Canterlot Academy Trials

Within Abyssinia’s courthouse, the interrogation would take quite a while considering that none of the criminals wanted to fess up about who committed the atrocities on that day. Even the lone diamond dog refused to speak, so they’d have to take some time to employ more…convincing tactics in order to get them to squeal. For the time being though, Dawn’s team would take a rest within the nearby local inn until everything was sorted out.

This was something that would have to be returned to at a later date.

Meanwhile, in the Dragon Lands…

At the same time, Nebula’s team was investigating their situation on the other side of the river in the Dragon lands. Most notably, helping Smolder investigate and figure out the location of Hooktail’s brothers, Gloomtail and Bonetail.

Eventually though, Smolder would have a breakthrough once she dunked Hooktail into another bucket of cold water.

“Talk.”

“PBBBHT!” Hooktail sputtered while shivering on the cold floor of the cave they were currently in with her arms tied by ice-rope which restrained her power, “F-fuck you…g-g-god….f-f-fine…w-we were giving Odu our blood to power him up in exchange for his help to overthrow you…”

Smolder casually took a hit from another cigarette and placed her foot on Hooktail’s face, pressing her into the dirt floor of the cave. “Uh-huh. You know under Dragon Code that’s grounds for execution if you fail your usurpation attempt, right?”

“Grrgh…” Hooktail grumbled, unable to speak with the dragon lord’s foot on her head.

Smolder leaned forward, resting her arm on her bent knee with a devious smile. “Here’s what’s gonna happen, Hooky. You’re gonna tell us where your brothers are, and I won’t have you mutilated. Everybody wins,” she added with a sinister trill.

“...D-do whatever you want!” Hooktail yelped, “My brothers will-!”

“Ugh, you’re boring me with this,” Smolder rolled her eyes and took a step back, “I know how strong Gloomtail and Bonetail are. You don’t have to remind me. All I want to know is where they’re located.”

“...son of a bitch!” Hooktail huffed with a whine. Unable to fight back, she knew she had no choice but to comply, “...fine. Gloomtail is in Scalebound Wildwood last I checked. Bonetail is in Kobold Canyon.”

“...are you sure?” Smolder took another puff from her cigarette and looked over her shoulder at the criminal dragon, “...you better not be lying to me, Hooky. If you don’t wanna become a dragonsicle up on Capri Peak~”

“I-I swear I’m telling the truth!” Hooktail hissed, “I-In fact, I’ll do you one better, that’s where the last of the ice dragons are located!”

Smolder’s tail flicked and her wings spread wide upon hearing such a thing. “...no shit, huh? And here I thought those guys were extinct…”

“I-it’s true! I know because Gloomtail can breath ice and poison.”

“...squealing on your last legs, huh?” Smolder muttered with a shrug. Her dubious tone indicated that she didn’t quite believe that last detail considering that the ice dragons were an extremely rare and supposedly extinct breed. But for the time being, she had to use what she was given. “Whatever. You’ll stay here until we decide what to do with you.”

“...one more thing,” Hooktail commented, “...tell Blue Blazes he’s a loser limpdick who's terrible in bed…!”

Smolder simply rolled her eyes and started flapping her claw like a duck's bill, mocking how Hooktail went on and on…

"...and he's a pathetic little fag--!"

BLAM!

Smolder's eyes grew wide, and in an instant, she kicked Hooktail in the face, causing her to tumble into the nearest wall. “...I fucking hate dragons like you.”

And with that, Smolder left the cave to be watched over by two dragon guards who stood at attention at the entrance. From there, she’d fly to her recently-built fortress that rested on a stereotypical mountain of fire and brimstone. With spiky ramparts and pillars surrounding the gray cobblestone castle, it looked like your stereotypical “evil overlord” castle. Ironic given Smolder’s true nature.

The orange dragoness would fly into her castle through a window and arrive in her throne room, then step into her banquet hall where Nebula’s team was waiting for her as they ate plates of quality food including meats, fruits, and cheeses. The banquet hall itself was adorned with red carpeting in the middle of an orange and blue-tiled floor with suits of dragon-shaped armor along the walls in between the stained glass windows of past Dragon Lords.

“Okay…got the info out of Hooktail,” Smolder called out to Nebula’s team as she took a seat, “Apparently Gloomtail and Bonetail were also involved in this blood-selling nonsense. Can’t believe this shit…”

“So what, we just find them and deal with them, right?” Nebula called out from his seat. “Seems simple enough.”

“Still…” Smolder leaned against the table with her elbows resting upon the pink tablecloth, “I feel bad for getting you guys involved in my mess.”

Blue would speak up, “Don’t worry about it. Any chance to improve my folks’ home is a chance I’ll take. Assholes like these are out here tainting our reputation when we’ve worked our tails off just to improve it.”

“I’m with Blue,” Mei added, “Dragons deserve better and I won’t let some bad apples ruin the entire tree.”

Lastly, Grimrose would add, “...hey as long as we get some dragon pelts--”

Everyone stared at her in concerned silence.

“...That…that was a joke,” she droned with a neutral expression, “It’s supposed to be ironic because it’s something I’d normally--” She shook her head, “...nevermind. Just know that I’m in.”

Smolder snorted, “So long as you focus on flaying the bad guys, yeah? Anyway, you guys’ first objective is the Scalebound Wildwood.”

“I’ve heard of that place,” Nebula spoke up, “Isn’t that a forest-like jungle region that exists on the outskirts of the Dragon Lands on the ocean border with Kirin and Mistmane village territory?”

“...yeah!” Blue proclaimed, then paused for a second, “...I think. Been a while since I’ve been out that way. But if that’s where Gloomtail is located, I should be able to guide you guys there until we find him.”

“Seems simple enough,” Mei commented as she got up from the table, “We’re heading out tomorrow, yeah?”

“That’s right. You’re gonna need a boat in order to get there, so I’m gonna have someone join you guys tomorrow,” Smolder nodded as everyone would follow Mei, “Get some rest, alright guys?”

Everyone bid her goodnight, but Smolder called out to Blue before he left. “...wait a second, Blue. Got a minute?”

“...what’s up?” Blue asked as he turned around.

“...Hooktail was talking about you behind your back,” Smolder explained, “...everything okay?”

“...yeah,” Blue dodged the question while turning his head, “...we stopped seeing each other a while ago so…don’t worry about it. Besides, I’ve…I’ve got Mei now, so…yeah.”

Smolder chose not to press the issue further and gave a compassionate reply as he placed a claw on his shoulder. “...alrighty. As long as you’re sure, Blue. Come to me if there’s anything wrong. I know you’re alone otherwise, so…let me help however I can.”

“...thanks Lord--er,...Smolder.”