Chapter 12

Race to Canterlot

One hour earlier….

The great winged beast soared through the sky. His snout took in the air. Hoping that at some point he would catch the scent of another dragon. With every passing minute his search turned into something he did not want… A hunt.

His red eyes scanned the passing valleys and forests below. Perhaps he needed to make his presence known once again for them to get the picture. If they were too cowardly to show themselves to him then he would have to make them reveal themselves. The attack on the last town was short lived, but The Defiler had enjoyed every second of it. The screams of terrified ponies were like music to his ears. The sight of an entire village falling before his great power was to him nothing short of a masterpiece. A feeling of power rushed through him as he continued on his course. He wanted more, he wanted to feel that same feeling again. The Defiler smiled wickedly to himself as he thought that the next town he came across would be just the thing he needed to suffice his thirst of dominance. Flying low he broke through the cover of clouds and circled around an object that caught his eye. It was a small shack on wheels. The pony living inside it had just come outside with an empty bucket. his campfire he had made for cooking was still a blaze. As the Defiler continued to observe, his stomach began to long for this pony. It would be all to easy. Swooping down on his prey, and one closed jaw later he and his home would be gone. No, he would have to wait. One pony would not be enough for the mighty Defiler. So with a great flap of his enormous wings he lifted off into the sky again. His shadow passed over the pony below and made the lucky soul look up just in time to catch the sight of black reptile before it vanished in the distance.

The Defiler was growing impatient with the rest of the dragons. Truly they must be fearful of him. As they should for if he found them they would have to suffer his wrath for the last time his plans of world conquest was brought to an end by a unicorn like no other. Her power was unlike anything he had faced before. Before his quest for power was complete she interfered! And with her sacrifice he was sent to that accursed prison where she kept watch over it! Wether it was her ghost or soul he did not know, but during his imprisonment he feel he gaze on him. Never lifting, always on the watch. This scared the Defiler more than anything and most importantly it sent a strong surge of hatred down to his core. He would not allow that to happen again! This time he would prevail and no one would ever question his abilities again!

About twenty-five minutes after Nimph arrived in a neighboring town…

The small town lay undisturbed. The ponies walked around in the busy streets like any other given day going about their business or to the local watering hole for a salt lick. Whip Lash had just arrived back in town ready to start her daily routine of helping any one who asked for it. She tipped her hat to passing fillies who beamed up at the mare. Back inside the watering hole, she shared a few salts with friends before heading out. Whip Lash was immediately asked to help another farm out. This time, to much of her relief, she had to assist the elderly couple with plowing the fields. Being a unicorn, she used her magic to make quick work of the fields. The heat of the sun came down on the mare as she looked up at the clear sky. In the distance she saw that the forest was filled with clouds while where she was, there were none. While looking out in the distance, she saw what looked like something moving in one spot for a period of time before changing course. From the forest came the sound of birds calling out as they soared out of their habitat and in one massive unit they flew overhead passing by the town.

“Ah,” exclaimed one of the town ponies happily looking up at the retreating birds. “The dragons must be preparing to migrate at last! It took them long enough! Wonder why they held back this long?”

“I would say so!” came the voice of the merchant.

The earth pony pulled his wagon down the road making it come to a stop by the watering hole. He made to open up his small shop as the inhabitants continued to stare at the sky waiting to see the signs of any other dragons in flight. Then, to everyone’s amazement, a dark silhouette came into view. The creature was enormous! The dragon glided in their direction until its shadow passed overhead.

“Just one?” questioned a filly watching as the tail of the giant reptile passed by.

“It must be looking for the rest,” said one the earth ponies in the crowd of on lookers. “It should be able to find them in no time though. Dragons have been said to have strong noses.”

The town watched in aw as the black dragon circled around their town a few more minutes before coming to a stop where it hovered in place. Its head turned this way and that. Coming out of his wagon, the merchant stumbled as he quickly made to find a spot to begin what he had come out to do. He mustn’t let an opportunity like this go to waste! When he found a place to set up his supplies he couldn’t have picked a better location. From this angle he could just make out the majestic creature’s features. While the dragon stayed hovering above the town the merchant spread his mat on the ground and rolled out a piece of paper where he quickly began making his art. He drew the outline carefully before drawing the rest. When he was done he had an image of the black dragon on the piece of paper.

“Your pretty good at that,” said Whip Lash at last when she was sure that she could speak.

“What? Oh, yes, I suppose,” replied the merchant kindly. “I know somepony who is good at making stained glass and this drawing here will be something he has been willing to try but never quite managed to create!”

“So you’re going to give it to him?” asked Whip Lash impressed by the illustration.

“Yes, I will." said the merchant adding a few finishing touches. "He resides is in the city of Canterlot.”

“That’s quite a ways out there.”

“I have traveled down this path many times before. I’m sure if the old girl has made it this long without a single hiccup, she can manage.”

“Are you talking about your wagon?”

“There, that should do it," the merchant announced happily and put his drawing instrument away. "Why yes, she has been through a lot over the years, but she’s still kicking!”

Whip Lash had just noticed something that stuck out to her in the drawing and when she moved in for a closer look her eyes widened. She looked up at the sky where the dragon’s head was still turning and back to the picture again.

“What is it?” asked the merchant.

“Oh, its nothing,” said Whip Lash still eyeing the dragon above them with suspicion. “Ah must bee over thinkin things is all.”

The merchant looked up at the sky as well and shook his head in amusement.

“You know I have seen the dragons flying around before at this time of the seasons, but I have never seen one that big before.”

“What?” said Whip Lash as a bad feeling come over her.

“Why yes,” said the merchant again. “I saw the dragon not to long ago as I was setting out to fill a bucket of water when I saw him. He was huge! I Never saw anything like it! It looks like he’s causing quite a racket amongst the birds though.”

But Whip Lash didn’t hear anymore of what she was being told. She had noticed that the dragons eyes in the picture were red and just then, the crowd gasped in delight as the dragon above them had its sights on the mountains in the distance. Knowing where to go The Defiler growled as he caught the scent of one of his own hiding out somewhere in the mountains. Flapping his vast wings he flew away. Whip Lash knew where he was heading! She had to act fast! She had to hurry before it was too late!

“Mr. Merchant, I need you to do me a huge favor when I get back!”

“Oh, uh… What kind of favor?”

“There’s no time to explain, but do y’all know of a unicorn that goes by the name of Nimph?”

“Nimph eh? Yes, I can say I have heard of her. Why? What’s…”

“When I get back with her I need you to get her outta here!”

And before the merchant could respond, Whip Lash tore off down the road in hot pursuit of the dragon.

The Defiler could smell his target as he approached the mountains. His cowardly kins' fear of him made his hunger grow. Flying low, he began to circle the mountain until his eyes were fixated on one spot hidden by the trees canopies. Unaware that he was being fallowed, the unicorn below waited in the cover of the forest grounds until she heard the dragon come to a landing. The Defiler eyed the mouth of the cave in disappointment. Did the dragon hiding out in there really think it was going keep him safe? The smell of fish met his snout as he breathed in deeply. Along with the fish, another scent met him. This scent was tough to make out, but whatever it was, the other dragon wasn’t alone inside the cave. Snarling, The Defiler headed in with caution expecting something to happen, but nothing did. Once his head had reached the spot in the cave where water began to flow down to deeper parts of the cave he let out a low growl as he drank his fill. He heard his language being spoken in the shadows and saw a light in the distance. He followed the strange occurrence; the water shifted as his feet splashed around the cave. All the noise the noise he was making had alerted the dragon in hiding. He growled back at the shadows of the cave and turned to face his visitor. Telling the unicorn he was teaching to hide, he took a more dominant pose and waited to see the Defiler make his appearance known to him.

Present Time...

The black dragon reached the slope and looked down for the source of the light and saw the red dragon glaring up at him. A smile spread across The Defilers face as he headed down the slope and rose to his kins height.

“So, This is where I find you,” he said in triumph. “Did you think masking your scent with fish would prevent me from finding you?”

“Who ever said I was masking anything,” said the red dragon back standing his ground.

“Do not lie to me!” The Defiler snarled. “You and the rest of those cowards in the mountain have lived in fear of my return for ages! As you should! Who were you talking too?”

“I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said the red dragon, refusing to look away from the black dragon's ominous gaze.

“Do not lie! I heard the language of our kind as I entered! I smelled another presence here! I saw a light go out! Tell me, Who else is here?!”

The Defilers tail darted to the hill of fish remains and slammed on the cave floor making the pile of bones come crashing down! Nimph’s head was in clear sight now. She avoided being pocked by the swishing tail of the angry dragon as she ducked out of sight behind what remained of her hiding place.

“I must say." said the red dragon unfazed by The Defilers outburst "After all the time you spent in your prison, it hasn’t done anything to improve your patients,”

“And I have all of you to thank for that!” The Defiler growled back showing his teeth. “If you had helped me, this world could have been ours!”

“It would have belonged only to you and you know it,” said the red dragon calmly.

Nimph was beside herself. Was the red dragon asking for a fight? With each word he shot back at The Defiler it did nothing but make his situation worse. The Defiler snorted at his kin and smiled once more at him.

“I would want nothing more than to make all of you pay for what you did to me, but I’m willing to look past your mistakes. I have come to offer you redemption. Join me and accomplish what we have set out to do all those years ago. Together we will destroy the very place that imprisoned me!”

“We will... DO NO SUCH THING!” said the red dragon firmly.

“You fool! The last ruler of Equestria is gone!" The Defiler spat. "She gave her life to save those she cared about by imprisoning me! And now that I am free, there is no one else living who can stand up to me! Why do you refuse my offer!?”

“Because during your absents, two new rulers have been chosen to rule over Equestria! And I doubt they will let a monster like you take control!”

The Defiler stayed where he was. Was it true? Was there another unicorn like the last ruler of Equestria? Could there be one last threat he didn’t count on? True, his banishment meant that he did miss out on a lot of things, but to his knowledge the unnatural unicorn that beat him was one of the last ponies to have known his language. His pondering stopped and he snickered at his smaller brethren.

“That matters not! I happen to know that the only two that could have stopped me are now dead! So how could these new rulers pose any threat to me when they don’t even speak our tongue? So you see, “Wux re wer ir, svaust ui ekik di apzen.”

“Si tir ti siofme zyak.” The red dragon shot back at him.

His movements becoming that of one preparing to pounce.

“Then you can die along with them!” The Defiler roared back in fury.

Nimph didn’t have time to react. Suddenly the ground shook and the two dragons were locked in combat! They were biting, scratching and whipping every part of the opponent’s body they could reach. Curled in a large cramped ball, the two dragons landed in the water! The Defiler’s tail swayed violently, as it came crashing down on the slope. In the midst of the chaos unfolding, Nimph made a break for it! She darted up the slope narrowly avoiding a red tail that twirled around the cave like a lasso before slamming against the cave ceiling. The mad roars continued to fallow her as she galloped to the exit. A strong feeling of heat was felt as she turned back to see orange and red light coming toward her. She ran as fast as her hooves could carry her! The heat intensified and the sound of the roaring fire drew close! Nimph could see the light of day ahead and with one last boost of energy, she flung herself out of the cave and rolled down the mountain’s incline as the flames spat out of the caves mouth! Landing hard on her back, she looked up at the cave where the fire had died out. She couldn’t rest! Even when every muscle in her legs were screaming in protest she couldn’t afford to waist any time! She had to reach Canterlot before The Defiler did! Getting back on her hooves, she was about to gallop off when she heard someone coming down the hill behind her. To her amazement she saw Whip Lash hurrying toward her. Sliding to a stop, she pat Nimph on the back and told her to follow her lead. The two mares reached the town where the merchant was negotiating with a buyer on a blanket he had for sale.

“Nimph, there you are! What in the name of Equestria happened to you this time?! You look like you’ve been running for your life.”

“Here… She is… Mr… Merchant,” said Whip Lash panting. “Now as promised, ah need you ta get her outta here as fast as possible!”

“Yes it is a quality blanket sir! Yes, that will be twenty bits! I’m sorry Nimph, but I’m afraid no can do! I have work here! I can’t leave until I’ve made enough trades you see!”

“Your trades can wait!” retorted Whip Lash.

“What’s gotten into you?! You sound like you’ve come face to face with a…”

“Dragon!” cried one of the town’s ponies in delight as she pointed a hoof up at the sky.

Sure enough, The Defiler was flying away from the mountains, his sights on the horizon and his mind set on one place… Canterlot!

“Like ah said before, there is no time to explain! Nimph has to get to Canterlot before The Defiler does!”

Now the merchant’s happy expressions turned to one of fear and seriousness.

“Hold on there, Ms. Lash!” he began raising a hoof to silence her next outburst. “You can’t be saying things like that! Its nothing to joke about!”

“It aint no joke! The Defiler has returned and if he reaches Canterlot before Nimph… Didn’t you say that y’all have never seen a dragon like that before in your life?”

“Yes, I did say that but…”

“Then why are you denying the facts?!”

“Whip Lash…” began Nimph but she was unheard do to the increasing argument between Whip Lash and the merchant.

She couldn’t afford to waist any more time! With a loud whistle, she made the two stare at her.

“Whip Lash, thank you for coming to get me, but I don’t think the merchant believes you. Mr. Merchant what I’m about to ask will seem like a personal invasion of privacy, but I need to look into your memories. If I can find an image of Canterlot in there, I will be able to teleport myself there instead.”

The Merchant stared blankly at Nimph for few seconds before shaking his head.

“Now why would I allow you to do that?” he said frowning at her.

But before he could return back to his business, his body became stiff. Whip Lash had her horn glowing and nodded at Nimph.

“Mr. merchant, I’m sorry, but I have to do this. I promise I’m only looking for a memory of Canterlot.”

If the merchant could protest he would, but he found himself being unable to speak and Nimph touched his forehead with her glowing horn. A barrage of images flashed before her eyes. A grown stallion was teaching his son the art of trading, the little colt was playing out in the fields with the family dog. A family of three traveled across country. The family arrived in many towns and cities. Finally Nimph saw it! She saw Canterlot! Its white castle was towering over the city and the vast Everfree Forest below its summit. Blinking, Nimph shook her head knowing where she had to go.

“Did you see it?” asked Whip Lash her spell still cast on the bewildered merchant.

“Yes, I know where to go! Thank you Whip Lash.”

Whip Lash nodded and let her spell go. The Merchant still baffled by this forceful intrusion on his memories stormed off clearly upset muttering angrily under his breath as he returned to his wagon.

“He’ll get over it,” said Whip Lash reassuringly. “Now, you need ta get a move on!”

“Yes of course, Whip Lash, I don’t know how I can thank…”

“Don’t ya be thanken me yet,” said Whip Lash holding up a hoof. “Get goin already! Canterlot aint gonna to save itself!”

Nimph smiled at the red unicorn and closed her eyes picturing what she had just seen in the merchants’ memories. The image of Canterlot came into view. Focusing hard on her destination, Nimph felt her body become light and in a matter of seconds, she vanished.