Winx was lucky. The bolt had only cut into her muscle and hadn’t hit anything too important. The bumping and jostling during the race hadn’t helped, but at least she could still race with us. She wouldn’t be able to fly for about a week as her muscles healed, but other than that she would be fine. The investigation into who had attacked us proved my hunch correct that there was no trace of a weapon or who had fired it. The police told us that it could have been anypony, but we all knew it was the Blood Claw. We stayed by the medical tent day and night while the rest of the trials went on, knowing that at least we had qualified to join the Circuit. It had been a hard-won victory, but we were now one step closer to getting at Mythic Song and freeing the dragons. Nilak and Mel kept Winx busy mentally while her body healed, while Lucky and I helped Ivy keep her mind off of Winx.

We were watching a heat of racers as they tried to qualify for the Circuit, when we heard a voice behind us, “That was some stunt you pulled during the race.” We spun around to see none other than Black Beauty and Whiteout standing behind us. Her eyes were half-lidded in suspicion, “I’ve never seen dragons work together that way before and I’ve seen just about everything dealing with dragons.” She leaned forward slightly with interest glinting in her gaze, “What’s your secret?”

We shared a look and tried to come up with a believable lie. When nothing came to mind we just turned to the mare in front of us and shrugged. “We don’t actually know how we did it,” I said, “I just did what I thought was right and Nilak seemed to pick up on what we needed to do,

“Same goes for me,” Lucky agreed, “I didn’t even think about what I was doing. I just reacted.”

Black Beauty looked between us with suspicion still smoldering behind her rosy eyes, “Instinctive reactions eh? Well, if that’s true then you will have an advantage over most of the other racers in the Circuit. Having quick reflexes can mean the difference between winning a race and getting killed. Make no mistake, the Circuit can kill you if you aren’t ready for it, and I’ve seen ponies die because of my own actions in the past.” She turned and climbed into Whiteout’s saddle, “Keep that in mind as you move forward from here.” She turned and Whiteout walked back down the trail between the tents, her icy tail leaving frost on the ground as she went.

“Okay,” Ivy said nervously, “is it just me or does she seem to know too much?”

“I don’t know,” I replied uncertainly, “but one thing’s for sure. We need to keep an eye out for those two or she might just figure out our secret.”

Lucky shivered as her fur fluffed up her forelegs, “At least we’ll be able to feel her coming. That Blizzard Tail sure can make you feel like an ice cube when she’s around.”

“No wonder Black Beauty always wears all that clothing,” Ivy said as her eyes flashed with understanding, “I bet it’s to keep from freezing while she’s riding Whiteout!”

“Maybe,” I agreed, “but regardless of how much we can see of her, she can see everything we do and say and has the wit to figure us out.” I turned and walked toward the medical tent, the girls following close behind, “We need to be very careful about when we do things and how we do them, or all of this could blow up in our faces.”

Once the trials ended the qualified teams were packed up and moved to the Circuit Headquarters in Firebrand. It was a three day trip by air, but because Winx still couldn’t fly we had to go by land. We arrived more than a week late and completely exhausted, though once we saw our new living quarters it was well worth the wait.

The Racer House was more like a gigantic mansion combined with an apartment building. The massive front doors were solid ironwood and had to be opened using a system of pulleys and chain. Even with the mechanical advantage provided by the hardware, it still took four draft ponies to open each door. The entrance hall was over eighty feet high with vaulted ceiling arches to make it even more spacious. Dragons and riders moved about in clusters or hung around alone, most gathering around the newcomers to offer congratulations.

One such well-wisher clapped me on the back and laughed, “Nice to see you made it. You three are going to have some real fun around here.”

I looked up and almost stumbled in shock as I recognized the short teal mane and golden eyes, “You’re Thunder Ace! The fourth ranked racer in the Circuit!”

He bowed with a flourish, his deep red coat and wings rippling in the overhead lights. His legs were finely toned and his light frame made him extremely agile on the track. His light blue tunic was adorned by a thick leather belt that wrapped around his waist. Inscribed on the belt in gold letters were the words, Train hard, Race harder.

He caught me looking at his belt, “It’s my personal motto. No matter how hard you push it in training, you have to go even further to win races.” He clapped me on the back again and led us towards a bar off to the side of the main entrance, Lucky and Ivy tagging along like love-struck puppies as the dragons noticed Thunder’s partner off to the side of the bar.

Nilak, Winx and Mel walked up to the imposing Armored Silver with caution, the massive dragon being almost a quarter larger than themselves. His head and shoulders were covered in bone plates that acted as armor, the surface gleaming silver like polished steel under the lights above. His red eyes seemed uncaring that three dragons were now standing directly in front of him, though his spiked tail gave a slight twitch as Winx walked up to him. Compared to the massive dragon before her, Winx seemed child-like and utterly powerless, her natural instincts to submit getting the better of her as she crouched low to the ground. I watched in interest as Shield Fang regarded the small female in front of him, and I tensed as he bent over from his sitting position to sniff at Winx. She kept perfectly still as he moved his head along her body, pausing over the healing wound in her side. He moved his head back up and then stood, almost having to duck his head under the balcony as he reached his full height.

I was about to get between them when he bent his front legs and lay down with his nose almost touching Winx’s. He snorted in her face and flicked his tail from side to side slightly in what I could only take as amusement. Winx smiled and lay down flat on her stomach as well, looking up at the massive dragon with playful eyes. Shield Fang rumbled deep in his barrel of a chest and lifted his head, swinging his right paw out to lightly cuff at Winx on her uninjured side.

Winx squeaked as she was rolled over, though when Mel and Nilak reacted she bounced up playfully and fanned her frills in excitement, it’s alright. He just wants to play with me. She crouched low and then sprang up and onto the larger dragon’s back, swatting at his head from behind playfully as he looked back at her.

He rumbled again and arched his tail over his back, wrapping the tip around Winx’s back leg and lifting her up to hang upside down. She squealed in joy as the male gently swung her from side to side, showing no difficulty in flipping the smaller dragon around on the end of his tail. Mel and Nilak looked on with wide eyes as Shield Fang swung Winx around and then slid her along the floor, flicking her into a spin as he let go of her leg. She spun on the smooth stone floor and slid halfway across the hall, causing riders and dragons to jump out of the way as she came to a halt.

She attempted to stand and stumbled like a drunkard because she was so dizzy. Everypony laughed at her ridiculous behavior as she slowly made her way back over to us. Nilak and Mel walked up to steady her as she stumbled back to fall flat in front of Shield Fang, her face absolutely beaming as she looked up at the other dragon. I glanced at his face and could have sworn I saw a hint of a smile teasing at the corner of his lips, but I brushed it off as my imagination.

Let’s do that again, Winx sang in a woozy tone as her head flopped onto her front paws.

Oh no you don’t, Mel said as she dragged the smaller female over to us, that’s enough playing for now. If you do anymore you’re libel to get motion sickness.

Winx looked up at Mel with a pleading look, can’t I at least say thank you?

Mel rolled her eyes, you know he wouldn’t understand you anyway. She looked at Nilak as he chucked, what’s so funny?

You sound like her mother, Nilak chuckled as his shoulders shook with mirth, I remember my mother saying the same thing when I was little.

Mel smacked him on the shoulder, knocking him onto his side as she shook her head, males, what can you do?

At this point Thunder decided to remind us that he was still sitting next to us at the bar, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a set of dragons that act the way they do.” He chuckled to himself, “I think that’s the first time I’ve seen Shield Fang do anything besides growl at another dragon.” He looked over at us with one raised eyebrow, “What’s the secret? Special training? Selective breeding?”

Lucky rolled her eyes, “What is it with you top-ranked racers that makes you so interested in our dragons?”

Now both eyebrows raised, “Somepony else has asked you the same?”

I leaned back and placed my elbows on the counter as the dragons had their own conversation in the back of our heads, “Black Beauty almost matched you word for word back at the trials. You would think our dragons were some rare breed or a one-of-a-kind jewel or something like that. The way ponies are acting I’m half expecting them to start interrogating us day and night.”

Thunder laughed as he leaned back as well, “I can understand that. To tell you the honest truth, I’ve never seen dragons that act the way they do. It’s almost like they have their own personalities and conversations. There, you see,” he pointed at Mel as she tilted her head slightly and sent a verbal retort via Nilak’s mind, “I swear the dragons are talking to one another right now and we just can’t understand them.” He laughed as Nilak stepped back and flared his wings at her barbed comment, “Looks like that one struck a nerve. My money’s on the female.”

I figured it was time to get out of the public eye before somepony started getting too nosy. I stood up and walked over to where the dragons were having a mental argument, trying to get their attention, you guys. You’re making a scene and ponies are starting to notice. Now either you get things under control or I’m going to take you all by the ear and drag you into the hall to be spanked.

The three dragons looked at me with equal looks of shock, and then burst out laughing, their bodies shaking violently as they failed to stay standing. Nilak grabbed his middle with his front legs, complaining of pain because he was laughing so hard as Mel closed her watering eyes. Winx started hiccupping and that just set them off again. Finally, I looked back at Lucky and Ivy for backup.

“A little help here girls?” They nodded and joined me next to the dragons, each of us grabbing their ears and pulling none too gently on the sensitive flesh. All three reacted immediately to the action, and with quite vigor.

Oww, oww, oww! Cut it out! Nilak complained as I dragged him out of the hall. Lucky and Ivy followed behind with Mel and Winx in tow.

You’re going to rip it off if you don’t quit pulling! Mel begged Lucky as tears of pain started to run from her eyes.

Good, Lucky replied, then maybe you’ll listen better with the one you have left.

Ivy! That hurts! Winx was flat out crying as the green mare dragged the dragon along, I’m sorry, okay! I’m sorry!

We walked all the way up the stairs rather than take the enormous elevator, finding our room on the fifth floor and opening the door. We walked in through the extra-big entrance and practically threw the dragons into the main living area, their cries of pain not even bothering me as I walked up to Nilak. The girls did the same with Mel and Winx as they lay curled up on the floor, holding their ears with their front paws as we stared down at them.

“Do you realize how much trouble we could be in if anyone started to talk about dragons that seemed to have a mind of their own?” I asked Nilak in a cold tone, “How long do you think it would take the gossip to reach Mythic and for him to put two and two together?”

Owww! Point taken Silver, Nilak said, you don’t have to go and rip our ears off for it!

I agree, Mel said as she looked up at Lucky, a simple scolding would have sufficed.

My poor ear, Winx wined, it feels like it’s been torn.

“I didn’t tear your ear Winx,” Ivy said with exasperation, “I just got your attention in a very effective way.”

“Now that we’ve got your attention,” I said, “let’s go over this and go over this once. We are here to win the Draconic Heaven so we can get to Mythic Song and break the spell controlling the dragons’ collars. If you three can’t keep your bickering under control we’re never going to get even close!” I took a steadying breath, “Now, do we understand each other? Do we ever have to go over this again?” All three shook their heads vigorously, “I thought not.” I turned around and was about to close the door when Thunder and the Black Beauty moved into the doorway from opposite sides.

“Mind explaining why you were having a conversation with your dragons?” Thunder asked as he stepped into the room.

I stepped back and tried to formulate a lie but Black Beauty cut me off, “Don’t lie to us. We heard everything you said just now, including the part about freeing the dragons and breaking some kind of spell.” She poked her hoof into my chest as my legs came up against the back of the couch, “Spill, or we’re going to force the answer out of you.”

To prove her point Whiteout and Shield Fang stepped into the doorway as well, walking up to flank their riders and cutting off any escape. I looked back at Lucky and Ivy for help, but they seemed just as powerless as me. It wasn’t until Nilak took a step forward and spoke that my brain seemed to work.

You want answers? Then I’m all for giving you answers, his eyes were narrowed and staring directly into Black Beauty’s, you want to hurt Silver, you’re going to have to go through me.

Black Beauty looked down and held her head, her eyes flashing with confusion, “Thunder, did you just hear that?”

He looked over at her like she had gone crazy, “Hear what?”

Black Beauty looked up at Nilak again, “I think that dragon just spoke into my mind.”

Thunder scoffed but flinched when Nilak turned his smoldering gaze on him, I can assure you both that I am speaking to your minds, and that I’m not going to be polite about it if you threaten my friends again.

As Black Beauty’s and Thunder’s eyes bugged wide in shock, Mel walked up and added her two bits, we can all talk, and unless you want to take us all on right now, I suggest you back down.

Winx couldn’t be left out of it, yeah, Nilak could barbeque you and your dragons before you could say ‘Yikes!’

Black Beauty grabbed behind her and slumped into a chair as she held her head, “I’m going crazy. Yeah, that has to be it. Dragons can’t talk.”

Thunder sat down next to her on the floor, “Then we’re both having the same hallucination because I can hear them too.”

I walked up and smiled down at them as they held their heads, believe me, I wouldn’t believe it had I not undergone the same thing in the beginning.

Black Beauty stared at me for a second before her eyes rolled up in her head and she fell backward in the chair, out cold in a dead faint. Thunder held his head with both hooves and rocked back and forth, “This is all a bad dream. This is all a bad dream.”

I bent down next to him and he jumped in fear as I placed my hoof on his shoulder, “No, you’ve just awoke in the real world nightmare that we’re trying to end.”

He shook his head in disbelief and then tried to stand up, making it about two steps toward Shield Fang before falling over in a faint as well. I sighed and waved the girls over, “Well, we thought about bringing them in the loop, now it looks like he have no choice.” I bent over and grabbed Thunder under the forelegs, “Ivy, get his hind legs. We’ll put him on the couch and let him sleep it off. Maybe we can get them to listen once they wake up.”

“Hopefully they won’t rat us out,” Lucky muttered as she placed a thin blanket over Black Beauty.

I looked at her as Ivy and I set Thunder down on the couch and got his body into a fairly comfortable position, “If they choose to rat us out we could always do what Winx suggested and barbeque them, though I would prefer not to do that if we can help it.”

“We are not going to barbeque two of the top racers in the Dragon Circuit!” Ivy protested, “We’ll just have to make sure they join us so that the problem doesn’t come up.”

I sat down in the chair opposite the couch Thunder was in, rubbing my temples with my hooves, “I hope you’re right.”

Shield Fang and Whiteout walked into the room to curl up next to their riders, seeming to not mind that both of them had just fainted. Mel, Nilak and Winx shared a look and then glanced at me.

I picked up on their idea and nodded, “If they join up with us we’ll free Shield Fang and Whiteout, but only if they choose to join our cause. If they don’t we leave them both the way they are until we take care of Mythic. They’ll end up being freed in the end anyway so long as things go according to plan.”

The dragons nodded and lay down around the outside of the room, keeping a close eye on the other two as their riders slept. Lucky joined me in my chair facing Thunder and Black Beauty, while Ivy went into one of the bedrooms to catch up on some sleep.

I stared at Thunder for a minute or two, thinking about how all of this had come about, “How are we going to reach Mythic if we can’t even keep our dragons a secret?” The question went unanswered as Lucky softly snored next to me and the dragons rested around us.

Author's Note

Happy New Year everypony!!! So here's chapter nine and thank Celestia for small miracles. Winx isn't going to die. I make no promises for the rest of the cast.

Anywhoozles, I've got some more chapters on the way so stick tight for just a bit. The next two should be up later tonight. After that, I'll probably let you guys sit until tomorrow. And as a special birthday treat from me, I'll be posting four chapters for all of you to go bananas over! So get your marathon snacks ready now, it's going to be a wild ride!!

Alright, let's get this show on the road, and I'll see you all next chapter,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.