Chapters Dragon's Tale, the city of Darkrise
Chapter 1: Cyril of the house of Blake.
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.
Dragon's Tale, the city of Darkrise
Chapter 2: Spike the dragon
I woke up is a very warm chamber, the moon light coming in from the window seemed gorgeous, I looked around but I found no one here, I closed my eyes, thinking that this is a dream, my nightmare cannot be over, an image popped inside my head, there were two black dragons, one was a baby dragoness who had bright cyan scales on her back, the other was purely black and had a very strange hand. Then the black dragon had an odd feeling to him, like he is going to… I opened my eyes breathing heavily, I’m wide awake, a bit confused, but I am awake.
I stepped down from my bed, pain shot from my hind leg and I fell. As I’m getting up, I start to realize the room that I was in, it was a pink room with a fur carpet on the floor, a few unlighted torches on the wall, I looked at the bed and it was the size of a baby dragon, I thought about it for a second and realized that I am in the room of that baby dragoness, and then it hit me. “She can shoot lightning.”
“Oh you’re awake.”
The figure moved out of the darkness it was another black dragon with snow white scales on his back, only this one had three scares over his left eye that continue to his torso, he looks even more frightening than that other guy. he waved his paw and the rest of the torches light up one after the other.
“I see you remember what happened in the woods correctly, Reina does have a way with lightning.” He chuckled, “now tell me do you remember everything else?”
I nodded yes, he is being so friendly, just like the dragons in the woods, could I be mistaking? Are there really dragons that can do nice?
“Can I take a closer look at you?” I think he realized my hesitation because what he said next was: “you don’t need to worry, I am a doctor. My name is Dominic of the house of Blake, second son to Edmund Blake and Jocelyne Rolan, on my honor as a Blake nothing bad will happen to you while you are in this castle wall.”
I nodded again, he then gently picked me up and placed me on the bed. He started to take off the bandages on my face then took a closer look all while humming something familiar “good, those have healed nicely.” He then picked up my arms and removed the bandages on my chest and stomach, “Oh no, This will leave a scare.” He then touched were the wound is clearly visible and a magical shroud of snow white colored wrapped around the wound and the next thing I know is that it healed. He finally took a look at my injured leg. As he was unwrapping the bandages I winced as the pain keeps getting worse, he must have noticed “does your leg hurts?” I immediately replied: “yeah, I fell off the bed because of it.” He nodded “hm this is bad” after taking a look at it he gave me his hand “What I am about to do is somewhat painful, so I want you to squeeze as hard as you can on my hand ok?” I didn’t know what he wanted to do but I did as he told me, I saw him create another snow white aura with his other hand, he looked at me and said: “take a deep breath and count to ten.” I took a deep breath then started to count: one, two
“AHHHHH”
The pain was excruciating, it felt like my foot was about to fall off.
A second later I was wheezing, then the door was knocked down, “What are you doing to him? Witch doctor.” Reina’s voice is as squeaky as ever, but Dominic ignored her completely, he kept looking at me: “See that wasn't so bad. Your leg had a damaged nerve, due to lightning passing through it, fixing nerves always hurts most.” He let me go then told me to step down.
I did as he said only this time, I didn't feel the pain, “Thank you.” I said joyously.
"Good." He nodded to me then turned to his baby sister, “and here I thought that your first hunt was taken away from you because you called your brother a death mage.”
“Oh I’m sorry for hurting your girly feelings, but if you hurt one scale on his back, I’ll…” She trailed off, then looked to her door and sighted, “fine, I’m sorry Dom.”
“Why does she only listen to you?” Dominic said out of the bloom.
And then I saw a figure in the hallway, and I realized that the guy with the disfigured hand was standing behind her. He then turned to his brother: “Considering that I am her actual brother while the rest of you are just too cool to actually stand up to her.” He then clapped both his hands together which made an odd sound, “dinner is almost ready why don’t you two go and help Adonis with the table?”
As Dominic and Reina left the teenage dragon looked to me: “I'll be leaving you as well, the fairies will guide you to the dinner table, do you need anything else?
I stumbled on my words, he just seem nice, and different. “You are Syri, Right?”
“Oh right I haven’t introduced myself yet, my name is Cyril of house of Blake, third son of Edmund Blake and Jocelyne Rolan, it is pleasure to meet you Spike of Equestria.”
"What are fairies?"
"Oh right, guys come in here." He stepped to the side and something odd just came in, two flying dots of lights, only they look like ponies, pegasi? I wouldn't know.
"Hello there." said one of light
"He is a handsome one isn't he."said the other
"yes he is, do you think he is good for our princess?"said the first.
"Now now don't pester him too much, he has been sleeping for two whole days and may need time to adjust, have fun." and with that Cyril left the room, humming the same tune as his brother.
"Would you like to see the house?" said one of the fairies
"Oh yes, it is a big house you might get lost, better show you the way." said the other.
"It would be my pleasure." I was happy to be frank, I wasn't expecting this turnabout, it has been a while since I had any contact with any civilization, and I am excited because they are all dragons.
As our tour begins the first one notices is that house is huge, the bed rooms are on the third floor; there is a floor above that and a tower above that as well, on the fourth floor have a store room, laboratory, an experimentation room, and even a training room filled with all kinds of weapons. Then came the second floor, it had a huge dinning all, a theater, a music room and a library that’s even bigger than that in Canterlot, as I saw the library my heart sung, wishing that Twilight would be here, but I know better.
Then we came to the ground floor, were a bright entrance was lit with tons of candles that are shimmering all over the place, but there was something else, “the tower uses the light of the moon and the stars to light up and warm the entire house.”
“Wow talk about efficient, by day this place must be brighter still.”
"What is a sun?" asked one of the fairies.
"Do you mean the older sibling of the moon?" said the other.
"I guess." How come they don't know about the sun? something is off.
"You are no longer in Equestria, you know that right?" said one of the fairies.
"You are in the spine of misery, you do know where you are right?" said the other.
Where you are? Wait they is right, where am I, I went south after reaching the badlands, the dragons told me that the name of that mountain chain is spine of misery, and that no dragon ever dared to go their because it’s too dark.
“The spine of misery?” I hesitantly replied.
“Correct, this place is outside Equestria and thus doesn’t obey the same laws as Equestria." said one of the fairies.
"The spine have been named after the grand exodus of the children of the night." said the other.
“Wait the children of the night? But that’s....”
But before I continued I remembered that exact conversation I had about Nightmare Moon. And then I remembered the tune they were humming. I couldn't place my finger on it, it seemed to have been engraved in my head, but I don't know what it is. But as I looked up I saw the fairies dancing above me and chanting a different tune.
"The followers of Nightmare Moon, a legion in right."
"To whom they are called the children of the night."
"To follow their mother they fought to their grave."
"Only by the rightful moon to be saved.
By the dragons of the darkest sight."
"The dragons fought, and the children were saved."
"But within the shadows not all is glee."
"Fearful of the path they have paved."
"For some have turned and started to flee.
Toward the sun and it glorious shade."
"The dragons fought and all went south."
"Toward the misery and it's frightful mouth."
"And the blood that spilled could not be avenged."
"For our dear mother is not a path we seek."
"But a future for us there is but on one peek.
For Darkness to rise our war will end."
"What is that?" I couldn't understand the words at first. but before I can say anything, the room around me started to spin, and shades started coming and going, fighting and cutting down each other, and within the chaos one particular shade caught my eye, a dragon's shade and an alicorn shade, the alicorn took something from the dragon and the dragon screamed for it back, I don't know what came over me I started running toward that dragon, screaming at her that I am alive, wanting to comfort her. Then it all went blank
The next thing I know is that I was sitting at the table, with Reina Sitting right next to me and Cyril in front reading a book.
“Where am I?”
“Ah you’re awake, the fairies stunned you with their magic.” Apparently Reina was waiting for me. "You’ll get used to it, the fairies are the most annoying part of Darkrise, they get noisy whenever a new guy comes in and usually have a sense that seems to detect annoyance more than danger.”
"So what did the fairies do to you?" Asked Cyril nonchalantly as ever
"They told me a poem while dancing, something about the children of the night, dragons and darkness."
"Ah, that poem." He then slid the book that he was reading to me. "These are the journals of Edgar Blake, you'll understand the poem if you read through it."
I picked up what seems to be a very old book, "Thanks." But before I could open it, two dots of light came whizzing in front of.
"You want to know." said one fairy
"You wish to understand." said the other.
"But you will never comprehend." Said both of them in unisom as they twirled around the dinner table.
"Hey leave him alone." Reina snapped at them.
“Scary, scary” one them went “Reina defending her lover is scary.”
Lover!?! “I’m not his lover.” Reina’s voice is definitely a piercing one, reminds me of Sweetie bell, and Rarity. Lovers, my first thoughts went to Rarity…Rarity, I wander what she is doing right now, probably loathing me.
The fairies kept teasing Reina calling her and me love birds and other love related things, and Reina kept yelling at them to stop, I glanced over the table only to see Cyril truing hard to repress a laugh while Dominic laughing uncontrollably.
“Lovers?” The voice came literally out of nowhere. However it made everyone stiff as a board.
“Reina is too young for such a thing, and the next time I’ll hear chanting for lovers it better be for you two.” The giant black dragon with red scales on his back was standing right on top of the table, pointing at Cyril and Dominic.
Reina seemed relieved that all the teasing had stopped.
“That is impo~ssible, because they are bo~res.” Said a singing voice coming from the back.
Cyril gave one last chuckle while Dominic glared at the coming dragon, that dragon was black like all his family members it seems, however his back scales were shinning silver, he was definitely handsome by all means of characterization of what a handsome dragon should look like.
“Oh Adonis, it is not like you to delight us with your tales of conquest.” Dominic sure used an acidic tone with his brother.
“I would brag about my conquest last Sunday, when dad was invited to a party and the young ones were out hunting, but what’s the use? It’s not like it’s a competition between brothers right?”
The big dragon rubbed his paw on his face: “when will you ever learn respect to females that I wish to know, and Dom please try not to kill your brother at the dining table.”
I got curious about this conquest thing is but I was interrupted when the big dragon looked straight at me and asked: “So what is your name dear guest?” For some reason his stare is more compelling that Celestia at court.
“I’m spike, I come from Equestria,” I thought for a moment: “thank you for receiving me in your house, it’s quite a big and beautiful mansion might I add.”
“Glad you enjoyed it, my name is Edmund Blake, son of Edgar Blake; this is my eldest son Adonis, he is the one that cooked dinner, and I’m sure you have met Dominic the doctor that treated you.”
“Newly graduated might I add.” Interrupted Dominic
“And you have already been introduced to Reina and Cyril.” Cyril gave a curt salute and Reina stayed the same.
“And since you don’t originally belong here,” Remarked Adonis “one quick word of advice, ignore the fairies, they will bother you to no end, and you won’t even be able to know their names.”
“That is right so eyes in your soup dragonizer, and don’t even think about our Reina that way.”
I seriously don’t know what they are talking about, so I yelled “What way?”
Everyone else chuckled with the exception of the two kids on the table.
“Ok, ok enough pestering the young ones,” Edmund pointed at the fairies, to which they bowed down and left. Then he turned to Spike: “So spike tell me, what brings you here all the way to Darkrise?”
I sighted, I can't tell them that I ran away, and Celestia forbids I definitely can't tell them why, If they knew the truth I will definitely get kicked out of their house, but I don't want to leave, I have to say something, say something, Say something.
“He ran away from home.”
“I was going to say that.” Wait what am I saying? How the hay did he find out, wait who found out in the first place.
“Well I know you wanted to say it, but you were too hesitant, I thought you needed a push.” Now I’m sure, it was Cyril, but did he figure out I’m hesitating? I noticed a wave of awkward looks have been exchanged around the table then I hear Reina mutters “uh oh” under her breath, I turn to her for advice: “what is going on?”
“He cold read you.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll see.”
“I have to say though,” Cyril continued unfazed by my lack of understanding of the situation, “You did well reaching all the way over here even though you have been raise by ponies of all creatures.”
Wait what? now I know he is definitely messing around with me, I must have talked in my sleep or something, though I definitely didn’t tell anyone, no one anywhere should know that I am here.
“I’m sure you covered your trail too well, I mean not anyone can get away after hurting someone close to them.”
"That is a lie." Tears where swelling in my eyes, I'm scared, I'm angry, I'm defenseless, then I thought about it 'He can’t be, he couldn’t be, could he be inside my mind'.
“Well not inside your mind per say.” Cyril continued nonchalantly while I am freaking out. I’m becoming more terrified from him by the second and all he did is be nice to me, this isn’t happening, this can’t be happening.
“Stop that” her shriek is definitely piercing, and I can feel her paws wrapping over me, I took solace in them, for some reason I can’t move or breathe, he completely controlled me for a moment, or is it just a moment.
“Wow, he isn’t just any bore, he is a complete jerk.” I hear Adonis
“I am deeply sorry for the distress I caused you, I’ll punish myself and skip dinner.” Cyril said that in his same nonchalant tone and then got up in a hurry and went straight to the door.
Everyone seemed relieved with the exception of the father, Edmund looked as if something was still amiss, “Spike, I normally don’t like forcing that particular issue on anyone, but I’ll make an exception for you, I want you to follow Cyril and force him to tell you everything, that dragon have answers even I can’t find.”
“But Father,” objected Reina but before she can even talk, Edmund shut her down, “he needs this,” and then he looked straight at me and says: “Go now.”
At that moment, something stirred inside, I can’t really describe it; it’s as if my blood is boiling, even though I am frightened of what that dragon knows I can’t help but to stand up and follow.
I met Cyril half way down as he was leaving the mansion. “Wait” I screamed from the top of my lungs but as I reached the stairs he was already up.
“I see father used suggestion on you,” he took a look around him, “you won’t tell anyone that I am about to leave, little one?”
“I want to know how you knew all these things I haven’t told that to anyone yet.”
“Oh that is easy, those were only my first impression of you.”
His first impression of me! This is crazy, not even Celestia can know a person that well on her first look.
“I bet she doesn't have half the training that I have.”
Again, “How do you know that I was thinking of Celestia?”
“I didn't know it was the princess of the sun, I just assumed a she since most pony society is female driven, however you told me her name willingly and confirmed that it was a she you were thinking about.”
He paused to allow his words to set in, then continued: “You see most of what I do is guess work, I’ll explain everything from the top: I knew you were lost from the first moment I set my eyes on you, a baby dragon hurt in the middle of nowhere being sniffed by a wild animal, give rise to two possibilities, A you are lost, B you are a runaway. I know that you are not lost because being lost implies that someone is looking for you, and we have been in those woods for 3 days when we found you, it would have been easy to know, that was further confirmed by the fact that when you woke up you did not ask to see anyone, which proves that you are not looking for someone, ergo you ran away.”
I nodded, all he said is just simple observation, but he knew so much more. “What about me being raised by ponies?”
“Your mannerism, you have a conflict in them, you are a very nice fellow, almost to the point of being naive, you have shown concern toward my sister who always, and I do mean always, emits a sense of dominance, you replied with gentle words, you kept your composure all through your conversation, all of which are usually pony, but it was a dead giveaway when you trailed your words over who raised you.”
“I still don’t see the conflict you are talking about.”
“Well it became apparent with your comment over my arm, a pony would have shrugged it off as something not important and wouldn't have inquired over it, but a dragon is rude enough to inquire over it, which also indicates to me that you have been on your own for quite some times now.”
“Yes I have, but how do you know about me harming somepony I loved?”
“Well that is harder to explain, you see you keep looking down to your left, which is a sign that you are remembering something, and after you do that you display an emotion. However you did that same reflex so many times on Sunday that you literally became an open book to me, from feeling of self-pity climbing up to self-loathing, to being dismayed and even disgust, to sadness and loneliness, most of these emotion would last a fraction of a second, so no one but myself could discern them, but it became clear that you are punishing yourself over something, it all becomes clear when you put one and one together what is going on.”
I sat there in awe as to what I heard, I have traveled the whole of Equestria and have never met any pony with that talent, he can read my face like a book I felt relieved but disappointed at that, I thought it would be much cooler than simple observation.
“Now since you don’t have any questions, I’ll be taking my leave.” Cyril stood up, “Oh before I go, I have a word of advice for you, I don’t really know what happened in your past, though I expect you to tell us sooner or later, but I want you to know one thing, Darkrise is the city in the stars; here you can reach whatever you need to grow and to become the best dragon you can ever be, so no matter what happens Spike, I hope you stick around to find out.”
“Find out what?”
“How should I know, I’m no god.” He waved goodbye and left.
Dragon's Tale, the city of Darkrise
chapter 3: Doctor Dominic Blake
It is a fine Thursday morning, the moon and the stars were shimmering on the snow covered rooftops, a sight not a thousand words can describe. Darkrise is beautiful.
However today is by far not a normal day, as of yesterday, after the fiasco of Cyril at the dinner table, I was given charge of our dear guest, that little purple dragon, Spike. It would be a good opportunity to keep an eye on his condition, however I am not sure how that will affect my current work.
As one of the twenty resident doctors of Darkrise general hospital I usually take Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, but my hospital duties are not my only ones, I also have to make the rounds on all of my patients in their homes. As it is in our practice our belief that patients tend to heal better in their own beds surrounded by family than by coming to a hospital with its nearly insufferably depressive atmosphere.
After everyone have left the mansion, I checked my patients list as well as my to do list, then woke our little guest from his slumber.
Groggy he opened his eyes and inquired about the time, I told him its morning, he then looked up and saw that the moon is still up in the sky, “but it’s the middle of the night.”
I chuckled at his lack of congruence, “You are in Darkrise, where the sun never rise and the night is the new day, now get up you are coming with me.”
On the dining table were the remaining two pieces of a chocolate opal cake. Definitely my father’s cooking.
As we sat, spike started looking at his surroundings.
“Is there anything amiss?” I inquire
“Yeah, where is everyone?”
“Father had already went to work, and Adonis is back in his forge, while Cyril and Reina went to school.”
“School?”
“Yes a school that teaches magic.”
He remained a bit confused, “isn’t Cyril too old for school?”
I laughed at his notion, “Cyril isn’t a student; he is a teacher there.”
Shocked he replied, “Wow I don’t think I ever want him as my teacher.”
“Regardless of what his quirks are, Cyril is an excellent teacher, he can show you the path you need to take all without showing you what you are looking for.”
That seemed to have convinced him. “So, it’s just you and me?”
I gave him my most sincere smile, “I also have some work I need to attend to.”
“Yes, he is going to treat the sick, heal the wounded, and raise the dead.” One of the fairies said, but as a resident of Darkrise I learned to ignore them, though not as completely, since I replied: “raising the dead is Cyril’s work not mine.”
Realizing what I just said I bit my tongue, my brother is not a monster, regardless of what his powers may be.
“So what am I to do all day?” asked spike.
“If you were useful at something you might get a job.” Teased him one of the fairies.
“Oh well, I used to work at a library, keeping scores of checklists, making sure the books are in order stuff like that.”
“Excellent.” I jumped from my chair, but that was a brilliant idea that popped into my head. “How about you be my assistant for the day?”
“But aren’t you a doctor, I don’t know anything about medicine.”
“Oh no, you won’t do medicine, but you will handle all my checklists, from patients to drugs to appointments, I think that fits your area of expertise quite nicely.”
There was a glee in his eyes as he nodded in agreement.
“Alright then, finish your breakfast and we can get started.”
Out on the street, I couldn’t help but realize at spikes wander and awe at our city’s street, I watched as he is auspiciously weaving his way through the ice covered streets that are teaming with lights, fairies and all sort of creatures.
“You know,” he went “I never thought it would be this bright, It’s as if the ground itself is light up.”
I simply enjoy at his marveling, “Well you should be able to see the light over there.” I pointed him toward a light beam that is coming from the ground toward the moon. “There is the temple of the moon. An ancient relic left by a civilization long been dead, it harnesses the power of the moon and the stars then amplify it nearly ten thousand folds.”
“It creates enough power to control the weather of the entire mountain chain, all the way to the Bad Lands in Equestria, and as south as the eyes can see, it also prevents the sun to rise.”
“You mean, you have never seen a sun rise before?”
I looked at his raw curiosity, somehow I wish Reina was that intuitive, “Well, no, not personally, others have though, they tell me that when the sun is in the sky you can’t look up because it blurs your eyes.”
“How about warmth? The sun is what usually give warmth to all living things in the world?”
“Well according to an archaeologist in our local university, this place used to be a desert because it was too high up, the sun burned everything, even the grass, so that ancient civilization, for reasons unknown to us, created a machine that forbade the sun to rise and used the moon instead.”
That answer didn’t convince him it seems, so I decided to go on: “have you noticed already? There is ice everywhere, and it’s snowing, but despite all this coolness, neither you nor I am cold.”
He nodded.
“Well that is because the street themselves emits the warmth needed to sustains all life form, the higher you fly the colder it gets, and trust me it gets really cold, really fast. That phenomena happens because that temple transform the power needed to raise the sun into heat for the earth.”
“I think I understand, but I still find it strange.”
“When magic meets science, stranger things have happened still, now what is the first order of business?”
“Get the surgical instruments from Adonis.”
“Ah good then we are here.”
In front of Adonis’s shop, there is a score of females, dragonesses, ponies, even fairies, all gathered around his shop. “Go figures.”
Spike noticed it too but did not understand what was going on. “Why is there a big crowd in front of smithy?”
“You’ll see in a moment.”
As we made our way through the crowd and finally reached the inside of the shop, the crowd cleared right in front of the door. I opened the shop to be greeted by Anvil Ford, a grey earth pony with silver and white mane, and one of Darkrise greatest smith might I add.
“Hello mister Ford, crowded as usual I see.”
Anvil grunted, he liked the work of the smithy because it was quite, but ever since Adonis came to work for him, well you get the picture.
“Where is Adonis? I gave him some surgical tools to repair for me the other day, and I’m here to pick them up.”
Mister Ford lifted his hoof and pointed at the forge, I looked closely only to see my brother hammering at a sword with his full strength, he is topless but wearing some ragged trousers, his sweat accentuating his already well-toned and highly muscled body, he stopped his hammering and raised his newly forged blade, and the crowd gasped holding their breath as he looked over the metal assessing it, then he plunged the blade into a basin of cold water, and the crowd sighed as the steam filled the ford.
“And I am supposed to be related to him.”
“Hey there little brother, and little dragon.” He greeted me and Spike while cleaning his hands. “Out for a stroll today?”
“Are you done playing macho for the day?”
“Why? Jealous much?” Gods he make me so angry.
“No, I thought you might have forgotten our deal earlier this week, which I’ll take care of your chores for next week while you repair my surgical instruments.”
“Nah of course I didn’t forget. Here.”
He handed me my surgeon’s bag. I opened it and picked up one of the scalpels, then made a cut on my finger just how sharp it got, the cut went straight to the bones just like when I first bought them.
“Well, if it’s to any support, your skills as a smith are formidable.”
“Sharpened to a fault, cleaned from any rust, and enchanted to kill all germs, just like my way with women.”
He then made a hand pistol, pointed it at the entrance and winked while doing a clicking sound, and the crowd fell into a cheer. However that didn’t please Mister Ford who grunted at all the noise.
“I have to get back to work, you’ll be home this Saturday, expect the list to be on your desk then.”
“Wow I never thought he would be like that from the way he was acting yesterday.” Spike remark caught me by surprise, he was so quite back there that I almost forgot that he is with me.
“What are you talking about, he is always like that.” After another look at him working then I turned to Spike: “let’s go, we are done here.”
As we were taking our leave, Mister Ford stopped me half way, “Say uh doc, can you see to my son, he is been having this terrible cough, that I couldn’t send him to school today.”
“Of course I will, Spike right down Mister Ford’s name on our patient’s list, we’ll go to him as soon as we are in the area.” I said with a smile on my face, regardless of what my brother think, my job is worth it.
Out on the street once more, we made our way to my sector of the city, probably one of the poorest sectors, with a dense population, however it was always clean and the people are a lot friendlier than what one might expect.
“You know,” Spike remarked. “Other than your colors, it is pretty hard to believe that any of you are related to each other.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well Mister Edmund is quite open, and Adonis is…”
“Eccentric?”
“Yeah that, but you are so much calm, and Cyril is just…”
“Creepy!”
“I was going to say closed off, while Reina is always on fire.”
“Well we weren’t always like that, you see, Cyril was worse than Reina when he was her age, to compare him to a demon is not an exaggeration, and I was just as open as Adonis, those were really happy times, mom was alive, and we were waiting for Reina to hatch, and then…”
I still remember what happened like it was yesterday, but that isn’t my story, nor should it be.
“Mom died and Cyril got really sick.”
“Really? How? What happened?”
“I can’t answer these questions, only Cyril can tell you what happened, I can however tell about the aftermath.”
Spike looked at me with his big purple eyes, almost begging to hear what happened.
“After mom had died, dad got really lost, he quit his job as captain of the city guard, and started roaming the house like a lost puppy, Adonis started to come home less and less, he would either spend time in the smithy, or go chase after girls. He even slept on a park bench, anything but come home. So it became up to me to nurse Cyril back to health and look after the egg, and cook and clean and do all the chores in the house.”
“All that however was about to change suddenly, a year later, and Cyril condition got worse, he fell into a coma, That was a very bad day, when Cyril didn’t wake up, dad went into a frenzy, cursing the gods, the heavens and everything in between, Adonis disappeared entirely, and I started to slip as well, I cursed my helplessness, I wanted to do something, anything to get him out of that state. Then I remembered something about Cyril that mom used to tell me, Cyril can channel life, from one creature to another, a magic only he can perform, something that earned him the title death mage in the past. But what type of life can I use, in my ignorant absurdity, I found the answer in a moment of folly, in a single moment of insanity, in the form of an egg, my own sister’s egg.
I went through the books in the library, and found what I am looking for: a life transference spell, I thought it would solve all of our problems, so after a week of tedious preparations, I drew the magical seal on the ground and placed the egg in the sacrificial shrine that I build out of mother’s nest, and started the ritual. But as soon as the magical seal is activated and even before I started to chant, I look up to see Cyril standing, my heart was over joyed, I managed to wake my brother up, but that joy soon turned to horror to see his eyes glowing as he took a step towards me, ‘don’t’ he said, ‘don’t you dare.’ It wasn’t his voice, ‘don’t you dare harm her.’ That was mother’s voice. And then he attacked, I was sent flying from the third floor and crashed in the garden at the opposite side of the mansion, the next thing I remember is Adonis picking me up asking ‘what’s going on?’ but then we saw father flying over our heads and crashing into the main gate, and he came out. He was floating, and the level of powers that came out of him was excruciating it was painful just staring at him, he kept hovering toward us saying that we shouldn’t have harmed her, before he could reach us however, I fainted.
The next thing I remember was when I woke up three days later at the hospital, I looked at the bed next to me and I see my father cheery as ever with a broken wing and a broken paw, talking to Adonis who was sitting here making funny jokes at something, when they saw me waking up, none of them said a word to me, only smiled and pointed at the other side of the room, and when I looked I saw the most heartwarming thing in my entire life so far, Cyril wrapped in a blanket sleeping peacefully while there is a baby dragoness in his cute little paw.
They told me what happened after I fainted, they said that the temple light suddenly converged from the moon and struck Cyril absorbing all his excess powers, it turns out that that was what made him sick in the first place, he had too much power that his own body couldn’t handle anymore, and my spell served as a trigger to his powers to surface and take control.”
I paused, realizing that Spike has stopped following me, I looked and I saw his shocked face.
After returning to him, I asked: “Are you ok?”
“Does Reina knows you tried to sacrifice her?”
“Yes she does.”
He looked at me bewildered, almost afraid of me, I know that look too well; I got that look from everyone for a long while.
“I decided from that day to make amends you know,” I continued ignoring his thoughts, he still needs to know the full details, “I needed to move on, so I decided to become a doctor and help anyone and everyone in my way regardless of who they are and what they do, and trust me it was hard getting people who already perceive you as a murderer to acknowledge you for a healer, it took time and a lot of effort to prove that, I am not a monster, none of us are.”
“You know I’m finding that harder to believe by the minute.”
A logical reply, he already seen Reina kill a maulder with her bare hands.
“There is no simplistic way to look at things Spike, the world is not black and white like everyone wants you to believe, for the most part its grey, like your story which you have inclined yet to share with us.”
Spike broke his gaze, he wore a sullen look on his face, guess I touched a nerve or two. “Tell you what” I decided to change the mood, “why don’t you continue the rounds with me today, and by the end of the day, if you don’t like being with us, just walk into any house here in Darkrise and ask them to stay, you will not find a single closed door in this city.”
Dragon's Tale, the city of Darkrise
chapter 4: the voices of darkrise
It is already midday, or rather midnight I should say, on the Everfree district, perhaps one of the most heartwarming district in Darkrise.
As the narrator of what is about to unfold I have to tell the sad story about this particular district more closely and from the third person perspective, for it will be the landmark in future Spike’s events.
As we walk in this district, we see no dragon here, in our history most of the Nobel dragon families have been massacred, however most of the times, a few manages to escape, the horrors and lessons they learn are passed down from generation to generation so that the next generation may learn and adapt and survive.
With that bearing in mind our story starts not in Darkrise with our current heroes running in life not knowing where it is heading, except for Cyril who apparently know everything, but a thousand years ago, when the first dragon rebellion sparked in a place called the Everfree forest. The Everfree dragon lineage is known for its strong connection with nature and the good will of the forest, so they made their home deep in the oldest forest of Equestria. However because of their central location in our little world, when the rebellion started, it started in their home, each and every being that possessed the slightest magical entropy was soon dispatched to the guillotine.
Out of that horror tale, there is a story of a heroic sacrifice, a mother pleaded to the gods that they take her unhatched child to safety and she will forfeit her own to do so, however like too many prayers that night none of that has been found to be true. And the Everfree bloodline vanished from existence; as for the other survivors, well that is what this particular district is made of.
Now as our story left off, Spike was in turmoil, he had just learned the secret of the family that accepted him, of a father that abandoned all hopes at the loss of his wife, at an eldest who ran away, at a sibling who tried to kill one of his own to save another of his own, and finally at a dragon who possess powers so vast that only the moon itself can stop.
However, the one that escorted him gave him an offer, one he certainly cannot refuse, a day to settle his mind and to meet Darkrisers then to decide whether to stay or to leave.
Spike had already made up his mind on leaving, he just didn’t want to tell it yet; he felt that he imposed long enough on his fellow saviors, but he knows little of this city’s people and customs. So he made a plan of action to learn as much as he can about what this city is and what it means.
“This is it.” Says doctor Dominic, pointing at one of the houses in the district, a house like all others stuck between two houses with a lamp post in front of it, nothing special to it. He knocks on the door only to have a sweet mare open the door, “Welcome” she says.
“Greetings Miss Ford,” replied the doctor, “your husband told me you have a sick colt I should check upon.”
Reluctantly Miss Ford allowed them in, Spike took notice, it confirmed his suspicion that not everyone is willing to have him heal their sick and injured.
Once inside the doctor went straight to the child’s room, the poor frail soul was lying sick in bed wheezing and coughing, too tired to even greet. The doctor took his fever, checked his pulse, peered into his throat and listened to his lungs; he then used his magic to place a seal, then prepared a poultice for the little soul to heal. By the time he was done the colt could sit up straight and talk and laugh as loud as he can.
When the doctor bid farewell, Miss Ford came to him with an apologetic look on her face, “I am sorry Doctor,” she said, “but I don’t have anything to pay you.”
With a loud laugh he replied: “you needn’t to worry, your husband already took care of it all.” Then turned his back and walked away.
Spike got curious, he did not see mister Ford give him anything, “What was that all about?” he inquired.
“Mister Anvil Ford is a gambler he wasted all their money for the week to come, she couldn’t afford a doctor so the condition of their son got worse, Adonis knew about that and told me to come check on him. I was planning on coming regardless of whether mister Anvil asked me to.”
“But you didn’t write his name on the checklist.”
“Some names are kept in the heart rather on a piece of paper.”
“So you healed him regardless of whether they pay you or not.”
“It is my obligation as a doctor to aid anyone that needs my help, it is also my dragon code to help those who are in need no matter what the cost.”
Spike was impressed by their first visit, though it didn’t change his mind.
Next on the list were the rounds at the hospital, so Dominic came upon a fairy hovering overhead “would you mind opening the doctor’s door please?”
“Do you have the key?” asked the fairy.
And from his bag a key was produced, it shimmered in the moon light, so the fairy opened a rift, a small magical light that seem wedged into the side of the ford's residence door, Dominic inserts the key into the rift and turns it.
“Wait, isn’t that the house of the Fords?”
“Well I guess we have to open and find out.” He replied in a sarcastic tone.
However the door that opened outward a minute ago, now is opening inward more light came out, “Well aren’t you coming in?”
Reluctantly Spike took the first step only to find himself at a hospital reception. “So cool.”
“You like it huh?”
“How did you do that?”
“I didn’t do anything, the fairies however do a lot more than their fair share around here.”
“The fairies?”
“Yes, they nearly do everything around here, from maintenance, to building, to nearly anything; they do so by becoming tools that aid us in our own duties.”
“Wow.”
“Wow indeed.”
“No I mean, wow.” Spike points out to one particular fairy that was bigger than others, and now Spike realized what he saw yesterday, these Fairies look like golden changelings.
“Oh, that is the fairy king.” Dominic noted, “He also runs this hospital.”
“They look like changelings to me.” Remarked Spike.
“That is because they are changelings.”
If a question mark can be drawn on someone’s face that would be Spike’s expression right now.
“Allow me to elaborate, Fairies, like changelings feed on the love and light that exist in people toward each other, and just like changelings they can change their shape, only there is a catch, unlike changelings who are parasitic, and change their shape to someone you love and steal the love you bear for them, Fairies change their shape to magical tools that we use every day, they do so to feed on the power of love and attachment we have for the people and places we love.”
“But why is the fairy king here at the hospital?”
“Hospitals are a place of raw emotions, there are more sincere tears here than you might find anyplace else in the world, it is a wondrous place filled with all sort of memories and emotions that literally saturate the air. You can say this is as much a battery for this city as the temple of the moon is.”
“I don’t know I just really hate hospitals.”
“That is because you get reminded of being sick, anyway we have to find nurse Moon, she should have what rounds I have for today.”
At the reception a bat pony came to greet them, “You’re late again lord Dom, hope you are ready for your rounds today?”
“Sure?” replied Dominic in an awkward tone.
“Lord? I thought you were a doctor.” Asked spike, noticing the odd way everyone keeps staring at him, and how people are showing a lot of respect toward Dominic either with a curt nod reaching to a bow sometimes as he passes them by.
“Why hello there, and who might you be?” Spike turned his gaze upward to see the nurse looking down on him, her fur was the color of midnight sky, while her mane displayed greyish and bluish lines, her eyes appeared slit under the bright light, but what caught spike’s attention the most was her smile, warm, caring, generous, for some odd reasons it stirred something inside of him, something familiar, "Rarity," he whispered
“Rarity? That is an odd name for a boy dragon.” She replied with her cheerful demeanor.
“No, his name is Spike, and he agreed to be my assistant for today.” Dominic jumped in at the conversation, however the nurse gave him an inquisitive look.
“I just check the lists.” Spike immediately showed her the lists he is carrying with him.
“Oh that is adorable, shouldn’t he be at school though? Instead of following you around, and why is he following YOU around in the first place?”
“Slow down nurse moon, Spike is the dragon that Cyril and Reina found in the woods, since he is from Equestria, we don’t know if he has magical blood inside him or not, so we decided that he stays with us, he is on this trip to decide whether he wants to stay with us or not.”
Nurse moon heal looked between Dominic and Spike for the long while, then she said: “You are one lucky fellow, aren’t you.”
“Huh!” Spike exclaimed, for the most while he only thought that others will be afraid that a dragon tried to kill his own family, but he did not expect that reply.
“Well I’d hate to interrupt but,” intruded Dominic, “don’t we have our rounds to do today?”
“Yes the rounds,” nurse moon heal went behind her desk then came back with yet another list. “First we have a visit to visit the elderly home, that will take nearly all the time we have, afterward we have to go to the barracks, there seem to have been an accident a couple of days ago and they want us to check on the injured, and finally the orphanage in the Everfree district.”
“Sounds like a busy day.”
“It is, and the fairy king wants you to check on Star Shine, her father Star hoof has been camping all night in the hospital waiting for someone to help him.”
For some reason that made Dominic very uncomfortable, Spike took notice as he leafed through the orders of the Fairy king.
“We’ll start at the orphanage, I’d rather go there before Cyril finish school and decides to visits his sick students.”
“Alright then, portal number one o five.” Nurse Moon Heal showed them the way, Spike also took notice of the fairy that was trailing after her.
Dragon's Tale, the city of Darkrise
To my dear readers
I am sorry to inform you that I will be revoking the submission of this story on the 30th of may 2014.
After a lot of consideration, I found out that a full rewriting of this story is needed for me to achieve the level this story in itself deserve, In the new story a lot of the plot points are going to change, the characters are also undergoing a full remake, though the premise of the story (as in the city of Darkrise and the world building) are going to remain the same, as well as the style of first character.
As a consolation prize however I will tell you why Spike left Equestria: During a second changeling invasion, taking this time in the Crystal empire, Queen Chrysalis managed to capture Princess Twilight with Spike failing to save or even help her, in the aftermath of the invasion, the mane six express their frustration over the baby dragon uselessness in that situation which guilted the dragon into running away. In the end of the story, the princesses (Celestia, Luna, Twilight) will head to Darkrise in order to form diplomatic relationship with their southern neighbors, that is when they will find Spike and convince him to return home.
I apologies again for my readers who liked this story, and I do hope to see you again when the new one is published.
Yours truly
IMN