Chapter 1: The Red Dragons
My muzzle stings...
A red welt starts to form across it, right before my eyes. I find my mothers golden eyes clashing with her red coat as she looks at me in disgust. A copper rod in hoof she continues her lecture about the history of the Red Dragons. She promises the class not to worry, that at the rate I'm going, they need not worry serving under me. My father watches quietly, his white coat standing out beneath his red and gold trimmed armor. His eyes always seem to have sympathy for me, as my mother treats me worse than any other recruit in the class. I do my best to avoid looking at him. Whenever my mother sees it, the rod falls again, and I do my best to avoid that sting. As my mother starts asking questions and quizzing the recruits, I find myself singled out again and again. I answer them all, careful to phrase them exactly as she did. She canters behind me, and I hear the sharp intake of breath from the class a moment before the rod strikes right between my wings, I can't help but cry out in pain, collapsing down to my knees. I surge back to my feet, and see my father had stepped forward. He just as quickly sits back down, and I know my mother's stare is the cause. Coward...
I grit my teeth, staying quiet despite the pain in my back. My mother is whispering in my ear, promising one day she will settle all of this with a blade in my back instead of just her rod. She moves on to the next recruit, but the questions are lost to me as I struggle to force the pain out of my mind. I let my thoughts wander to the approaching winter, knowing that it will be my seventeenth, allowing me to leave this place and my parents behind. My father has arranged that I will be sent to his old unit, to continue with my training and gain real experience. I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it. My mother's constant attention for the last ten winters has worn me ragged, and the thought of being away from both of them is the only thing that raises my spirit anymore. Four more days, and the Chateau will be behind me. My mother soon dismisses us, sending us off to the weapons master's for additional instruction. I spend the remainder of the afternoon working with my lance and rapier. My instructor, Fire Edge, is no slouch, and despite my speed and dexterity, he still lays two solid hits for every one of mine. Every fresh welt is a lesson, a missed block, a break in my guard. As we finish up and I tend to my wounds, he sits beside me again. For the last ten years, Fire Edge has shared stories of my father, the Chateau, and the Red Dragons. For the first time in ten years, hes silent. This only serves to get my attention, though at that point I have played into his trap. As my silver eyes find his he smiles. "So... our last training, and only one story left to tell, though judging from that..." he flicks the still painful welt across my muzzle with his hoof, causing me to wince. "You probably don't wan't to hear it." I think I finally manage surprise him as I get up and just trot away to the ablutions block. He's right, I don't want to hear it.
As I exit the shower, I look to the mirrors along the wall. My newest welts are still somewhat visible, angry red marks beneath my light pink coat. A horribly cruel joke played upon me by nature. Who is intimidated by a pink pony? My mane and tail are simply a darker shade of pink, though the end is a bit lighter. I sigh, only noticing the bright red pony standing next to me, looking me over. For a moment my heart freezes, as I think its my mother, though her voice assures me after a moment that it is only my mothers favorite, Red Star. She canters around me looking me over. "You really caught your mothers anger today didn't you?" She giggles as I refuse to answer her, let alone rise to her bait. "A pity... seeing such a pretty pink coat marred by so many ugly wounds." I continue to ignore her, gathering my things. I can tell my silence is getting to her. "I suppose it's good... that your mother got me assigned to your fathers old unit." I'm shocked for a moment, and its all she needs. She's stronger than me, and quickly pins me to the floor. I'm forced to simply stare at her as she smiles, leaning in close to me. "I can't wait... it will be fun... you and I... I'm going to break that little attitude of yours." She trots away from me, and it takes me a moment to recover to my hooves. With any luck when I get away from the Chateau, I can make sure Red Star has an accident. I force down my anger, and trot to my regular hiding spot. Its an old watch tower along the south wall, long abandoned, and thankfully secluded. My mind seems to wander back to my mother's earlier lesson.
The History of the Red Dragons. My mother and father started it all, purchasing the Chateau, and slowly building a powerful mercenary group. We are taught that in the early years things were hard. Often the Princess Luna would hire us out as peacekeepers, neutral parties to protect certain areas. Often our own country hires us, though in the last few years its often been for assassination and other duties, though I find assassination dishonorable. I made the mistake of voicing that a few years ago, and my mother left my lying in the court yard, a pool of blood slowly forming around me. Every Red Dragon was called to see, as my mother spoke out reminding them all that speaking out against the Code was punishable by flogging. I remember the rain falling on me, then my mothers face blocking it all out. "Speak out against me again and I will end you." It took me nearly a week to recover from the beating. I haven't really spoken since, unless duty has required it. My father told me he respected my desire to be honorable. I simply rebuffed him, calling him a coward. We haven't spoken since that day. I have isolated myself from both of them, despite the fact all our mentors say they are simply grooming me as thier successor. I soon end up falling asleep, and the morning comes too early...
The next three days pass quickly, as the majority of our class receives their assignments. I spend most of my time in the armory, where a young unicorn spends almost two days fitting my armor. We say nothing to each other, until the end of the second day. The armor is red and gold, with a small silver fleur de lys mounted at the collar. He smiles, whispering quietly to me. "Touch the fleur." I hesitate, my curiosity wills me to, but my distrust holds me back. Finally he reaches up and touches it, and I feel the tingle of magic. I look back, seeing my coat changing. From the roots out to the tips, my coat changes to red. The unicorn smiles holding out my helmet. "The helmet is the same, your mane and tail will change to red." I look to him, unsure why he has done this. I barely manage a thank you, touching the fleur and watching my coat slowly change back to pink. We are mustered off to the courtyard, and soon handed our orders. We are given the remainder of the day to prepare, and tomorrow morning we will be sent to our units. I spend the remainder of my day packing my meager possessions and avoiding my parents. After seven long years, my life will be my own.
Tomorrow my life begins, and nothing will stop me. Not the other Dragons, not my father, not Red Star, and definitely not my mother...
Its raining...
My final day in the Chateau is without incident, and that morning we find ourselves assembled in the court yard, receiving a rather motivating speech from my mother. I block most of it out, simply waiting for my unit to be called. After standing in the courtyard half the morning, it's finally called, and I see Red Star waiting for me. I'm surprised to see Fire Edge waiting for me as well. He simply smiles, explaining he has been granted a return to the front lines. He explains we will be headed to Rissia Point, an old Equestrian fort along the Gryphon Border. Red Star naturally asks many questions, though Fire Edge simply says it is a dull border town, the hire out protection from the odd bandit raid. None of this really matters to me, just being away from the Chateau is all I am looking forward to. We set out, and it takes us the better part of three days to get to Equestria. I try to keep to the air, scouting ahead a bit, while Red Star and Fire Edge simply have to trod along on the ground. At the end of the third day we stop in a small town, and rest in the local inn. I take a short flight, eventually landing and trotting about a bit. I don't know what I was expecting, but it surprises me that the townsfolk shy away from me. I do my best to ignore them, simply looking around at the wares, though after a while, I simply give up and return to the inn.
When I arrive I am disappointed to find myself stuck in a room with Red Star. I choose to spend most the evening down in the common area, listening to Fire Edge regale the locals with stories of his past. I listen but spend most the time polishing my armor, taking care to clean the gold filigree. Fire Edge seems to try every different cider offered, though we settle on a simple dinner. Every time I look up, I notice that Red Star seems to be watching me. I hide the anger from showing on my face, as I can already imagine her writing letters to my mother. I retire early that night, but sleep lightly. I hear Fire Edge and Red Star return well after the midnight chime of the clock tower, and I can hear the foolish laughter of two who have had to much Cider. I will enjoy waking those buffoons in the morning. Red Star finally finds the room, and I can see her outlined as she enters. I'm not surprised when she tries to climb into my bed. I hear her huff, and slump down, and stifle a laugh. I curl deeper into the covers on her bed, and know this will frustrate her. With the dawn I am up and ready, waiting out in front of the inn. I end up waiting nearly an hour before Fire Edge joins me. After a bit of wait and rubbing sleep from his eyes, he goes inside, returning with Red Star, who looks rather sick. I force myself not to laugh at the foolish mare, and take to the skies, as their smell begins to gag me. We travel another day, ending up at another town. Fire Edge finds us a simple inn, and explains we have three days left in our journey. The next town is two days away, and our last stop before Rissia Point. Fire Edge heads inside to procure rooms, and Red Star follows him, still looking worse for wear from the cider. I take to the skies, preferring to see the lay of the town.
This time, I'm not as surprised that that the townsfolk shy from me. I look about and find a small sweet shop, purchasing a few hard candies for the remainder of the trip. I pop a butterscotch disc into my mouth, hanging my helmet on my armor. I enjoy the cool breeze, finding a seat near a small fountain. The sound of the fountain is comforting, and it takes me a moment to realize there is a small green filly pulling at my armor. I look at her, unsure what to do, and start to look for her parents. I hear rustling, and see her dig a candy from my pouch. She starts to nibble on it and I can no longer control myself, I start to laugh. I check about me still not seeing the parents. I ask her where they are, and she simply shakes her head and shrugs. I stand looking about and suddenly I hear her hop to my back. She lays down on my armor, poking at it, then points towards the town square. I start in the direction she pointed out. As we near the town center, I see wagons and ponies setting up a small camp. Several turn to stare at me, though one runs off towards the end of the caravan. Suddenly I can hear the mumbling of the crowd. I hear a cry from the crowd, a silver mare with black mane pushing her way forward and crying out the name Emerald. I look back and open my wings, letting the filly down off of my back. She trots quickly down then gallops to the silver mare. The two embrace and I see the mares horn slip from under her mane. I notice the other ponies staring at me, and quickly take my leave.
When I return to the inn, Fire Edge is once again regaling the locals with his history, and I find a seat a bit away, staring down at my helmet. The first clue I have that something is wrong is the sudden silence around me. I look up to see the silver mare staring at me. I start to ask what she wants, when she just leans in kissing me. I... have no idea how to respond. She whispers to me quietly, "Thank you sir", and quickly trots out. I look and see Fire Edge, laughing with the ponies he was telling the story too. I see Red Star, glaring at me from the steps that lead up to the rooms. Fire Edge smirks, looking to me. "Maybe ya should grow your mane out a bit lass... for the filly to think your a lass." The room erupts in laughter again, and I do my best not to look embarrassed as I head up the stairs. Red Star tries to stop me, but I brush her off, continuing up to the rooms. I find ours, the door open and Red Star's armor inside. I close the door, and finally let my emotions catch up to me. Not only did that foolish mare kiss me, but she thought I was a stallion! Maybe Fire Edge is right... despite my pink coat and hair... maybe I do need to grow it out, it is too short.
The following morning we set out again, without a word between any of us. I took to the air scouting ahead, and we found ourselves moving for a forest. Fire Edge signaled me to return with a mirror a few hours in, and told me to search for a clearing to stay the night in. I found one nearby, unhappy that we were going to stop earlier than expected. Fire Edge builds a fire ring, while Red Star and I gather wood. When we return, Fire Edge gets the fire going, and warns us that there are things in the forest we don't need coming in to camp this night. He sets out the watch, and I find I have first and last watch. We eat rather silently, though after dinner Fire Edge tells us more about Rissia Point, and our duties when we arrive. I listen, and while it will be nice to be away from the Chateau, simply patrolling walls and watching for Gryphon's doesn't seem exciting. Our night goes quietly, though during both watches I can see the glowing of yellow and white eyes around us. Come morning I wake the others, but fail to find anything under than strange tracks. Fire Edge makes no comment, and we set off early. As the evening starts to close we arrive at Rissia point, and I am surprised to see the walled in city. Some of the wall is stone, though much is still wood. There are several stone buildings, and I find they are our barracks and living quarters. There is a caravan circled up inside the walls, and Rissia seems to me to be a frontier town. Tomorrow we will assume our duties, defending the walls, and we are given a brief orientation. I am thankfully not near Red Star, and settle down into the barracks, taking a moment to clean off my armor and prepare it for tomorrow.
I am looking forward to tomorrow.
It's cold...
The rain is falling, and all my senses feel attuned to it. My eyes see the rain falling towards me, having to blink away the odd drop that finds them. I don't think all of them are rain drops... I'm sure a few are tears. My ears focus on the different sounds, the rain striking the scarred and dented plates of my armor, splattering across the cobblestones beneath me, the odd impact where it strikes a slowly forming puddle. Wait... that can't be right... the rain just began... My sense of touch tells me that all along my back and wings, a warm puddle is slowly growing larger. I can feel its warmth creeping farther along, The smell of the fresh rain draws me away, though soon its mixed with a scent like the copper mines of home. My mind tries to place the new smell, but its as if my mind is in a cloud. My thoughts just keep drawing back to her, and our filly... The words my mother just whispered to me a moment ago... a promise...
Wait... my mind crashes back to reality, I am struggling to get back on my hooves... a voice.. as if miles away rings in my ears, begging and pleading for me to stop moving. I hear a voice but it's not her voice...
Its not Ebony... I've kept my promise... but... but...
I have lost the only reason I made that promise...
