Author's Note

Same as before any text that is bold "Like this for example" is meant to represent a different language being spoken. This will only really come into play when it is Gaia speaking however. So it will hopefully not be too hard to notice when she switches between Draconic and Common in later chapters.

Other than that I hop you all are doing well and have a fantastic day!

Chapter 5 (Rewrite)

Tranquil whirled about quickly and before Celestia could do anything, grabbed the alicorn roughly and started to shove her out of the room. Celestia just squawked in surprise but otherwise let the much smaller pony force her out of the room with Tranquil close behind.

"I'll be right back Gaia. I just remembered something important that I needed to ask the Princess about." Without waiting for my reply the door slams shut and I am left alone in the room.

"What the fuck?" Curiosity getting the better of me I carefully try to sneak over to the door to hear their conversation but after only a few steps the door flashes gold with Celestia's magic. Reaching for the door regardless of what I'm sure she did I only click my tongue when it doesn't budge.

"Of course she'd lock me in here."

Letting out a tired sigh I turn back around and start for my cushion again but stop when I notice my reflection in a mirror. Swallowing a lump that quickly managed to form in my throat I looked over my shoulder back to the door. Unsurprisingly nothing changed in the few seconds since I turned around. Maybe I could…

"This is dumb Gaia, stop it. You are a warrior. You do not need… Just no." Hissing at my own reflection I slink back into the farthest corner away from the mirror.

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"Gods damn it…" Standing back up I make my way over to the mirror in only a few short strides. Only briefly checking to see if the door was still closed I turn around so that my flanks are prominently displayed in the mirror. Craning my neck around to look into the mirror I frown. Sure my butt is a little bigger but it is not fat! I am toned. My form is sleek and alluring, nothing more.

Flicking my tail to the side to see more I shift my weight around so that I am only standing on three legs. Alternating between my hind legs I lift and stretch them until my muscles are taught. All the while my scales ripple like waves of silver rolling across the ocean's surface. Satisfied with my findings my muzzle splits into a wide smile.

"Sorry about the wait Gaia I -" Crying out in terror I slam my tail down onto the mirror on accident as I whirl around and snarl. My muzzle no doubt is the most red thing in the room as I shuffle my back against the wall.

"Is everything alright I heard glass br-" same as before Tranquil blocks Celestia and with more force than I thought possible for one so small shoves the alicorn away.

"Go do what I said 'Princess'! This is now a private session." Slamming the door in Celestia's muzzle I can only just barely make out a muffled shout of pain before the door flashes green.

"What the fuck is going on?" Tranquil lets out a deep sigh that makes her shoulders slump and wings drop to the floor.

“Hmm? Oh! Ah… Princess Celestia ended up forgetting about something very important and had to go early. You and I will just be finishing up the exam without her.” My eyes linger on the green glow still coming from the door. Tranquil doesn’t have a horn and Celestia’s magic is as gold as the sun that hangs in the sky.

“You are not a pony are you?” Tranquil’s posture straightens immediately and she pulls herself back into a more defensive stance. Why?

“I am not no. If I tell you what I am, will you promise not to attack me?” Slowly the tension leaves my body. Letting my tail and wings relax I approach Tranquil and start to circle her. For her part she does not move, simply following me with her eyes as I complete a full circle. Snorting a cloud of frost I break away and head back to my cushion.

“I don’t care what you are. I don’t care about a lot of things anymore. Gods only know why I decided to come here even when I don’t see the fucking point. Go ahead and do what you want.” Pulling over the cushion that Celestia was using I pile it on top of my own and then throw myself down onto them both.

“I still do need to finish your examination, but as soon as I am done you can go.” Lazily flipping to my side I groan. While the cushions are far softer than anything I’m used to lounging on, they were almost too soft.

“Like I just said, do what you want but…” Reaching up I take off both the golden bands given to me by Celestia. Instantly a shiver passes through my body and my wings twitch. Shaking uncomfortably I set the two bands down on the edge of the cushions and turn back to Tranquil.

“Since she isn’t here I will not be wearing these.”

Thankfully Tranquil seemed to respect my choice and after a small shrug went back to her desk to grab her board. Watching the pony for only a few more minutes I eventually just close my eyes with a sigh. Ever since taking off the gold bands neither of us spoke and the room became eerily silent. Then again I guess that is to be expected if she knew that I couldn’t understand her with them off.

"Gaia." Startled, I opened my eyes to see Celestia standing in front of me.

"Are you ready to go?" Looking around quickly I'm surprised to see Tranquil is gone. Shrugging I nod to Celestia and carefully put the golden earring back on but give the necklace to Celestia. Smiling, she takes the necklace in her magic and turns to leave. Following her we leave the so-called 'medical wing' and enter back into the castle's halls.

The halls of this castle unnerve me. Long and relatively empty spaces that break off at random with more halls and countless dead ends. They remind me of an ants nest or even a beehive. Every step I take is marked by a loud clicking from my claws striking the stone. Even with Celestia as my guide I still feel like I'm walking through a fae's labyrinth from the stories mom told me.

"Dr. Tranquil seemed to like you." Looking over her shoulder at me Celestia smirks.

"She said you were the easiest dragon she's ever worked with. Including my son."

"Your son? Do you mean the young drake who hurt himself is your son?" Moving to walk beside her she laughs.

"Yes, that young drake is indeed my son. Spike, as well mannered as he is, hates going to the doctors. I can’t blame him though, his first experience with them was far from a good one.” Humming to herself Celestia turns down another hall without warning. Scrambling to not be left behind I end up sliding on the stone a short ways before hitting one of the walls. Grunting in annoyance and flexing my now sore wing I move back to Celestia’s side as she laughs.

“Is he still hurt?” Clearing her throat Celestia stops in front of a set of large doors. Turning back to me, she pulls me to her side with one of her wings. Looking at her in confusion she smiles.

“Spike is doing much better now. You however, are underweight. Dr. Tranquil said that you need more protein and a lot of natural vitamins. She recommended that we get you started on it right away. That being said I’ll let the cooks know to prepare you some fish once we get inside. When I’m doing that, Spike should be eating his breakfast along with my sister and Niece. If you feel comfortable enough, why don’t you join them?” Looking to the door we stopped at I can faintly hear voices that I missed earlier. When was the last time I ate anything?

“What kind of fish?” Letting go of me with her wing Celestia opens the doors and motions for me to follow. The voices I could barely hear before now became clear as laughter echoed from the room.

“More than a dozen different types, I’ll go and have the cooks get a menu for you.” Walking into the room I immediately spot the drake along with three other ponies all sitting at a large table. Turning to Celestia she only nods to me before heading towards a different door in the room. Shifting my wings nervously I start to move towards the table.

“I can’t believe you actually slipped! While I’m really proud of you little bro, that is amazing! I honestly didn’t think things like that could happen outside of a game of O&O. You didn’t get hurt too badly though did you?” Sighing, the drake lifted his head out of his paws only to freeze as he saw me.

“Leave him be Shining, I seem to remember a very similar thing happening to you too you know.” Reacting as if struck, the white pony laughed nervously.

“Right, sorry Cadence. Sorry Spike I’m not trying to be mean I just… Hey are you alright bro?” Sitting down on one of the larger cushions everyone at the table turned to me. Sitting up straight and holding my head high I give a short bow as mother had once taught me.

“Hello.” All of them look at me strangely before the white pony starts laughing again. Looking at the other ponies the pink one also starts to laugh while the dark blue pony tries to hide behind their cup. Turning to the drake he suddenly goes red in the face and as his wings flare out behind him in a clearly instinctual intimidation display.