Before the Age of Harmony

by Ex-Nihilos

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Spike, Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Adventure, Slice of Life, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 9049

Few know how the elements of power came to be, fewer remember the danger they hold for the future.

Before the rule of Princess Celestia and before Discord plagued the land, ponies lived peacefully with the true natives of Equestria, dragons. Few remember though the space of time between the settling of Equestria to the rule of Discord. What happened in this period of time? Why did the dragons disappear? And how did the Elements of Harmony come to be?

It is only by accident though that thousands of years later after the events of this time that three little fillies are the ones to discover that the legend of the dragons still continue after all these centuries and that all ponies have had a great protector all these years that has shielded them from true hardships and dangers.

Soon though a new threat will rise from the ashes of a great and forgotten mountain intent on plunging Equestria into darkness. With breath of fire, on wings of hatred, and the will to conquer and dominate an ancient foe will fly again. It will stop at nothing to have its revenge on all ponies and cover the land in a shadow of smoke and ash. Can the powers of harmony, peace, and friendship defeat this new foe or will there be a new ruler of Equestria.

(My first ever MLP fan fiction and actually my first ever published story. Hopefully it isn't too terrible but hopefully it helps me practice my writing. Anyway I tried my best to keep with the original Friendship is Magic universe and mood. What I hope to do is give a reason for why bad things don't happen in Ponyville, in other words why there is never any famine, conflict, or death. Expect this really to be a feel-good story, just something for a light read to go along with your day. It may get emotion later on but read and decide for yourself. Depending on how the story goes I might take liberties by perhaps hinting at romance and going on into tragedy. Don't expect a dark, sad, or very original story though, I do plan to keep original characters to a minimum.

Feedback is vastly appreciated!)

All rights are reserved to their rightful owners and My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is a trademark of Hasbro, DHX, Top Draw Animation, and a creation of Lauren Faust.

Published 2012-01-17 07:28:20 UTC
Last updated 2012-01-19 20:36:55 UTC

Prologue

Prologue

“I'm sorry Solar! I’m sorry it had to end like this!” Frosty shouted frantically. He moved away quickly from the burning pit of lava that the Golden Dragon attempted to claw his way out of. Pity and sadness gripped at the White Dragon's heart and showed through his eyes. In his claws he held firmly the six elements that had caused all of this destruction and hatred between the two dragons.

Solar’s wings failed to take flight, weighed down by the hot molten rock that pulled him down into the pit. The Gold Dragon’s reptilian eyes burned with rage and anger as it always had since his fall into tyranny, “I will return, Zephyr!” He shouted, “I will have revenge, brother! I swear it!” His voice cracked hoarsely from the hatred that dripped in his voice. His claws, glowing red now from the heat of the volcano clawed at the edges of the pool of molten lava but each time he slipped and fell deeper. His struggling only sunk him deeper into his own demise.

Frosty backed away as Solar shouted and cursed, “You can’t keep the elements away from me! You cannot keep away my birthright, they belong to me!”

The white dragon shook his head and shouted, “No brother, they were never yours! You abused them and now look where we are! This world isn’t ours anymore because of you!”

By now only Solar’s head was high enough above the molten lake, “You think you can take them from me? You think you can do better, than me?! I was always the better, brother and you know it! You’ll never be better than I am, Frosty. You cannot deny the greed you have,” his eyes disappeared and his scaled snout quickly sank as he spoke his last vile words of spitting hatred,” you cannot deny your own blood.”

With that it was over. Zephyr watched as the final bubbles of the bottomless pit popped and his brother was truly no more. All too late he answered his fallen friend and his only family. "I don’t want the elements Solar, I never wanted them for myself and I’ll make sure you’ll never have them again. I’ll take them away and change them so that no one like us can ever use them again. I’ll make sure our mistake is never repeated, and that whoever takes them next will be worthy of them. I’m so sorry brother, I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

With his mighty cold wings the Dragon of the Zephyr Winds rose from the mountain into the sky. For three days he covered the mountain top in ice, sealing the pit of lava and the volcano in frost and blizzard. In time it would be forgotten and the great battle that had taken place there eons ago between the two brothers would fade into obscurity. It was better this way for it all to be forgotten. He would remain to make sure that it was not remember. Equestria could only belong to ponies, it was only they that could create a peaceful land made not by power or by conquest as Solar had hoped but by harmony.

The time of dragons had passed and they would go not by a thunderous roar or by some great cataclysm. No, they would go by a whisper, a silent passing into the annals of time to be forgotten. This would become an age of peace and harmony made by ponies, unicorns, and pegasi and no one else. Still, one last task remained for the great dragon before he departed from this world, the elements had to be hidden again and he had to make sure that his brother would not rise again to take them. So much preparation was in order but his strength was quickly waning.

Chapter 1: The Oldest of Tomes

Chapter 1: The Oldest of Tomes

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce

Long before the rule of Celestia and before Discord ruled over Equestria ponies lived in a brand new world and faced hardships that only pioneers could after escaping the wrath of the harsh winters brought by the Windigos. They lived simply; ponies, unicorns, and pegasi in new found friendship lived in harmony together and peace blessed their new land.

With their new home came new experiences and the ponies had to learn about the native things that lived in Equestria before them. Many a fantastic creature made their home in the Everfree Forest and the lands beyond it. From Manticores to Buffalos and Hydras to serpents the ponies learned what was dangerous and what was safe. Slowly they grew accustomed to these animals and lived with them in their new land. No other creature though had such an impact on them than the Dragons of Equestria.

The Dragons themselves were not natives to Equestria but had settled it long before ponies. They had left their own land for unknown reasons that no pony knows. Some Dragons chose to accept the ponies with open arms and taught the ponies how to best grow new crops and even shared with the pegasi the secrets to how the weather in Equestria was created, though the secret of how it could be controlled was kept only to dragons. Most dragons though kept to themselves in hidden coves with their treasure and hidden knowledge, they cared little for the change that ponies brought to Equestria.

The dragons lived with the ponies under the rule of their two leaders and the self-appointed rulers of Equestria. Two brothers who shared the responsibility of keeping Equestria safe, together they changed the seasons and each day rose the Sun and each night rose the moon.

The First Brother, the eldest, was known as the Summer Dragon by ponies but was better known as Solar the Golden by his brethren dragons. It was he that brought the Sun and brought the warm pleasant springs and Summers. It was he that helped all things grow and turn green. Serious and proud he was a Bastion of the light, justice, and truth. No outside danger could threaten Equestria with the Golden Dragon standing vigilant.

The Second Brother was known as Zephyr the White but to ponies he was affectionately referred to as the Frost Dragon or even more affectionately named Frosty. It was he who brought the cold Northern Winds to begin the tranquil times of Autumn and Winter. It was he who rose the moon in the cool nights and let the stars shine. Calm, gentle, and wise he made sure that each harvest was bountiful and that there was never a harsh winter. It was he that kept away the Windigos and taught the Unicorns much of about Magic and its workings. Of the two great brother he was closest to the ponies when he did not slumber deeply in the summers.

Together the two brothers ruled over the dragons and kept Equestria safe. Slowly though discontent between the two brothers grew as their opinions of the ponies changed. Solar the Golden became arrogant in his rule. He looked down upon the ponies as his subjects and demanded from them tribute of their crops and riches during his rule of spring and summer. The amount was small and what the ponies already gave, so all was content. Zephyr demanded nothing and instead befriended the ponies. He spent his time with them. He let the pegasi fly with him to bring the winds and taught them how they could control the weather as well, much to the dismay of the Elder brother who remained silent of his brother’s order of rule. To the Unicorns Zephyr showed them the extent of magic and all that it could do beyond the simple levitation, raising of the sun and moon, and lighting. He was with them in their celebrations of Hearth Warming Eve and shared with them his own stories.

A tension began to grow between the two brothers over this difference in treatment of the ponies. Zephyr disliked his brother’s demand of tributes and Solar chastised his younger brother for being so close to the ponies and not acting like a ruler. Springs and summers began to shrink as the two brothers demanded their times of summer and winter respectfully be lengthened. Things changed when Solar the Golden Dragon discovered The Magical Elements, an ancient set of six artifacts of immense power of legend that supposedly existed far beyond the existence of dragons. Zephyr was cautious with these artifacts and extended this caution to his brother. The proud Gold Dragon did not listen though and saw himself now truly as a god among all. He rose the demands of his tributes and forced ponies to see him as their rightful king and ruler. Anxiously the lesser brother watched from his fitful slumbers as his brother grew drunk with power and abused the Magical Elements. One summer the ponies agreed to no longer pay the exuberant tribute Solar the Golden demanded. The Summer Dragon was enraged and brought a drought to Equestria. It was the longest and most barren summer since the ponies came to Equestria and when it came time for autumn Solar refused to relinquish his rule. Zephyr began to see the change in his brother as the Summer Dragon became a tyrant.

The dragon of the wind confronted his brother finally of the suffering that he had brought to Equestria and the oppression he showed the ponies. Solar disregarded his brother as naïve and continued on with his rule. Zephyr in his love for his brother did nothing for he wished not to strike him down. The eternal summer continued until the crops withered away and little food remained. Solar blamed the ponies and with his allied dragons brought fire to the ponies cities. The Frost Dragon could no longer stay quiet as towns burned and ponies suffered.

Zephyr confronted his brother again and did not allow his pleas to fall on deaf ears. He chased away or defeated the dragons loyal to Solar, infuriating the elder brother. Solar finally met with his brother who demanded that Solar relinquish the Magical Elements and to stop the madness he had created. Solar in his rage accused his brother of jealousy and claimed that Zephyr wanted the elements to himself.

The two dragons attacked one another and in their fight they brought great destruction to Equestra. For countless days the two fought until Solar's own arrogance became his undoing. Wishing to end the battle with his brother Solar sought to gain the power of the earth itself. Solar took to a great volcano with the power of the Magical Elements in hopes of gaining the enormous power of the fiery volcano yet weary from his fight Solar lost his grasp upon the Magical Elements and fell into a great pit of molten rock that he had created. Zephyr in this chance managed to take the magical elements from his brother. Solar could not escape the Volcano on his own and sank into the center of it, and in his last breathe he swore vengeance against all of Equestria and Zephyr.

Zephyr, guilt ridden, plunged the volcano into an eternal blizzard and covered the top of the mountain in a glacier to entomb his brother within. With his brother's prison made the great White Dragon brought order to Equestria again on his own. Fearing the allure the Magical Elements as well as the power it held Zephyr hid them away so none but himself could find it. The ponies accepted him but out of fear and loathing more than love. They did not accept him now that they knew the extent of destruction Zephyr could create. The dragon saw then that the time of dragons was coming to an end. With the knowledge that he had taught them the ponies could rule equestrian on their own without his help and so the Zephyr dragon told them to learn from the mistake of dragons and to rule Equestria rightly.

Before he left though he returned to the hiding spot of the Magical Elements and with what strength he had left he used the elements one final time to change their own nature. He changed them into the Elements of Harmony and made it so that only those that truly embodied the elements that created peace could use them. The six elements became those of loyalty, generosity, kindness, honesty, laughter, and magic. No longer able to use the elements and content with how he left the world Zephyr departed into a slumber deep in the Evergreen Forest to watch Equestria grow in his dreams...

Placing the book down Twilight Sparkle took a moment to think about what she had just read. The Dusty old tome with the picture of a Gold and White Dragon had told a tale so fantastic she wasn’t sure she believed it if it hadn't been found right here in her own library. Spike had found it this morning hidden behind one of the old bookshelves of her home, or rather it had been lodged between the wall and the shelf to be forgotten until it was stumbled upon by the dragon during the young unicorn’s ceremonial reshelving of the library.

The words were archaic and written like a poetic ballad and at first Twilight found it hard to read but thanks to her knowledge of old texts she was quick to become accustomed to the words used by the book and understand the tale that it told. She would never have even guessed such a story like this existed as only a few books still existed about the times before Discord and after Equestria was founded. Most ponies just assumed nothing important happened in that short time and they especially did not figure that ponies had once lived with such terrifying creatures such as dragons. Even more was the story it told, the vague account of how two brothers fought each other for control of Equestria. If this Zephyr dragon hadn’t won who knows what could have become of Equestria. Perhaps it wouldn’t even have existed?

This was something that had to be discussed with the Princess Twilight decided. If anyone knew the complete history of Equestria it would be her. “Spike?” she called out to her faithful assistant but when no answer came she left the dusty tome to find him. Her first guess proved to be her best as she found the baby dragon asleep in his bed. Twilight smiled softly at the snoozing dragon, shaking her head she figured the letter could wait until morning. Returning to the old tome see took one final look at the cover. The two dragons, one gold and the other white, circling each other in front of the picturesque of the four seasons around the six arranged Elements of Harmony was faded yet in its prime it must have looked magnificent. Vaguely though she could make out the expressions upon the dragon’s faces, or perhaps it was just the trick of her mind. Which ever it was it the young filly could swear she could see the glare and the anger in the eyes of the Golden Dragon, and the sadness in the White Dragon's...

Chapter 2: It came from Froggy Bottom Bog!

Chapter 2

“Spike! Take a letter,” Twilight said as she carefully wrapped the old tome in paper. From nearby the young dragon snapped into action and quickly found himself a quill and parchment. Dipping the pen into a well of ink his hand stood poised to dictate. “Dear Princess Celestia,” Twilight began as she had happily begun every message to her mentor, “recently I have found a strange book in my library detailing a story from long ago but I cannot seem to find any other record that acknowledges that the book or its story has ever existed. I’m not sure if it is a fairy tale or if there is any truth to it and I was hoping that your vast knowledge of Equestrian history could help me figure out the story behind this book and… well its story. You should receive the tome in question within a day and any help you can give me will be greatly appreciated. You’re student Twilight. You get all that Spike?” As she finished speaking she put the finishing touches by wrapping the paper covered book in string and tying it up.

Scribbling the finishing touches on the letter Spike answered,”aaaand done,” putting the quill away he wrapped up the letter and placed a seal on it. Inhaling he breathed out a flume of green fire that burn the letter up and sent it on its way. “Hey Twilight, why is it I don’t just send that book along with the letter anyway?” the young dragon asked. Twilight, using her magic, took a quill from her own desk to write down on the package the address to the Princess’ castle. As the pen drifted back to her desk she answered, “Well Spike I’m not sure how old this book really is and it looks pretty fragile. I’m worried that using magic on it might ruin it or won’t work. Besides I don’t really like the idea of you burning one of my books up even if you’re sending it to the Princess.” Spike meanwhile shrugged as he followed Twilight outside.

Just outside the door and on time as always was the mailmare Pegasus. Twilight never really caught the name of the grey pony with the bubbles cutie mark but she had heard before from other ponies her name might be Derpy. Twilight was reluctant to call her that because it might have been just a nickname of some kind for her, likely stemming from the mare’s lopsided gaze which the young unicorn tried her best not to stare at. “Here you are,” Twilight said as she passed along the package to Derpy as she floated in place, “please, I mean if you could, be careful with it? It’s sort of fragile.” Derpy gave a smart salute and quickly turned and flew in the direction of Sugar Cube Corner to deliver the Cake’s mail. “I hope the Princess gets back to us soon,” Spike commented, “I really want to know if that story is true or not! I mean to think I might have some great-great-great-great-great grandfather that lived with ponies too!” Twilight gave a light laugh at the young dragon’s enthusiasm, “Me too, Spike. To think such an old book like that escaped me all this time. I almost wished I read it more times before sending it off.”

Spike snorted a laugh, “Twilight you read that book like four times yesterday and once again this morning. How many more times do you need to read the same thing?” Twilight smiled as she began to walk down the path towards Sweet Apple Acres, “Oh just until it isn’t as interesting anymore.” Both of them already knew the answer was that Twilight had yet to find a book that had ever stopped being interesting.

“So what’s the plan for today Cutie Mark Crusaders?” Scootaloo happily asked the two other foals in the red wagon she pulled behind her trusty scooter. Hitting the breaks the scooter shrieked as it skidded to a stop right before the Cutie Mark Crusader’s clubhouse. From the back Applebloom and Sweetie Belle hopped out of the wagon. Sweetie Belle spoke first, “I’ve got an idea girls, what if our cutie marks are in rock climbing?” Applebloom frowned and shook her head, “ah don’t know Sweetie Belle, I think rock climbing be hard for any pony,” she said looking at her hooves.

The three fillies gave a collective “hmmmm,” as they contemplated what they should try next to earn their cutie marks. The idea finally came from Scootaloo, “Ah I know!” she cried out, “we can try exploring the Everfree forest!” Sweetie Belle smiled widely, “hey yeah! Why we could be…”

Both other ponies caught on to their friend’s idea and shouted out together, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS JUNGLE EXPLORERS! YAY!” The three laughed together as they walked in the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage to get to the Everfree forest. “So what exactly would we be explorin’ anyway?” Applebloom asked. Scootaloo shrugged and said,” well we could go visit Zecora and see if she needs any more herbs.” Appleboom grinned at the mention of their Zebra friend, the young pony always enjoyed visiting the rhyming Zecora and helping mix the different potions and brews that she was famous for. “Hey yeah!” Applebloom explained, “and maybe she knows any interesting places in the forest that we could explore!”

Sweetie Belle though seemed unsure of the idea now as she began to remember their last encounter with the forest with Fluttershy. She didn’t want to run into something like that cocka-doo things and be turned to stone. Then again it was still day out compared to the frightening night that they had entered the forest. They wouldn’t be that far deep into the forest too, Zecora’s hut is only on the edge of the Everfree forest and pretty safe. Besides, Cutie Mark Crusaders weren’t afraid of anything!

Talking and laughing with one another the trio made their way past Fluttershy’s cottage into the Everfree Forest. Fluttershy busy chasing after Angel with a carrot didn’t notice the three young foals enter the forest. “Just one more bite, Angel, please!” she cried as she chased after the hopping rabbit in and around her chicken coop.
If only she had seen the three fillies and perhaps she would have gone with them and the Cutie Mark Crusaders wouldn’t have stumbled into the danger that awaited them in the forest.

A loud resounding thwak! Was heard across the orchard as the tree was struck. Applejack turned around to see the apples fall into the waiting buckets below. Satisfied she smiled happily and loaded the buckets onto her cart, all the while humming to herself a tune. “Finally! Last tree of the day!” she said as she stepped in front of the last apple laden tree of her Orchard. Turning around she prepared to buck the tree’s trunk but stopped short upon hearing the sound of snoring up above in the tree tops. “huh?” she said, backing up to get a better view she caught sight of a rainbow colored tail and cyan colored leg.

“Hey Rainbow Dash! You’re gonna wanna wake up if’n you don’t want to fall out of that there tree!” Applejack shouted up to the tree’s sleeping occupant. She should of guessed Rainbow Dash had been sleeping in one of her trees again though that pony always seemed to sleep all over the place. She was either up in the clouds or sleeping in a tree during the afternoon when her duties on weather patrol weren’t needed.

There was a start and a shake in the tree, causing some leaves to fall. A second later Rainbow’s face appeared through the brush. “Oh, sorry ‘bout that, Applejack,” she said groggily. Her head disappeared again into the tree and it took only a split moment for her to bound out of the tree and land smoothly on the ground. Yawning she smiled, “Didn’t mean to get in the way there but your trees are just way too comfortable.”

Laughing AJ went up to the tree and bucked its trunk. The tree shook and the apples fell from the tree easily, “don’t sweat it, sugarcube,” she replied,” just wanna get this orchard done fer today before our Pet outing later today.” Turning around she frowned,” say now where is Tank anyway? I hope I didn’t just kicked that turtle out of the tree just now.”

“Tortoise,” Rainbow Dash corrected her while gleefully smiling at her friend. Applejack merely rolled her eyes as Rainbow Dash continued, “anyway I left Tank with Fluttershy for today. Busy morning moving the clouds so I figured I earned a quick nap before I went to go get him and Fluttershy for our outing.

Hefting the bucket filled with apples into the last spot open on her cart Applejack spoke, “good to hear. Let me get these apples up to the barn and Winona and I ‘ll come join ya.”

“Hey Applejack, Rainbow Dash!”

The pair turned to see a purple pony approach with a little dragon following close behind. “Hey Twilight, hey Spike,” Rainbow Dash said, “what are you two doin’ here?” Covering the last of the distance Twilight answered, “Well I came by to see if AJ needed any help getting the last of her apples done before the picnic today but looks like I’m too late. Sorry about that, Applejack.”

“No problem,” Applejack said, putting the harness on to pull her cart she offered the unicorn a smile, “I actually got done pretty early today. Guess you didn’t have much else to do, huh?”

“Well not exactly,” Twilight said. Taking Applejack’s motion as a hint that she wanted to get moving she walked in step next to the Earth pony. Spike meanwhile took this opportunity to ride in the cart and inspecting the buckets in search for the perfect apple to snack on. Rainbow Dash meanwhile took flight and hovered slightly above the two.

Looking confused the cyan Pegasus asked her friend, “what do you mean Twi?”

“Well I found this very strange book yesterday that I’ve been reading all day. I’m not really sure what to make of it so I sent it off to the Princess this morning.” Twilight responded.

“Yeah,” Spike said from the cart, “Twlight told me it was all about how Dragons used to live with ponies a way long time ago!”

“Dragons and ponies?” Applejack asked, her face contorting in disbelief, “that sounds a bit farfetched there Spike.” Rainbow nodded in agreement with the blond pony, “yeah every dragon we ever met was just plain mean. I don’t think I could see them ever living with ponies.”

“Well,” Twilight said, “if there is any truth to it apparently they didn’t just live with ponies but they taught the Pegasi how to control the weather and new ways for Earth Ponies to grow crops.”

There was a moment of silence before the two other ponies started laughing. “Boy howdy!” Applejack said, “the very thought. I mean really? Since when did dragons grow apples or for that matter need to teach an Earth Pony how to grow anything?”

“Pfft yeah,” Rainbow Dash said in kind, “I mean Pegasi have known how to control the weather since…. Well like forever!”

Twilight laughed too, she could understand how they felt and for that matter she wasn’t sure she believed it all herself. Spike meanwhile wasn’t so amused,” hey! You’re forgetting I’m a dragon too. I like to think there was a time where more dragons lived with ponies like me. I bet you’re not giving us a lot of credit here.

“Ah’m sorry Spike,” Applejack said after she had stopped laughing, “it’s just that ah can’t begin to imagine any dragon making one of them nests of theirs out of hoards of gold and gems down here in Ponyville. Why that’d be as out of place as an apple among oranges!”

Soon enough the trio of ponies plus one dragon reached the Apple farm’s barn. With the help of her friends AJ took out the apple filled buckets from her cart and lined them up with the rest of the day’s harvest next to the barn. They joked with one another and laughed together preparing to leave for their picnic today when suddenly Applejack stopped and frowned. Twilight turned to her friend and tilted her head, “Applejack? What’s the matter?”

“Hm? Oh nothing, I just thought that Applebloom would be here to do her chores. Looks like there’s no sign of her.” She said. Rainbow Dash waved a hoof, “Ah I bet she’s out with her friends trying to find their cutie marks again.”

Applejack, still frowning, had to agree, “yeah guess’n you’re right. Hope she and those little fillies don’t go getting into trouble again…”

“I must thank you again, my little fillies, for helping me restock my shelves oh so quickly.” Zecora said. Placing a jar of freshly gathered mint onto its spot on the shelf she turned to smile at the three of them. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were smiling back though Scootaloo looked bored. “Our pleasure Zecora! Now that we helped ya you think you could point us in the way of someplace in the forest that we could explore?”

“Places to explore, why whatever for?” Zecora asked perplexed with the question. Scootaloo looked up from the mask she had been staring at for a good part of her time, “We want to try and get our Cutie Marks.”

“Your cutie marks you say?”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo said, rejoining with her friends they shouted together, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS JUNGLE EXPLORERS! YAY!”

Zecora winced at the volume of their cheer and looked around at her shaken ingredients but breathed a sigh of relief when the jingling ended and nothing fell. Frowning at the trio Zecora shook her head, “Now, now little ones. The forest is far too dangerous for little fillies to go exploring. You should run back home now and forget about such venture, perhaps another adventure.”

The three little ponies looked like their hopes had been crushed. Downtrodden they filed out of Zecora’s hut. Applebloom sighed and looked to her two friends, “now whatta we do girls?” Scootaloo thought for a moment. Struck with an idea she exclaimed, “I know! When we were out gathering the herbs for Zecora I saw Froggy Bottom Bog through the trees. I say we go back there and see what we can find!”

“Didn’t Zecora tell us to go back home though?” Sweetie Belle asked with a worried frown.

“Hmm,” Applebloom hummed, “well if’n we took the long way home- why we’d have to go right by Froggy Bottom Bog anyway. What’s the harm in stoppin’ by?” Sweetie Belle grinned and nodded, “hey you’re right! Well let’s get going then!”

Turning off the path the Cutie Mark Crusaders went deeper into the forest on their detour to Froggy Bottom Bog. Just as Scootaloo said she found the way there easy enough. The three of them had never been this deep into the forest before and the sense of excitement and adventure was with them all. They were slightly disappointed though that all they found though was mud and muck. “Wow,” Sweetie Belle exclaimed, “this place is a page right out of one of Rarity’s nightmares. Is there a word stronger than uncouth?”

“Beats me!” Scootaloo said as she hopped from one swamp bubble to the next. Applebloom meanwhile was enjoying herself by bouncing on one like a trampoline. “Uncouth or not!” Applebloom said, “this is great! Come on Sweetie Belle!” Giggling, Sweetie Belle jumped onto the same bubble as Applebloom and hopped with her.

Scootaloo in her run did not realize she was getting some distance away from her friends. When she turned to see where they were she didn’t see the giant brown rock that jutted up from the swamp. “Oof!” She cried, hitting the rock hard and fall back down onto a bubble. The bubble although nearly popped managed to bounce back and hold the small pony stand on it. Shaking the stars from her sight Scootaloo got back up to see what exactly she ran into. Going back up to the brown rock she admitted she found it to be strange. It looked soft and scaly, squishy instead of a rock. It almost seemed like it was part of some great creature instead of a rock.

The little pony’s thought quickly turned to reality. Backing away from the ‘rock’ Scootaloo saw from behind it five long scaly trunks rise up from the swamp. The ‘rock’ shifted away from her and rose from the much, dragging a scaly claw with it to the surface. There was a hiss as the creature’s five massive heads turned to look down upon Scootaloo.

Each of the Hydra’s heads smiled with wicked intent.

Chapter 3: A New Sky

Chapter 3

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stopped their hopping when they heard a loud scream behind them. Turning around they spotted Scootaloo in a full gallop along bubbles and mud heading in their direction. “Scootaloo! What happened?” Sweetie Belle cried out, briefly she and Applebloom looked at each other as worry started to dawn on them.

“Ruuuuun!” the pony cried as she sped to her friends and shoved them off their bubble into the mud. “Hey!” Applebloom exclaimed, “what’s the big ide-“ Her voice was cut off by the loud roar of what sounded like a herd of monsters. From across the swamp, still clawing out of the mud was a creature none of the girls had seen before. It was massive, taller than the barn back in Sweet Apple Acres and it had five ferocious heads glaring intently on the ponies. At the one of its foreclaws was stuck in the mud still but it was quickly getting free.

“Ruuuuuuun!” they three of them shouted as they scampered through the mud and hoped onto any of the bubbles they could get to. The monster was free by now and with its massive legs was closing the distance fast upon the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The three fillies made a B line for the direction of the path. Nearly to the treeline they felt sure they would get back on the path before the monster could catch up. They were forced to skid in the mud to a complete stop as one of the creature’s massive head and trunk like neck blocked their way. It almost seemed to smile as it suddenly struck out at them. The three young ones though were quick and when the Hydra’s head snapped shut it clamped down into bog water and mud instead of little ponies. Spitting out the foul tasting mud it looked around for his prey.

The four other heads cried out in their strange reptilian roar when they caught sight of the muddy ponies going for the opposite part of the swamp. Already they were dashing through the trees and the monster quickly gave chase. The three fillies unknowingly went deeper into the forest and were still in the venomous Hydra’s territory.

Dodging tree limbs and thick foliage the three of them ran blindly in the direction of safety as the Hydra behind them sent trees crashing down and disturbed the animals that frantically ran from the marauding lizard’s path. Applebloom followed close behind Scootaloo while Sweetie Belle was slightly behind, none of them knew where they were or where they were going but they were forced to fly caution to the wind to escape the Hydra pursuing them.

The monster easily kept up with the three ponies but its five heads found their targets small and easily missed. One chomped down near a tree that the three passed by and quickly recoiled from the bite. Spitting out splinters it shook its maw in pain as one of the other heads snickered at its misfortune.

The chase was quickly leading the three little ponies to the bottom of a cliff where a small clear colored river ran parallel to, they were running out of space to run from the gnawing mouths behind them. “Over there!” Applebloom suddenly cried out when she spotted some rocks that stood out of the river. Changing course Scootaloo was the first to jump and with the help of her wings easily crossed. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle found the crossing much harder. The rocks were slippery and sleek from the river and awkwardly arranged in the shallow part of the river. Halfway through the river Applebloom lost her balance and with a cry she fell into the river. Her tail was grabbed though by Sweetie Belle, “I ghot youh,” she said through gritted teeth. Closing her eyes her horn weakly glowed, with her strength and the help of magic she pulled Applebloom out of the swirling river onto the safety of a rock.

“Thanks Sweetie Belle, I thought I wasa goner!” Applebloom exclaimed, glad to be on dry land. “Girls, come on!” Scootaloo cried from the other side of the river. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom momentarily turned to see the Hydra was at the river’s edge. One of the heads readied itself to strike down upon them. Jumping out of the way the head crashed into the river but already another head was attacking. Hopping from one rock to another they managed to get across the river and landed safely on the other side of the river just as the maw snapped shut just short of the river edge.

The three breathed a collective sigh of relief now sure the Hydra couldn’t reach them. Their hopes were instantly shattered when the Hydra placed one of its great claws into the water where they had crossed. The river was shallow enough and only the creature’s underbelly was submerged as it began to cross the river. Slowed by the current it still was now able to reach at the ponies. With now a collective cry the three turned but saw the cliff blocked anyway forward. “This way!” Sweetie Belle shouted turning left and running along the narrow strip of grassy land that lay between the river and cliff. The other two followed close behind.

Again they were just out of reach of the great Hydra that had now waded to the other side of the river and was beginning to chase them again. The strip of land was just barely wide enough for its size and it was forced to awkwardly run as its side every so often clipped a jutting rock from the side of the cliff or one of its claws slipping into the river. Still the heads kept up with three ponies, jaws snapping at their heels as they ran for dear life.

It almost seemed like the end until one of the Hydra’s more clumsy head’s smashed its face against a large boulder. The boulder came lose and fell on its back where the heads joined together into its one body. The other head’s chase was abruptly cut short of nearly reaching the ponies as their body fell from the impact. Shrugging the boulder of its back into the river the large rock sent a wave of water in all directions. The four other heads turned to glare at the clumsy one but quickly turned to close the distance with the fleeing ponies.

“It’s still gaining on us!” Scootaloo cried out, all three had their heads turned towards the monster following them. They didn’t watch where they were going. Scootaloo hit the object first, then both of the other ponies. The three in their collision fell upon each other onto the soft grass. Shaking their heads they looked up to see what was blocking their path.

From what seemed like a massive wall of white, like a glacier, was blocking their way. It easily took up the space of land. Just like before at Froggy Bottom Bog it was the object’s look and texture that showed it was no rock. Rows of white scales that held a rainbow sheen in the sunlight made up the bright snow colored behemoth’s skin. What they had collided into was in fact its tail that narrowed down into a fanned out tip that was slightly submerged into the river. Along the creature’s back was three rows of grey bony bristles with the largest row in the center. They weren’t sharp nor were they large but they were obvious with its darker colored hue compared to the sheer white of its body. One of its pair of folded wings upon its back, leathery and white as well, covered the side of land towards the river to further block their way.

“Uh oh,” they said as they made the realization that they had just bumped into a dragon. Even now its head rose from where it had been laying. It opened it eyes, reptilian and with a strange steel colored iris, to see what had bumped into its tail. Its neck turned fully as its upper body stood up slightly. The head stopped right before the three terrified ponies. Its shadow covered them as they cowered before the monster. The dragon almost seemed like it was frowning. It began to open its maw as if to speak or to eat the ponies but it never got the chance. From behind the ponies the Hydra gave a shrill cry as it quickly approached.

The dragon looked up to look at the quickly approaching Hydra, its head rising above the ponies so they were bathed in sunlight again. The ponies were about to try and run around the dragon but stopped when they saw no room could be made and the water looked too deep and the current too strong for little ponies such as themselves. Any chance of escape disappeared though as the beast’s tail rose over them and quickly protectively encircled them. They looked up at the dragon expecting to be eaten but its attention was too focused on the threat of the Hydra.

The monster stopped its chase quickly once it saw the white dragon lying there. Its eyes narrowed at the three little ponies that cowered in the center of the dragon’s looped tail. Looking back into the eyes of the dragon the Hydra breathed in deep. All five heads roared a shrill, piercing sound that caused the ponies to cover their ears. The sound of the Hydra’s challenge was deafening but the dragon did not blink, rather it still looked very tired from its slumber. The shrill sound died away as the heads began to snap at the air as it challenged the equally sized dragon.

The dragon responded by breathing in deep, its chest expanding at the large intake of air. It roared, a deep and primal roar that dwarfed the Hydra’s shrill little cry. The sound of the dragon’s voice shook the ground and disturbed the trees on the other side of the rippling river. The three children plugged their ears even harder from the explosion of sound. It ended finally and the Hydra almost seemed to have shrunk from the sheer volume of the dragon’s resolve. All around them the sounds of the forest seemed to have stopped, as if holding its breathe to see what would come next. Only the sound of the babbling river could be heard along with the breathing of the dragon.

Slowly the Hydra backed away from the dragon and the three ponies. Its heads were bowed in silent dread as it managed to turn, albeit awkwardly, around back towards the river’s crossing. All the while the dragon laid there watching his foe flee. It snorted in annoyance of the monster, a cloud of icy breathe escaping its nostrils. The three ponies breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the Hydra back off but all three still huddled together, looking up at the dragon not knowing what to expect.

It was a while before the dragon responded to their presence. It was only the distant sound of loud splashing from the Hydra’s crossing that caused it the look back down at the ponies. Raising its tail over them again it freed the ponies from its grasp. Its head lowered again to look at the three of them.

“The forest is a little dangerous, for three little ponies,” he said in a deep voice. His accent though was strangely clear, devoid of the deep bass sound that average dragons made when they chose to speak. He blinked at them, expecting an answer but only received frightened looks.

The dragon frowned sadly and sighed sending a cascade of cool air down upon the fillies. “Return home,” he said as he began to turn his large body. The action caused him to unfurl his wings and spread them upward to stretch them. Lowering his head over the river his managed to get the majority of way across the river. Then lowering his wing he gestured for them to climb over. The three hesitated, exchanging looks. It was Applebloom first to step forward. Nervously she touched the dragon’s wing before apprehensively walking upon the strong leather. Slowly the other two ponies followed onto the dragon’s back and crossed its neck. The three together stood on his head as the dragon waded halfway into the river to deposit them safely on the other side. With the help of his wings the dragon rose out of the water to sit up on the opposite side of the river.

“Follow the river, ponies,” he said as he gestured the direction to go, “you will find the path easily should you follow it long enough.” Slowly it lay back down onto the soft grass, folding its wings down. Resting his head again upon the grass he closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of frosty air. Meanwhile the three ponies were exchanging glances again, this time out of confusion more than fear. They wasted little time though and began to trop down the way shown to them.

“Oh.” They all stopped at the dragon’s voice, colliding with one another. They looked to where the dragon still lay with his eyes closed, “another thing. You might not have gotten your cutie marks, but at least you’ve found a story to tell.” He chuckled before seemingly falling back to sleep.

“Huh?” the three ponies jointly said. Sweetie Belle whispered to her friends, “How did he know about our cutie marks?” At that thought though the three had to take a moment to look at their flanks, disappointingly though they found them still blank. Not wishing to waste any more time the three trotted off. Just as the strange white dragon had said they easily found the path by following the river.

All the while the dragon slept, in his slumber he watched through his dreams as the three ponies left the Everfree forest back to Ponyville and back to safety.

“What in tarnation do you think that was?” Applejack asked to the five other stumped ponies. A moment earlier they had been enjoying a picnic together while watching Tank ride Winona’s back. Suddenly their evening had been interrupted by a loud roar coming from the Everfree forest. Their pets froze in place as the six ponies shuddered from the menacing sound. When it died down they could still hear the echoes of the sound. Fluttershy looked petrified from her hiding spot in the tree and strangely enough Rainbow Dash had joined her.

“Th-th-that wasn’t a dragon was it?” the normally boisterous pony asked from her hiding spot next to Fluttershy up in the try.

“I… don’t know.” Twilight said as she looked in the direction the sound had come from. It definitely sounded like a dragon but it was hard to tell with the countless creatures that lived in the Everfree forest. She was sure though that whatever it was it had to be big. “You aren’t scared are you Rainbow?” Pinkie asked with her trademark giggle.

“N-no, I was just startled is all,” Rainbow said as she flew out of the tree, “I’m not scared of any dumb old dragon.” No matter how big they are or how much fire they breathe she thought worriedly. She shook such thinking away.

“Well in any case that just ruins the mood, having something roaring and scaring everypony,” Rarity said. Twilight did have to agree with her friend that she didn’t feel like having a picnic anymore. Looking to the others she said, “maybe we should go make sure it was nothing?”

“R-r-right now?” Fluttershy asked worriedly from her hiding spot in the tree, “Oh I don’t know Twilight, it’ll be dark soon and it gets so dark in there.”

“Fluttershy’s right sugarcube, I’m sure it’s nothin’ anyway- all sorts of crazy stuff goes on in there all the time.” Applejack commented as she helped Pinkie Pie gather up the picnic blanket and other things. “Yeah I guess you’re right,” Twilight said with a mixture of relief and disappointment.

Together the ponies gathered their things and their pets who had finally recovered from the roar that had shocked them. They prepared to walk down the hill when from the distance they could hear shouting. “Huh? Do y’all hear that?” Applejack asked but didn’t need a response.

“Applejack!” Applebloom shouted, “Rarity!” Sweetie Belle shouted at the same time. The three fillies galloped up the hill to the six ponies. Applebloom nearly collided with Applejack in a hug that seemed more like a tackle. “Woah, careful there! Applebloom where have y’all been?!” Applejack said after regaining her balance.

The three fillies all talked at once with Scootaloo acting out evens and at times shaking Rainbow Dash to simulate the experience but the six ponies merely looked at them in confusion as their words were jumbled up. “Girls! Hold on and come down,” Twilight finally said, “now calmly tell us what happened.” Taking a deep breathe the three little fillies related their adventure in its entirety up to this point.

“Wait, wait, wait. So you three are telling us that you met, or actually were saved by a white dragon?” Rainbow Dash asked once the story was done. Applejack’s main concern though was not about the dragon. Looking very upset she fixed a look on Applebloom, “Well I can’t believe you three went and almost got yourselves hurt out there in the forest.” Her look softened though when she saw how Applebloom seemed to shrink under her sister’s glare, sighing Applejack adjusted her tone, “well at least you three are alright. I never thought I’d say it but that goodness that dragon was there to help you.”

“Still a dragon? Why I never thought they’d help anypony out… well except for Spike of course,” Rarity said, eliciting a series of nods from Fluttershy. Twilight though was lost in thought, after the three fillies had told there story she couldn’t help but think back to the book she found the day before. The idea of a white dragon only caused her to fixate on the story but still it made no sense. It couldn’t possibly the same dragon as in the story, it just didn’t seem possible.

She shook herself back to reality, the story could wait until Celestia returned her letter and the tome, “Well, dragon or not, the important thing is that all three of you are safe but I hope you’ve learned that the forest isn’t safe enough for you to go exploring in all by yourselves.”

The three fillies didn’t answer but they all nodded. “Well lets head home Applebloom, you’ve had a long day,” Applejack said. “You too Sweetie Belle, you’re going to need a bath mucking about in Celestia knows what!” Rarity cried. “Yeah I’ll walk you home kiddo,” Rainbow Dash said to Scootaloo.

Everyone said their goodbyes but Twilight still couldn’t stop thinking about the story in her head. In quiet contemplation she walked back to her library. She briefly ate and related her day and the fillies’ story to spike but beyond that she wanted to go straight to sleep. She didn’t feel like doing anything else but think careful over the tome and Applebloom’s story. Perhaps there is some truth to it all, but this white dragon couldn’t really exist.

Just as she fell into slumber a strange feeling came over her and that night a strange dream, like a vision, came to her.

A few white clouds dotted the deep blue sky as the golden sun rose to greet a new day on an unspoiled land. Mountains stood vigil and gleamed hues of purple as the sun’s morning light touch them. The air was abuzz with early birds chirping their songs as other animals awoke from their night’s slumber to start the day anew.

High in the air two dragons rode the winds. One shined like a golden light, the other seemed more like a cloud that graced the sky. On silent wings the golden dragon darted downwards to the ground, followed close behind by the cloudlike dragon.

Wings widened to slow the dragon’s descent and gently he landed upon the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dirt. His brother did the same, landing in the small clearing that the eldest had chosen. The pair took a moment to look above to watch as their people began to appear over the horizon. Dots of dragons carrying what hoard they could slowly approached the mountains of this new land.

“A new start for our people brother,” the White Dragon said with a smile, “I should figure they have you to thank.”

The Golden Dragon smirked, “No, they have only themselves to thank. It was after all only by their resolve that we are here now.” He sighed contently and smiled to his brother, “A new world without tyrants or worries. No more fighting, no more strife. Still I had hoped and wished more of our people could come.”

“You did all you could brother. We could not topple the Great Tyrant from his throne but you showed our people that there was another path, a path of peace and protection.” The White Dragon said with a slight sadness to his voice.

“You mean we, brother!” The Golden Dragon exclaimed, “I could not have done this alone and it is only together that we can lead our people and keep them safe. It is a new day brother and our people depend on our resolve.”

“Well then there really is no room for failure is there?”

The Golden dragon chuckled, “perhaps not but we have only to wait and see. Now let us go and explore this new land of ours.”

The next morning Twilight Sparkle woke up with a headache and the wildest of bedheads.