It was the start of the summer holidays, and Smolder’s life was over.
She slurped at the dregs of her second milkshake, hoping that the disapproving looks from the patrons of the café would soon start to comfort her. Locking eyes with the nearest pony, Smolder sucked loudly until a frown darkened his face. She offered him her best innocent smile as he climbed down from his chair and trotted with a grumble to the counter.
The taste was helping her mood too. It had been a little over two years since Smolder had moved to Ponyville, but she had decided that there was still a lot to dislike about pony cuisine and customs. Strawberry and lychee milkshakes, though? Definitely nicer than a rough-hewn citrine, and the frosty needles they left behind the eyes were a challenge worthy of a young and confident dragon such as she.
Smolder licked her lips, and studied the stallion at the counter as he looked over the pastries and cakes. She wondered whether to order another one while she was waiting. Headmare Twilight hadn't tracked her down yet, so she definitely had time, and besides, who knew when she'd be able to enjoy one again? Did the great wilderness-or-whatever-it-was-called have milkshakes? Now that she was thinking about it, did it even have gemstones? If it didn't then she was going to have go native.
She tapped the inside of a cheek with her tongue. Yes, now that she thought about it, that was probably what Headmare Twilight was hoping for. The pony had obviously been picking up a few tips on how to scheme like a dragon. It was almost impressive. Almost.
Smolder aimed a kick at the bulging rucksack beneath her dangling feet. The impact pushed it far enough away for her dragon instincts to start disowning it as her property, and a satisfaction that was too unfamiliar to be wholly pleasurable began to envelope her.
Then the rucksack toppled forward against her feet. Smolder narrowed her eyes, even as she pulled it close again.
It was so unfair! she thought as she gazed at the rows of neat wooden tables and vases of fragrant flowers. Her stomach spasmed as she compared the place to Sugarcube Corner. Her friends were probably there by now, having already left their textbooks to grow dust while they planned holiday adventures. Yona and Gallus were spending a week with Silverstream in Seaquestria; the idea of Yona trying to overcome her fear of water while living in water brought a toothy smile to Smolder's lips, but it didn't survive for long. Her three friends were probably going to spend a week filled with mischief and fun—in short, exactly what she should be doing.
Smolder swallowed, and looked down at the small pile of sugarcubes and condiment bottles she had unconsciously hoarded between her hands.
It was what she wanted to be doing, but she knew she wasn't going to get the chance. The realisation nurtured waspish thoughts, and Smolder leapt into their familiar embrace without further thought. So what if the others were going to have the time of their lives? She was a dragon! She didn't need their kind of fun, just like she wouldn't need to remember a thing about friendship once she had escaped from that stupid school and its stupid lessons.
Smolder folded her arms. No, she would go back to the Dragon Lands and leave that rubbish in Ponyville where it belonged. Maybe she could throw down with some dragon for their territory, or kidnap a few princes instead. And hoard, of course. Hoard, hoard, hoard—
“Enrol because I’m telling—asking—you to. Do it to prove to me you’re not scared of going. But most of all, do it because it could make you into one of the most powerful dragons in the Dragon Lands. The world, even.”
Smolder sank back into her chair as Dragon Lord Ember’s words resurfaced. Thin streams of smoke dribbled from her snout as she thought back to the moment when she had tried to back out of enrolling at the school. Ember’s words hadn’t been necessary though—they had both known that Smolder had a far more important reason to attend.
She closed her eyes, and then knocked over the pile of sugarcubes and bottles with a swipe of her hand. As she returned the items, she risked a glance up. Not a single pony was looking in her direction.
Hot rage boiled beneath her skin, and Smolder whipped her tail against her chair. How dare they take no notice of her concession? What was even the point of all these lessons when nobody was going to recognise her attempts to follow them?
The door to the cafe opened with a jingle, and warm sunlight spilled into the cosy interior. Smolder looked around and shrugged on realising the pony entering wasn’t Twilight. As she turned back to her table however, she noticed the saddlebag the stallion at the counter had left on his table. A neatly cut yellow gemstone sparkled at her from between the folds of the material.
Drumming her claws against the table, Smolder averted her gaze. But the light of the gemstone was already feeling warm against her scales. She shifted in her seat and licked the last traces of milkshake from the glass, but it was impossible. After all, she decided, ignoring little trinkets was easy, but this was a gemstone! And a tasty looking one at that.
She drew in a shuddering breath as the craving grew. Was there any point in trying to resist anyway, when nobody was going to acknowledge her successes? At the end of the day, it was the stupid stallion’s fault for being so trusting with his possessions. With another quick glance at the counter, Smolder shuffled her seat further round the table. The saddlebag tickled the tip of her tail, and the heat within her grew stronger as she glanced first at the gemstone, then at its owner. If she got caught it wouldn’t be good at all. She had already gotten into so much trouble at school this term, and stealing would probably earn her a lot worse than a detention. It might even get her kicked out.
Smolder bit her lip. Despite her earlier anger, the thought of being expelled stilled her hand. Another part of her brain, the part she didn’t like to let surface, took the opportunity to strengthen that resolve.
Above all else, the stallion wouldn’t be happy. That was one of the lessons Headmare Twilight kept trying to teach her—she should try and put herself in the horseshoes (or feet, claws, whatever) of others. Smolder closed her eyes, trying to imagine the stallion snapping and raging at her, or threatening to drop a mountain on top of her, or even better, plotting to steal back the gemstone plus interest.
After a moment she sighed. It wasn’t helping at all; ponies weren’t dragons, and that was where it always became difficult for her. Ponies were too nice. Too nice, and too weak.
The gemstone caught the sunlight in the most delicious way as Smolder pulled it from the saddlebag and studied her face in its faceted surface. Something unpleasant was pulling at the back of her mind, but she ignored it. It was okay to be mean to the nice and weak—she was a dragon. If she was nice then what kind of dragon did that make her?
But if that was the case then why was her craving fading? Why did she feel so unsatisfied at thought of taking the gemstone, but equally so at the thought of putting it back? Disgusted with herself, Smolder dropped it on top of the saddlebag and fell back into her seat with a hiss.
“Can I ask what you were doing?”
The owner of the saddlebags was suddenly standing beside her. Smolder pulled herself upright, fire rising to her cheeks, her tail whipping tiny arcs in the air. “Relax, I put it back,” she replied, folding her arms.
The stallion looked down at the gemstone, then back at her. His gaze was stony, and it sent a small thrill up Smolder's spine. “Yes, but I asked you what you were doing?”
Smolder felt her nails press into her scales. “I was going to steal it, but I obviously didn’t. So you're welcome."
"Thought better of it, eh?"
"Yeah, I don’t know why!" Smolder snapped. She kept her gaze on the stallion, smoke spiralling from her mouth. "But either way it makes me a pretty lame dragon, so how about you just get outta my face, huh?”
He continued to stare at her, the veins in his neck throbbing. For one moment, one delicious moment, Smolder thought he was going to do exactly the opposite and pick a fight with her. Her muscles twitched with painful anticipation, and her body was consumed by a heat she didn't think she could resist even if she had wanted to.
Then the stallion's eyes softened, and Smolder’s hopes fell. With a snort, he turned his back on her and sat down, moving the saddlebag to a chair further from her reach. Smolder’s mouth fell open. Was she now getting pity from a pony she had just tried to steal from? Could this day get any worse?
The sound of a pony clearing her throat reached her ears, and Smolder looked up.
In the doorway, wearing an expression that was definitely not one of pity, stood Headmare Twilight.
“Smolder, I hope there’s a reasonable and logical explanation for what I just saw.”
Twilight had covered the space between the door and Smolder’s table with incredible speed, her nostrils flaring and her wings trembling. A blue-coated pony was following her, albeit at a slower pace, but Smolder was too busy staring at the ceiling to take much notice of her.
“It was nothing,” she replied. “Just a misunderstanding.”
“I think of all the things it could have been, a misunderstanding is not one of them," Twilight snapped, her cheeks darkening.
The stallion at the table beside them rose to his hooves, pausing to make a hasty bow on realising who he was talking to. “Misunderstanding? Princess Twilight Sparkle, this dragon was trying to steal my gems.”
Smolder was outraged. “One gem!” she exclaimed. “Not all of them. And if I was going to steal it then I would have stolen it, okay? But I didn’t. So cram it, alright?”
“Smolder!” Twilight glared at her before turning to the stallion. “I’m so very sorry about this, Sir. You can be sure I’ll be dealing with the matter personally." After a moment of contemplation, she inclined her head. "I want to be completely transparent though; Smolder here is a pupil at my School of Friendship, and so if you also wanted to file a complaint—which I would take very seriously—then please come to reception tomorrow and collect forms APT1 through 9 and—”
“N—No need, Princess Twilight.” The stallion’s eyes had glazed over. “The dragon was right, I still have my gems so I guess there's no harm done at the end of the day. I know you’ll take care of the matter, of course.”
Smolder suppressed a groan. Headmare Twilight had once threatened to cancel the winter holiday in order to track down a Hearth’s Warming saboteur. Her response to this was likely to be much, much worse. As Twilight and the stallion continued to talk, Smolder turned her gaze instead to the blue-coated mare, who was now standing beside the other ponies and listening intently to the conversation. Smolder’s brows furrowed as she studied her. She was so strange looking, with a thick pink and crimson mane looped and braided into a towering bun, and sparkling bracelets and necklaces hanging from her body. The saddlebags she was carrying were bursting with food and spices, and a long pleated skirt hung from her flank. The tiny flowers decorating it danced as the pony's braided tail swished back and forth.
Smolder’s gaze moved up to her face. The pony's smile was so carefree and understanding. For a moment she found herself jealous—a craving to steal something that she knew was impossible to steal.
As the stallion left the cafe, apparently satisfied with the apology and, Smolder presumed, the likely promise of severe punishment, Twilight turned to the mare, a horrified look on her face.
“I can’t believe he didn’t recognise you! I’m so sorry, Mage Meadowbrook, that was so very rude.”
The blue-coated pony chuckled. “Goodness, no need to apologise, ma chère. I’m a bit before his time, after all.”
Twilight’s wings twitched against her barrel. “Y-Yes, I understand that, but even after I explained—twice—he didn’t… Oh dear, this is embarrassing. Perhaps I should think about a more effective programme to celebrate and remember what you and the other Pillars achieved for Equestria. Maybe a festival—”
Meadowbrook placed a forehoof against Twilight’s withers. “Now, Twilight. I enjoy a fais-do-do as much as the next pony, but I don’t think any of us will be happy having the stage all to ourselves.”
Smolder stared in wonder. So this was one of the legendary Pillars of Old Equestria? The mare didn’t look anything like Smolder had imagined she would, even from the pictures and portraits in books. And her voice was something else entirely; rich, warm and deep—like a sleepy volcano oozing lava.
“O-Of course, it’s just—” Twilight’s words had begun to increase in both pitch and speed “—why would you not want to learn about one of the great heroines of old, not to mention the finest healer who ever—”
She paused as Meadowbrook cleared her throat, making exaggerated inclines of her head towards Smolder. “Ah… Yes, right.” Closing her eyes and inhaling, Twilight turned back to Smolder. “I’m so disappointed to have seen that,” she began, her voice regaining its earlier edge. “Especially after what we discussed the last time you were in my office. I know you can do better than this, Smolder.”
“Maybe you just like to think that I can.” Smolder leaned forward, her frustration turning into needles beneath her skin. Why couldn’t Headmare Twilight understand that?
Twilight took another breath as she and Meadowbrook sat down. “You can, Smolder, I know you can. You’ve already learnt so much during your short time in Ponyville, even if you sometimes don't feel as though you have.”
Smolder ground her teeth. Twilight’s words were kind, as they always were, but unhelpful, as they always were. It wasn’t the learning that was the problem—surely that was obvious to someone as smart as her.
Twilight took her silence as agreement. “And I know Dragon Lord Ember was really pleased with your last school report.”
That caught Smolder off guard. “She was... Uh, what?”
Twilight cleared her throat, her eyes darting sideways at Meadowbrook. “Well, I might have had to… refocus her attention once or twice on the correct things to be pleased about, but yes, she was. All the more reason not to let her down now, correct?”
“Well if I do then she could always come here and learn instead!”
“Why are you being so—?” Twilight blinked and looked down, as though something beneath the table had just struck her. After taking another deep breath, Twilight met Smolder’s gaze. Then her face softened. “I do understand, you know.”
She took a book from her saddlebag, and slid it across the table. Smolder looked down at it.
“The... Draconomicon?” She couldn’t keep the confusion from chasing away the anger in her voice.
Twilight clopped her hooves together. “Great play on words, wouldn’t you say? It’s a big responsibility being headmare of a school teaching concepts like friendship to such a wide and diverse student base, but reading current biological and sociological texts prevents me from being negligent in that respect.”
Smolder was positive Twilight was talking more to Meadowbrook than herself. Pride filled her voice as she continued, going on about how the research she had been undertaking on the habits and psychology of the different species in Equestria was helping her carry out her duties. Eventually, though, and through polite redirections from Meadowbrook, Twilight got to the point.
“A—Anyway,” she concluded with a cough. “This means I understand why things have been so hard for you, Smolder. You’re a dragon! I mean, being greedy and selfish and… well, mean, is in your genetic makeup.”
Smolder looked between Twilight and the book. “You needed research to tell you that?”
Twilight’s expression suggested to Smolder that she had said the wrong thing. “No! I’m just saying that—” she took another deep breath “—I know this must be hard for you. But that’s precisely why I decided to bring forward next term’s assignment, and that’s why we’re here!” She paused to look around the cafe. “Though I must admit, ‘here’ is a little different to what I was expecting. I thought we were meeting at Sugarcube Corner. Your cryptic message certainly gave us the runaround.”
That was the point, Smolder thought. She bit her tongue though, and waved a casual hand instead. “I was a little tired of sweet things,” she said. “I am a dragon after all. Besides, I didn’t want the rest of my friends knowing about my lame holiday plans.”
She looked down so she didn’t have to see the outraged and embarrassed expression blooming across Twilight’s face. She knew she was being rude, but Twilight’s misguided attempts at understanding her were so frustrating.
Eventually, Meadowbrook broke the awkward silence. “Well now, how ’bout we get properly introduced, now that we’re all done bawlin’?”
Twilight’s ears stood to attention. “Oh, o—of course. In all of the… excitement I forgot. Smolder, I’m sure you’ve realised by now that this is the legendary—”
Meadowbrook chuckled, though Smolder was sure she saw the earth pony wince first. “Oh, Twilight, I said introduced, not immortalised. Please stop using that silly ol’ word.”
“Ah, right…” Looking somewhat deflated, Twilight continued. “Uh, so this is Mage Meadowbrook, the Pillar of Old Equestria you've been assigned to spend time with."
Smolder raised a hand in greeting. “S’up. I’m going to be making notes about our journey while you’re fighting monsters. Or something.”
Twilight’s eye twitched, her cheeks darkening. She turned quickly to Meadowbrook. “And this bundle of snark is Smolder, one of the brightest pupils at the school, not to mention one of the most conflicted.”
Before Smolder could think of a retort, Meadowbrook was leaning forward and grasping her hands in her hooves, shaking them vigorously. “Salut, mon petit dragon, enchantée! Sorry, I'm afraid my days of fightin’ monsters are over, but I’m so lookin’ forward to spendin’ time with you. Twilight has told me so much already.”
“Is that right?” Smolder massaged her shoulders. Meadowbrook didn’t look particularly strong at first glance, but that hoofshake of hers felt like it could uproot trees.
“She has! You know, I’ve only ever met one dragon before you, and then only briefly. I hope I’m makin’ a good impression.”
“You’re… Uh… Yeah, you're fine.” Meadowbrook’s unguarded welcome was making Smolder nervous. She shook her head, trying to find some safer ground. “So did she tell you about how we’re all greedy and selfish and mean?”
A low hiss escaped from between Twilight’s teeth, but Meadowbrook merely smiled. “Well, she told me you’re a dragon, so I guess so. But she also told me that to watch you tryin’ to embrace a philosophy so unnatural to you was inspirational.”
“I-Inspirational?” Smolder felt the heat move from her belly to her cheeks. She looked back at Twilight, then lowered her gaze. “Sorry...”
Meadowbrook tapped the table, the bangles on her foreleg jangling in the quiet of the café. “Come now, I’m sure we don’t need to waste any more time on apologies. We just need to be willin’ to hear what others are sayin’, even when they aren’t aware they’re sayin’ it.”
Smolder swallowed down a gasp. This definitely wasn’t what she had been expecting. Meadowbrook was a legend, despite her refusals to acknowledge the fact, and legends were supposed to be strong, unflinching, merciless. Meadowbrook didn’t seem like any of those things.
Twilight’s wings fluttered against her barrel. “Again, Meadowbrook is right. I know I’ve been guilty of that myself; this term hasn’t been easy for you in particular, Smolder, and I'm truly sorry for that. The school has to be responsible not just for what we teach, but for how the pupils are able to adapt that learning into their own experiences and cultures. We—I need to be better at that.”
Smolder clutched her tail tight in her hands. What was she supposed to say to that kind of admission?
Twilight pulled the Draconomicon closer, as though being in contact with it was giving her some kind of comfort or strength. “I had planned for the six of you to be paired with one of the Pillars as a pilot to see how spending time with them might help you experience how different perspectives, viewpoints and behaviours created the magic that ultimately inspired this school.”
“So why do I have to do it now, alone?” Smolder glanced sideways, but if Meadowbrook was hurt by her words she didn’t show it. “Why can’t I wait until next term like the others?”
“We’ve been through this, Smolder. Look, the last few weeks at school have been filled with reports of you fighting and arguing with other students, and now today I myself witness an attempt to steal—”
“I put it back!”
“—from others. It’s been bad enough at school where we have dedicated support and guidance services, but I worry what might happen over the holidays outside of that environment. So I spoke with Meadowbrook, and she kindly agreed to bring forward her planned arrangement with you.”
Meadowbrook waved a hoof. “Think nothin’ of it. I’ll be glad of the company.”
Smolder folded her arms, petulance taking root at her future being arranged for her. “And if I refuse?”
Twilight’s eyes became hard. “We’ve been through that before too. That letter to Ember is still waiting to be sent. I know she was in full support of the idea.”
A terrible coldness spread across Smolder's body, and she balled her hands. It was so unfair!
Once again, Meadowbrook brought the awkward silence to an end. Looking between Twilight and Smolder, an exaggerated sigh blew from her lips. “Goodness me, look at these stern, long faces, and we haven’t even started talkin’ ’bout our little trip yet. Continue de sourire, eh, Smolder?”
Smolder looked up. “What?”
Meadowbrook blinked. “Ah, forgive me. I just wanted you to keep that smile on your face. Here's an idea; why don’t we all step outside? Fresh air and fair skies are good for the soul.”
Twilight straightened, her eyes lighting up. “Good idea. I’m sure all of this will feel much more exciting once you’ve spoken some more. Oh, and wait until you see Meadowbrook’s caravan, Smolder. She has more potions than stars in the sky, and her herb garden? Wow!”
Smolder instinctively leaned back from Twilight. “Garden? I thought this was a trip?”
“Oh it is. I’m relocatin',” Meadowbrook winked, “didn’t Twilight tell you? The main reason I was so delighted to have you travel with me is that I was in need of a nice strong dragon to help dig up and carry my garden.”
Smolder stared at Meadowbrook for a few seconds before turning to Twilight. “Is she serious?”
Meadowbrook began to chuckle. “Just a little joke," she said, drumming her hooves on the table. “It was funny, right? I’m not normally as quick as that.”
Twilight’s laugh sounded a little too keen as she climbed from her chair. “See, Smolder? Jokes! Fun! Oh, I’m so envious of you.”
Smolder bit her tongue as she swung down from her own seat, and lifted her small backpack up from the floor. Like any dragon, she needed few comforts—just some snacking gems and the most precious of the trinkets she had collected over the last two years—and it was just as well, for the journal Twilight had given her last week was enormous. The heavy weight of it was a reminder of the expectations for her trip with Meadowbrook. A wisp of smoke escaped Smolder’s lips. Maybe the trip would be exciting. Maybe, despite Meadowbrook’s protests, they would battle fearsome creatures and save villages from monsters. But Smolder certainly didn’t want to have to write about it and how she was feeling. In fact, she didn’t want to do anything at all except hang out with her friends and forget that these problems even existed.
She followed the two ponies outside and paused in the doorway, enjoying the feeling of warm sunlight on her scales. She realised that Meadowbrook was watching her, and the curious expression on her face was both comforting and infuriating. After a moment the earth pony turned to Twilight.
“Maybe it would be best if I took Smolder to my caravan by myself? We’re gonna be spendin’ a lot of time together. We should get to know each other first, oui?”
Twilight stared at Meadowbrook, looking at first puzzled, and then disappointed. “Oh, oh! Of course, great idea. I’ve probably got lots of, uh, Headmare-y things I should be getting on with anyway. I can get another look at all of those potions and textbooks some other time, I guess..."
Meadowbrook clasped Twilight’s forehooves, the smile on her face wide and earnest. “Dearest Twilight. Once I’m settled, my hearth will always be open to you. Je promets.”
Twilight's face brightened at that. "Then I look forward to visiting you." She turned to Smolder and chewed her lip. "So, I guess I'm going to leave you both to get better acquainted now. Are you ready? Have you got everything you need?"
Smolder lifted her backpack onto one shoulder. "Got your tome right here. That was pretty much it, right?"
"That's not what I—" Twilight swallowed down the rest of the sentence and looked at Smolder. Her eyes were wide, the colour within them fracturing in the sunlight. It almost felt to Smolder as though Twilight was trying to ask her something without speaking—as if she didn't trust her voice.
Then Twilight exhaled.
“Look, I know this isn’t how you wanted your summer break to start, I do. But it’ll only be for a couple of weeks, and it will be fun. Oh, and just think, you’ll have already finished your assignment by the time your friends are getting theirs. That’s a plus, right?”
Despite her mood, a smile broke across Smolder’s face at that. She threw Twilight a lazy salute.
“You can count on me, Headmare Twilight."
Twilight nodded as she returned the smile. “I’m really pleased to hear that, Smolder. I can’t wait to read about all the things you'll learn, and your own thoughts on how they may—or may not, no pressure—be compatible with your dragon instincts. I’m sure that with Meadowbrook's assistance that book will be full in no time.”
Smolder slipped her other arm through a strap, ignoring the strange sensation of her wings being pressed down by the weight of the backpack. “Sure it will, I’ve got big handwriting.”
Meadowbrook chuckled as she patted Smolder on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry now, Twilight. She’ll be looked after like one of my own. Now, you take care of yourself too.”
“Same to the both of you. And thank you again.” Twilight opened her mouth to say something more, before waving a hoof in farewell instead.
Meadowbrook watched her disappear into the busy street. A moment passed, and then her withers relaxed. “There, now," she said to Smolder. "That feels better, oui?”
Smolder was so surprised a ragged laugh burst from her lips. “Uh… Yeah. A little.”
“Wonderful. Twilight Sparkle is a lovely pony, but goodness me, she is a worrier isn’t she?” Meadowbrook winked at Smolder. “Look at us—an earth pony who hasn’t walked Equestria in a thousand years, and a dragon who would rather be doing something else completely. What could go wrong?”
Smolder found herself laughing again, and this time the hesitant sound was soon swallowed up by Meadowbrook’s richer chuckle. The earth pony pointed a hoof in the opposite direction, towards the marketplace.
“Tell you what, how ‘bout I show you the caravan, and then you can make up your mind if you want to walk with me?”
"Er, say what now?" Smolder scratched the spines on her head as she fell into step beside Meadowbrook. “I don’t have to go? Isn’t that just going to create more trouble?”
Meadowbrook looked to the sky and smiled. “Well, there’s always gonna be consequences to your choices, mon petit dragon. Twilight has a mind that this journey will be good for you, and for what it’s worth I trust her judgement. But you obviously aren’t keen, and it’s hard to learn things when you don’t have a mind to.”
“It’s not that.” Smolder gazed at the colourful market stalls, trying to gather her thoughts. There was something about Meadowbrook that put her at ease, that made her feel as though she could share anything without being judged. Not that she would share too much of course—she was a dragon at the end of the day, and there was nothing more valuable than a secret.
“I guess I’m just feeling nervous,” she offered eventually.
Meadowbrook inclined her head. “Well now, that’s interestin’. I was told that dragons leave home quite young. What fear does a small trip like this hold?”
Smolder shrugged but said nothing. Meadowbrook glanced at her once or twice as they walked, but this time allowed the silence to blossom. It didn’t take long for Smolder’s frustration to begin to grow. She tried to distract herself with the sights and sounds of Ponyville, of trying to work out how she actually felt about the place now that she was leaving it for a time. But the more she tried to ignore the silence, the more it demanded her attention.
She looked sidelong at Meadowbrook, wondering why she had stopped talking. Smolder wondered whether she was regretting her earlier offer. If so it was too bad; she had made it and Smolder intended to snap her hoof off. That’s what being nice got you.
Smolder shivered as the uncomfortable feeling from earlier returned. She would get what she wanted, sure, but what about Meadowbrook? The earth pony had made no secret of how much she was looking forward to the company on her journey; after being stuck wherever she had been for a thousand years, Smolder figured she was probably desperate for any company. If Smolder stayed put, she’d be denying Meadowbrook that, wouldn’t she?
She hissed, pushing the thought aside. What about her happiness, though? Was that not as important? Ignoring the urge to swipe a jar of honey from a nearby stall, Smolder instead clenched her fists. How was this trip going to help her? This was exactly the kind of problem she had wanted to forget about during the summer holidays.
She followed Meadowbrook down one of the streets that ran from the marketplace, and after another minute of walking between rustic cottages and garishly painted houses, they turned down another street and towards the bridge out of Ponyville. By then, the silence was almost painful, and Smolder desperately searched for something to talk to Meadowbrook about without feeling as though she was giving ground.
“So… Uh, is it totally weird to be here now, when everyone else you knew lived so long ago?”
“My, that’s a cloudy question for such a sunny day.” Meadowbrook tilted her head as she considered it. “I could say that holdin’ close memories and mementos keeps those feelings at bay, but I’d be disrespectful and dishonest now, wouldn’t I?”
“I guess.” Smolder didn’t think she’d be overly bothered by such a scenario if she was being honest, but the conversation was distracting her from her feelings, and she was reluctant to let it drift again. Meadowbrook looked up at the sky.
“But distance can be a boon too. It can help you reflect, and it can help you grow. In fact, it can help you with lots of things.”
Smolder shifted the weight of the backpack. “Sooo… Is that a yes?”
Meadowbrook’s warm chuckle tickled her ears once again. “Oh, there I go. Rockhoof keeps tellin’ me I can carve puzzles into the tiniest of pebbles, so let me try and speak plainly. It’s a little strange, yes. And sad. But also excitin’, soothin’.” She turned to Smolder. “How’s that?”
Smolder smiled. “Better.”
“Oh that’s a relief. I was hopin’ I wouldn’t sound too uncool. Starswirl is always complainin' to me about not bein’ able to understand you young folk, and I guess his worries were a tad contagious. Though I’m fast learnin’ that we can be just as cryptic.”
“Yeah, but being mysterious and knowledgeable," Smolder shrugged, "I dunno, there’s like a power in that, right? It's a good thing.”
Meadowbrook inhaled as the wind carried a heady fragrance over them. “Mm, well I don’t recall ever meetin’ a creature who enjoyed bein’ made to feel dumb.”
“Huh, I guess that’s true.” Smolder scratched her snout. What was that smell anyway? “So this place you’re going to, is it your hometown?”
It might have been cast by one of the houses they were walking past, but Smolder was sure she saw a faint shadow drift across Meadowbrook’s face. “Non, mon petit dragon. I’m like the dancin’ willow; I’m simply puttin’ my roots down someplace new.”
“Oh, right.” Smolder found herself frowning at that. “Aren’t you going to miss your old home?”
After a moment Meadowbrook nodded. “Of course, but it will have always have been the place that nurtured me, even if I choose to settle down elsewhere.”
“You’re kind of being cryptic again.”
Meadowbrook’s eyes sparkled. “I know. But we all have our secrets, non?”
Smolder found herself smiling at that. “No argument there. So, uh, what is it about this place that makes you want to live there? Does it remind you of your old home?”
“Oh, I’ve never been there before. But I hear that it’s nestled nicely in the curve of a river like a foal in his mother’s forelegs; a wonderful bayou, protected by ancient trees.”
“That… kinda sounds like your own home, right?” Smolder caught Meadowbrook’s puzzled expression. “Twilight told me about it. Swamps and marshes and stuff. Sounds cool.”
Meadowbrook looked thoughtful. “I guess so. Perhaps my roots didn’t want to move too far, eh? But I’m old, and from a different time, so forgive me my weaknesses. It’ll still be a fun trip though, je promets.”
Smolder ignored the loaded statement. “I guess it’ll help you feel settled too, what with it being similar.”
Meadowbrook stopped and looked down at her. “Is feelin’ settled important to you, Smolder? Why that’s the second time now you’ve broached the subject.”
Smolder gripped her tail in her hands and lowered her eyes to the ground. “We all have our secrets, right?”
She grunted as Meadowbrook looped a foreleg around her shoulders, laughing. “So true, so true. I can see we are going to get along great, non? Ah, here we are.”
Smolder wriggled free as they rounded the side of the last house on the street. Just beyond the building, on the grassy border of Ponyville, stood the strangest caravan she had ever seen. Like an upturned barrel with an oversized, sloping roof, Meadowbrook’s caravan had the appearance of something that had been put together by several craftsponies all working to a different design. Brightly painted wood was covered by creeping vines, and strange plants and strong-smelling flowers were clustered in pots and baskets that were haphazardly secured with rope to the sides. The roof itself had a layer of grass and topsoil, from which neat rows of herbs flourished.
Meadowbrook trotted up to the caravan and spread her forelegs wide. “So what do you think? I asked for trendy. He looks trendy, right?”
“Er, trendy?” Smolder blinked and shook her head. “He?”
Meadowbrook’s ears straightened defensively. “All caravans are ‘he’s’, Smolder, it’s a very well known fact.” She placed a hoof on one of the large wheels. “I call him Ned.”
“That’s…” Smolder struggled to find the right word. “Exotic, I guess?”
“Oh, exotic! Oui! Isn’t it just?” Meadowbrook beamed at her. “That’s exactly the effect I was hopin’ for.”
Smolder wrinkled her snout as the wind threaded itself between the herbs and flowers, stealing their scent before tossing it away. “And I can see what Twilight meant about your garden.”
“It was tough bein’ a travellin’ healer when I first started out. You were always havin’ to settle down near places where you could buy rarer ingredients and supplies. You were never free, not really. With Ned, I can now take what I need with me, and grow the rest as I wander.”
Smolder nodded as her eyes scanned the garden and the caravan. It was ridiculously big for what it was, and yet somehow it still felt too small.
Meadowbrook was trotting back towards her, a small frown beginning to form on her face. “Are you feelin’ homesick already? Still a little nervous perhaps?”
“No, I think it’s more…” Smolder approached the caravan, trying to find the words that her concerns were hiding behind. “We dragons move out pretty early, you’re right. It would be the first time in years that I’d be living with someone, aside from the dorms at school, and it’s quite small. Uh… No offence.”
“None taken.” Meadowbrook sat down and pressed her forehooves into the grass. “So dragons are particularly susceptible to cabin fever, eh?”
Smolder stared at all of the flowers and herbs. Unbidden, her mind began to test the knowledge that she had long considered lost. Were those bilberries? And was that bell-shaped flower comfrey? She frowned as memories began to resurface too. Old memories, but happy ones.
“Sounds about right,” she said at last, turning back to Meadowbrook. “So you use all these in your medicines, yeah?”
“Oui. You never know what ailment or disease you might encounter, or be asked to cure. Each one is a mystery, like puzzles needin’ careful study and application of the right combination of ingredients and methods.” She looked towards the open horizon, a smile on her lips. “Or maybe a challenge is a fairer comparison; illness and injuries are like powerful opponents to be overcome after all.”
“Huh, cool.” Smolder glanced back at the garden, before grinning at Meadowbrook. “But you think I don’t know when someone is trying to appeal to my instincts?”
Meadowbrook held up her forelegs, chuckling. “I stand caught. But that doesn’t mean I was speakin’ false. I do think you’d find somethin’ in this journey that’s rewardin’. Only you will know when you've found it though.”
Smolder walked back to Meadowbrook. “You know, Headmare Twilight kept saying I’d learn a lot from you. Maybe she’s right.”
“Well I’m hopin’ to learn a few things too." Meadowbrook inclined her head. "Perhaps we can do it together?”
Smolder chewed her lip. It sounded like a plea, but even now she could tell Meadowbrook was putting her under no pressure. It felt like she had all the time in the world to make her mind up.
Except, Smolder realised, she already had made her mind up.
Holding out a hand, she pushed down her fears to where they belonged and smiled. “I guess I’m in then. Let’s go learn stuff.”
Author's Note
Thanks for taking the time to read this first chapter. An earlier, rougher version of this had appeared on the site on a long deleted account years ago; It was a story that structurally had issues, but it was also the story I was most sad about not continuing when I originally left the site.
This chapter has been rewritten and amended to address changes in the longer narrative of the story, but if you (somehow) still remember it from the first time round, then I hope it was still enjoyable to rediscover and read new content. I'm hoping to get further chapters out, but I'm sure you can appreciate that it's somewhat difficult to give timescales at the moment. Having to become an amateur teacher on top of my day job and other hobbies means my time on this site is very limited, but I hope that isn't detrimental to the enjoyment of individual chapters.
Thanks again, and see you soon, hopefully.
