What if Garble Became Dragon Lord?
WAR
Those three letters were shouted from the headline of the Canterlot Crier in big bold letters. The story below was one of incredible drama. A new dragon lord had been proclaimed, going by the name of Garble.
Dragon Lord Garble was clearly not a fan of his equine neighbours as he had immediately mustered together his tribe and began an invasion of Equestria.
Twilight Sparkle sat in her castle in Ponyville, bent over such a copy of the Crier. Sitting across from her was Rarity, so far the only one of her friends to show up for such an important meeting.
Both of them exchanged a look before Rarity cleared her throat. “Twilight, what exactly do you think we can do in this situation?”
“I have no idea, but we are the elements of harmony and we need to be ready to defend Canterlot when the time comes.”
“Do you honestly think it will come to that? Isn’t Princess Celestia herself leading an envoy to try and sort things out with this Garble fellow.”
“Well, yes, but these are dragons. I don’t think they can be reasoned with at this point.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, everypony can be reasoned with. Plus, Princess Celestia is a seasoned diplomat. She’ll be able to turn them back without a fuss.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I know I’m right, I’m sure she’ll have the utmost tact in this situation.”
The chamber’s doors swung open and in poured the other four elements of harmony. Twilight was about to chair her first wartime meeting with her closest friends.
The official border between the Kingdom of Equestria and the Dragon Tribes was a couple hundred kilometers long. Most of it ran through foreboding mountains, treacherous ravens, and unexplored forests. However, a small section went through pleasant looking grassland.
Celestia stood on the edge of this grassland, looking east. Flanking her was a small support staff. An elderly unicorn reading scrolls, a cook, and of course a small unit of her personal guards. All looked at ease and calm, quite the feat considering the mission before them.
In the distance a series of black dots filled the horizon. They must have numbered in the hundreds. Each of them a fearsome beast who was bent on erasing Canterlot and Equestria from the map.
However, Celestia remained relaxed. She took tea; she ate lunch; she discussed current events with the elder; and even shared in some castle gossip with a few of her guards. Time crept by and as the hour continued advance so did the horde.
By the time the sun began to set the dots on the horizon now had detail. They came in a plethora of colours along with every shape and size. Celestia could also see that at the front of the army flew a dragon who clearly held rank over all his comrades.
Celestia could see the body language of the dragons change as their lord pointed a staff directly at her. He was filled with anger, determination, and bravado. His horde paused for a moment, then all at once they descended, flying in to attack her.
Her horn glowed and she brought up a cup of tea to her lips, taking a sip from the ancient china.
DINK!
The noise of a bird slamming into glass pierced the air. It was not alone as a second, and third soon joined. Before long the sound was like that of rain upon a rooftop, with the dragons throwing themselves at the barrier with fanaticism.
A barrier which she had conjured with incredible ease. It was a structure of raw magic, and was almost invisible except for a subtle pink along the edges.
Upon impact with the barrier the dragons would stick to the surface before sliding down and piling at the base.
They were alive, though far from unharmed. By the time the last one joined the pile there was a grim moaning which filled the landscape.
Celestia finished off her tea, offering the empty cup to her cook. She then walked forward, advancing with only the elderly scribe at her side.
Upon reaching the mass of groaning and wounded dragons she walked among them. She was careful, planting her hoof in the few spots they failed to occupy. None of the dragons attempted to halt her advance. They were clearly shell shocked, and their pride was most likely shattered.
Celestia came upon the figure of the dragon lord. He was trapped under a lumpy looking green dragon with several gemstones embedded into its scales. Clutched in Garble’s claws was a purple staff, with a big fat red gemstone cradled by a faux claw upon the tip.
Celestia smiled and wrapped her magic around the staff. “So you are Garble?”
Garble growled, clinging desperately to his prize. “That’s Dragon Lord Garble.”
Celestia only smirked as she ripped the staff out of his claws. “Sure it is.”
She scanned the field of downed dragons, looking for a new candidate to wield their throne. She spotted a small dragon clad in armour. They were the only one of the invading army smart enough to bring some form of protection.
Celestia gripped the creature by the back of their armour hauling them over.
She offered a warm, almost motherly smile to the dragon. “What’s your name?”
The dragon looked shaken but still mustered a firm response. “Ember.”
Celestia studied her before levitating the staff between the two of them. “Do you fear me Ember?”
Ember growled, trying to stay strong no matter how much fear her eyes were revealing. “Dragons don’t know the meaning of fear.”
Celestia clicked her tongue trying her best to muster some of that diplomatic tact. “Do you respect my authority?”
Ember thought that over for a moment. “Yes. Yes, I respect your authority.”
Celestia placed the staff within Ember’s claws and the dragon clutched it instantly.
“Then congratulations on your new status Dragon Lord Ember.” Celestia said with complete disinterest for the centuries of tradition she just trampled.
Ember looked at the staff. In just a moment she had gone from the runt of the tribes to their leader. The dragons all around her stared at the scene that unfolded. None of them, not even the usurped Garble seemed to reject the transition of power.
The scribe offered Celestia a scroll and quill. Her magic gripped both and she opened the small parchment.
“Would you mind signing this?” Celestia asked, offering the quill to Ember.
Ember took it and scribbled her name at the bottom.
Ember then asked, “what did I just sign?”
Celestia rolled up the scroll, before wrapping a fine silken band around the document.
“That would be the terms of your unconditional surrender.”
Twilight paced back and forth within her library. She hadn’t slept much the night before. The time had not gone wasted however. Instead her and Starlight had spent until the wee hours of the morning reading every text they could muster on Equestrian military history, tactics, lore, and terminology.
Over the course of a single night Twilight had gone from a scholar to a general. At least when it came to the theory behind war.
The door to her chamber opened and Spike came rushing in. Clutched in his claw was a newspaper. Twilight grabbed it, staring at the front page.
The day after the war had been declared the headline now preached, ‘Peace in our Time’.
Author's Note
Yeah this was kind of written as a fevered dream. I wanted to make Celestia look powerful and here is the product.
If you liked it, please show it. I live for positive reinforcement.
