The Alliance of Chaos

Chapter 9

As Vine and Silverwing stood there in silence, she shed several more tears.

“You say it was my fault you are sick?” She said, voice suddenly hard.

“Yes.”

“Then it’s going to be my fault you’re healthy. What did it come from?”

“I... can’t quite remember....”

“You are a dragon. You can.”

“Umm... It was a red vine... purple flowers... blue thorns...”

“Yes, yes....”

“And...”

“What do you remember about the flowers?”

“...”

“Well?”

“Three petals.”

Vine leapt into the air, joyous.

“That’s the easiest one! Horn filings and pegasus feathers boiled, strained, and than inhaled!” Vine’s horn glowed, and a misty bird flew out of the cave. “A pegasus is on the way. A fast one, too.”

Seconds later, Rainbow zoomed into the mouth of the cave, and skidded to stop. As she caught her breath, she leaped into the air, seeing the two dragons. She promptly proceeded to zoom out, but was suddenly enveloped in Vine’s magic. A feather detached from her right wing, with a small plink.

“Ow!”

“Sorry, we need that.” Vine made a single vine come from the roof of the cave, above a small depression in the stone. Her magic lit around the depression, and a smooth stone bowl came out the rock. The feather went in, and Vine filed shavings from her horn with a rough stone. Water dripped rapidly from the vine. Vine held the bowl above her horn, and a jet of fire erupted from her horn. The water quickly boiled. Holes appeared in the bottom, and the liquid came through the bottom. The feather had turned deathly pale, with green edging the tips. The liquid itself had turned into a sinking gas.

“Breath it in. The toxin sets in the lungs, and this is going to null it. It’s composed of hooks and toxins. The pollen has died by now, but the toxins are still at work. Breath it.”

Silverwing breathed in the mist, and his eyes widened.

“Arggggh! What is that?!”

“Right... I didn’t mention that. It kinda burns.” she said sheepishly.

“Umm... are you breathing fire?” Said Rainbow.

“Yes, yes I am. Dragonspeech.”

“How do you know a dragon? Like really, how does that happen?”

“He found in the forest between Canterlot and Ponyville. He took me in and raised me.”

“Wow, this stuff is crazy. Vine, you are a wonder. We were just about to convene the shamans for reselecting the Forest Shaman.”

“There can only be one Shaman at a time. Are you talking a marehunt?”

“Yes. You were corrupted, but with no pony representative for the Forest, our order was weakened.”

“Well, call the other Shamans! I haven’t met them, the ones I did know...” She blinked, suddenly realizing something. “They’re all dead now.”

“All but one.” Said an old, grave voice at the front of the cave. A hooded pony stood there.

“Who are you?” Vine said.

“I am Snowmane the Frozen. It’s good to see you again, Vine, but I fear my days are numbered.”

“So, then I was all like, ‘We won’ and then she metaphorically spat at my feet! Something about her friends being in danger, but no harm done. And then Spitfire tore of my badge!” Rainbow’s eyelid twitched.

“Please tell me that’s not who I think it is.”

“The Shamans are uniting. There are several ponies it could be.” Suddenly, a yellow trail accompanied by a gust of wind flew into the cave, swooped backward, just skimming along the wall. It stooped at the ground, and Rainbow was not happy to see who it was.

“Rainbow Dash?” She said, surprised. “What are you, the Shaman of Lameness?” Lighting had become notably more hostile to Rainbow after the Academy incident.

“I don’t know what all this Shaman stuff is about, but I do know you shouldn’t be one.” Rainbow turned to Silverwing, and said, “Who made her a shaman?”

“Shockscale the Quick. Dragon of Lightning.” To prove her point, Lightning showed the tattoo of lightning spiraling around her hoof. She pointed it at Rainbow, and a small arc of static leaped into her nose. Rainbow backed up, wiggling her nose.

A large winged form came in the mouth of the cave, sporting a matching tattoo. He landed. He long and lithe, three horns jutting from his jaw, and spikes at each joint. The horns on his head were jagged like lightning bolts.

“Lightning, you need to take more care. You almost put a crack in the wall.” A large white dragon came in the mouth of the cave. Silver wing leaned towards Rainbow, and muttered, “Frostjaw the Blackened. Don’t mention the jaw to him.” Frostjaw had clearly earned his name. The lower-left of his face was stripped of scales, scars deep into the flesh. The whole patch was black. The whole cave had become quiet. The dragons lowered into a bow, along with the other ponies. Rainbow figured she should follow along.

“There is returning member to our group, I see. The Young Elder.”

“Frostjaw. Your perception as always is impeccable. Vine has been released from her corruption, and returns to grace us with her presence.” Said Silverwing. Rainbow was confused with the dragonish exchange.

“And a new pony. Not a member. What is she doing here?” Said Frostjaw, hostilely.

“I’m just here. I don’t know what’s going on.” Said Rainbow. A younger white dragon followed tentatively behind him. A lithe face with strikingly blue eyes and sky blue horns peered out from behind Frostjaw. The dragon shyly slunk backward.

“Snowmane. Your days are few- is she proper material?”

Snowmane suddenly melted seemingly out of nowhere, and began to stare into Rainbow’s eyes.

“No. She is not the pony for the Snow Shaman. She knows one who could, though. Name of Turquoise Frost.” His sharp, wise eyes were a stunning white, and his coat was an amalgam of white and gray. His mane was thin, and scraggly hairs whisked backwards. His horn had a crack down the edge of it, blueish light seeping from the crevice. A seal of some sort was in place, keeping it controlled. “His magic is strong, and his heart is good. He shall be a good replacement.” He began coughing, racked with spasms. “I’m alright.” He said, weak.

“You know you aren’t.”

“True. But I’m still kicking.”

“He is coming. I have called him here, to be inducted. He shall be a great shaman, I know it. He won’t even need training.”

“So, why is this cave full of dragons and why did I suddenly want to come to said cave?”