A Dragon in Shining Scales

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. The air was starting to cool and the desert sands began to settle. Hardly any pockets of warm air remained to disrupt a good flight just before the last of dusk ended. The moon was just about to rise, everything seemed to calm. The day's dust storms had settled, everything was seeming to calm down.

Sülvahn, a brave and strong dragon flew over the land he took pride for protecting and claiming it all himself. Many small cities and villages passed below him. No one saw him, the night sky hiding his shadowy black form. His spines were a deep blood red, with eyes as green as the Everfree forest. Sülvahn felt as though he had completed another successful defense against one of his strongest rivals, Valkoris, a dragon twice his size. For Sülvahn, his size was that of a runt, but he chose not to grow anymore. His spines were sharp and ever so slightly curved towards his tail. His wingspan was two carriages long from his body, and the flaps in between them matched his spines.

Unlike most dragons, Sülvahn had the ability to control his size, but after staying so small for so long, he’d lost it. Now, he was only the size of a two story building, and as long as a seven wooden apple carts at Sweet Apple Acres. He was very proud of his strength, and he was happy to defend the horses who lived in his land. His old friend, Scorpan, helped as well after his brother was banished to Tartarus once again. The creature had trouble trying to track down Tirek and had to leave for a couple years. Sülvahn and Scorpan were always keeping the trade routes safe for travelers. Doing this gave them free meals, it was very much a win-win situation.

Sülvahn could speak many languages. His tongue was able to speak up to seven including his own. He learned these languages from the traders and those who were banished from their homes. Unknown to the rest of the world, the Wastelands were a new home for those who regret the crimes of their past. Of course, there are those who wish to restart their crimes once more in this land, but the Wastelands were protected. Any who broke a law were forced to see Sülvahn for their judgement. Thieves were forced to polish every gem in his cave, including the crystal pillars that supported the expanse of his cave. Murderers were killed instantly, as a mercy for their crimes against the Wastelands by Scorpan’s quick acting poison.

When Sülvahn was hatched, Scorpan had taught the dragon of many things that were kind. He told him that there is more to the world and the draconic nature than just stealing and killing. Scorpan told him that mercy was something they could use as a tool to keep everyone who lived in the Wastelands under their control. Sülvahn didn't understand his words at first, he often killed those who wouldn't bow to him when he was a young drake. But now, he understood. If he wanted them to bow, he had to bow in return. He had to be stronger than his own nature, and he became very wise after a hundred years.

Generations passed by as he grew into young adulthood. The horses of the past told of his actions, but the newer generations only saw his kindness as it was. Kindness was the dragon's new goal. He helped whoever called, he protected those who were close to death without a blink of an eye. But everyday Sülvahn keeps himself in the air. The longer he’s alone the more time he has to think. The more he thought, the wiser he became. The wisdom he had made is pride swell, something dragons had no issue having too much of.

The sun had now completely set and the moon was now rising up into the sky. There was another twelve hours of night to fly, but he was starting to feel tired. He had been flying the whole day to get to the Capital of the Wastelands called Spargas. It was the capital of the Wastelands and was the first settlement made by a group of banished settlers. They were banished for trying to overthrow their king to save their kind, but in the end, they failed. However these settlers did what their king hadn't, saved those who were in need of sanctuary.

Spargas could be seen throughout most of the Wastelands. A large burning beacon was at the top of a massive pillar that threatened to touch the heavens above. Sülvahn helped create this pillar three hundred years ago to repay his debts to the horses he once tried to kill if they didn't bow. He's killed thousands of horses before Scorpan intervened. After a heavy fight that lasted three days, Scorpan came out on top. His sharp scorpion tail aimed right at Sülvahn's heart. The dragon was forced to stop, and ended up becoming a more benevolent being years later.

His transition was rough. Many of the horses tried to kill him themselves, the banished Griffons also tried to kill him for his teeth or claws. Other races wanted his hide to make armor. Some tried to kill him during his sleep, but his first slave who he spared from the fate of death saved him, earning freedom the next day. Sülvahn had many slaves, some hated him, some actually loved his company, and served him until their unfortunate deaths.

A sudden flash caused him to jump back in surprise. He roared with panic but he kept himself in the air. A scream unknown to him caused his panic to turn into curiosity. Down below him by several dozen meters was the source of the screaming. His strong eyes allowed him to see a small white dot next to a rock. Then came the smell, it was different. It was something he only smelled once before, long ago. It was a strange scent though. Mixed with dragon magic similar to his own. The dragon magic was faint, but there.

Narrowing his eyes and expanding the organs around his head to increase his senses. "Magic...?" He said in his own tongue. He turned into a controlled spiralling descent. Each turn he made he saw more of the white dot. It looked like a horse in Spargas. "Was it abandoned?" Thinking out loud was something the drake did often. Living alone most of the time had left him to think out loud to cure the silence for most days and nights he spent alone.

He landed, shaking the area around him. The small horse below was screaming, covering her face with her forehooves, but it didn't seem to be helping much with the pain that was apparent. Something on top of its head caught his attention. A small white horn was sticking out of her head. It looked slightly fractured, and it had a green liquid coming out.

Sülvahn nudged the horse with his snout gently. The small horned horse stopped screaming in a near instant. Removing one of her forehooves from her sore eyes showed her a dragon as black as night staring at her with its green eyes. He saw her face was badly burned, and it smelled like her flame was very dim. Sülvahn could easily tell if something was about to die, and this thing he was looking at looked very scared of him.

Not a moment later the small horse tried to run, but failed to get up. Her eyes began to look very heavy, and soon she was out cold. Sülvahn smelled her life force escaping her.

"NO!" He screamed once again in his native tongue. Sülvahn rushed to pick the small horse up. "Live little strange horse! You shall live yet!" With one massive burst from his wings he shot in the direction of his cave. His wings gave him another burst of speed. A shield of wind formed around his expanse. Yet, this wasn't fast enough for the dying horse, her heart was slowing down with her breathing. "No! LIVE!"

He felt the fire inside of him grow. His spines started to whistle and vibrate as his energy started to make him give off a faint red glow. His wings started to shine a pure red light. Sülvahn felt his energy reach its max, then he flapped his wings one more time causing an explosion equal in sound to the sonic rainboom. A large ring of red and black echoed behind them, leaving a trail. Sülvahn felt his flame burn bright, as well as some of his own life force being given to the small horse.

Sülvahn was using one of his powers used only when he needed it, this was one of those times. The horse was in his hands now, dying. He wasn't going to let this happen. This was the first time he'd seen such a creature. He’d have plenty of questions once he learned what it spoke, like most when first entering his land.

There wasn't much time left when he nearly crashed into the side of the mountain where his cave resided. He quickly corrected his course. His wings ended up clipping the entrance of the cave, making him grunt in pain. In the back of his cave rested a crystal that glowed with life energies. It was his last one, until he found another, but it would make due. He gently rested the filly on the ground. Her breathing, merely small little puffs of air, hardly keeping her body alive.

"Please make it hatchling..." He placed the crystal onto her chest. Nothing happened and Sülvahn was about to scream in rage. Was he too late to save her? Was he using his own life force to keep her alive, for nothing? Did he use a great deal of his own energy to fly her here, only not to save her? Sülvahn nudged the filly. "Wake up...please little one. I have so much to ask..." He blew a little spark into her face and the crystal began to glow. His heart made him jump back with a beating pride as he saw the crystal begin to glow brighter, which marked the crystal was now working on healing the small horned horse.

Small pink tendrils of light started to flow gracefully out of the pink crystal. Sülvahn started to smile, already the small horse's life was returning to her. For once, he had actually saved something that looked so rare. If he hadn't seen it before, it was rare for sure. No way could such a creature, like this one, have another or more.

Sweetie Belle's body flew up into the air gracefully and the pink tendrils grew bigger. They began to crawl into her through her nose, mouth, and ears. She gasped inwardly in shock, but was still very much asleep. That's when the crystal started to crack, and began to turn slightly green. Sülvahn grabbed the crystal before it began taking her life back. He stomped on it until it became nothing but fine gray powder.

Everything was quiet now. Sülvahn sat down and gave a long relieved sigh. "Thank the elders..." He felt his own body begin to fail. First his legs fell limp, then his neck. The last thing he saw was the filly sleeping calmly with new life running threw her. She looked so calm, but her scars remained. Exhaustion finally took him into a deep sleep he hoped he would wake up from soon so he could talk to his new company.

When morning came, Sülvahn saw that the small horse hadn't moved at all. She stayed right where she was when he saw her last before passing out from exhaustion. Her body had a fresh look to it, death having no longer a hold on her soul now that she was healed and some of her energy restored.

Sülvahn felt proud of his accomplishment, even if it was as a close call. He saved a new creature to the Wastelands. However that's when the soreness of his efforts of last night. He groaned loudly which made nearby company aware of him being quite awake, and in a little pain.

"I see that you are awake Sülvahn." Sülvahn raised his head to see one of his servants looking towards the filly. "What's that?"

Sülvahn gracefully jumped in front of the filly, but made his point clear. "What are you doing here?!"

The horse bowed low, taking a few steps away. "I'm sorry master if I am bothering you. Please, forgive me. I had smelled something different and saw this." She motioned to the resting filly sleeping with her head resting on a small pile of hay. "It's also sleeping on my food. Can I move it?"

Sülvahn shook his head, and bared his teeth. "This isn't a thing you worthless thief. It is a rare breed of horse, I believe." He turned his head to look at it. Long pink, fresh scars running all over her face. One went right over her eye. He breathing was slow but it was much quicker than how it was last night before he put the crystal on her chest. He was sure the crystal did its work to help save her. "I found her last night, abandoned." Sweetie Belle stirred a little in her sleep which made all of Sülvahn's scales spike up. He looked closer at the filly with narrow eyes, after a moment, he relaxed. "Please slave, lower your voice." He said quietly. "It has magic inside of it. Last night I found it nearly dead. It tried running, but fainted before it would speak."

"You sound weak my master. Do you wish for me to get you some entropy crystals or some meat?"

Sülvahn thought for a moment, looking at the small horse with curiosity. "I would like some crystals or gems, thank you Farklesi. Get this horse something to eat as well. When she wakes, she will need to start trying to feed herself. Does she look old enough to live without milk?" Sülvahn asked, looking at his slave with a little hope in his eyes. "I cannot wait for her to wake Farklesi." He said, with much anticipation in his rough voice.

Farklesi stepped up to Sweetie Belle maintaining eye contact with her master. She sniffed it a few times, then moved the filly's lips with a gentle hoof. When she saw teeth, she smiled up at her master. "She can eat master. It seems she will be a little shorter than us, but a horse nonetheless. A runt I suppose, if anything."

Sülvahn sighed in relief, feeling a huge weight lift off his chest. "That is good Farklesi. Thank you. Please, take what you need to Spargas and buy some supplies for her. Be quick, and I might give you a diamond."

Farklesi bowed low to Sülvahn with a gentle smile on her lips. "Thank you master! I shall hurry, for the fillys' sake." She turned and ran out the cave, making a great effort to keep her steps soft so she wouldn't wake the filly or risk her master's wrath.

Farklesi knew her master well. When she was but a filly herself she was taking things from houses in the night until one night Scorpan saw her. He took her to Sülvahn where he made the decision to keep her for himself. He made sure she learned her lesson, but she still hadn't paid her debt. She still had five more years to serve for him. She had already served six years but she still didn't know exactly what to think of him. Sülvahn was strange, even for a dragon. She expected him to be much more greedy, even with the wisdom he held onto. She didn't like him, that's for sure, but...she didn't hate him. He did save her from a life of crime. Because of Sülvahn, she had a job outside of his cave and even had a stallion to look forward to meeting every night she came home.

Sülvahn once again felt as though he was weak. He had every right to be, it was just another side effect for his deeds. His curiosity getting the better of him was not something that happened often, but when it did, he never regretted it. He never did anything he regretted, now that he knew better. When he was young, that was a much different tale. He was much older now and with that age came wisdom. Wisdom blessed him to understand and respect all forms of life as they were. Even dragons in the beginning were nothing but small lizards. Everything had its lowest point, even him. But now he was beyond that, he was strong and a force to be reckoned with. His teeth could break bones like he was biting air, his claws were able to cut even the air with every swing. At the end of his tail was a double edged blade, made of his own bones, covered in a black indestructible leather like material, he wasn't even sure what it was. All he knew was, it was good to use when fighting something big.

It became quiet again. It was going to be another day,maybe even a day and a half, before Farklesi returned with the gems he needed to regain the lost energy and life force that got him back to his cave. As well as the food for the small horse that lay in his cave, resting to regain her lost strength. Taking his time to make sure his steps didn't make too much noise, he moved to the entrance to the cave to get some air. The cave air was damp and warm, but the outside felt much nicer on his scales. The sun seemed to pulse new energies out onto the land, but...it felt different.

He looked up to the sun, his draconian eyes allowing him to stare directly at it without any harm to be thought of. It had a darker glow to it, in the heart of the sun he felt it give a sadder energy. He looked to the filly back in his cave. The sun wasn't like this yesterday, if he recalled correctly. Now that he thought about it, the moon felt different as well. The energies of both made him sad. The organs on his head fell when he looked back out onto his land.

"All this land, mine...but why is the sun and moon so sad? Are the goddesses not pleased with my work to protect life? Am I not doing my job, like Master Scorpan asked me?" He lowered himself down closer to the ground where he decided to lay his long black body. A small tear slid down his face. "Am I not good for saving the creature's life?"

Back in the cave, Sweetie Belle heard a strange voice talk in an even stranger language. She didn't want to move, but then again, she had no idea where she was. It took her a great deal of time to open her eyes which wished to remain closed, but she saw that she was in a cave and not Princess Twilight's castle.

Her head moved about while she struggled to get up. Her body felt weak, and her horn felt like she was hit by a train. "Oh....my horn..." She said in mild agony.

She took a few steps forward before falling on her face. Something hit the rocks behind her, making her freeze in place. Remembering the last thing she saw before she passed out, she saw a pair of green dragon eyes with a black face. Her own eyes shot open once again, and all her joints locked up. Sweetie feared what was behind her.

‘It took me to its cave to eat me!’ She thought through her panic. “I need to find somepony!” Sweetie Belle turned around, only to see a dragon face in front of her own. "EEEPP!" She jumped back screaming. "DON'T EAT ME!"

The dragon tilted its head in confusion then spoke rough grounded words that didn't make any sense to her. It tried speaking again and again, all different tones and words, but nothing she couldn understand. Sweetie Belle could tell the dragon started to look angry almost frustrated that she couldn't understand him.

"P-please....don't kill me! I just want to go home!" She begged him. "I-I won't even tell a soul that you foalnapped me! Just please! Let me go!"

It narrowed its eyes, moving his head closer to her. The small black things around its neck started to vibrate rapidly. "W...o...r...es..t." He coughed a few times, but she had no idea why. Was the dragon sick and looking for help? She couldn't do anything, she hadn't started her studies on dragons like Princess Twilight had told her to do.

Sweetie Belle backed away slowly, but it moved closer. "P-pl...please...leave me alone..."

The things started to vibrate again, and he looked even more confused. "Why?" It said at last, sounding a little sad. Its eyes relaxed into a very unnatural sadness she hadn't seen before. "Why would I kill the creature I saved?" He smiled at her kindly. Sweetie proceeded to faint once again.

Sülvahn sat back away from the filly with an even sadder expression. "Did I not say the right words?" He asked himself, turning back to the entrance to his cave. "What kind of animal is she?"

He sat at the entrance once again, letting the sun hit his black scales. Out in the far off distance he saw the Spargas beacon shine like a second sun with a purple hue and a blue after glow. During the night, it shone much brighter, turning into what the Spargonians called "Midnight Sun". It gave off life giving light. It helped plants grow, and allowed the citizens of Spargas see.

Sülvahn loved looking at his work. Creating a flame that burns forever takes a lot of time and a massive amount of energy. He infused the flame with his very life force. The first king of Spargas, Kalikorik was there when he lit the flame, and every king after visited Sülvahn to thank him for the light that guides all others. Sixteen kings have come to see Sülvahn, and he was very sure more would come to give him their thanks.

Sülvahn put his head over his arms and gave a tired sigh. "Hurry Farklesi, you are my only chance to speak to the horned horse creature... "