Broken: Life

Chapters

From Fire
From Water
From Wind
From Earth
From Stone

From Fire

An endless expanse of bubbling molten magma glows dully, an orange red ocean of liquid rock. Noxious fumes rise from its surface, but that is not all that rises. A figure slowly ascends from the depths, lava dripping off ceremonial armor that itself glows cherry red. As their feet find purchase on rough-hewn steps leading from the lake of fire, the figure spreads draconic wings, shaking off the excess residue left from the molten sea. The only sound, for the moment, is the clinking of cooling metal and the distant roar of volcanic gasses being ignites into flame as they are vented from beneath the gently undulating magma. The figures horned silhouetted against the molten glow is stark and their long tail lashes out as they flex their claws.

Lifting the Bloodstone Scepter in her left hand, it's fiery light pushes back the darkness and reveals the shape to be that of Dragon Lord Ember. The fiery magic, trapped within the scepter licks like a thousand tongues of flame against the distant cavern roof. It leaps from rock to rock, revealing the ceiling to actually be studded with hundreds of thousands of towering crystals, ranging from the size of a house to the height of a skyscraper. The truly mindbogglingly enormous chamber that Ember finds herself in is, in fact, one massive geode! As the light from the Bloodstone Scepter spreads it makes the chamber as bright as day!

It is by this light that the young Dragon Lord first sees that she is not alone.

Truly titanic figures spread out before her, their massive bodies intertwined among one another. Each seemed to be made of some form of stone, their scales glistening dully like jewels beneath the glow of billions of luminous crystals. Though they easily dwarf not only Ember, but her exalted father the former Dragon Lord Torch, the young leader of the dragons shows no fear. She steps forward, hoping carefully along a series of small stones that form a pathway to the distant figures. As she draws closer, she ignores the pile of crumbled boulders to her left, and instead makes her way to a small onyx plinth set in a cluster of crimson crystal that looks like the flames of a great fire frozen in time. There is a hollow place in the middle of the plinth and, kneeling, Ember reverently places the Bloodstone Scepter in the waiting recess. She sits perfectly still for a moment, head bowed in supplication, and waits.

And she waits.

And waits.

Finally her patience runs out, and she rips off her helmet with an angry shout, "Well say something already! I've followed the rituals, observed the customs and traditions! I even swam the lake of fire in this stupid ceremonial armor to answer your summons and receive your wisdom! The least you can do is greet me, or does the title of Dragon Lord not hold any import to the Council of Ages!?"

A thin hiss of laughter reaches Ember, and her lips curl back in a snarl of disdain. A voice, barely more than a whisper, floods her mind. "If you knew anything of dragon custom and tradition, you would know you reach out to the so called 'Council of Ages' as a supplicant, not a lord." The laughter went on for some time. Ember tried to ignore it, but simply sitting there and letting the hateful noise wash over and through her was more than she could bear.

"Silence Doomsayer! I will not be mocked by you or the Council!" she thundered, leaping to her feet, wings spread in a gesture of intimidation to the crumbled stones that lay beside her. This only made the disembodied voice laugh harder. "Fine! Laugh all you like disgraced one, but I am still Dragon Lord, which is more than can be said of you, Lord of Dust!"

"Oh ho ho! Such pretty names and titles you give me, little lordling," chuckled the voice. "Do you think that means you know me? I thought all knowledge of my deeds were to be stricken from the stones of history."

"I know enough. I know why your remains were desecrated," replied Ember. "And I know no Dragon Lord has listened to your ramblings since. I see no reason that should change now."

"But there is every reason lordling," replied the voice, which was now clearly coming from the pile of broken stones rather than from within Ember's mind. In the half-light of the lava below, the crumbled visage of a dragons head could just be made out. A broken horn here, a piece of a maw there. An orb, that may have once been an eye rotates gently in a granite socket to lock onto Ember with it's blank stare. "For mine is the only voice that can reach you! It takes a Dragon Lord to awaken the Council of Ages to receive their laughable 'guidance' and 'wisdom'. This is why they do not acknowledge you!"

Ember bridled at that, the crest of spines along the back of her head standing to attention. "You dare question my claim!? I bear the Bloodstone Scepter, symbol of the dragon clans and my right to rule! I overcame the Trial by Fire, and claimed the Scepter as my own, along with the title of Dragon Lord!"

"But you were not the only one," replied the hissing voice with a venomous chuckle. "When a dragon lays claim to the Scepter, the power and authority of the Dragon Lord passes into them. This power wanes naturally over time, so a new Dragon Lord must eventually be decided upon by Trial of Ordeal. Only this time, that didn't happen did it?" The so called 'Doomsayer's laughter deepened, and seemed to shake the entire chamber. "There was a dragon, that actually passed on the Scepter and the title to another! Such a thing has never occurred before!"

"So what! I still have the authority of the Dragon Lord!" bellowed Ember, furious, but also with doubt creeping into her voice that made her sound every bit as young as she truly was. "The other dragons still do as I command!"

"Oh, that's just the living," chortled the voice dismissively. "Do you really think the most ancient and powerful ancestors of your kind would be as weak willed as a few fledgling whelps barely out of their egg shells? It takes the full might of the Dragon Lord to command the spirits of the Council of Ages! And you can barely hear my 'ramblings', despite them booming throughout this filthy mausoleum! I call you lordling, but really you are less than half of that! Perhaps I should call you halfling?" The disembodied laughter shook the chamber, but to Ember's it sounded like barely more than a coughing fit.

Embers brow creased with thought. It was true that no dragon in history had ever willingly passed on the power of the Bloodstone Scepter without the intervention of Dragon Law. Spike had been the shortest reigning Dragon Lord in the history of the entire clan, by an astounding margin. In truth, she hadn't even bothered recording his reign into the histories, as it could be measured in minutes rather than ages. She felt somewhat guilty about that now, but the emotion was overwhelmed by a sense of betrayal. She knew it was unfounded. If Spike had somehow cheated her out of half of her power and authority, there was no way he had done it on purpose. Spike had been raised by ponies. He'd given over the Scepter more than willingly. He'd never wanted to rule. But as Ember well knew, even a Dragon Lord didn't always get what they wanted.

The false sense of betrayal warred with her better judgement. The mocking laughter of the disgraced ancient didn't help. Ember decided that it was best to go and retrieve Spike, if for no other reason than to escape the annoying presence of the Doomsayer and his incessant laughter... And maybe get an explanation for what was going on into the bargain.

Ember reached out a claw to retrieve the Bloodstone Scepter but found it stuck fast. She wrapped her other hand around the shaft, but it still wouldn't budge. She spread her wings wide, and gave the Scepter a mighty yank! Even so, all she managed to produce was more laughter from the Doomsayer.

"Oh ho ho! You do that with some skill my little halfling! But it takes a full Dragon Lord to remove the Bloodstone Scepter from the Plinth of Ages! Hah ha ha! You lack the authority to even accomplish that!" the long dead dragon howled with laughter, a shower of dust rising into the air from his crumbled visage. "The longer you remain separate from the Scepter, the weaker your claim to it will become! Best hurry along little morsel, before a bigger dragon comes along and steals your prize!"

A look of panic crossed Ember's face then. Was what the Doomsayer said true? She had been warned not to fall for his lies, yet the Scepter remained stuck fast no matter what she did. If she could not retrieve the Scepter, surely no one else could. But then if the power it had bestowed upon her began to wane, what would stop an ambitious dragon from trying to claim the title of Dragon Lord for themself, Scepter or no Scepter?

It would be the War of the Elements all over again! She couldn't take that chance.

She had to find Spike, and fast!

From Water

Spike Struggled under the weight of the many packages, bags, and books that towered above his diminutive form.

It was shopping day, and Twilight insisted on Spike going out into the town and visiting the shops in Ponyville in person. Unfortunately, Twilight didn't insist on coming with her assistant, and had sent him with a very thorough and extremely long list of the various materials she'd need for the week ahead. Spike knew full well that Twilight's time was precious to her, and that the hours spent in her library studying were for the good of Equestria, but he thought it was kind of suspicious how she always seemed to get really busy right before chores needed to be done.

Well, unless it was something to do with staying in the library, like re-shelving day.

The purple dragon wasn't as bitter as he might otherwise be, however. For once he was not alone in carrying out his assigned tasks, and had an assistant of his own. Of a sort...

"Here Spike, let me help you with those," an aura of turquoise colored magic enveloped the various packages as Starlight Glimmer took some of the weight off of Spike's hands. Indeed, a small nimbus of bags and items floated around the pink unicorn. Where another pony might have struggled as much as Spike under the weight of the many supplies, even when using their magic, Starlight seemed to handle the task effortlessly. Not for the first time Spike found himself thinking how very glad he was that she was on their side now.

"Thanks Starlight!" he said brightly, "Those rolls of parchment are murder on the lower back." He added as he leaned backwards, popping his spine painfully.

"It's no trouble at all Spike, I'm glad to be of help." replied Starlight with a smile. And she was glad too. Starlight had been in a really good mood since their last trip to the Crystal Empire. "So what's left on the list?"

"Well, lets see," Spike grabbed a particularly over stuffed saddlebag from the nimbus of supplies that floated around Starlight. As soon as he touched the satchel, Starlight's magic faded from the bag and it fell heavily onto the dusty road, dragging Spike down with it. He giggled a bit self consciously, before rummaging around inside the bag and pulling out a roll of parchment that was extremely long once unfurled. He traced a single claw down the margin of the shopping list, "I think that's just about everything but new quills. We'll probably want to stop by the ink shop on the way there. If we're low on quills now we'll probably be low on ink by the end of the week and-"

Before Spike could finish his thought something swooped down from the sky with the heavy burlap sound of a parachute popping opening, and scooped him up without another sound. Starlight had almost no time to react before Spike and the creature that had taken him were already wheeling back up high into the sky. "Spike!" she called, letting the shopping bags and packages fall all around her, ignored and forgotten.

"H-he-help!" called Spike, his voice already dwindling into the distance. Starlight's horn flared as she fired a beam of magic. The beam struck home, but bounced off of the well polished armor of the flying creature. The spell ricocheted into the thatch of a nearby house, coating the roof in a layer of frost. It had been a miracle that she had managed the shot, as the dwindling pair, snatcher and snatchy, were already moving far out of range.

"Oh no you don't!" some of the old fire came back to Starlight's eyes as her entire body was enveloped in the glow of her magic. She exploded like a bullet from a gun, sending up a cloud of dust from Ponyville's dirt road as she rose into the air like a firework. As she levitated herself, she started firing a hail storm of magic beams, filling the air with sizzling magic that streamed around the fleeing creature like shooting stars. The kidnapper swooped and dived, dodging the beams that it's armor couldn't deflect, and soon all of Ponyville was in chaos from the sheer amount of magical mayhem in the sky above.

However, the creature couldn't dodge forever. A glancing blow caught one wing, causing the appendage to freeze mid flap. The kidnapper did their best to stay aloft, but lost altitude quickly, crashing through the roof of the Ponyville Bowling Alley. Starlight hovered in the air above the smoking hole for a moment, before lowering herself down into the buildings interior. Inside all was pandemonium. The usually somewhat lazy bowling pony's were running back and forth, trying to find the nearest exit. The owner of the bowling alley was angrily shouting some choice words about his roof as a trio of regulars were trying their best to kindly lead him out.

Spike lay dazed on one of the abandoned lanes, the creature crouched over his prone form as if guarding a treasure. As Starlight watched the dragon, as now she could see the beast unmistakably was, shook the ice from her wing with a mighty crash and glared across the dust filled bowling alley at Starlight. "How is it that you fly without wings?" the dragon asked with a rasping growl, clealy only barely holding her anger in check to ask the question.

"It's a lovely story, involving the combining of an ancient levitation spell with a translocation spell, and more than a little manipulation of my surroundings with simple telekinesis," replied Starlight conversationally. "I'd love to tell you all about it over a nice hot tea and maybe some scones, just as soon as you get the buck away from my friend!"

"I don't have time for this pony," the dragon almost spat the last word, as though ponies had given her some trouble before. "Spike needs to come with me, and he needs to come with me now! Stay out of our way or you'll regret it!" Her tail thumped on the bowling lane for emphasis, cracking and splintering the hard polished wood.

"I'm afraid I can't just let you swoop in and snatch away Twilight's assistant. Now why don't you just calm down and-" but before she could finish her sentence, a massive gout of flame shot from the dragons throat, sweeping across the bowling alley. Starlight got up a shield just in time, but as the flames drew closer they dissipated into a wall of smoke. Starlight coughed and her eyes watered as the smoke wrapped around her barrier. Though it was difficult to see, Starlight could hear the flap of the dragons wings as she took to the air again.

Starlight shot up out of the hole in the roof after her, and as tears cleaned the last of the smoke from her eyes she could see the armored dragon dwindling into the distance once more, Spike's unconscious body wrapped in her tail. "It's not polite to interrupt," Starlight yelled, sending a beam of magic into a nearby cloud. The cloud swelled and darkened as the magi fed into it, and though it was mid-summer, it began to sleet. Shards of ice rained down in the dragons path, pelting her armor and wings, coating her in ice and forcing her to the ground again.

This time she had landed heavily next to Town Hall, in the middle of Ponyville's town square. Pony's fled from the sudden crash, unsure if it was another monster attack, or who knew what villain invading Ponyville again. The townsfolk cowered in nearby shops and houses as Starlight settled down next to her fallen foe, the levitation spell fading gently.

The dragon was in an almost perfect statue of ice. Starlight paused to admire her work, before preparing the spell to heat up the frosted Spike. She needn't have bothered. With a thunderous roar of flames, the ice shattered.

The dragon within a cloud of steam that had recently been ice turned on Starlight, her eyes blazing with fury. "You just can't take a hint can you!?" The words thundered across the sky as they buffeted Starlight backwards. Waves of force tore through the air around her. Dust and stone tumbled into the wind, flagpoles bent and broke, and the statue portion of a nearby fountain crumbled and fell into so much broken stone.

Starlight was only spared from being sent flying into the distance by the timely intervention of another shield spell. "While it has been said I'm something of a slow learner, I think it's you that's having a hard time taking a hint," quipped Starlight, the magic of her horn flaring. "I'm not letting you take Spike without a fight!"

This caused the dragon to straighten her posture and adopt a more regal stance, "I am Princess Ember, Dragon Lord of the Dragons of Equestria!" and she looked every inch the regal monarch she claimed to be despite the rough treatment she had received so far, sunlight glinting like gold off of her armor. "Who are you to deny me!? Who are you to stand in my way!?"

"Oh boy," muttered Starlight to herself before answering, both because she was realizing now just how much trouble she was likely in and how this was obviously a misunderstanding that would undoubtedly turn out to be her fault somehow. "I am Starlight Glimmer, former pupil of Twilight Sparkle... And apparently fighter of Princesses. I don't suppose there's any way we could-?"

"Then have at you!" Starlight realized she had made a mistake when the dragons claws tore through her shield like tissue paper. She didn't know what spell or enchantment were on the metal gauntlets Ember wore, but it made mincemeat of her spell work. She dodged several swipes before putting another shield between herself and Ember just in time to intercept a gout of flame. The fire once again dissipated to smoke, obscuring Starlight's vision. She didn't see Ember's tail whipping around her shield until it was smashing into her face. "Stay out of my way!" Ember roared.

Starlight felt her hooves leave the ground, and found herself splashing into the nearby fountain. The cold water was shocking, but not as shocking as the pain that lanced through Starlight's side. She'd been thinking about just giving up and getting Twilight, but now Ember had hurt her. Starlight had been making a lot of progress keeping her temper under control, but just now she didn't care if she was in the wrong. She'd been hurt, and she planned on hurting the dragon back, Princess or no Princess. "In for a penny, in for a pound," she muttered to herself as she reached out with her telekinesis.

Chunks of the broken statue and splintered flagpoles rose into the air. Starlight allowed herself a cruel smile before sending the make shift missiles whistling through the air at her foe. It was Ember's turn to scramble and dodge. While it would normally take considerably more than sticks and stones to break her bones, with Starlight's magic propelling them, rocks and twigs became misshapen missiles that made up for their lack of accuracy with deadly force. They pinged hard off of Ember's armor and where they struck they left dents that bruised all the way through the armor and deep under her scaly hide beneath. Ember cried out, shocked that a unicorn could strike her with such force.

This was no time for games. the Dragon Lord opened her maw wide, sending forth such violent flames that the splintered wood evaporated into puffs of smoke and the stones melted to slag. The air itself seemed to ignite as the ground was turned to a molten slurry. The wall of flame swept toward Starlight, and belatedly Ember realized she may have over done it. A molten tidal wave threatened to wash over Starlight, and the resulting immolation would more than likely spread quickly through the cottages of thatch and wood that lay behind her. Ember may have been in a rush, but it wasn't her intention to harm Ponyville or it's citizens. Truthfully, not even this frustrating unicorn that was doing everything in her power to stop her.

A look of panic seized Starlight's face as she looked up at the fast approaching doom. Fortunately, as she took a step backwards, her hooves splashed through the water of the fountain, reminding her of where she was standing. Concentrating, tendrils of water rose up around Starlight like tiny water spouts. Not just from the fountain, but also from the nearby stream that passed partially through the town square. The wave of flames was met by an equally massive wall of water. The two flashed into steam that blanketed the town square

The resulting fog obscured much of the rest of the battle, but beams of magic and flashes of flame still illuminated the cloud from within.

Spike groggily got to his feet. It took him a moment to get his bearings. One moment he'd been shopping with Starlight, the next he'd been hurtling through the air and into the roof of the bowling alley. Though the steam obscured his vision, it didn't take long for him to realize where he was. The hazy form of Starlight and a dragon silhouette, that looked suspiciously familiar, were still fighting not far from where he stood. The fight had moved from in front of Town Hall, to the bridge that spanned the now empty stream. The water that had been in it floated around Starlight, countering the dragons flames. The pair seemed to be equally matched. As a patch of fog drifted away in a gout of flame, Spike realized where he had seen that dragon before.

"Ember?" he asked out load. He ran over to the bridge, but the unicorn and the dragon were so intent on their fight with the other, that they didn't even notice his arrival. "Starlight! Ember! This has got to be a misunderstanding! That's enough you guys!" A gout of flame singed the top of his scales and Spike had to jump to dodge an errant beam of magic. His claws came down on a sudden sheet of ice, and he lost his footing, sending him crashing down onto his tail. Spike clenched his jaw in pain and frustration, and yelled, "I said... THAT'S ENOUGH!!!!"

If Ember's words had been a whirlwind, then Spike's were a hurricane. The fog cleared away instantly, exploding in every direction to form a ring of clouds high in the sky. Nearby buildings buckled and broke, swept off of their foundations and sent sliding into their nearby neighbors. Neither Ember nor Starlight had time to react, and both found themselves pushed off the bridge and into the muddy river bed below. Both Ember and Starlight completely abandoned their fight as they found themselves shoulder deep in stinking mud.

Truthfully, they had gotten off light.

Spike looked around. He was surrounded by a ring of destruction. It was a miracle that Town Hall still stood. Even as the thought crossed his mind, he could hear the structure creaking. It hadn't been long ago that they had finally gotten the old building repaired. The building collapsed in on itself like a house of cards.

Fortunately it was a Sunday, and the building would be empty of public servants. Even so, He doubted Mayor Mare would appreciate the serendipitous timing of Town Halls destruction. Spike's eyes widened not just in fear, but wonder, "Did... Did I do all of that?" He clamped his claws over his mouth, just in case any more of his words might wreak further havoc.

"Just what in the wide, wide world of Equestria is going on!" It would take a lot to rip Twilight Sparkle away from her studies. The battle between Starlight Glimmer and Princess Ember hadn't been enough. The thunderous echo of it's conclusion, however, wrought by Spike's destructive outburst had reached even her ears far off in her library in her castle at the edge of town. The Alicorn Princess hovered in the air, the sun silhouetting her shape against it's bright disc. Her shadow fell over Spike, and for the first time in a long time Spike felt like a toddler again. A disobedient, naughty child, who had no excuse for his actions and no hope of making amends for his deeds.

Even if his mind were not frozen in panic, it would have been difficult for Spike to speak in his defense with his hands pressed so firmly over his mouth.

As Ember gave Starlight a hand to pull her out of the muddy river bottom, she turned her gaze to the angered Alicorn and gave a sheepish smile from beneath a thick layer of mud. "I might be able to explain, Princess Twilight..."

From Wind

"I'm sorry, but I still don't entirely understand," was Twilight's reply once they had finally gotten back to her castle. It had taken a fair amount of time to coax the townspeople into believing everything was fine. After all, a rampaging dragon and an out of control unicorn had just demolished a good portion of the town. But with the help of the Pegasi, most of the fires were put out with an impromptu thunderstorm. Meanwhile, the Unicorns and Earth Ponies helped to shift away the bulk of the rubble, and get started on the necessary cleaning and repairs. Sadly there was nothing that could be done about the Bowling Alley roof, which would need to be completely replaced. Twilight had done the best she could, with her own magic, rebuilding Town Hall piece by piece. Professional construction workers would need to be called in to make sure that the building was sound, shore up the repairs, and to replace anything that was damaged beyond safe continued use; but all in all it really paid to have a Princess on your side when it came to fixing unexpected property damage. Even so, Twilight had been fairly fuming to find that not only her pupil, but her assistant had been involved in so much whole sale destruction. Her anger was only tempered by the presence of a foreign dignitary, and the knowledge that she too had been somehow involved. So she asked Ember again, "Why exactly did you kidnap Spike?"

"I wasn't trying to kidnap him," Princess Ember replied somewhat sulkily. For her part, the Dragon Lord had stood awkwardly in the middle of all of the hasty work, waiting to be lead to Twilight's Castle. She had paced back and forth, unable to make eye contact with anyone, but still furious that she had to wait. When they had finally made it to the pony Princess's Castle, she had felt like she was about to explode. However, as they gathered in the room that housed the Cutie Map and the Thrones of the Elements of Harmony, Ember had marveled at it's beauty. The chandelier, made from the remains of the Golden Oak Library, had in particular caught her eye. Despite this, she had remembered her earlier urgency, and quickly stated her case and demanded that she be allowed to leave with Spike as soon as possible. It seemed she had rushed the explanation a bit, however, as Twilight was still asking for further clarification. The fact that the Dragon Lord was having to repeat herself for the ponies was starting to wear on Ember's nerves, but she knew that ponies did things differently, so she tried to maintain her fragile patience. "It is the Dragon Lord's responsibility to hear the words of the Council of Ages. Though I have observed all of the ceremony and ritual that tradition demands, their words remain silent to me. I was merely retrieving Spike because he continues to harbor a portion of the Dragon Lord's power."

"As evidenced by Spike shouting loud enough to obliterate Town Hall?" asked Starlight Glimmer, receiving a curt nod from Ember. Spike sat behind Twilight's throne, claws still clamped tightly over his mouth. He was ashamed of the destruction he had caused, and the trouble he'd put Twilight to for his sake. It might not have been much work for a Princess, but Spike hated causing trouble for Twilight. He always had. Starlight felt it was best she ask the questions that Spike, for the moment, couldn't. "What exactly was that, anyways?"

"We call it the Thrum," replied Ember, crossing her arms. Now wasn't really the time for a lesson on dragon Lore, but if it sped things along, so be it. "It's one of the many powers passed down from one Dragon Lord to the next through the Bloodstone Scepter," she recited this absently, as if quoting some long ago ingrained lesson rather than answering with her own words. "It can be used to command or inspire, as well as to drive and destroy. It is but one of many talents that would be dangerous in the hands of the unwary or untrained."

"But if that's true, why hasn't Spike shown any of these powers before?" inquired Twilight doubtfully, her brow knit with concern. It was clear that, though she wanted to get to the bottom of what had happened, Spike's involvement in all this was the part she was having the hardest time accepting. "Why should they only manifest now?"

"Dragons can be a very... passionate people," replied Ember, choosing her words carefully. "Many of the blessings of the Bloodstone Scepter respond to a dragons inner fire. A moment of frustration, a spark of anger, often that is all that is necessary to bring forth the power unbidden." The current Dragon Lord looked to where Spike crouched, not without pity. "Living peacefully among ponies, as Spike does, has probably precluded the expression of any such fervor... Most of the time, anyways."

"I still don't know why you didn't just ask us for help, instead of swooping in and trying to fly off with Spike," reproached Starlight, the studied evenness of her voice doing nothing to hide the assertion that she seemed to hold that everything that had occurred was ultimately Ember's fault.

Ember's nostrils flared, along with her temper. She'd had just about enough of the haughty unicorn. "I told you why! I was in a hurry! I still am! The longer we spend talking this matter over the more we are all at risk! If you simply hadn't interfered we'd be back in the Dragon Lands by now!" Jabbing a talon into Starlight's chest for emphasis.

Starlight's even manner quickly melted into affronted fury, "Oh, I suppose I'm just expected to smile and wave while my companion is being whisked away in the talons of a flying monster!" Her eyes narrowed to angry slits as her horn flared with barely contained magics. She glared back at the Dragon Lord, not willing to give her an inch. They were standing muzzle to muzzle, breathing heavily. It looked like round two of their fight from earlier was about to begin.

"That's enough, the pair of you!" cried Twilight Sparkle, grabbing them both with her magic and dragging them apart. "Ember you're a Princess and a Dragon Lord!" she lectured the dragon before whirling on her pupil," And Starlight, you of all ponies should know the dangers of rash behavior, both to yourself and those around you! I don;t care what happened between you two, but there's no excuse for this kind of behavior! I can see why Spike might have lost his patience with you two."

Spike winced. It was nice that Twilight thought there may have been just cause for his outburst, but he wasn't so sure breaking up Starlight and Ember was worth the cost of the Town Hall's destruction. Obviously, that hadn't been his intention, but the facts of the matter was that he ultimately bore as much responsibility for all this chaos as the other two. At least, that was how he felt anyways. Even so, he did let his claws fall from his mouth. For the first time since the incident hours ago, he spoke, though tentatively. "So... what do you need from me then Ember?"

Ember's rage cooled quickly. Though she had her fathers temper, she chided herself for giving into it. She wanted to be a different kind of Dragon Lord, but just now she was having a hard time remaining calm. There was so much on her shoulders. Perhaps it was time to speak plainly. "Spike, I need you to come with me. I cannot hear the voices of the Council of Ages. Without your aid, I may not even be able to retrieve the Bloodstone Scepter from their chambers. The longer it remains unattended, the more our claim to the Scepter weakens. Should another dragon chance upon the Scepter while we are not present, they could claim it for themselves."

"And given the feelings some dragons have professed about ponies in the past, that could spell disaster for Equestria," added Twilight, the true direness of the situation at last becoming clear. Ember's troubles were not just her own, but potentially all of pony-kinds as well. It might be imperative that they help in any way that they could. "This 'Council of Ages'... do you know why they summoned you?"

"I'm afraid not. With Spike's aid I hope not only to retrieve the Scepter, but also the message that they wished to convey to begin with." answered Ember. "The Council of Age's have guided the fate of dragon-kind from ages long past, through advice and prophecy received by the Dragon Lord. Though, I admit, it's possible that they summoned me simply to address my current weakness." A look of shame crossed Ember's face, and even Starlight seemed to feel sorry for her, despite their earlier quarrel.

"If I go with you..." began Spike,"And we do this, will it take this power away from me?" there was pleading in the tiny dragons eyes. "You said that there are several abilities that the Dragon Lord possesses that could be dangerous if used by the untrained. I don't want to be a danger to my friends or to Ponyville. If there's any way that you can take this power from me, I'd be more than willing to give it up!"

An inscrutable look passed over Ember's face. Was i pity? Pride? Or something else? "In all the history of dragon kind, no Dragon Lord has ever willingly given up his powers or authority without serving a full term under dragon law." She looked sadly to the floor. There was no hubris in her voice, but instead true compassion as she raised her eyes to meet Spike's. "I do not know if it's possible for you to simply give up the powers of the Dragon Lord. However, if there exists anyone who would know, I'm sure that they would be among the Council of Ages. If you come with me, the least we can do is ask them for guidance."

"That settles it then!" Spike declared with a nod. "Twilight, I think it would be best if I went with Princess Ember."

"Are you certain Spike?" asked Twilight, her face still a picture of concern despite her better understanding of the situation. "The Dragon Lands are dangerous, and I'm afraid I won't be able to go with you to protect you. I need to speak with Mayor Mare and finish organizing the repair of Ponyville."

"I will guard him closely Princess Twilight," assured Ember, her melancholy melting away as she drew Spike chivalrously to her side.

"Dangerous or not, this is something I have to do... For myself as much as everypony else," replied Spike resolutely, blushing slightly at the close proximity he found himself to be in with Ember.

"Very well. Princess Ember, you may take Spike with you. Safe journey to both of you." Twilight bowed, and the pair of dragons returned the gesture. The Princess of Friendships leave, at last, secured, Ember scooped Spike up in her arms and the pair flew through the open double doors and into the hallway that led to the exit. There truly was no time to spare on long goodbyes.

They weren't out the door for even a moment before Starlight exclaimed, "Are you crazy! You can't just let her run off to Celestia knows where with him!"

"Oh, and what do you suggest?" asked Twilight, the hint of a playful smile on her lips. "I was serious when I said that I could not accompany them. The destruction the three of you caused was much more extensive than the work of a single afternoon could put right." Twilight used her magic to sort through a few letters that lay on the table that held the cutie map. Correspondence was already arriving from angry shop owners, as well as various concerned citizens. "Since both my assistant and my pupil were directly involved, it falls to me to smooth things over with Mayor Mare and the townsfolk."

"Well, I don't know," replied Starlight, the wind taken out of her sails by the reminder that she was partially to blame for the wanton destruction from earlier. It did nothing to allay her anxiety, however. "I just worry about Spike. I feel like somepony should be keeping an eye on him."

"I couldn't agree with you more Starlight," replied Twilight, her smile widening. "Thank you for volunteering."

"What?" Starlight's eyes went wide.

"You're absolutely right. Somepony should be keeping an eye on Spike. I had no intention of letting him face this quest on his own, but I was of two minds about who to send to watch his back," Twilight confided. "But your obvious concern for him makes the choice much easier. This whole situation may just have the makings of a very valuable friendship lesson for you. Besides," here the Princess let her voice drop to a whisper and raised a letter with her magic that had particularity angry looking writing scrawled across it's parchment. "It might be easier for me to smooth things over if all three of you are safely out of town. Apparently that trick with the sleet storm you did threw off the weather patterns for miles around Ponyville. The weather ponies are not pleased."

"B-but I've never even been to the Dragon Lands!" protested Starlight. "I'd have no idea how to get there! Even if I flew after them right now, Ember would quickly out distance me. I'd get hopelessly lost!"

"Oh, I thought of that too," replied Twilight, a sly look in her eyes. "I never said I expected you to do this on your own. I know just the pony to be your guide."

"You have got to be kidding me," Starlight muttered to herself as she massaged her temples. She found herself hitched to a wagon loaded down with more supplies than she'd been helping Spike carry earlier, and those had been for a month. The pony who was responsible chatted brightly with Twilight. The Princess had come to see the pair of ponies off.

"Don't you worry a bit darling," Rarity reassured Twilight expansively. "We shan't let any of those ruffian dragons harm a single scale on Spikey-Wikey's wittle head." Rarity squealed. She actually squealed. "Besides, it will be an absolutely delightful chance for me to try out my all new range of covert clothing. Chic, yet stealthy. Ornate, but not ostentatious. It will be the perfect opportunity to field test several improvements I've made to the designs."

"I'm glad to hear it Rarity," Twilight responded, and she seemed to mean it. Rarity might not seem like the first pony one should turn to in dire circumstances, but she was notoriously good at keeping a level head in a pinch... Even if that meant she sometimes came across as not entirely understanding the situation at the time. "But hopefully Starlight's magic will be able to keep the two of you hidden for the most part."

"Oh, pfft, ech, pah, she needn't bother with all that!" replied Rarity dismissively as she adjusted her traveling hat, a marvelously floppy white and black chapeau that was the in 'thing' this season. "I've packed more than enough outfits to allow us to pass through any terrain completely undetected! Why, it will be as if we aren't even there!"

"And what about the wagon?" asked Starlight, speaking for the first time since Twilight had introduce the fashion pony as her guide.

"Pardon me dear, what was that?" queried Rarity, batting her eye-lashes fetchingly.

"How are we going to disguise the wagon we're hauling all this," Starlight made a gesture to try and indicate not just the wagon, but it's contents as well, "stuff in?"

Rarity paused, before waving a hoof dismissively, "Details, darling, details! I'm sure we'll work something out. What matters is that we're there for little Spikey-wikey if he needs us!"

"I couldn't agree more," giggled Twilight with a sincere smile, "Safe trip you two! I'm counting on you to keep Spike safe. I have every confidence that I can rely on the both of you to get the job done."

"I wish I did," muttered Starlight darkly to herself. But she wasn't about to talk back to Twilight. If she had faith in Rarity and herself, then Starlight would just have to try to cultivate some faith as well. As she began pulling the over laden wagon, she mused that she would have plenty of time to do just that. It was a long way to the Dragon Lands from Ponyville, and loaded down as they were it was going to be a miracle if they made it there before Spike came back on his own.

"Oh, do be careful of the bumps in the road, darling," called Rarity to Starlight as she climbed aboard the wagon. "All that jousteling around is simply murder on my haunches."

It was going to be a long trip.

From Earth

Though the Dragon Land's were distant from Ponyville, it wasn't far as the dragon flies. It wasn't long before forests and fields gave way to sage and scrub land. Then even that vegetation faded away into stunted trees and thorn bushes, before crumbling into desert cliffs and distant mesas.

The smell of salt from the nearby sea mixed with the brimstone stench of this volcanic land on the very edge of Equestria. Nearby, geysers shot a super heated water and steam into the air, mixing with the smoke of volcanic vents to form a thick cloud cover over all of the land. Ember dipped down through the thick clouds, flying low over her homeland. Though Spike didn't want to admit it, there was something about the land that felt familiar... That felt like home even to him. This despite the only home he'd ever really known being among ponies, at Twilight Sparkle's side.

Spike had very little time to contemplate this, as they seemed to quickly arrive at their destination. As Ember landed heavily next to a cavern entrance, Spike quickly hopped out of her arms. He smiled sheepishly, blushing somewhat as he said, "Thanks for the lift! I guess..."

"Nonsense," was Embers reply, though there was a hint of rosiness about her cheeks. "Think nothing of it! You don't have wings of your own. The fastest way for us to get here was for me to carry you."

"So, is this the entrance to the Council of Age's chamber?" asked Spike, quickly changing the subject. "I had kind of expected it to be more, you know, grand from the way you had described it."

"Oh no, this is just the entrance to Down Town. We still have a ways to go before we'll reach the Halls of the Ancients," replied Ember, as she stalked towards the cavern. She motioned for Spike to follow. "You'll see what I mean in a moment."

Though the entrance was wide, it swiftly narrowed into several smaller passages as Spike followed Ember into the cavern. The temperature quickly dropped as they moved deeper into the bowels of the earth, but then rose again sharply as they entered what looked like a long arched hallway. Sconces on the walls provided fitful illumination from glowing red crystals. It wasn't enough to truly chase away the shadows that danced and shifted somewhat eerily in the caverns silence, but it was more than enough light to see by. Vents, that seemed to be carved into the stone rather than occurring naturally, allowed heat to rise from lava chambers far below. The feeling was pleasnt for a dragon, though it might have been a little much for any other creature.

The ever present drip of water, and the distant roar of the sea kept the silence of the cavern from being too oppressive. Even so, Spike made sure to follow close by Ember's side. It wasn't that he was scared exactly, but he didn't like the idea of losing sight of her and getting lost down here. It was strange though. The further down they went the more at ease Spike felt.

It wasn't long before the chambers grew larger, with massive and ornate rock formations that helped take Spike's mind off of his worries. The stalactites and stalagmites here were truly impressive, stretching all the way from a ceiling so distant it was lost in shadow, down to depths Spike could just barely make out. It was like he was looking at the columns that supported the world. And the crystals! It was almost as if he was back in the Crystal Empire. Their presence was probably a large part of why Spike found himself more at ease, their multicolored and multifaceted stones glowed with an inner fire that sent light scintillating off of the wet cavern stones. Spike never thought that he'd see a rainbow underground, but as they moved through the crystal studded halls, he felt as if he was walking through one. Spike wondered if any pony had ever seen anything like this. The scenery beneath the Dragon Lands was truly breath taking.

"You'll have to forgive me Spike," confided Ember. She hadn't spoken for some time, and it seemed she had something on her mind. "I didn't mean to cause so much fuss back in Ponyville. I want to make things right between us. While it is pressing that we get back to the Halls of the Ancients as soon as possible, it seemed wrong for me to just bring you down here to suit my needs. That's why we... kind of ended up taking the scenic route. I wanted to show you something that you probably had never had the chance to see before. I hope you're not mad."

"Why would I be mad? This place is beautiful!" replied Spike. "I'm a little confused though. Where exactly are we?"

"Oh, you haven't figured it out yet?" asked Ember teasingly. "I suppose for a dragon who's lived with ponies all his life, it would be kind of hard to tell. Still, that's why we're here. Step right this way then, and all will be revealed!" The flare for the dramatic Ember was showing wasn't like her at all. It was clear she was having a bit of fun at Spike's expense, even if she was doing it by way of apology.

As Spike stepped up to join Ember, he realized they were poised upon a great precipice. A long ledge spread out in either direction as far as the eye could see, curving slightly like the edge of a bowl. What spread out, filling a large basin bellow made Spike's eyes widen in shock.

There was something that had always sort of bothered Spike. Every time he'd met a dragon in its own lair, they were always living in a cave far off away from everyone else, all on their own. Dragons rarely seemed to get together, save during big events like the Great Migration. He also knew that a dragons diet consisted largely of gems, so it made sense for them to make their homes underground away from anyone else they might have to compete with for food, but it was odd to Spike how solitary a dragons life seemed to be. Maybe it was just because he had been raised by ponies, but he couldn't imagine a life on his own without his many friends.

The scene that now revealed itself to Spike, made him realize that all of those lairs he'd seen before were just temporary shelters. The dragon equivalent of a tent in the wilderness.

What stretched across the cavern floor wasn't anything that Spike had ever expected to see. A dragon city. It sprawled across the cavern, reaching up the sides of the deep basin. Buildings, rough carved from stone and crystal, shone in the soft glow of flows of lava that welled up from the cavernous depths below, and drizzled down from unseen chambers above. The entire city was awash with flame and smoke, yet it seemed that this was a perfectly natural state to find a dragon city to be in. Spike could see dragons of all shapes and sizes bustling about their business far below, or soaring above as they flew back and forth to edifices built into the sides of the cavernous chamber. Like the crystals that grew from every surface, the dragons seemed to glow with an inner fire that illuminated their scales.

As Spike looked down at his own claws, he realized he was glowing with an inner light as well, not unlike the one that had suffused him when former Dragon Lord Torch had issued his summons. Ember was glowing as well, though that was at least partially due to the smile she wore as she beheld the look of wonder on Spike's face.

Spike realized that the roar he'd taken to be the surf of the nearby sea was actually welling up from the city below. There were probably more dragons here than he had seen in the Great Dragon Migration or the Gauntlet of Fire combined! "So many! I never knew that so many dragons could live together in one place like this."

"Many of them don't," confessed Ember. "Down Town is a city born of necessity. When dragons grow too old or weak to make their way in the world on their own, they band together here for protection and warmth. Many mothers come here to hatch their first clutch in safety and peace, while many elders find respite for their aches and pains in the lava baths that well up from the volcanic caldera that sits beneath this cavern." Ember scooped up Spike unexpectedly, and jumped over the ledge, her wings popping open as the pair glided over the city. Ember barely needed to flap a wing, the warm updrafts from the city below were more than enough to keep her aloft. "Over time, the city became a hub for diplomacy and trade. Many dragons journey here to buy and sell rare gems and precious metals, while others make a living here over seeing such barter and trade as passes into Down Town. It has long been the Dragon Lord's responsibility to not only preside over this trade and to see that Dragon Law is enforced, but also to protect the weak and elderly that shelter here. Every dragon you see, from the smallest hatchling to the largest ancient, I am responsible for."

"Wow, that's got to be a lot of pressure," remarked Spike, as he squirmed in her grip to get a better look down at the draconic city.

"Yes, it can be. The role of Dragon Lord is burdensome at times," Ember admitted, adjusting her grip on the smaller dragon to make sure he didn't fall. "But it is a role that I asked for, that I actively sought. I do understand your fear of your powers Spike, and I feel as though I might have failed you in some way. I was too excited about becoming the new Dragon Lord the last time we met that I didn't really think about what it truly meant when you had handed the Bloodstone Scepter to me so causally. I should have known that the power of the Dragon Lord would not pass from you so easily. It's my fault that things have come to this."

"Hey, don't worry about it. I don't think anyone is going to blame you for not foreseeing something like this." reassured Spike. "Besides, it was my fault for butting into a competition I didn't really understand. I didn't even really know what was at stake. I was just caught up in worrying about what might happen to my friends if a dragon like Garble was the next Dragon Lord. I never thought about the job being the Dragon Lord might actually involve."

"Well, to be fair, Garble was kind of a jerk," acknowledged Ember with a giggle, "Still is. He wasn't very happy about having to hug every dragon he saw on the way home and not tell them why. I laughed about it at the time, but I think you may have made an enemy for life by doing that."

"Pfft, nothing new there," said Spike dismissively. "Garble always had a problem with me. I guess because I'm so small compared to most other dragons. It was kind of awesome getting to boss him around. Wish that was something I could still do. That was one power of the Dragon Lord I wouldn't mind keeping!"

"It's difficult to compel dragons to do as you say without holding the Bloodstone Scepter," Ember pointed out as they landed some distance from the dragon city in the mouth of a nearby cave. She set Spike down on the ground before giving him a teasing smile, "I think if you want to give up the powers you still have, you'll need to give them all up."

"Hey, can't blame a guy for wishing. Or a dragon for being a little greedy from time to time," Spike turned to the entrance of a nearby cave mouth and stopped in his tracks. It was an almost sheer drop into a light-less pit far below. "Whoa... uh, Ember, are you sure this is the right way?"

"The Hall of Ancients is well guarded. I'm afraid that if you thought the Gauntlet of Fire was a challenge, you may find the trials that lay ahead to be somewhat difficult." She gave Spike a reassuring grin. "But I'll be with you, and I've passed through the trials before. Just stick close to me and everything will be fine!" With that, Princess Ember sat on the edge of the ledge, and patted one claw on her lap. Spike hesitated for a moment. It was one thing to be carried in ember's arms, but actually sitting on her lap seemed kind of... forward. Ember just rolled her eyes and grabbed the baby dragon, setting him down on her thighs. "Now, hold on tight to my armor. This part can be a little bumpy."

With only that for a warning, Ember pushed off from the ledge and slid down the almost vertical shaft into the darkness below. Spike's terrified scream almost, but not quiet, drowned out the squeal of excitement from Ember as they plummeted into the unknown.

"Alright, now that is just far too dangerous! We should grab him and take him home now," said one stalagmite to another.

The other cone of rock produced a white hoof that waved dismissively, "You need to relax dear. You forget that Ember has wings. Spike's in no more danger from falling into a pit than if he was with Rainbow Dash herself. Although I admit it's somewhat reckless, I'm sure he's still perfectly safe."

The first stalagmite seemed to visibly deflate. Starlight Glimmer's face peaked out from a hole in the side of her disguise. "Well what about all the lava and other dragons? This isn't a safe place, even regardless of the company Spike is in."

"You're right, this is not a safe place," admitted Rarity as she stuck her face out of her own disguise. "For a pony. Spike is a dragon. He can swim in lava and not singe a single scale, and he's handled himself rather admirably with other dragons in the past. I swear Starlight, I'm beginning to think you worry more than Twilight." Rarity paused to study Starlight's face and almost audible 'tsk'd' at what she saw, "All that worrying is bad for your complexion, you know. It causes wrinkles."

"I don't think now is really the time for beauty advise, do you Rarity?" asked Starlight with a somewhat offended look, though not necessarily over the beauty tips. It was true that Spike was probably in much less danger than the pair of unicorn's that were meant to be his guardians. That didn't mean she had to like it, or even admit to it. "We have more pressing issues. Like how are we going to follow them now? It sounds like there might be a lot of traps waiting for us up ahead."

"Oh that parts easy darling! The same way Twilight and I kept up with them last time. Spike always carries a small amount of gems on himself for snacking purposes. I'll track those gems and you will teleport us to his current location." She grinned confidently before secreting herself back in her stalagmite costume. "It's as simple as that."

"Rarity... do you ever wonder where Spike's keeps those gems he snacks on?" Starlight wondered aloud as she slid back inside her own disguise. "I mean it's not exactly like he wears pants, so he shouldn't have any pockets."

"I try not to dwell on such things dear," confided Rarity, "It's better to just focus on the task at hand. Shall we?"

There was a glow from both 'stalagmites' as the unicorn's used their magic and individual talents. In a flash they were gone. Unbeknownst to them, however, neither their departure nor their prior conversation had gone unnoticed.

"So... Little Spikey-Wikey returns huh?" A masculine laugh was joined by the somewhat stupider laughter of several other voices, "Hey! Shut up! Only I get to laugh menacingly!" chided Garble as his gang of punk dragons cringed before their leader. "If that runts not hiding behind his pony friends skirts, then that means it's time to take a little bit of old fashioned revenge." He laughed in a way that he thought was menacing, but honestly it was about as goofy as his friends.

They were just too scared to point it out.

From Stone

(To be continued?)

Author's Note

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