[[SAVE LOCATION]]

//I spend a full month training with Quine. I learn physical strikes, strategic maneuvers, dragonkind's history, board games... whatever he's willing to teach me. I learn that the mystical Keeper of the Glade near Ponyville, Fluttershy, can commune with the Glade so its waters may heal any illness. I harden my body, to try to stave off confronting her.
//It's not enough, and my sickness gets worse. I have to leave.

//Quine: You will travel to the pony city of Detrot. Find the religious order of the veil called Celestia's Faceless and join them. They will provide you safe passage to Canterlot, and from there you may seek out the Keeper of the Glade.
//Spike: The Avatar of Temptation also holds the Element of Kindness. I'll need that if I'm going to defeat the Princess.
//Quine: By seeking out and defeating the Avatars, you will gain power enough to defeat Hazel. There is some respect that comes with power, but it is not enough for your ends. You must rise in the ranks of Celestia's Faceless, and champion good wherever you can. Admiration of Celestia has lessened as of late but not that for her devout; through association both you and the Faceless will grow stronger.
//Spike: And then what?
//Quine: And then you have options. Do you confront Hazel by violence and alone, to establish the new Celestia-chosen ruler of Equestria? Do you lead a popular revolution to hand the throne to the Faceless, as stewards until the return of your goddess? Will the philosophies and influence of the Faceless, headed in all but name by you, control local and regional politics more than the Canterlot throne, cutting her off from her own kingdom? Can you convince the heir, or Hazel herself, to embrace your religious decrees and rule by proxy?
//Spike: So we're going with the 'hijack a religion' route. I don't know if I feel comfortable manipulating people using the name of a goddess...
//Quine: 'Manipulating people'? All gods are extensions of the worshiper. If the people embrace your ideas, then their goddess will take on those ideas. Not the other way around.
//Spike: What if Celestia doesn't agree with what I'm doing?
//Quine: Then you have far bigger problems than public relations.
//Spike: I think I'm going to gather the five Elements of Harmony and talk to Princess Hazel. Whatever happens, I guess I'll figure it out after that.
//Quine: In legend, it is said there are six Elements of Harmony.
//Spike: Six? But there are five Avatars. Where's the sixth?
//Quine: On the head of Princess Hazel. It is her crown. It is the Element of Magic, and it is no trinket. She will use it to enslave you given half a chance.

//On the downward slope of Mount Triponi, there are many shrubs and grasses sticking out from the rocks. There are no animals here to check the vegetation, no fish in the stream rolling down next to me, and no natural predators left around to starve. Dragons have picked clean every last bit of meat in this entire region. I haven't had anything but reed soup for three days.
T: So? How does it feel?
Spike: How does what feel?
//Eating like a pony for days on end? It feels like my stomach is in a knot.
T: Finally knowing what you're working towards, and having a plan to get there. I just love it when a plan is finally complete, so you can start making real progress instead of stumbling about in the dark, you know?
//Hey!
Spike: Sure.
T: The only thing better than making a good plan is seeing it work. It's just amazing!
Spike: I always knew what I was trying to do.
T: ...It didn't seem like it sometimes.
Spike: Celestia told me from the beginning to defeat the false Princess. And, uh, she said a lot of stuff about dragons being her treasured creation, so I guess advancing our rights was kind of implied. I forget a lot of the wording.
T: That totally doesn't sound like you're putting your own words in her mouth.
Spike: Uh, no, she seriously said all that. It was the first vision I had of her.
//Twilight shakes her head.
T: Spike, I knew Princess Celestia for a long time, and probably better than anypony. Dragons and ponies living side by side as equals, I could see her saying that. But overthrowing the new Princess? That sounds like more trouble than it's worth, and it certainly doesn't sound like the Celestia I knew.
//Strangely enough, she was more insistent about that. The dragon and pony stuff I really kind of tacked on.
Spike: Hazel has the Element of Magic, right?
T: Yes, it's her crown.
Spike: To see her, do I have to collect that? Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?
T: No, it's just symbolic. All the Elements of Harmony are symbolic. Magical analysis indicates none of them are potent in any way, they're just pretty jewelry.
Spike: Even the Element of Magic?
T: Yes. I mean, why would anyone go around with an immensely powerful magical item less than one inch away from their brain at all times? Talk about a safety hazard!
//Quine said it was a powerful magical item... who's telling the truth here?
Spike: Could I skip collecting them and just ask for an audience with the Princess?
T: Symbols are important, Spike. If you show off five of the Elements, it means the owners were unwilling or unable to take them back from you, and that makes you worth talking to. Getting the Avatars to grant you the Elements is one way to do that.
Spike: 'Grant' me? Something to do with the tests you were talking about?
T: Right! You'll find out more as you approach each one. For now--
//She suddenly POPs and in her place is stale air. Why did she disappear mid-sentence like that?
//From downstream comes a furious hiss and a clattering of teeth!

[[SAVE LOCATION]]

Spike: Oh. Galsid. You look well.
//The grey dragon standing on a rock is the one I saw with Osdar earlier. A nasty-looking wound in her wing has scabbed over around the edges, but there's still a hole. Another gash runs up her right arm, from wrist to shoulder. It looks sealed with dragonfire.
Spike: That's unsanitary, you know.
GSD: Shut up!
//THIS IS GOING TO GO WELL.
//She's spreading her wings wide, trying to intimidate by looking larger. Her claws still look sharp, but for a full dragon Galsid is very small.
\\She's bigger than you, remember.
//ANYTHING STILL BIPEDAL IS A PUNY PIECE OF SHIT. OH, HEY, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT--
GSD: You're an Equestrian spy, aren't you? Answer me!
Spike: No.
GSD: I don't believe you!
Spike: (Didn't see that coming.)
//Galsid shouts above the running stream:
GSD: You led Strength right to Osdar, and you tried to kill me!
Spike: What?! Galsid, I had no idea App-- the Avatar was going to ambush us!
GSD: Liar! The entire thing was a setup, to kill one of the best fighting dragons in the Aquinatics!
Spike: How could that have been a setup? I was lying on the road with a broken leg and arm! What was I supposed to do but lie there?!
GSD: Yes, and now you're miraculously healed. What a coincidence! I thought I smelled burning rubber when we found you, but I wasn't sure -- I wanted to be polite.
//...Do I really smell that bad?
//HELL YES
//She screams:
GSD: And it cost me my best friend's _life_!!
Spike: Galsid, I was on the road because I lost a fight to the Avatar of Speed! Not because I was part of some sort of -- whatever you're accusing me of! And the Avatar and the Cavalry ambushed us because -- because that's what they _do_! They're military units!
GSD: And I suppose that's why you have Celestia's leash around your neck.
Spike: Uh, what?
T: (The ankh.)
GSD: It's their symbol, and their god. You belong to a pony. You're one of _them_.
//Their. Them. Dangerous, tribalist language.
Spike: This? This is _jewelry_, man.
GSD: I will bring you back to dragonkind. Even if you are enslaved already.
Spike: Oh, great, here we go with this crap again.
GSD: That is the power of dragonkind, to break the bonds of any non-dragon mate. Two dragons are more powerful than one, and when I free you you will see what a fool you have been.
//Hold on, what?
//SHE SAID BONING A DRAGON RECOVERS YOU FROM NON-DRAGON DICKSLAVE-DOM. I DON'T SEE WHAT'S SO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT.
//Why would it?
//BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT FUCKING WORKS SHUT UP AND GO WITH IT YOU SHITFACE
GSD: And I will make sure you are dragonkind's, forever. The bond between two dragons is impossible to break.
Spike: The last dozen or so ponies who threatened to assault and enslave me I beat the tar out of. You may be a dragon, but I'm gonna stick with that approach. It's worked well for me in the past.

[[SAVE LOCATION]]

The Drakeling breathes in and focuses, casting Terrae Corpus! The Drakeling's scales become as hard as rock!

The Dragon charges at The Drakeling!
The Dragon slashes The Drakeling in the upper body with her left claw, tearing the scale!
The Dragon collides with The Drakeling! The Dragon bounces backwards!
//Yow, her claws are sharp! Try to wrestle!

The Drakeling grabs The Dragon by the right upper arm with his left hand!
The Drakeling punches The Dragon in the lower body with his right hand, bruising the scale and bruising the muscle!

//Galsid snarls!
The Dragon bites The Drakeling in the upper body through the brown cloak, tearing the scale and tearing the muscle!
The Dragon latches on firmly!
//Gyahh! New plan!

The Drakeling kicks The Dragon in the upper body with his right foot, bruising the muscle and bruising the left false rib!
The Drakeling claws at The Dragon in the head with his right hand, but the blow is deflected by The Dragon's scales!

//With a mighty twist of her neck, she throws me into the water!
The Dragon throws The Drakeling by the upper body with her lower front teeth!
The Drakeling slams into the water!
The Drakeling slams into the obstacle! The Drakeling's left lower leg takes the full force of the impact, denting the scale!

//Get out of the stream. There's muck all in it and it's up to your knees, you won't be able to move quickly.
\\Also mountain streams like this probably have parasites and bacteria and your shoulder is drooling blood. Stand up, you're already sick enough.
//I'LL SAY.
The Drakeling stands up.

The Dragon charges at The Drakeling!
The Dragon slashes The Drakeling in the left lower arm with her right claw, tearing the scale!
The Dragon collides with The Drakeling! The Drakeling tumbles backwards! The Drakeling falls over!
//Shit!

The Drakeling kicks The Dragon in the right lower leg with his right foot, bruising the muscle!
The Dragon loses her balance and falls over!

The Dragon stands up.
The Drakeling stands up.

The Dragon slashes The Drakeling in the upper body with her left claw, tearing the scale!

Spike: Enough of that!
The Drakeling grabs The Dragon by the left lower arm with his right hand!
The Drakeling kicks The Dragon in the left claw with his left knee, bruising the muscle, shattering the bone, jamming the bone through the left wrist and shattering the left wrist's bone!

//With a wordless scream, Galsid rushes at me!

The Dragon charges at The Drakeling!
The Dragon strikes The Drakeling in the head with her right elbow, denting the scale and bruising the muscle!
The Dragon collides with The Drakeling! The Drakeling tumbles backwards!
//I roll further than I should -- I feel woozy. That blow to the head, wow...
\\Get up, you're out of the stream but on your back and vulnerable!
//No rest for even a second?

The Dragon leaps forward, towards The Drakeling!
//Galsid lands firmly on my stomach, flaring out her wings!
Spike: Oof!
The Dragon grabs The Drakeling by the lower body with her left upper leg!
The Dragon grabs The Drakeling by the lower body with her right upper leg!
The Dragon grabs The Drakeling by the throat with her right claw!

GSD: I do this for the betterment of all dragonkind. Not for the love of a measly worm like you.
Spike: Get... off me!

The Dragon places a chokehold on The Drakeling's throat!
The Drakeling grabs The Dragon by the right lower arm with his left hand!
The Drakeling grabs The Dragon by the right lower arm with his right hand!

The Dragon strangles The Drakeling's throat!
//Ugh... the blood in my body pumps overpressured for a second, and my vision twists. My arms feel like lead -- but I can't drop them!
The Drakeling struggles in vain against the grip of The Dragon's right claw on The Drakeling's throat!

GSD: As our little ones go astray, it falls to the older --
The Dragon strangles The Drakeling's throat!
//Wooooooo... I start seeing stars...
GSD: And wiser--
The Dragon strangles The Drakeling's throat!
GSD: To correct them and instruct them. Consider me a lesson, traitor, one you'll never forget.

The Dragon grabs The Drakeling by the waist with her left upper leg!
The Dragon grabs The Drakeling by the waist with her right upper leg!
The Dragon prepares to assault The Drakeling!

//I've got to get out of this, but she's just too strong -- her one arm is more powerful than both of mine!
\\Do something, fast -- if you black out there's no telling if you wake up imprisoned, or enslaved to this crazy bitch, or even not at all. What do you do when the situation's desperate?
//MOSTLY GET SOMEONE ELSE TO BAIL YOUR ASS OUT?
//T: You mean, besides pathetic? That was barely adequate for even a schoolyard fight. Claw out her eyes next time; little tip from the playground.
//Well, I guess if it's my only option...

The Drakeling claws at The Dragon in the left eye with his right hand, but the attack is deflected by The Dragon's scales!

GSD: Come on. There can't be enough blood in you for everything. Pass out already.

The Dragon strangles The Drakeling's throat!

//The world loses color. Light starts to fade.
\\So, what is it that you do in your last moments of agency? What's the most important thing, now that you're going to die?
//STAYING AN ASSHOLE.

The Drakeling grabs The Dragon by the right wing's wound with his left hand! The Drakeling tears The Dragon's right wing's wound with his left hand!
//A piercing shriek comes out of Galsid as her wing is torn straight down and apart, blood gushing out onto the ground. For a moment, the pain causes her to let up on the chokehold, and I gulp down air.

//WHAT AN ASSHOLE.
The Drakeling punches The Dragon in the head with his left hand, bruising the muscle and bruising the skull!
The Dragon releases the grip of The Dragon's left upper leg on The Drakeling's waist. The Dragon releases the grip of The Dragon's right upper leg on The Drakeling's waist. The Dragon releases the grip of The Dragon's right claw on The Drakeling's throat.
//She falls off me to the right.

The Drakeling stands up.
//Sweet Celestia, that's a lot of blood. I always thought 'gushing' was an exaggeration.
//Galsid, looking a little more pale, croaks:
GSD: I guess you... really were an Inquisitor...
//Is she still talking about the ankh?
Spike: Wh-- Galsid, no!
GSD: Just my luck...
//She tries to stand up.
Spike: Galsid, you're hurt! You're going to die unless you get medical attention! That is _way_ too much blood to lose!

The Dragon stands up.

GSD: I won't let you capture me alive.
Spike: Galsid--
The Dragon bites at The Drakeling in the right lower arm, but the Drakeling dodges away!
The Drakeling strikes The Dragon in the left upper leg with his Dashing Rogue Punch, bruising the muscle and shattering the bone!
The Dragon falls over.

//I stand in the same spot, huffing a little. My shoulder still hurts where she bit it.
//Galsid lies on her back, with a torn wing and broken femur. She can't do anything now but die.

Galsid was defeated!
Spike earned 7500 experience points!
Spike is now level 21!
//Crazy grey bint...

[[SAVE LOCATION]]

//Over the stream rushing by us, and Galsid's groans of pain, I shout:
Spike: Are you happy?! Is this what you wanted?! To die for what you believe?!
//Galsid's head turns up slowly. She has a morbid grin on her face.
Spike: You can't do this sort of crap, in any good world. You can't go around trying to kill people -- or worse -- because of what you believe, what you just _think_ is true!
//She doesn't respond. Her wing is still bleeding. She's really going to die here.
Spike: I'm trying to create a world where ponies and dragons are equals. I don't care if you think that's true or not, and it doesn't matter if you do. Because it is true.
GSD: Ponies and dragons will never be equals. They're too different.
//Her voice is more of a hiss than a whisper.
Spike: Shut up. You're dying. Save your strength.
GSD: Any society with both of them will favor one over the other, because dragons and ponies aren't the same thing. Their powers are too different. Imagine being a pony, and living in fear, having to wonder every day if this is the day some dragon with a meat-tooth decides you look like a tasty snack. Or being a drakeling in mixed society, having to wonder which day some jealous pony will decide you look weak enough to overpower and enslave. Imagine having to live each day knowing how easily it could be your last at the hands of someone else, and you can do nothing about it -- how can anybody live like that?!
Spike: They already do!! People can die any day -- dragon or pony doesn't change the fact there are murders and accidents!
//Galsid snorts, and lowers her head to the side. It looks like she's done talking.
T: (Well, you just swore you wanted to make a better world without killing anybody, and the first fight you had after that you killed somebody. Unless you have any smart ideas.)
//Oh, damn, she's right. Uh...
//SEE? ISN'T IT EASIER WHEN YOU JUST SLAUGHTER EVERYONE?
//Quine: There is another reason you should keep the ankh, little one. It is a communications device.
//Spike: What? Really?!
//Quine: Yes. There's a button on it. You didn't see that?
//Spike: Uh, no. Wow. Guess I didn't inspect it that closely.
//Quine: It's after the inscription. They usually omitted words to make it fit anyway.
//Spike: So who is this gonna call?
//T: (Ghostbusters?)
//Quine: ...Inquisitors would use it to relay information with one another. Speaking into it can be heard by anyone in a thousand-mile radius with another ankh. Take care the information you relay is not too sensitive.
//I take off the ankh and hold it in my hand. Even if Applejack or her troops have one, it's better for Galsid than dying...
Spike: Quine, this is Spike. Can you hear me?
//From the ankh comes a muffled:
Ankh(Quine): Yes.
Spike: There's a dragon on the slope of Mount Triponi, the southeast side, lying by a stream. There's a large tear in her wing and her leg's broken. She needs medical attention immediately. Are there any dragons in the area?
Ankh(Quine): I'll do what I can. Thank you.
//I put the ankh back around my neck, and talk to Galsid.
Spike: Well, you're in the hands or hooves of someone else now. They'll decide whether you can be saved or not. Your life is no longer my problem.
//I've done all for her I could.
//She spits:
GSD: Disgrace. That's what you've subjected me to. I'm no longer meaningful in my own death.
Spike: For what it's worth... I, uh, hope you live. Really.
T: (Inspirational.)
//I continue down the mountain.

//Detrot approaches steadily as I wind my way down the mountain, following the stream as it grows larger and stronger. Tall walls of brown stone, with iron spears jutting up and out at odd angles, surround the city. Not one building is made from wood. The dirt road leading in, and the pegasi in the watchtowers and patrolling the walls, look worn.
Pony Guard: Halt!
Spike: Woah, sorry.
//I take a step back from the pony in my face. The scenery drew me in.
Spike: This place looks more like a prison than a city.
//The guard hesitates, narrowing his eyes at me.
\\Crap, did you say what you meant to think and think what you meant to say?
PG: We're going to have to ask you some questions.
Spike: Sure, I have nothing to hide.
//EXCEPT YOUR QUEST TO OVERTHROW THE FUCKING THRONE, AND YOUR RAVENOUS DESIRE FOR PONYCUNT--
PG: What is your name?
Spike: Bartholemew Coinhoarder.
PG: What is your reason for visiting Detrot?
Spike: Religious pilgrimage. I worship money, and since I hear you have it here I want to take it through a complex series of immoral but technically legal fraudulent investment schemes and tax loopholes.
PG: If a pegasus leaves Forlegsandria traveling northwest at six parsecs per fortnight, assuming no air friction and minimal escape velocity, what is the bus driver's name?
//...What?
Spike: Could you... could I get a repeat of that? Didn't quite catch it the first time.
PG: We _said_, how long do you plan on being in Detrot?
//...Is that what he said?
Spike: About two weeks at most. Just passing through.
PG: Are you bringing any fruit with you into the city?
Spike: Am I... fruit?
PG: Yes, fruit. Like orthoclase, or anhydrite.
//...Those are rocks.
Spike: Er, I'm sorry, but is there a different person I could talk to--
PG: We are not a _person_, we are _people_, plural, and I ask that you respect our right to self-expression by using the appropriate pronouns!
Spike: ...
//Is this guy going to be okay?
Spike: Um, sir, I'd--
Plural Guy: _Sirs_.
Spike: _Sirs_, right; I'd like to ask the two of you--
Plural Guy: Twelve of us--
Spike: If there is absolutely anyone else in the world I could talk to other than you lot.
PG: Well, sure.
//Oh. Good.
PG: You can always talk with yourselves! We do it all the time.
Spike: That's not what I meant!
PG: Well, why don't you ask the alien in your head?
Spike: I just want to get in the city!
//Another pony in guard armor comes out from the gatehouse, quickly pulling the guardstallion to the side. She says a few quick words to him, and then turns to me.
New Guard: Sorry about that; he's new.
Spike: I don't think that's the problem.
//The mare pauses for half a second, then says:
New Guard: He has--
//From further away the guardstallion yells:
PG: They have!
NG: Been having identity issues.
PG: Prejudiced, insulting language. Identity refers to one, because _you_ don't _want_ a world where people are allowed to be how they feel inside--
NG: Listen, if you promise not to cause any trouble, go on in. I have enough in my hooves.
Spike: It certainly looks like you do. I promise.
NG: You're free to enter the city.
//As I walk past them, the two (thirteen?) guards start a verbal argument about whether the first (first twelve, or just first?) should request higher salary for being multiple workers.
//...Best of luck to both of them.
Spike: (What was with that guy?)
T: (Some people are weird.)
Spike: (I thought he was making fun of gender identity issues at first, but... he seemed more like a crazy person.)
T: (Undiagnosed mental disorders will do that. Now continue on your quest given to you by a literal god you see in your dreams.)
Spike: (Will do.)

Spike: (What is this.)
T: (It's a rock garden.)
Spike: (Please tell me they're not so dense they're trying to grow rocks.)
//Why the hell would anyone make a rock garden?
T: (No, it's -- 'rock garden' is a loose translation; it's an outdoor structure where rocks of different sizes are arranged to evoke beauty. Usually it's used for silent meditation.)
Spike: (What, sitting on the rocks?)
T: (There are mats under the torii. Which there really shouldn't be; it's an archway not a roof--)
Spike: (So we're in a knockoff rock garden?)
T: (Is... are you trying to make a pun?)
Spike: (I had hoped these ponies were the real deal.)
T: (They are. But their Eastern sensibilities aren't.)
//I feel Twilight's presence leave, and I'm left alone.
//After meeting with the (very nice) greeter (in a veil), I was directed to the rock garden. Apparently the mare who does induction into Celestia's Faceless is out to lunch. I didn't have anything to do anyway.
Spike: (It's kind of nice, though.)
Relaxing Mare: Did you say something?
//Woah! Someone's here?!
Spike: Uh, sorry; didn't realize anyone was here.
//...Wait. Where did that voice come from? I look around.
//Small rocks, big boulder rocks, archway thing, raised bed of rocks... this is certainly the most beautiful place in Detrot (not saying much) but it certainly doesn't have a pony in it...
Spike: ...Where are you?

The Relaxing Mare emerges from the bed of rocks!
The Drakeling leaps backwards, away from the Relaxing Mare!

//Rocks roll off her and spill over the sides of the raised bed. Why would you bury yourself like that?
Spike: ...What are you doing?
RM: Rockbathing.
Spike: Rockbathing.
RM: Yeah, it helps keep your skin tough and thick.
//She brushes dust out of her blue coat, eventually giving up and stepping down. There's still rocks stuck in her straight yellow hair.
Spike: ...You know, I'm not going to ask. Hello, miss, well met.
RM: Hi! My name is Rinsesu Megimi. What's yours?
Spike: Spike.
//I feel like I say that a lot.
Spike: Are you the inductor?
RM: Nope! I'm waiting here for her.
//Rinsesu sits down on the rock bed. I take a seat next to her.
RM: Any idea how long it'll be?
Spike: No idea. How long have you been here for?
//The earth pony puts a hoof to her chin.
RM: ...I dunno! I think I fell asleep.
//Under rocks? Isn't that dangerous?
RM: Are you looking to join Celestia's Faceless?
Spike: Yeah, I want to. I've always honored Celestia and I'm hoping working with the Faceless will help me bring her glory to more people.
//IS THAT HOW YOU PRONOUNCE 'REGICIDE'?
RM: That's good! I wish you the best of luck. Celestia hasn't ever been my thing, really, but I'm glad you like her.
//...Hasn't been 'her thing'? And she's trying to join an order dedicated to Celestia?
Spike: So why are you waiting for the inductor?
RM: Well... I do want to join the Faceless.
Spike: Yeah, that much I assumed, but why?
RM: If Celestia's Faceless are willing to take me on, and I train hard for them, one day I'll become an Inquisitor.
//They still have those?
RM: That's the only way for me to be strong enough.
//Rinsesu trails off and starts looking at the sky.
Spike: For what?
RM: I have to be strong for the one I love.
Spike: Oh. Is your love in danger?
RM: No, it's... I have to prove myself to my love. It's complicated.
Spike: Look around.
//Rinsesu cocks her head curiously, and glances around the rock garden. There's still no one else here.
Spike: Does it look like I have something else to do?
//Rinsesu Megimi chuckles, takes a deep breath, and starts her story.
RM: I'll never forget... it happened one and a half years ago...

//RM: S...stop!
//Small Colt: Why? Sis, what's up?
//RM: I don't know, but it's something big!
//SC: Waaah, is that its shadow?! Help!
//RM: Get behind that dune! Maybe it won't see u--
//A dragon the size of a small cottage lands on the desert sands, roaring triumphantly. The small colt falls backwards, into his sister.
//RM: D--Don't come any closer!
//SC: Waaaah, his teeth are so big!!
//Blue Dragon: Hehe... I'm going to have some fun with you two. I haven't eaten pony in quite a long time.
//SC: Waaaaaaah, not a dragon!
//BD: Shut up, whelp! Do you want to be eaten first? Or should I make you watch this one die?
//RM: Som...Someone! Help!
//There is a line in the sky where color is blueshifted, ripping over the sands at a frightening velocity. The line fades as a pegasus appears by the dragon's head.
//Rainbow Dash: Hey you! What are you doing to the defenseless? If you have time to mess with them, you should be training with someone on your own level!
//BD: And who would you be? Some kind of ally of justice?
//Rainbow Dash: I'm Rainbow Dash, punk! Don't forget it!
//BD: This 'punk' controls the entire territory now. The rumors I've heard are true, Celestia is dead. I have laid claim here! For your impudence I shall make you my meal.
//Rainbow Dash: Hah! You think I'll roll over and die like them? Time for me to teach you a little lesson about power!
//In a blur of motion, the dragon slumps forward and slams his head into the ground! His tongue sputters in the dirt!
//Rainbow Dash: Hmph. Only skilled at running your mouth. Know your betters next time. Not that there'll be a next time.
//RM: Umm... Thank you!
//RBD: Uh... right.
//SC: You saved us! She saved us!
//RBD: ...Don't misunderstand, this wasn't for you. Dragons are claiming territory all over the region and I need to show them what's what before they get entrenched.
//RM: What he said is true?! Celestia is dead?
//RBD: Hell if I know.
//RM: Oh, 'swings, who will save us now?!
//RBD: ...That's what I never understand about you people.
//SC: Us what?
//RBD: You. The weak. You keep on thinking the world is something that happens to you, wait for the next thing to fix the previous thing. You depend on others and accept what you're given instead of driving it.
//RM: I'm a pastry chef! Quit lecturing me!
//RBD: Then at least learn from this and stop walking alone in the desert! If you're not going to use your head, you may as well be an animal. You got that?!
//RM: Y...yes. I understand. C-could you tell me your name?
//RBD: ...Rainbow Dash, holder of the Element of Loyalty. Let's see if Celestia's name still means something to these beasts...
//Rainbow Dash flies off.
//RM: ...What a strange mare. And yet...
//SC: Sis?
//RM: ...Am I really feeling this way? I think I'm--

Spike: Okay, stop.
//Rinsesu, hooves over her heart, stops recounting the story. It was surprisingly cliche.
Spike: This is crap.
RM: Excuse me?!
Spike: If someone wrote your story I'd throw it in the trash.
RM: Wh-- ...I'm not the best storyteller, but that's very rude.
Spike: Let me guess how it ends: you fall in love with Rainbow Dash and you spend all your time since then training so you can impress her with your skills. Am I right?
RM: ...I've been researching her. She runs a dojo in the Greater Gloucester region; only the best of fighters can even visit.
Spike: And she has no idea you're doing this, of course.
RM: We haven't met since then. I swore I would never rest until I was suitable to be in her presence...
Spike: You're an idiot.
RM: Hey!!
T: (Tact. Subtlety. Not just words with two 't's in them.)
Spike: You fell in love with someone you met once, who berated you -- and then decided 'these feelings are totally legitimate, let's act on them'!
RM: Love knows no reason!
Spike: The synonymy of protection and romance is barbarian.
RM: I can't change the way I feel!
Spike: But you can choose what you do. Chasing after a fleeting feeling for a year and a half in desperation -- as if love could be bought with muscles, like some sort of primitive savage! Rewarding violence with romance is one of the things that gets us into situations like the Aquinatics in the first place!
//It made dragons who they are today, because dragons who thought like that were the ones rewarded with progeny!
RM: Quit talking!
Spike: You were perfectly willing to listen to Rainbow Dash telling you when you were ignorant, what's changed now?
RM: She's -- she's a wonderful mare! You're just a stupid little dragon boy!
Spike: Oh, great, now I have to deal with _this_.
RM: I'll teach you a lesson!
Rinsesu Megimi attacks!

[[SAVE LOCATION]]

Rinsesu Megimi kicks at The Drakeling in the lower body, but The Drakeling dodges away!

Spike: Wh-- hey!!

The Drakeling leaps backwards, away from Rinsesu Megimi!

The Drakeling breathes in and focuses, casting Terrae Corpus! The Drakeling's scales become as hard as rock!

Spike: 'Swings, Rinsesu, there are other ways to have a disagreement!

Rinsesu Megimi charges at The Drakeling!
Rinsesu Megimi bites The Drakeling in the left upper arm, denting the scale!
Rinsesu Megimi latches on firmly!
Rinsesu Megimi collides with The Drakeling! Rinsesu Megimi bounces backwards!

T: (Remember when I talked to you about insulting Marquise Tourniquette? This is why.)
Spike: Violence is not a response to any discussion!
T: (You called her a primitive savage.)
Spike: (She's acting like it!)

The Drakeling breaks the grip of Rinsesu Megimi's upper front teeth on The Drakeling's left upper arm.

Spike: Instead of using words when you're offended, your response is hitting people?! What are you, an animal?!

//Rinsesu Megimi stops. She glowers at me.

RM: You insulted my honor.
Spike: Oh, by Celestia, what horrors a pony is subjected to.
RM: Stop mocking me!
Spike: Sometimes, others won't think the way you do. Trying to kill them for it isn't right!
RM: Honor is what separates a warrior from a thug, and beast from pony--
Spike: Honor is dangerous and foolish and results in people getting hurt for no damned good reason. Talk to me, Rinsesu. Put down your hooves.
RM: ...

Rinsesu Megimi was defeated!
Spike earned 1000 experience points!
Spike is now level 22!

[[SAVE LOCATION]]

T: (Wow, that actually worked. Good for you.)
Spike: Why did you attack me?
RM: ...You insulted my honor. I demand an apology.
//You can demand whatever you damn well please, you crazy infatuated bint--
Spike: I could have phrased what I said better, and for not doing that I apologize. But I still have some major concerns about your quest.
RM: You, your name was Spike, right? If you want to return Celestia to Equestria, I suppose you're a Hero, right?
Spike: Yes. I want to be a Hero.
RM: Rainbow Dash trains with ponies whose tails are more powerful than you or I could ever be. And she says--
Spike: Who cares what she says?
T: (Honestly, people don't glorify Dash for her mental prowess.)
RM: _She says_ that any normal person can do two of helping others, living to fight another day, and advancing their cause. A Hero is she who is able to do all three, but there comes a day where the Hero returns to normality. On that day, only your honor will lead you in the right direction.
Spike: It sounds like Rainbow Dash likes dead Heroes better than live ones.
RM: Better dead Heroes than live tyrants. If you don't have the strength honor gives you, you'll end up hurting others for your own ends.
Spike: There is such a thing as thinking like a _reasonable, civilized being_. We could, I don't know, try that instead?
//Rinsesu Megimi sits down. I suppose she's done talking.
//Nothing to do but wait for the inductor in silence, then. With a pony who will most likely never talk to me ever again. Sigh...

//I'm kind of glad for the silence, actually. There's time to think now...
//I think about the dragon guard back in Hole Five. I wonder if he's still alive, or if in the past month he'd got himself killed. If that's true, I wonder if he thought at the end, when he was dying, that it was worth it.
Spike: Mmm...
//Is that really how dragons think? That there's no chance for compromise, and it's better to die than to give something up? It sounds a lot like Rainbow Dash's mentality... and I don't want to think in any way like that.
Spike: Mmm...
//Both Quine and the guard said it was the dragon way to fight for land. But Jebed, and the rest of the Forlegsandrian dragon district, aren't violent about it. They're integrated into pony society, dividing land with others in a capitalist system, instead of warring in a feudalistic one. And yeah, they're struggling, but they're showing that it is possible...
Spike: Mmm...
//Still, Jebed did say that those in the Aquinatics were 'true dragon's dragons'... if that is what a dragon is expected to be, by both dragons themselves and ponies, any progress will be hard to get...
Spike: Mmm...
//I don't think 'dragon' is who I am, or who I was, if 'dragon' means like the people I met in the Aquinatics. That part of me is just how I'm shaped. I'm something more than just what I look like.
\\And what would that be?
Spike: Mmm...
//...Maybe it's not a coincidence I'm joining a group dedicated to Celestia. I have been listening to her ever since I started my journey. Celestia's wisdom and power is undeniable. Maybe I should be trying to champion her, instead of the advancement of dragons. I can still work towards equality, but it'll come through respect for Celestia, instead of just increasing dragonkind's power.
Spike: Mmm... huh.
//Meditating must have helped me figure something out. I think I can see what Quine was trying to teach me now.
[Patatrin-Vikramana] was mastered!
\\Didn't Quine say Celestia was hostile to dragons?
//She herself said differently. Besides, I'm not counting myself as a dragon anymore. I'm a Hero in the name of Celestia!
Spike: Mmm...
RM: Shut up you idiot!
//Hey, I guess she did talk to me again!