Bonus Chapters: Stories of Cyan and Lumina's Friends

Bonus Chapter 1: The Legend of Blaze the Dragon Buster; Part 1

So you wanna hear how I came to be a Dragon Buster huh? Why a naïve, thirteen year old, earth pony colt is crazy enough to take on dragons for the sake of keeping the innocent safe? I’ll tell you this, I didn’t come to this decision on my own, I know that much. Let’s go way back to the time before I met my new friends in Canterlot to tell you what I mean.

I was born and raised on the outskirts of Vanhoover, a little close to Galloping Gorge, probably a half hour walk to get there. My mom and pop were pretty cool ponies. Pops was actually a pegasus who liked to race; his name was Sunny Fullthruster, who had orange eyes, a yellow coat, and red mane and tail with yellow tips. He mostly won silver and bronze medals in his races, but there was only one time he got the gold, which was the last time he raced before he retired to take care of my mom, Pepper Fullthruster. She was an earth pony who had a bright orange coat, a lighter version of the same color on her mane and tail, and blue eyes while she grew bell peppers to sell in Vanhoover’s market. I still didn’t get any details on how I came along, but Mom said I was also part of the reason why Pops retired from racing. When I got old enough, the three of us would help grow bell peppers in the orchard beside our house. Red peppers, yellow peppers, orange, green, jalapeno, we had them all. We only worried about taking care of them early in the morning before Pops would coach high school track while Mom homeschooled me a little, and did housework afterward while I played.

One day I decided to explore Galloping Gorge, and check out all the cool gems that I saw embedded on the rocks. I got curious to what’s beyond the gorge as I walked further out before I got to a large cave. I went inside, having a harder time to see as things got darker, and my hooves made echoes in the cavern with each step. Sometime later, I bumped into something strange with an ‘OOF!’ It felt smooth, but hard as I moved my hands to get the slippery-like, ridged texture. I noticed it was rising and falling slowly, like it was breathing, which meant that this was alive. I scooted quietly as I felt my way through to find the rocky wall to help me lead my way out. I could only guess whatever this thing was, it was sleeping, and I didn’t want to bother it. As I moved, I noticed the rise and fall movement wasn’t as noticeable, and it was getting smaller judging by the roundness before I got my hand into some kind of hole. It was moist, slimy, and warm as air was coming in and out of it against my arm. That contact somehow got whatever I was touching jerk a little before I saw a glowing orb that slowly opened up, revealing a large, amber colored eye with its pupil slit as it dilated. It looked towards me before I felt a hard blow of warm air against my arm. We stared at each other for a few moments before the being spoke.

“Pardon me young one, but would you mind if you could move your arm out of my nose?” The being asked, which I assume was male from his throaty, deep, almost loud voice.

It was then that I realized what I was doing before I slowly pulled my arm out, and saw it slightly wet, damp, and slimy. The only reaction I could make out was the following: “Eeeew, was I picking your nose?” I asked in disgust before I shook some of the slime off, and wiped what I could on my clothes.

The being laughed heartily at my reaction before he spoke. “It would seem so. What brings you to my cave young one?”

“Oh this is your cave?” I asked. “I’m sorry, I was walking up here, and I got curious to see what was inside. Say, who or what are you anyway? I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before.”

“I am called Golick, and as for what I am, you may be frightened to know,” he replied.

“Why would I be frightened?” I asked in confusion. “You seem okay if you aren’t bothered by me intruding your cave and picking your nose on accident.”

Golick chuckled again before he answered. “Perhaps, but I have come across some who would run away at the sight of my kind.”

“Well that’s sort of rude,” I interjected. “I bet you didn’t even get a chance to introduce yourself before they ran off. Mom would always tell me ‘don’t judge a book by its cover,’ and I’ve said hello to everyone I come across in different sizes or shapes ever since.”

“Your mother sounds like a kind one, but I’m sure she would make an exception for someone like me,” he argued.

“Tell you what, if you can show me what you are, I promise to not run away, and introduce myself like a good pony should,” I propositioned with a big smile.

“Alright, but you may want to stand back, and I won’t blame you if you do decide to run away,” he replied before I did as he suggested and stood against the cave wall.

The pair of glowing amber eyes rose high up before they looked at a certain direction. Suddenly, I heard him sucking in air before he blew, and yellow flames were shooting out of his mouth that lit up several lanterns that were hanging on the cavern ceiling. Once they lit up the room enough, I got a good look at the being in the cave, and it was at that moment that I found... The very first dragon I had come across in my life.

I stood there in awe at the large being in the room. His yellowish gold scales glimmered in the flames’ light, along with his pale yellow underbelly that looked more sensitive compared to the rest of his body. His folded, leather-like wings were the same color as his eyes, as well as the spikes that went from his tail, up to the back of his head. Two amber horns were sticking out of his head, and flowed to the back like the spikes on his spine. He also had a long, gray-silver beard that looked to be as long as I was. I didn’t know what dragons were at the time, and as he looked down to me, waiting for some kind of response, a part of me was screaming in my head to run away, but I was frozen stiff not from fear, but from admiration of the strength he portrayed in his appearance. “This. Is. AWESOME!” I exclaimed with excitement and a big grin as my voice echoed in the caves. “You are HUGE!”

“… Yes, I am indeed ‘huge,’” Golick responded. “Are you not afraid of my appearance? Do you not know what I am?”

“Nope!” I replied with the same excitement.

“I am a dragon. A fierce, fire breathing creature that soars in the skies, hoard gems for nourishment, and live for many decades, centuries, and even millennia,” Golick explained. “Do these things not bring fear to your soul?”

“Nope!” I repeated the same way as before. “In fact, I think it’s awesome that you can do all of those things, especially the eating gems and fire breathing part like you did earlier, that was really cool!”

His eyes widened at my response before he asked. “What is your name young one?”

“Oh yeah! I forgot I still need to introduce myself!” I replied before I clear my throat. “I’m Blaze Fullthruster! It’s a pleasure to meet you Golick!” I greeted before I stuck my hand out front.

He looked shock at my introduction before I saw his mouth curved up a little in a smile, and reached his large talon to my hand where his shake was small compared to mine. “A pleasure to meet you as well, Blaze Fullthruster,” he replied before he pulled his talon back, and came to a sitting position while I sat down in place.

“So what are you doing in this cave?” I asked out of curiosity. “Should you be flying in the skies like you mentioned how dragons do?”

“Truth be told, I’ve lived long enough to start getting weary,” Golick admitted. “I could only fly for so long before I grow tired and come back here to my home.”

“Do you have any family who wonder where you are?” I asked.

“Dragons live on their own once they reach at a certain age,” he replied. “Even so, I was born with no parents in my kind to help raise and guide me the ways of my kin. I had to learn that on my own.”

“That’s rough,” I commented. “What about friends? Do you have any of those?”

“I had so few in my lifetime that have passed away long ago,” he replied in the same tone as before, as if he wasn’t bothered by it. “Most of my kin aren’t as welcoming or accepting as I am, so I have not associated with very many.”

“They kind of sound like jerks as far as I’m hearing right now,” I said. “You’re an awesome dragon! They’d be crazy to not make friends with you,” I looked up in thought before I gasped at an idea. “Hey! Since you don’t have family or friends, why I don’t be part of both for ya?”

Golick raised an eyebrow in confusion. “I don’t think I follow Blaze,” he said.

“Truth be told, though I say hello to everyone, I don’t really have many close friends,” I admitted. “Not to mention Mom’s the only one around the house that’s far away from Vanhoover, Pops is in town most of the day coaching racers, and I play by myself out in the fields most of the time. So how about that we not only become friends, but you can be part of my family? You could be my Uncle Golick if you’d like.”

He seemed surprised at the offer, but smiled once more before responding. “I would like that very much Blaze, and Uncle Golick has a nice ring to it as well.”

“Right? That’s why I picked that!” I exclaimed with a big grin before I stood up. “Okay, I should probably get back home before Mom gets worried. You mind if I see you here tomorrow?”

“Not at all,” he responded. “I won’t be going anywhere for quite a while, and having company is always welcome in my cave. I suggest you don’t tell your parents about me however, as I’m sure they’ll be worried that you’re seeing a dragon in the gorge. If they know about my kin, I’m sure they’d be most displeased.”

“Oki doki then!” I exclaimed happily before I ran out of the cave. “See you later Uncle Golick!” I yelled as the message echoed in the cave while I was on my way home.

And that was how I made my very first friend, and gained a new uncle that we’d talked, hung out, and played together for many times to come.