escape from dragniaby eleboyChaptersprologuechapter 1: basics of survivorchapter 2 - desert trackprologueWalking through Ponyville market place is a strange pony completely covered by a cloak. As the pony walks past by food stands some of the merchandise disappears. "Hey did somepony steal some of my apples!?" "Somepony snatched some of my carrots!" the cloaked pony quickly leaves without notice. The cloaked pony walking down the streets when Pinkie Pie appears. "Hi, cloaked pony my name is Pinkie Pie. I never saw you before are you new?" The cloaked pony tries to walk away but Pinkie follows. "You haven't listened to my welcome song yet." She then pulls a strange machine out of nowhere and it starts playing music as she sings. The cloaked pony tries to walk away again. "Oh how bout a cupcake?" Like with the machine, Pinkie pulls cupcakes out of nowhere. The cloaked pony reluctantly takes one and eats it, still not revealing any part of their body. "It's delicious." Pinkie looks closely at the cloaked figure with a huge smile, "I know right and judging by your voice you're a mare right?" "Yeah." "Now what's your name, new friend?" confetti shooting out of the machine behind Pinkie. "Frie... (sigh) it's Dragnight. Now leave me alone." "Oke Doki Loki." the pink hyperactive mare hops away. "What a strange creature even by pony standards." the mysterious mare continues her on her path. Spike and Rarity are walking to Raritie's boutique with Spike pulling a cart full of gems. Dragnight walks past them, then a few gems get swiped. "Huh?" Spike looks at the pile of gems. Rarity looks towards Spike, "What is it, Spike?" "I not sure but I think some of the gems are missing." "Well we still have more than enough, maybe I can make a new cloak for that pony over there. Who is that anyway?" "I don't know. I saw them around the past week or so but they never seem to interact with anypony. I wonder where they are going?" Pinkie pops up, "Dragnight I'm not sure but I think she going into the Everfree forest." Rarity and Spike are startled, "Pinkie, stop doing that." Rarity poses herself. "I'm guessing you already talked to her and did your whole sing and greet thing." "Yep just a few moments ago." Spike asks, "Did you see her face?" "Nope still a mystery." Pinky keeping her cheerful demeanor. "Why would she go to the Everfree forest? Doesn't she know how dangerous it is?" Spike worries. "I don't know but Applebloom said she been seeing a cloaked figured walk into the Everfree Forest." Pinkie responds. Rarity says, "Maybe we should go ask her, to make sure she safe." The two mares and the little dragon try to talk to Dragnight but she runs away entering the Everfree Forest and managing to get away from them. The trio eventually finds where she's staying a treehouse and Spike says, "Cool!" Pinkie stares at the treehouse, "Wow! Did she make this treehouse herself? Rarity stares too, "But why here?" Dragnight yells from the treehouse "Go away!" "Darling we just came to make sure you're safe! The Everfree Forest is a dangerous place!" Dragnight mumbles, "Not as dangerous where I'm from." Rarity yells, "What was that?!" "Just go away! I don't need anybody's help!" The mysterious pony yells back. "Anybody? You mean anypony!?" says Pinkie. "Whatever go way!" "Well, she not very friendly." says Spike. "How bout I throw you a party!" Pinkie pulls out her machine. "No!" Rarity is fed up, "Come on let's leave. She obviously wants to be left alone" "Well, I'm going to check on Twilight to see if she made any progress on her rift research." exclaims Spike. "Rift?!" asks Dragnight. Spike explains, "Yeah, it appeared within the week! My friend Twilight Sparkle is researching it!" Dragnight sticks her head out the window, "Stay away from it! Seal it if you can!" Spike looks towards her, "You seem quite worried. do you know how it appeared?!" "No, just stay away ok and make sure nothing comes through!" Rarity is skeptical, "You seem to know about it." "Not really! Just take me to your friend!" the cloaked figure leaves her treehouse and follows the purple dragon. Spike leads them to his friend, "Hi Twilight." Twilight stops studying the rift to greet her friends, "Hi, Spike, Rarity, and the cloaked pony." Pinkie introduces them, "Twilight this is Dragnight." Twilight is standing in front of the hole in space and time, "Oh, hi Dragnight." Dragnight points to the rift, "Whatever. Seal it." "Huh?" Pinkie stands by her friend's sides, "She wants you to seal the rift." "Why?" Ask Twilight. "Because you might get ... Watch out!" The rift starts sucking them in. Dragnight pushes Twilight out its path causing herself sucked in. Spike, Rarity, and Pinkie struggle to avoid getting sucked in but Spike is digging his claws into the ground but isn't strong enough and gets sucked in. "Dragnight! Spike!" Twilight tries to catch him with her magic but it is too late. "Spike no." Spike opens his eyes and finds himself in a strange new location full of dragons. "Where am I?" He looks around and sees humans either being held captive or being killed for the pleasure of the huge beast. "What is this place!?" Author's Note well he we go i don't know how the story go or how dark just have to wait and see i'll also be working on another story focusing on the mane 6 side and their journey trying to find spike and dragnight. journey to dragnia chapter 1: basics of survivorSpike wakes up finding himself in a strange and horrible place beyond what he could imagine. A land, full of dragons joyfully enslaving, torturing, and even killing humans. The innocent dragon eyes are filled with tears, "Where am I? What is this place? Twilight!?" he tries to stand but can't keep his balance, he sees that he still a dragon but his form has changed to more like a salamander being more easily capable of moving on all four. The overwhelmed dragon is trying to process what's happening when a shadow looms over him and a voice shouts to him, "Move!" before he could react the cloaked figure shoves him to safety avoiding being stepped on. The Dragnight leads Spike around the feet of the massive beast, hiding behind barrels and crates, and running past cages of humans into slim alleyways, "Wait we got to save them." The cloaked mare turns her head, "Are you crazy?! We got to make sure we survive!" "No! We got to do something." Spike runs back to the cage but is stopped and carried away before he gets there. The situation gets worse when the dragon spots him and slam its fist at the tiny dragons, the mysterious pony grabs Spike saving him again, "Your insane! What were you thinking?" "I had to do something. I cou..." Spike gets a look at the mare face and sees she is not a mare at all. "Wait, you're a dragon?!" The two-run past a few more roads and alleys the black dragoness helps the wingless drake up walls and swing from different kinds of cloths and finally crawling into a small hole into a room, "Yes I was sucked into your world and decided to disguise myself as a pony to avoid attention. Now I'm back here with a helpless drake, great!" "Well sorry, I come from a peaceful world without murderous insane dragons." the drake looks around the room finding all kinds of random objects shuffled around. The black dragon goes through her stuff, "Well believe it or not I want to go back there too. I hate this place, constantly watching your back always put in danger just to find food and surrounded by creatures that would love to kill you just because they can." "I'm so sorry." Spike looks up to face her. "Uhh thanks for saving me." The Dragoness goes through a bundle of cloths of different assortments, "Don't think too much of it. I don't even know why I did it." "Because you're not like the other dragons, you care for others." "Tell that to the humans out there. There are some extra fabrics around gather it and make a bed for yourself." "You say don't care but you are allowing me to stay. Oh let me introduce myself I'm Spike." he tries to walk towards her but is having trouble balancing. "It's easier to walk on all fours, two when you need to reach something. As for why I'm allowing you to stay. You are not a threat to me and I can use you. But first I need to teach you how to survive." "What do you mean?" "Do you see any food in here?" the black dragoness looks through cabinets shelves and holes only pulling out a rotten fruit she throws away. "What are we going to do?" "I told you I'm going to teach you how to survive. First, you need to learn to walk. Stay here and get used to your new form, I'm going to search for food." "But it's dangerous out there let me go with you." "I lived my life here I know how to get around while avoiding trouble you can't even walk properly. I'll be back." Dragnight leaves. "Ok Spike, you're in a strange cruel messed up world in a distorted body and your only ally has left you alone. I hope she's ok out there." images of the humans appear in his head. "No got to get it out of my head. I should get used to this new body." later that day Dragnight returns with a bag, "I'm back I manage to some food. How's it going with your new body?" "Better I think I'm getting used to it. what do you have in there?" The dragoness pulls things out of the bag, "I got some fruit, vegetables I even got beef. I haven't had any since before I ended up in the pony world, I don't know how you lived there with a non-meat diet." Spike is holding a gag, "First it's called Equestria second you eat meat? like animal meat?" "Yeah what else would it be? What do dragons in your world not eat meat?" "No! I eat gems." "Really how does that work?" She takes a bite into the beef cut. "Well more for me you can have the other stuff." Spike tries to look away, "I think I'm going to throw up." "Better do it far from here. Dragons can track the smell." "I hate this world!" Dragnight lays in a hammock, "Be thankful you weren't born here. Now we're stuck here and there's no way of going back." "That's not true! Twilight and the others will find some kind of spell to get here and return us here!" "Calm down. You don't want any dragons to hear you. Seriously I don't want to look for a new hiding place it was hard enough finding this one." "Calm down. Calm down! Do you know what I been through? I have been sucked into a hole in the sky, landed in another world in a strange body, witness humans get killed and eaten and I nearly gotten stomped on all in the span of five minutes and you want me to calm down!" "Urg. Ok, you come from a peaceful world of talking pastel ponies, you're not used to all this but remember this is my home I have been trying to survive on my own my entire life. So don't expect me to be all nice and cuddly." "Urg, I'm going to bed." Spike uses the pile of cloth as a bed and goes to sleep. That night Spike has nightmares of being chased by the dragons, he gets grabbed by one and thrown into its mouth, "Ahh!" Spike wakes up and looks around too see Dragnight is already up. "You're up early, I think." "Heres a lesson when your trap in Dragnia, get as little sleep as you can, and when you do sleep keep and ear open. There's some leftover fruit over there, I'm going out scavenging I'll be back with more food and anything else I can get my hands on." "Can I come?" "Yes and you can watch the dragons kill more humans right before they catch and kill you." "Ok, I'll stay here." Spike stays in the hideout as Dragnight crawls through the exit. "Way to go, Spike, you're staying here where it's safe and she is out there risking her life just so we can have something to eat. I wish Twilight was here." he sits there and starts thinking, what would Twilight do. "She would take charge and be there for her friend." he rushes through the exit chasing down his friend, "Dragnight! Wait up!" The black dragon sees her friend and loudly whispers, "Spike! what are you doing?!" "I'm Coming with..." before Spike could finish he spot a dragon hovering over him. "Hello, little one what are you doing here?" "Uh, hello there I'm Spike. I'm new here can you help me?" Spike says nervously. "Why sure let me show you my fist." the dragon swings his fist. Before he gets hit Dragnight pulls him out of the path, running into the streets. "Are you an idiot!? What were you thinking coming out here?!" "I couldn't stand just stand around while you risk your life." "Well, now we're both about two die because you decided to play the good guy." the two run down the street with a full-grown dragon following them swiping his claws at them. The two little dragons slide, jumping, and ducking to avoid dying. The large dragon breaths in and breaths fire out. "I hope you're fireproof because I'm not." "Actually yes." "Good, then you could hold that shield." as the flames get closer Dragnight jumps up to grab a shield giving it to Spike to hold it behind them. Using the force of the fire to propel them forward into the main road, smacking into a red dragon's toe and knocking them off the shield then hitting the large red dragon's other foot. "What was that?" The red dragon raises his foot, Dragnight grabs spike and runs under before getting spotted. When the red dragon puts his foot down the small dragons quickly hide behind some barrels. The red dragon sees the other large dragon, "Hey did you throw something at me?!" "Oh, shut up I'm busy." Another dragon shows up, "Hey did one of you steal my human shield?!" "Why would I care about some dumb shield." Spike and Dragnight look upon the dragons' argument as it turns into a fight. "Let's get away while their distracted." the two run off into another side street keeping low and to the side behind any object. "Ok so what now?" "Well since it's too dangerous to go back now. I'll have to take you with me. I should teach you how to scavenge at some point I just wish you have more time to get used to your new body and were taught the basics of survival. Do exactly as I say and no talking back! Ok, first you need to learn the layout of the land. I only know a small area of Dragnia even if I did I can tell you the outside world isn't any friendlier to dragons." "If you don't mind me asking but how do you know that if you never been out there?" The dragoness takes a moment to answer, "You seen what the dragons are like why would they trust us just because we're young and small, Plus there are humans that are just as rotten." "That may be true but there's got to be good ones willing to give us a chance and we can show them we're not like these other dragons." "You're too optimistic and it's still too dangerous for us to try to escape. Dragnia is large I don't know how long it'll take to leave we'll need supplies and I lost my maps, meaning there's no way of keeping us from getting lost. It's better if we stay here where it's familiar." "We can't just stay here forever this place is terrible. Don't you want to be where your happy, where you aren't always scared for your life, a place with friends?" "Y-yes but what can we do? I mean I have to constantly pull you out of danger we can't just go on some trip to an unknown destination for who knows how long." "Your right, it's obvious I'll be dead without you. How about this once I learn how to survive here then we can make our way out of here and if we find my friends we can return to Equestria together." "I'll think about it. You still need to familiarize yourself with everything out here, every street, every building, every nook and cranny, everything." "Got it." the two reach the main market place with huge stands and a massive assortment of everything from food, weapons, clothes, toys, strange objects even people. "Wait are they selling humans?" "Yes, dragons come here to barter for things there incapable to take for their own, and humans are treated as either slaves, pets, or even food." "The more I learn of this place the more horrifying it becomes." "You haven't seen the half of it and hopefully you won't. Come on follow me." They sneak under the dragons, "Luckily most dragons don't pay attention to what's right beneath them but you still need to be careful and be as quiet as possible." As they sneak around Spike can't help but look at the humans, "Dragnight." she shooshes him. "Is it possible there's a way we can help them?" the dragoness blankly looks at him, "There are so many things wrong with what you just said.." "But." "Save it for when we get back to the hideout. Let's go." they travel past stand after stand, "Take note of anything you like and wait for the right opportunity and." She swiftly takes a gem from a stand. "Something to add to your collection." "You just stole that." Dragnight's eye starts twitching, "Please tell me that the dragons from your world aren't this good two shoes. Yes, I stole it how do you think I get this stuff? I'll be killed just for talking to them. When will you get it in your head this isn't Equestria and these dragons are nastier then anything you have dealt with in your entire life and if you want to survive you will need to throw away your morality." "Your right these dragons are far worse then the dragons back home and are far eviler then any villains I encountered but your wrong about throwing away my morality because if you actually believed that you wouldn't have saved me." Dragnight sighs, "Well you're still going to learn to take what you want or you won't eat and I mean it, nothing grows here and all food and such belongs to dragons. So you will need to compromise your virtues to survive." Spike strongly stares at her until his stomach growls, "I guess your right but I'm only taking what's necessary." "Agreed. You eat gems then you can eat this, we don't want your stomach giving us away." she tosses the gem to Spike and moves on to other stands. "There should be a stand that has food and water up ahead." A scent catches Spike's attention, "What's that smell?" "That's the smell of meat. You never smelled cooked meat before?" "No meat! I can't even think about eating another creature." "It's already dead plus you're a dragon it should be natural for you. Then again you're from a sappy pony world of rainbows and smiles. Fine, you can continue to eat fruit, veggies, and nuts, while I"ll grab some meat. Dragons really hate having their meat taken so we have to wait for another one dumb enough to try to still some." She waits for a dragon to come over to the meat stand, the small dragons run behind them, and once an argument breaks out they pack away some meat and run off. While running Spike can't stop looking at their gain, "Are you sure you don't want a bite?" "No. I'm good." the two dragons continue their scavenge, meanwhile Dragnight teaches Spike of the variety of food that can be found in the world and Spike teaches her about the food of his world. "Then of course there's all the apple recipes from Sweet Apple Achers." "They all sound delicious. I wish I could try some." "Well, you could have, if you didn't hide in the Everfree forest and got to know the ponies." "Well, it should be obvious I'm not a people person." "Well good thing they're not people they're ponies." "Dragnight gives him a weak punch, "You know what I mean." "Well, you can try again when Twilight and others find us. You know I still don't feel right about stealing all this." "Really? You're still on that, you didn't even take anything, whatever we should head back now before it gets too dark. I'm going to do some scouting, stay hidden." Spike hides behind some barrels, slumping against a wall thinking, "I hope twilight gets here soon. Huh?" over at a stand is a staff drawing Spike's attention, like it is calling him. Spike sneaks over and tries reaching for the staff to small to reach. "How does Dragnight climb up these. Spike looks to his claws and digs them into the wood slowly climbing up until he reaches to top, he then reaches for the staff. "Almost there." "What do you think your doing tiny?" the owner of the stand has his eye up to Spike. "Uh, I can explain." The staff rolls into Spike's hand, "Are you serious?" "I won't let a shrimp steal from me!" the dragon slams his fist at Spike, The purple dragon lets go of the stand and start running. As the shopkeeper dragon chases him, Spike does his best not to trip, "I should have waited till I have gotten a better handle of this body!" claws slam down one after the other with enough force to lift Spike in the air, he tries his best to keep on his feet as he curses to himself of why he did what he did. A hand slams down on Spike, he manages to slip past the fingers. Spike runs past other dragons, dodging swinging of tails, dragon bites, and stomps. The shopkeeper dragon shoves the other dragons out of the way then start throwing things. Barrels, crates, and an assortment of items launched at the small dragon. The items break on impact when they hit the ground debre flies through the air. Spike breath becomes heavy running for what feels like hours as he jumps over the toes of dragons, his sweat nearly causing him to slip as he climbs on top of crates, the pounding of his heart can be heard as he swinga from signs going to one stand to another. Hopping from one merchant stand to another Spike passes by the angry owner that attacks him with an arm swing witch is avoided with a quick duck, another arm slam down Spike rolls forward getting back on his feet he is met with claws with quick reactions he escaped with only a scratch on his cheek. "I can do this. I can do this!" suddenly he is smacked through the air into a cage. "Ouch why did I take this anyway?!" suddenly there's a feeling that something is touching his shoulder. Turning his head he sees a human shriveled down to the bone, his eyes shot red and appearance of bulging, his hair fallen out leaving only a few strands, and his mouth wide open dry and winkled, his bony hand placed on Spike's shoulder seems to be trying to grasp it. Spike can't muster the words to describe how scared he felt but even more so of how sad he felt for this man. "Are you ok? Can I help you?" "D-d-die." "W-what?" "D-die you filthy dragon." the man's hand grab on Spike's neck trying to strangle him but doesn't have the strength. Before Spike could process what was happening the man took his last breath. "Aw look at that he died. Now I have to find another one. He was once a proud warrior, thought he could slay me, now look at him. Better run now before he catches you." the shopkeeper dragon has defeated the dragons in his way and is back to chasing Spike. Spike shakes his head and runs off but is soon caught in the shopkeeper's fire breath with the human's owner also getting hit. "Hey watch where you're breathing!" "You better not get in my way too." "Just get the kid and go." "Hey, where is he?" The shopkeeper points to the other dragon, "Look what you did!" "What I did? It was your fire!" The two dragons start fighting as Spike hides behind the corner, breathing heavily, takes a quick look around, and sneaks away to find Dragnight in front of him, "Ahh!" "Sheesh stop screaming you just got away from him, do you want to be running for your life again." "Dragnight you found me." Spike hugs his friend. "Now you're hugging me. I never thought there be a day where I see a dragon hugging, but in all seriousness What happened, I come back to find you're being chased across town and it seems like you stole something what happen to only taking what we need?" "I know, I just, it was calling me. Grr, I don't know. I'm sorry." "Well, you showed you really are fireproof and so is that staff. You said it was calling you maybe it's magical. Good catch let's head back." The trip back was quick and uneventful, when they got there they stored away they ate and stored the rest of the food, as for the staff Dragnight tried to figure out what it can do to no prevail concluding that if it was calling Spike then it would only let him use it if it was indeed magical. Spike tried to figure it out but couldn't he was also mad at it, blaming it for causing the trouble with the shopkeeper and making him break his own rule. "Grr, this stupid thing! Why did I even take it?!" "I don't know but now you're stuck with it. It would a shame to go through all that and come out with nothing. Maybe you can use it as a back scratcher?" "Haha, I'm going to bed." Spike jumps into the pile of cloth. That night his dreams were haunted by what the man said and try to do but also to what the human owner said and how nonchalantly he talked about what he did to the man. The apathy towards the man's death was chilling. There were no tears that night not because he was trying to stay strong but because he couldn't feel anything. chapter 2 - desert trackSpike is laying on the floor of the hideout looking at his staff while his face is covered in sweat, "Why is it so hot?!" Dragnight puts a wet rag on her face, "Some dragons are probably fighting their flames heat the already hot air causing a massive heatwave. You're lucky you have a better heat resistance. I'm dying here. I hate it when this happens." she kicks a bucket it hits the wall splashing a little water. "Woops." She checks the bucket to find little water. She then runs over to a shelf and starts searching. Oh no." "Is something wrong?" "We're out of water, and there's only one place to get some more." "The market?" "Sadly no. Dragons don't really carry water with them, they simply fly to a body of water when they're thirsty and the only body of water near here is past town and over a mile walk. Are you used to your new body? because you're going to carry buckets. I would go alone but I might need you if I collapse from this heat plus the more bring back the better." The two exit their hideout carrying multiple containers of various sizes and shapes, up above are multiple dragons fighting using their fire breath against each other. The small dragons sneak past the fight, Spike has gotten better at sneaking but trying to use his staff to carry the buckets in this form is still awkward having to rely on Dragnight's feedback. "Why does it have to be so hard walking on to legs in this body?" They walk sneak behind boxes using the sound of the city to hide the sounds of the buckets and bottles rattling with their movement, Spike looks up at the many dragons around all looking like they just want something to kill, "Do we have to do this now, can't we wait until it's dark?" "No. One, I'm thirsty. Two, I'm boiling. And three there would still be dragons out and your purple scales would not blend as well if they were a darker shade. Your actually less noticeable during the day." "What about you? Your scales are completely black you be completely invisible in the dark." "Yeah but I can still blend in the shadows, trust me I know what I'm doing plus I really need to get out of this heat." a breeze cools Dragnight a bit. They come across a sleeping dragon lying across the road blocking their path. Dragnight facepalm's, "This can't be happening." "What do we do now?" "Grr, we have to climb over them. Dragons tend to be heavy sleepers just be careful." they start climbing the dragon's face. Dragnight's sweaty claws are making it hard for her. The containers she is carrying are bumping into each other clinking and clanging, a bead of sweat from the sleeping dragon drips onto the dragoness causing her to shiver and ready to vomit. "Are you ok?" "I said I wanted to cool off but not like that." "Well look at the bright side it could be worse." Spike tries to reassure her with a smile. "Yeah, you could be in my mouth." The once sleeping dragon now has an eye on the little ones. Dragnight looks to Spike, "Never say that again." "Uhh hi, Mr. Dragon can you let us through, please?" He raises his claw and tries to swipe them. Spike and Dragnight start climbing faster reaching the top of its head, they start running down its back neck while it rises, they move faster and faster having to deal with the increasing slope. They reach the body and dodge the jaws of the dragon. The two start losing their balance as they are lifted in the air Dragnight looks to Spike, "We to jump off before it's too late!" they run to the tail, slipping and sliding down. The dragon starts shaking its tail, it flairs wildly the two small dragons try to hang on, Spike loses his grip then hits into a wall, he gasps. "Spike!" she jumps off the tail and dives towards Spike grabbing him and hitting the ground, breaking some of the containers. The dragon turns around trying to find the little ones. Dragnight hides behind some barrels holding Spike as he slowly wakes. She sticks her finger in his mouth to quiet him before he can speak. She looks around the corner to find that the dragon got tired of looking and left. "They're gone, can you still walk?" Spike rubs his head, "Yeah, how about you?" He looks at her body worried, "You're covered in glass shards?" A small blush appeared on her face, "I suffered worse, they didn't pierce my scales. let's go." she brushes off the glass then continues their trip staying in the shadows when they can, sneaking around dragons, moving around feet, and under tails. They come across an alleyway full of mirrors and other reflective surfaces. "Great, if it wasn't hot enough." "Do you want me to help you cool off?" "No just focus on carrying the buckets. And make sure you're not too hurt." they run through the alley Dragnight sweating getting worse. The two face lights blinding them nearly causing them to bump into other dragons. "How much farther until we get there?" "After we get past this alley we still need to cross a desert." "Are you going to be ok? You seem to be struggling now." Sweat is pouring from the dragoness as she is panting, "I'm fine. We just need to get through this, it's only heat." spike is worried as he sees her mouth is very dry and not sure how much harm the shattered glass really did. He's not sure much more she can take. He watches her as she steals some replacement bottles and a dragon sees her, picks up a mirror reflecting a beam of light at her, "Dragnight watch out!" The beam of light draws closer to the dragoness, she quickly climbs the rope towards a wall. The beam hits the rope slowly burning it. Soon the rope snaps she starts swinging, she lets go performing a duck and roll to soften the impact from landing. She passes Spike, "keep him busy I got a plan." "Hey over here! I bet you can't catch me!" The dragon directs the beam towards spike, he runs away swerving left and right, he jumps into a hey pile. The beam burns the hay causing the pile to catch on fire, Spike rushes out continuing to run from the beam. The dragon gets frustrated by how he hasn't caused the purple dragon harm. Dragnight looks at the dragon reflecting light, "Good he's so focused on Spike I can work on my plan. Simple but most dragons are meatheads." she grabs a mirror and climbs down. "Hey, big ugly moron! Over here!" the dragon growls and points the beam at her, she takes out the mirror and reflects the beam at him aimed right in the eye. While he screams Dragnight grabs Spike and gets away. "Thanks for the rescue." The two eventually reach the edge of the city. Spike looks upon the long desert that awaits them, "We have to cross this! Can we do it? You seem thirsty enough your mouth is dry, we nearly got burned, maybe I should go alone." "No! I'm fine, plus you don't know the way I have to lead you there. Once we get there we can relax and drink some water our return to the base should be easier except for making sure we don't spill any water. I can come back to get more some other day to get more when most dragons are asleep. I should have done so last night but I was exhausted from our adventure." she then points her finger at Spike, "Plus I need to keep my eye on you." The two small dragons start crossing the dessert, step after step sweat pours covering faces. The blistering sun raining down as a fight of dragons in the sky. The farther they get from the fight, the less the air is heated but the dessert has less shade and the air becomes dryer. Spike watches as he sees his friend trying to fight the intense heat and dehydration. He knows she's trying to remain strong but not sure how long she can last. He takes a bucket and puts it on her head. "Here you can use this to shield yourself from the sun." "This is stupid. despite her saying that she keeps it on, "How well can you resist heat? Do you have a limit?" "I don't know I can still feel hot but It doesn't really hurt me. Dragons of my world can dive in lava and be fine, in fact, I once accidentally did a belly flop in a pool of lava to impress a bunch of teenage dragons." Dragnight winces hearing about the body flop. "It worked but it did hurt." "Yeah a belly flop in anything will hurt." the two giggle. "Hey, you laughed your usually so serious." "Well this place isn't really somewhere you have time to have fun." "You say that while wearing a bucket on your head." she gets frustrated at that and takes the other bucket and stuffs Spike's face into it. "Now you-u-u." Suddenly she collapses. Spike takes the bucket off and sees his friend on the ground. "Dragnight! Dragnight! Oh no, she must have heatstroke. What am I supposed to do?" he picks her up and starts carrying her. "I got to find water. I wished she gave me directions. I just got to find some water and some shade." Looking up he sees silhouette flying in circles. "I see they have vultures here too, huh. Well, you won't eat us vultures!" the figures dive down there's size grow revealing their large beaks, sharp claws, and their monstrous figure. "Not vultures! Not vultures!" Spike runs as fast as he can with Dragnight on his back, exhausted from the walk, and his feet failing to get traction in the sand. The giant vulture-like creatures fly closer and one swoop at Spike while he manages to dodges, he ducks his head to avoid the claws of another, the third tries to pierce its prey with its beak but instead, its beak gets stuck in a bucket, it opens it's beak shattering the bucket. Spike continues to run as he avoids the attacks, then suddenly he trips Dragnight fall off his back. Spike, tries to use his fire breath but the creatures are unfazed, he looks the creature in the eyes with only one thought in his mind I'm gonna die. One opens its mouth ready to eat its prey whole when suddenly it is whacked in the side of the head. Spike finds his staff in his hand. "What the?" the creature opens its maw and tries again, Spike's hand moves on its own blocking the attack. The creature backs away and Spike gets up. The two stares at each other, the creature screeches then gets another smack. Its ally comes over to help. Spike gets on his hind legs and tightly holds the staff. "Alright Spike, you can do this." The creatures unleash a barrage of attacks, with the staff guiding his hand Spike blocks a slash from their claws, he is suddenly turned around blocking the talons of the other creature. After knocking back the attack he sees the third creature about to grab his friend. "Dragnight!" he performs a quick side slash causing the creature in front of him to jump in the air to avoid the attack in that time Spike dashes below it. The creature starts taking off with its prey, Spike throws the staff like a javelin hitting the air-born creature releasing the dragoness, and Spike catching her. The three creatures face Spike as he looks back towards them before running off. The creatures take chase, Spike looks back to see he's being chased, he is still exhausted and about to hit his limit, he runs on top of a hill but loses his footing rolling down the other side. The creatures fly over the hill trying to find their prey but they're not in sight. After a few minutes, they leave. Sand from the hill shift away as Spike digs his way out, spitting sand out of his mouth. "Gah that was a close one. Now what?" The staff drops pointing northeast. "I guess I'll go that way." following the path the staff led him would converse the dessert, suffering from the heat, nearly falling for mirages, eventually he made it to his destination. In a waspy tired voice, "Is that it? Dragnight we made." he lays his friend in the shade taking care of her. Eventually, her eyes start opening, "Uh, huh? Where am I? What's going on?" "You're awake! Are you ok? You passed out. I got some water." Spike hands her a bottle of water. "Make sure to rest." She looks around and sees they're at the oasis. "You got us here, how?" "Well it wasn't easy after you passed out we were attacked by these huge birds that tried to eat us but I fought them off." he proudly poses. "You fought off volters? I mean there not the toughest creatures around, still that I found that hard to believe that you fought them off." "Well I did and look were here aren't we." "Yeah, I guess your right. Thanks, you saved me. Don't expect me to feel like I owe you anything!" "I don't? I don't help others to get something in return, except that one time but I learned my lesson from that." "I got to stop questioning your world's morals and just assumes it's all goody good sugar cubes and lollipops. Anyway once we're rested up I'll go over our return plan. I think we can sneak you at night if we can get something to cover you up but we should leave before it gets too late as hot a desert is it gets just as cold at night." The next hour is spent relaxing Spike takes a swim while Dragnight lays in the shade keeping hydrated. Once the sun started to set Dragnight starts packing, "Come on, it's time to go!" Spike listens and gets out of the water then grabs the water buckets and bottles and starts walking, "Hey if you have fire resistance does that mean you're more vulnerable to cold weather?" "No, I don't think so?" "Oh ok, good. I want to make sure you can handle the cold. We will start feeling it soon, I brought a stick to use as a torch just in case." Dragnight leads the way back to the base, "Most creatures should be going to sleep about now, that doesn't mean we're safe there are still nocturnal creatures. A lot of poisonous insects and other kinds of dangerous creatures, so be careful." Amidst their way back Spike starts shivering, "The sun hasn't even set yet why is it so cold? Whose setting the sun so slowly anyway?" Dragnight looks back at him with a baffled expression, "What?!" "Well in Equestria Princess Celestia raises and lowers the sun and Princess Luna raises and lowers the moon. I was wondering whose job it is to do it for this world?" She keeps her expression, "What? How does that even work? Are they gods but why would they be called princesses instead of goddesses?" "Well I don't think their gods, I mean they are immortal but I don't think they are deities. So no one raises or lowers the sun here?" "No! seriously your world sounds like something out of a fairytale." she stops him. digging out of the sand is an army of scorpion-like insects swarm them. Well, they're up early." "I'm guessing it's safe to assume they're one of the poisonous insects you were talking about." "Yes! Now stay behind me! They're not fireproof but they have numbers on their side. So keep them away and don't let them sting you, our scales should provide some protection still play it safe." Dragnight uses her fire breath to deter the creatures away for a moment but they quickly start moving closer again. Spike shoots out flames but the insects keep on coming. "Why are they after us?" "For one, the water, second they're meat eaters and yes it is horrifying." "What can we do we are surrounded." "Well, you better help come up with something I never been in a situation like this." the two keep trying to keep the army away with their fire breath but they keep coming and soon start jumping on them. Dragnight swats some away but is forced to pull some off from her body. Spike suffers the same problem and is increasing in worry, "They're getting closer!" "What do you want me to do?! If only we could distract them." Spike catches something in his eye, "Wait is that? I got an idea! Hey bird brains over here!" he starts jumping up and down waving his arm. His friend wonders what he is doing but then sees the volters flying towards him and smirks. The insects start climbing up their feet. They kick and throw the insects off but more keep climbing on. The Volters swooped down aiming right at them. Dragnight looks towards them, "Good idea but they're not dumb, they won't just stop and allow themselves to be stung." "Don't worry I got this." the volters dive in closer and closer, Spike closes his eyes and prepares his staff. The volters bear their claws, inches away from him Spike swings his staff knocking the creatures down. It picks itself up but it is quickly swarmed and stung. The volter is paralyzed and its body is covered by the insets. The other volters stop and look at their friend not knowing while they're distracted the insects set their eyes on them. A volter looks to a claw and sees an insect crawling up. The volter tries to knock it off but it loses its balance knocking into the other one knocking them down to be quickly taken over by the swarm. During the chaos of the volters being eaten by the swarm, Spike and Dragnight make their escape, "I got to admit that was a good plan and an amazing swing maybe it was a good thing you stole that thing." "Yeah, it's weird it kind of feels like it moves on its own at times." "Anyway we can't rest now it will still take some time to get back to the hideout and there are still danger out here." Dragnight keeps her eyes to the sky while spike looks to the ground. The sun is nearly set and the dragons can now see their breath. Spike shivering is worse than before, the buckets rattle back and forth, "I-I-I'm, f-f-f-freezing." "We're getting close and make sure you don't spill a drop of water we worked hard to get it and I don't want any to go to waste." "W-w-when we et back to the city, w-w-will there be dragons t-there?" "Probably some like to stay up at night and sleep during the day but not many so less chance of running into them and if we do, just keep to our usual plan of movement and we should be fine. The one disadvantage is that they have better adapted to the dark and will be better able to see than we can especially if we take too long getting back." "How will we be able to find our way back in the dark?" "I did this a hundred times I can find my way back blindfolded. Ouch!" Dragnight stomps on the creature that stung her and sees what it was. "Oh-oh." "Are you ok?! Was it one of the scorpion creatures from before?" "No, but it seems like I have to eat my words about finding my way back blindfolded." "Your Blind!" "Don't worry for a human the effects last for a few days, a week at most so as a dragon it should wear off much quicker." "I really hope you just didn't just jinx yourself again." "Yeah anyway, you're going to have to be my eyes for now. Can you do that?" "Yes ma'am!" Spike grabs her hand and leads her. "So keep going forward?" "Yes. This feels weird already." "What?" "Well. relying on someone else. I was always alone no one to help me to survive, now look at me I got careless and now, for the second time today, being saved by someone who I should be saving." "Well, that's the power of teamwork and." Spike's speech get's interrupted. "Don't get sappy on me, I'm not in the mood." the two make their way back to the city's gate. "We made it back to the city, now what?" "You remember what I said about knowing my way through the city, well I wasn't exaggerating. For in case of emergency I remembered every important route I take including the way to the base from here. Since your here you can help by describing our location." "Ok, so right now there's the gate some flags and..." With a great amount of deadpan sarcasm, "Wow great job. If you can't do a better job than that, then it would be easier to just let me handle it alone." "No, I can do it." Spike takes a closer look around being able to give a better description, with that they start making their way through the city. Halfway there Dragnight pulls Spike back, "Slow down it may be dark but there are still dragons that can see us especially with your light coloring." "Uhh, dragnight." "You were spotted, weren't you? Run!" they dash off, Dragnight holds tightly onto Spike's hand. Their chase leads them across the city no time for the dragoness to give directions they made many turns, jumps, and swings to get away, eventually, enough noise was made to annoy other dragons around starting a fight that lets the little one's getaway. "Are we still being chased?" "No we're safe but now we're lost." "Good thing I had you practiced giving intel you know what to do. Also, how is the water?" "Right, the water I seem to have spilled some during the chase but the ones your carrying seem to be fine." "Let just drink from the buckets and toss them we can replace them tomorrow. Now our location?" Spike tries his best to look around, but the sun has set and there is little moonlight, "It's too dark I need a fire." Dragnight gulps down the water and then pulls out a plank from the bucket, "Use this but be extra cautious not to be seen as for the night dragons try to spot their eyes they will be a bit of a green glow to them." Spike lit the plank and uses the light to examine his surroundings, "Hmm, there is a lot of ripped fabric and a lot of colors. It kinda looks like Rarity boutique after one of Sweetie Bloom's art and craft projects." Dagnight smirks at the last remark, "Sounds like the art ally as unlikely it is there are dragons that do appreciate art but of course they still get angry and break out in fights. Seriously art dragons can be more vicious than normal dragons." "Like when someone makes a mess on one of Rarity's dresses." "She sounds scary." "When it comes to fashion you don't mess with Rarity even if you're a dragon. So can you lead the way back to the base?" "Yeah, give me a moment. Grab some dark fabric if you can and cover yourself." Spike picks up a piece of cloth, with how huge dragons are a shredded piece is more than enough for him. "Use this to cover yourself, we just need to cross beast alley then we'll be on our way to the base." "B-b-beast alley? What's there?" "Well as the name suggests it's where they cage creatures that are up for sale. It's run by a single dragon, he's usually asleep by now so are most creatures besides any possible nocturnal ones but they should be put away." They make their way to Beast alley, the sound of snores echo against the walls the two dragons walk past the old and rusted bars, "Are you sure these cages can hold them they look pretty worn?" "As long as we remain quiet we won't need to test them, will we." "The creatures look thin are they being treated right?" "Why do you care? *sigh* No they're barely fed and aren't allowed out of their cage. Now be quiet I heard the guy that runs this place also cages smaller dragons to sell as pets." "Ok, add that to my nightmares tonight." as they walk by piercing eyes stare at them, Spike looks back and shudders, "The sooner we get back the better." suddenly he bumps into a cage and comes face with the awoken beast. It starts barking at them. Spike falls back then hears the sound of an angry dragon that's had his sleep interrupted. Before the beast keeper could get out Spike and Dragnight make their escape the sounds of the creatures echo across the streets waking more dragons. "I'll put out the flame if I was you. We don't need to have a beacon to draw their attention. We shouldn't be far now." they lay low in the darkness, with the chaos of the sounds of beast and tired dragons Spike and Dragnight are able to quitly and swiftly. They reach their hideout, after puting the water away Dragnight then takes the cloth Spike was using and crafts it into a hood. Spike puts it on, "Where did you learn to do that?" She looks away, "I don't want to talk about it.
prologueWalking through Ponyville market place is a strange pony completely covered by a cloak. As the pony walks past by food stands some of the merchandise disappears. "Hey did somepony steal some of my apples!?" "Somepony snatched some of my carrots!" the cloaked pony quickly leaves without notice. The cloaked pony walking down the streets when Pinkie Pie appears. "Hi, cloaked pony my name is Pinkie Pie. I never saw you before are you new?" The cloaked pony tries to walk away but Pinkie follows. "You haven't listened to my welcome song yet." She then pulls a strange machine out of nowhere and it starts playing music as she sings. The cloaked pony tries to walk away again. "Oh how bout a cupcake?" Like with the machine, Pinkie pulls cupcakes out of nowhere. The cloaked pony reluctantly takes one and eats it, still not revealing any part of their body. "It's delicious." Pinkie looks closely at the cloaked figure with a huge smile, "I know right and judging by your voice you're a mare right?" "Yeah." "Now what's your name, new friend?" confetti shooting out of the machine behind Pinkie. "Frie... (sigh) it's Dragnight. Now leave me alone." "Oke Doki Loki." the pink hyperactive mare hops away. "What a strange creature even by pony standards." the mysterious mare continues her on her path. Spike and Rarity are walking to Raritie's boutique with Spike pulling a cart full of gems. Dragnight walks past them, then a few gems get swiped. "Huh?" Spike looks at the pile of gems. Rarity looks towards Spike, "What is it, Spike?" "I not sure but I think some of the gems are missing." "Well we still have more than enough, maybe I can make a new cloak for that pony over there. Who is that anyway?" "I don't know. I saw them around the past week or so but they never seem to interact with anypony. I wonder where they are going?" Pinkie pops up, "Dragnight I'm not sure but I think she going into the Everfree forest." Rarity and Spike are startled, "Pinkie, stop doing that." Rarity poses herself. "I'm guessing you already talked to her and did your whole sing and greet thing." "Yep just a few moments ago." Spike asks, "Did you see her face?" "Nope still a mystery." Pinky keeping her cheerful demeanor. "Why would she go to the Everfree forest? Doesn't she know how dangerous it is?" Spike worries. "I don't know but Applebloom said she been seeing a cloaked figured walk into the Everfree Forest." Pinkie responds. Rarity says, "Maybe we should go ask her, to make sure she safe." The two mares and the little dragon try to talk to Dragnight but she runs away entering the Everfree Forest and managing to get away from them. The trio eventually finds where she's staying a treehouse and Spike says, "Cool!" Pinkie stares at the treehouse, "Wow! Did she make this treehouse herself? Rarity stares too, "But why here?" Dragnight yells from the treehouse "Go away!" "Darling we just came to make sure you're safe! The Everfree Forest is a dangerous place!" Dragnight mumbles, "Not as dangerous where I'm from." Rarity yells, "What was that?!" "Just go away! I don't need anybody's help!" The mysterious pony yells back. "Anybody? You mean anypony!?" says Pinkie. "Whatever go way!" "Well, she not very friendly." says Spike. "How bout I throw you a party!" Pinkie pulls out her machine. "No!" Rarity is fed up, "Come on let's leave. She obviously wants to be left alone" "Well, I'm going to check on Twilight to see if she made any progress on her rift research." exclaims Spike. "Rift?!" asks Dragnight. Spike explains, "Yeah, it appeared within the week! My friend Twilight Sparkle is researching it!" Dragnight sticks her head out the window, "Stay away from it! Seal it if you can!" Spike looks towards her, "You seem quite worried. do you know how it appeared?!" "No, just stay away ok and make sure nothing comes through!" Rarity is skeptical, "You seem to know about it." "Not really! Just take me to your friend!" the cloaked figure leaves her treehouse and follows the purple dragon. Spike leads them to his friend, "Hi Twilight." Twilight stops studying the rift to greet her friends, "Hi, Spike, Rarity, and the cloaked pony." Pinkie introduces them, "Twilight this is Dragnight." Twilight is standing in front of the hole in space and time, "Oh, hi Dragnight." Dragnight points to the rift, "Whatever. Seal it." "Huh?" Pinkie stands by her friend's sides, "She wants you to seal the rift." "Why?" Ask Twilight. "Because you might get ... Watch out!" The rift starts sucking them in. Dragnight pushes Twilight out its path causing herself sucked in. Spike, Rarity, and Pinkie struggle to avoid getting sucked in but Spike is digging his claws into the ground but isn't strong enough and gets sucked in. "Dragnight! Spike!" Twilight tries to catch him with her magic but it is too late. "Spike no." Spike opens his eyes and finds himself in a strange new location full of dragons. "Where am I?" He looks around and sees humans either being held captive or being killed for the pleasure of the huge beast. "What is this place!?" Author's Note well he we go i don't know how the story go or how dark just have to wait and see i'll also be working on another story focusing on the mane 6 side and their journey trying to find spike and dragnight. journey to dragnia
chapter 1: basics of survivorSpike wakes up finding himself in a strange and horrible place beyond what he could imagine. A land, full of dragons joyfully enslaving, torturing, and even killing humans. The innocent dragon eyes are filled with tears, "Where am I? What is this place? Twilight!?" he tries to stand but can't keep his balance, he sees that he still a dragon but his form has changed to more like a salamander being more easily capable of moving on all four. The overwhelmed dragon is trying to process what's happening when a shadow looms over him and a voice shouts to him, "Move!" before he could react the cloaked figure shoves him to safety avoiding being stepped on. The Dragnight leads Spike around the feet of the massive beast, hiding behind barrels and crates, and running past cages of humans into slim alleyways, "Wait we got to save them." The cloaked mare turns her head, "Are you crazy?! We got to make sure we survive!" "No! We got to do something." Spike runs back to the cage but is stopped and carried away before he gets there. The situation gets worse when the dragon spots him and slam its fist at the tiny dragons, the mysterious pony grabs Spike saving him again, "Your insane! What were you thinking?" "I had to do something. I cou..." Spike gets a look at the mare face and sees she is not a mare at all. "Wait, you're a dragon?!" The two-run past a few more roads and alleys the black dragoness helps the wingless drake up walls and swing from different kinds of cloths and finally crawling into a small hole into a room, "Yes I was sucked into your world and decided to disguise myself as a pony to avoid attention. Now I'm back here with a helpless drake, great!" "Well sorry, I come from a peaceful world without murderous insane dragons." the drake looks around the room finding all kinds of random objects shuffled around. The black dragon goes through her stuff, "Well believe it or not I want to go back there too. I hate this place, constantly watching your back always put in danger just to find food and surrounded by creatures that would love to kill you just because they can." "I'm so sorry." Spike looks up to face her. "Uhh thanks for saving me." The Dragoness goes through a bundle of cloths of different assortments, "Don't think too much of it. I don't even know why I did it." "Because you're not like the other dragons, you care for others." "Tell that to the humans out there. There are some extra fabrics around gather it and make a bed for yourself." "You say don't care but you are allowing me to stay. Oh let me introduce myself I'm Spike." he tries to walk towards her but is having trouble balancing. "It's easier to walk on all fours, two when you need to reach something. As for why I'm allowing you to stay. You are not a threat to me and I can use you. But first I need to teach you how to survive." "What do you mean?" "Do you see any food in here?" the black dragoness looks through cabinets shelves and holes only pulling out a rotten fruit she throws away. "What are we going to do?" "I told you I'm going to teach you how to survive. First, you need to learn to walk. Stay here and get used to your new form, I'm going to search for food." "But it's dangerous out there let me go with you." "I lived my life here I know how to get around while avoiding trouble you can't even walk properly. I'll be back." Dragnight leaves. "Ok Spike, you're in a strange cruel messed up world in a distorted body and your only ally has left you alone. I hope she's ok out there." images of the humans appear in his head. "No got to get it out of my head. I should get used to this new body." later that day Dragnight returns with a bag, "I'm back I manage to some food. How's it going with your new body?" "Better I think I'm getting used to it. what do you have in there?" The dragoness pulls things out of the bag, "I got some fruit, vegetables I even got beef. I haven't had any since before I ended up in the pony world, I don't know how you lived there with a non-meat diet." Spike is holding a gag, "First it's called Equestria second you eat meat? like animal meat?" "Yeah what else would it be? What do dragons in your world not eat meat?" "No! I eat gems." "Really how does that work?" She takes a bite into the beef cut. "Well more for me you can have the other stuff." Spike tries to look away, "I think I'm going to throw up." "Better do it far from here. Dragons can track the smell." "I hate this world!" Dragnight lays in a hammock, "Be thankful you weren't born here. Now we're stuck here and there's no way of going back." "That's not true! Twilight and the others will find some kind of spell to get here and return us here!" "Calm down. You don't want any dragons to hear you. Seriously I don't want to look for a new hiding place it was hard enough finding this one." "Calm down. Calm down! Do you know what I been through? I have been sucked into a hole in the sky, landed in another world in a strange body, witness humans get killed and eaten and I nearly gotten stomped on all in the span of five minutes and you want me to calm down!" "Urg. Ok, you come from a peaceful world of talking pastel ponies, you're not used to all this but remember this is my home I have been trying to survive on my own my entire life. So don't expect me to be all nice and cuddly." "Urg, I'm going to bed." Spike uses the pile of cloth as a bed and goes to sleep. That night Spike has nightmares of being chased by the dragons, he gets grabbed by one and thrown into its mouth, "Ahh!" Spike wakes up and looks around too see Dragnight is already up. "You're up early, I think." "Heres a lesson when your trap in Dragnia, get as little sleep as you can, and when you do sleep keep and ear open. There's some leftover fruit over there, I'm going out scavenging I'll be back with more food and anything else I can get my hands on." "Can I come?" "Yes and you can watch the dragons kill more humans right before they catch and kill you." "Ok, I'll stay here." Spike stays in the hideout as Dragnight crawls through the exit. "Way to go, Spike, you're staying here where it's safe and she is out there risking her life just so we can have something to eat. I wish Twilight was here." he sits there and starts thinking, what would Twilight do. "She would take charge and be there for her friend." he rushes through the exit chasing down his friend, "Dragnight! Wait up!" The black dragon sees her friend and loudly whispers, "Spike! what are you doing?!" "I'm Coming with..." before Spike could finish he spot a dragon hovering over him. "Hello, little one what are you doing here?" "Uh, hello there I'm Spike. I'm new here can you help me?" Spike says nervously. "Why sure let me show you my fist." the dragon swings his fist. Before he gets hit Dragnight pulls him out of the path, running into the streets. "Are you an idiot!? What were you thinking coming out here?!" "I couldn't stand just stand around while you risk your life." "Well, now we're both about two die because you decided to play the good guy." the two run down the street with a full-grown dragon following them swiping his claws at them. The two little dragons slide, jumping, and ducking to avoid dying. The large dragon breaths in and breaths fire out. "I hope you're fireproof because I'm not." "Actually yes." "Good, then you could hold that shield." as the flames get closer Dragnight jumps up to grab a shield giving it to Spike to hold it behind them. Using the force of the fire to propel them forward into the main road, smacking into a red dragon's toe and knocking them off the shield then hitting the large red dragon's other foot. "What was that?" The red dragon raises his foot, Dragnight grabs spike and runs under before getting spotted. When the red dragon puts his foot down the small dragons quickly hide behind some barrels. The red dragon sees the other large dragon, "Hey did you throw something at me?!" "Oh, shut up I'm busy." Another dragon shows up, "Hey did one of you steal my human shield?!" "Why would I care about some dumb shield." Spike and Dragnight look upon the dragons' argument as it turns into a fight. "Let's get away while their distracted." the two run off into another side street keeping low and to the side behind any object. "Ok so what now?" "Well since it's too dangerous to go back now. I'll have to take you with me. I should teach you how to scavenge at some point I just wish you have more time to get used to your new body and were taught the basics of survival. Do exactly as I say and no talking back! Ok, first you need to learn the layout of the land. I only know a small area of Dragnia even if I did I can tell you the outside world isn't any friendlier to dragons." "If you don't mind me asking but how do you know that if you never been out there?" The dragoness takes a moment to answer, "You seen what the dragons are like why would they trust us just because we're young and small, Plus there are humans that are just as rotten." "That may be true but there's got to be good ones willing to give us a chance and we can show them we're not like these other dragons." "You're too optimistic and it's still too dangerous for us to try to escape. Dragnia is large I don't know how long it'll take to leave we'll need supplies and I lost my maps, meaning there's no way of keeping us from getting lost. It's better if we stay here where it's familiar." "We can't just stay here forever this place is terrible. Don't you want to be where your happy, where you aren't always scared for your life, a place with friends?" "Y-yes but what can we do? I mean I have to constantly pull you out of danger we can't just go on some trip to an unknown destination for who knows how long." "Your right, it's obvious I'll be dead without you. How about this once I learn how to survive here then we can make our way out of here and if we find my friends we can return to Equestria together." "I'll think about it. You still need to familiarize yourself with everything out here, every street, every building, every nook and cranny, everything." "Got it." the two reach the main market place with huge stands and a massive assortment of everything from food, weapons, clothes, toys, strange objects even people. "Wait are they selling humans?" "Yes, dragons come here to barter for things there incapable to take for their own, and humans are treated as either slaves, pets, or even food." "The more I learn of this place the more horrifying it becomes." "You haven't seen the half of it and hopefully you won't. Come on follow me." They sneak under the dragons, "Luckily most dragons don't pay attention to what's right beneath them but you still need to be careful and be as quiet as possible." As they sneak around Spike can't help but look at the humans, "Dragnight." she shooshes him. "Is it possible there's a way we can help them?" the dragoness blankly looks at him, "There are so many things wrong with what you just said.." "But." "Save it for when we get back to the hideout. Let's go." they travel past stand after stand, "Take note of anything you like and wait for the right opportunity and." She swiftly takes a gem from a stand. "Something to add to your collection." "You just stole that." Dragnight's eye starts twitching, "Please tell me that the dragons from your world aren't this good two shoes. Yes, I stole it how do you think I get this stuff? I'll be killed just for talking to them. When will you get it in your head this isn't Equestria and these dragons are nastier then anything you have dealt with in your entire life and if you want to survive you will need to throw away your morality." "Your right these dragons are far worse then the dragons back home and are far eviler then any villains I encountered but your wrong about throwing away my morality because if you actually believed that you wouldn't have saved me." Dragnight sighs, "Well you're still going to learn to take what you want or you won't eat and I mean it, nothing grows here and all food and such belongs to dragons. So you will need to compromise your virtues to survive." Spike strongly stares at her until his stomach growls, "I guess your right but I'm only taking what's necessary." "Agreed. You eat gems then you can eat this, we don't want your stomach giving us away." she tosses the gem to Spike and moves on to other stands. "There should be a stand that has food and water up ahead." A scent catches Spike's attention, "What's that smell?" "That's the smell of meat. You never smelled cooked meat before?" "No meat! I can't even think about eating another creature." "It's already dead plus you're a dragon it should be natural for you. Then again you're from a sappy pony world of rainbows and smiles. Fine, you can continue to eat fruit, veggies, and nuts, while I"ll grab some meat. Dragons really hate having their meat taken so we have to wait for another one dumb enough to try to still some." She waits for a dragon to come over to the meat stand, the small dragons run behind them, and once an argument breaks out they pack away some meat and run off. While running Spike can't stop looking at their gain, "Are you sure you don't want a bite?" "No. I'm good." the two dragons continue their scavenge, meanwhile Dragnight teaches Spike of the variety of food that can be found in the world and Spike teaches her about the food of his world. "Then of course there's all the apple recipes from Sweet Apple Achers." "They all sound delicious. I wish I could try some." "Well, you could have, if you didn't hide in the Everfree forest and got to know the ponies." "Well, it should be obvious I'm not a people person." "Well good thing they're not people they're ponies." "Dragnight gives him a weak punch, "You know what I mean." "Well, you can try again when Twilight and others find us. You know I still don't feel right about stealing all this." "Really? You're still on that, you didn't even take anything, whatever we should head back now before it gets too dark. I'm going to do some scouting, stay hidden." Spike hides behind some barrels, slumping against a wall thinking, "I hope twilight gets here soon. Huh?" over at a stand is a staff drawing Spike's attention, like it is calling him. Spike sneaks over and tries reaching for the staff to small to reach. "How does Dragnight climb up these. Spike looks to his claws and digs them into the wood slowly climbing up until he reaches to top, he then reaches for the staff. "Almost there." "What do you think your doing tiny?" the owner of the stand has his eye up to Spike. "Uh, I can explain." The staff rolls into Spike's hand, "Are you serious?" "I won't let a shrimp steal from me!" the dragon slams his fist at Spike, The purple dragon lets go of the stand and start running. As the shopkeeper dragon chases him, Spike does his best not to trip, "I should have waited till I have gotten a better handle of this body!" claws slam down one after the other with enough force to lift Spike in the air, he tries his best to keep on his feet as he curses to himself of why he did what he did. A hand slams down on Spike, he manages to slip past the fingers. Spike runs past other dragons, dodging swinging of tails, dragon bites, and stomps. The shopkeeper dragon shoves the other dragons out of the way then start throwing things. Barrels, crates, and an assortment of items launched at the small dragon. The items break on impact when they hit the ground debre flies through the air. Spike breath becomes heavy running for what feels like hours as he jumps over the toes of dragons, his sweat nearly causing him to slip as he climbs on top of crates, the pounding of his heart can be heard as he swinga from signs going to one stand to another. Hopping from one merchant stand to another Spike passes by the angry owner that attacks him with an arm swing witch is avoided with a quick duck, another arm slam down Spike rolls forward getting back on his feet he is met with claws with quick reactions he escaped with only a scratch on his cheek. "I can do this. I can do this!" suddenly he is smacked through the air into a cage. "Ouch why did I take this anyway?!" suddenly there's a feeling that something is touching his shoulder. Turning his head he sees a human shriveled down to the bone, his eyes shot red and appearance of bulging, his hair fallen out leaving only a few strands, and his mouth wide open dry and winkled, his bony hand placed on Spike's shoulder seems to be trying to grasp it. Spike can't muster the words to describe how scared he felt but even more so of how sad he felt for this man. "Are you ok? Can I help you?" "D-d-die." "W-what?" "D-die you filthy dragon." the man's hand grab on Spike's neck trying to strangle him but doesn't have the strength. Before Spike could process what was happening the man took his last breath. "Aw look at that he died. Now I have to find another one. He was once a proud warrior, thought he could slay me, now look at him. Better run now before he catches you." the shopkeeper dragon has defeated the dragons in his way and is back to chasing Spike. Spike shakes his head and runs off but is soon caught in the shopkeeper's fire breath with the human's owner also getting hit. "Hey watch where you're breathing!" "You better not get in my way too." "Just get the kid and go." "Hey, where is he?" The shopkeeper points to the other dragon, "Look what you did!" "What I did? It was your fire!" The two dragons start fighting as Spike hides behind the corner, breathing heavily, takes a quick look around, and sneaks away to find Dragnight in front of him, "Ahh!" "Sheesh stop screaming you just got away from him, do you want to be running for your life again." "Dragnight you found me." Spike hugs his friend. "Now you're hugging me. I never thought there be a day where I see a dragon hugging, but in all seriousness What happened, I come back to find you're being chased across town and it seems like you stole something what happen to only taking what we need?" "I know, I just, it was calling me. Grr, I don't know. I'm sorry." "Well, you showed you really are fireproof and so is that staff. You said it was calling you maybe it's magical. Good catch let's head back." The trip back was quick and uneventful, when they got there they stored away they ate and stored the rest of the food, as for the staff Dragnight tried to figure out what it can do to no prevail concluding that if it was calling Spike then it would only let him use it if it was indeed magical. Spike tried to figure it out but couldn't he was also mad at it, blaming it for causing the trouble with the shopkeeper and making him break his own rule. "Grr, this stupid thing! Why did I even take it?!" "I don't know but now you're stuck with it. It would a shame to go through all that and come out with nothing. Maybe you can use it as a back scratcher?" "Haha, I'm going to bed." Spike jumps into the pile of cloth. That night his dreams were haunted by what the man said and try to do but also to what the human owner said and how nonchalantly he talked about what he did to the man. The apathy towards the man's death was chilling. There were no tears that night not because he was trying to stay strong but because he couldn't feel anything.
chapter 2 - desert trackSpike is laying on the floor of the hideout looking at his staff while his face is covered in sweat, "Why is it so hot?!" Dragnight puts a wet rag on her face, "Some dragons are probably fighting their flames heat the already hot air causing a massive heatwave. You're lucky you have a better heat resistance. I'm dying here. I hate it when this happens." she kicks a bucket it hits the wall splashing a little water. "Woops." She checks the bucket to find little water. She then runs over to a shelf and starts searching. Oh no." "Is something wrong?" "We're out of water, and there's only one place to get some more." "The market?" "Sadly no. Dragons don't really carry water with them, they simply fly to a body of water when they're thirsty and the only body of water near here is past town and over a mile walk. Are you used to your new body? because you're going to carry buckets. I would go alone but I might need you if I collapse from this heat plus the more bring back the better." The two exit their hideout carrying multiple containers of various sizes and shapes, up above are multiple dragons fighting using their fire breath against each other. The small dragons sneak past the fight, Spike has gotten better at sneaking but trying to use his staff to carry the buckets in this form is still awkward having to rely on Dragnight's feedback. "Why does it have to be so hard walking on to legs in this body?" They walk sneak behind boxes using the sound of the city to hide the sounds of the buckets and bottles rattling with their movement, Spike looks up at the many dragons around all looking like they just want something to kill, "Do we have to do this now, can't we wait until it's dark?" "No. One, I'm thirsty. Two, I'm boiling. And three there would still be dragons out and your purple scales would not blend as well if they were a darker shade. Your actually less noticeable during the day." "What about you? Your scales are completely black you be completely invisible in the dark." "Yeah but I can still blend in the shadows, trust me I know what I'm doing plus I really need to get out of this heat." a breeze cools Dragnight a bit. They come across a sleeping dragon lying across the road blocking their path. Dragnight facepalm's, "This can't be happening." "What do we do now?" "Grr, we have to climb over them. Dragons tend to be heavy sleepers just be careful." they start climbing the dragon's face. Dragnight's sweaty claws are making it hard for her. The containers she is carrying are bumping into each other clinking and clanging, a bead of sweat from the sleeping dragon drips onto the dragoness causing her to shiver and ready to vomit. "Are you ok?" "I said I wanted to cool off but not like that." "Well look at the bright side it could be worse." Spike tries to reassure her with a smile. "Yeah, you could be in my mouth." The once sleeping dragon now has an eye on the little ones. Dragnight looks to Spike, "Never say that again." "Uhh hi, Mr. Dragon can you let us through, please?" He raises his claw and tries to swipe them. Spike and Dragnight start climbing faster reaching the top of its head, they start running down its back neck while it rises, they move faster and faster having to deal with the increasing slope. They reach the body and dodge the jaws of the dragon. The two start losing their balance as they are lifted in the air Dragnight looks to Spike, "We to jump off before it's too late!" they run to the tail, slipping and sliding down. The dragon starts shaking its tail, it flairs wildly the two small dragons try to hang on, Spike loses his grip then hits into a wall, he gasps. "Spike!" she jumps off the tail and dives towards Spike grabbing him and hitting the ground, breaking some of the containers. The dragon turns around trying to find the little ones. Dragnight hides behind some barrels holding Spike as he slowly wakes. She sticks her finger in his mouth to quiet him before he can speak. She looks around the corner to find that the dragon got tired of looking and left. "They're gone, can you still walk?" Spike rubs his head, "Yeah, how about you?" He looks at her body worried, "You're covered in glass shards?" A small blush appeared on her face, "I suffered worse, they didn't pierce my scales. let's go." she brushes off the glass then continues their trip staying in the shadows when they can, sneaking around dragons, moving around feet, and under tails. They come across an alleyway full of mirrors and other reflective surfaces. "Great, if it wasn't hot enough." "Do you want me to help you cool off?" "No just focus on carrying the buckets. And make sure you're not too hurt." they run through the alley Dragnight sweating getting worse. The two face lights blinding them nearly causing them to bump into other dragons. "How much farther until we get there?" "After we get past this alley we still need to cross a desert." "Are you going to be ok? You seem to be struggling now." Sweat is pouring from the dragoness as she is panting, "I'm fine. We just need to get through this, it's only heat." spike is worried as he sees her mouth is very dry and not sure how much harm the shattered glass really did. He's not sure much more she can take. He watches her as she steals some replacement bottles and a dragon sees her, picks up a mirror reflecting a beam of light at her, "Dragnight watch out!" The beam of light draws closer to the dragoness, she quickly climbs the rope towards a wall. The beam hits the rope slowly burning it. Soon the rope snaps she starts swinging, she lets go performing a duck and roll to soften the impact from landing. She passes Spike, "keep him busy I got a plan." "Hey over here! I bet you can't catch me!" The dragon directs the beam towards spike, he runs away swerving left and right, he jumps into a hey pile. The beam burns the hay causing the pile to catch on fire, Spike rushes out continuing to run from the beam. The dragon gets frustrated by how he hasn't caused the purple dragon harm. Dragnight looks at the dragon reflecting light, "Good he's so focused on Spike I can work on my plan. Simple but most dragons are meatheads." she grabs a mirror and climbs down. "Hey, big ugly moron! Over here!" the dragon growls and points the beam at her, she takes out the mirror and reflects the beam at him aimed right in the eye. While he screams Dragnight grabs Spike and gets away. "Thanks for the rescue." The two eventually reach the edge of the city. Spike looks upon the long desert that awaits them, "We have to cross this! Can we do it? You seem thirsty enough your mouth is dry, we nearly got burned, maybe I should go alone." "No! I'm fine, plus you don't know the way I have to lead you there. Once we get there we can relax and drink some water our return to the base should be easier except for making sure we don't spill any water. I can come back to get more some other day to get more when most dragons are asleep. I should have done so last night but I was exhausted from our adventure." she then points her finger at Spike, "Plus I need to keep my eye on you." The two small dragons start crossing the dessert, step after step sweat pours covering faces. The blistering sun raining down as a fight of dragons in the sky. The farther they get from the fight, the less the air is heated but the dessert has less shade and the air becomes dryer. Spike watches as he sees his friend trying to fight the intense heat and dehydration. He knows she's trying to remain strong but not sure how long she can last. He takes a bucket and puts it on her head. "Here you can use this to shield yourself from the sun." "This is stupid. despite her saying that she keeps it on, "How well can you resist heat? Do you have a limit?" "I don't know I can still feel hot but It doesn't really hurt me. Dragons of my world can dive in lava and be fine, in fact, I once accidentally did a belly flop in a pool of lava to impress a bunch of teenage dragons." Dragnight winces hearing about the body flop. "It worked but it did hurt." "Yeah a belly flop in anything will hurt." the two giggle. "Hey, you laughed your usually so serious." "Well this place isn't really somewhere you have time to have fun." "You say that while wearing a bucket on your head." she gets frustrated at that and takes the other bucket and stuffs Spike's face into it. "Now you-u-u." Suddenly she collapses. Spike takes the bucket off and sees his friend on the ground. "Dragnight! Dragnight! Oh no, she must have heatstroke. What am I supposed to do?" he picks her up and starts carrying her. "I got to find water. I wished she gave me directions. I just got to find some water and some shade." Looking up he sees silhouette flying in circles. "I see they have vultures here too, huh. Well, you won't eat us vultures!" the figures dive down there's size grow revealing their large beaks, sharp claws, and their monstrous figure. "Not vultures! Not vultures!" Spike runs as fast as he can with Dragnight on his back, exhausted from the walk, and his feet failing to get traction in the sand. The giant vulture-like creatures fly closer and one swoop at Spike while he manages to dodges, he ducks his head to avoid the claws of another, the third tries to pierce its prey with its beak but instead, its beak gets stuck in a bucket, it opens it's beak shattering the bucket. Spike continues to run as he avoids the attacks, then suddenly he trips Dragnight fall off his back. Spike, tries to use his fire breath but the creatures are unfazed, he looks the creature in the eyes with only one thought in his mind I'm gonna die. One opens its mouth ready to eat its prey whole when suddenly it is whacked in the side of the head. Spike finds his staff in his hand. "What the?" the creature opens its maw and tries again, Spike's hand moves on its own blocking the attack. The creature backs away and Spike gets up. The two stares at each other, the creature screeches then gets another smack. Its ally comes over to help. Spike gets on his hind legs and tightly holds the staff. "Alright Spike, you can do this." The creatures unleash a barrage of attacks, with the staff guiding his hand Spike blocks a slash from their claws, he is suddenly turned around blocking the talons of the other creature. After knocking back the attack he sees the third creature about to grab his friend. "Dragnight!" he performs a quick side slash causing the creature in front of him to jump in the air to avoid the attack in that time Spike dashes below it. The creature starts taking off with its prey, Spike throws the staff like a javelin hitting the air-born creature releasing the dragoness, and Spike catching her. The three creatures face Spike as he looks back towards them before running off. The creatures take chase, Spike looks back to see he's being chased, he is still exhausted and about to hit his limit, he runs on top of a hill but loses his footing rolling down the other side. The creatures fly over the hill trying to find their prey but they're not in sight. After a few minutes, they leave. Sand from the hill shift away as Spike digs his way out, spitting sand out of his mouth. "Gah that was a close one. Now what?" The staff drops pointing northeast. "I guess I'll go that way." following the path the staff led him would converse the dessert, suffering from the heat, nearly falling for mirages, eventually he made it to his destination. In a waspy tired voice, "Is that it? Dragnight we made." he lays his friend in the shade taking care of her. Eventually, her eyes start opening, "Uh, huh? Where am I? What's going on?" "You're awake! Are you ok? You passed out. I got some water." Spike hands her a bottle of water. "Make sure to rest." She looks around and sees they're at the oasis. "You got us here, how?" "Well it wasn't easy after you passed out we were attacked by these huge birds that tried to eat us but I fought them off." he proudly poses. "You fought off volters? I mean there not the toughest creatures around, still that I found that hard to believe that you fought them off." "Well I did and look were here aren't we." "Yeah, I guess your right. Thanks, you saved me. Don't expect me to feel like I owe you anything!" "I don't? I don't help others to get something in return, except that one time but I learned my lesson from that." "I got to stop questioning your world's morals and just assumes it's all goody good sugar cubes and lollipops. Anyway once we're rested up I'll go over our return plan. I think we can sneak you at night if we can get something to cover you up but we should leave before it gets too late as hot a desert is it gets just as cold at night." The next hour is spent relaxing Spike takes a swim while Dragnight lays in the shade keeping hydrated. Once the sun started to set Dragnight starts packing, "Come on, it's time to go!" Spike listens and gets out of the water then grabs the water buckets and bottles and starts walking, "Hey if you have fire resistance does that mean you're more vulnerable to cold weather?" "No, I don't think so?" "Oh ok, good. I want to make sure you can handle the cold. We will start feeling it soon, I brought a stick to use as a torch just in case." Dragnight leads the way back to the base, "Most creatures should be going to sleep about now, that doesn't mean we're safe there are still nocturnal creatures. A lot of poisonous insects and other kinds of dangerous creatures, so be careful." Amidst their way back Spike starts shivering, "The sun hasn't even set yet why is it so cold? Whose setting the sun so slowly anyway?" Dragnight looks back at him with a baffled expression, "What?!" "Well in Equestria Princess Celestia raises and lowers the sun and Princess Luna raises and lowers the moon. I was wondering whose job it is to do it for this world?" She keeps her expression, "What? How does that even work? Are they gods but why would they be called princesses instead of goddesses?" "Well I don't think their gods, I mean they are immortal but I don't think they are deities. So no one raises or lowers the sun here?" "No! seriously your world sounds like something out of a fairytale." she stops him. digging out of the sand is an army of scorpion-like insects swarm them. Well, they're up early." "I'm guessing it's safe to assume they're one of the poisonous insects you were talking about." "Yes! Now stay behind me! They're not fireproof but they have numbers on their side. So keep them away and don't let them sting you, our scales should provide some protection still play it safe." Dragnight uses her fire breath to deter the creatures away for a moment but they quickly start moving closer again. Spike shoots out flames but the insects keep on coming. "Why are they after us?" "For one, the water, second they're meat eaters and yes it is horrifying." "What can we do we are surrounded." "Well, you better help come up with something I never been in a situation like this." the two keep trying to keep the army away with their fire breath but they keep coming and soon start jumping on them. Dragnight swats some away but is forced to pull some off from her body. Spike suffers the same problem and is increasing in worry, "They're getting closer!" "What do you want me to do?! If only we could distract them." Spike catches something in his eye, "Wait is that? I got an idea! Hey bird brains over here!" he starts jumping up and down waving his arm. His friend wonders what he is doing but then sees the volters flying towards him and smirks. The insects start climbing up their feet. They kick and throw the insects off but more keep climbing on. The Volters swooped down aiming right at them. Dragnight looks towards them, "Good idea but they're not dumb, they won't just stop and allow themselves to be stung." "Don't worry I got this." the volters dive in closer and closer, Spike closes his eyes and prepares his staff. The volters bear their claws, inches away from him Spike swings his staff knocking the creatures down. It picks itself up but it is quickly swarmed and stung. The volter is paralyzed and its body is covered by the insets. The other volters stop and look at their friend not knowing while they're distracted the insects set their eyes on them. A volter looks to a claw and sees an insect crawling up. The volter tries to knock it off but it loses its balance knocking into the other one knocking them down to be quickly taken over by the swarm. During the chaos of the volters being eaten by the swarm, Spike and Dragnight make their escape, "I got to admit that was a good plan and an amazing swing maybe it was a good thing you stole that thing." "Yeah, it's weird it kind of feels like it moves on its own at times." "Anyway we can't rest now it will still take some time to get back to the hideout and there are still danger out here." Dragnight keeps her eyes to the sky while spike looks to the ground. The sun is nearly set and the dragons can now see their breath. Spike shivering is worse than before, the buckets rattle back and forth, "I-I-I'm, f-f-f-freezing." "We're getting close and make sure you don't spill a drop of water we worked hard to get it and I don't want any to go to waste." "W-w-when we et back to the city, w-w-will there be dragons t-there?" "Probably some like to stay up at night and sleep during the day but not many so less chance of running into them and if we do, just keep to our usual plan of movement and we should be fine. The one disadvantage is that they have better adapted to the dark and will be better able to see than we can especially if we take too long getting back." "How will we be able to find our way back in the dark?" "I did this a hundred times I can find my way back blindfolded. Ouch!" Dragnight stomps on the creature that stung her and sees what it was. "Oh-oh." "Are you ok?! Was it one of the scorpion creatures from before?" "No, but it seems like I have to eat my words about finding my way back blindfolded." "Your Blind!" "Don't worry for a human the effects last for a few days, a week at most so as a dragon it should wear off much quicker." "I really hope you just didn't just jinx yourself again." "Yeah anyway, you're going to have to be my eyes for now. Can you do that?" "Yes ma'am!" Spike grabs her hand and leads her. "So keep going forward?" "Yes. This feels weird already." "What?" "Well. relying on someone else. I was always alone no one to help me to survive, now look at me I got careless and now, for the second time today, being saved by someone who I should be saving." "Well, that's the power of teamwork and." Spike's speech get's interrupted. "Don't get sappy on me, I'm not in the mood." the two make their way back to the city's gate. "We made it back to the city, now what?" "You remember what I said about knowing my way through the city, well I wasn't exaggerating. For in case of emergency I remembered every important route I take including the way to the base from here. Since your here you can help by describing our location." "Ok, so right now there's the gate some flags and..." With a great amount of deadpan sarcasm, "Wow great job. If you can't do a better job than that, then it would be easier to just let me handle it alone." "No, I can do it." Spike takes a closer look around being able to give a better description, with that they start making their way through the city. Halfway there Dragnight pulls Spike back, "Slow down it may be dark but there are still dragons that can see us especially with your light coloring." "Uhh, dragnight." "You were spotted, weren't you? Run!" they dash off, Dragnight holds tightly onto Spike's hand. Their chase leads them across the city no time for the dragoness to give directions they made many turns, jumps, and swings to get away, eventually, enough noise was made to annoy other dragons around starting a fight that lets the little one's getaway. "Are we still being chased?" "No we're safe but now we're lost." "Good thing I had you practiced giving intel you know what to do. Also, how is the water?" "Right, the water I seem to have spilled some during the chase but the ones your carrying seem to be fine." "Let just drink from the buckets and toss them we can replace them tomorrow. Now our location?" Spike tries his best to look around, but the sun has set and there is little moonlight, "It's too dark I need a fire." Dragnight gulps down the water and then pulls out a plank from the bucket, "Use this but be extra cautious not to be seen as for the night dragons try to spot their eyes they will be a bit of a green glow to them." Spike lit the plank and uses the light to examine his surroundings, "Hmm, there is a lot of ripped fabric and a lot of colors. It kinda looks like Rarity boutique after one of Sweetie Bloom's art and craft projects." Dagnight smirks at the last remark, "Sounds like the art ally as unlikely it is there are dragons that do appreciate art but of course they still get angry and break out in fights. Seriously art dragons can be more vicious than normal dragons." "Like when someone makes a mess on one of Rarity's dresses." "She sounds scary." "When it comes to fashion you don't mess with Rarity even if you're a dragon. So can you lead the way back to the base?" "Yeah, give me a moment. Grab some dark fabric if you can and cover yourself." Spike picks up a piece of cloth, with how huge dragons are a shredded piece is more than enough for him. "Use this to cover yourself, we just need to cross beast alley then we'll be on our way to the base." "B-b-beast alley? What's there?" "Well as the name suggests it's where they cage creatures that are up for sale. It's run by a single dragon, he's usually asleep by now so are most creatures besides any possible nocturnal ones but they should be put away." They make their way to Beast alley, the sound of snores echo against the walls the two dragons walk past the old and rusted bars, "Are you sure these cages can hold them they look pretty worn?" "As long as we remain quiet we won't need to test them, will we." "The creatures look thin are they being treated right?" "Why do you care? *sigh* No they're barely fed and aren't allowed out of their cage. Now be quiet I heard the guy that runs this place also cages smaller dragons to sell as pets." "Ok, add that to my nightmares tonight." as they walk by piercing eyes stare at them, Spike looks back and shudders, "The sooner we get back the better." suddenly he bumps into a cage and comes face with the awoken beast. It starts barking at them. Spike falls back then hears the sound of an angry dragon that's had his sleep interrupted. Before the beast keeper could get out Spike and Dragnight make their escape the sounds of the creatures echo across the streets waking more dragons. "I'll put out the flame if I was you. We don't need to have a beacon to draw their attention. We shouldn't be far now." they lay low in the darkness, with the chaos of the sounds of beast and tired dragons Spike and Dragnight are able to quitly and swiftly. They reach their hideout, after puting the water away Dragnight then takes the cloth Spike was using and crafts it into a hood. Spike puts it on, "Where did you learn to do that?" She looks away, "I don't want to talk about it.
