Fire and Ice

Chapter Eighteen: Monster

“Didn’t take you to be the type to know such things like that, boy,” Red Pommel chuckled with a smile that displayed approval. He was definitely impressed with the dragon’s intelligence. Now, the prospect of Rhem actually being a general didn’t seem so outlandish.

“King Talonblaze knows intelligence is just as important as strength. He bred his soldiers for it.”

Rhem smiled, feeling quite pleased that another pony was actually being friendly with him.

“Bred?” the warden parroted, frowning with an arched brow.

Princess Celestia’s smile faltered, then dispersed altogether as she turned her head to avert her gaze.

“King Talonblaze… breeds his soldiers,” she proceeded to explain. “He selects the best, most physically and mentally able dragons and actively breeds them to create better warriors.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” Blueblade questioned. “If you ask me, that actually sounds like a rather smart, viable motive.”

“Because you don’t know what he does with them.” The alicorn shot the equine general a glare. “And they don’t have any choice in the matter.”

“Wait… what?”

“No one gets a choice. If King Talonblaze decides someone isn’t fit to be bred, they are… used for something else like being used for testing new weapons,” the Draconian stated as he dropped his eyes to the ground.

“They test weapons on their own soldiers!?” the warden exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock. The old stallion became more agitated when he was given a nod from the dragon.

“King Talonblaze does a lot of terrible things to his own dragons,” Princess Celestia affirmed. “Punishments are brutal, even for the most minor and innocuous of offenses. Soldiers are deliberately starved, as to fight for their own meals rather than being fed by their superiors. Only one child is born per couple, and that’s only because one child is allowed to live since they must fight their siblings to even survive.”

“That’s sick!” Blueblade gasped in horror. “… And more than a little backwards…”

“That barbaric monster!” Red Pommel spat, rage simmering in his eyes. “I hope he dies a slow and horrible death for his crimes against his own people!”

“The things he does are not crimes in Draconia. It is normal,” said Rhem, his voice dithering. “Even I… killed my siblings…”

The elderly unicorn was once again cast into a state of shock, then his entire being was consumed by fury, this time concentrated on the winged reptilian. It didn’t matter to him whether one was ordered to slay another being, if one did it, they were a murderer in his eyes. Especially if the individual killed their own family. In his vehemence, he delivered an exceedingly hard slap across Rhem’s face--one that actually left a print of his hoof.

“And here I thought you were actually a good fellow! But you are just like the rest of your kind, aren’t you?! Killing your flesh and blood!! You’re a monster!! A cold-blooded murderer!!”

Rhem automatically recoiled from the assault, rooting himself to the ground in his own state of shock. Though his surprise was soon replaced with grave remorse and guilt so tremendous, it grabbed at his heart and clenched at his insides and turn them cold. The young general just stared, tears brimming in his yellow-orange eyes.

“Now, Pommel,” the astonished princess began, but was cut off.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Blueblade snarled, joining Red Pommel at his side. “But I have to side with the old man on this! I will not condone such barbaric measures!”

“Even if you realize that Rhem had absolutely no choice?” the regal mare calmly countered. As Blueblade opened his mouth again, she raised a hoof to silence him. “General Blueblade, please listen. That goes for you, too, Pommel.”

The general and warden reluctantly settled and listened.

“General Rhem slew his own family, yes. But only at great reluctance, and at dire threat to his own life. If I gave you a sword and ordered you to kill your family or risk dying yourself, what would you do?”

“Again, Your Majesty, with all due respect…” Blueblade responded with a tightened scowl. “If you did that, I’d tell you to buck off and fall on my own sword. I would rather die than face my own family. Not even you could force me to do otherwise.”

“I would have to agree with them, Your Highness,” came the voice of another guard, casting a hateful glare at Rhem.

“As do I,” piped up another. Murmurs of agreement followed until the entire fleet sided with their general and warden, pressing the dragon with righteous fury inscribed upon their features. Even the scribes voiced their concurrence.

Rhem was pinned underneath the multitude of odious eyes and harsh accusations of “murderer”, “beast”, “monster”, and more. His tearful eyes darted from one pony to the next, the guilt and hurt brimming in him overwhelming him until he broke down and whirled around to flee.

Princess Celestia raised her hoof again to stop Rhem from leaving, but he was gone before she could say anything. Slowly connecting her hoof to the ground, she turned to her guards with an upset expression.

“Please!” she said, raising her voice. “Calm yourselves! After he went to great lengths to give us this information--”

“That could very well be worthless!” Blueblade huffed.

The mare furrowed her brows with a stamp of her hoof.

“General, you dare to interrupt me?”

“Actually, yes!” he challenged. “Yes, I do! You just allowed a murderer here to tell us information that we could have possibly found out ourselves, that could be intentionally misleading. And we spent an entire morning wasting away with this bunk!?”

“I--”

“And you actually expect us to trust a beast over your own stallions who pledged their lives to you? Who died honorably for you!?”

Princess Celestia was thunderstruck… and outraged.

“General Blueblade, you will stand down this instant or I--”

“Or you’ll what? You’ll send me to die, too? Order me from my forces? Go right ahead! Take my blade! Take my badge! You won’t take my pride, nor my honor!” Blueblade spat.

“If I were in charge, I would hang that monster before he does any more damage!” the warden growled, then added bitterly, “Especially to our princess.”

One of the stallions, eyes wild with vengeance, unsheathed his sword.

“That demon needs to be brought to justice!”

“All of you!” the mare shouted, her eyes ablaze with anger. “Disarm yourselves this instant!”

The princess allowed herself to glower at them for a couple of moments, before forcing herself calm. Taking a breath, she shook her head.

“All of you calm yourselves. And let me explain something. If you go out there NOW to take Rhem into custody, then we risk enraging our ‘honorable guest’. If we do this, then we may have well just cosigned ourselves to another war.

“We barely secured victory over the griffons, and we are still recovering from our losses during the war. We can’t afford to go gallivanting off into it AGAIN with our resources and horsepower lowered!

“If we face the Draconians, we will die. Simple as that. They outgun us, they can outmaneuver us, and most importantly, they outnumber us. If we risk open war with them, King Talonblaze could have his entire army overrun us within a week. Do you seriously want to risk that??”

“Can’t we bring King Talonblaze to justice as well? Your Highness, you are the most powerful pony in Equestria! Can’t you kill them?” a female guard questioned as she sheathed her own sword as she was commanded to.

“Yes, killing those monsters should be a simple task for you, Princess,” stated Red Pommel, eyes glittering with desire for dragon blood. “Though, I certainly would love to stick my sword into that boy beforehoof.”

Princess Celestia closed her eyes and exhumed a heavy sigh.

“Theoretically, yes. But I will not stoop to his level.” Eyes opening, she glared at all present. “Because I am not a murderer. I am not a monster.

“And before you get outraged and call me a fool for not taking this initiative, then riddle me this. If we are so quick to resort to hatred, to bigotry, to violence… are you any better than the so called monsters you claim to despise? Rhem has done absolutely nothing to garner your hatred. Rhem has not harmed anypony. Rhem has not threatened anypony.

“And yet here you are, wishing death and harm upon him in your blind fear and your hatred.

“In fact, the only monsters I see are the ones standing before me right now! You should all be ashamed of yourselves!”

“But, Your Majesty, you know what they do!” Blueblade attempted to appeal. “They’re RIGHT HERE! We can STOP this foolishness! You have the power! You just need to give the word!”

Princess Celestia gave Blueblade a long, sorrowful gaze.

“The Draconians… will deal with their own problems. We are not Draconians. As such, we will not resort to their methods, and so we shall not interfere with said methods.

“You may feel I am going to do nothing. Do not think I would be so foolish as to do such a thing. Rest assured, the moment they lift a hand, or claw, or a tail to strike anypony--anyone--in Equestrian lands, protected under Equestrian law, they will have committed an act of war upon Our Crown. And we will bring swift justice to any who defies Our Law.

“But we will not take any steps to instigate any such action on OUR end. To taunt or to antagonize our guest into violating said agreement will also be found guilty of said violation. Do I make myself clear?”

The guards fell into a silence, looking at one another questioningly. With heavy reluctance, they agreed. The warden, the most reluctant, grunted and nodded with a cough.

“Yes, but if either of them harm anypony, their blood will be on your hooves as well for not stopping them.”

“That won’t be a problem,” she stated as she turned her attention to the direction where Rhem had left. “I can guarantee you Rhem won’t be an issue. You have it on my authority that he would never deliberately hurt anypony.

“As for King Talonblaze…” she continued, lifting her eyes to the tower that contained the guest quarters. “I’m already cooking up a contingency plan for him.”

“I see…” Blueblade glanced over at the warden. “Very well, Her Majesty’s word is law.”

“Trust me. I will personally see to it I will not let you down.” Turning to the scribes, she nodded once. “Bring the notes to my chambers and leave them there. I shall see to it they are organized and bound together for later perusal. For now, I must see to my friend.”

She emphasized the words “my friend”, and turned around to leave the courtyard, wondering where he could have gone.

With a deep bow, the scribes complied to their ruler’s order and left the scene. A portion of the guards looked to one another, a few possessing a look of maliciousness in their eyes as if they were planning something devious.

***

The dragon had fled to the palace garden, every fiber within his body releasing the rage he had pent up for so long. The suffering he endured… The suffering of others he witnessed… He needed to strike out at something. He needed to destroy something. As he came across a tree, he stopped and stared at it, the image of the Draconian king replacing the tree in his mind. In his wrath, he lunged at it with an enraged roar, claw slashing at the trunk and leaving deep marks.

He didn’t stop there. He smashed his weight against it, tore out pieces with his teeth. All the creatures inhabiting the tree fled as the dragon’s abuse ripped it out of the earth. He continued to unleash his rage upon the thing, managing to break it apart.

The Draconian general’s roars echoed throughout the castle grounds, attracting quite an amount of attention. A select few who were brave and curious enough to check it out immediately left. One of them, a pegusus, streaked through the surrounding grounds of the palace in hopes of locating the princess. His search was soon rewarded, spotting her not far from the courtyard’s perimeter.

“Princess!” he shouted, his voice heavily laced with terror. “General Rhem has been sighted in the garden! He’s gone mad!”

“Mad?” she inquired, her eyes spreading open wide as concern and fear suddenly gripped her. What if she had inadvertently misinformed her ponies? What if Rhem had harmed someone? She would never be able to forgive herself! Wings beating harshly, she stormed to the garden. “Rhem! RHEM!”

Spotting him, she let out a gasp before gliding over to his side. Landing next to him, she tossed her forelegs around his neck in an attempt to becalm him.

“Rhem! Calm yourself! Rhem!”

He was so far thrown into the blind destruction of the tree, he didn’t even realize Princess Celestia’s arrival. All his mind was set on was biting, clawing, and smashing, reducing the tree to firewood and over-sized splinters. On automatic reflex, as soon as the mare embraced him, he whirled his head into her direction and sank his teeth into her right foreleg. A second later, his brain processed her presence… and his error.

Instantaneously releasing the equine’s leg, he jumped back, crouching with his shoulders hunched over. The dragon’s rib cage heaved with each heavy breath. He tasted blood, he realized, and his wide eyes examined the bleeding wound he had inflicted. Whimpering, too ashamed to even meet her eyes, he broke down sobbing.

Princess Celestia was distantly aware of someone screaming in pain. A few seconds later, it dawned upon her that someone was her. Collapsing onto her side, she clutched her foreleg to her chest. Blood oozing from her torn skin, she clenched her eyes shut, tears streaming down her cheeks. The pain was excruciating--too powerful to even think of.

Her scream only intensified the reptilian’s emotional trauma. He had hurt the person who had shown him kindness, compassion, and happiness. He had hurt her badly. He whimpered and sobbed, his eyes flowing with fresh tears. He didn’t mean to… It was the reflexes that had been trained into him…

Noting the mare’s pain, his desire to help her allowed him to temporarily bring himself together in order to check on her. Wiping his eyes, he crawled over to her and gently nudged her head with his nose. He stared down at her, his yellow-orange orbs overflowing with remorse… Pain… Anger… They were the miserable eyes of someone who had been brought up from a loveless childhood; to someone who was in desperate need for comfort… Who needed to be reassured that he wasn’t a monster… Who needed to be loved…

Princess Celestia’s sobs were heavy--the pain searing and the blood thick and oozing out from the puncture wounds. Grunting, she tried to get up--though, she found she was barely able to put any weight on her foreleg.

Feeling the nudge, the princess’ eyes snapped open. A flush of anger surged through her, but upon seeing Rhem’s sorrowful repentance, her lip quivered. He’d been hurt dearly, and she knew he didn’t mean to lash out. His rage had blinded him.

“Rhem…” she whispered as she rested upon her haunches and brought the hoof attached to her good foreleg up to his face. “Rhem, are you all right…?”

“N… n-no… I h-hurt y-you…” he whimpered, raw tears pooling. He fought back the urge to cry again. Right now, Princess Celestia needed medical attention. Sniffling with another whimper, he scooted closer, sliding his body underneath hers. Balancing her on his back, he hurried back to the palace.

Of course, this didn’t go unnoticed. The trickles of blood trailing behind them alarmed the guards they passed. Breaking into a run, they followed.

“STOP!!” a single one commanded, but the dragon did not heed. He wasn’t going to stop until he reached the medical ward.

As they burst into the infirmary, one of the doctors shifted his attention from the receptionist he had been speaking to.

“What in the world…?”

“H-help her! Please!” Rhem begged in distress, sniffling and heaving as he restrained sobs.

The receptionist immediately called back the staff, informing them that they had an emergency on their hooves with the princess. That sent the medics to the lobby in a frenzied panic.

Even though the alicorn had attempted to non-verbally communicate to the guards they passed that everything was under control, they summoned more guards and followed the blood trail to the infirmary.

“What in Tartarus happened!?” a guard demanded as he and the rest of the fleet eyed the bloodied foreleg.

“My stars…! The Princess has bite marks on her leg!” another guard declared, pointing the spear in his magical grasp at the puncture wounds on their monarch’s leg.

“That monster bit her!” another accused, rage instantly filling him and his comrades.

“Be calm.” Princess Celestia winced and slid off of Rhem‘s back, as one of the more level-headed doctors forced his way to her to examine her right there on the spot. “It was an accident!”

“An accident?” a guard cried out.

“Yes.” The mare grit her teeth as the doctor galloped off, yelling for medical supplies. “He did not mean it!”

“I don’t believe it!” A different stallion stepped forward. “He must be deceiving you, Princess! His kind cannot be trusted!”

“Yes! Playing the innocent card until he can get another shot at you!” Another turned to the mare with a serious expression. “I highly suggest keeping him in the dungeon so something like this doesn’t happen again. His next bite might be fatal.”

Rhem flinched from the emotional blow to his heart. Not even her own guards believed her… He was sure the word would spread and all who had been friendly to him would despise him… Princess Celestia was his only friend…

In need to be near her, he crawled closer…

Only to receive a swift slash across the cheek from one of the spears, actually managing to inflict a gash.

“YOU STAY AWAY FROM OUR PRINCESS, YOU VILE BEAST!!”

The doctor returned, dipping a cloth into a bowl of water enveloped in his magic and subsequently began cleaning the wound. The princess winced again. Opening her mouth, she was about to explain the situation when she saw the stallion assault Rhem.

“STOP THAT!!” she screamed, her horn flashing. She unleashed a blast of explosive rage, boundless and immeasurable. Her entire mane and tail suddenly caught fire, her eyes glowing white and shining with near divine levels of power. Her fur color, once a milky white, was now a bright, angry blood. Focusing her glare on her guards, she boomed out with all the force her Royal Canterlot Voice could muster. “DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND STEP AWAY FROM HIM!!!”

She growled, her eyes shimmering as she emanated with power. Everything happened so quickly, she herself wasn’t even fully aware of what happened at first.