Chapters A Dragon's Fate: The Fall
The following morning, Zecora was up at sunrise. As she hurried along the path to Ponyville however, the mare stopped and looked around, her ears pivoting atop her head as she studied the forest around her.
Something wasn't right. Zecora could feel it in her being - she could sense it in the air. When she realized what it was, the zebra felt her stomach clench with unease.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Cautiously, Zecora set off down the path, moving at a swift walk. She soon came to a place where one of the forest's many meadows were located. Stopping for a moment, Zecora's eyes widened in bewilderment and horror. In the next instant she'd taken off at full gallop, breaking through the line of trees and out into the open.
An enormous crater now existed where none had before. Clouds of dust still hung in the air. Drawing closer to it, Zecora skidded to a halt at its edge. Though she squinted as hard as she could in the dust, she was unable to see the bottom. The shadows too deep.
Was that what he had heard the night prior? Had the quake - whatever it was - been what caused this? And what about that terrible roar she'd heard before the quake? Just what in Equestria was going on?
"This is a place I should not be," Zecora told herself, now realizing just how afraid she was, standing beside the crater with too many unanswered questions. "I must warn the other ponies!"
However, as she turned to run away, a sudden noise from the depths of the pit made her freeze. When the sound repeated again, Zecora realized with a terrible jolt that it was the sound of a wounded dragon in distress.
When she thought of the moment afterwards, Zecora knew that it was no rational impulse that made her do what she did. She only knew that she had scrambled down the steep side of the of the crater, the soft earth giving way beneath her hooves as she continued downward through dust and darkness. When she reached the bottom she continued forward, stifling a cough as dust caught in her throat.
As Zecora moved forward, drawing ever closer to the dragon which she knew lay at the center of the crater, a part of her experienced a fleeting moment of doubt. There was a good chance that she was walking right into danger. Yet a stronger part of her, the part of her that had been built upon years of wisdom and experience, told her there was no danger here - only a creature in terrible distress. Zecora would not abandon it to die in this dismal and dark place.
"I pray my help has not come too late," the zebra muttered. "No creature deserves such a terrible fate."
It was then at this point, that Zecora's heart gave a leap of hope. For just ahead of her, she could see a dark mass. As she drew closer, the clouds of dust seemed to dissipate, until at last Zecora could see clearly.
She gasped, and nearly took a step back in horror.
Stretched out before her, lying on its side, was a dragon. Its scales were a deep violet in color. Its horns were pale and curved, and a strange growth of feathers that crowned its head, ending at a point between its shoulders. The dragon's tail was thick and powerful, the spikes on the end of which were sharp as spear points. Its claws looked sharp enough to tear through anything.
But these details were not what made Zecora gasp. None of it was the reason for her newfound horror. She saw the problem within moments, and when she did, she felt as though her heart would break.
The dragon was, as she had suspected, gravely wounded. But she hadn't expected it to be this horrific. Deep wounds covered the dragon's hide, some of which still dripped with crimson blood. One of the creature's wings was draped limply over it's body, and Zecora was forced to fight the urge to be sick when she realized it was broken - she could see the bone protruding from the flesh.
Glancing back at the dragon, Zecora froze when she realized the creature was staring right at her. Gazing back at the creature, Zecora felt her heart clench as she realized the dragon was watching her with a mixture of terror and desperation. It was as if the dragon wanted to call for help, but could no longer summon the strength to do so. Bending low, Zecora spoke, and hope the dragon could understand.
"Do not be afraid," she said. "I came here to lend you aid."
Reaching inside her saddlebags, Zecora pulled out one of the herbs she always kept with her.
"This plant, though it looks quite plain, will ease your pain." Pulling out a smaller darker herb, she explained its purpose too. "This one taste bitter but please - don't weep. Its powers make rate of recovery steep."
Carefully, Zecora nudged both the herbs in front of the dragon.
"I'm afraid I must now say adieu. But fear not, I shall return with more help for you."
Straightening up, Zecora closed her saddlebags and set off back the way she'd come. Soon, the echoes of her galloping hooves were lost to the deafening silence. The dragon stared after her for a long time, before eyeing the herbs Zecora had left behind. In a single swift snap of its jaws, the dragon had swallowed both articles. She then laid her head back down and closed her eyes falling into a deep slumber.
A Dragon's Fate: The Fall
The sun was shining brightly as Zecora galloped down the path. Continuing along the edge of the Everfree, she rounded a bend. Within moments, her destination was in sight: Fluttershy's cottage. Drawing closer to it, Zecora's pace slowed until she was walking.
When she reached the front door, Zecora hesitated. Now that she was here, Zecora had no idea what she would say. How could she begin to explain her reason for coming here?
"Then again, perhaps there is no need to explain," she muttered. "Fluttershy would help any creature. That much is plain."
Raising her hoof, Zecora knocked on the door.
"Coming, coming!"
A moment later, Fluttershy had opened the door.
"Oh, Zecora!" she said in surprise. "Hello."
"I hope my arrival is not inopportune," Zecora said. "But I have a problem that must be fixed soon."
"Why? What is it?"
Here Zecora hesitated. "I trust you heard that commotion last night?" she said. "I imagine it gave you quite the fright."
"Well, you're right about that," Fluttershy answered. "All my animals were so scared I just had to let them stay the night in here with me. And that tremor made a terrible mess of things too."
Zecora wasn't sure how she was going to say this next bit. One one hand, she could tell Fluttershy about the dragon and risk her panicking and telling the entire town, or she could keep that detail to herself until they were in the woods. Zecora clenched her jaw. She didn't like omitting the truth, but it seemed the safest option.
Besides, there was no time to waste. The dragon wouldn't last long without their help.
"There's an explanation for the sounds you heard," Zecora said. "This morning I found a creature badly hurt."
"Oh my!" Fluttershy said. "That's awful!"
Zecora nodded. "The animal may not have much longer. And my skills alone are not enough to save it." She sighed heavily. "I know what it is I'm asking of you. I do. But there's no one I'd trust with this except you."
Fluttershy was silent for a moment, considering this. After a while, she spoke.
"All right," she said. "Just give me a minute to grab a few things. If it's as bad as you say, we'll need appropriate equipment."
A Dragon's Fate: The Fall
Not long after this, the pair set off. As they entered the Everfree Forest however, Zecora couldn't help the growing feeling of guilt in her stomach. When Fluttershy remarked at the forest's unusual silence, Zecora decided she'd best come clean as they were now very near the crater where the dragon lay. She stopped, and took a deep breath.
"Fluttershy. Wait."
Fluttershy stopped walking and turned to the zebra. "What is it, Zecora?"
"There's something I must tell you," Zecora said. "What I told you before was not the whole truth."
"What didn't you tell me?" Fluttershy asked nervously.
"The creature that I found injured this morn - I'm sorry but it's a dragon."
Fluttershy let out a terrified squeak. "D-D-Dragon!"
Before Zecora could say anything else, Flutershy bolted past her, heading back down the way they'd come. Immediately Zecora took off after her, and as she closed the distance she realized that the pegasus was saying "No no no, not again!" over and over. Putting on a sudden burst of speed, Zecora tackled her.
"Let go of me!" Fluttershy demanded. "Let go!"
"Oh, will you please quit being so dramatic!" Zecora grunted with frustration as she attempted rather unsuccessfully to pin the struggling pegasus down. "This is not the time to panic!"
"This is the perfect time to panic!" Fluttershy insisted. "You can't seriously expect me to get close to a dragon! It's crazy!"
She broke off when Zecora interrupted her with a hiss.
"Need I remind you," said the zebra. "That you already agreed to see this through?"
"I'm sorry," squeaked Fluttershy.
Zecora glared at her for a moment longer. Then her expression softened. She stood up and stepped back, extending a hoof to help Fluttershy up.
"Honestly, you're right," Zecora said as they set off down the path again. "I know that I should not have lied. I hope you'll understand when I say at the time I felt there was no other way."
Fluttershy glanced at her but said nothing. There was silence for a while before she spoke again.
"You're really worried about this dragon, aren't you?"
Zecora nodded. Fluttershy decided not to say anything else for a while after that. Now that she'd begun to understand the reality of the situation, she was beginning to feel guilty. Zecora was taking a risk in helping such a dangerous creature, but then, Fluttershy thought, she was hardly one to call such a decision crazy. After all, how many times had she done the exact same thing?
When the pair reached the clearing and came to the edge of the crater, Fluttershy couldn't help marveling at its size. It had to be at least a hundred feet deep and five hundred in diameter. The dragon had to have fallen quite a distance to make such a hole, and what in Equestria would be strong enough to bring such a creature down?
Having descended to the bottom of the pit, the two mares broke into a run, Fluttershy following closely behind Zecora. Emerging from the dust, Fluttershy felt her jaw drop as they came to a halt at the dragon's side. While the dragon was not quite large as others Fluttershy had seen, what really alarmed her were the terrible wounds covering the dragon's body - the most concerning of all being the broken wing. Instinctively the pegasus moved closer, examining the fracture.
"This is bad," she muttered. "Really bad."
Turning her attention to the deep cuts covering the dragon's hide, she was made aware of two things. The first was that none of these injuries had been inflicted by another creature. Instead, it was clear they had been made by blades of some sort. The second, that the dragon's breath sounded labored and painful - as though something were preventing her from breathing properly.
Taking a step back, Fluttershy considered her options. Given their limited amount of medical supplies, there were limits to what they'd be able to do. The most concerning issues at were the wing and respiratory problems, but to treat them would require somehow moving this dragon back to her cottage - unlikely given the circumstances. Besides, she was wary of moving the dragon. Doing so could lead to further internal damage, and besides, they didn't have the time to organize such an effort. Fluttershy put a hoof to the bridge of her muzzle, closing her eyes in thought. It seemed for now that the best she'd be able to do was treat the dragon's other wounds and at least stabilize the dragon's condition until she could retrieve the necessary equipment needed for the more severe injuries.
Raising her head, she motioned for Zecora to join her. Pulling out two rolls of gauze bandages from her saddle bags, she handed them to Zecora as well as a bottle of antiseptic formula. Pulling out her own set of gauze and disinfectant, she began cleaning the dragon's wounds. Working together, the two mares did the best the could. Neither said a word and neither fussed, even when the bandages quickly turn red with blood. The dragon for her part remained motionless throughout the process. At first she snarled as her wounds were cleaned, but in time she seemed to accept the two ponies were no danger. She laid her head back down, her blue eyes closing.
After a time, both mares stood back at look at their progress. When they were both satisfied with the work they'd done, Fluttershy turned to Zecora.
"We should leave her to rest now," she said. "We've done the best we can for now. But we should come soon to check on her. She shouldn't be left alone for long."
Zecora nodded in agreement. Turning to the dragon, she surprised herself when she reached out and patted the creature's side. The dragon, not expecting this, stared at her with astonishment.
"See you soon," Zecora told her.
"Thank you for helping me," she said to Fluttershy as they walked down the forest path a few minutes later. "I know that coming here has not been easy."
Fluttershy shrugged. "Well, what sort of pony would I be if I refused to help a creature in need? I'm the Element of Kindness, not Coldness."
Zecora laughed. "What you say is true, though I think my speech is rubbing off on you."
"You're right," Fluttershy answered. "I didn't even realize I was speaking in rhyme." Then as Zecora laughed a second time she said, "See, I did it again just now!"
And so the two mare went on their way, laughing. In fact, it wasn't until they reached the edge of the wood that Zecora realized that she still needed to visit the marketplace. When she mentioned it, Fluttershy offered to accompany her there.
"I need to get more gauze now," she said. "I'll soon run out otherwise. And besides, there are a few things I need to get for my animals too. Also," she added, having realized the state both their coats were in. "It'll do us both some good to stop by the cottage and clean up. We wouldn't want to walk into town like this."
"Yes, I quite agree," Zecora replied. Then blushed with embarrassment as her stomach growled. "And perhaps there'd be time for biscuits and tea?"
Fluttershy smiled. "That sounds lovely."
And the two set off together, heading in the direction of Fluttershy's cottage.
A Dragon's Fate: The Fall
Hoof-steps echoed on the tiled floor as Princess Celestia paced the length of the throne room, her brow furrowed with concern. Her tail swished impatiently against the floor as she walked, and there was clear tension in the stiff way she carried herself that morning.
.....
The night prior, Celestia had awoken suddenly to find that she was no longer alone. A dragon stood over her, its spiked tail poised to deliver a killing strike as the princess lay sleeping.
In the blink of an eye, Celestia sprung clear of the danger and had cast a defensive spell only for the dragon to inexplicably turn tail and flee the chamber. Confused and outraged, Celestia had given chase, calling out for guards as she pursued her enemy through the corridors.
Eventually, the chase had come to a brief stop in one of the many windowed halls. Confronted by Celestia at the front and a mass of guards at its back, the dragon had hurled itself through the window. The glass shattered on impact, the jagged shards spilling down into the castle courtyard. Cursing loudly, Celestia was about to take flight when one of the captains, a grey unicorn stallion, stopped her.
"Take this, Your Highness," he said.
With a jolt, Celestia realized that he was holding her own sword, still sheathed in its scabbard and belt, which she had forgotten in her bedchambers. The need to catch the intruder must have driven it from her mind. Taking the sword from the stallion, Celestia nodded her thanks. Swiftly tying the belt around her waist, the princess took flight through the ruined window after the dragon.
The dragon had not gone far. Celestia soon found her, surrounded by guards on all sides as they fought furiously in the air against their enemy. Seeing Celestia approach, the guards scattered. The dragon experienced a brief moment of bewilderment as it turned, only to let out an ear-splitting roar of pain when Celestia struck; her blade delivering a devastating slash to the dragon's left shoulder. Then, as the dragon lunged to bite her, Celestia disappeared in a flash, only to appear at the dragon's back to strike with her sword again.
However, Celestia knew the fight was far from over. In the next instant she was forced to dodge as a jet of scorching blue flames erupted from the dragon's jaws, barely missing her by an inch. As she blinked from the brightness of the flames, she was nearly tackled from the sky as the dragon lunged at her, savage claws outstretched, fangs bared in a furious roar.
But the place guards were ready. Under the command of the captains they stood by, ready to fire nets to bring their enemy down. Celestia saw this within seconds, and without a moment's hesitation gave the command they had been waiting for.
"FIRE!!!"
It happened so fast Celestia almost missed it. One moment she was staring into the glaring eyes of her enemy, the next the dragon had tumbled from the sky as the nets were released, trapping and entangling the dragon in thick black rope as it went crashing down into the courtyard. Even then the creature refused to give in. It writhed and slashed at the nets as the guards surrounded it, while Celestia alighted beside the creature.
Her sword was still wet with the dragon's blood. When the dragon made eye contact with her, it snarled in a language that sent shivers up Celestia's spine - she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end from it.
"Perfidae!" the dragon spat. "Vos, using a trap against me! Fatuus!"
Without warning, the dragon surged to its feet, the ropes tearing and giving way. Realizing what was about to happen, Celestia raised her voice to the others.
"TAKE COVER!"
Heat. Terrible, scorching heat. Celestia, casting a defensive spell, was able to protect herself and the guards nearest her, while the rest were forced to dive behind whatever cover there was to avoid being promptly burned alive. Squinting from the flames and smoke, Celestia's heart clenched as she saw the dragon rise into the air, the burnt ropes falling away from its body as it rose into the sky.
However, as the dragon flew away, she was unaware of the fact that one soldier remained on the castle walls. The stallion stood beside a giant crossbow of his own making, which when fired released a giant crossbow bolt. Now that he had a clear shot, the stallion took careful aim, lining the weapon up with the dragon's form on the horizon.
For a single heartbeat, the world seemed to slow. Then the crossbow was fired - the dragon abruptly lost its rhythm of flight, its distant roar of agony soon lost as it plummeted out of sight.
Within moments, Celestia had alighted beside the soldier. Scanning the horizon for any sign of the dragon, she frowned in frustration when she realized she couldn't see where it had gone down. Of all nights for it to be a full moon...
"Are you certain you hit it?" she said to the guard next to her.
"Yes, Your Majesty," said the guard. "It was a direct hit. Right in the rib cage beneath the wing."
"Your Highness," said one of the captains, coming to Celestia's side. "Should we send a scouting party out to find the dragon?"
Celestia hesitated, considering this. "No," she said finally. "We can't put the lives of more soldiers at risk by sending them to search the Everfree. Those woods are far too dangerous after darkness falls. We'll send them at dawn."
"Understood, Your Highness."
"And Captain," Celestia added. "It would be best that when you conduct your investigation to exercise discretion. We don't want the citizens of Ponyville to panic."
"Yes, Your Highness," answered the captain. He hesitated for a moment before asking his next question. "What about Princess Twilight?"
"That's not your concern," answered Celestia. "I will notify her of this myself in the morning."
Now that Twilight had been mentioned, Celestia was suddenly anxious about her sister, Luna. She was about to ask where her sister was when the sound of galloping hooves prompted her to turn around.
Celestia's heart sank. Running toward her was one of Luna's guards. The worried look in his eyes was enough to send Celestia running to meet him.
"Your Highness!" The guard panted. "There was an attack... Princess Luna - she's..."
Before he could finish, Celestia had disappeared in a bright flash. She reappeared seconds later inside Luna's bedchambers, only to find them empty. In a panic, she burst out onto the balcony - and stopped dead in her tracks.
Luna lay motionless on the ground, her chest rising and falling in slumber.
"Luna!" Celestia said, moving quickly to her sister's side. "Luna! Wake up! Wake up!"
Luna did not move. Bending low over her, Celestia felt a spike of horror as she realized there was a single puncture in her sister's shoulder.
"Oh no. No, no."
Reaching out, Celestia pulled Luna into a hug, cradling her sleeping sister against her shoulder as tears blurred her vision. How? How could she have allowed this to happen? How had she managed to fail her sister again?
It should have been me this time! Celestia thought bitterly. Why couldn't it have been me? Why must Luna always be the one to suffer such things? Why?!?
.....
Celestia blinked hard, forcing herself to swallow her grief. Luna was beyond her help for now. The only chance she had of helping her was to find that moon-damned dragon and somehow getting it to reverse whatever dark magic it had cast on her sister. She had sent a letter to Twilight, and the guards were already on their way to investigate the Everfree. With luck, they would be able to get to the bottom of this mess in no time.
However, Celestia couldn't shake the feeling that all would not go according to plan. But then, things rarely did. Either way, Celestia hardly cared. Nothing mattered now, except finding a way to bring Luna back.
A Dragon's Fate: The Fall
Deep in the Everfree Forest, Zecora was woken from her peaceful slumber as a deafening roar shook the earth. Desperately stuffing her hooves into her ears, the zebra's eyes were wide as she looked about her in fear. All around her the assorted bottles and jars rattled and clinked on their shelves, and the vibrant tribal masks that decorated her walls clattered to the floor. Moments later, there was a sound like distant thunder; accompanied by quake so violent that the zebra was thrown from her bed, while the bottles of herbs that hung from her roof fell to the ground with a harsh shattering of glass. Whatever jars and bottles that had not been secured in cupboards also fell; their contents spilling over the floor.
Zecora wasn't sure how long she lay still after that, too terrified to even think of moving. When at last she did rise, it was to take in the ruined state of her home. Unfortunately, it now looked as if it had been ransacked by a pack of Diamond Dogs. With a sigh, the zebra began to clean the mess, but her mind was far from the task at hand.
"What in the world was that noise?" she muttered. "To think it left my home in such a mess, it annoys."
Shaking her head, Zecora swept the bits of broken pottery into a bin. After that, she salvaged as much of her herbs as possible before putting them in new containers. It was then, pulling open the cupboards, that Zecora realized she was running low on supplies.
"A trip to market would be wise," Zecora stifled a yawn as she closed the cupboard. "An empty stomach would be cause to despise."
Walking back to her bed, Zecora was soon fast asleep.
