A Blight on Equestria

Characters of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic are property of their respected owners.

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The pain in my back lets me know that I’m alive.  I smile to myself as I stretch and with an abrupt snort I light up the room for a brief moment.  I had less than a second to see my surroundings and it was all the time I needed.  In front of me is a massive horde of gold, gems and other treasures that would turn any dragon into a feral beast.

I’m much stronger than that.

I get to my feet and with one breath I exhale flames and sweep the room.  Torches are lit and the familiar room greets me.  In front of me is a horde that makes the assumed fortune of Princess Celestia look like lunch money.  Behind me is a tunnel that leads to a small network of passageways that was once a copper mine.  Beyond that is the dragon who keeps me prisoner here.

I stretch my wings and glance at a section of wall near the exit from this well of temptation.  I made deep scratches there and I add another.

Eight times I have woken up in this room.  Eight times I tried to leave.  Eight times I was bested by the dragon at the end.

I start to walk towards the pile of wealth and to be honest it kind of looks obscene.  Part of me wants to climb it and take a season long nap; the rest of me wants to leave.  I guess I’m more pony than dragon.

I stop at the edge of the pile and start carefully digging through the bits with my claws until I uncover a large brass hourglass.  The tarnished frame is unimpressive and draws attention from the true value of this time keeping piece: the diamond dust steadily cascading into the bottom half.

I’m reminded of a dragon I met who liked to snort this stuff.  That’s just wrong.

I pick up the device and carefully inspect the bottom half.  I had been unconscious for just over one day.  I reach for a large golden bowl decorated by sapphire earth ponies around the base.  I take a deep breath and whistle a low pitch.  The narrow opening my mouth makes provided a narrow precise flame which I use to carefully cut into the base hourglass.  With equal care I remove a small disk from the device and gently empty the diamond dust from the less full half.  When that’s done I put the brass disc back and with the same whistling technique I weld the device shut.  Next I place the hourglass back down and repeat the cutting process on the top.  I smile and realize that I almost skipped a step.

I’m glad Twilight wasn’t here to see that.

I reach into the pile and find a heavy robe that looks like it came right from Rarity’s designs.  I resume my surgical pace and empty the bowl onto the center of the garment.  I lose some dust in this process but I would lose a lot more is I cut corners; and I would lose time if I just waited for the simple clock to reset itself.  I carefully fold the robe on itself and funnel the dust into the top.  After I seal it shut I flip the device over.  A day of waiting was just replaced by half an hour of logical application of my skills.

I wish Twilight had been here to see it.

I stretch my wings and stand to my full height; about twelve foot four.  I stretch my arms and take the time to admire my claws.  My body isn’t as sore as it was when I woke up in this prison.  Every time I try to escape and fail I keep waking up stronger.  I’m not a full grown dragon, but my might speaks for itself.  It takes an adult dragon to keep me caged.  I look at the pile of useless trinkets and money that I could never spend in a lifetime, no matter how long it would be.  I look at the gems that anypony would trade their very hooves for and all I see is food.  Part of me wants to stay with this worthless pile.  The rest of me is focused on what’s waiting for me outside.

I have stayed by Twilight’s side my entire life.  Even when she was still a foal and myself a hatchling I’ve helped her with her endless studies.  Through her triumphs and free falls I have been nearby without wavering.  When Blight came…

I ball my hands into fists.

A dark grey earth pony with a copper mane came to Canterlot.  Its deep blue eyes drew your attention from the anorexic looking frame.  The steady flow of bloody tears from its eyes drew your gaze from the frail looking body.  I use the term ‘it’ because I’m not sure it it’s a colt or a mare.  Whenever it speaks you distinctly hear two voices coming from opposite genders.  It just walked calmly into the part of the grand Canterlot Archives where we were and it apologized for coming unannounced into a restricted area and for interrupting.  Once it had out attention it said that it would destroy everything that we loved.  It ignored what Twilight said after its claim and just left.

Two days after that we found something disturbing; or rather the citizens of Canterlot found it.

A great statue of a spider stood in the center of the city.  It appeared to be made of obsidian and it was clear that a lot of careful attention was spent on crafting the body.  The ting was as tall as some of the houses.  Everypony thought it was real until it was noticed that it was just standing there.  What was really unsettling was what was hanging from the top of its legs.  From just where a leg connects to the body hung a length of barbed wire.  Down two feet on each segment of wire was a corpse being hung by the hind legs.  Four Unicorns and four Changelings were hanging lifeless.  They appeared starved and had deep fresh cuts under their eyes that stretched to toward their mouths, the wounds were still dripping blood onto the stone street.  The strangest detail was that the bodies did not cast any shadow until they were removed from the statue.  That afternoon Princess Celestia received a letter saying ‘the age of Equestria is ending’.

I don’t even know where the Changelings came from.  I had no idea that any were even in Canterlot.

Shortly after that the creature calling itself Blight had raised a small army of changelings and ponies.

I stop thinking about the beginning of this hell.  I turn over the hourglass and bury it in the pile of glorified rust.  I can’t help anypony if I’m here in this damned cave.  Twilight needs me.

My sister needs me.  My mother needs me.

All our friends need me.

I pause to look at the scratches I’ve made on the wall.  This will be my ninth attempt since I’ve been trapped here.  The last time Twilight saw me I was still practically a hatchling.  This horde may have been meant to turn me into a feral beast; but my heart stayed the same.

I raise my hand and bring my claws down until I have half a fist.  With a sharp breath I put a bright ball of fire in my hand.  The dancing contained flame gives me illumination for my walk.  I’m familiar with the tunnels of this empty mine and wonder how many generations of ponies worked to move so much metal and stone.  I wonder how much labor it took to put that great pile of rubbish in the deepest part of this forgotten place.

I make my way through the maze of pathways and snort faintly.  I had forgotten that the tunnels shifted every time.  I smile to myself.  The tunnels can move but the deep cuts I put into the rock stay the same; telling me that the mine is never truly different.  It never gets bigger or smaller, and the soft flow of air that teases the fire in my hand gives me a compass that hasn’t failed me yet.

Twilight would be proud.

My journey takes me to the mouth of the cave and as always it is barred.  Beyond the exit is a large open area that is home to a full grown dragon.  I close my claws and snuff the fire out as I approach the portal to the outside.  My eyes adjust to sunlight and the large brown scaled leviathan open’s his eyes.  He slowly inched his abnormally long neck towards me and smiled in a mocking way.  He rolled his eyes and snorted as if to stifle a laugh.  He spoke to me like this was just a game to him.

“Well now young torch; I see you’ve come back out only to be sent back inside.”

I snap at him and take a confident step forward.

“Maybe.  Maybe not.”

“Why are you so upset torch?  You’ve been given vast treasure, more than any dragon could ask for.  I’m actually a little jealous.”

He stretches his neck closer to me and twists like a cork screw.  His eyes are now level with my own, my jaws even with his forehead.  I growl threateningly as I reply.

“I’m not in the mood.  Get out of my way.”

With almost supernatural speed he hops slightly and twists until his head it right side up again.

“Dragon kind has been forbidden to interfere with this war.  That included you.  Don’t even think about trying to confuse me by saying that you’re ‘more pony than dragon’ just because you lived with them your entire life.  You are staying here young torch.  Just turn around and go back to your pile of joy so I can resume my nap.”

I reach out and grab a solitary fang.  I look him right in the eye and I give him a fair warning.

“Listen good stranger.  Every time we fight I learn more about you.  I learn about your strengths and weaknesses.  I get stronger while you stay the same.  I heal faster and faster, possibly faster than you do.  You may knock be out again today.  You might do it tomorrow.  I don’t bucking care.”

I tug on the tooth and his face follows and hovers closer to my own.

“One of these days, I will break you.  I will get back to Twilight Sparkle’s side.  I will help her defeat Blight.”

I pull him a bit closer and I swear I can smell the hesitation born from fear on him.

“I would rather die a slow painful death having gone out there and failed; than spend one more day in this damn cave not knowing if she’s alive.  One of these days dragon I won’t fight to escape.  I.  Will.  Fight.  To.  Kill.  You.”

I steel myself for another brawl.  I prepare myself for what might be another painful defeat.  I let go of the fang and the dragon pulls back.  He stares at me for what feels like eternity and I step forward.

I set forward again.

I spread my wings and ascend a few feet into the air.

The dragon must have decided that it didn’t want to risk it this time.  It does nothing as I fly away.  I remember Twilight’s scent; I have a direction.

I watch as the young dragon leave.  I don’t stop him partly because he sounded like he really meant it this time.  Plus I can’t stand hurting him like this anymore.  I close my hands together and let my magic envelop me briefly and my body recalls its true form.  I pluck a now sore fang from my mouth and conjure a simple scroll and dictate a letter.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I am writing to inform you that I can no longer keep my promise to keep Spike safely away from the war that is starting to engulf the land.  I feel that keeping him here against his will with no way of knowing how things are going are just hurting him more than anything Blight might do.  He pays no mind to the treasure I’ve laid out for him and no matter how many times I re-arrange the maze he keeps coming out.

Plus he’s really starting to scare me.  Yeah, ME.

Anyway he should be with you shortly, and soon I will also join Equestria’s ranks and spread some chaos among that monster’s army.

So sorry, but I’m sure one day with counseling that you will one day learn to forgive me.  Also please keep this business of breaking a pinkie promise to ourselves.  As I write this I can almost feel Pinkie Pie’s accusing stare on me.

Regards,

Discord