Chapters Saint Beast: From Pony to Dragon to Pony Again
[Please take note:
Most dragons do not speak Equestrian, since they normally do not interact with them. So when someone talks and it is red they are speaking in draconic.
Dragons only eat the gems the same color as their scales.
3) The five main dragons pride themselves in their breed's strengths. Red is strong in spell-casting and resistant to fire. White has phenomenal speed and agility. Brown has brute strength and physical resistance on its side. Black is cunning and resistant to poisons. Blue is strong in magic and intellect.]
The Misfortunes of Some
Mr. And Mrs. Shine were a happy couple, and they'd recently built their own home in Ponyville, a pretty little cottage with wind chimes out front. Mr. Shine had a full-time job at a local hoof-shining company, but the company down-sized soon after he finished his house, and he lost his job.
Five months went past, and neither pony could find a new job. They lost their home and their savings. Desperate for some bits, they were forced to resort to stealing from dragons, which is legal in Equestria but very dangerous. They decided to make the well-known Rosmerta the target, because she was an old and powerful red wyrm, and she would not expect such an intrusion.
Soon after making this decision, they set out to the land of dragons, but it took two months to find their destination. In the meantime, Mrs. Shine's belly began to grow, and she was frequently ill in the morning. The two ponies suspected pregnancy, but neither of them said the word out loud. The horribleness of the entire situation was just too great, and it did not change what had to be done. They studied Rosmerta for some time, and Mrs. Shine's belly grew and grew. She could feel the baby kicking at night, and sometimes she cried, worrying about what might become of her little one, if they failed. She said none of this to her husband, though at times she suspected he too was awake, worrying.
The time came to strike. In the middle of the night, the two unicorns snuck silently into Rosmerta's lair. She was as tall as a five story building, and double the length. Rumor was she had a mountain of gold, and that she was the matriarch of all the region's red dragons. Mr. and Mrs. Shine waited for the dragon to take her nightly flight before they crept into the cave. The cave was huge; the whole of the mountain had been dug out and replaced with gold. Piles upon piles of gold lay heaped on the floor, and without hesitation, without a word, they started to fill the bags they had brought with them.
They didn't expect the dragon to come back early. She landed outside the cave with such force the ground shook, and the two ponies froze, terrified. They tried to hide, but it was impossible to hide in a dragon's cave. Rosmerta spotted them immediately.
The dragoness looked down at the two thieves, unable to find any forgiveness in her heart for the terrible crime they had committed against her. She breathed in deeply as the two huddled together, Mr. and Mrs. Shine both knowing this was the end, wishing things could have been different. The flames engulfed them, and they were killed instantly. The stallion had stepped in front of his wife at the last moment, and his body was pure ash and cinders, the mare behind him only burned black.
" I must be getting old," Rosmerta said to herself. "Normally I would have turned them both to dust.
Yet for some reason, Rosmerta still sensed movement and life among the two theives. She sniffed them closely, and after a moment realized that the mare was with child, that the child yet lived.
Killing an infant of any race is the worst crime one can commit," she murmured, remembering her old teachings. "Even one born of thieves is still pure." She snatched the newly deceased mare in one hand, and with a single talon sliced the mare's swollen belly. She pulled the newborn out of the carcass, and examined it.
"A boy. You cannot last long in that form, little one. Not in these parts. And since I've slain your mother, I will take her place. It has been many a millennium since I last had a young one." She smiled, fondly remembering her many children. "Now let us do something about this mouth-watering exterior."
She etched a runic circle on the ground with one claw, and grabbed a handful of rubies in one hand. Then she torched her own hand until its contents became liquid, the flame a gentle tickle against her hard, hot scales. She filled every rune with ruby elixir, then waited while it hardened.
Taking a deep breath, she carefully aimed a blinding clear flame at the child. The runes collected the flames and created a shield, protecting the infant in its fiery embrace. The child screamed.
When the runes stopped glowing, the child no longer looked like a normal unicorn. Now he wore a ruby-red dragon hide, and vast bat-like wings.
"You are not truly a dragon, child. Nor are you a true pony. You are a pony with our features and our tastes. Now you need a name. I suppose I should call you by one of those silly little pony names, but nothing quite so sentimental I think. I will call you Saint Beast!"
And so was born a creature that was neither pony nor dragon, but a confusing mixture of both. And Rosmerta knew that he would face great challenges, but she also knew that she could give him the strength to face them. She picked up the child and walked deeper into her lair.
Seven Years later
Saint Beast flew around his mother's mountain, soaring on updrafts and downdrafts, stretching his wings joyfully, when he suddenly heard "Saint, come and eat!"
Without hesitation, he dove toward the cave mouth, touching the ground without a sound. His mother gave him a plate full of rubies, some venison, and it was all topped with micro-greens.
"Thank you mother, this is my favorite! Er... what are these for?” he asked, pointing one claw at the greens.
"The reason for this dinner is two-fold. First, your favorite meal, because it is your seventh hatch-day. And also..." She trailed off, hesitating.
“Something’s bothering you,” Saint Beast said. “What is it?”
So she told him everything. How his parents were ponies and had come to rob her hoard, how she’d killed them both before realizing the mare was with child. How she’d taken him as her own, and changed his aspect so that he could survive among the dragons.
When she had finished, she looked at him expectantly, but Saint Beast did not know what to say or think. So instead of waiting for an answer, Rosmerta continued, "Since you are not a true red dragon, you must live with the other clans for a year each: the Whites, the Browns, and Blacks, and the Blues."
As though he had been called, a white dragon landed outside the cave as she spoke. "Rosmerta?" he said.
She nodded, and the white dragon looked at Saint Beast kindly. "Come, young one. Let us see what the Whites can make of you."
Rosmerta walked back into her cave, and Saint Beast said nothing, understanding that his mother did not want to show her tears.
Four years later
Rosmerta was asleep on her bed of gold, as usual, when she woke to the cry of, "Mother! I'm back! Mother!" At first she moved slowly, until she realized that it was not just a dream this time. Today was the day of her son’s return, at long last. She dashed out of the cave, only to see a small four-legged dragon with purple scales and red spines. He had large wings common to the white clan, and the strong muscle definition of the brown clan. She stared at him for a long time, hardly recognizing him, until he spoke again. "Mother, can I have some venison and rubies with micro-greens on top?.”
Her confusion turned instantly to joy as she scooped her son up with one claw, which was extremely simple since he was still hardly more than a handful for her, and gave him a large hug.
"I have missed you terribly since you left! And yes, you may. I shall have it ready in five minutes, no longer."
As he was eating, Saint looked up and saw a small spark by his mother’s face."What’s that, Mother? It looks like a message, but it is much too small to be from another dragon, isn’t it?"
She looked down at him, and replied, "This message is from the princess of the ponies. I have asked her a favor, and I just recently got the answer... though I wish she would send me a parchment larger than a speck of dust." She tried to grab it a few times, but the letter was just too small for her.
The parchment fell next to Saint, so he grabbed it in his talons, and read it aloud for his mother. “‘He is welcome. I will personally await his arrival tomorrow next at Everfree.’ That's all it says, Mother. What does it mean?"
She looked at her son fondly, and said "You have grown as a dragon, my son, but you are a pony. So you must understand where you come from. So I asked their princess if you would be welcome to live in the ponies’ domain for a time."
Yesterday, Canterlot
Celestia sat on her throne, listening to yet another pony complaining about something she could probably fix easily by herself, if she’d just use her brain. How much longer until she could leave? She wished Twilight would send her a friendship report, so that she could act like it was an emergency.
Her wish was almost immediately granted, for a moment later she saw the flames of a letter forming in front of her.
Thank you, Twilight, she thought happily. But the letter didn’t stop growing. All the ponies who’d come to be heard ran from the room in a panic as the parchment materialized, stretching from one wall to another, still rolled up. It hit the ground, shaking the castle, and the guards ran in, then ran right back out as it started to unravel. It showed a message in red flames.
Dragons. Why did they always send such a large parchment for such small messages?
Rosmerta reached into the mound of glowing gems and pulled out one that changed its color every few seconds. She gave it to Saint and said, " Eat this. It was made by the five dragon leaders for you. Once you eat it, you will take on the appearance of a pegasus pony. It will also turn your scales into fur, including your spines and horns. This will allow other ponies to touch you without frightening them away. The rest of you will look like a normal pegasus, but it will all be an illusion. You will still need to eat normally... I hear ponies see eating meat as a taboo, so you will need to hunt for yourself, in secret. And remember the gem spells, because we do not know if you will find any gems there."
Without hesitation, he ate the gem and felt a strange warming sensation all over his body. His form changed slowly, until he looked completely like a pony, though he felt no different. He nodded his head and said, "Don’t worry, Mother. I know the diamond, ruby, onyx, axinite, and sapphire gem spells. I will have plenty of food."
Rosmerta held out her hand to her son, and he sat down when she started to close her claws around him. "One last thing, my son. All I know of the princess is that she is white and has a horn in the center of her head. She should be the first pony you see. Do your best to help her."
He nodded again.
Rosmerta mixed magic with her flames, and turned the floor into a pentagram of flames. Then she slammed her fist down into the middle.
Everfree
A large claw came up from the ground and opened, allowing a single pegasus colt to hop down. Once he was off the claw, it vanished back underground.
Now to find the princess. Saint looked around him, and saw nothing but trees and more trees and even more trees. But a moment later, he heard, "Please help me! I'm lost!" Saint looked in the direction of the noise as he started to walk toward it. He didn’t know what the words meant, but he did recognize the fear in them. Curiously he made his way toward the sound. Then suddenly, a shrill scream rent the air.
What he found when he arrived was a unicorn filly backed against a tree. She was white, with a pink and purple main, and a horn in the middle of her head.
The princess! She fit the description exactly. Saint walked over to the whimpering pony, and snapped a twig in the process. Her head shot up, and she saw him. Before he could even blink, he was on his back. The scared pony had rushed at him and knocked him down. Saint was about to fight back, when he realized that she was actually hugging him, not attacking. Trying to comfort her, he said "Worry not, Princess, I’m here and I will not let anyone harm you." Sadly, this came out as a threatening mix of growls, stances, and other noises. The filly, spooked from his noise, ran off deeper into the woods.
Saint kept right behind her, and she ran as fast as she could. They ran like this for a good two hours. All the while, the filly screamed her head off, clearly terrified. Soon they came to the mouth of the woods, right near a cabin. Alerted by the screaming filly, three mares walked out through the front door: a violet unicorn, and two pegasi, one yellow, and one light blue. The blue one said, "Whoa there, shrimp, what's up? Did you know AJ's looking for you?"
The white filly jumped behind the other three as Saint also came out of the woods. “He’s after me!” the filly screamed.
The three mares looked at the colt in front of them. His eyes were fixed on the four of them, and after a moment started walking closer. The violet one immediately summoned a bubble to trap him. What were they saying? Wait a second. Why did he care what they were saying? They just attacked him! Saint Beast flared out his wings, destroying the bubble instantly. As he landed, he heard, "He broke my spell? How's that possible?"
Then the blue one spoke again. "I’ll handle this guy." She took off to stop the colt and give him a lecture, but he couldn’t understand a single word, and he thought it was another attack. He sprinted toward the flying mare, and at the last second stopped and grabbed her, his razor-sharp claws digging into her soft skin. He used her momentum and flung her straight into the ground. With the four dazed, three from his display and one from the sudden impact, Saint took the chance and fled back into the safety of the woods. The blue pony got up from the ground, leaving a blood stain where she lay.
The yellow pony galloped to her side, and said "Oh, Rainbow, let me take care of that for you." She skillfully patched Rainbow’s wounds.
"That's two things that make no sense now!" screamed the lavender one.
Rainbow looked at her and asked "What the hay are you talking about, Twilight?"
As Twilight was about to answer, a flash of light appeared in front of the group. The princess stood there with a small smile on her face. Then she saw the three standing nearby. "Oh, hello girls. How are things going with you today? You haven’t seen a young pegasus colt nearby, have you? I’m expecting one. He’s purple with a red mane."
The violet pony answered, "Well, I think he just ran into the woods."
"And you did nothing to stop him?"
"Well...we may have had something to do with it." She turned her head away from the princess.
"Do not tell me you beat up a colt," the princess said, smiling.
Saint Beast: From Pony to Dragon to Pony Again
"So" The princess started "why did my gust run into Everfree?"
The three mares looked at Sweetie. When she finally understood the meaning of the looks she recapped her story. "I was going to Zecora's...and I must have taken a wrong turn. I ended up lost, so I tried to go back. Well that didn't work for me, so I sat by a tree for a long time hoping somepony would find me. Soon after I heard a branch snap and I saw him! I ran over to him and he made some scary noises and he looked threatening, so I ran from him. No matter how fast I ran he was right behind me! Soon I saw the exit of the forest and I screamed for help." She then looked at Twilight.
Twilight looked at Sweetie, with her mouth slightly ajar, as she spoke "So he didn't even" The princess quickly interrupted.
"Twilight please continue the story"
"Yes, princess. Well, we could hear Sweetie's cries for help. So we left Fluttershy's home and Sweetie jumped behind us as she told us that he was trying to kill her. So I trapped him in a containment field, only for him to break it like it was made of paper! That's when Rainbow said she would handle him." They looked at Rainbow to see what she had to say.
"Well it went like this, I told Twilight that I would take care of him. He's just a colt after all. So I took off like a bullet and he came at me. I jumped to the side at the last second and grabbed his tail. Then"
"That's not what happened!" Twilight cut in "She few at him only for him to run forward and grab her. Then with her momentum he slammed her into the ground. He then ran off when we went to help Rainbow." Twilight finished as she looked at Rainbow. Rainbow however was looking at the ground trying to hide from the others.
That's when Fluttershy spoke up "And...um, Rainbow was hurt."
The princess took a step towards Fluttershy "What was that?"
"I" she started as she retreated into her main "I, I said she was hurt she had four cuts on either side of her chest." The princess turn towards Rainbow, as Rainbow stated that the others had fixed her up already.
"I see" The princess said "Well, his name is Saint Beast. He was raised by the matriarch of the red dragons. So if anything happens to him right now, we may be looking at war. So since you four scared my guest away I leave it to you four to bring him back" She then told them "I will wait for your return in Fluttershy's cabin." As the four left Celestia thought 'I am so glad I don't have to run around looking for him' with a smile on her face she entered the small cabin.
Saint Beast
'I must have ran for at least 20 minutes by now' he thought as he reached a water fall. Happily he thought as he gazed at the falls 'Looks like there's a cave behind the water.' He ran to the cave and looked inside 'Well this looks like a good place to stop.' He entered the cave and fallowed it back a short ways until he entered the only room inside.
As he entered fires came to life "Look at this, my lunch has found me" A good sized dragon slams to the ground from above. He was a young red dragon no more than a 1000 years, barley more than a kid in dragon terms, he was 8 feet tall with yellow spines and wings. As fast as lightning the entrance to the room was engulfed in flames as he laughed.
"Hi Vulcan, I haven't seen you since you watched over me." Saint said ecstatically. This stopped the drake and make him look at his pry closer. "What are you doing here? I thought you lived by a desert not in some woods."
This made Vulcan jump back and ask "Is that you brother?" And as Saint nodded his head. The flames died as Vulcan fell on his back laughing his ass off. "This is too much, mother told me to help you. She even told me you looked like a pony, But this is too good!"
"Mom sent you?"
After another 10 minutes of Vulcan's laughter he finally stopped to wipe a tear from he's eye. "Ya, mom sent me to see that you meet the princess and that you don't need to go home. Now tell me, what have you seen so far?" So Saint told him about the three mares and the fake princess. this made Vulcan burst out laughing again. "You thought a filly was the princess? You fool, the princess haves both horn and wings! As for the three mares I can tell you That you need to be nice to them, I have seen them with the princess a few times."
"How in blazes do you know all that!" asked a confused Saint.
"Did you forget after only 4 years that I am the dignitary to the pony kingdom? So it is only natural that I know such things, why else would mother send me? Also a bit of trivia for you, did you know that they have 9 mares for every stallion? Because of this stallions do not mate with only one mare, but instead they have what they call a herd. I wish dragons were like that." The last part was said with a tad bit of spite. "Anyway go find them and act submissive, their whole race revolves around that aspect. Knowing them, they will bring you right to the princess. Also her name is Celestia." With that said Saint walked out of the cave and started to try to find his way back.
Twilight, RD, Flutter, and Sweetie
The four had been walking on the side of a river for the past 5 minutes when Rainbow finally broke the silence "Twilight I thought you said you knew where you were going! We've been walking for like ever."
"Rainbow, we have only been walking for half an hour or so. Besides this is the easiest way to find the cave. Like Celestia said he was razed like a dragon right?" Rainbow nodded her head as Twilight kept talking "And dragons seek out caves right?" again she nodded "So we are going to the closest cave to see if he's there. That's our best chance of finding him." as she stopped talking a waterfall came into view. "See, were here."
The four ran into the cave hoping to find the colt, they came to a room in the cave, Twilights horn was the only light when the entrance burst aflame. The four huddled together as Vulcan dropped to the floor. He eye the four trapped ponies, he recognized the four instantly form the conversation with his little brother. An idea flashed in his mind as he shouted with all his might "Brother, come quickly" 'Alright now for some great acting' he thought to himself.
Saint Beast
Saint was merely walking when "Brother, come quickly" He turned around and flew as fast as he could. When he arrived, he saw the cave of fire. Without a second thought he few in and reached the inside room shortly after. He saw his brother knocking around the three mares.
Shocked Saint demands "Brother, what are you doing?"
His brother turns around and brings his face close to his brothers and yells "Spar with me brother, and give them a show. Remember mother forbids you form using your flames." He let the flames around the entrance die, as he swung a claw which Saint dodged.
Finally understanding Saint jumps at his brother, plowing him agent the wall.
The four trapped mares limped out of the cave as the fighting kept going.
"I see you learned the strength of the brown flight, but that is not enough to stop me!" Vulcan used his tail to rap around his younger sibling and smash him agent the wall. "Alright they are safe" Vulcan said as he tossed his brother at the far wall "Now get out as I bright this place down!" Vulcan then smashed his head agent the ceiling creating a chain reaction of falling rocks, he then grabbed his brother and snapped his wing. Saint let out a large cry of pain as his brother said "It's not that bad. Besides this way it looks more realistic, and mares love to help their hero. Your welcome." Saint dashed, as his newly broken wing brushed agent the floor, for the exit as his brother fallowed soon after. As Saint entered the outside, the cave fell in onto his brother, a noise could be heard from inside "Did it work?"
"You asshole, I'll kill you next time!" was the replay Vulcan heard back. Since it sounded like it worked Vulcan decided to take a nap before digging himself out.
Fluttershy was the first one to the colts side carefully trying to look at the damaged wing, but ever time she moved to look at it Saint would move away. 'Shit what do I do now' he thought until he remembered his brothers advise. 'Alright passive' Saint sat down and let the four ponies get close they were franticly talking to one another, still in a language he could not understand. So he kept thinking 'They will not try to harm me.'
"Is he alright" the small one asked.
Fluttershy answered "I, I'm afraid not he, he haves a lot of cuts and he broke a wing saving us."
"Let's get him back to Princess Celestia" replied Twilight as she made a bubble to keep the colt safe. The four ran, well limped as fast as they could, with Saint floating safely behind them.
Saint Beast: From Pony to Dragon to Pony Again
They kept walking until they reached Fluttershy's cabin. They stopped and looked at one another and Rainbow asked, what everypony was thinking, "Do you think she'll be made that he's hurt?"
After a few seconds Twilight spoke up "Well I think she will understand. I mean we did just get attacked by a dragon after all." With that said the group opened the door and entered. Inside was the princess on the coach with Angel sleeping next to her.
The princess looked over at them with a smile as she started to talk "I was beginning to worry about you four. You found him?" Twilight moved the bubble from behind the four next to Celestia and let the spell die, revealing Saint. " I, is friend. I...no...hurt." Celestia said in a kind manner (She thinks she is fluent).
Saint looked up at the princess and saw her horn, then moved to the side to see her wings. "I am Saint Beast, As my mother has deemed I will learn the ways of ponies. As long as I am here you may call upon me in times of need." The group behind Saint looked to Celestia for a translation, when none was given they simply took seats around the room. Twilight took a seat on the far end of the coach, Sweetie sat next to her. Fluttershy sat on one the chairs and Rainbow took the other.
Celestia then levitated a parchment that was on the end table. Her horn started to light up and the parchment turned into, what looked like, dust just before it shot into Saint. "Can you understand me Saint?" he nodded. "Good take a seat." He then sat where he was, making the other five giggle. "I meant go take a seat on the coach." Saint looked around, then looked aback at the with a puzzled look on his face. As she points "Take a seat next to Sweetie please." Saint stood up and turned to walk over to the coach, that is when she finally noticed his broken wing. "Twilight, what did you four do to him to get him here!" she shouted.
Twilight was frozen solid by fear. "It wasn't their fault." Saint said as he hopped on top the coach. Making Angle jump off the coach and run to Fluttershy. Saints voice was young but it was tender and had a vibrant aspect to it. He spoke like nothing happened "They ran into a bit of trouble, so I helped. So you can say I hurt myself." Celestia visibly culmed down as did Twilight.
"Alright then" Celestia started " come over here , and ill fix you up." Saint jumped off the coach and walked over to Celestia and extended his wing...well he extended it until the broken part hung limply off the floor. This cased the ponies to shiver, and made him want to cry in pain but as mother always told him "Never show pain to others, they will only want kill you for your weakness." Her horn lit up and she started to chant something under her breath. She then lowered her head and touched her horn to his wing. A large light emanated from the break and red bands lashed out and connected to the far end of the wing. Slowly, the bands retracted. Saint was almost at his limit when it stop. "Your a strong little stallion aren't you. Most scream in pain."
Saint moved back to the coach and jumped on it. Sweetie wrapped him in a hug, Saint visibly tensed up, while she said "Thank you, for saving us." She then proceeded to kiss him on the cheek, causing him jump away from her and fall off the coach. He landed on his back as the mares in the room tried to suppress a laugh as Sweetie asked "You aright?"
Wide eyed Saint asks "What was that? The only reason I know about for a being puts their mouth on another is to eat them." The four couldn't hold back their laughter "What?"
Celestia stopped laughing "Your a pony not a dragon, and ponies do things like kiss."
Confused by the new term he asked "What does kiss mean?"
Twilight couldn't believe what she just heard "A kiss is a show of affection, it means love!"
"Twilight!" cried Sweetie as she ran over to her "The kiss I gave him was a thank you, not love you!" her head turning a rosy red.
Rainbow brought a hoof up to cover a smile "A thank you is a hug, something you already did. Then you kissed him, so you like him." In a whisper she added "I can't blame you, he will be quite the mare killer when he grows up." This made Sweetie look back at the colt still on his back, and her face turned a deeper shade of red. Rainbow and Sweetie kept talking in a whisper, Sweetie turning darker and darker red as Rainbow kept teasing her.
"Anyway" Celestia said trying to get everyone's attention, she received everyone's but Rainbow and Sweetie. "Let's do a quick late introduction. I am Celestia, that is Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and the two fighting are Rainbow Dash and Sweetie Belle." She pointed to each one in turn. Then she stated "Twilight, he will stay with you in the library." The two looked at one another "I took the liberty of moving a bed in for him and I have enrolled him in school. I know you are on a fixed budget, but you do not need to feed him...his mother said he will fend for himself. Also He too will get an allowance from his mother through me."
"How much is that?" asked Twilight.
Celestia simply said "1000 a weak"
"A thousand!, I only get 250!" Twilight gasped as her jaw hit the floor.
"Umm what's an alowence" asked Saint puzzled once again.
Twilight looked at him and facehoofed "An ALLOWANCE is how much money you receive from somepony."
"Understood. Now what's money?" Twilight went to a wall and slammed her head against it a few times as Celestia explained how money works.
By the time Twilights small episode passed, Celestia said "So I thought having the two of you together would be a good idea because now you can study how he learns about friendship. Now if you will excuse me, I am needed in Canterlot." With a flash of light she was gone.
The flash finally made Rainbow stop teasing Sweetie and say "Ya, it's getting late I'm going home." As she took off thought the open window.
"She's right" commented Twilight "common Saint, let's go home." Saint nodded as he started to fallow.
"O, um Sweetie I'll walk you home" added Fluttershy.
The Library, just outside
Two pegasus guards were just taking off as the two reached the home. The sun was almost out of sight as they entered, "Well now you can meat Spike!" Twilight looked around, not seeing him she added "If he wasn't asleep. Well I'll show you where you are going to sleep." She lead him to the spare room, and when she opened it a pile of gold goblets, crowns and other things were there to great her. In the corner was a red sack which held his money for the week. "Where is your bed?" she asked.
Stumped by the question Saint simply pointed towards the pile of gold "Um, the gold...what do you sleep on?"
"A bed like a normal pony. How can gold be comfortable?"
"Gold is the only thing I have ever slept on. Gold is extremely soft and it reflects heat back at you for a long time."
"Alright...don't forget you have school tomorrow so get your sleep, it starts at 8am." She turned to leave when saint asked her what 8am was. She explained how time works then asked him how he kept time. To which he replied that dragons don't have a need to keep exact time. Dragons are immortal so a few hours , that she is taking about, does not mean much. "I'll just wake you up." She said as she closed the door behind her.
Saint looked at the gold and exhaled a small torrent of flames at it before jumping inside.
Saint Beast: From Pony to Dragon to Pony Again
Morning came with a angry pounding on the door "Saint, wake up, your going to be late!" Slowly he stirred from his slumber, he then blew a stream of fire at the surrounding gold. The gold quickly softened letting him get out of bed as Twilight started to open the door. "What are you doing! I packed your bag, so get going!" Soon after she magically strapped his bag on his back.
'Wow' Saint thought 'Twilight is truly a spaz over this time thing' as Twilight pushed him out the door. He turned around to ask where this school is but she slammed the door in his face. Saint walked around for an hour or so before an orange mare with a blond main and a hat came over to him.
"Hay their litta fella, where are you off to shouldn't you be in school?" she asked in a strange accent. Saint simply nodded his head. "Well why are you not there?" Saint shrugged. The mare obviously did not like his answer as she took out a rope and hog tied him. Saint was about to fight back then he heard her say "Ya'll coming with me then, I'll bring you there myself."
After being dragged for five minutes the mare stopped and untied him. "Whatcha waiting for, get going."
Saint put two and two together and walked to the building and entered. He walked in on a pink mare talking to a group of foals. Every one of them had a desk in front of them. behind the Mare was a black board 'I wonder what that is?' There is a large empty desk next to the pink one.
Saint was taken out of his thought when one of the children yelled "Saint! What are you doing here?" Saint looked at the one that spoke it was Sweetie. By this time the class stopped and everypony was staring at the new pony.
The pink mare came over to Saint and spoke happily "You must be Saint Beast" then her face turned a bit upset "You realize you are an hour and a half late? What do you have to say about that?"
Saint rubbed his head thinking 'does everyone fixate on time?' so he answered "I got lost, Is an hour and a half bad?"
The class laughed as The pink one introduced herself "I am Miss Cheerilee, and how did you get lost this school building is the only one in Ponyville?"
Shrugging Saint replies "I've never been to a school before."
"How is that possible?" asked one of the students. She had a tiara on her head.
"I have only had instruction from highly skilled teachers, and only in an one on one basis."
"Umm, Well...introduce yourself to the class and tell them about yourself. Then you can take a seat next to Sweetie since you know her." instructed Cheerilee.
Saint walked to the middle of the class and said "I am Saint Beast, and who is the alpha-male here?" The students looked around the room before asking what an alpha-male is. So Saint rephrased the question "Who is the strongest...colt?"
They looked around until one rose his hoof and said "I think that's me. What can I do for you?"
Saint looked at him, he was a pegasus with a gray-blue coat with a black main. "I challenge you for your title." Saint moved into a fighting stance awaiting his response until Cheerilee stepped in front of him. She did not look pleased.
"What do you think your doing?" she asked with more than a bit of venom in her voice. Saint looked puzzled and explained that he was challenging the existing alpha for the position. She grabbed his ear and pulled him out of the room. When they were outside she let him go asking "This is your first day: you come late, you try to start a fight, and it seems like you have no idea how to be civilized. So I have to ask you, where did you grow up?"
"I come from the spine of the world, the frozen death, the lava fields of Blood Gorge, the swamps of the fallen, and the waters of Intellect and knowledge."
"I have never heard of those places, are you lying to me?"
Offended Saint told her "If you have a map ill point them out to you, how don't you know them?" he finished with a whisper.
Cheerilee opened the door and Saint walked in and took his seat next to Sweetie. She leaned over with a smile on her face and said "Glad you joined use." Saint nodded as Cheerilee started up class again.
Alright class please take out your history book. The class started to reach into their bags and grabbed the yellow book. Saint looked in his bag and saw parchment, ink, a bag, and about ten quills, but no book. So he simply listened to her stories until he fell asleep.
Cheerilee kept talking for an hour until she saw that her new student was asleep. She tossed a piece of chalk at him to wake him up. When his head was up she asked "Here is an easy question for you. What did Princess Celestia do to Princess Luna a thousand years ago?"
Knowing nothing about pony history, or most anything about the princesses he guest "She tried to overthrow her." The class laughed at his comment, and Cheerilee facehoofed.
"Wrong" She started "Luna tried to overthrow her sister. This made Celestia banished her to the moon. Well class, it's lunch time so eat the go for recess. Remember you are not allowed in Everfree." The class happily started to move around as friends went to sit and eat with friends.
"Saint you can eat with us." Sweetie said. Saint looked at her and moved over to where she sat with two other fillies. One yellow with a red main and bow, the other was a pegasus orange with a purple main. They were taking out their food from their bags. "This is Scootaloo" the pegasus waved and said hi. "And this is Apple Bloom." the other waved and introduced herself. They started to eat until they saw that Saint had not even taken out his lunch yet. "So what do you have for lunch Saint?"
Saint shrugged and took out the paper bag unfolded it and took out its contents. A Sandwich, an apple, and a few hay-fries. Never having eaten any of these except for the fries (He remembered that the fries almost killed him in the past when his blue drake instructor gave him some as a treat) so he got up and started for the door. "Saint" the three shouted. he turned his head as Sweetie asked "You haven't even started your lunch were you going?"
"Not hungry" he replied "I'm going for a fast flight." as he took off.
The colt that claimed to be the alpha, watched him go right for Everfree. "Miss. Cheerilee! He's going in Everfree!"
Cheerilee ran to one of the windows that looked out on Everfree and saw Saint dive down into the woods. "Everypony stay here" she screamed as she ran out the door. She quickly got to the edge of the forest and slowly entered.
Saint Beast
Saint stopped at a river and soon he had three fish. He blew fire on them to flash cook them. As he was about to eat, a scream broke the silence. He grabbed the fish with his tail, tossing one in his mouth and devouring it as he ran towards the screaming mare. As he went through some thick brush he collided this something. He looked up and saw Cheerilee in front of him, 'She looked pale.'
She saw him and grabbed him and tossed him on her back as she ran. "What did I tell you about coming in here?" She asked in a panic.
Saint looked at her and asked "What's wrong? you seem spooked."
She did not want to scare the colt so she did not tell him about the Timberwolf that's chasing them. "Nothing...I, I just want to get back to the class." They were almost out when a Timberwolf jumped out in front of them. Saint, having never seen one, jumped off her back and stared to move closer. Only for Cheerilee to jump in his way, she was shaking like a leaf, "Stay behind me, you'll be ok." The wolf moved closer and she took a step back for everyone it took. The wolf charged at Cheerilee.
Saint came out from behind her and hit the wolf in mid charge. The wolf quickly recovered and pounced on the colt knocking him to his back. 'Wow, without my scales this hurts.' It tried to bite his throat on its second try it succeeded blood started to leak out between its teeth. slowly it closed its mouth, suffocating him. Saint started to rip his clause into to wolf, sap splattered out of its injuries. As Saint was starting to black out, so he swung his tail around gaining momentum until he smashed his tail in the side of the wolf, sending it flying (and so did his fish) for a few feat. They both got up and looked at the other, Saint charged at the wolf and spun at the last second and smashed the wolfs head with his tail again. As it hit the ground Saint jumped on top of it and bit its neck. It thrashed around for a short time, until a swift jerk of Saint's head, he ripped it's throat out. Sap spurted out of its neck covering the colt. This time the wolf did not get up.
Saint looked at Cheerilee and asked "Should we go?"
She looked at the colt, he had blood running down his neck. "Y...Ya we should" this time she kept a small gap between them. "When we get back ill patch up your neck." Saint nodded as they walked back. When then exited the forest, half of the class was waiting for them. They rushed to see Cheerilee when she stepped out, then they stepped back at the sight of Saint. His fur was clumped together by the dried sap. Saint just walked past them and headed to the school building, leaving a small blood trail in his wake.
"What happened in there" asked one of them, fear in her voice.
Cheerilee put on a smile and said "It's recess kids, please go and have fun." not in her normal happy voice. The kids soon went back to their fun. Three, however, ran to the building to see Saint.
Inside the school, Saint was wrapping his neck with parchment when he was hug-tackled to the floor. Without even to look at the one that was attached to him he asked happily "What wrong Sweetie?" He turned to see the two Sweetie introduced to him at lunch, they both seemed worried.
She hugged him tighter as she cried "Your hurt!"
He laughed as he said "What this? I've had worse, besides you should see the other one."
Cheerilee came in at that moment "Girls, go outside and close the door behind you please." The three left reluctantly and closed the door. She looked straight at Saint and questioned coldly "How could you do that?" Saint looked at her with a lost expression on his face. "How do you know how to fight like that? Also how could you so easily kill it?"
He looked up at her and said coldly "Where I come is NOT like here. We do not have the luxury of living like this. You need to learn how to fight, and kill to live." he continued with a hint of wonder in his voice "If I had done nothing what would have happened to you?"
Cheerilee was shocked by that statement, after a minuet of thought she replied "I mean you acted without regret when you killed it."
Saint looked at her eye to eye and stated "It was going to kill us. Are you saying that killing a killer is wrong?"
Cheerilee did not respond to that, instead she said "Lets look at that neck of yours." She moved next to him and he looked up giving her a clear look. "Well it's not that bad." She then walked to a her desk and pulled out a first aid pack and cleaned his injury. A few seconds later she told him to go outside, and play with the others.
As soon as Saint opened the door in fell the three fillies. They quickly got up and to the amusement of Cheerilee, and pulled Saint outside. "So" asked the one called Scootaloo. Saint tilted his head. "What happened in the woods" she asked.
"Nothing much in all honesty" he started to say "there was only a wooden wolf." remembering how the teacher reacted, he decided to tell them about it attacking cheerilee and how he saved her by fighting it back until it ran. By the time he finished his story, most of the class was next to him hanging on every work he spoke. When Saint stopped talking the group of school ponies started to cheer, and congratulate him. They started to head back inside, so Saint took their lead and went in as well. The rest of class went by without incident.
"All right class schools done for today" Cheerilee announced gleefully, as she headed out the door (on her way to the nearest bar, to try to forget what happened in the Everfree)
The three fillies: Sweetie, Apple, and Scoots ran over to Saint and told him "Your coming with us!" Before he could say anything the three ran away, dragging him behind them as they ran.
Saint Beast: From Pony to Dragon to Pony Again
When they finally stopped running, they were surrounded by apple trees. One of the tree's had a small building within its branches. Nothing fancy, it was merely a two roomed structure one on top the other. The three fillies started up the ramp that connected to the house, with Saint right behind them. "So, why did you literally drag me here for?" questioned Saint.
When they finally made it to the top, the three turned back to Saint and said "Welcome to the Cutie Mark Crusaders club house!" as the kicked opened the door. to reveal a room with a table, a hanging light in a corner, a map? if you could call it that, and a rug.
"The what?" asked Saint, totally lost.
Apple Stated "It's a club devoted to helping ponies find their cutie marks."
". . . what's a cutie mark?" questioned Saint still lost.
"What" the three scream in unison "You don't know what cutie marks are?"
"O, wait" said Sweetie not even a second later, "You were raised by a dragon right? So I guess dragons wouldn't teach you about them." This shocked the other two, since they had no idea where Saint called home before coming to Ponyville. "A cutie mark is a mark a pony gets when he or she finds what their best at."
"More importantly" Scoots butted in "You were razed by a dragon?" Saint nodded. "What are dragons like? I thought they eat ponies, not raised them? Does that mean when you said you were taught by experts you meant Dragons taught you?"
Saint answered "I was raised by the Red flight" not wanting to tell them his biological parents were murdered by the one he calls mom he continued "after my parents died in the wilderness, my mother came and rescued me from the same fate. Normally a dragon will not take in anything that is not their own kind. Since at the time I was an infant, she took pity on me. As for the teachers yes they were dragons as well." The tree looked at him wanting him to continue, but he thought he told them plenty already "So you bright me here for...?" Snapping out of their trances, the three move around the room as Saint watched them.
"Allow me to show you just some of the highlights of our clubhouse" said Apple, "should you choose to join us." The three moved to a wall with a poster on it that had the three fillies faces on it. "This is where we do our role call." As Scoots put a checkmark by each of their faces. Then they quickly moved to the table, which is only about four steps away. "This is where we eat our lunch." Both Sweetie and Scoots start to pretend to eat for a moment.
'Are they always like this' Saint thought.
Sweetie ran under the light and stood on the small rug as Apple continued "Sometimes we stand here and think of great ideas." on queue Scoots taped the light, turning it on, as she hug down from an upper floor. They stopped and looked at Saint expectantly.
After giving the three a couple of seconds to see if they were going to do something else. When they didn't he commented, "Well I did come here to learn about being a pony, so the best way is to have others that will help me. So I would like to..." Before he could finish the three hugged him as they welcomed him to the Crusaders. This made Saint freeze in place, something the three didn't miss.
"Not use to physical contact are ya?" Asked Apple.
"No I bet you he's bad with fillies." jokes Scoots
"Come on you two, stop picking on him." Sweetie demanded as she stopped her hug and started to pull the other two off him. Allowing Saint to relax.
When he composed himself he added "I may not be use to physical contact the way you are, I am use to physical contact in a fight!" he shouted as he lowered himself into a fighting stance. Sweetie moved in front of him.
"We need to initiate him into the club still." she cried.
In an instant the inside of the clubhouse changed, a red banned hung from the ceiling with a blue symbol of a pony with a cape on. Apple stood in the left corner of the room, Sweetie in the center behind a wooden podium, and Scoots was playing some drums. All three had red capes on and each cape had the same blue symbol.
"We, the Cutie Make Crusaders, elect Saint Beast to join us as a full member, confidant, pal, and bff,.." Sweetie looks over at Scoots "Scoots I thought you revised this?"
"I did" she retorted "I guess it's still a bit wordy."
Sweetie started to go though the paper saying a word every now and again "Asomtastic...defender...upright...here we go! Saint Beast do you solemnly ware to these bylaws?"
'How can I know what I'm saying yes to" he thought. "I do?"
"Yay!" the screamed once again as the hugged him. making him go stiff again. "O, sorry." They said as they let him go.
"All right Crusaders, who haves an idea for today?" asked Apple. Sweetie piped in and told the group that her sister needed some help, modeling a new foals line, and Sweetie volunteered the C.M.C. to help her. "But what about Saint, we can't expect him to dress in filly clothing." That is when Sweetie explained that Rarity also wanted the Crusaders to find a colt to join them for the photo shoot.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders fashion models!" yelled the three fillies . Then the three looked at Saint and Scoots asked him why he didn't yell with them.
"How was I to know what you would say?" Saint retorted.
"Saint" Sweetie said in a worried voice, "are you saying that you had no idea what we were going to say?"
Saint looking completely baffled states "You understand that we are not one pony right?"
"Well how else can you sing with everypony else?" the three questioned.
"Sing?" Saint thought out aloud," O, do you mean war chants? Well those are ancient scripts so every drake know them. Besides they are used at ceremonies." Deciding to change the topic Saint added "Should we not get going?" Realizing how much time they already spent the fillies grabbed Saint and dragged him once again behind the wagon as they sped off though the orchard.
To say Scoots driving was reckless would be an understatement. Narrowly avoiding random ponies, mostly thanks to the ponies jumping out of the way. Other times, she takes jumps off of random things that can't hold their combined weight, breaking them in the process.
When they stopped, they were now in front of a strange building that looked like it had a curricle on top of it. The fillies quickly ran inside wile Saint tried to get his head on straight after the last house he was flung into. Once he could see straight he opened the door and walked inside.
The bell on top the door signaled his entrance and he heard a voice say "And this must be the colt that is helping me next weekend. I am ever so glad you are here, my names Rarity." As he looked in the direction of the sound he saw a mare that is as white as snow, and she had a strange looking purple main.
The three fillies were nowhere in sight, 'they must be in a different room.' After remembering what Rarity said Saint asked "What do you mean weekend? I thought this was a one day thing, by the way Apple made it sound."
"O, no no no no, today is only the fitting. You know to make sure you look your best darling, nothing more. Now come along." She walked to a pedestal with a reflective surface next to it.
"What's that?" Saint asked pointing to the mirror.
Rarity looked at where he pointed and asked in a concerned voice "Do you mean the mirror?"
'Alright so that's a mirror.' Saint thought then asked the question that has been raking at his mind "What's modeling?"
Rarity threw one hoof to her head as she fainted back words onto a coach she pulled to herself, using magic, uttering the words "What's modeling?"
She laid their out cold when sweetie and the other two walked in. Sweetie had on a bright blue cape with matching leg bindings, Apple had a ruby and diamond bow with a matching dress that stopped halfway down her legs, finally it looked like Scootaloo had taken most of her clothing off leaving only her amethyst wing coverings. "Rarity how much" then she saw her sister on the couch, "ok, I give, what did you say?" Saint explained that all he did was ask a question. "I see, well I think we have a few minutes before she wakes back up."
Scoots took this opportunity to pry into Saint's past some more "Where does your mom live Saint?"
"The lava fields of Blood Gorge" he replied.
"What's it like there?" she asked.
"Hot...there are lava fields every were. Now tell me about your families?"
"Ok, my family" Scootaloo started
"O, O the Apples are great!" Apple Bloom butted in, "Let's see now, there's my big sis Applejack. She is the best sister anypony could ask for, she's kind, caring, and strong. She's also extremely reliable too. Then there is my big bro, Big Mac! Stronger than any stallion I ever seen. He doesn't talk much but that's just how he is ya know. Then finally there is Granny Smith, my grandma. She knows everything about anything."
Confused Saint asked "What about your mother or father?" Apple looked a bit down at this statement, but before he could apologize Rarity woke back up.
"Alright" Rarity explained "all you will have to do is stand while a few ponies take pictures of you."
"That's all"
"Well you will be dressed up."
"Dressed up?"
"Please tell me you are joking darling." Saint shook his head. "Were you raised by dragons, honestly you sound like you are not a civilized pony."
"Are you making fun of my mother?" with more than a bit of anger behind his words.
"I would never" She shot back a bit offended "I just" Just then Sweetie moved to her sister and whispered into her ear. her ace turned a tad paler...if that's possible. "O, I am sorry, I didn't know you were raised by a dragon. Dressing, alright when a pony wants to look better they will put on clothing. They do this for many different reasons such as fashion, or trying to catch the eye of a cretin somepony."
After a few seconds saint piped in "That is beyond my comprehension, covering up one's own scale...I mean, coat, is the ultimate sign of disgrace. Well except if it's to blend you into your surroundings." Rarity moved Saint back to the platform. 'Ponies do this' he thought as he looked at the other crusaders.
The next thing he saw was a lot of fabric flying at him. He stood still, with his eyes closed, as Rarity muttered to herself "Nope, nope, just a tweak here, a quick stitch here and voila." He opened his eyes and looked at his reflection. his once purple coat was now covered in a black cape with red outlined flames."Alright try to flap your wings, I need to see if I have given you enough room to fly."
Saint gave a small flap of his wings, creating a gale in the small room turning Rarity's once perfectly styled mane into a afro as her fake eyelashes went flying. She simply froze, her eye's going wide.
"Um Saint" sweetie squeaked "I think we should call it a day. I need to get Rarity back from her...episode. Scootaloo do you think you can help me?" Scootaloo nodded "Apple Bloom, I'll let you bring Saint back to Twilights."
"I recon I can do that." She replied as she move closer to Saint. "Come on Saint lets go, before Rarity comes to. I bet she will be madder then Applejack was when I borrowed her hat." She ran out the door with Saint right behind her.
They ran a short distance until Saint asked "Is Twilights not the other way?"
"It is." She answered "But I thought since you are new and all to the club, that I would let you buck a few apples to see if your talent is with apples. I'm just ganna need to tell my sis."
"Um...ok just lead the way"
