Pendragon stared in shock and sadness at his fallen friend. The dragon had a terrible wound on her left side, and she was not moving. Pendragon and the dragon had been traveling for months, occasionally having adventures. She was the only friend he ever had, the dragon. But after this last war, she had fallen, and Pendragon couldn't save him in time.
He and the dragon, Selondir, had been ambushed by a group of gryphons, somewhere at the northern borders of Equestria, when they were returning home.
Even though Selondir was a dragon, she wasn't as large as the other dragons. She was an adolescent, but she was only as big as a manticore of the Everfree Forest, maybe a bit bigger.
Lowering, Pendragon touched his horn against Selondir's forehead, tears running down his face, onto the floor next to the dragon's head.
Who am I...? Pendragon thought to himself. He and Selondir had the ability to share thoughts and words by mind. It was a talent only few unicorns and dragons shared, and they used that several times to their advantage, when against people who didn't know of it. He had become so accustomed to it that he rarely talked out loud. I've lost who I am. I didn't protect Selondir, what kind of friend am I?
He looked around. The fallen bodies of several gryphons were scattered around. They had said something about a war with Equestria, and something involving Princess Celestia. He couldn't have heard the rest, because Selondir and him had finished off mostly everyone who attacked them. The rest, two, had flown away, and Selondir didn't follow them. What's the use? They cannot go too far in Equestria, and we'll be far in by the time they come back, she had told him when he asked why she didn't go.
Wasted years, wasted faith..., thought Pendragon. The was isn't over yet, it has just begun. He turned once again to Selondir, silently mourning. I will avenge your death, Selondir. You can count on that, the thought, projecting his thoughts loud enough for anyone else nearby to feel.
Pendragon had found Selondir as a white-purple egg deep in a forest who's name he could not remember. It had hatched one day while he was at his home with his uncle, who had quickly found out about the dragon because of disappearing animals. Pendragon was one of the few ponies who didn't mind having a carnivore as a friend. He had brought Selondir to a safer place, after all. The forest was no place for a newborn dragon.
Years had passed, and Selondir had grown, enough to live on her own in the forest. Pendragon's uncle, Morningstar, had told him to be quiet about Selondir when he went to the nearest village, and he did.
But he couldn't keep Selondir a secret forever, and soon he had to find a way to explain it when a group of gryphons arrived and started attacking the nearby village, Maragost. The village, which was close to the northern borders of Equestria, seemed to be an ideal target for them. It was then that Pendragon discovered the power of thought-speech, and called Selondir to help.
After the gryphons had been driven off, the villagers actually thanked Selondir, while some just stared at her, keeping a distance, mouthing a silent thanks before walking away, probably in fear.
Selondir then acted as the primary defense of that village, while I also helped, when a messenger pegasus came and told us that Princess Celestia had heard of our abilities and what we did, and asked if we could help her with a few tasks; scouting the entire northern side of Equestria, including the forests. It seemed that the gryphons were planning an attack against Equestria. They have to have a reason, and Princess Celestia thinks that they are planning to conquer and claim Equestria as their own.
With the sudden attacks popping up on the northern border, we began to worry that they might have spies and groups further in, and we were one of the two facts that dragons could be friends with ponies. The other, was of a unicorn in Ponyville, a village further in. They couldn't help, however, as the unicorn's dragon had no wings, and was still a baby, so we were chosen.
We had been through several adventures, each one always ending victorious. But now we, I, had failed.
Standing up and wiping the tears away from his face with his hoof, Pendragon looked towards the direction of the Border. During his battles and adventures, he he had grown strong in magic and body. He could even rival the power of the Princess' personal student. But he didn't try, he wouldn't. There was no point, they were miles away from each other, and even though she could teleport, it would take a great deal of energy, rendering her a bit helpless and useless for a few days.
There's no point in staying here, Pendragon thought. I should go, that's what Selondir would want me to do... But I can do one thing, one thing before I leave. Pendragon stood back, and began to use magic.
Moments later, he was elsewhere, on a cliff overlooking some plains, towards Canterlot. Behind him was the body of Selondir, encased in diamond, so he could come back and return back to finish things whenever the war ended. Nothing will be able to break her tomb, and nothing will be able to go near it but me. He had put several wards and spells to protect the diamond from thieves and other ponies. Sure, maybe the gem-collecting diamond dogs would try, but they'd need to go through the wards first.
“I promise you, Selondir,” Pendragon said out loud, towards the diamond tomb. “I will avenge your death, and end this war once and for all.” Touching the tomb with his horn, he turned ad disappeared in a flash of light.
“Hey! You over there!” A voice shouted at him. He stayed in the same position, ignoring the voice but keeping one ear perked up.
“Pendragon!” The voice shouted again. This time, Pendragon turned his head a little bit, half a spell forming in his mind.
He finally turned, half squinting because of the sun, which was setting. He recognized the earth pony as one of the villagers of Maragost, along with several other people, armed with whatever they could have gotten their hooves on. Some had sticks, others had pans.
“Pendragon, what happened? Where's Selondir?” The earth pony asked. Pendragon stopped the spell, then sighed. “She's gone. They killed her,” he replied.
He had now managed to count how many there were. Only six, including the earth pony who had called him.
“Oh.”
Silence.
“The Princess was right, though. The gryphons are planning to capture Equestria,” Pendragon said, looking north. “One was carrying a scroll. Why he was here, I don't know, but they weren't planning to give the letter to us.”
“Then we must take the letter to the Princess nevertheless,” the earth pony said, looking at some of the gryphon bodies for a scroll of any sort. There was none, because Pendragon had put it in his bag. It wasn't a saddlebag, though he wore it on his back. Saddlebags were usually hanging on the sides, strapped to the body, but this one was worn on the back, not suspended.
Pendragon's horn glowed, then he took the scroll out of his bag and opened it in front of the earth pony.
The letter wasn't signed, it wasn't addressed to anyone.
“Gather every able gryphon and bring them to the borders. We will attack in the dead of night, so rest if you want.” The rest of the letter gave instructions on what to do, how to move through Equestria, almost as if the writer of the letter has flown over the skies of Equestria.
“A guard from Canterlot arrives every five hours, correct?” Pendragon asked. He had overheard this from one of the other ponies, who was talking idly to another, still holding the stick with one hoof.
The earth pony nodded. “Last one came four hours before we left. It's been around half an hour now.”
That would mean a quick response. The Princess would try to contact us again once she reads the letter, Pendragon thought. He wished Selondir was still alive, so she could suggest what to do do next. Dragons were known for their strength and scariness, but none of them knew how intelligent they were, even though most were just hoarders of their treasure.
Pendragon nodded, then said, "We should head back to Maragost. Give the scroll to the pegasus once you see him."
The earth pony nodded in return, then they turned and started walking back south-west, glancing around often, afraid that Pendragon and Selondir had missed one gryphon. Still walking but keeping his head held low as if he were their prisoner, he was alone with this thoughts for the first time. Usually when there was silence, it usually meant Pendragon was conversing with Selondir. Now, he only had his own thoughts to listen to.
Pendragon was standing at the edge of Maragost, staring out at the edge of the forest, which, being reminded by the villagers, didn't have a name.
That was the same place where Pendragon had found the egg. It was just nearing winter, and Pendragon was out, wandering, after having finished his chores for the day. He had went to the spot he normally went, a small lake somewhere in the middle of the forest. Some ponies thought the forest had an evil aura radiating from it, because of the many ponies who had gone in, and came back out with tales of horrifying monsters. Some did not return at all.
Pendragon didn't seem to be affected by what haunted the forest, let alone see what they had told. He was one of the ponies who could go into the forest and return without fear. Some, his uncle had told him, said it was because of him being a unicorn. That couldn't be true, however, because some who went in were also unicorns. When a pegasus flew over the forest, hoping to spot whatever was in, he returned without anything to tell.
That day, when he went to his favorite spot, he noticed something that wasn't there the other day; a white-purple egg surrounded in a strange blackened, Pendragon thought charred, pattern on the ground. When he picked the egg up with his magic, the pattern disappeared, and Pendragon had thought that he finally saw one of the mysteries of the forest. However, he had used his magic to check for anything in the egg, and found out it was a dragon.
Dragons were rare in this part of Equestria, and Pendragon couldn't just leave an egg in the forest, so he took it with him on his way back to his home.
Days later, the egg hatched into a dragon, Selondir, and Pendragon had been amazed at first. The weeks passed, and villagers started noticing the sudden quietness of the forest. The time came when he had to tell his uncle. He had been angry at him at first, but then his attitude changed, and he said that if he were in his place, he would have also taken it.
He shook his head, trying to forget the memories that reminded him of his dragon. He was about to turn when he heard a voice call him. It was not the voice of the same earth pony, but of his uncle.
"Pendragon!' He called. Pendragon turned and began to walk towards him. "Yes?" Pendragon asked once he was in earshot. "One of the Princess' messengers just arrived. He brings a message from the Princess, and he requests that you go and receive it from him yourself," Morningstar said, partially out of breath. Pendragon nodded, then started walking in the direction his uncle had came from.
Maragost wasn't a big village, like the descriptions of Ponyville he heard from travelers. It had only about thirty houses, an inn, and the hut of the village's healer. The town square was placed on the eastern side of Maragost, and Pendragon and his house were on the western side. It took him around five minutes to walk through the houses and ponies, but he soon managed to get to the square, where one of the Royal Guard stood, scanning the nearby ponies for somepony, which Pendragon guessed was him.
"Hail!" Pendragon shouted, catching the attention of the messenger. "Hail," the messenger replied, once Pendragon had come closer. "I assume you are Pendragon, watcher and protector of the Northern border?"
Pendragon stopped for a while. He had never been called 'watcher' or 'protector' by any of the villagers or guard. He was simply regarded as a friend or neighbor to them. He shrugged the thought off.
He nodded. He then noticed that he was carrying a saddlebag, and as soon as he thought that, he felt it was a stupid thought. Of course he would be bringing a saddlebag; where else would he put the letter? His mouth?
The guard used his magic and took the scroll out, holding it in front of Pendragon. He picked it up with his own magic and nodded at the guard, then opened the scroll and began to read.
It is as I feared, then. I am holding a conference with my counselors in a few days' time regarding the subject, and I would like to have you attend, but you have your duties, and that is what is more important.
The gryphons have enough space; vast lands surrounding them from everywhere. But why choose Equestria? What do we have that they want so badly?
That is your task now, Pendragon. Try to find out why they plan such a bold attempt at capturing our country.
It was signed by the Princess at the end. Having done everything, the guard nodded to Pendragon and set off towards Canterlot. Knowing that he needed to tell the villagers one way or another that he wouldn't be there to defend Maragost, he approached a few ponies with a question in mind.
"Hello," he called to a group. The ponies were all pegasi, and out of five, three of them turned. "Yes? What do you want?" One asked, with a rather unkind tone, Pendragon thought. He was one of the ponies the village depended on most, after having set up wards around the town to avoid any fights.
"If anyone asks where I am, can you tell them that I've been reassigned to a new duty?" He asked. One of the pegasus turned away, and another asked, "That being?"
"Princess Celestia now wants me to find out why the gryphons are planning to conquer Equestria," Pendragon replied, still unsure of whether he should be telling them this or not. "That means I'll be leaving in a few days, and I won't have enough time to tell everyone. If anyone asks, then tell them what I said."
"You're leaving us.." One of the pegasi muttered. He turned and shouted, "Without any way for us to defend ourselves!"
"I put protective spells over the town," Pendragon said immediately afterwards. "The wards draw power from the villagers. I don't want you to know that you don't have to do anything, that you can just stay inside and do nothing. You must still save your strength and work."
The pegasus moved in as if to strike him with a hoof, but he was frozen in place. "Furthermore, no attacks can be made in or out of Maragost. My spells prevent that from happening. Only another unicorn who knows the spells I used can disable the wards." Pendragon's horn glowed, and the pegasus who was frozen in place regained motion. Pendragon quickly stepped aside, making the pegasus strike the ground.
"I defend this village, and it is my home. I cannot allow anything to happen to it..." Pendragon stopped there. His words had made him remember Selondir, that he had failed. Without glancing at them, he turned and said, "Tell them, and tell them before I leave."
With that, he walked away, towards his home.
"So, you're leaving?" Morningstar asked, after seeing Pendragon preparing his bag. He nodded, not turning to him. "In three days or so. The Princess asked me to go find out the reason why the gryphons are planning to conquer Equestria," he said. His uncle looked at him. Pendragon spoke again before he could say anything. "I've placed spells of protection on Maragost, uncle. Also on our house."
Their house was farther away from the village, near the forest.
His uncle nodded. "Alright. Pendragon," he said, pausing for a while. Pendragon turned away from his bag and looked at him.
"Are you sure you can do this? Without Selondir?" He asked. Pendragon nodded. "Yes. I've been practicing and studying magic, and I'm sure I can fare well without Selondir's help."
"I can at least help you with provisions."
"I'll go in the forest tomorrow. There's bound to be some fruit trees somewhere in there."
"Won't you need any bits or something?"
"I'm going into gryphon territory, uncle. What good would bits do there?"
"Ah." His uncle now had nothing to say.
Pendragon paused for a while, looking away. He turned to him again and said, "Uncle, I'm grateful for what you did, you and if there was anything I could do to repay, I would."
"You don't need to do anything in return, Pendragon."
Silence, and Pendragon returned to packing.
The day came for Pendragon to leave, but as he was going, a pegasus saw him and started flying towards him, shouting his name.
Pendragon stopped, turning to look at the pegasus. He was one of the pegasi he had confronted after he got his new duty from the Princess.
"Yes? Is there anything I need to know?" Pendragon asked once the pegasus had landed. He seemed to be out of breath.
"Royal... Guard... Another unicorn... Sent by the Princess.." was all he could say. Without another thought, Pendragon turned and went towards the village square at a trot.
As Pendragon neared the square, where two of the Royal Guard stood, behind them a small chariot. Pendragon had no other words for the cart behind them, so he left it at that. He looked at the pony sitting in the chariot.
She was a unicorn, having a light purple coat and a darker, blueish mane and tail. A pink and lavender stripe ran through both mane and tail. She was carrying a saddlebag filled with several scrolls and books. Sitting on her back was a small purple dragon.
The Princess' student, Pendragon thought to himself. At least she didn't teleport here. That would have taken a day or two to regain the strength used, and it would have hindered him.
Breaking his trot to a quick pace, and that to a walk, he reached the guards and other unicorn. Though he had heard of her before, he couldn't remember her name. Curious purple eyes stared at him, and Pendragon suddenly realized he had stared for far too long at her. He looked a way, embarrassed.
The guards saw him and one called him. Grateful for the distraction, he looked at the guard.
"Out of request by the Princess, she has asked if you could bring-"
The purple unicorn interrupted him. "You don't have to talk about my like I'm not here, you know," she said. The guard paused, then nodded and stood back to attention.
Pendragon watched as the unicorn walked out of the chariot, taking a look at her cutie mark as she did. It was a pink six-pointed star surrounded by five stars.
"Hail and well met. I am Pendragon," Pendragon, unsure of what to say, blurted out. The unicorn nodded and hesitated for a while before saying, "Er, hail and well met, Pendragon. My name is Twilight Sparkle."
Pendragon wasn't sure if she had used the greeting 'hail and well met' before, but it seemed obvious that she was only trying to be polite.
"I take it you are to accompany me?" Pendragon asked, though it was a bit obvious for him. Twilight nodded. "Also so that you can keep in touch with announcements and any new messages from the Princess," she said, turning to the baby dragon sitting on her back. The dragon stood and jumped off, taking a quill and parchment.
"Spike, take a note and tell her this," she said. Spike, Pendragon assumed that that was the dragon's name, nodded.
Twilight began dictating.
"Dear Princess Celestia, I have safely arrived in the village of Maragost. Pendragon is standing beside me, ready to leave. I will send letters every morning, noon and evening, to keep you informed of what we have learned so far.
You need not worry about me, I am somewhat experienced in defending myself, as you can remember during my brother's wedding." Pendragon was surprised. He had not heard of any wedding in any of the days he had been in Maragost. "I have no other thoughts or anything I want to add, so here are the words of Pendragon," she ended, motioning Pendragon to speak. He nodded.
"Hail and well met, Princess Celestia. Rest assured that Twilight will be under my protection when she can't defend herself under certain circumstances. We will be traveling along the Forest That Has No Name, along the western side of Maragost. I have set up wards and protection spells around the village, so the villagers have nothing to worry about and can go about their normal lives." He looked at Twilight, and she nodded.
"And that's about all from us. Your loyal subjects, Twilight Sparkle and Pendragon...?" She turned to Pendragon. He shook her head.
Spike took a few more moments of writing, until he rolled the scroll and breathed fire on it. It disappeared in a wisp of green flames in the direction of Canterlot. "On it's way," he said.
Twilight nodded, then turned back to Pendragon. "Is that your entire name? Pendragon?"
Pendragon nodded, and turned away. "I have no idea who my father is, and my mother died when I was young. I don't know who names me, but it had to have been my mother," he said.
"I also.. heard about your dragon. I'm sorry," she said. "It's okay, I can live on," Pendragon said.
"We've wasted a few more minutes, should we go now?" Twilight asked. Pendragon nodded. "We'll have to pass by my house first. It's on the way to the forest, I just have to say a quick good-bye to my uncle," he said, starting to walk. Twilight followed, Spike already on her back.