Thank you, princess.  It is an honor.” Magia said, smiling happily, feeling her eyes beginning to well up.

“Thank me later.” Twilight said, smiling.  “But for now, I think you have a world to save.”  Magia smirked at Twilight, before looking to her friends.

“Alright.  Let's go Spike!” Magia said. Spike began to flap his wings in response, mightily rippling the air around them.

“As you wish, Magi.” Spike replied, his voice booming, shaking the ground near him.

As the legendary dragon's wings beat more and more vigorously, his colossal body gradually began to rise, defying his size, and taking to the skies with the Magi.

Magia looked down as Spike rose higher and higher into the sky. She watched in awe as the ever changing landscape miles below rolled by at breakneck speeds.  Tundras turned to mountains, mountains turned to forests, forests turned to grasslands, grasslands turned to swamps.  Duster saw her admiring the world below.

“It once looked so much more majestic.” He said, catching her attention.  She jumped as she turned to look at him, before returning her gaze to the ground.

“I wouldn't know... I've been imprisoned almost all of my life, since I was nine.  This is the most I've ever seen of the outside.” She said, her voice sounding happy, yet withholding a hint of sorrow.

“You're only nineteen...” Duster said, his voice emulating the sorrow in Magia's.  “So young, and already charged with a task such as this.  I'm so sorry.” Magia looked at him, and shook her head as she looked down.

“It's not your fault.” She said, quickly quieting herself.

“Even so... It was my honor to serve with your mother.” He said, shooting her a small smile.  “You look just like her. Did you know that?”

“Yeah...” Magia replied, the happiness quickly draining from her. “I'm not half the unicorn she was, though.”  Duster looked at her in disbelief.

“What?” He asked, his eyes narrowing.  “As I see it, the opposite is true.  You have no doubt surpassed her every expectation of you.  Your skill, your resolve, your beauty.” Duster's eyes shot open as he caught himself.  His ears shot up, before lowering as he averted his gaze, hoping that his red coat would hide his blushing. Magia's ears perked up as she looked toward him in shock. As she saw him looking down in embarrassment, she smiled and blushed herself.

“Do you really think so?” She asked, “About my mother, that is.”

“I do. If you hold any doubts about your ability, do not forget that you have me by your side always. I will fight for you, no matter the cost.” Duster said, looking determinedly at Magia, his eyes locking with hers. Magia cocked an eyebrow and smirked. Duster quickly caught himself again. “I-I mean us. We! We will fight for you, no matter the cost.” The red fur on his face began to grow a darker red once more. Magia met his blush again as well.

“Thank you, Duster.” She said, her eyes remaining locked with his for a few more moments, before she returned her gaze to the ground.  Her eyes widened as a gargantuan, dark structure quickly swam into view. “Is that it?” She motioned her head forward, toward the complex.

“It is.” Spike's booming voice called out.  “It is from there that Degnemico operates, capturing unicorns and holding Equestria in a state of horrible dismay.”

“Then it's up to us to put a stop to them.  Do you have any suggestion on how to attack, Spike?” Magia asked, looking toward the mighty dragon's head.

“If I drop you on the west roof, you may enter through the skylight. From there, you must work your way to the main structure. In there you will find the office of Tropo Rex. He is the one you want.” Spike explained.  “If you remove the head, the rest of the body will quickly rot away.”

“Can't you help us fight?” Flood asked. “You're big enough to smash the entire complex easily!”

“I'm afraid I cannot do that.  I made a promise to a dear friend many, many years ago, just before she passed.” Spike said.  “I promised that I would never, ever harm another living being, for as long as I lived.” A silence befell the group.

“Are they aware of our intrusion yet?” Searing Sparks asked, breaking the tension.

“I imagine the sight of a colossal dragon happened to catch their attention, yes.” Flood said.

“So we'll be facing heavy opposition.” Magia said. “Is everyone ready, then?”

“We are.” Duster said, looking intently at the complex, before turning to look at Magia. An appearance of concern swept over him.  “Are you?”

“Yeah.” She said, smiling at him.  “Alright Spike, put us down.”

“As you wish.” Spike said.  He quickly descended, landing on the ground just beside the west tower.  He extended his wing upward, resting it on the roof of the building.  “Good luck, Magi.” He said.  As the last of the Magi stepped off of his wing and on to the building, Spike took to the skies once more, flying back in the direction of the sanctuary. Flood's eyes shot open.

“If they follow him back, they'll find the princess, and all of the other unicorns in hiding there!” She said loudly, looking over the group.

“Then we stop them before they get the chance.” Searing Sparks said, charging violently toward the skylight before them.

“Wait! We should try to be stealthy about this!” Flood said, halting him.

“We just arrived on a dragon roughly the size of this entire complex.  I don't think espionage is an option anymore.” Duster said, stepping up to the skylight.  He raised his fore-hooves, and harshly slammed them down onto the glass and metal structure, shattering it inward violently.

“Let's go.” Searing Sparks said, jumping into the hole.  The other Magi quickly followed, landing their hooves onto the shattered glass coating the floor, cracking the bits beneath them.

As they looked around, they found their entrance to be clear, with no hostiles anywhere in the room in which they landed.

“Alright. We have four buildings between us and this 'Tropo Rex'.  We'd better get moving.” Flood said, approaching the east door.  Magia stopped her.

“Wait! If you don't think before you act, you'll get yourself killed. Especially here!” Magia said. “Don't you think it's a bit too quiet here, considering the stunt we just pulled?”

“You're right.  Our opponents need to be nearby.” Duster said. “I would guess that they are just beyond that door.” He pointed toward the east door near Flood.