Chapters More than meets the eye
It has been two years since the return of King Sombra, two years since the tyranny of the King in the North was ended and Shard returned. Two years since Shard had died, two years since his warning of HIM the one being no one knew anything about. two years since the raw burst of King Sombra's and Nightmare Moons Dark magic encounter. Two years and HIM had begun to stir from his endless slumber. Deep deep down below in the earth's crust something stirred. Something...ancient something evil and cold and malicious. The very ground trembled with each shift, the land wept as the being clawed and scrabbled its way to the surface. When it finally made it's way to the surface, the ground exploded outwards. Millennia's worth of stone was heaved into the air! A great bout of fire burst into the air, a shimmering column of intense molten flame that glowed a bright crimson against the pitch black night. Great leathery wings ending in jagged curves extended with a creak and with a roar the being propelled itself into the air pivoting around as the flames encased it.
"I AM DRAKOS, DRAGON OF MYTH!!!! I HAVE RETURNED!!! I AM FLAME!!! I AM FIRE!!!! THE WORLD IS MY HOARD!!! HEED MY WORD AND TREMBLE FOR MY RAIN OF FLAME SHALL CLEANSE THE VERMIN!!!! I HAVE RETURNED" roared the dragon.
in Canterlot
Luna heard the tremor and saw a glow in the distance, she rushed to the balcony and her snout fell open. A column of crimson fire encased...well a dragon she could only describe as gigantic, it dwarfed all dragons she had ever seen! She heard its roar, listened in amazement to its warning!
"surely such a creature cannot be serious..." she trailed off as she remembered Shards warning. Immediately she ran off to find her big sister.
"What in the name of Tartarus is that?!?!" Celestia exclaimed as the dragon of gargantuan proportion continued its pivot in the air, breathing out its fire.
"I believe that is the HE Shard warned us about" Luna whispered, entranced by the sight of the seemingly enraged dragon.
"THAT?!?! THAT IS HIM?!?!" Celestia screeched!
"Jeez Tia I know the enormity of the situation but please by Tartarus lower the decibel level" Luna retorted.
"This is this is more than a problem it could the end of ponykind!!! Quick call the Elements, Wonderbolts, ANYONE!!!" said celestia who had begun to hyperventilate. Luna didn't reply she only stared at the beast roaring in the distance, witnessed as it spewed out its flame...Shards words echoed in her head.
"He is coming, He is older than time itself and merciless" a tear came to her eye.
"Oh shard, I wish you were here it seems your warning came true..."
Author's Note
Sorry for the wait I had writers block, but here is the first chapter guys enjoy! also in case it doesn't say Awakened is the prequel to this story, its not massively relevant but better if you do read it.
First Move
Drakos finally fell back to the ground, his enormous form made the ground tremble. He sighed.
"So long have I been asleep, I wonder what has unfolded upon this mortal realm of mine during my slumber" the ancient being mused. He stared into the distance, he saw the glow of canterlot and chuckled.
"let us pay our respects to the rulers of this land shall we? they must reside their due to that overly furnished castle of theirs!" He sneered. His leathery wings extended and he lifted himself from the ground, in no time at all his powerful strokes were propelling him towards the Canterlot at a decent pace.
"soon" Drakos thought "they shall be gone and this world shall be mine".
In Canterlot
Luna and Celestia gazed in fear as they saw the beasts massive form coming towards them. They rushed out to the courtyard to meet the being and stopped dead in their tracks upon what they saw.
"Do you fear me little ponies?" asked a deep voice "Do you fear Drakos dragon of myth? do you even remember the ancients?"
Both alicorns gulped in fear. A fine sheen of sweat could be seen on Celestia's muzzle. Luna took a hesitant step foreword, immediately the Dragon turned its head on a angle and a baleful crimson red eye stared at her.
"Drakos is it? w-welcome y-y-you into our l-l-lands..." Luna was cut off by a tremendous booming sound, startled she realized it was the dragons laugh!
"You presume these lands yours little pony? I WANDERED THIS PLANE BEOFRE YOUR KIND EVEN FORMED! I COVERED THIS WORLD IN MY FIRE! I ALONE OWN THIS LAND! ALL OF IT I WAS HERE WHEN THE MOON FIRST ROSE AND THE SUN FIRST SET AND I SHALL BE HERE TILL THE MOUNTAINS CRUMBLE INTO ASH AND THE FIRES TURN TO DUST!!!!" Roared Drakos.
"wait a minute you can't just take our lands!!! We are a peaceful land surely we can negotiate!!!" shouted Celestia finally gaining her voice.
"YOU DARE DEFY ME?!!?! IGNORANT PONY!!! I AM DRAKOS!!! DRAGON OF MYTH, THE FIRST ANCIENT TO EXIST!!! THE CLEANSER OF WORLDS!!!! THE CRIMSON DEATH!!!!! AND YOU DARE TO TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO??? LOOK UPON ME AND TREMBLE FOR IT SHALL BE MY FLAME THAT BURNS YOU TO NOTHINGNESS" Drakos exclaimed! Upon these words he billowed out a column of fire, it illuminated the dragon himself and the rulers of night and day trembled. Drakos was easily ten times if not more the size of the castle. His iridescent black scales glinted in the light of the flame, razor sharp talons accompanied by curved jagged teeth. His leathery wings extended above them blotting out the moon. They ended in talons of their own. Horns sprouted from the Dragons head, in the dragons maw his internal furnace could be seen smoking and billowing out small jets of flame that licked at the corners of Drako's jaw.
"Wait a minute" Drakos tuned his gaze Luna, she froze, he leaned in closer and inhaled "Is that Sombra I smell?? it is ever so faint but there nonetheless...where is he?"
"Urrrrm he reverted back to Shard and saved me but..but he" Luna let out a sob whilst the dragon looked on unperturbed "he died for me" she managed to choke out. For a minute the dragon went absolutely still, even he had taken a lover once and knew the bitter pain of loss.
"Sombra...you fool" rumbled the dragon. he then turned to look at the two princesses.
"I shall return to the dragon lands to reclaim my throne, you...you shall prepare, only out of respect for your loss of my student do I give you a chance." with that said the dragon once again shook loose his wings with a creak and roared. With two powerful strokes he propelled himself into the air and disappeared from sight. Luna and Celestia looked at each other.
"Some chance is better than no chance I shall call the Elements and the war council" said Celestia breaking the silence that had fallen.
"Tia... it seemed as if the dragon cared for Shard, it might be possible to win him over? he looked as if he could feel!" Luna whispered desperately trying to cling onto some hope.
"He cared for Sombra lulu not the pony you loved but rather the monster he created" stated Celestia bluntly. With that she put her wing over Luan lovingly and trotted back into the castle, her mind plagued with the thoughts of preparation...preparation for yet another war.
Broken Crystal
The Frozen Tundra
Snow. As far as the eye could see, an endless flurry of snow. A shadow, HIS shadow. Great leathery wings tipped with ragged spines creaked out there protest against the cold as they strove to keep the monstrosity aloft.
BOOM
The ground trembled under the weight of Drakos as his form landed. In front of the Ancient was a cave. The entrance more alike a gaping maw than anything else. The most curious thing however were the shadows, they writhed and twirled temporarily forming shapes. Disturbing shapes. To any other passer-by the cave would have driven them insane, the fear stopping their hearts stone cold. Drakos however was undeterred, he was an Ancient, a being that predated everything in existence. A force so malevolent that the earth itself wept at it's presence. Drakos lumbered towards the cave, he passed through the shadows without encountering even a slight amount of resistance. The interior was black. Pitch black. Dark crystals coated the walls the shadows lingered on the fringes, hovering over the crystals themselves. Drakos sighed, the memories came flooding back to him.
The Crystal Cavern a Thousand Years Ago
Drakos stirred from his slumber. His coma was...disturbed. Certain points in the world were linked to his very being, a sort of fiery chain linked to his soul. One such point was being desecrated by the presence of a..."PONY!!!!" Drakos realized.
Shard stumbled into the cavern, the ice had already started to form on his coat. The cold working it's way through to his bones, chilling him to the very core. He took a moment to look around, it looked like any other crystal cave but...something felt wrong he realized.
"PONY. YOU DARE TO DESECRATE MY MORTAL ANCHOR????" boomed a thunderous voice that struck fear into Shards very soul. A eye. A single eye wreathed in flame had appeared in the centre of the cave. It's gaze rooted Shard to the spot. "WELL? SPEAK FOOL OR SUFFER MY WRATH!".
"I...I...am deeply s...sorry I did not mean to trespass" Shard stuttered in response, quivering under the single baleful red eye. Just as Drakos was about to strike the fool from existence he stopped, looking closer he saw...potential and felt...pity. A emotion he had not felt for a millennia. Shard at that moment chose to look up, how he wished he had not. The eye once again caught him in it's gaze but this time advanced upon the small quivering pony. Shard screamed, the scream rung out and continued till his throat was raw from it. His very soul was being bared to the Ancient, his being scrutinised and evaluated. Finally the pain stopped, Shard lay down panting.
"You are...alone. Follow me" The voice uttered, but quietly this time. Shard looked up, still in pain but surprise and curiosity forced him to lift his head. "I shall take you under my wing, I shall raise you aloft and you shall rule. Before you ask why, I have seen your soul and your isolation, your pain and most of all your deep seated hatred. I shall teach you to wield it and most importantly I shall be with you, though I may return to slumber I shall always be with you." with that Drakos manifestation floated away deeper into the cave, without a second thought Shard followed.
Present Crystal Cavern
"Ahhhh Sombra it was going so well, my faithful student. You progressed so well, your hatred grew as did my fondness for you. Then you met her " the last word was said with a sneer so sour it could have curdled milk. "She drew you away from your studies, and tempted you into the light and then I fell asleep...let us see what you achieved during my...vacation." Drakos muttered. A forked tongue slithered between ragged, razor sharp teeth. The tongue touched one of the crystals gently, like the caring caress of a child's parent. Suddenly the life of King Sombra Tyrant of the Frozen North flashed before his very eyes. Drakos shook with rage, his scales glimmered with infernal fire and his talons scored deep gouges into the floor of the cavern. The shadows became agitated responding the Ancients anger. Drakos body burst into flames, he thundered out the cavern into the frozen wasteland and roared.
""SOOOOOOMMMMBBBBBRRRRAAAAAAAA!!!!!!! WHYYYYYY?????" His wings spread in all their glory, the flames roared and doubled in size. Drakos maw opened, fully and completely. It was awful, his maw gaped open like a void something that no thing could escape from. An eternal and terrible force that swallowed all, and at the end a light, a small flicker which transformed into a roaring flame. As Drakos roared, he rose into the sky, using his talons the leviathan pushed himself higher off the cavern. His flame poured over the black crystal melting and twisting whilst his talons shaped and built. Finally he rose ever higher, submerged in his own infernal flame he finally pivoted and made towards the Dragon Lands. "You were my son in all ways except blood, you returned unto me and then left the path of shadow again. I forgive you Sombra...I forgive you". Though many would claim it impossible, a tear... a single blood red tear burst forth from the eye of the Ancient.
Canterlot
"What in the name of Tartaurus..." Luna trailed off her snout slack in awe, the glimmer of fire was visible even in Canterlot. "SISTER!!!"
""Flessssshhhhhh....sssssso sssweeeeet."
"Givvveeee it tooo usssss"
The group collectively took a step back. All but Luna, her face contorted with grief she took a few faltering steps towards it.
"Sister no!" Celestia cried darting forward to retrieve her seemingly insane sibling. Suddenly a shadow struck with lightning speed, becoming tangible the dark form wrapped itself around the solar deity's hoof and threw her aside casually. The others looked on in shock. Luna carried on, the others cries soon died out as they saw...
"They're, they're parting for her" whispered cadence not quite believing her eyes. Luna carried on, she reached the base of the statue. That's when it happened, slowly at first but gathering velocity flames began to engulf the monument, not harming it but rather bathing it in an unholy glow.
"Is this to be you legacy? A dark infernal statue depicting your days of tyranny and torture. A testament to your dark nature? Now no-pony will remember you for who you truly were Shard all they...all they shall see is the shadow." Luna sobbed in a hushed tone. The others stood a little bit behind, not daring to enter the shadows range and as they watched, Luna, Goddess of the moon. Former of the Nightmare and reformer to the tyrant wept. At the base of the unholy testament that proclaimed the evil of the great shadow tyrant she wept. Great huge sobs wracked her body and through the sound of her own grief Luna thought she could hear a roar. A roar of anguish. A roar that promised fire and death. A roar that was older than time and primordial in nature. A roar.
The roar of an Ancient.
Author's Note
Hey guys and duddettes, sorry for the massively long wait but I had like a dozen other projects and my laptop broke. This chapter was just to help me get back in the swing of things and it may be a bit rusty, so comments appreciated leave em below and mail me if you want something.
Drakos
Vast shadows cast by leathery wings stretched out across the blistering ground. Small animals below trembled as Drakos sighed, a sound which due to his leviathan form boomed like thunder. "The dragon lands, at last" he murmured contentedly. Soon his destination came into sight. A volcano. A gargantuan volcano that dominated the landscape. Upon closer inspection the molten mountain had many holes bored into it, like a giant ant mound. These holes however harboured creatures far greater than mere ants...Dragons. Dragons hoarded and slept in these vast caverns that they built. The higher up the volcano their caverns where the higher the status of the dragon. Molten lakes of lava pooled around the base as the fiery liquid spooled in streams down the sides of the volcano. Sleeping and bathing dragons could be seen wallowing in it, their thick scales immune to the heat. "Ahhhh...Dragon Mountain. Ancestral home of all the dragon race, it is due time their Ancient returns to them" heaved Drakos, suddenly putting on a burst of speed, his great wings lifting up and down cooling the air around him. As the gargantuan form of Drakos sped towards the volcano the other dragons finally noticed the giant's approach.
"The Ancient!" a voice cried! soon the call was taken up by the whole populace currently residing on the slopes. Dragons could be seen sleepily stumbling from their caves only to gape in awe and also take up the cry.
"The Ancient!!!".
"The Ancient!!!".
"The Ancient!!!". The edges of Drakos maw curved up into what could only be called a grin of utmost satisfaction.
"So they do remember me after all" Drakos mused "This shall be divine".
Canterlot
The Elements and Royal Sisters sat around a round table in Celestia's private quarters. Whilst Celestia maintained a calm façade, the Elements were clearly shaken and Luna looked as if she had swallowed a spoon of salt.
"Twilight what have you unearthed about this Drakos?" Celestia calmly asked.
"He is...well he is something called an Ancient. I found passages in the scrolls of old and well..." Twilight trailed off.
"Well what Sparkle? Inform us of your discoveries!" Luna said, her tone dripped with bitterness. Celestia glanced at her sibling worriedly and quickly lay a wing over her, drawing Luna close.
"According to what -and I must stress very little- little I could decipher, the Ancients were three beings. The embodiments of Light and Dark" Twilight uttered shakily.
"What bout tha third one Twi?" Applejack questioned.
"The third...The third was Drakos" Twilight paused. "He was THE Ancient. Known as the primordial one. From what I can tell he was there before Light and Dark and ruled our world through flame and claw. The scroll wasn't clear...but it appears he devoured the embodiment of Dark." Twilight paused again as the sharp intake of multiple breaths interrupted her. Even Celestia looked uncomfortable.
"Devoured...twilight are you sure?" Celestia asked, her whole face twisted into disgust and fear.
"Almost certainly but there's more, apparently Drakos never found the embodiment of Light. According to this it hid itself away after Drakos devoured the Dark embodiment...and she may be hidden in the bad-lands." Twilight finished. Celestia looked down and sighed. A sigh that spoke of a unbearable burden carried over the course of thousands of years. She looked up and met the gaze of everypony in the room.
"It appears we will be travelling to enlist the help of this...Light" Celestia said softly. With that everypony lifted themselves off the ground and trotted off to make their own preparations for the long journey ahead.
Drakos
"I AM THE PRIMORDIAL!!! I THE DEVOURER OF THE DARK!!! I WHO IN THE VERY BEGINNING BATHED THE WORLD IN FLAME AND REDUCED THE WORLD OF ASH!!! I WHO LEAD THE DRAGON RACE INTO AN ERA OF FIRE!!! At this the dragons watching cheered as Drakos roared his speech from the rim of the Volcano. Murmuring excitedly amongst themselves, the dragons looked on in glee as Drakos continued his speech, the molten spray dribbling from his scales and the vast wings twitching in anticipation. "I SHALL LEAD THE DRAGON RACE INTO A UTOPIA OF FLAME AND MOLTEN ROCK. WHERE THE ASH FLOWS FREELY AND THE GEMS BURST FROM THE EARTH!!! WE SHALL SHARE THIS WORLD WITH ON BEING IT IS OURS BY RIGHT!!! THEY ARE FOOD NOT FRIENDS!!! MIGHT MAKES RIGHT!!!". The dragons took up the chant, under the shadow of the colossal Ancient thousands upon thousands of reptilian voices chanted.
"MIGHT MAKES RIGHT!"
"MIGHT MAKES RIGHT!"
The roaring chant taken up by the unholy host of dragons reached it's crescendo. "MIGHT MAKES RIGHT!!!" the dragons screamed. Drakos lifted his great scaly head, and...
WHOOSH
A great column of infernal flame burst forth roaring into the sky. The other dragons soon opened their own jaws and contributed their own flame to the great pillar. Some of the oldest dragons there remembered the tales of old. Of how a great being had come and released a great pillar of infernal flame, calling his brethren to war. Soon the column of fire reached high into the sky, it pierced the heavens and coalesced into one great flame that swirled the clouds together and formed a crimson hue which spread throughout the sky. Drakos finally shut his gaping maw, looking down he spat one single ball of fire into the volcano. Immediately a Great rumbling sounded as the molten lake in the volcanos centre began to rise. Drakos turned.
BOOM!!!
A pillar of ash exploded into the sky as the molten lava began to run fiercely down the sides of the weeping volcano. "Now" Drakos whispered to himself. "Now we go to war".
