Slowly, my gaze wandered over the trail of carriages stretching out upwards of a mile or more behind me. My kirins, my loyal subjects, had been quick to move, gathering all kinds of goods that we might need on our journey and loading them onto every vehicle in town they could find, all in under an hour. It was impressive, as well as a bit intimidating, what they were willing to do for me when I requested something.

That being said, the number of kirins that were with me was not the same as the number that were bound to me. I’d made sure to tell the children and elderly to stay home. This adventure was far too dangerous for the little ones, and someone had to watch over them. Oma and Opa said they would be staying behind to protect the lair and the village from any intruders, but the notion of making them responsible, or more accurately Oma, for watching dozens of children was not something I wanted to be put into practice.

“We’re going so slow,” Kindling said, his gaze following my own. “It’s going to take us forever at this pace!”

Obviously, my siblings weren’t included in the group of kids being left behind.

“Speed may not be of importance in regards to this matter,” Schimmernde Morgenröte stateded from her spot in the carriage. Of course, she was more than happy to lay around while others pulled the waggon. “If whoever reaches the mountain before us doesn’t have an army with them, they won’t be able to fortify it to a degree that matters. Strength in numbers is the key.”

“Still, if we get there first, it would be awesome!” Kindling proclaimed, poking me in the side afterwards. ”You could sit on the throne and every kirin would have to bow before you, sis!”

“I doubt that it will be that easy,” I retorted as I ruffled his mane.

The heavy and slightly irregular flapping of my other brother's wings stopped Kindling from replying to that. I looked up, just in time to see Nightflame drop a dead boar onto the loading area of the uncovered waggon in front of us. No wonder he’d been having trouble flying, the thing must have been over two times my weight. It was surprising that he was able to carry it at all.

“Wow,” Kindling said, “that beast is huge!”

“It sure is!” Nightflame said with pride as he landed next to it. “And I hunted it myself!”

That, along with the impact his catch had on the waggon, earned him the curious looks of the two kirins who were pulling it. It was unclear if they liked what they were seeing or not though. If I had to guess, I would probably say that they didn’t mind the dead animal, but the mess it would leave behind would be another story. Anyway… Night sank his remaining fangs into his prey and ripped a big chunk out, chewing in delight.

“This is good!” he proclaimed, ripping another bit out. Despite my confidence in my brother’s ability to discern the quality of something’s meat, I was confident that the praise he was giving it was more to do with it being him and not Dad who’d caught it this time. After swallowing another chunk and licking his chops, he turned back around to face the rest of us. “Do you want a bite, sis?”

“No, I am not hungry.” While Dad had shown me how to hunt, and there really wasn't anything preventing me from doing so, it just wasn’t as appealing to me as it was for him. Kindling, however, refused to eat meat, thus why Night didn’t even bother to ask him.

“Your loss,” Night replied before ripping out another piece. Fighting with me this morning must have made him hungry, judging by how fast he was gobbling the boar.

“Maybe Dad wants a piece though?”

“He saw me approaching. He would be here already if he wanted a bite.”

“Mhh, true.”

“What about the kirins?” Kindling asked. “They seem like they’d be interested in a bite.” He pointed at the two pulling our waggon. And indeed, they were eyeing Night’s catch rather intently. Autumn had said back at the Peaks of Peril that hunting had fallen out of style some time ago, but that didn’t mean that seeing a fresh kill was any less enticing to them.

“Not raw, that’s just disgusting,” Winter Sun, the kirin on the left said while ruffling her nose.

“I think what my sister is trying to say is that if you cooked it first and were willing to give us some, yes, a bite would be nice,” Summer Moon stated.

It wasn’t a coincidence that my waggon was being pulled by two mares. Illu was already furious that every stallion considered me ‘available’ now, and I didn’t need to add fuel to that fire! He was already sitting in one of the last waggons after our argument about it, and I was not looking forward to the talk we were surely going to be having about it soon.

Anyway…

Night just growled for a second before he returned to eating.

“Unfortunately for you, since you’re not part of the family, it doesn’t look like he’s in the willing mood,” I giggled. “You could always fight him for a piece of it, but I doubt you’re that intent on getting a taste.”

“A little snack sounds just about right,” Schimmernde Morgenröte suddenly spoke up. “Nightflame, bring me some of your catch.”

“No, this is mine,” he mumbled with full snout.

“Now!”

I grinned. Had my aunt been subtle with her azure aura, she may have gotten away with it. Nightflame, as a lower class dragon, has to obey her will. Even if he didn’t like it, he would have shared his catch with her. However, since even I could feel the force of her command, surely…

A moment later, Dad landed forcefully next to us, roaring loudly at his younger sister.

Yep, Dad had sensed the magic of her aura too, and was not happy. He had told my aunt that he would not tolerate her ordering Night around, her azure status be damned.

Dad half climbed onto the waggon and grabbed his sister by the neck. Yes, normally she would be able to resist to a degree, but there was the little detail that Oma told her to listen and obey Dad. And if an adult azure dragon mom tells her hatchling to do something, the hatchling’s not going to defy them.

That didn’t mean somepony wouldn’t interfere before things progressed into outright roaring though.

“Hey, Dad!” Kindling stood up and quickly moved over to the two. “Did you see how big Night’s catch is? It’s huge!” Without hesitation, he jumped on Dad's back and laid down. “You should come see it!”

“Don’t use your azure aura on my son!” Dad yelled at Schimmernde Morgenröte shortly after, but let her go just as quickly to look back at Kindling. “I saw it when he flew by, a good catch indeed!”

Nothing distracts Dad better than one of us kids wanting his attention, except perhaps Mom's fluff.

“Come, take a look!” Kindling once more insisted enthusiastically, knocking his hooves softly against Dad's back, causing him to hum in agreement. Before they turned to Night though, I felt Dad's snout rubbing over my back, purring questionly.

“I’m fine,” I said, purring back. That didn’t stop him from sniffing at my bandages and licking over some scratches here and there though.

“You should eat some of the meat your brother caught, it will help heal the wounds.”

“Really, I am fine,” I repeated, but only got a lick over my muzzle.

“Nonsense, you need all the energy you can get. Nightflame!” Dad lifted his head and looked at my brother. “Share with your sister.”

“I already offered her a piece but she said she didn’t want it.”

“Then cook it first.”

And that is what he did. So while Dad and Kindling praised Night for his huge catch, I ended up with a big piece of flame grilled boar in my claws.

“Well here goes nothing.” I took a bite, and was pleasantly surprised it wasn’t actually that bad.

“Are you willing to share, niece?” Schimmernde Morgenröte had risen from her spot and brought her head close to me. “I heard you said you were not that hungry.”

“And since you’re still a growing dragon, you’re always hungry,” I replied.

“That is indeed the case,” she agreed, but kept her eyes on my food.

“Well, yes, you can have half of it.” I split the meat in two nearly equal portions and offered her one.

In only two quick bites, it was gone.

“If you ask nicely, I am sure Dad would get you some more.”

“It shouldn’t be necessary for me to ask.” She snorted. “As a lower class dragon, my well being should be his priority. He should bring me food like the green at home do.”

“You have others offering you food at The Roof of The World?” My curiosity was triggered. I had only been there once, when Oma had called us for my aunt's hatching.

“Isn’t that self-evident? You don’t believe Mom would waste her time with such basic tasks as hunting or digging for gems?” Her eyes wandered to the meat left in my claws. “Mom has far more important things to do. The green are suitable for such a task though.”

I moved my food out of her reach and took a bite. “By the green, you mean green dragons, right?”

“That is correct.”

Dad had told us about the dragon hierarchy a while ago, informing us that green and red are the lowest colours. It made some sense for them to do the hunting and other support duties. “If the green are for hunting, what do the red do?”

She looked at me in confusion. “Gem digging of course. What else would they be good for? No use in wasting their ability to find gems by ordering them to do something else.” She tilted her head and finally lost interest in my meal. “Didn’t my brother tell you about green and red dragons special ability?”

“No, we only went to The Roof Of The World once, when I was four. And besides that, you, Opa and Oma are the only other dragons we really interact with. So, there wasn’t really a need I guess.”

“My brother was as lazy as your teachers must have been.” My aunt climbed over the barrier between the driver seat and the loading area and took a seat next to me.

“Why don’t you tell me about it? It could be useful if we meet some.”

“I am not a teacher.”

“And if,” I pointed at the boar, “I were to get you another piece?”

I could see the lingering gaze my aunt threw at the dead boar before she snorted. “I think I could be generous and spend a bit of my precious time teaching you about dragons.”

“Deal.” I hopped off the waggon and moved between my family. Night just gave me a quick look, not caring much for me ripping off a foreleg from his catch. While I prefered my meat well done, my aunt simply sank her teeth into the raw leg as soon as I’d dropped it in front of her. Being just thirteen, and still a growing hatchling, she was indeed always somewhat hungry.

“So, about dragons and their abilities…” I asked.

Schimmernde Morgenröte wiped her snout before turning back to me and responding. “Reds have a very sensitive sense of smell, they can find gems far easier than other dragons. It would help them with hunting too if it wasn’t for the fact they are so clumsy and brutish. As opposed to the green, whose agility and natural camouflage suits them very well when hunting in forests and jungles.”

“And what about,” my gaze wandered to Dad,” black dragons? What is their special ability?” It’s not like I didn't have enough time to watch Dad or Opa, though, with how few dragons I’d met during my life, it was hard to tell what was ‘standard’ among dragons in general.

“Complete immunity to magic,” Schimmernde Morgenröte replied before taking another bite. “Not my brother though,” she swallowed a huge mouthful, “he’s only a halfbreed. Mom said he didn’t inherit it from dad. Though, he is able to withstand azure dominance to a small degree. That is impressive, while disturbing.” Her tone made it clear that she was not happy that her brother was able to resist her ability.

I threw a look at dad. “Does that mean Opa is…”

“Completely immune, yes,” Schimmernde Morgenröte nodded. “Even a full blast from one of those Alicorns over in this Equestria wouldn’t scratch him. That's why black’s are the majority of the guards at The Roof Of The World. They are low enough in social standing to not cause problems, but at the same time useful.” As she finished this explanation, she turned her head back at the leg between her claws, continuing her lesson while eyeing it for the next bite she would take. “Dad never was one of the guards though. If that had been the case, there would have been the risk of him being one of the other noble branches subordinates. You can probably guess why mating with a dragon like that would be a terrible idea.”

“Noble branches?”

“Didn’t my brother tell you anything?” The disapproving glance Schimmernde threw at him felt almost like a roar due to how displeased she looked while doing so. “The noble branches are the descendants from one of Die Allererste Blaue’s offspring.”

“The very first blue?” I tried to translate. Oma had taught me old draconic every now and then, still, I wasn’t that good at it yet.

Schimmernde Morgenröte snorted and finished off the rest of the boar's leg before answering. “Accurate enough, the modern language isn’t that specific in case of genders. The first azure, a dragoness, had a lot of offspring. Only a few of them were azures though. Those who were, became founders of a branch.”

“Wait a second, doesn’t that make all azure dragons related to each other?” I stood up as the realisation hit me. “Therefore, making this whole Shakirin-La claim a family problem?”

“Kind of,” Schimmernde Morgenröte said. “While azures are as familiar with their ancestry as birds are with flying, knowing who they're related to and exactly how close that is, our lesser, distant offspring, aren’t so inclined. Azures never fight with each other because of this, but being only distantly related, and with a diluted form of our blood in the mix, azure-kirins seem to lack the superior self control we have.”

I was surprised that she’d managed to say that without the arrogant tone she always seemed to have, not even coming across as looking down on me. Being ‘superior’ was just natural for her, it was the foundation for her entire mindset, and she was more than happy to act accordingly…

“So you’re telling me,” I had to sit down again and take a deep breath, “that I and all the other azure krins have the same ancestor? And that we are therefore one family?”

It was at this point that Dad and Kindlings’ interests were piqued, drawn in by what they had overheard.

“I thought that was common knowledge.” The surprise on my aunt's face was shockingly candid. “Don’t you teach your bornlings anything, brother?”

“Mom never told me any of this,” Dad replied. “This is the first time I’ve heard anyone say that all azures share the same ancestor.”

“Doesn’t that mean that all the old azure dragons of The Roof Of The World are our relatives?” Kindling suddenly asked with much enthusiasm. “That means all nobles of the dragons are related to us!” He hopped off of Dad's back and back into the carriage, squeezing himself between Schimmernde Morgenröte and me. “That is so cool!”

“Don’t forget you are also related to the most adventurous and brave of all the ponies, Kindling.” Dad poked him with his snout. “And the best of all mates is your mom.”

“Yeah, Mom's family is okay too,” he waved off.

“The pony side of the family also has the fluff,” Night threw in and sprung between the two carriages with a flap of his wings before moving backwards from there. “Oma and Opa don’t have the fluff, but you do.” And without any hesitation, he rubbed his head against the hint of fluff on our brother's chest.

Yes, the priorities each of my family members have are quite different.

“Hey! I am not a napkin!”

Night only purred in response.

“What did Mom say about letting… leftovers, lay around?” Dad growled slightly. “Clean up if you are finished, Nightflame.”

As Night quickly went about taking care of what remained of his meal, Dad used the chance to lick over Kindlings chest, cleaning off the hints of blood Night had left.

“Disgusting…” my brother mumbled, trying to sweep over his chest with a hoof.

“They will not care that you are related.” Shimmernde Morgenröte replied to Kindlings previous statement, acting as if Night hadn’t interrupted her at all. “You are too low in their opinion to care about. If we weren't so closely related, I wouldn't either.”

“Good thing we are,” I sighed. “How many relatives do you… we, have?”

“Three Hundred Ninety Four azure dragons.”

“And how many of them have kirin grandbornlings?”

“I don’t know.”

That caught me by surprise. “Didn’t you say azures keep a close eye on the family branches? You made me that scroll filled with possible ‘mates’, didn’t you?”

“Azure kirins do not show up in family trees,” she explained. “Not even my brother will be noted down in it, and he is a full dragon. And regarding your second question, Mom and I researched it as a gift for your birthday. It’s not like there was trustworthy data on that subject in the archives. Sometimes azure blood only comes forth generations after an azure chooses a lesser dragon to mate with. Therefore, the list only contains who we could find, that doesn’t mean there aren’t far more.” My aunt paused for a moment in thought after saying this, continuing shortly after in a half aware tone while looking off into the far distance. “If you are able to claim the throne though, Mom may make an exception and add you to the family tree, but it’s unlikely.”

“Mhh, that,” I started, but then a strange taste slipped over my tongue, kind of familiar, but also very tingly. I stood up.

“What is it?” Dad asked and looked in the same direction I was.

“Kirin,” I licked over my lips. “It tastes different though, stronger than in our lair.”

My family looked at me in confusion.

“Oh, right, I didn’t tell you. When I entered the outer lair, I was able to taste our kirins on my tongue, even before I could see or smell them. I just got the same sensation just now, but more intense.” I jumped in the air and flew up a bit, watching the way ahead. The hills made it impossible to see too far ahead though. It was unlikely that an army of kirins would be laying in wait ahead of us, but I wasn’t familiar enough with my new ability to be sure. And this tingling sensation that had been added to it, I don’t know what that meant either.

“Hold!” I used a bit of my aura to reach every kirin and watched as the column came to a halt.

“Can you feel anything useful?” Dad asked.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on my new senses. “I am sure there are kirins ahead. I can’t say how many though.”

“Are they moving?”

“I… I don’t think so. The taste isn’t getting stronger or thiner,”

Dad took another moment to think about it. “Night, you watch over your mom and Kindling, your sister and I will scout ahead.”

I growled. “This is my herd of kirins, I decide what we do!”

“And you are my daughter, I will protect you.” Dad didn’t growl back, yet.

“I am the leader here!” It was at this point that I growled challengingly at him. I really didn’t know where it came from, but Dad giving orders to me in front of everykirin really ruffled my scales for some reason.

Of course, a challenging growl from his bornling was something Dad couldn’t ignore. So I got a parental roaring straight back.

My own roar might not have been that impressive, but the blue glow on my forehead along with presenting my fangs made up for that.

I know, when looked at rationaly, I was in no position to challenge my dad, I just had an irresistible urge to defend my position as the leader of the kirins.

Another roar from Dad followed this, his second and final warning.

My reply was spitting fire at him. I hadn’t even noticed that I’d turned nirik. Fire was harmless for both of us, but it was a clear message.

So the dance of fire and flame began.

Don’t get your hopes up for an epic battle though, I may be swifter in the air, but Dad is, well, Dad. After a shamefully short bit of banter in the air, I hit the ground with my dad's snout wrapped around my neck, pressing me down.

His growl demanded my surrender, but instead I growled back, and the light from my forehead only became brighter.

“Let go!” I demanded, which was accentuated by a few growling kirins around us. And more were quick to follow. I may be weaker in claw to claw combat, but I had my herd.

Dad also noticed. He increased the pressure on my neck and warned the kirins around us with a growl.

“If you don’t let go, I order them to attack!”

“Fiery!” Mom landed next to us and stomped a hoof next to my head. “Fiery Leadership,” she yelled, “you are going to stop fighting your dad this instant!”

The second I heard Mom say this, the light from my forehead faded and I tucked my tail between my legs while making sounds of submission. Fighting Dad was one thing, but speaking up to mom was way different!

Satisfied, Dad let go, gave me one more quick hiss, and then rubbed his head against Mom.

“What happened?” Mom asked while caressing Dad's head.

“Our daughter is becoming an adult.” He purred and leaned against Mom's hoof. “Nothing to worry about, but there are kirins ahead. We need to take a look to see what awaits us.”

“I see.” Mom took a moment to look at me. “Listen to your Dad, Fiery!”

I nodded, but remained laying on the ground.

“Then go.”

Dad used the opportunity to lick over mom's muzzle and flew up. After getting permission from Mom, I followed. When we were out of earshot for Mom, Dad spoke again.

“You are not ready yet.”

I remained silent.

“Soon, but not yet. You need to know what fights you can win and which you can’t.”

“…”

“If you would have been fighting some other dragon, they would have snapped your neck and your fellow kirins would have either panicked in despair or followed you to their death. You already have the inner fire to stand up, but you need self control to still make the right decisions.”

“Yeah?” I grumbled, “like all the times you went into a blind rage and tried to kill everything in your path.”

“I protect what I love, and what is mine. But I am a dragon, I can rely on my strength most of the time. You can’t. You have to follow your mothers way of fighting.”

I growled unhappy.

Dad looked at me, then back at our column of carriages. “Your kirins will die if you get blinded by pride and your desire for dominance. I am sure Oma would approve of considering them as subjects that you can sacrifice for your goals, but your pony side would regret it later.”

“I won't sacrifice them! I lead them and care for them!”

“That wasn’t the case a minute ago. If I wasn’t your dad, I would have killed you and several of your kirins before the rest would have run away.” His eyes were resting on me again. “They are not soldiers, Fiery. I am not sure if there are kirin soldiers, but they are villagers, farmers, traders and what else. They are not ready for an encounter with something seriously dangerous.”

I wanted to speak up, to say something to counter his argument, but I couldn’t think of anything so I kept my mouth shut.

“If your ability is anything like my moms, then you are able to send them to certain death. They have no choice but to follow your orders. Keep that in mind when you give them a command. Allow them to make their own decisions while carrying out your will.”

“That, that doesn’t sound like you.” I hesitated. “And how do I do that?”

“It doesn’t sound draconic,” Dad clarified, “but it sounds like something that would work for a halfdragon, halfpony. For how to do it… take my mom as an example. The way she talks and voices her will towards us. There is a difference between, ‘do that!’ and ‘do that, if possible!’. When you ordered your kirins to stop me from chasing Autumn Blaze, adding a ‘and retreat if you are badly wounded’ would have allowed them to do exactly that. In a serious fight, that will make the difference in whether they survive or not.”

“I didn't really have the time to think that through, you know?`”

“Is that what you want us to write on your subjects gravestones? I didn’t have the time to think that through?”

“Dad!”

“It is how it is. If you are not able to consider your commands' consequences before you give them, you are not ready to lead.”

“But I have to! Fortuna made that much clear. Either I do, or somekirin else will, with all the consequences of that!” I sighed.

The next moment, Dad was right next to me and licking over my cheek midair, purring calmly.

Author's Note

Well, took some time but here it is!

Also, let me remind you I have a Discord server for my stories to speak about them and were people can make suggestions or ask questions:
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