II. Chapter 22: It is back

I had a nightmare. It was night, I stood in the middle of the forest and stared at the manticore standing in front of me. It smiled at me, grinning its teeth disgustedly. - "Hello, Colin. Did you miss me?"

"My mother has cast you away." - I started to step back and then It started to go in my direction. - "No, leave me alone!"

"I told you that I would come back ... You aren't happy to see me. We will be able to play!"

"No, please... NO!" - I stepped back more. - "Go away from me!"

"Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Leave me alone!"

"Too bad..." - At this moment the demon attacked me. It hit me with his sharp claws, and I fell on the forest litter.

When I got up, I wasn't in the forest anymore. I looked around. I was in Ember's cave. I lay on the ground, covered with a blanket, I was alone. I grabbed my chest because I felt pain.

"Hey, you okay?" - I heard. I looked up and looked at Ember, who was kneeling beside me and looked at me worried.

"I-it's okay, it's just a bad dream." - I looked at her and she smiled at me.

"That what you did was very nice." - She said, smiling at me. - "However... You didn't have to."

"But what?"

"You know... You covered me with a blanket during the night, it was nice. Thank you."

"Ohh..." - I blushed a bit. - "You're welcome."

"Are you hungry?" - I nodded. - "Actually... What do you eat? Meat, fruits, vegetables?..."

"I don't eat meat." - I spent a lot of time among ponies. Contact with animals and Fluttershy made me I promised myself to never eat meat.

"Unfortunately, we don't have many plants here, but... Hmmm... I know. Come with me." - She said heading towards the exit. I stood up and I followed her.

I walked with her for a few minutes. Dragon Lands didn't look very interesting. There were certainly many mountains, sharp rocks, fire, and lava. I saw the dragons that flew through the sky. They were really huge. All of them had different colors and what's interesting, each of them had a fire in a different color too. Many of them paid attention to me and watched me with interest. I kept very close to Ember, I was just afraid that one of them might attack me. "Rainbow Dash was one hundred percent right." I thought.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to eat breakfast, I think maybe some plants will be found. Have you ever eaten fire berries?"

"No."

"They are very tasty, believe me. This is an alternative for gems."

"Okay, if you say so."

"Hey, did you know that when these berries are fermented, the best alcohol is made of them?"

I looked at her. - "Did you drink such alcohol?"

"You crazy? It's really strong and I'm not a masochist, I'm underage. I just heard it's really good."

"Fine."

After some time, we came to a place where there were other dragons was. Some of them slept, others fought with each other and ate. Ember was eating the crystals, and I was this berries she was talking about. They were red, grew on a small bush without leaves, but with spikes and they were the size of a strawberry. I admit that they tasted really good, but their taste was really strong. So strong that after eating one of them, my tongue burned a bit, which explains why these berries are called firey. After breakfast, we just sat down and watched the landscape. Dragon Lands looked nice after all. This place had some unique charm. Dragons flew over us, often fought with each other, and I couldn't get over with admiration.

"Well, well, did I finally see a smile on your face?" - Ember asked, chuckling.

"What? I really smile?"

"Well, yeah. You haven't seen dragons before, huh?"

"Actually, I saw one of them in Ponyville. His name is Spike, but he's small, I've always wanted to see a big dragon like..." - I didn't finish. The next dragon flew over our heads. I shuddered slightly, and Ember just laughed.

"You see, being a dragon is great. You can fly, breathe fire, and no one has the courage to bother you." - She looked at me and became a bit serious. "Listen to me now, I'll escort you back to the cave when we end eat breakfast. Many dragons have seen you and... I have nothing to hide, I have to tell about you to my father and just explain it."

"Okay, but why do I have to go back to this cave?"

"It's simple. The dragons aren't very nice, especially the teenage ones. If one of them would accost you, he could hurt you. " - She said taking the emerald and eating it. She looked at me again. - "You have dark circles under your eyes when we return to the cave, lie down and go to sleep, that bad dream must have exhausted you."

"I feel good."

"I don't think so, you have to listen to me. First, I'm..."

"I know. Okay, I'll go to sleep, your highness." - I said with a slight irony

"Very good, citizen." - She said, chuckling.

I liked Ember very much. She was very nice, quite laid back, she could make jokes and... She just was pretty. That's when I probably felt something more. After eating breakfast, Ember and I began to return to the cave. In halfway one of the young dragons accosted us. His scales were red, he had a pair of wings and orange spikes. He was a bit taller than Ember himself. - "Well, well, what we got here?"

"Colin... I will take care of this." - Ember said, pushing me back a bit with her tail. - "What do you want, Garble?"

"Me? Nothing. I just heard that some strange creature is accompanying you." - Garble looked at me and smiled, but... It wasn't a friendly smile. - "What are you exactly?"

"I..."

"It's nothing, just let us go." - Ember said trying to pass, but the red dragon didn't let her. - "In the Griffon Empire, they pay a lot for such rare creatures."

"W-what? ..." - I asked a bit surprised.

"Leave him alone." - Ember said, and fire burst from her nostrils.

"Try to force me." - Garble attacked her. Both began to fight.

"Colin, run!" - She said, trying to break free.

I had to do something. I grabbed a large stone and I hit Garble with it as hard as I could. Ember broke free, and Garble fell to the ground. It was then that he got up and looked at me with rage. - "You little bastard." - He hit me with his claws on the right cheek. I fell and I was hit my head, instantly losing consciousness.

When I woke up, I was in this forest again, however... There was no one around. There was very calm. The wind blew slightly and played with the trees leaves and my hair. Darkness surrounded me, but I could see something through the light of the moon. I didn't know what to do, so I just started to move forward. I don't know how long I went. All the time I heard someone's footsteps behind me and I heard some strange whispers. I couldn't identify them. They were in an unknown language. As I walked, I began to feel more and more pain. I felt pain on my legs, arms, chest, and whispers were getting louder. There was total darkness around me, I saw nothing. I began to look around and at one moment I saw a pair of red, glowing eyes. I felt a sharp chill, I began to slowly step back, but... Something has gone wrong. I turned around and I saw a stone wall. - "What the ..." - When I turned back again... I was at the Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest. It was at this moment that I heard a woman's laughter, which sounded very familiar. It came from the corridor, and more specifically from the throne room. I was walking down the hall, I heard something like... Cry, begging for mercy. I hurried up and when I reached the throne room, I saw something that made me froze. I saw Nightmare Moon, but... She wore her armor, and a large scythe levitated beside her. She slowly approached Celestia, who was wounded and she begged for mercy. I wanted to do something, but... I couldn't move. Something just held me and It didn't wanted to let me go.

"Sister... D-do not do it... Please!" - Celestia begged, crying.

Nightmare Moon laughed cruelly. - "You really think I'll spare you? Do you really think I'll spare somepony like you ?!"

"Please, no. I love you, Luna, please... Do not do this, we are sisters..." - Celestia said, and even more, tears fell from her eyes.

"I'm not Luna..." - At this moment the black alicorn swung with her scythe. - "And I'm not your sister!"

Then I looked away and I heard the sound of cut meat and muffled screaming. I fell to my knees and I began to sob softly. I couldn't believe what I saw. Moon wouldn't do it. She isn't like that anymore. I crossed my arms and just let the tears flow. I realized that after all... Something like that could have happened. Even though Moon didn' not want to bring eternal night anymore and she changed, she still hated Celestia. - "She is a monster, she will kill her sister first and then you." - I heard. I looked up and saw manticore standing in front of me. We weren't in the castle anymore. Only darkness surrounded us.

"No... Nightmare Moon is not a monster, she wouldn't do it!"

"Are you sure?" She hates Celestia and she would kill her without hesitation."

"No!" - I said getting up. - "You're lying, she's not like that!"

The demon just laughed. - "You're naive, boy. She'll do it sooner or later."

More tears flew from my eyes. - "She will not do it... Certainly not. You're just trying to manipulate me again. You're trying to make me mad using your dirty tricks! "

At that moment the demon growled furiously. - "You will die too, I promise."

"I'm not afraid of you!"

It was then that the demon started running towards me and when It was about to attack me, I woke up. I looked around the room and I realized that I was again in this cave. I looked at Ember, who was sitting by the fire. She had a few scrapes and bruises. I stood up and immediately approached her. She looked at me and smiled a little.

"Ember, you're wounded..." I grabbed her hand and looked at the scratches on it.

"It's nothing, kid. I'm a dragon." - She was smiling at me reassuringly. Tears flowed from my eyes and I felt a pain on my right cheek. - "You're wounded too..." - She said, touching my cheek, taking care not to touch the wounds.

"E-Ember, I... I'm so sorry..."

"Hey, it's not your fault. Garble is always looking for a provocation." - She embraced me with her arm. - "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Besides, Garble is in huge trouble right now." - I looked at her. I was silent. "When my father learned that Garble had attacked us, he almost killed him, besides... He knows I'm taking care of you."

"Actually... Why are you helping me?"

"Because it's better than nothing. I'm not like other dragons and... I... I think I just like helping... I don't know..." - She looked into my eyes and smiled again. - "Besides, I liked you."

"I like you too, Ember."

She laughed. - "Don't worry, I will help you reach your friend, we can go even tomorrow if you like."

"We can go, it's not a problem for me." - I said, also smiling.

"Hey. Do you want me to show you Griffonstone on the way? It's a..."

"The old city that the griffons left and never came back again."

"I see that you know the history of this place."

I remembered what Garble had said, "In the Griffon Empire, they pay a lot for such rare creatures." I decided to ask Ember what he meant.

"That red dragon, he... He said that in the Griffon Empire is paying a lot for..." I stopped. Ember looked away. - "Hey, you alright?"

She sighed. - "You know... I'll be honest. I said I'd help you, but... I'd prefer that you stay here."

"Why?"

"See, the Griffon Empire seems to be a perfect kingdom, but it's not. This kingdom has its pathologies, like... Permission to have a slave, or... Already less legal, but very popular trade in rare creatures. Colin, look, I... I'm not sure... Ashley can be in captivity now. "

"She is not. She is at the Emperor."

"Wait she's at uncle Asriel?" - She looked at me

"I..." - There was no chance to retreat. I had to tell her. - "I learned about it from Lara, she is a traveler and... She said she brought Ashley to the Emperor, and he took care of her."

"Wait... And you wanted to visit her, right?"

"Y-yes..."

Ember looked at me a little suspiciously. "There's one problem. The guards wouldn't let you into the castle. So you'd have to be called by the Emperor himself or... You'd have to be someone very important." - When she said it, I looked away. - "You said you were from Equestria, and this necklace..." - She touched the silver crescent on my necklace. - "You said your mom gave it to you. Who is she?"

I looked at her. I wondered for a moment and I realized that I could trust her. She saved me many times. - "My mom..."

"Yes?"

"My mom is a Princess Luna..."

Ember's eyes widened. - "So you're her son, damn... I heard about it, but... I didn't expect that it could be you."

"What are you going to do now? Will you take me hostage?"

"Of course not, Colin. I'll help you get to your friend and we let know what happened from the Griffon Empire. But my father can't find out anything. He could take you hostage, believe me, dragons can be very greedy."

"T-thank you..." - Several tears flowed from my eyes.

"Hey, will be fine." - She gave me a soft hug.

"Ember, what if she thinks I'm dead?"

"I don't know. Listen, can you tell me what happened?" - She said, looking into my eyes.

"Well..." - I said, sniffling and wiping my tears.

"Slowly, don't be in a hurry."

I told her exactly what had happened. I told her about the situation that happened to me when I was on my way. About what attacked me and that I suspected it might be a demon. Demon, which was almost always in the form of a manticore. She asked me what was going on with this manticore. I told her how I got to Equestria. I told her about how I was attacked by the Ponyville residents, about the nightmares, about the demon, about my mother's death, about Nightmare Moon, and how I was poisoned, and how the demon was cast away by Luna. In the end, I also told her about the nightmares I had when I came to Dragon Lands. Ember had to think about it for a moment.

"You didn't have easy, did you?"

"Yeah."

"You know... I don't know if it will comfort you, but... I never knew my mother. Only my dad takes care of me."

"You never had a mom?"

"No. I don't know what happened to her. When I was a little and I asked my dad... Where is a mommy..." - She paused for a moment. - "He... He looked embarrassed at the time and told me that... Mommy is far away and that she will be back soon... But... She n-never came back .." - Some tears flew from her eyes. I didn't know what to do and I just hugged her. I didn't know what to do and I thought it would help her and... It helped. She needed it. She needed to just tell someone about it and she just needed to cry. I sat with her for a few minutes and then she let go. She wiped her tears and said. - "Thanks, Colin."

"You're welcome, Ember. Everybody needs this from time to time."

"If some other dragon could saw me now, he would probably think that I'm weak."

"You are not weak. You are very strong, you defeated Garble."

"I didn't defeat him alone." - She looked at me and smiled. - "Because you helped me. I liked how you hit him with a stone."

"I... You know, I just... I didn't want him to hurt you."

"Thanks, kid." - She embraced me again. Then we just sat and watched at the bonfire.

Celestia and Luna were sat in the medical room in Canterlot, where two guards were brought, who had to take Colin to the Griffon Empire. One of them had a claws and teeth marks on his body. He was unconscious. The second guard didn't have any wounds on him, except for one stab wound that blackened and his veins were black and visible despite his fur. He woke up quite recently, because of about thirty minutes ago. Celestia was going to talk with him to find out what happened to her nephew. Luna was completely depressed. She was crying, she was very afraid for her child. She blamed herself for it, it happened. "it's my fault... Fuck, why did I let him for it?" She thought. Celestia tried to calm her down, she could comfort her, but her attempts were unsuccessful. When Luna calmed down a bit, they decided to interview the guard together.

"Okay, now tell me what happened." - Celestia asked, looking at the guard who had visible black veins.

"S-something attacked us." - He said.

"What was that?"

"I remember... It could fly, I'm not sure, but... I think it was a manticore." - When Luna heard that, she covered her face with her hoof. Celestia also seemed to be disturbed. - "Where am I?" He asked, gritting his teeth in pain.

"Now, now. It's okay..." - Celestia said, touching his forehead. - "Your companion brought you here, he is wounded. He rests now."

"Y-your Highness, I'm so... I mean... W-we so sorry... It surprised us, and..."

"Don't blame yourself, guard." - Luna said after a moment. - "It doesn't matter if you'd be ready or not. You wouldn't have a chance. You were attacked by the demon. The same one I had to cast away two months ago. "

"A demon?... Oh damn..."

"Princess Luna, Celestia." - They turned and saw the doctor who just entered the room. - "I must ask you to leave the room. The patient must rest, besides... I need to examine him."

"Of course, doctor. Luna, let's go." - Celestia said, getting up and heading for the door.

Luna and Celestia were walking down the hall, talking.

"Tia... What if... What if Colin is dead?"

"Lulu, I'm sure he's alive."

"I'm scared, I'm just scared. Maybe he's alive, but... What if somepony just kidnapped him and..."

"Luna." - Celestia stopped and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Please, do not panic. Iris trained with him and taught him how to survive. I'm sure that wherever he is, he's fine. "

"But..."

"Please, understand. We will not help him by worrying, we must start the searches and send the guards wherever we can."

"Okay..." - Luna said. "I will inform Nightmare Moon about this. Colin often was with her and... "

"I know, go to her, but... Explain it to her in a mild way, okay? Maybe she's not evil anymore, but maybe she's still a bit nervous."

"Right."

Luna headed towards the exit, and Celestia was about to go to Shining Armor to inform him about the disappearance and to start the searches. They both loved him and wouldn't accept that he could die. They believed that he was still alive. And they weren't wrong. But they also didn't know that Colin was in good hands and that he was safe... By the time. They had one more problem on their heads now. After all... It is back and could threaten the boy and probably wanted revenge on him.