Power of the Dragonflame: The Resurrection of Torch

Chapters

Prologue: End of an Era/Rebirth
Act 1/Chapter 1: The Crystal Cathedral
Act 1/Chapter 2: An Age-Old Problem
Act 1/Chapter 3: Where Dragons Rule
Act 1/Chapter 4: Hurt and Inspiration
Act 1/Chapter 5: A Dragon Reborn
Act 1/Chapter 6: Triumph and Tragedy
Act 1/Chapter 7: Revolution and Revenge
Act 1/Chapter 8: Powerslave
Act 1/Chapter 9: Twilight's Dilemma
Act 1/Chapter 10: Trixie's Trap
Act 1/Chapter 11: Dark Revelations
Act 1/Chapter 12: Warriors of Light
Act 2/Chapter 1: Behind Enemy Lines
Act 2/Chapter 2: Magic Never Dies
Act 2/Chapter 3: Dominion of Deceit
Act 2/Chapter 4: Smoke and Sacrifice
Act 2/Chapter 5: The Lawless South
Act 3/Chapter 1: The Paladin's March
Act 3/Chapter 2: Returning Fire

Prologue: End of an Era/Rebirth

This was the end. For all their power and prestige, dragons did not live forever. For ex-Dragon Lord Torch, time had finally caught up with him. After more than three millennia of rule, his ancient body had grown sluggish and decrepit. To just spread his wings took monumental effort, his muscles burning under the strain as he lurched skyward.

Despite the pain, he refused to stop, pushing himself to fly as high as his wings would carry him. He observed the ground below, taking in every little detail of the volatile lands that he had once called his kingdom. Every igneous ridge; every bubbling crack in the earth; every speck of hot volcanic ash against his hardened skin; it all felt as fresh as the day he took hold of the Bloodstone Sceptre.

His thoughts turned to his only daughter, Ember. Against his initial wishes, she was now Dragon Lord, and in the two short years she had held the title, she had made many sweeping changes to the Dragonlands nation – including an alliance with the neighbouring pony nation of Equestria.

Torch, of course, knew of the pony's intervention during the Gauntlet of Fire. Any dragon who so much as laid a claw on the sceptre left an unmistakable mark on its magic. No Dragon Lord worth their flames could ignore the impression a dragonling had on it.

No, Spike was more than that. He was different. Even before his first moulting, he displayed a level of wisdom and conviction far beyond his years. Spike was a child in body, but an adult in heart, with a mind to match. In a way, it was a sign of things to come. No longer was dragon culture defined by the traditional might-makes-right power structure.

Now, it was all about cooperation and friendship between dragons and all other creatures of Equestria, based on nothing more than pure altruism. That was why many young dragons nowadays went to Twilight Sparkle's School of Friendship – though this was far from universal. Dragons were a much older race than ponies, and many a dragon Torch had met watched this new generation grow with mild amusement, himself included.

Of course, one could not ignore the presence of Alicorns controlling the sun and the moon, nor the vast expanses the ponies had developed in their short time in this world. Perhaps it was inevitable that dragons would adopt similar principles.His kind was a dying breed.

Torch let out a low, rumbling chuckle. How easy it would've been to crush the pony nations while they were young, especially prior to their unification under twin banners of day and night. Alas, he never capitalised on that opportunity. Why would any dragon care about advances in pony civilization? Dragons weren’t interested in conquest! Ponies wouldn’t dare threaten creatures that could easily squash them underfoot, so there was no need.

The ponies could sing their little songs about friendship all they liked. Dragons had their hoard, and with it, more physical might than any creature to fly the world's skies. What more could they desire?

Life. That one word, more than any other, refused to leave Torch's mind. It just stuck there, worming its way into every thought like a parasite.

He didn't want to die. He, like every creature, possessed the innate desire for self-sustenance. In life, Torch had bested many a challenger to his throne, be they pony, dragon, griffon or changeling. He was in control, the master of the Dragon Lands, and it was at his discretion that he would pass the title of Dragon Lord on to another.

As much as he hated to admit it, there was only one foe he could never overcome: death. And it was coming for him. He had been in the air for less than an hour, and already he could feel his muscles creak. His breathing was already laboured when he took off, and now his whole body threatened to tearitself apart.

Slowly, he turned himself around and held out his wings, descending in a slow, gentle glide. So long as he was careful, he could make it back to his hoard, the one area suitable to be his final resting place.

If death was to be his master, then he would ensure no dragon could ever surpass him. Damn any dragon to Tartarus that would dare to plunder his wealth! A dragon's treasure was what made them powerful, and he would remain the most powerful of all, even in death. Let Ember have her alliance with Ponies, and their pathetic values of friendship. She wanted to remain small and weak? So be it.

Sixty meters off the ground, Torch's wings gave out. He tried to flap and slow his descent, but it was no use. He was too weak, and there was too little time to recover. He slammed into the ground with a heavy thud, skidding to an unceremonious stop in the earth some distance from his cave.

The mighty had fallen, but he wasn't dead yet. Gritting his teeth and letting out a painful groan, he clawed at the dirt and pulled himself to his feet with a great amount of effort. His dragon magic was running out, but he could still walk. He could only hope no other dragon saw his fall.

Opportunistic bastards... he thought, his cheeks burning hot with shame. He couldn't really blame any dragon for taking advantage of his weakened state. He'd brought up countless generations that way, and it would be a long time before they abandoned such values.

“I'm… still… stronger...” he wheezed under his breath. Pulling himself up to the top of a steep hill, he arrived at his final destination. Before him stood Mount Ignatus, a towering chunk of scorched rock piercing the blackened, ashen skies. While thousands of meters high, the volcano's pinnacle was clearly visible, glowing with a bright orange haze that emanated from the ever-constant eruptions.

Some suggested it drew its fires from the depths of Tartarus itself, while others insisted that it was the remains of a long-extinct dragon species; the embersstill simmering millennia after its body decayed. Though Torch knew this to be a mere legend, it was not hard to see the similarities. Its skin was covered in long, scarring cracks, etched away by pyroclastic flow.

Dipping a claw into a pool of bubbling-hotmud, he felt it burn against his hardened, scaly skin. Holding it up to his nose, he took a good, long whiff, the rotten smell of sulphur irritating his throat. His coughs were violent and shook his ancient body.

Even now, all the sensations he once enjoyed just caused more harm. Plodding up to the foot of the mountain, he slammed his fist against the cliff face, spraying shards of splintered stone everywhere.

He hit it again, and more rock shattered, but still it didn’t give way. How long had it been since he last visited his hoard? Most dragons would never be able to break in, but he was not most dragons. He should not be having such trouble.

Roaring in frustration, he rammed his head against the hallow wall, pulverizing the barrier to dust from the force of the strike. As if to spite him, the dust scratched at his throat, making him cough hard enough to spit up blood. He really was a shadow of his former self.

Slowly, he slunk forward through the tunnel of his own making, the last sparks of his life used to reach the glittering gold within. His fire burned cold, and once extinguished, he would be no more.

Torch's eyes flickered open. At first, there wasn't much to see, save for a tiny purple glow in the centre of his vision. He blinked a few times and the glow divided into three. Slowly, but surely, the world around him sprung to life, starting as a hazy wash of random colours, before settling into individual shapes.

He let out a low, rumbling groan, and the three lights jumped. He felt small clumps of loose metal gather between his claws, all of which felt strangely comforting despite their rough texture. As more of his vision returned, he could make out more distinct shapes among his surroundings.

Small, quadrupedal figures stood in front of him, each with short, cylindrical appendages protruding from their heads. These figures invoked less than pleasant feelings, and he would have crushed them in one swipe, were it not for the strange, purple aura emitting from their heads.

“Ponies...” It was all coming back to him now. Stepping down from the position of Dragon Lord, his daughter, Ember, and her new alliance with Equestria. “What are ponies doing in my sanctuary?!”

His mighty roar shook the cavern so hard, the unicorn trio were almost knocked off their feet. Torch expected them to run for their lives, scampering off to rob some other tomb of its wealth. Yet they did not. Beyond the use of magic to keep themselves stable, they stood firm, muttering something to one another under their breath.

Through the pain in his muscles, he slowly sat up. “Give me one good reason why I don't incinerate you ponies where you stand?” he sneered, eyes narrowed.

Then, to his surprise, they bowed before him. “At long last, you have awakened once more, my master,” said the middle unicorn. Now that he got a good look at them, Torch noticed this was no ordinary trio. Each of them was draped in a long, black cloak, hanging limp off their bodies in a way that hid their ghastly pale-grey coats from the world. Streaks of what Torch assumed was black ink stained their taught cheeks, in stark contrast to their long, ivory-white manes.

In his time as Dragon Lord, Torch had encountered ponies of all shapes and sizes—all of which he disliked immensely—but few looked to be as gaunt as these unicorns.

Yet somehow, their magic was the opposite. Their horns had not stopped glowing, and Torch had a nasty feeling that whatever they were crafting had something to do with him.

Then, it hit him. Though he felt just as groggy, he hadn't, in fact, woken up from a long nap as one might expect. No, he had died, only return to life in the presence of pony magicians. Yet he wasn't breathing. He naturally inhaled prior to speaking, but his chest neither rose nor fell of its own accord.

“How long have I been dead?” Torch asked, his calm voice at odds with the morbid nature of his question.

“At least five years, my Lord,” said the rightmost unicorn. “After Moonshadow's fall, we have worked tirelessly to re-create his spell of resurrection.”

“As you can no doubt see,” said the centre unicorn. “Our spell isn't perfect, but we have managed to halt your decomposition prior to any active decay.”

“Your chosen burial site aided us greatly,” added the leftmost unicorn. “It would've been much harder to keep you stable were it not for the arid conditions of this volcano.”

Torch looked down at his claws. His turquoise skin had turned a muddy shade of brown, and his skin showed some signs of recession, but otherwise he wasn't much different from the day of his death. Moonshadow, he thought. He recalled hearing of a sorcerer who nearly brought the Crystal Empire to its knees, but only now did he understand the level of power that name beheld.

“But why didn't you resurrect him?” Torch asked.

The centre unicorn lowered their hood, revealing his ghostly looking face. This stallion had an ice-white mane, cut into a short fringe; misty, sunken eyes, and bony cheeks, as if he was already at death’s door. “Because, my lord, we have even grander plans than our former master. He was too fixated on becoming an Alicorn, too single-mindedin his vision of leadership,” the necromancer grinned, flashing a mouth full of blackened teeth. “We, however, have always admired the values of physical strength and dominance typical of dragon culture. And with our help, you can be Dragon Lord once again; not just over this singular nation, but as your rightful place above all lesser races.”

Torch rubbed his chin. “What's the catch? Surely you wouldn't go through such painstaking efforts to resurrect a dragon of my size without wanting something in return.”

“That's just it, my lord,” the unicorn shrugged. “We seek a society with no limits on what magic can achieve. The art of necromancy is, in of itself, the greatest pleasure we could hope to obtain – unbound by such petty moral restraints of pony society.”

“Not only that,” added the rightmost unicorn, also revealing her face. This one wasn’t quite as skinny, but that didn’t count for much when half her face was rotten – though this was at least partially covered by bangs over her left eye. “But we have transcended the very forces of life and death itself. What could be a greater challenge than creating a new race of immortal dragons, forever entrenched at the top of the hierarchy?”

“And we are so close to achieving it!” cried the third, bouncing to his hooves. He shrugged off his cloak entirely, revealing a stout figure covered in rotten green fur that was teeming with maggots. “But there is only so much our magic can create alone. Which is why we need you.”

“In short,” the middle unicorn concluded, “You help us build a force of slave unicorns to bolster our magic, and we will help you become the greatest Dragon Lord – neigh, the greatest creature this world has ever known!”

Now they were speaking Torch's language. He had been granted a second chance at life—or in this case, unlife—and could finally rise above the ponies which had refused to serve him for so long. No more weak-willed friendships, no more meddling in dragon affairs, no more compromises. It was everything he could have ever wished for.

“You have yourselves a deal,” he said, reflecting the unicorns' maniacal grin. “On one condition: my word will be final on all matters. You may make suggestions, of course, but I will always have the final say. And should you ever step out of line and try to usurp me? I will squash you like insects.”

“That won't be a problem, my lord,” the middle pony bowed. “Now, let us become more formally acquainted. My name is Night Twister.”

“My name is Crystal Rose,” announced the mare with a twisted grin, her magic shimmering off the polished gold.

“And my name is Thunder Spark,” added the stout stallion, squashing a maggot under hoof.

“Together, we are the Cult of the Dragonflame’s founding members,” Night Twister continued. “Now that our spell is complete, I recommend you re-introduce yourself to our loyal followers. If we are to reclaim the dragon race’s former glory, we have a lot of work ahead of ourselves. Our collective spell will keep you whole, no matter what damage you sustain.”

“So, I’m invulnerable, is that what you’re saying?” asked Torch.

“Precisely that, my lord,” Thunder Spark answered. “Why not see for yourself?”

The ground beneath Mount Ignatus heaved, shaking the earth with a quake that could be felt for miles around. To the casual observer, this was just another eruption in the most volcanically active continent on the planet. But to a select few, this was a sign of things to come; destruction, carnage and the prophesied end of pony dominance.

Author's Note

At long last, my new long-form epic war fic has begun! I will try my best to get two chapters done a month until its conclusion, but this may not always be possible. Still, with a backlog of chapters to be edited, there should be enough to reward regular readers!

Act 1/Chapter 1: The Crystal Cathedral

“Crystal Central Station, every creature!” cried the guard as the train rolled to a stop with a hiss. Wafting away the vented steam with her wings, Princess Twilight Sparkle stepped out of the first-class carriage.

“Twily!” From the platform’s far end, Shining Armour galloped over to Twilight and threw his hooves around her in a tight hug. “So glad you made it!”

“Good to see you again, big brother,” Twilight said, reciprocating. It had been seven long months since her last visit to the Crystal Empire – an event that was becoming increasingly rare over the past decade, thanks to her ever-mounting duties as one of Equestria's most recognisable leaders. One look at Shining armour showed little in visible ageing. He looked almost identical to the day Flurry Heart was born!

Then again, Twilight still looked young, despite her longer hair and crown worn to any important visits. If Rarity was to be believed, now that she was well into her thirties, she could expect her first grey hairs any day now!

“How's everything on this side of the wall?” Twilight asked.

“Hectic, that’s for sure,” Shining replied with a light sigh. “Between Flurry Heart and the new fortifications, it’s been long day after long day. I’m lucky to have a sister with such impeccable organisation skills like yours, otherwise I might never get to see you!”

Twilight chuckled and waved a hoof in dismissal, blushing. “You really should give yourself a break, Shining. Ever since the siege, we’ve had the longest period of peace in Equestrian history!”

“As if I could forget…” Shining glanced up at the walls. Numerous heavy cannons satidly. On a clear day like this, he could easily lead tours around the base of the walls, naming every black powder weapon along the way.

In peacetimes, tourism was an easy way to generate extra cash for the imperial citizens. This, of course, came with the addition of battle re-enactments to educate the knowledge-hungry populace of how their newest Alicorn came to be.

But no recreation could ever replicate the true horrors of the battlefield. Shining’s home city had been half obliterated by the time the Phantom Stallions were finally defeated, and that was only the climactic battle at the end of months-long defence.

Nowadays, with the power of five nations by their side, such conflicts became relics. For the sake of Flurry Heart—whom was far too young to remember the siege—Shining wanted more than anything for wars to be that; historical endnotes to educate and, if necessary, entertain.

It was an idealistic fantasy, one that many would consider childish, but Shining had a sneaky suspicion that, in their heart of hearts, every creature desired the same.

“Shining?” Twilight cocked her head. “Is something on your mind?”

Shining shook his head. “No, it's nothing important. I was just thinking, we sure could've used those cannons during the siege.”

Twilight's expression dropped. “Are you sure you're okay, big brother? War sure as heck take a toll on anyone’s mind.”

“I'm a soldier, Twilight,” Shining snapped back, though he only noticed the bitterness in his tone when Twilight flinched. “I mean, I've been Captain of the Canterlot Guard for a long time, Twily. Yeah, memories of the siege hurt, but I can deal with it, like I always do. Besides, you've got enough on your plate already, what with running the friendship school and all.”

“Yeah, but...” Twilight hesitated, unable to hide the worry in her expression.

“Don't sweat it, Twily,” Shining placed a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. “I know how much you care, but I'm fine, really. Let’s just head to the cathedral already. Cadence and Flurry Heart are already waiting.”

“Wait, cathedral?” Twilight stared blankly at Shining.

“Of course,” Shining replied. “Don't you remember? It was still under construction last time you came, but now it's complete.”

“Wow, it really has been too long...” Twilight rubbed her head. “Spike was right. I really do need a vacation from school business. “

“Then you're in for a real treat!”

The cathedral was only a short walk away from the station. It had been built from the ruins of buildings destroyed during the siege, though by the sheer splendour of its architecture, no pony without prior knowledge would've guessed. On the surface, the cathedral looked to be crafted from a single, giant block of crystal, each corner marked by four, rectangular towers that dominated the city skyline. Its broad arches were enough to make any creature look small by comparison, dazzling all whose eyes were drawn toward its shimmering stained-glass windows.

Each window depicted a moment in recent Equestrian history. From the reformation of Princess Luna, to Twilight's ascension to Alicornhood—and, of course, the final battle that culminated the siege of the Crystal Empire; depicting Stellar Shine as he obliterated the metal dragon with a single blast of holy magic—it was all here, in a breath-taking array of colours.

Towering above it all was the central spire, which spiralled up to narrow point that stopped just shy of the lower district's walls. From her point of view, Twilight could just about recognise the symbols carved at the tip: cutie marks. Specifically, the cutie marks of her and her friends, in addition to the shooting star of Stellar Shine, and a dragon's claw wrapped around the crystal heart to represent Spike.

“Impressive, isn't it?” said Shining, though Twilight didn't respond. To think that such a gigantic structure could be built in the span of a single decade was simply mind-blowing. All she could do was stare, slack-jawed at the perfect still life depiction of the Elements of Harmony in action.

“I think you broke her, Shining.”

If any voice could break Twilight from her stupor, it would be her sister-in-law. “Cadence!” She called, galloping over to Cadence to perform the same greeting dance they had done since they were fillies. Only this time, there was an extra pony who wanted in on the fun.

“Hey, Aunty Twily, look what I can do!” It took a moment for Twilight to recognise the curly-haired filly bouncing up and down in front of her, but there was no way she'd ever forget Equestria's only Alicorn child, especially not one that shared the mane colour of her mother and the coat of her father.

“Wow, Flurry Heart!” Twilight smiled. Flurry had gone through quite the growth spurt since the last time she saw her. At only ten years old, she'd shot up to nearly half the height of her mother. “You've grown so much, I hardly recognised you. So, what did you want to show me?”

Flurry cleared her throat and bowed. “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake...”

Twilight gasped, partly from how cute Flurry looked doing her old foal-sitter's dance, but also from the great sense of pride she felt at the tradition being passed down. “Clap your hooves and do a little shake!”

The two ponies mirrored each other's movements exactly, even down to the number of flank-wiggles at the end of their song – which, of course, got them both giggling. “So, how'd I do?” asked Flurry with bated breath.

“You were perfect!” Twilight pulled her niece in for a big hug. “I'm sorry it took so long to visit. How are your friendship lessons coming along?”

“Well...” Flurry rubbed a hoof against her leg, averting her gaze. “Besides when the Cake twins come to visit? I don't really have many friends my age. Every creature treats me like royalty – and yeah, I kinda am. But I don't want them to be so formal all the time. Sorry to disappoint you, Aunty Twily.”

Twilight crouched down and held Flurry's cheeks between her hooves. “Don't worry, you're not disappointment, trust me. When I first became a Princess, it was super awkward to suddenly hold all this authority over every pony else. I can't say it was easy, but if I can make new friends after becoming a Princess? Then so can you.”

Flurry sighed. “I guess I'll just have to keep trying, huh?”

“I know you can do it,” Twilight ruffled Flurry's mane. “Even as a baby, you were always super friendly to everypony. So, here's a little tip from me to you: learn how other creatures like to play, and just be yourself. Once they get to know the real you, not just a title, then you'll find how much you have in common.”

“Thank you, Aunty Twily,” Flurry bowed gracefully. “So, we're having our meeting inside the Cathedral, right? Let me tell you, if you think it's pretty on the outside? Just wait 'till you see what Stellar Shine did with the inside!”

Act 1/Chapter 2: An Age-Old Problem

Act 1, Chapter 2: An Age-Old Problem

(Act 1, Chapter 2: An Age-Old Problem)

She wasn’t kidding. Her jaw dropped when she pushed the door open. Towering crystal archways held up the roof, each lined with immaculate polished, silver spirals. Equal in beauty to the ones outside, the stained-glass murals filled every nook and cranny with dazzling rainbow light. Everywhere Twilight looked, a new colour combination caught her eye. Deep blues faded into light greens; reds scattered into pinks; it all looked like a window into Rarity’s creative mind.

No way she didn’t lend a hoof in layout planning! Twilight thought. Even to an untrained eye such as hers, Rarity’s touch on the architecture was obvious.

Sculptures lined the halls, all chiseled from the same marble as the floor to match the proportions of their depicted subjects. Twilight trotted over to one statue, carved and painted to the Garnet Plateau’s resemblance. Were it not for the way its eyes reflected the light, Twilight would've sworn it as impossible to distinguish from the real-life Crystal Pony counterpart.

Casting a small illumination spell to get a better look, an ethereal book shimmered into existence right before her eyes.

“Gah!” Twilight nearly tripped over herself as she stumbled back.

“Like it?” Cadence asked, struggling not to grin at her. “This type of monument was inspired by you.”

“Guh?” Twilight replied in place of a coherent question. The one-two punch of pop up surprises and catching her breath weren't a recipe for complex inquiry.

“Well, it was sort of Flurry Heart’s idea,” Cadence added. Flurry blushed and hid behind her wings. “By the time she was two, Flurry was starting to get really chatty. I asked her to choose Aunty Twily's birthday present, and the first thing she said was, ‘Magic books!’”

“Needless to say,” added Shining, “that gave us a brilliant idea. Why not throw in something a little different for unicorns and changelings amongst us?”

Twilight turned back to the statue and lit up her horn again. “Huh, that is pretty cool,” she said. “What about creatures with passive magic? Don't they get anything extra?”

“Of course, they do!” Cadence affirmed. “Just look around you.”

Glancing up, Twilight took notice of the platforms floating around the upper levels. Casting a magnification spell, she saw groups of pegasi and hippogryphs flying between them, some of whom stopped to sit on fluffy cushions as they read the information slates.

Elsewhere, she spotted groups of changelings and fellow unicorns activating small crying orbs with their magic—though dragon fire seemed to work just as well—bringing up page after page on Equestrian history. Likewise, resourceful earth ponies and yak managed to locate various loose stones and panels which, when pressed, revealed not-so-secret passages to other rooms further inside the cathedral.

Closing her eyes, Twilight felt the crystal pony enchantments wash over her, humming a soft, warm glow that melted away the stress of everyday life. This was not just a cathedral; no, it was a monument to everything good and right about Equestria. Every stone, every page and every artwork resonated with the positive emotions of those who loved to learn, encouraging those with a diverse group of friends to come together for the fullest experience.

This was the Cathedral of Friendship.

“Flurry Heart,” Twilight said. She peaked out from behind a wing, only to see Twilight sitting in front of her, offering a hug. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Aunty Twily,” Flurry accepted it, a small tear of joy rolling down her cheek as her parents joined in.

A short time later, Stellar Shine arrived. While visits from royalty were hardly an uncommon occurrence in recent years, Stellar’s status as the newest Alicorn still generated a fair bit of buzz; gasps of surprise and an increase in chatter that were quickly superseded by those directed at Dragon Lord Ember.

Twilight let out a small sigh. Dragons were a part of her friendship school, but also an increasing minority amongst ponykind. Spike was quick to remind her about the solitary nature of dragons, as if she could forget, though it did little to shake the nagging feeling her efforts didn’t go quite far enough. At least nopony was screaming over Ember’s presence, which Twilight supposed was a step in the right direction. If only they didn’t give every dragon they saw such a wide berth, maybe their relations would have healed quicker.

While she wouldn’t say it out loud, Twilight had to admit that without the crystal pony magic, she would be one hundred percent freaking out right now. As it was, she just felt a mild unpleasantness stir in her gut, like a half-eaten sandwich that didn’t quite agree. Once the talks got underway, Twilight believed this, too, would go away.

“Ah, Stellar Shine, Ember, so glad you could make it!” she called, performing a small, ceremonial bow.

“A pleasure to see you again, Twilight,” Stellar reciprocated with a warm smile, his white coat and golden mane glistening in the light. “How is everything back in Ponyville? I would visit more often, but alas, there’s never a dull moment within the Order of Crystal Paladins. I guess a busy life comes part and parcel with Alicornhood, huh?”

Flurry Heart grimaced at that remark, a reaction both Twilight and Stellar noticed.

“Well, if you ever need help with scheduling,” Twilight chimed in, “then I'm your mare.”

“Are you sure you're the Princess of Friendship, not the Princess of Scheduling?” Ember chuckled, prodding Twilight with the bloodstone sceptre.

“In her defence,” Flurry retorted and stood between them, “scheduling work and play is an important part of anypony's life,” she looked up at Cadence. “That's what Princess Celestia said when you were a kid, right, mom?”

“Actually, it's the other way around,” Cadence mischievously smirked at her. “Aunty Twily said that on her first day at Celestia's gifted unicorn school.”

Twilight blushed but made no attempt to deny this fact. “I always thought I'd get my cutie mark for scheduling, or books. But then the Sonic Rainboom happened, and the rest is history.”

“Is that how most ponies get their cutie marks?” Ember asked, half-joking.

“It's a little more complicated than that,” chuckled Shining and rubbed the back of his head. “Well, a lot more complicated; though I'm sure Twilight will be happy to explain it to you.”

“It's a field of magicology that's been extensively studied—” Twilight began, only for her lecture to be cut off by the echoing ring of the cathedral's bells. She cleared her throat. “Which I'll happily talk about another time, since we're overdue for the summit meeting. Flurry, could you show us to the conference room?”

“Of course,” Flurry chirped, activating the scrying orb below the statue of Garnet Plateau. The floor rumbled as a long path of tiles levitated up to form a makeshift spiral staircase. Taking a bow, she gestured up the stairs. “Right this way, my lords.”

Their room was situated at the central spire’s top, modestly furnished with a round, wooden tea table—fashioned from the remains of the Golden Oaks library—as well as red velvet cushions in lieu of chairs. Around the room, more than a dozen bookcases spanned from wall to wall, all containing various documents that went into great detail on the subject of Equestrian history.

“So, what's it like?” Flurry asked Ember once they were all seated. “The dragon lands, I mean. I don't know much about dragons, other than they grow bigger the more treasure they have. And the whole breathing fire thing. No offence.”

“None taken,” Ember sighed. “That's always the first thought about dragons. Kinda bugs me that the stereotype hasn't changed since Spike won me my title, but I can deal.”

“How has the cultural exchange been so far?” Stellar asked. “Last I heard, the pony population of the Dragon Lands is actually quite decent.”

“You mean you don't know?” Ember cocked an eyebrow. “I thought Alicorns were supposed to be in the loop about this stuff. Y'know, with being a Prince and all?”

“I can see why you'd think that,” Stellar’s tone remained even, but not unkind. “It's true for most Equestrian Royalty, but I'm the exception. Indeed, I was crowned prince, but I chose a different path than national leadership. In times of peace, the Crystal Paladins serve as advisors. Ponies look to Celestia's light for guidance through times of personal strife, and we facilitate self-help in that regard.”

Twilight shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, feeling the tension in the air grow. “Not that there's anything wrong with more... direct guidance methods, as well,” she added gently.

“Oh, of course,” Stellar agreed with some haste. “I apologise, I didn't mean to cast judgement. I only meant that my role is less formal than traditional royalty, that's all.”

Twilight sighed in relief, and when she relaxed her posture, so too did her compatriots.

“I guess we're all guilty of negative assumptions, huh?” Ember admitted with a shrug. “Maybe that's why ponies keep their distance from us, even in the dragon lands. I don't know who's more scared of who!”

“Do dragons have festivals?” Flurry asked.

Ember blinked. “Well, of course,” she replied. “All creatures have festivals, but they tend to be dangerous – what with all those rivers of lava and all. Why do you ask?”

A familiar grin grew across Flurry’s lips, one that Twilight had seen before. She could practically see the bulb light up in her niece’s mind. “Well, why not ask ponies to take part? If they're tough enough to live near volcanoes, then dragon games will be a walk in the park.”

Ember opened her mouth, yet no words came out. For some reason, she’d never considered sharing her culture in that way, but now that Flurry mentioned it, it made perfect sense. “You know, I think I’ll try that,” she smiled back at Flurry. “Dragons love a good competition, especially if it’s against ponies. Good thinking there, squirt.”

“That’s our Flurry,” Cadence chuckled, ruffling her mane.

“Actually, that reminds me of something,” Twilight levitated an old book off the shelf, flicking through the pages until she found the right passage. “Aha! Look at this, every creature. These are the laws regarding the Equestria Games. It doesn’t say anywhere that dragons can’t participate.”

“Huh, I was wondering about that, actually,” Shining added. “I’ve seen griffons compete in the games for years now, even before our official alliance with Griffonstone.”

“Exactly!” replied Twilight. “You remember when Spike saved everyone from a spell gone wrong? Well, why not create a new game that’s all about melting ice? I just know dragons would be all over something like that!”

Ember scratched her chin. “When’s the next Equestria Games?”

“Not until late next year,” Cadence answered. “Though I’m sure that’d give every creature plenty training time.”

“Plus, we Paladins could offer to duel the victors of contact sports as an extra reward,” Stellar lit up his horn and levitated another book to the table. “Jousting has been a long-standing tradition here in the Crystal Empire. I’ve run a fair share of bouts in my time, so why not combine these traditions for the more combat-minded athletes?”

In a flash of magic, Twilight conjured a pen and a small notepad. “These are all excellent ideas! I think it’s settled, then. Ember, if you could offer to be the coach for extreme sports, I can help organise their integration into the next games. As soon as we have the setup, you’ll be the first to know!”

“That’s perfect!” exclaimed Ember, flexing her biceps. “Just don’t expect us dragons to go easy on you. We’re a pretty hardcore bunch, after all.”

“Hey, I’m no pushover myself, y’know,” Flurry pulled out several books with her magic and began juggling them above her horn. “At least as far as magic goes.”

“I think you’re still a little young to be competing in the Equestria games, Flurry Heart,” Cadence chuckled, taking the books from Flurry’s magic. “Plus, it’d be unfair for a princess to compete amongst regular ponies.”

Flurry leaned back in her chair and pouted. “Awww, you’re no fun.”

Author's Note

Back in the game for writing and editing fics! Ember has a new opportunity for uniting Dragon and Pony culture. What could POSSIBLY go wrong? :P

Act 1/Chapter 3: Where Dragons Rule

Act 1, Chapter 3: Where Dragons Rule

On the south-west coast of the Dragon Lands, a pony settlement went about their regular day-to-day lives. Rain Dancer, a cerulean blue Pegaus pony with a magenta mane, busied herself pushing clouds into place over the farmer’s crops. It was hard work collecting enough moisture from seawater, but for her personally, the benefits outweighed the difficulties.

After all, how many ponies could say they were thriving in a land as volcanically active as this? Acid rain, minimal sunlight, pyroclastic flows; all these potential hazards made living in the Everfree Forest look like child’s play – a tremendous challenge that Rain Dancer and her friends took head on.

“Hey, Silver Soil,” Rain holared at a silver-coated earth pony below. “Where do ya want the clouds?”

“A little to the left will do,” Silver brushed back his black mane. He was the oldest stallion amongst the colonists, and rumour had it that he was so adept at farming, he even taught Applejack a few new tricks. Spinning a rake in his hooves, he carefully dragged it across the soil and dropped a few seeds into the freshly dug grooves.

Bucking her cloud, Rain Dancer sprayed its content onto the seeds, then gently blew the cloud across the field with her wings. With the soil moistened, Silver pushed up his glasses and raked it over before moving on to the next one. Once each row was planted, watered and covered, the rest could be taken care of by the third member of his little farming quartet, Hazy Spark.

In stark contrast to Silver, Hazy was the youngest, aged just nineteen, in addition to being one of two gender queer ponies. Despite their masculine physique, Hazy’s coat was a soft shade of pink; with their short, fringe-cut mane being a similar, light shade of purple.

Hazy weaved a gentle stream of purple magic through each seed. Within seconds, the plants sprouted from the ground, ready to be picked and presented to the colony’s hungry citizens.

“I hope the yields are better than last time,” Silver grumbled, casting a suspicious eye toward Hazy.

Their expression dropped. They offered no words in objection.

“Hey, pops, give 'em a break already,” Rain Dancer landed next to Hazy and hugged them. “I know growth spells are still experimental an' all that, but fifty-percent success ain’t bad for a first try! Heck, we still recovered the seeds to plant new stuff, so what’s with the attitude, huh?”

Hazy smiled, nuzzling Rain Dancer’s cheek. They could always count on their marefriend to stand up for them.

Silver sighed and re-adjusted his glasses again. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me. Every pony knows how much blood, sweat and tears I’ve put into the farming business. How do you think I feel when some unicorn comes along, pumps the crops full of magic, and leaves with little to show for it?” He pointed toward the pictured shovel on his flank. “Goes against everything my cutie mark stands for. Nothing personal, just how I am.”

“I’m sorry, Mister Soil,” Hazy said quietly, shuffling closer to Rain to hide their wand cutie mark. “I want to make farming easier for everypony. I appreciate how much you’ve taught me about field prep, I really do. I just need to experiment a little, that's all.”

“We’ll find the right balance, I know we will,” added Rain. “As long as we still have reserves, we’ll be fine. I swear it on my own raincloud rump! So, how about we all take a break for now? Peridot should be done with the carrot juice by now.”

“Somepony call my name?” replied a green crystal pony, poking her head around an open door.

“Speak of Grogar, and he shall appear!” chuckled Rain. “You got the goods?”

“See for yourself,” Peridot Pop said as she stepped out, carrying four full glasses on an old waitress table. “Freshly mashed carrot juice, at your service.”

Hazy wrapped the glasses in her aura, levitating each one to her friends. “Here’s to the only carrot farm in all the Dragon Lands!”

“Cheers!” clanging their glasses together, the group gulped the drinks down in one go.

“My dear Peridot, you’ve done it again!” Silver exclaimed. “This has to be the best carrot juice I’ve ever tasted.”

“Oh, shucks,” Peridot blushed. “You say that about every glass I make.”

“Well, it’s true,” Rain held the glass between her wings. “You should sell a bunch of bottles to mainland Equestria. ‘Cause when they get a taste of this stuff, we’ll be swimming in gold!”

“I tried that once,” Hazy said with a straight face. “It’s not as easy as it looks. Rather uncomfortable, too.”

Rain cocked an eyebrow. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope,” they shrugged their shoulders. “It was top of the list of idioms to test.”

“Are you sure you weren’t separated from Twilight Sparkle at birth?” Peridot prodded Hazy with her elbow, though they just stared blankly at her.

“I can’t tell if that’s an insult or a compliment?”

“It’s a compliment, Hazy,” Rain smiled at Peridot. “Anypony worth their salt would love to be compared to the Pedantic Princess, am I right?”

“Oh,” Hazy gave a weak smile of her own. “Sorry.”

“Hey, it’s no problem,” Peridot waved her hoof in dismissal and finished her remaining carrot juice. “That’s life for you.”

“Speaking of,” Rain interjected,“looks like it’s time to take care of business.”

Walking in from over the horizon, a trio of young adult dragons hauled a wooden cart toward the village. Every week, it was the same three dragons; the broad-jawed Garble; the skinny, purple-scaled Fume; and the heavy-weight, black-scaled Charcoal.

“Sit tight, gang, I’ll handle this,” Peridot cleared her throat and trotted over to greet them. “Welcome to Silver Soil’s Carrot Farm. How may we assist you today?”

“Oh, cut the crap already, Peridot,” Garble groaned, rolling his eyes. “You know what we’re here for. Just give us the goods and we’ll be out of here.”

“Nice to see you, too, Garble,” Rain Dancer huffed. “Would it kill ya to learn some manners, for once in your life?”

Fume stepped forward, narrowing her eyes at Rain. “Have you considered leading by example? You’re not exactly a ray of sunshine, either, you know.”

“Um, Rain?” Hazy tried to ask, but the bickering drowned their voice.

“We don’t wanna be here any more than you losers do,” Garble sneered, flipping Rain a middle claw. “So, do you have the carrots or not?”

“Oh, we’ve got plenty,” Rain flared her wing feathers, cracking them together as if they were knuckles. “How about I stick one right up your—”

“That’s enough!” Peridot stepped between Rain and the Dragons. “Both of you, chill out already. Garble, we were just in the middle of pulling out your shipment. Rain, they’re just here for work, not to bully us. So, let’s not start pointless fights, okay?”

“Ugh, fine,” Rain harrumphed reluctantly. “We chose to live here, so let’s just get down to business.”

“Just who in Tartarus do you think you a—”

Fume grabbed Garble’s snout and held it shut. “Thank you, Peridot,” she said, narrowing her eyes at Garble. “And Garble is sorry for any hostility he caused. Right, Garble?”

Garble crossed his arms and forced a smile. “Yeah, yeah, I’m sorry.”

“Fantastic. Anyway, while we’re waiting for your shipment to be loaded,” Peridot gestured toward her hut, “care for some Carrot Juice? Freshly squeezed!”

“Oh, yes, please!” Charcoal clapped his hands excitedly, earning a cocked eyebrow from Garble. “What? I’ve got a taste for. Helps keep your heart healthy, y’know.”

“Actually, I’m done here,” Garble spat on the ground and turned to leave. “I only showed up ‘cause Lord Ember made me. You losers can take care of the rest. Later!”

Giving another two-fingered salute, Garble flew off.

“Is it just me, or is Garble being extra rude today?” Silver asked.

“He’s never liked Ember as Dragon Lord,” Fume shrugged. “What with winning her title through friendship and all. Also, I'm sorry for what I said earlier, Rain. That was rude of me.”

“Yeah, yeah, water under the bridge and all,” Rain said dismissively, pulling the last of the carrots out and dumping them in the wagon. “Here’s your haul, nice of you to visit, see you next time.”

“Hey, wait a sec…” Fume shot Rain a suspicious look. “There’s only half the usual amount here. What gives?”

Hazy bit their lip. They had a feeling this would come up, and now they were in the spotlight, not knowing how to respond.

Thankfully, Rain was there to provide relief from the curse of social awkwardness. “We’re just experimenting with stuff,” she said, stretching her hoof over Hazy’s shoulders. “New farming techniques, lots of magic, all very complicated. Yields are small right now, but let me tell ya, the results are gettin’ better each time!”

“If you urgently need a full wagon, we do have leftovers stored in the village barn,” added Silver, smiling. “I can withdraw some if required.”

Fume rubbed her chin. “Eh, what the heck. I’ll let it slide this time. Just make sure you don’t shortchange me again, or you’ll have Ember to answer to.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Peridot returned with more carrot juice. Charcoal followed just behind, downing yet another glass. “Hazy here is the best mage a pony could ask for. I'm one-hundred percent confident we'll have top quality produce within the week.”

Fume gave Hazy a distrustful look. “Well, I know nothing about unicorn magic, so I'll take your word for it. Charcoal, we're leaving.”

“Already?” Charcoal whined. “Can't I have one more glass?”

“Take one for the road,” Peridot smiled and gave Charcoal a glass from her tray. “My treat.”

“Oh, thank you!” Charcoal took the glass and shook Peridot's hoof with some force. “Wait 'till I tell the other dragons about this. You're gonna have one heck of a business on your claws! Erm... I mean, hooves.”

“Charcoal!”

“Coming!” holding the glass steady in both claws, Charcoal skipped away after Fume.

Rain wiped the sweat off her brow. “Phew, that was a close one. Alright, everypony, take five.”

“Hey, Peridot, are you really that confident in Hazy's spells?” asked Silver. “No offence to Hazy, but we shouldn't make big promises that we can't keep.”

“I meant every word of what I said,” replied Peridot with a confident smile. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about!”

“I'm with Peridot on this one,” Rain turned to face Hazy. “They didn't graduate from Celestia's Unicorn School with top grades for nothing!”

Hazy blushed bright red, hiding behind the fringe of their mane.

“Hazy, are you okay?” Rain's expression dropped.

Hazy wanted to reply, but the words caught in their mouth. They felt a sudden pressure grow across their chest, as if a dragon had decided to sit on them, causing their knees to shake and buckle under the strain.

“Go away...” Hazy murmured under her breath, shutting her eyes tight.

“Hazy?” Rain reached out and squeezed Hazy's hoof. “It's okay, Hazy. I'm here for you.”

“I have to go!” Hazy snapped, yanked their hoof away from Rain and shot off galloping through the town.

Peridot felt a distinct chill run down her spine as she realized what she'd been doing. “Oh no, I pressured her too much, didn't I?”

“Ya think?!” Rain Dancer snapped before galloping after her partner. “Hazy! Hazy, please come back!”

Peridot slumped onto her hindquarters, the glasses on her tray shattering as they hit the ground. “Not again.”

Silver sighed. “It's alright, my dear. I'm partially at fault as well. Let’s get you inside and leave Hazy to their marefriend.”

Author's Note

In this land we defended, from all things dark and cruel...

Act 1/Chapter 4: Hurt and Inspiration

Act 1, Chapter 4: Hurt and Inspiration

Hazy Spark sat atop a cliff behind the church that overlooked the town. Their hooves were still shaking, but their breathing had returned to normal.

“Hey,” said a soft voice from behind, nearly making them jump. “Relax, it's only me.”

Hazy looked over their shoulder to see Rain land. A gentle smile grew across her face. “Hey, Rain,” they said despondently. “Sorry I ran away. I'm a coward as always.”

“We both know that's not true,” Rain sat next to Hazy and draped them in her wing. “I should've said something sooner. Social anxiety is one heck of a chore to deal with, huh?”

Hazy just nodded.

“Sorry to say this, love, but I don't fully get what's worrying ya,” Rain continued. “Everypony in this village respects you as a mage. That includes Silver, despite being overly critical sometimes.”

Hazy sighed. “I don't know, Rain. You know I've been working my butt off to get that growth spell right. I wouldn't have travelled all the way to Canterlot to learn it otherwise. I've had so many sleepless nights stressing over it, but no matter what I do, it doesn't work the way I want it to.”

“But you've progressed in leaps and bounds,” Rain’s voice sang with enthusiasm. “Doesn't matter if it ain't perfect, your hard work has paid off. That's what I love about you, Hazy; you’re an enby who always strives for the best, even when the pressure gets too much.”

“I love you, too,” Hazy leaned over and kissed Rain on the lips. “I've never done well with deadlines. I was lucky to have Twilight Sparkle as a mentor. It's amazing how much she can do, even with her busy life as the Princess of Friendship. You saw the look Fume gave me when Peridot suggested the deadline. What if I don't meet her expectations? What if something else goes wrong?”

Hazy groaned and rubbed their temple. “I can't deal with judgemental ponies, let alone dragons. How I ever passed the GSU, I'll never know.”

“Hey, if anypony's gonna judge you, they'll answer to me first!” Rain flexed her biceps. “I don't care how big they are, if they're badmouthing you, I've got ya covered. I didn't move all the way from Manehatten for nothin'! Even if your spell does go wrong, we've got so much leftover, they won't know the difference! Peridot offered a week 'cause that's how much faith she's got in ya. It doesn't mean you've failed if ya take longer.”

Hazy's eyes began to tear up. “How? I'll sour the village's reputation if I don't perfect this spell! Everypony’s relying on me to get on the dragons' good side. I'm not like Princess Twilight. I'm no good at inter-species friendship.”

Rain pulled Hazy in close. “If only Princess Twilight could hear ya say that, she'd have a heart attack! Where do ya think the verb 'Twilighting' came from?”

Hazy sniffled. “I... kinda did wonder about that, yeah.”

“I went to Twilight's friendship school, remember? I've seen plenty of her legendary freak outs. But she still became a Princess, and still helps ponies with friendship problems to this day. Heck, I wasn't even the best student, but I still met you, y'know? If we can work together, both as a couple and through farming, then I know everything will work out fine.”

“I guess so,” Hazy closed their eyes and rested their head on Rain's shoulder. “I love you, Rain.”

“I love you too, Hazy,” Rain gave Hazy another kiss. “Wanna move to the church roof and watch the sunset together?”

“Yes, please,” Hazy smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes. Hoof in hoof, the couple teleported over.

“Stupid ponies and their stupid carrots,” Garble sat on a steep hill, grumbling to himself as he kicked a loose boulder. “Can't believe Ember makes me hang out with those losers. She shouldn't even be Dragon Lord!”

“Oh, I quite concur.”

Garble shot to his feet, ready to torch the eavesdropper. To his surprise, the speaker was a pony, but not one like the villagers he'd been forced to associate with. This one was covered in a dark cloak, his face obscured behind his hood.

“You have five seconds to tell me what you want,” Garble growled. “Or else, you're toast.”

“Ah, you must be the infamous Garble I've heard so much about,” the grey one lowered his hood, revealing himself to be a sickly-looking Unicorn. “Tell me, what would you give to serve the Dragon Lord?”

“I've served the bitch calling herself 'Dragon Lord' enough for one day!” Garble emphasised the air quotes and bared his teeth, preparing to blast the condescending fool to smithereens.

“Oh, no, no, no, I don't mean Ember,” the unicorn grinned. “I mean the true Dragon Lord, who rightly forbade his daughter from competing in the Gauntlet of Fire.”

Garble narrowed his eyes at him, holding a lick of fire steady in his mouth. “What are you talking about? He died over ten years ago.”

“That is indeed the case,” he chuckled. “But, oh, how times have changed. I'll cut straight to the point; Lord Torch has returned from the grave. He is no longer a slave to the power of death, but rather, death is his power to command.”

Garble relaxed, letting his fire dissipate. “I'm listening,” he crossed his arms. “How do I know this isn't a prank?”

“Allow me to demonstrate.” Catching a small lizard in his magic, he squashed it beneath his hoof. Then, stepping back, he gestured to the mess of splattered guts before him. “We can both agree that this lizard is dead, yes?”

“Oh, really? I had no idea,” Garble sneered, tapping his foot impatiently. “Obviously it's dead, what's your point?”

Closing his eyes, the unicorn conjured a stream of dark purple magic to envelop and seep into it. At first, nothing happened, but after a couple of seconds the magic began to take effect. The lizard’s blood turned from pools to streams, flowing back into the exposed, ruptured veins which now sealed themselves back. Organs expanded, stretched and smoothed out, invisible hands placing them behind muscle and skin. Bones snapped back into shape.

Just like that, it was as good as new, skittering around as if nothing had ever happened. Garble's jaw dropped.

“This is the power of necromancy, my friend,” the unicorn said with a twinkle in his eye. “However, there is one fatal flaw.”

As soon as the Unicorn cut off his magic, the lizard collapsed. “We need a regular supply of magic to maintain the dark rebirth – or Undeath, to use a common pony vernacular. That is why Lord Torch requires unicorns like me.”

Garble cocked an eyebrow, but he couldn't deny his curiosity. “Why are you telling me this? What do you have to gain?”

“There's a simple explanation for that.” he lowered his head, and before Garble could react, he blasted a beam of magic straight through the middle of his stomach. “Dragons have forsaken their rightful place above ponies, and we will stop at nothing to restore that.”

Garble clutched his wound, but he could do little to stop the bleeding. “What... what was—” he coughed up a thick pool of clotting blood. “What was that for?”

“It's simple, really,” the Unicorn grinned as Garble collapsed. “You will either serve us and become stronger than ever before, or you will be exterminated. Torch's dragon flight has no room for weaklings.”

“Alright, alright,” Garble wheezed, his vision going dark. “I'll join... already...”

The unicorn stood over Garble as he breathed his last breath. “An excellent choice. My name is Night Twister; welcome to the Cult of the Dragonflame.”

Act 1/Chapter 5: A Dragon Reborn