A Dragon in Shining Scales

"And you are sure you want...a saddle for a what?" The Ketath Smith asked, ironically, his name is Smith.

"A unicorn. She is the size of a newborn foal and has a horn on her head." Sülvahn explained, feeling rather exhausted. "How long will it take and how much should I pay you?"

Smith waved his paw as he walked away from the high-temperature oven. "It'll take me a couple hours. I already have your measurements from the last time you asked for a saddle for your daughter. Is this... unicorn your new daughter?" He asked, grabbing a glass of water from a small barrel and drank a few gulps.

Sülvahn shook his head. "No, she had her own family. She's from the Holy Land."

"The Holy Land?" Smith raised a brow and turned his head with curiosity. "You say'n she's a goddess?"

"I am unsure Smith. But I need this done quickly. There is something trying to track me down, and I need to get out of the Wastelands as quick as possible. If I can make it to the Entropy Valleys, the Hyperions will keep whatever is chasing me away."

Smith nodded in understanding. "For saving my little girl, anything for you Sülvahn. The saddle will be ready before you can take off." Sülvahn started to pull out coins, but Smith put his paw over the bag. "It's free Sülvahn. To be on a goddess's good side, anything."

Sülvahn nodded and smiled at Smith. "I am thankful that you are willing to help me Smith."

"Anytime my friend." Sülvahn's vision flashed back to Sweetie Belle.

'Are we friends?' He shook the memory away. "Yes...Friend..."

Smith almost looked shocked. "Woah! You sure you aren't a Hyperion?! Who are you and what did you do to Sülvahn?" Sülvahn knew well this was an intended joke, and chuckled.

"The unicorn...She is my friend too..."

"Ah, so I see that you've been put under the good graces of a goddess too. What is her name so that I may pray to her."

"She does not need your prayers. But...Her name is Holy Belle." He there wasn't an exact word for 'Sweetie' in their toung. Yes, he's managed to combine a couple words like Sweet and Eve to try to make it as close as possible to her name. Holy was a very defined word, easier to say.

"I'll see you around Sülvahn." He waved him away with a smile. "Time to get to work..." Oh yes, the best smith in all the wastelands was about to work on the best job he's ever done.

As Sülvahn walked out, he saw that it seemed things had calmed down. He was thankful for at least that, but he was still worried about Sweetie Belle. Moving on, he decided to think more on the trip. It was going to be long, and now that he had something after him, or...Sweetie Belle, he had more to worry about than just Sweetie getting better.

He wasn't quite sure now. Sweetie Belle was in a bad spot, and so was he, which made Sweetie's position in this a whole lot worse. With a sigh, he continued on, keeping his bag of gold in his mouth. He could do a few more things. Needed a way to keep Sweetie's food kept well. She wasn't like him, at all. She was a herbivore, he was a carnivore.

A few citizens passed by while he was thinking. Of course, they bowed to him as they passed, those who respected him did. He had plenty of time to think on what was on his mind, he had a few thousand years to think for that matter. His life he knew was still young, he had at least 9,500 more years to live on average.

"Perhaps I should focus on myself..." He thought aloud, moving on. It was rare he walked, walking helped with his thinking. He thought about himself, as selfish as it was. Sülvahn was a dragon after all, being just a little selfish kept what was most of him there.

Sülvahn always got what he wanted, how he wanted it, and he always got it quickly. Even if he had to force himself to do it, he got it done. With this whole situation with Sweetie Belle, he felt bogged down greatly. He hadn't taken care of his own in ten years. Jakli was thirty if he remembered right (and he was sure he was). Now that he found himself taking care of another foal, he had to get back into it, even if she wasn't his daughter.

As he walked on, he felt the earth hum with energy. There was going to be an event today somewhere.

Princess Twilight sighed, looking out the window. It's been a week now... "Princess Twilight?" Mayer Mare asked. "Are we going to do the Summer Sun Celebration this year after..."

Twilight looked towards her, giving the mare a fake smile. "Of course Mayer Mare. It's a very important even we ponies celebrate...Start the decorating soon so we can have it done by tomorrow."

Mayer Mare bowed to Princess Twilight. "Yes princess, we'll have it done quickly."

"Take your time...."

The humming stopped as he looked to the sky, the sun had looked only a little dimmer than it was. What was causing the stars to dim in his sky. They had only started to dim when he found Sweetie Belle. Could it be that she was from the stars, and the gate was in Equestria? Could Sweetie Belle be the spirit that strengthens the stars?

"Sweetie Belle...who are you really?" He shook his neck and head to shake the impossible idea away, and to get rid of a pain in his neck. Thinking on a larger scale didn't hurt, it was thinking stupid ideas. There must be a more reasonable explanation for the stars to dim. Perhaps it was a very simple one. He nodded at the idea, that was a much if anything. However, his idea was more than not forgotten, just locked away...

Sweetie woke up, feeling much better. That magic burst was more than enough for her. She had to protect Sülvahn if she was going to make it home to prove Scootaloo was right. That's when she realized who wasn't around her.

"Sülvahn? Sülvahn!?"

"Calm down Holy Belle." A voice said from behind her. Sweetie turned around to see a earth pony standing off to the side. Her coat was brown and mane black. "Hello...I am so very glad you are awake. Sülvahn will be very pleased when he returns."

Sweetie rubbed her eyes. "You're a pony!" She ran up an hugged her. "Oh I'm so glad to see another pony!"

She laughed and nodded. "Well, half pony, half horse descent Holy Belle."

"My name is Sweetie Belle, not Holy Belle." Sweetie said with a huff. "Why does everyp-...everyone...call me Holy Belle?"

"Because you are of divine descent." She said, sitting up straight, glad Sweetie Belle had let go. "I sense it, so you are."

Sweetie rolled her eyes. "Trust me, back home, they had to have a separate repair fund for just me and my other two friends." Sweetie chuckled a bit. "We'd always go on crazy and whacky adventures just to find our talents."

"Have you found your calling?"

She shook her head solemnly. "No....we haven't." She turned her gaze to her flank, still white and bare. "When a pony finds their one true talent, one that is super special, they get a mark to prove it."

"On your posterior?" There was a light snicker. "I chose my own talent. Father helped me reach my goal. No, I am a healer who's very good on her job."

Sweetie was so glad she had someone who was also a pony to talk to. While she was just a little shorter than Cadence, she was still a pony. A eased sigh escaped her lips as she slowly laid down on her side. Things seemed so calm.

"Are you hungry Sweetie Belle?"

"A little..." She said, trying to hide a slight blush when her stomach answered for her. "You have any apples?"

Behind her was a sack of apples, and she pulled it over to her. "More than enough for both of us." She pulled an apple out and gave it to Sweetie Belle.

Cautious of the apple, Sweetie sniffed it to make sure it was still good. It smelt good, that was very much clear to her, but the color of the apple was just a little off. Sweetie looked up at the mare. "You know, I never got your name."

She smiled at Sweetie Belle, taking a bite of her own apple. "It's Lokist, daughter of Max, Medical Max."

Seeing how Lokist bit into her own apple with its strange redish color, Sweetie bit into her own. She was suddenly hit with intense flavoring that literately  knocked her on her back. Her eyes wide, taking in all of wonderous flavor. Sweet and yet bitter, sour yet very much flavorful, and very juicy. "Woah!" She said when she swallowed down the first bite.

Lokist giggled. "First time eating a Wonder Lust Apple?" She asked her, taking another bite. "You get used to the blast, but the first bite is always the strongest. Packed with every vitamin used to keep us moving, these apples are also known as Ration Apples when the Ketath and Zorgians were at war."

"What are Zorgians?"

"Half Lizard, half fish. They walk on two legs and can breath in water."

"Why were they at war?"

Lokist almost looked exhausted at the question, as if she was asked the same question a million times. "Why is anyone at war?" She asked Sweetie Belle by way of answer. "Resources, land...slaves... Thankfully, the Ketath won. Their large bodies and swift movements made it not only a quick war, but only two hundred died while the Zorgians only had one hundred  remaining in their army."

"Are the Ketath those big cats? They're bigger than Celestia!"

"Their average height is seven feet, the tallest recorded is seven six." She smiled. "Very impressive creatures, like you. They can run up to twenty five miles an hour on two legs, and seventy five on all fours!"

"They're faster than a cheetah!"

"Their race name means 'Spirits of Wind and Earth' because they are so swift and agile despite their massive bodies." Lokist bit into her apple again, taking a moment to think. "So -mmmfmm- are there -mmmm- more of you?" She swallowed.

Sweetie nodded. "There are four types of ponies. Unicorns like me, earth ponies like you, and pegasi. Then there are the princesses who have all three, horns, wings and strength."

"That's very interesting, but...what's a pegasus?"

"A pegasus is a pony with wings. They can fly in the air and move clouds to change the weather!"

"A horse with mastery over the elements...how strange... Here in the Wastelands, it is rare we get natural rain. We rely on the Water Spirit Aqua to help us get water. But, no one has been able to talk to her."

"I have." Sweetie said. "She told me to go see a Earth Spirit in the Entropy..."

"Zone. The Entropy Zone is the entire area of all three Entropy Vally, Fields, and Forest. The Forest is the most dangerous because many evil creatures live there."

That sounded much like the Everfree, in fact, most of what she was saying had sounded like it. Was she as far from Equestria as she thought she was? She shook it away mentally, that was preposterous to think that in her opinion. Sweetie knew exactly where she was, and it wasn't anywhere near Equestria. Most of these new animals she was meeting were very sure on not even knowing what exactly she was.

"So tell me. You mentioned a princess I believe...Celestia?"

"Sülvahn told me not to talk about her while we're here." Sweetie said sadly. "I don't know why though. She's a nice pony!"

"She must be...it is strange though. To think, Sülvahm wouldn't want your knowledge of your home known in our home."

"Why?"

"Because! Sülvahn would look to the end of the world just to find out what it is and what it does. He knows so much, even spent a hundred years flying around trying to figure out what creatures were under his skies. He knows everything there is to know. It baffles me he doesn't want you to teach us."

"Perhaps he doesn't want anyp-one to know until he know."

She sighed knowing Sweetie had a point. "He is  Dragon...it makes sense...Wants it first..."

"I'm sorry..." Sweetie said sadly, looking to the ground and scratching the floor with her hoof.

Lokist put a hoof on her shoulder. "It is alright. It isn't your fault Sülvahn is who he is."

Sweetie made a quick note to ask him why when they take off again. It was a long shot that he would tell her, but if he did, she knew he wouldn't lie. Taking a deep breath in, then out she tried lifting the apple into the air. It got up two feet before it dropped to the ground, and she sighed in defeat.

"You shouldn't use your magic Sweetie." Lokist said softly. "Your life depends on it right now."

"W-what do you mean?"

"You magic is the only thing keeping you breathing. Your whole body is broken and your magic is trying to repair it." She explained. "The more magic you use, the less you'll be able to heal yourself."

"What happens if I use too much?"

Lokist put on a very serious expression. "You will die. Your body will fail itself and its primary functions. Luckily you have so much magic inside you, you have enough to lift that apple without fainting."

Sweetie Belle gulped. "S-so how long do I need to wait."

"Roughly two weeks. If I were you, three to be safe."

That didn't sound long, and it would give her more than plenty of time to rest. Lokist stood up after hearing a bell ring upstairs. "Are you coming back?"

She giggled. "I suppose I can Sweetie." She smiled at Sweetie for a moment, then sighed. "You're to damn cute....you know that?"

"It's how I get most things back home." Sweetie playfully sighed.

"Cuteness weaponized...huh..." She soon left, leaving Sweetie Belle alone in the dim candle-lit room.

From the window, she could see they sky closing for the day. She gave a long yawn despite sleeping for so long. That's when she noticed time itself was moving much faster than it was for her. The sun and moon seemed to leap across the sky like dancers on a stage...

"♫Tip-hoof-tip-hoof,

who is that walking in the night,

a shadow who's night is so bare,

a shadow who's long from home and does not know where to go...♫"

In a low voice came a reply. "♫A light, from a star above

can show this shadow a way.

A land filled with goddesses and sweet gems.♫" Sweetie Belle looked around for the voice, but she couldn't see a thing.

"W-who's there?"

It continued singing. "♫A heart so pure, a soul so broken, a body so fragile~...♫" From the window, a Ketath jumped down. It wore green belts all over it's large gray body. It bowed to her, a wicked grin on his face. A scar covered his right eye which seemed to be closed, but the other was open and a scary yellow shot right into her soul. "♫You will see me again, but I want part in your return.♫" He sighed, sitting down. "Hello..."

"Who are you?"

"My name is unimportant Holy Belle, but your name speaks more than my name ever could." He pulled a pipe out from his satchel hanging on the left side and a green plant. He broke it apart and a strange smell started to fill the room. "I want part in your quest, but there's a problem. See, your 'protector' Sülvahn, he-" He snapped his claws together and made a spark that lit the plant instantly. The Ketath inhaled sharply, and laid back against the wall. He breathed out a plume of smoke, purplish in color. "-hates me. Like, really hates me."

"Why does he hate you?"

"Because I have an item of importance that I just happen to borrow forever without permission."

"So you stole it?"

The Ketath looked shocked, gasping and putting his free paw to his chest. "I would never steal!" He retorted. "Like I said, I borrowed it without permission. It's called the Pyroclast Ring. It was made by my kind to defend themselves from fire based attacks. Made out of vulcanized iron and a fire stone, it gives it the natural enchantment of fire immunity! Perfect for getting away from Sülvahn's annoying fire."

Sweetie was trying to wrap her head around this strange creature. The smell of his pipe was started to flood the room with the smells of blue berries and skunks. She covered her nose, and winced. "What is that smell?!"

"Ah! You've never heard of Cannabis? It's a wonderful little herb that helps us Ketath to relax. I supposed it might pull the stick out of Sülvahn's ass..." His eyes looked distant for a moment, and were starting to look a little blood shot. He smiled, feeling the wave of dopamine. Wanting to feel more of this, he took another hit. "You want a hit? It's not bad for you. It's a natural anti-depressant.." Suddenly he looked a little sad. "Especially if you're the last of your tribe..."

Things went silent in the room. He looked directly across the room into her eyes with his right yellow eye. "Are you serious?"

He gave a grave nod to Sweetie Belle. "And would you like to know who killed them all? Exactly two-hundred and fifty years ago?" Sweetie shook her head, fearing the only being she felt that she could trust. "Sülvahn..."

She started to tear up. "You're lying!" Sweetie shouted angerly. "THERE'S NO WAY HE-"

"KILL AN ENTIRE TRIBE OF DEFENSELESS KETATH!?" He screamed, jumping up on his back paws. "Yes! He did! HE KILLED EVERYONE I KNEW AND LOVED!" At some point when he was yelling, his left eye had opened. Sweetie stared into it in complete fear. It didn't have a pupil, and he even pointed to it. "He did this to me before my parents sacrificed themselves...all of their lives to save me...a total of fifteen times..." He fell back on his butt, and took another hit to prevent the pipe going out.

Sweetie Belle was in tears. She couldn't believe it at all! Sülvahn? He killed them, and he lost his parents. "My kind can live up to a thousand years...everytime we die, we lose fifty years of our life, and our natural 'magic' regenerates every last part of our bodies...Then, we move on."

He emptied the pipe, and threw it into his bag. "It's time for me to go."

"Are you going to hurt Sülvahn?"

As he was about to turn to climb out the window, he paused to look at her. "No, killing him won't bring my tribe back, and it won't get me to the Holy Land. I have your sent now, I will follow you, but I will be far behind. I know which direction you're going to, so it won't matter much to me." He jumped out without allowing Sweetie to respond, as if she could.

She was hearing too much. How could things be so violent?! Back in Equestria, murder was rare, very rare, almost unheard of. Sweetie laid her head down on a small bed of hay she found herself used to. The room was slightly cold, which gave her a darker feeling. That's when it hit her: she was alone.

She was a very vocal filly, even as a young foal, she always made noises (which pissed her elder sister off more than once). But, there was a reason why she had friends, there was a reason why she was always around her friends. She hated being alone, no...afraid. Something hit the window, and she looked up and saw nothing. Her biggest fear, coming to life.

Being alone was always her fear. It wasn't the dark, or clowns that she was afraid of or didn't like, it was being alone. Sweetie felt the urge to always have someone by her side at all times. Now that she wasn't talking to someone, the quiet started to creep her out. The candles were starting to dim too, and the darkness of the sky was getting darker. And then she whimpered, hiding under her hooves.

♫ Fear not little child, the lunar mother watches over thee. And in the night thy heart is that if purity. Shadows may creep and scare, and in the night there is much to beware. But she hath thine heart and mind watched quite over. In thy mind, she is always....there.♫ Sweetie smiled, closing her eyes, thinking of Luna. ♫Here we are~!! In the summer night shaaaadooowwwwssss~! THE MOON WILL GLOW! And brighten your night! The half moon give you a bed! And the full gives you a home! Beware not young child! You will return hooooommmmeeee~...♫

♫It's okay~...To be scared...It's okay~ You will return home~...

She couldn't understand what was happening. Could of it had been her imagination? She didn't care, she didn't think much about it. Sleep quickly took her, with only the princess of the night completely on her mind.

Meanwhile, sitting outside of the building Sülvahn and Lokist were sitting and staring at Sweetie Belle. Both of their eyes were wide open as they saw two other ponies sitting around her and creating a green bed and a brown dome around her. They were looking up at them, all four locked in a staring contest which seemed to end when both of the ponies nodded at them.

"What was that Sülvahn?"

Sülvahn couldn't answer her. He had no idea what he was staring at. "I...I have no idea..."