The Tale of Scale

Chapter 2: The Gravity of the Situation

Rest was hard to come by that evening. There was too much going through my mind to even attempt at that glorious thing called sleep. The first thing to do once I was alone in the large supply room was to get a better view on myself as a dragon. So, I slowly lifted myself to my feet. After a hard fought battle between me and gravity, gravity won. I slammed face first into the cobblestone floor.

Apparently basic motor skills didn’t come prepackaged with the whole “Journey to Equestria and become a dragon for FREE!*” deal. Grumpy and feeling a bit sore, I lifted myself once again. I was going to stand up and nothing was going to stop me! Except gravity, gravity tended to get in the way on my next few attempts. Obviously there was something that wasn’t making it through my thick skull. Then it slapped me across the face…literally. My tail! Having a tail meant that I had a lot of extra weight on my back. This weight must have made me overcorrect and fall over.

With this thought implanted firmly in my mind I attempted the dangerous journey to my feet once more. This time I kept my weight forward. Too far forward! I crashed again. Tonight was just not my night. With a sigh and a growl I heaved myself onto my knees and noticed how my tail supported me when I planted it on the ground. Ah ha! Gravity you have nothing against tail power!

I slowly urged my sore joints up to a standing position but this time planted my tail on the floor behind me and kept my weight forward. Finally I was standing upright. I mean I only had to grab 18 boxes for support and break a few crates, but I was standing.

From my position I practiced simply keeping my balance. After a few minutes I started to get the hang of it. My tail kept me firmly grounded and I began to slowly lift it off the floor until I could stand without its support. Now we were getting somewhere. A few shaky steps and some more fallen boxes later and I had a basic slow walk down. You know, with all the noise I was making, all the ponies in the castle must have been the heaviest sleepers ever or the room had been enchanted. I’m gonna go with enchanted, can’t have a dangerous dragon who can’t even walk straight roaming the castle now can we?

A dumb smile crossed my face as I shuffled around the room. Now I know why babies laugh so much when they first start to walk. This is actually fun! Suddenly, my body caught on a large pillar and I fell to the earth again. Why do you hate me gravity?! But wait, what’s this? Something on my back had been yanked aside by the pillar. I reached back and took hold of a dark, almost leathery substance. The more I pulled on it the further it expanded. Finally, fully outstretched, I knew what the object was. It was a wing. Yes! Now I’ll never have to walk again! Take that gravity! After placing a good deal of concentration into the effort, I managed to get the muscles in my wings to work so that I could slowly open and close it. Oh! I should have another wing somewhere; unless part of the price of coming to Equestria was getting only one wing and having gravity hate me. Nope! I had another wing. Finally something was going my way. I concentrated on the other wing and it too slowly unfolded.

With both black wings now open I came to my feet and managed to knock over two entire rows of boxes with my new found appendages. Not wanting to knock anything else over I turned to my side and knocked over three more rows of boxes. Sorry boxes! I really don’t have anything against you. I hung my head and breathed an angry snort through my nostrils. Being a dragon was hard work! But what was done was done and I figured that things couldn’t get much messier, and so I attempted to flap my wings. This, of course, earned my face another spot on the cobblestone.

Maybe I should really just lie here and actually sleep. I folded up my wings and thought about trying to rest, but then something else struck me. Fire! What are dragons most known for? Fire breath! Yes! It’s every geek/nerd/college student’s dream come true. Giddy at the thought, but cautious after my recent face plant, I found an open section in the room where I hopefully wouldn’t burn the entire store of supplies or the castle.

I yanked air into my chest like a vacuum cleaner and then held it. Every thought was on making fire. A roaring bonfire was going to come right out of my mouth and make everyone back home jealous. Here it comes! The pressure was building up. I could practically feel it.

“Rawr!” I belched forth. And then began to cough up a measly cloud of smoke.

Ironically, I started choking on my own smoke. I even waved my claws through the air to clear it out. And what a nasty taste! It tasted like burnt rubber was smoldering on my tongue. Why does Equestria hate me!? I can’t fly. I can’t breathe fire. In fact, I can barely walk! With a groan I fell back into the hard floor of my own accord. With nothing else to do that wasn’t going to end up humiliating me even further I decided to actually get some shut eye.

* * * * * * * * *

Creeeaaakk…some really annoying sound buzzed in my ear. With the noise came a light. Agh! Shut it off! Can’t they see I’m sleeping here? My claw patted the floor, searching for some invisible alarm clock; instead it slapped a hard stone surface. So, still here. Still in Equestria. Still a failure of a dragon.

“Good morning,” a cheery voice pried through the morning air.

I pried my tired eyes open and found Princess Celestia standing in front of me. Behind her, Princess Luna was also present but she was looking around the room with wide eyes.

“What happened here?” Luna asked.

“I had a rough night,” I grumped.

“Well, I hath heard of a dragon’s fury but never before have I seen it taken out on defenseless supply crates,” replied the lunar Princess.

I growled and furrowed my brows.

“Calm yourself,” Celestia threatened.

I ceased growling and instead slowly lifted myself up to my feet. With a little help from my tail, I was actually able to stand before the Princesses. To my surprise, I was much taller than them.

“After much debate,” the solar Princess opened, “my sister and I have decided upon a few things.”

The white alicorn lowered her head and began to trot slowly back and forth, as if looking for the proper words. Then, she stopped and looked me in the eye.

“We have decided that since the Elements of Harmony played a part in bringing you here, there must be a reason.”

A smile began to creep across my face.

“But…”

Uh oh. Not the dreaded ‘but’.

“…you cannot stay in Equestria.”

“Excuse me?” I asked in disbelief.

It was Luna’s turn to step in. “Since the Elements brought you here as a dragon, we have concluded that ‘tis best that you go to the Dragonlands. Equestria is not suited for your kind and the Elements must have had a purpose or else they wouldn’t bend magic to bring you here.”

“To the Dragonlands? You mean I can’t explore Equestria? Not even a little bit?”

I felt robbed! I was in Equestria for Pete’s sake! And I couldn’t even see it?

“I am afraid not,” Celestia answered. “When the Elements are involved it is best to not delay.”

“There is more,” Luna continued when her sister stopped.

“More?” I asked incredulously.

“We have decided that you are around 80 years old.”

“80?!” I screamed.

There was no way I could be 80 years old. I was still in my 20s. I didn’t want to be old! Not yet!

“Yes 80,” Luna replied calmly, but I swear there was a bemused smile on her face, “still quite young for a dragon. Thou has yet to fully mature.”

“Still young?!” I cried. “I’m 80! Eight. Zero. How did that happen?”

“My sister is telling you the truth,” Celestia replied gracefully. “For a dragon you are quite young. But as to how you came to be 80 is another item we must address. For you see, when magic is bent there are always…” she paused here and looked hard into my face, “…always consequences. Being 80 years old is perhaps one of those consequences.”

“Would having no motor skills be one of those consequences?” I asked as nonchalantly as possible.

Luna started to chuckle. And I’m certain that I saw a sly smile cross Celestia’s regal face as well. But the white Princess was able to compose herself almost instantly and addressed me directly.

“Yes, I suppose that would be quite an inconvenient consequence.”

Of course, it had to be at that moment when gravity started shifting on me. Before the two noble rulers I fell squarely onto my side with a monstrous thud. Now, not even Celestia could keep her composure. Both sisters stood laughing at me, the grounded dragon. I blushed.

“Now I comprehend with what fury thou hast destroyed the crates!” Luna managed to giggle.

I hit my head against the ground. It was official, Equestria hated me.

“Come. Rise. There is more which must be discussed,” Celestia told me. She had somehow gotten her laughter under control and now simply wore a large grin on her face.

Grudgingly I moved off the floor and back to my clumsy feet.

“So…are you sure I can’t stay in Equestria? I’m certainly not a threat,” I attempted to make light of my recent failure.

“We are afraid not, noble dragon,” Luna chuckled.

“But, seeing your present state,” Celestia added. “We will allow you to stay here in our castle under our protection until you learn how to defend yourself. Then we will send you off to the Dragonlands.”

“So…about how long do you think that will take?” I asked.

Celestia ignored my question and continued speaking.

“You will also need a name.”

“But I have a name. It’s-”

“No,” the white alicorn stopped me short. “As a human you have a human name, but as a dragon you must have a dragon name.”

I frowned and folded my hands across my body.

“But I’m terrible at coming up with names!” I whined.

“Oh! Let me name him. Please?” Luna begged her sister. “You got to name Spike.”

Celestia smiled warmly at her sister. “Very well,” she consented with a nod.

Luna stepped closer to me and looked me over. A hoof came up to her chin as she pondered over names. Then her eyes became wide, I could practically see the light bulb turning on above her head.

“Scale! I christen thee, Scale!”

“Scale? What kind of a name is Scale?” I retorted.

“Scale is a good dragon name.” Celestia glared at me.

I backed down from the powerful ruler’s stare.

“Ok, Scale it is then.”

Luna was certainly happy, but I just didn’t feel cool enough. I was a dragon for crying out loud! Scale? Really?

“And now,” Celestia stated, “we will set up arrangements for you as you live here. I will inform those in the castle that we are hosting a dragon and then you may move about our palace freely. However, you may not leave the palace grounds. Also, seeing as you are still in need of learning the basics of moving, today you will replace each of the boxes and crates that you knocked over. Furthermore, you will repackage all of the broken goods. In this way you will clean up your mess and also learn how to move yourself properly.”

And thus, my punishment was announced.

“And I shall have a room furnished for you by the evening,” Luna added before turning to leave the supply room. “Good ‘morrow sister,” the blue alicorn bid Celestia as she, I assume, went off to sleep.

Celestia stayed but a few moments longer to look around at the decimated room and then back at me.

“Good luck…Scale,” she wished before leaving the room herself.

When the two Princesses had gone I allowed myself to sink back to the floor and I hit my head against the cobblestone again.

“Why, Equestria, do you hate me?” I mumbled into the ground.

* * * * * * * * *

Stumbling, bumbling, and all around fumbling were the actions of the hour as the storeroom slowly but surely starting looking more like a storeroom and less of a disaster zone. You know, I hate to admit it, but Princess Celestia was actually right. The menial chore of cleaning up my mess did, in fact, improve my motor skills. I wasn’t perfect. I was far from perfect, but I was getting there. Maybe it also didn’t help how sore I began to feel right after the Princesses left. All of that falling and crashing from last night had finally caught up with me. I was really just thankful that I could now stand without tipping over and mostly walk. I decided to keep my wings folded up snuggly against my body after I unfurled them and knocked over some crates I had just put back. I guess I didn’t need to learn how to fly yet anyways.

However, about halfway through the cleanup a new sensation struck me, hunger. My stomach wouldn’t stop growling at me! You know how annoying it is when you’re with a group of people and your stomach just up and growls at everyone. Well magnify that by about three and you have what dragon hunger sounds like. It’s ravenous!

Not quite knowing what to do, I paced around the storage room and placed a few more boxes back until I couldn’t take the hunger any longer. I charged at the door and my claws grabbed at the handle, only to have the door wheel open and smack me in the face before I could reach it. I’m pretty sure that every single object in Equestria is bent on destroying my face for some reason.

“Whoops! Sorry ‘bout that,” a stoutly voice appoligized ever so cheerfully.

“No, that’s fine,” I attempted to muffle through the thick wood door which was still slammed on my face. I shook myself free of the solid timber. They really know how to make a sturdy door here!

“I was told to bring some gems to this very storage room right here,” stated the voice.

I moved around the door and saw a pony standing before me. He was an earth stallion from the look of him. His coat was a light brown and he had a short cropped black mane and tail on him. I also noticed that his cutie mark was a cookie, chocolate chip to be exact. My favorite! The stallion looked back up at me.

“Whoa ho! When they told me that you’d have a dragon sized appetite they weren’t joking around,” the stallion declared merrily. “Well, here ya go!”

He slid a large bowl of gemstones into the half-clean storage room. Something inside me suddenly started to drool. I wanted those gems! Greedily I lunged at the precious stones and started to lick them. It was weird, but normal, but really weird, but really tasty. Ack! Confound dragons! They drive me to eat rocks! With not a moment lost I crunched into the glittering jewels. Oh! The taste! The flavor! The pure ecstasy! I truly, truly wish I could describe the taste to you, but doing that would be like describing color to a blind man. Needless to say, they were delicious.

“Yikes,” said the stallion as he looked around the room, completely oblivious to my munching. “Did Stormchaser try some of her new ‘stunts’ in here or something?” He gave a loud whistle.

“Afraid that was all me,” I stated between bites of those most tasty of morsels.

“No kiddin’,” he chuckled. “Well it’s official, my mum really does clean like a dragon.”

“Um, excuse me,” I said as I finished off the last precious stone. “But who exactly are you?”

“Name’s Loco Coco or just ‘Chip’ if you like,” he reached out his hoof as if to shake hands.

I gripped the outstretched hoof as gently as I could between two of my massive claws.

“And just who might you be?” Chip asked.

“Uh…well…I guess I’m Scale,” I replied with a scratch to my head.

“Welcome to Canterlot, Scale,” said Chip. “You know, it’s not everyday we entertain dragons here.”

“I suppose not. Hey, uh, what exactly do you do here Chip?” I asked.

“I’m one of the assistants for Royal Chef Flour.”

“Oh, I guess I never thought of Canterlot having a Royal Chef before,” I stated.

“‘Course we have a Royal Chef! Who else do ya’ think makes all the food around here?”

“I never thought about that either.”

Chip gave me a puzzled look.

“For a dragon you sure don’t think much do ya’?”

I was about to defend myself when Chip’s eyes suddenly widened and he spoke before I had the chance to.

“Whoops! Chef Flour will have a fit if I’m not back in the kitchen on time. She says I’m always late. I’ll let you get back to your work then. I’ll be back at dinner time. See ya’ ‘round Scale!”

Chip spun around with a flourish and click of his hooves and then headed out the door at a fast trot. I tapped the door shut with my strong claws.

“Ponies…” I muttered as I scratched my head. “Well, back to work.”

The rest of the day passed by slowly. Without windows in the storage room it was difficult to keep track of time. But at long last the final crates and boxes were put away and every item accounted for. I sunk down to the floor and sighed with contentment. My joints still ached from yesterday and it felt so good to give them a break. Then the door creaked back open.

“Well howdy-howdy-ho!” greeted Chip as he lugged yet another giant bowl stuffed with gems in behind him.

I sprung up instantly and snatched the food from the stallion. I shielded the bowl from his view with my back and tail even as my claws reached out to munch a handful.

“Whoa there buddy! No need to rush. Canterlot’s not going to run out of gemstones anytime soon.”

“Sorry,” I apologized through mouthfuls of jewels. “I don’t really know what came over me.”

“It’s that there dragon greed of yours bucko.”

To prove his point, Chip reached around my tail and slipped a gem into his front hooves. In a flash, and without realizing what I was doing, my claws shot out and stole the crystal from Chip. Only after it was back in my bowl did I realize what I had just done.

“You’ve got quite the reflexes there,” Chip commented, unfazed.

I sat there with a stupid look on my face and a half eaten gem hanging out of my mouth.

“I didn’t mean to…I mean, I…Sorry,” my voice became softer and softer with each mumbled word.

“No worries! I understand. You’re a dragon. It’ll take some time to overcome your instincts while living with us ponies.”

“Uh…thanks,” I whispered.

This was one chill stallion. Not even a dragon seemed to put him down.

“Good evening!” a new voice greeted my ears.

Both Chip and I turned our heads to find Princesses Celestia and Luna entering into the storage room.

“Admirable work Scale,” Luna complimented me as she glanced over the orderly room. The blue Princess then focused her attention on me. “I have prepared a suitable room for you. Follow me.”

She promptly turned and marched into the large corridors of Canterlot Castle. Celestia gestured for me to follow and I left the comfort of the now familiar storeroom. Celestia came out after me and even Chip decided to tag along.

“I see that you have learned how to move,” the solar Princess mentioned.

“Yes, I suppose I have.”

“That’s a funny thing to say,” Chip blurted out. “Of course he can move around. What kind of creature doesn’t know how to move?”

“Master Loco,” Luna halted her movement but didn’t turn around to face the one she was addressing. “Isn’t chef Flour expecting you in the kitchen?”

“Goodness me! You’re right!” Chip cried. He ran off in the opposite direction but then stopped and turned around. “Hey Scale, if you’re not busy tomorrow, come out to the palace grounds. There’s somepony who I’d think would like to meet you!”

Without even waiting for a reply the stoutly stallion thundered down the hallway, I assume toward the royal kitchen. Luna began to chuckle.

“What?” I asked.

The Princess finally turned around. She had a wide smile across her face.

“He has the best name amongst our entire staff.”

“And always a chipper attitude,” Celestia stepped up beside her sister. “But come, I’m sure you’ve had a long day and are eager for bed.”

The white Princess resumed the walk and Luna walked by her side. The two would whisper to each other from time to time. As we walked along the castle corridors, I began to notice other items which I had missed before. There were still large windows and beautiful tapestries, but also small tables here and there with ornate flowers in vases on them. There was also a small statue or two in the passages. When I looked outside I found that the sun was only beginning to set. Because of the change in time I actually saw other ponies throughout the castle.

Most, I noticed, were unicorns. They were all dressed fashionably and tended to hold their heads high. Well, until they noticed me that is. Then they tended to gasp and point. Granted the gasping and pointing was subtle as these were cultured ponies, but they did it none the less. A few soldiers also stood beside certain doors. They were clad in shining armor and tended to wield sharp spears. They were well trained as even when I passed by them they stood at attention. I caught a few of their expressions change, but they brought themselves under control quickly. Very professional.

We walked along an interior balcony which had a rail on it. Looking up or down showed similar balconies above and below. Looking all the way up one found the massive castle ceiling which had been rounded off into a dome shape. Peering down one could see a majestic black and white tiled floor with an ornate red rug. A few ponies were gathered and speaking on the lower floor.

Down a long stairwell we traveled until we reached the main floor of the palace. The Princesses led me along one final corridor which ended at a massive door. Celestia used her magic to pull the door gently open and a large room greeted my vision. It was sparsely furnished with only a few candles adorning the walls, a window at the far end, and a plush but enormous bed taking up most of the space. There was also a clean white plate full of gems on the floor by the bed.

“Welcome to the dragon suite,” Celestia informed me.

“Do not think that thou art the first dragon to ever stay with us. Granted their visits are few and far between,” Luna explained.

“Get some rest tonight,” Celestia said. “Tomorrow I would recommend exploring the palace grounds as Chip recommended. Perhaps there you can learn some other useful skills such as flying. You will need to know how to fly if you wish to survive in the Dragonlands.”

“As always, I shall keep watch over the night,” Luna stated. “Good night.”

“Good night Scale,” Celestia also wished me.

I entered the room and then closed it behind me. I slowly flopped onto the dragon sized bed and my eyelids shut almost instantly. I hadn’t even realized how tired I was until I was lying down.

“Flying sounds like fun,” I said before falling into a deep and much needed sleep.