Dragon's Tale, the city of Darkrise

The moon was shining beautifully, I was out hunting with my little baby sister Reina, of course since she is a baby, she was traveling on my shoulder, but don't let her fool you, oh how strong is her spark, she may grow stronger than all three of her brothers, me included, combined. But for now, she is still too young to travel alone, so I satisfy myself with her being on my shoulder.

As we wait in the tree I notice her twitching her little nose in the cutest of manners, “What is it?” I inquire.

“It will rain soon.” She replied, “I’d estimate within the next hour and a half.”

That was a good guess, the winds on the slops have calmed down and humidity is rising, my estimation was for two hours but she wasn’t that far off the mark. It is important for a Blake to understand the weather of the mountain chain of misery, even though it is controlled entirely by the moon temple, a Blake is to always be able to predict the weather no matter what those in the temple can do. And oh boy what an unpredictable weather that is, this morning it was snowing, heavily, then the sky cleared all of a sudden, then the fog sets in all before noon, and of course she can predict them within hours of each other, I can predict them to the minute.

“We should continue our search.”

“So impatient, why can’t we enjoy our day with peace and quiet without this hunting business.”

My reply didn't surprise her I can tell, her body was as relaxed as ever.

“Because I want to hunt.”

She knows I hate hunting, or harming any other creature for that matter, ever since that incident… Whenever I think about it, my right hand itches.

“Does your hand itches?” she knew I’d be wandering about it ever since we’d start pursuing our prey. “You were looking at it while it twitched.”

“No I’m fine.” I fake it, but I don’t want her to worry, in fact I don’t want any of them to worry, so I learned to fake it so well that they actually started to believe, or fake their believe. “Well let’s go.”

As we made our way in the trees, I suddenly noticed something, a presence, “Did you notice that?”  if Reina have noticed it as well then it must be nearer than I thought, “Let’s investigate.” I said as I flew. A couple of trees ahead, and I gazed upon a really uncommon sight, there he was, a purple baby dragon with green scales on his back, just lying there on the ground, unconscious, while a raccoon was sniffing him out.

I quickly came crashing down, which frightened the small scavenger to flee for my relief. Reina jumped from my shoulder and approached him, “He’s injured, and he need immediate medical attention.”  I nodded and came to take a closer look only to be interrupted.

Surprised by her action I took a step back, “What do you want me to do here exactly?”

“Go and get the first aid kit from the camp.”

“And what will you do?”

“I’ll watch over him and make sure that no creature would eat him.”

I looked at her in disbelief, she knew I was on to her, it is impossible to hide something from me, so she puffed up her chest and opened her small wings in defiance scolding me: “I am strong enough to be left alone with an injured party member, you know that, so do as I say, and leave me be.”

‘Leave me be’ that insolent little brat, she is being overprotective, ever since that day a couple of weeks back and she has been extremely rebellious, but I will get my way in the end, she'll regret standing up to me like that.

“Alright sweetie pie, I will leave you here to do what all little monsters your age do best.” I then kneeled and flicked her on the head, “I will leave you to defend him, in your honor as a Blake.” Almost instantaneously her anger was overflowing from her eyes, Darn she is so easy to manipulate.

After a tree or two, I used shadow magic and became one with the tree’s shade, and I activate the seal that I placed on her forehead to spy on her, and the first thing I hear is cursing, she must have learned that from Dominic, she then took a deep breath, and mumbled: “Alright Reina, breath it out, he is only playing with you, that damned death mage is always messing around in other people’s head.”

That was when I decided to have a clearer view, just approaching her is going to be difficult, she was approaching the newly found dragon then ZAP she shocked him awake.

The poor thing stood up screaming, whether in fear or in pain I wouldn't know, could be both. She staggered over him apologetically, “I’m sorry please, please calm down I simply need you to be awake.”

Sobbing the little thing looked at her with fear in his eyes: “Who are you?” he finally managed.

With her most winning smile she replied: “my name is Reina of the house of Blake, daughter of Edmund Blake and Jocelyne Rolan, what’s your name.”

The little dragon seemed to have calmed down a little: “I’m spike.”

“Just spike?”

He nods, she seems confused, this is the first time she is talking to a male dragon her age, I'm finding myself enjoy her awkwardness.

“Well, my brother is going to return back with some water and first aid any moment now, care for you to tell me what does a hatchling like yourself doing out in the forest without some dragon to look after?”

He looked down, with a sorrowful look, then looked up to her as if he wants to say something, then realized to whom he was talking with.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Oh you needn't worry about me, I have always been able to take care of myself.” She said that almost prideful of her freakish nature of being unnaturally talented with destruction magic, well in my family we are all freaks of nature best be proud of them as much as possible. “Tell me about yourself Spike.”

“Well, I was born in Canterlot and was raised by…” His voice drifted, ‘so there is more to you than meets the eye.’ were my initial thoughts, but then I was amused by Reina jumping at the first conclusion that came into her mind. “So you are an Equestrian dragon, how odd, we don’t see many of your kind here.”

A small rustling sound came from the bushes behind Reina cut the conversation short, as she realize the frightening look on Spikes and turns around very slowly.

“What is that?” Spike’s voice is shaking, whatever it is it seems it has them shaking in their boots.

“A Maulder.”

Oh that explains it, the wolf like creature is a fearsome predator that like to maim his victims before killing them.

“Can you move?”  She is serious now.

The little purple hatchling started to sob again, “We are going to…” she immediately grabbed his mouth shut. Then looked him straight in his eyes with fierce determination. “Just nod, Can you move?”

He nodded yes.

“Good I want you very slowly to climb on my back, don’t ask any question, don’t cry, don’t fret, we will get out of this.”

He did as she said, all the while the maulder was watching them, carefully and closely.

Then when he climbed entirely on her back, I felt a rise in her power, the air around them started to swirl, and she started to glow.

I think I let out an "uh oh" when she used Thunder god speed and zapped her way through the forest. The maulder quickly went into pursuit, I knew I am no match for her speed but with a maulder I can easily outrun, so I followed behind him only to notice that his pack is already alerted.

I can hear on the magical transmission Spike yelling “Slow Down.” As she jumped from one tree to the next, I knew from the direction she was heading: our camp, does she really think that I would listen to her?

Then the zapping sound stopped, and I hear “Dammit Death mage where are you?” Reina must have noticed I was gone.

“What's a death?” I hear Spike say in a frightful voice, for some reason that annoys me.

“No it’s just what we use to make fun of my brother.”

I now hear her pacing, “It will rain any moment now.”

“How can you tell?”

“I just can, ok! I want you to go to the other side of camp and find the driest place to hide in, I can’t control my powers and I don’t want you to get hurt more than you already are.” I'm surprised she managed to keep her timeline, even though her initial estimation is off by a lot.

Spike must have had a very confused look on his face, because she then said: “just do it ok!”

The clearing came to my view almost the same time as the maulder came to her. Spike was covered in a blanket under one of the tents, and Reina was just standing there charging her powers. And because I am such a good brother I did exactly what she asked and left her be, for the moment.

The maulder must have sensed something because it took a step back and started gnashing at the ground, a defensive gesture.

“I do hope you would just die quickly, I’d hate for you to survive when it starts to rain.”

With a grin on her face, she immediately created a lightning chain between her paws, and as she spread her hands apart, a small ball of lightning formed in front of her.

Threatened, the maulder didn't wait for her to finish her spell and immediately launched an attack but just as it became in midair, Reina soared at him catching the lightning sphere in her hands, then just as they were about to collide, Reina stretched her hands in front of her opponent’s face then opened them.

I swear if I didn't know what she was doing I might have been killed there and there, the maulder was sent flying to where I was hiding in the tree tops through the sheer power of her electrical blast. The maulder fell from the tree, crisped and dead.

Spike was dumbfounded, I’ll bet he has never seen anything like that before, but as she turned to him, his astonishment turns to fear, then he says something to her that makes her turn around, and with an anxious expression on her face she started to retreat slowly toward him.

She said something else but I couldn't hear her, go figures, the spying spell must have been fried with the maulder. That is when I decided to stop being the good brother and return to being the actual brother.

Instinctively, I jumped in front of whatever they were frightened of, with my bloodlust held high I didn't realize what am I facing, but the rest of the maulder pack started to retreat in fear all of them gnashing on the ground. “Leave” I said in my most frightening tone, the rest of the maulder pack quickly scrammed toward the trees.

“Well that was fun.” I said in my most cheerful demeanor, but when I looked to them I saw a shocked spike with his mouth wide open, and a very disappointed Reina.

“You just fazed from the shadow.”

“Yes I did.”

“You were following me all this time.”

“Of course, I wouldn't leave you behind.”

“You had a spying spell placed on my forehead when you flicked me.”

“Now surely you must understand that.”

“You Were Spying On Me.” She started yelling, I knew that was one of her tantrums, but I will not have any of it.

“Yes I was spying on you, and frankly I don’t know what you were expecting me to do, with that attitude you have been showing me ever since this trip started you should be thankful I played along that far.” I said in a very stern voice that even surprised me.

“But.”

“No buts.” I was intending to interrupt her, she knows that acting up against her elders is disrespectful; though it is tearing me up inside seeing her flashing her innocent wide eyes at me, I had no choice in the matter. “We are heading back home, in about half an hour this place is going to be soaked then it will start to freeze, and we need to get him to a doctor regardless, start packing.” She let out a squeal of frustration then went to pack her stuff.

As I walked along toward our injured guest the first thing I noticed was fear. 'he is frightened of me.' not the first I want to deal with when meeting someone knew, must be the bloodlust. “Come here little one, there is nothing to be afraid of now.” I said trying to calm him down.

“But your hand.” That was when I realized that I was extending my right hand to him, However I needed to keep my composure so I replied: “Yes, and what of it?”

I heard Reina chuckle in the distance but I ignored her, Spike seems to be stumbling over what to say: “But it’s very long and it only has three fingers which look sharper than swords and its scales are… spiked?”

He looked at me thinking he made a mistake by bluntly saying that my hand is abnormal for a dragon. I  kept smiling my most sincere smile yet then said: “Well there is a very sad story behind how I got this hand,” I raised my right hand to my face then extended it to him, “but I am not the only one with a sad story around here, aren't I. So why don’t you come with us and probably share our stories together?”

The little one smiled and took my hand to lift himself up only to fall back down, his injuries must be worse than what I previously thought, or did Reina's barrage of spells caused this? dominic would know.

“Say, Cyril, what you want to do with the maulder, should we carry only its ear as a proof that I hunted him, I bet dad is going to be proud.”

“No we are not, we are leaving him here as he is.”

“What?” why?”

“As punishment.”

“For what?”

I turned to her then started counting: “Well for being rude and talking back at your elder, then you swear, then for calling me a death mage in front of a stranger, should I continue or is that enough.”

“This is the worse hunting trip ever, I’m going to tell dad about this.”

“See is I care, now come.”

She reluctantly climbed on my back, then I went and picked up the purple dragon with my left hand, he was breathing unevenly, I need to hurry, so I cast a spell that turned the entire camp to shadows then the shadows converted on my hand. As the last shadow disappeared, I took flight toward Darkrise.

Reina came over my shoulder and looked upon the frail soul I have in my hands, “Is he going to be ok?”

I noticed that he fell asleep, snuggling deeper in my arms, “He will be.”  I never remember flying that fast before.