Origin of Dragon Charge(Short Story)

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Critic
Chapter 2: The Stand
Chapter 3: Canterlot
Epilogue: The Road Ahead
Prologue: A Mother's Love

Chapter 1: The Critic

At the age of six, Dragon Charge learned of cruelty. The runner of the orphanage and caretaker of the orphans, a beastly old woman named Dusty Broomstick, was a cruel, condescending, hateful mare.

As a young mare she had asked her father, a rich stallion known as Cash Flow, for a job in order to have money to spend freely. This is what she was given, and she resented the children for it. She couldn't fathom how she, the daughter of a respectable banker, could associate with dirty, miserable children. Whenever her uptight friends asked how she stood it, she explained that it was her "christian duty" to look after the poor, unfortunate orphans.

In reality, saying she was the least bit generous would be giving her too much credit. She was harsh, forced them to eat whatever was lying around the house, usually bugs, as if the kids were animals. If they disobeyed her, they'd get the end of her broomstick against their bodies, in front of everyone, even if it meant waking up the other children to make sure they witnessed it. Or at least, that was the least they'd get.

Despite most of the children being afraid of her, there was one who was brave enough to stand up to her. A nameless child who dubbed himself a Critic, he had a strong sense of humor. When meal time arrived, he would often critique the taste of each insect they were given. "Hmm... this one tastes faintly of sawdust, almost a smokey flavor. Tell ya what, Dusty, maybe next time you let it marinate in the raindrop a bit longer before bringing it to a nice simmer." The others would try to hold back their laughs, but usually to no avail. Critic got plenty of beatings, but he didn't care. Humor was what kept him going, and no one, especially not an ugly old hag like Dusty, would ever be able to take that away from him.

On one occasion, Dragon, seeing him being beaten, turned his flank to Mrs. Broomstick, earning a beating of his own. From then on, Dragon Charge and Critic did their little comedy acts together, bringing a moment of happiness to the other orphans each day, then getting smacked around later. They didn't care. She couldn't keep them there forever, and one night, the two boys plotted an escape.

"Look here", critic explained, carving a picture onto the floor with a pocket knife he'd snatched from Mrs. Broomstick in her sleep. "I'll pretend to be a ghost and walk outside old Dusty's bedroom. The overgrown wart is terrified of ghosts. I've frightened her enough times at night to know."

Dragon smiled. "You've done that before?"

Critic chuckled. "Yeah, I do it once every month, then stop for a few months to keep her on edge. I always hoped she'd have a heart attack, but eh, what can you do? Anyway, while she's too scared to move, you'll lead the others out of the house, to freedom!"

"What about you?", Dragon asked in a worried tone.

"You'll knock on the wall next to her bedroom window, giving me the signal to move out.", Critic replied.

They shook on it, and that night the plan was put into motion. Critic walked the halls outside Mrs. Broomstick's bedroom, making the moaning sounds that gave her such a fright, and after a few minutes of hearing it, Dragon woke up the others to tell them that they were leaving, and they got up out of their beds and followed him.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Broomstick hadn't been in her bedroom. She had been outside looking for more bugs for them to eat, and she saw them leaving and stopped them.

Later, she asked them all who was responsible for the plan, threatening to beat them all if nobody told. After a moment of silence, Dragon Charge spoke up. "It was me, Mrs. Broomstick." In one swift motion, She took him by the hoof, and, ignoring Critic's late confessions, carried him into the children's bedroom, commanding the others to follow. There, she brought out a crowbar she had found outside. She tied Dragon to his bed and beat him down, breaking his front hooves in the process.

Critic, angry at the harsh and cruel punishment his friend had recieved, tackled her and wrestled with her for the crowbar. However, she was older and stronger than he, so he got a good swing across the face before she left the room angrily. This act frightened the others back into submission. Never again would they follow the two friends who had tried to save them.

Chapter 2: The Stand

They weren't taken to a hospital. Mrs. Broomstick realized it would ruin her reputation if it got out that she had abused her children. So she kept Dragon and Critic at the old, dusty orphanage, where the insects and mice crawled on the floors, where dirt and filth was the norm.

So, naturally, over time Dragon's hooves became infected, and Mrs. Broomstick had no other choice but to take him to the emergency room. There, he met a nurse by the name of Sunny Hills. The look on her face when she saw him was something Dragon had never seen before from an adult. Sympathy? Compassion? She got right to work on his hooves, but told Mrs. Broomstick that he'd probably have to stay there a few nights. After a brief argument, Mrs. Broomstick reluctantly allowed him to stay there.

It was the happiest he ever was as a child. No beatings, no dirt and grime, and actual food, this place was the life. And yet, when Nurse Sunny placed a blanket over him at night, he felt something... familiar, as if there was once someone who loved him. Someone who tucked him in at night, sang him lullabies, who would do anything to make sure he was okay.

That night, as he slept, he dreamed of his mother, not knowing who she was. She cuddled him, read him stories, and called him her son. Dragon didn't care if it was real. He needed something to hold on to. Memory or dream, he never wanted it to end.

A week later, he thought about telling the nurse of Mrs. Broomstick's cruelty, but then realized that he would be putting his fellow orphans in danger every moment they were alone with her.

One day, a familiar blue earth pony hopped in through the window.

"I have no idea why Dusty keeps this tall ladder lying around. Maybe it's because her fat flank is too heavy for her to stand on her tippy hooves."

Critic, of course. "Yeah, I can leave any time I want. But, hey, before you came along, I was the only one who cared enough about the others to stand up to her. They need us, I guess. So, how are you doing?" He looked around. "This place... so this is what 'clean' looks like. A bit underwhelming, but it's still miles ahead of our place, huh?"

There was a moment of silence. Dragon looked at the ground, deep in thought, and after a minute, he spoke. "It won't be our home for much longer."

Critic looked puzzled. "What do ya mean?" he asked with a slightly confused look on his face. Dragon looked him right in the eyes as he replied.

"Last night, I had a dream. I've been having similar ones. In it, a unicorn mare told me that I have powerful magic stored away within me. I think it's high time I let it out."

Critic snickered a bit at first, but then his face grew very serious. "Look, buddy, it was a dream."

Dragon kept his serious gaze, but couldn't help but smile a bit as he answered his friend. "I know that voice from somewhere. I think it was... my mother."

Critic was a bit skeptical, but hey, it was worth a shot if it meant getting the others free.

So, Dragon's hooves eventually healed and a few weeks after he had been sent back to the orphanage, he approached Mrs. Broomstick. Critic asked him if he knew what he was doing. "Nope.", Dragon replied as he continued walking. "Hey, Dusty Windbag!", He called out to Mrs. Broomstick.

"What did you call me?" She asked, shocked and furious.

"You heard me, Mrs. Dipstick! It's over. You're done pushing us around." But strangely, as he looked around the room, he saw that no one except for critic stood with him.

Mrs. Broomstick laughed. "You know, when I picked up that note in your basket when you first arrived at the doorstep of this forsaken place, it said you would be destined for greatness, but you can't even gain the support of your fellow children, ha!"

Dragon's face grew angry, and his eyes became a fiery red. "There was a letter?!" He shouted, his voice growing monstrous.

"Oh, that's right, I never told you, did..." Mrs. Broomstick started before seeing what was going on.

Dragon Charge's mouth grew rows of sharp teeth, his nose had become a large, scaley snout, and horns and wings sprouted out from him. His hooves became great claws and legs. He was a real dragon now. He flew around the room, breathing fire and desperately searching for his letter. Mrs. Broomstick approached him with the crowbar once more, but one whip of his tail and she was out, flung across the room. He eventually found his letter in her office. He met Critic at the door.

"Where are the others?"

Critic looked at the ground. "They told me they'd rather live with an old hag than follow a monster. I'm sorry, buddy."

Dragon couldn't believe it. All of the suffering he did, all of the pain and sadness he and his friend had endured, it was all for them, and they spit in his face. Very well then, he thought, let them suffer for their own cowardice. We've given everything we can.

After he and Critic had walked for a while, not sure where to go next, he opened and read his letter.

My Dear Dragon Charge,

Please know that I love you, and that I never wanted things to be this way. Someday, you'll understand that things can't always be the way you dreamed they would be. I wanted to raise you, to sing you to sleep at night, to teach you how to use magic, to watch you grow up, and I hope that wherever you are, you're happy. Just remember, no matter how bleak life seems, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter what happens, don't give up on those who care about you. Stay strong, and someday you will do great things. I regret that I'll never get to see the stallion you'll become.
Your Mother,

Prism Light.

Dragon held onto his mother's letter. She was the first pony to ever love him. He wouldn't let her down, nor would he abandon his friend Critic. They were in this together now, and whatever lied ahead, they would face it together.

Chapter 3: Canterlot

Over the next several years, Dragon Charge and his friend Critic lived off of whatever they could get. After all, when you grow up eating bugs, it's not the hardest transition to make.

They had left their town in order to get as far away from the old orphanage as possible. It was nothing but a painful reminder of cruelty and for Dragon, betrayal. Dragon had reverted back to his normal form, unable to control his powers at this point, and so the two colts continued on their journey towards, well, hope. They didn't know where they were going, just that it was far away from the town of sad memories.

When they were starving and couldn't find a charitable pony, which unfortunately was more often than not, they stole food from the street markets. See, Dragon Charge had been practicing his magic ever since he and his pal had begun their travels, learning from mistakes and getting a little better each time. By the age of eleven, he could levitate items perfectly, using this skill to nab items while the market workers weren't looking. He only stole what he and Critic needed, nothing more. There were times when they would get caught, but being very fast, they would always escape. Sometimes Critic would distract a pony with his comedy act, and then Dragon would steal the necessities while they weren't looking.

When Dragon Charge was 15 and Critic was 12, they came upon the land of Canterlot, where they decided to pull a large prank on the masses.

The truth was that the two boys had come to resent the upper-class ponies, feeling that they were all no different from Dusty; Cruel, stingy, uptight, and lacking in any sense of mercy. This was going to be their revenge for their harsh treatment, their suffering, their unfair lot in life.

"Why should we hold back?" Dragon smiled. "They have it easy as it is. When have they been through anything we have? Look, we'll put on a show in the town square. You'll open with your magic act, I'll do a few tricks, then I'll scare them good when I transform into an Ursa Major. They'll be running around like bugs, scattering all over the place, then we'll bail, leaving them totally spooked!"

Critic looked concerned. "I dunno, isn't becoming a monster a bit much? Are you sure you'll be able to control it?" he asked.

"Of course, I've been practicing for this." Dragon calmly replied with a grin. Critic halfheartedly smiled back, reluctant to go along with this.

In a few hours, the two friends gathered a large crowd to witness their show. It started out great. Critic's comedy had them laughing hard, and they were impressed with how gifted Dragon Charge was.

Then, it was time for the big finish. Dragon's transformation scare seemed to be going to plan, until a blue alicorn princess stepped out from the crowd to fight Dragon. Scared of the princess that he knew could destroy him, he fought back out of desperation. He reverted back to his normal form to shoot a magical blast of energy at Princess Luna in hopes of escaping, but Luna dodged the blast and instead, Critic was struck by it, and was sent flying backwards.

Dragon ignored Luna and ran to his friend's side. He was unconscious. "CRITIC!!" Dragon cried out his closest pal's name as he rushed over to him. "Oh, no. Please don't die on me, I can't to lose you. Please..." his eyes began to water as he continued. "I don't want to be alone. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. You're all I ever had, Critic."

Luna overheard this.

"Should I take them, your highness?", a member of the royal guard asked her.

She shook her head as she slowly approached Dragon Charge. However, he saw her coming and angrily growled at her.

"Stay away."

"I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk." Dragon kept his angry expression as she continued cautiously. "Your friend is dying. Maybe I can help you."

Dragon immediately shot back, "Now you want to help us. Now the royalty of Canterlot wants to help two street boys like us? Where were you, any of you, when we were without a home? Where were all of you when we went days without food or water? Huh? Where were you?" They all remained silent. "Then again, your 'highness', I guess it's easier to overlook the suffering of others when you have everything handed to you on a silver platter, when you've never had to suffer for anything or anyone in your perfect life..." suddenly Luna interrupted him.

"ENOUGH! If you want your friend to have a chance of living, you'll come with me to Canterlot Castle."

After a brief moment of hesitation, Dragon Charge carried his friend with him, climbed into Luna's sleigh, and they left for Canterlot Castle.

Epilogue: The Road Ahead

It wasn't very long before they arrived at the magnificent castle of Canterlot. They entered through the front door, walking past two royal guards who just glared at Dragon Charge. He didn't pay them any mind.

He and Luna walked through the front hallway, and then he noticed two of Luna's guards carrying Critic away. Before Dragon could speed after them, Luna stopped him.

"He shall be okay.", she said. They continued walking, and after a moment of silence, she spoke up again.

"It's not as easy as you think, young one." Dragon gave her a confused look.

"Being a princess, I mean. We have our trials and suffering just like you do.", she stated.

"What, deciding which crown to wear every morning?", Dragon sneered. Luna's face grew very sad and far off, as if she were experiencing a great tragedy all over again.

"Have you heard of the story of Nightmare Moon?", Luna began. She told him the story of her fall from grace, her imprisonment, and how she was reunited with her sister.

"But the guilt never leaves. I often wonder what I could have done differently, if maybe I had just followed the advice of my elders, maybe things could have turned out for the better."

They stopped at Luna's Tower, in the study room. "I am giving you the same chance I once had many years ago.", Luna explained. "You can let your hatred for the world consume you and lead to your eventual downfall, or you can study under me, learn to control your magic, and use it for the greater good."

Dragon thought for a moment. "And if I don't?" he asked.

"Then I have no choice but to place you under arrest and let the jury decide your fate. The citizens of Canterlot are pretty bloodthirsty, so I would not advise it." She warned. "Become my pupil, and you shall live in this castle until you are ready for... greater things."

Just then, Critic walked into the room, escorted by the royal guards.

"Hey Dragon, you wouldn't believe this! They've got a soda fountain! The decor's a little much, but eh, what can ya do?" Dragon smiled at his friend, then turned back to Luna.

"If I agree to this, he stays, too. He is my friend. If you're taking me, he comes with."

Luna smiled. "Very well then. I hereby declare you my pupil."

Over the next few years, Dragon studied all sorts of magic, from combat to levitation, to defensive, to making little hats appear on somepony's head, all under the guidance of the Princess of the Night.

Every now and then, he would dream about his mother, but for the first time, he truly felt at home in this castle.

Luna was a very no nonsense teacher, but on Dragon's days off, she would tell him stories of Starswirl the bearded and the great unicorns of her youth. She would tell him of her sister and the days before Nightmare Moon when they were extremely close. Then, one night, she asked Dragon of his family.

"I don't know them. My mother left this note in my basket when she dropped me off at the old orphanage."

Luna read it, and a wave of sadness came over her. "I'm sorry. It must not be easy to feel alone."

Dragon smiled. "I'm not lonely. I have Critic."

"I suppose you're right" The Alicorn answered him.

"...and you.", Dragon yawned.

Luna smiled. Whatever lied ahead, Dragon knew he could get through it. Sure, he might have had a bumpy start in life, but with the love of his friends, he knew that anything was possible. He walked to his room, lied down, and let himself fall sleep.

Prologue: A Mother's Love

Not everypony in Equestria has a story that begins full of sunshine, happiness and friendship. Though there are many stories that spawn from things like friendship, laughter and kindness, this is not one of them. This is the story of the great Dragon Charge.

Born a unicorn to a pegasus father and unicorn mother, the doctor who delivered him into the world found something strange about him. The baby, upon seeing the doctor moving to cut his umbilical cord, took on the shape of a crocodile and chomped down onto his nose. Remarkably, the young colt had the ability to transform into different beasts, and was unusually powerful for just an infant.

Fearing the destruction his powers could bring when he grew in age, his father forced his mother to try to remove his magic. However, feeling that action to be cruel and unjust, she instead suppressed his powers with a spell she used daily. Sadly, his powers were eventually discovered by his father when he transformed into a monkey and caused chaos in the house, jumping around and breaking things, and so his father sought to end his boy's life, for the good of all ponykind.

Horrified by her husband's murderous intent, she fled their home with Dragon Charge in her hooves, her husband right on their trail.

Enraged at the betrayal of his wife, Dragon's father approached his mother on the edge of Cloudsdale while she was using her magic to send her son away. He begged her to hand him over, but she refused. In a last ditch attempt to save the world from the abomination he'd helped create, he fired his shotgun at the baby, but Dragon's mother finished her spell in the nick of time and the blast hit her instead, killing her. Distraught at the death of his wife at his own hoof, his guilt slowly turned into anger.

If that wretched creature had never been born, none of this would have happened, he thought to himself. He looked towards the ground below, and vowed to undo his greatest mistake, to kill his only son.

Dragon appeared outside of an orphanage in a remote region of Equestria, and for much of his childhood, this dump, this poor excuse for a house, with its shattered window, dusty floors crawling with spiders and roaches, and terrible smells of body odor would be what he would call home.