The Equestrian Dragon: Moon Light
Chapter 12: Voices of the Past
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Disclaimers: All locations and characters - save for the OC's that appear in the story - belong to Hasbro.
Let the story continue!
Three months.
Three months has passed since Ember found him and took Virin in. In that time, he had trained nonstop in the past few weeks. First, he should get his inner dragon out by concentrating his mind and energy, and then he should be able to let out the energy he possessed. Needless to say, he was still shocked to find out that, what Ember and her father Torch told him was true, but instead of being a human, he had always been a dragon all along.
All of this was a shocker to him. At first, he had a hard time concentrating to let his inner dragon out from within, but he succeeded nonetheless. When his transformation was done, Torch had a smile on his face to find out that he was indeed a "World Protector", but needed he some training however.
Virin should start out by extending his "wing-bones" by slowly flapping his wings. It took some time, but he eventually was able to levitate from the ground without anything going wrong. Next, he should fly along with Ember to try and learn to fly through the air like all the other dragons in Dragon Lands. He had a hard time catching up to her-as she was quite experienced and a fast flyer-but he followed her advice and took some slow flap with his wings, like she demonstrated.
He also took some sparring time with a few dragon guards on the training fields. He was having a hard time again catching up with those sessions his trainer gave him, but followed them by taking one step at a time.
When he was done, he would meditate with Lord Torch on a large mountain so that no one could interfere. Of course, as Torch predicted, Garble couldn't stop mocking and irritate Virin through his free time when he meditated by himself. One time, Virin was nearly on breaking the point of violence, but Ember told him to relax before she sent the older dragon away. Virin was relieved for that, and thanked the Princess, who only shrugged it off. She said that he should be out of Garble's way for now.
Now, in an average cave, close to the Dragons Lord's, a young red dragon with green spikes along his spine, a yellow underbelly, curved horns, and a spiral at the tip of its tail, had curled up into a ball as he slept through the night. The night's moon shined into his cave, causing it to become dark.
Virin continued to snore softly, until he began to hear someone in his mind.
Sweetie.
The dragon bolted up, hitting a column that was above him, making him wince in pain. Dust fell from the column above, before he shook it off.
He touched his head to where red liquid was slowly forming. The dragon sighed in irritation. His great dream, just stopped by that voice.
"Alright, who's there?" He whispered in a commanding voice.
Sweetie. The dragon blinked.
Sweetie? He thought. No one had ever called him that before. Then again, he didn't even have a parent that had a voice that sounded so...beautiful.
Come to us, son.
The dragon, Virin, blinked one or twice as he heard a male voice this time. Who would even call him "sweetie" and "son"? He just couldn't remember who.
"Who's there?" He asked one more time in a whisper, but it was more curious than commanding this time.
No answer.
"I know you can hear me, so answer." He said again in a more demanding tone.
Again, no answer.
Sighing, this time, in frustration, Virin looked around in the darkened cave. He had collected a few gold treasures when creatures dropped them on the ground, a "pillow" that was to make him feel comfortable, some of his precious possessions that were given to him by Ember and Torch on his "hatchday" as they called "birthdays" when a dragon hatches. A golden medal in a light blue pedestal, a silver armour for his sessions with the guards, and last but not least, a tooth from a hydra he had beaten one time. When he had told Ember and Torch about his fight with a five-headed hydra, they were full of pride for him.
Walking over to the tooth, Virin gave a small smile as he recalled his fight with the owner of that tooth. Never before had he even thought of taking on a fully-grown beast that looked like a dragon, but with no wings, and had more strength than him even. But somehow, he managed to find its weakness and took the tooth from the head in the middle as a spoil of war and of his victory over the hydra.
Dragons from all around the Lands had shocked and terrifying expressions when he came back covered in blood and walked on both his front and back paws. They were more shocked to see the tooth he had on his back, one that could only had come from one fully grown predator.
Virin was satisfied with the expressions as he recalled them. No one else had thought of fighting a fully-grown predator, but he did. He had fought the hydra and killed it. This had proved him worthy enough to be called a "true" dragon, even from Garble when he had seen him with the tooth.
The young dragon then frowned. Garble was still mocking him, interrupting his peace of free time.
Such pride Garble has. He thought. Whenever Virin saw Garble in the same field as him, the older dragon would always mock him, saying that even though he defeated a hydra, he would not be a "true dragon" he would never be a "true dragon".
Virin looked out of his cave. The night sky was still showing darkness, all but the stars, meaning it was no-where near morning. Sighing, he crawled onto his pillow, drifting back to his world of dreams.
...
Morning arrived, dragons slowly stirred as they awoke. In the cave beside the waking Torch, Virin was still snoring softly, dreaming.
His moment of sleep, however, was interrupted when he felt a bite on his tail. Yelping, he woke up in alarm, but not before seeing who had bitten him. He had an annoyed expression as he saw Ember removing her jaws from his tail.
Coiling his tail to him, Virin asked irritated, "What are you doing here?"
"Waking you, of course." Ember plainly said.
"Clearly." The young dragon mumbled in irritation, rubbing his tail to stop the pain from her sudden bite.
"Don't be like that." The Princess snapped. "It's time to start your training."
"Can't it wait?"
"No."
Virin sighed in frustration.
Ember noticed his frustrated and irritated look. "What's troubling you, anyway?"
"Nothing." He lied, slowly stirring from his pillow. Standing on four, he said, "We should get this done."
Raising an eye-ridge, the blue dragon said, "You know you don't have to walk on all four, right?"
"Better this way." Virin replied simply, walking to the mouth of his cave. "What's on the schedule for today?"
"Basic flying training, really." Ember responded, walking along with him.
"That's all?" Virin raised a eye-ridge of his own. "That'll be too easy."
"Not this time." Ember answered, earning a curious stare. Smiling, she added, "You'll have to begin a race today."
"A race?" Virin snorted, not amused. "Not my type."
"I know. But, this is one of the hardest ones you'll get."
The red dragon stared at her in curiosity. What couldn't be more challenging than a simple race? Fighting that hydra took almost all his strength to
just take it down. Then again, it did have five heads instead of one.
When they arrived at the preparations, Virin stared at his surroundings. Mountains on both front sides, two pillars where a "goal" sign swayed in between, fences on the sides of the start. Basically, like a normal race, but one for dragons.
In front of him and his companion, a crowd of participating dragons stood in preparation of the race. Amongst them was Garble's gang, whose leader glared in hatred at Virin, to his ignorance. This made Garble grit his teeth in anger.
As he done with other young dragons, the tall dragon always hated those who was faster than him. Virin was on the top of his list. That dragon, to him, shouldn't had been here today. When he had seen him with that tooth of that hydra, he felt humiliated that he wasn't the one who defeated it. That full grown beast was also the prince of the hydras.
Virin, from the corner of his right eye, noticed Garble's anger. "Hey, reddy." He called. "What does it feel like when you're about to lose this race?"
"Don't count on it, hatchling." Garble snapped angrily. "That trophy is as good as mine."
This made the young dragon roll his eyes. "No it isn't. Who was the one that defeated the prince of the hydras?"
"You got lucky!" The taller dragon roared, angrier than ever, making his gang take a step back. "If you hadn't used your remaining strength, you would had been as good as gone!"
"Yeah yeah. Whatever." Virin shrugged, ignoring his anger, only for Garble to fly straight at him, making him wince painfully. This took the younger dragon off-guard, not before growling. "What was that for?!" He growled.
"To make you off-guard for the race, of course." Garble snarled angrily, before stomping back to his gang.
Growling, Virin stood his ground as to not attack back. He shook his head violently. "Why is he such a pain?" He asked Ember.
"Mostly for his prideful attitude." She guessed.
Just then, a large dragon with gray scales, elder-looking, red eyes, a llight gray underbelly, his tail ends in a scythe, walked onto his box. The dragons stopped talking and looked at him.
"Welcome, dear friends," he said in a rich, but old, voice. "I am glad to have you all come to this great day. Today we will decide who's the fastest dragon in the Lands by the competitors that has signed for the race.
"The winner will be given a golden trophy when he or she has proved faster than the rest." The crowd cheered as the old dragon continued, "I myself is getting old to be the fastest in our race. That's why I'll be chosen an successor if he or she has gotten the best of their wings, body and shape." As he continued, Virin, whom was determined to win, was in deep thought.
How can I prove myself worthy enough among this race of dragons? He pondered to himself. He side-glanced at Garble, who side-galred at him. he side-glared back. I'm going to win, proving myself, and hopefully make him stop mocking me and my friend Ember. The thought of the female gave him some encourage when he glanced at her. She smiled at him with pride. Unlike Garble, she has pride for me as I complete a task she and Lord Torch gives me. He smiled back as he thought that.
"Go for it, Virin. You can do it." Ember encouraged.
She believes in me, he thought, grateful for her support. I will not let her down. After that thought, the elder dragon finished his speech.
"Is that all clear?" All the dragons, exception of Virin who was in thought, nodded in understanding. The old dragon smiled proudly.
Virin felt a tab on his shoulder and looked for the source. The one smiling at him was his best friend and buddy. Black scales, azure blue eyes, a scythe tail, spikes on his back, horns curved like his. This dragon was a bit older than Virin, but he has stood up for him the most as Garble and his gang mocked the younger dragon.
"Excited?" The dragon, Nightwing, asked.
"You bet." Virin responded.
"I'm glad that you decided to be in the race." Nightwing said. "At first, I thought that you would've quit immediately, as races aren't you thing."
"What, and let my buddy be the fastest dragon in the world? You won't get a chance." Virin smirked cockily. Nightwing smirked back.
"I like your attitude." He nodded. He looked back at the start, where two dragons that seems to be the ones who will give the signal.
Garble, who heard the two's conversation, gritted his teeth hatefully. He predicted that Nightwing would stand beside the little squirt, but why? He was older, in his teens, he should've hanged out with him and his gang, but he decided to be with that little pest for no reason.
"And may the best dragon win," the old dragon called, gaining their attention.
The dragons at the start gave the signal, and the dragons bursted off in high speeds by a blink of an eye. Virin, unaware, felt something swipe his legs, making him fall to the ground, gasping in shock.
"What?" He exclaimed, getting up. He saw that Garble smirked viciously as he took off. That bitch. The young dragon took off when Ember opened her mouth to draw the old dragon's attention, immediately closed it as her friend flew.
Virin flew faster and faster, hoping to catch up to the antagonism dragon, who dared swiping him as he prepared to take off the ground.
He will pay, and dearly. The thought echoed in his mind as he flew past rock formations that spiked up from the ground.
Don't take revenge on him. The male voice in his head reminded. Virin briefly stopped, glancing at the sky.
Nightwing, who flew back towards the start to get his supposed fallen buddy, hovered in front of him. "What's wrong?" He asked, confused.
"Thought I heard someone." Virin carefully replied.
His friend cocked his head. "Someone? I didn't hear it." He said in confusion.
Virin shook his head. "Never mind. It's nothing." Before flying past him. "C'mon, we do not want to fall behind, now do we?" He smirked.
Nightwing smirked back. "Nope." Before following the young dragon through the forest.
Unaware to them, Garble and two from his gang had shadowed themselves in the trees.
"Why would Nightwing go back?" Thw white dragon asked.
"Don't ask me." The gray dragon shrugged.
Garble vicious growled at the pair that flew from their "trap". "Just who does he think he is?!" He roared, making his buddies step back.
"Don't know." The white cautiously responded. "But I think I hear him say that he heard someone in his head."
The tall red blinked briefly. "Heard something, eh?" Before he grinned evilly. "That could work in our favour."
Virin and Nightwing continued on their way through the mountains of volacnoes. The former glanced nervously around.
"What's wrong? Scared?" The latter teased.
"Very funny." The younger stuck his tongue out at him.
"Don't be like that." Nightwing laughed. "Remember, dragons are immune to fire."
Virin rolled his blue-yellow eyes. "That makes me soo much better." He sarcastically thanked. "But, remember, I've only been a dragon for..."
"I know I know." The black dragon interrupted, rolling his eyes. "Three months. I get it. You don't know that much about your shape-shifting yet,"
Groaning, the small dragon looked at a volcano nearby. Who would've thought of having volcanoes here? The world, apparantly.
In the shadows, three tall dragons was hiding behind big rocks at the top of the volcano near the two hovering on the ground.
"Okay, here's the plan." The first one whispered. "When the small dragon gets close enough to the top, push him down the lava, and get straight back."
"You got it, boss." The second nodded.
Virin flew a bit higher to the top of the volcano he and his friend was near. He shivered from the high temparature coming from the lava above. He wondered what makes it so hot in temparature. Maybe if he ask Ember, she'll know.
"Scared?" The black dragon beside him teased again.
"Ha, ha." Virin rolled his eyes. Even though he was frightened as heck, he didn't show it.
"C'mon, it'll be fun." Nightwing smiled. "What can go wrong?"
"Likely be plummed into the lava pit." The smaller dragon shivered.
"And you're right." Another, unexpected, third voice added in. just as they looked back, a figure flew straight at Virin, catching him off-guard and made him fall into the lava with a mighty "SPLASH".
Nightwing gasped in shock and horror, before glaring angrily with a scowl at the uninvited competitor. "Just what are you doing?!" He roared.
"Getting rid of the competition." The dragon bluntly responded. "That monkey has no right to be here. He's as good as gone now." He laughed triumpthantly.
In the stands, Ember was worried for what might happen. Just then, she heard a big "SPLASH" from the distance, making her glance in the direction to the source.
"What was that?!" A dragon exclaimed in shock.
"What happened to that small dragon?" Another said just as shocked.
Ember glanced up at Torch. "Father, what do you think?"
"Hmm..." The big dragon hummed. "My guess is that Virin might had being pushed into that lava pit we heard from." His daughter looked worried now.
Please be safe... She begged.
In the lava, Virin was slowly falling to the bottom, his eyes closed as he concentrated to his mind.
What's going to happen now? I lost! The thought echoed in his mind as he continued to sink in the pit. Strangely, he didn't die from the sudden push to the lava. Maybe that was what Nightwing explained. Are dragons really immune to fire?
Son, The male voice came again. Virin opened his eyes and saw his surroundings. Not frightened, he just experienced the very think he did't want to experience. Though, the male voice seemed to call out to him again. Still, son. Who would even name him that? Could it be one of his parent's ancestors? Or could it really be his very own father?
Please be safe... Another voice said, but in a begging way.
Ember... Virin thought. I promise you, I will NOT LOSE THIS RACE! His entire body began glowing a deep red colour, his blue-yellow eyes turning a darker shade. He roared as he began to feel a tremendous power within him making its way out.
Nightwing scowled at the dragon, his own rival.
"Just why did you do it?!" He demanded angrily.
"He's a waste of life." His rival answered. "He's just not good enough." Then, unexpected to the four, the ground began shaking as a loud roar was heard from beneath them.
"What's happening?!" A yellow dragon exclaimed in shock.
Just then, a glowing dragon shot itself from the lava pit behind Nightwing. It was Virin!
"VIRIN!" The black dragon shouted in delight, happy that his friend was alright.
Opening his eyes, Virin looked down at his stunning audience. They were in complete utter shock that he was glowing red, his darker shade of blue and yellow eyes.
"Alright, WHO WAS IT THAT ATTACKED ME?!" He roared in a demanding voice.
Nightwing glanced at the stunned trio of dragons, smiling in satisfication at their reactions. "Never expected that, did you now?" He asked, making the trio froze.
Virin, growing tired of this, demanded again. "WHO WAS IT?!" This only made the trio step back in shock and worry. If he was going to attack, who would help them? No one EVERexpected that small dragon to glow like that!
The glowing dragon began to get tired of the wait, he flew straight at the frozen trio, hitting the leader, making him coil back from the attack. "So it was you!" He roared enraged.
Nightwing's rival froze in utter shock, but not before growling viciously at him. Then, the dragon flew at the glowing dragon, hitting him at the chin.
Virin stumbled back, but regained his ground. Shaking his head, he snarled dangerously at the one who dared to hurt him.
Making their way to where the splash was heard, Garble and his gang flew to the volcanoes... only to find out that the tall red's rival was fighting a trio of dragons right before their eyes. But what shocked them the most, was that Virin was glowing in a deeper red colour.
"What happened to him?" The white dragon asked, pointing at the glowing dragon.
"Dunno." Garble shrugged. "But whatever did, he's vicious, and dangerous. Think we should leave them be." His gang agreed with that, and they flew back the way they came from.
Virin rolled to the side as the yellow dragon tried to bite his tail, missing it. Then he clawed the yellow's face with his sharp claws, making three claw marks on the nose.
Ranger, Nightwing's rival, tried to claw the small dragon's own nose with his pointed teeth, only to miss as Virin yerked back in time. Then the glowing dragon bashed his head into Ranger's stomach, making him to stumble back in surprise, but not long for the tall dragon to swipe his head his tail, scarring the left eye. Virin roared in pain as he felt the tail swiping his eye, having an openiing for an attack ready.
Ogyn took this chance to swipe at Virin's stomach with his claws, making claw marks that made the small dragon stumble more back, roaring in agony.
Nightwing, unable to watch his friend about fighting alone, ran to his buddy's side. "You okay?" He asked worryingly, only to get hit on the chin by Virin's head as he angrily stood up, making him coil back.
Virin dangerously snarled at the trio as he roared, angrier than ever. Inside him, a small black aura was slowly forming. Ranger, Ogyn and Azam growled viciously at the glowing dragon.
"Virin, you're not yourself!" Nightwing shouted, pleading. Said dragon who ignored him, glaring enragely at the trio. He heard a dark chuckle coming from his friend, only to have him feel worried for hm even more.
Virin viciously attacked the trio, not listening to the black dragon's plea. He swiped his claws at Ranger's stomach, clawing it to make it bleed. This made the taller dragon gasp as he coiled back in shock.
Ogyn, not listening to Nightwing's plea to stop the fighting, growled hatefully at the vicious small dragon and attacked him by biting his back. Virin roared in pain even more, his left eye sight was bad. He will not make himself embarrassed long enough! He WILL win this race, and this battle, even if it meant to kill the trio!
Azam, having enough of this, roared angrily. He swiped his claws at Virin, who dodged the attack by ducking. The glowing dragon glared at the dragon with rage. He roared, even more angrier, and hurled himself at Azam, who widened his eyes in shock at the sudden move, moved out of the way just in time, but only to enrage the young dragon more than ever.
Garble and his gang made it to the goal of the start first, winning the race. The audience cheered for them, but more to Garble as he was the first of the gang to make it.
The tall dragon smiled triumphantly, before laughing in victory. "YES!" He cheered, pumping his paws in the air.
Ember, who wasn't happy for the tall dragon, glanced up at the Dragon Lord. "Where are they?" She pondered.
"I don't know, Ember." Torch replied. "Something must had happened."
"If that's so, Lord Torch," the old dragon said, gaining their attention, "then he must be in trouble. I didn't see him in the line of the competitors that made it to the finish."
"I didn't either," His assistant added. Just then, they heard a loud, but enraged, roar from the volcano area of the competition. They all widened their eyes in shock.
"What was that?!" A dragon exclaimed.
"What was that roar?!" Another added.
"I've never heard something so enraged before!" A third proclaimed.
Ember looked at her father. "What do you think?"
"Hmm..." Torch hummed again. "My guess is, that could either be Virin or another enraged predator. But, I bet that a predator couldn't have had that as a roar, only from an..." His eyes widened. "Oh no!"
"What is it?" The old dragon asked, confused for the Dragon Lord's sudden reaction.
"Virin! He's in trouble!"
Ember gasped. "Not those three." She growled. If anything can go wrong, then those three dragons would make an unfortunate in the area. The dragons, capable of flying, took off to the direction of the roar.
Virin roared, enraged, at the trio who dared hurting him even more. No one, and he meant no-one, would make him angry, it will cost them their lives if they did.
Azam roared back, hurling himself forward to bite the glowing dragon and bit the bad eye, making Virin roar in pain again and stumble back.
Nightwing cringed. That looked like it really hurt.
Shaking to gain control, the glowing dragon snarled dangerously at his attacker and tail swiped at Azam's right eye, scarring it and made him step back as he yelled in pain. Then Virin angrily bit the yellow dragon's tail, causing him to shout painfully.
The black dragon could only watch helplessly. Please stop... he begged in his mind, but no one appealed to his wish.
Ranger roared as he bit onto Virin's back, making blood appear, causing the glowing dragon to cry in pain. Then he clawed his face, scarring his left eye more, getting Virin to shout in pain again.
Ogyn, who seemed to have stopped, panted heavily as he watched his buddies beat up the glowing draken. What strength, he thought. He's more violent than any other dragons we've met before, and could stand up to all of us. Impressive. That last one got him to respect Virin for his fighting spirit, wishing they could be buddies after they've recovered from all of this.
Nightwing whimpered, wished his friend would stop now, as he didn't want him to act violently. Ever.
"STOP THIS AT ONCE!" A roar pierced through the skies. Ogyn, Ranger and Azam frozed and nervously glanced up as Virin stood his grounds, waiting.
What made their eyes, except Virin's, go wide, was that there were dragons from the spectators and the competition.
Seeing them stare at him, the old dragon demanded, "Just what are you doing?!"
"He did it!" Azam exclaimed, pointing at the snarling dragon. "He fought us, and we wanted to stop him from going insane!"
"LIES!" Virin roared with rage, making the audience step back in shock as they saw him glowing. "IT WAS YOU WHO ATTACKED ME AND MY FRIEND! IF YOU DIDN'T, I WOULDN'T HAD BEEN IN THIS MESS!"
"What is this?" The old dragon pondered, gaining the snarling dragon's attention, only for him to step back. "Never mind!"
Ember widened her eyes as she noticed blood on Virin's body. "Virin?!" That got said dragon to look at her, getting his eyes to widen for a moment before relaxing, and stopped glowing.
Panting, the small dragon looked up to see his audience. "Um, what's going on?" He asked, confused for the situation.
Torch, who had slowly followed the dragons, responded in a gentle voice, "Virin, why were you glowing, and for that matter, so enraged?" This made the smaller one's eyes to widen further.
"I-I..." Virin stuttered. "I don't know. I can't remember!"
Coming to now returned friend's help, Nightwing said, "All this was by accident. As he said, if Ranger and his friends hadn't gotten in his way, he wouldn't had fought them."
"Not true!" Ranger defended himself and his buddies.
Sighing, the old dragon said, "Well, whatever happened, I'm glad that you didn't get severely hurt." Virin looked at him with his good eye, since his left was scarred by Azam. This made the elder gasp. "By the ancestors. What happened to you?!"
"Azam striked my left eye with his claws, two times even." Virin responded.
"Nu-uh." Azam shook his head, only for the small dragon to snarl at him, drawing him back. He vowed in his mind to never underestimate this dragon ever again.
Garble was, seemingly, impressed with his rival's skills.
Four days has passed since the incident of the race. Virin was resting in his cave, coiled up in a ball as he slept through the night sky.
Ever since the fight that day, he was considered a "real" dragon by Garble, but nothing more than a hatchling, which he expected him to say last. His mind of thoughts was going on as he slept on his pillow.
He'd been recovering from the battle at the race he lost. He felt so ashamed. But Ember still saw him as one of them, same with Torch and Nightwing. At first, after he had recovered, he had expected their reactions from his "true" powers inside him, but Torch said that they were his negative emotions he had used, which made the young dragon even more worried. Why would he even have such a power? Was he born with them, or had they come from Garble's mocking?
The other seemed to be the best one he will think of for now. His negative strength was the one thing that made him lose the race, to what Garble won instead of him. He wanted to give him back for the trial. He can't wait for that chance.
Alright, sorry for the delay. A friend of mine checked the chapter and we edited some of it, but not much. This chapter was interesting for me to write, especially the fight at the race. This was the first action scene in the story, hope you enjoyed it.
Next time: First mission! Three years has passed since Ember found him. Virin, elected by Lord Torch, decides to bring two of his only friends in Dragon Lands with him on his first assigned mission he'd ever been to. Not wanting to disencourge Torch on his findings, Virin and his friends investigates in the minotaur city to the far east. What will they find?
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Until then my friends!