“Okay, you are free to go.” Caretaker finally backed away after examining me for the past few minutes. Or, at least, I think she was. She had used no instruments and, unlike when Dragon FireWyrm was passed out in the library, there was no visible blue mana glow. Though, given the large amount of mana flow, it was possible that dragon magic’s usually invisible aura was overcome by mana saturation.

“That much blood loss...” Minty paled and shuddered. “It’s been barely twenty-four hours. Shouldn’t he rest more?”

“Nah, when I placed him in a coma, I also casted a blood replenishing spell.”

“Then why didn’t you use such a spell to help Dragon FireWyrm?”

“Magic is not a cure all...” Caretaker answered, her gaze turned upward and away, most likely in the direction of the forge. “Mana loss is not the same as blood loss. Also, the mental strain was the equivalent of being up for, oh, about seventy-two hours or more. Rest is the best cure for both.”

I slowly pulled myself to the edge of the bed and slid down. I felt fine, but I knew what it was like to be in a hospital bed for a while. I made a few cautious steps with Minty next to me, ready to help if I faltered. Luckily, I didn’t, though I did think about ‘tripping’ to get some more sympathy and maybe a kiss, but I knew Minty would see through my deception.

“Oh, before I forget.” Caretaker stopped and turned to face me just as we were about to leave the infirmary.

“What is this?” I asked as I was handed a scroll with what appeared to be a spell of sorts. It was of similar design to what was in the council building. It was a pony spell, from what I could gather… just like the spell in the council building... but I knew of no pony spell written in this fashion… even the really old stuff, except for the ones here...

“A healing spell. It’s better if you are the one to heal yourself, when doing the hatchmate ritual.” Caretaker explained.

I raised an eyebrow at this. I had done quite a bit of research into healing spells, after all, and this spell was a very haphazard healing spell. Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember any of the ones I researched enough to be able to cast them without… problems. I knew Caretaker could do better than this, so why would she give me a subpar spell?

“Is this the best you got!?”

“Tell me, Dragonbrother,” Caretaker stopped walking momentarily and gestured to my neck. “How did you get that scar?”

I blinked, opened and shut my mouth a few times before groaning. In my rush to assess the spell, I had momentarily forgotten why I needed a ‘haphazardly’ constructed healing spell in the first place. At least Caretaker didn’t gloat or rub it in… yet.

“The truth is, I have several spells that could be used. All of which would have healed you with minimal to no scarring…”

“But it would leave the whole process moot.” I finished for Caretaker, silently berating myself.

“You’re learning, Dragonbrother.”

“Learn what?” I snorted. “You guys make no sense!”

“As a wise one once said, dragons are a contradiction of mysteries within riddles inside an enigma, all wrapped in scales.”

“Only that?” I snorted. I think that the contradictory mysterious dragons could have the whole thesaurus thrown at them.

“If only.” Caretaker giggled as she stepped into the darkness of the forge.

I blinked in confusion when she disappeared into the darkness. Somehow, between examining the spell, and the conversation with Caretaker, we had made it all the way from the infirmary to the forge without me noticing. I looked around for Minty, but didn’t see her. She must have peeled off to go do something else.

“You coming in?” Caretaker questioned me, popping her head out the door.

I took a deep breath, nodded, and walked inside. I was nervous as we made our way back
towards the nest. I was confident I could cast the spell given to me by Caretaker, but my confidence in Ruby, not so much. Not in her ability to slash my throat properly, but being able to do it. I’m still not sure how much of her personality is influenced or overridden by instinct.

As before, Caretaker helped me into the nest, and, as before, Ruby was spooning Dragon FireWyrm, though this time, Dragon FireWyrm was awake, but tired looking. Caretaker was quick to start examining him, feeling him all over.

“Dragon FireWyrm, when was the last time you had food that wasn’t gem based?” Caretaker asked after a moment.

Seven suns before Migration.

“Why is that important?” I questioned in confusion. I didn’t think gems were that important of a part in their diet. Ruby never had a ton of gems growing up, as they weren't exactly cheap and were difficult to find, even in the gem fields a couple hours walk from Castle Town. She never seemed to have any malnutritional problems that we could tell from having gems as more of a treat then a main course.

“Under normal circumstances, a dragon can survive on gems alone for several months, but not indefinitely. Right now, he needs regular food to aid in his recovery, especially with the Migration ending in a few days. But…”

“But what?” I demanded irritability. I was not in the mood for the dragon information dance routine. Especially not when it came to the health of my brother.

“Most dragons,” Caretaker started to wring her claws in clear worry. I had seen that before, and thus was not liking where this could be going, “by choice and all wyrms by biology are... carnivores…”

I snorted in amusement, confusing Caretaker. “Is that all? Before we came, I had told Ruby that she needed to hunt and use her flame… I wasn't an idiot… sharp teeth are indicative of a predator… She was worried about the townpoines, and…”

The rest of my sentence was choked out as the bitter memories replayed in my mind. All those years dealing with the bigotry of the ponies when it came to Ruby, especially those of Castle Town. Quick to label her monster, just because she had claws, sharp teeth, and flames. The pain and shame on Ruby’s face whenever she looked at me. The mistrust and misguided hatred poured on my sister for what was an accident.

“I’ve been nearly everywhere on this globe as part of the Dragon Migration…” Caretaker sighed, her eyes taking on a far off look. “There are some areas where predator and prey species coexist… but usually... They remain separate… mainly due to fear… No dragon would ever kill a sentient being for food… but you try telling that to a mother, who only sees sharp teeth and sharp claws… We don’t fault a mother who is only trying to protect her children… even if…”

“It doesn’t make it right!” I roared out, making Caretaker flinch, which made me flinch. “It doesn’t make it right…”

“No, it doesn’t…” Caretaker sadly agreed as both Dragon FireWyrm and Ruby attempted to calm me down, using their tongues.

“I swear, I will never get used to them doing that…” I grumbled half-heartedly. ”I’m coming, by the way. To wherever you are going to have, I’m assuming, Ruby hunt, as Dragon FireWyrm looks a bit too tired.”

“You want to what?” Caretaker questioned, her eyes large with shock. “You do realize what hunting will entail, right?”

“I want to make damn sure that Ruby knows that her hunting and eating animals for sustenance is not going to change the way I think of her.”

The sun had just crested over the lip of Terra Hourglass when I heard the footsteps of a dragon approaching the forge. I didn’t turn to see who it was, as whoever it was was clearly a clanmate. The Migration was in the midst of leaving, and the rest of the dragons had been corralled to the stadium over an hour ago to go over the departure procedures.

“It’s almost time, Firstclaw.” I looked up and smiled as Caretaker came to a stop next to me.

“We’ll be there once our sleeping beauties wake up.” I smirked as I thumbed at the dark forge. The only light inside was the glow of the eternal fire in the forge itself. I figured it had to be either she of Hourglass or Magic Dowser holding things up. Dragon FireWyrm was usually up with the sun, which is not surprising when you sleep outside most of the time.

“Yeah… Probably Magic Dowser… he didn’t seem like the morning type to me.”

“Speaking of Magic Dowser… Between getting my hoard and Hourglass City ready, I didn’t get much opportunity over the last few days to check up on Dragon FireWyrm and Magic Dowser. How are they doing?”

“Remarkably well. The second throat slashing went smoother than the first, and Dragon FireWyrm has made a complete recovery. I checked him out this morning. I do not think he will have any issues on the Migration. As for She of Hourglass, I’m not so sure… and that is only because I don’t know how much flying she has done.” Caretaker paused. By the way she was carrying herself, I knew she had more to say, but was clearly unsure how to tell me. “Also of note, I had ordered Dragon FireWyrm to have a proper meal to aid in his recovery… Minor thing, nothing too surprising or noteworthy, except... that Magic Dower insisted and did witness She of Hourglass’ first hunt.”

I cringed when I heard that. I remembered what Magic Dowser had said about encouraging She of Hourglass to do as her instinct told her, which was great and all, but saying and seeing are two separate things. His race were herbivores, after all, and were not in much contact with carnivores, though pones can eat some meat as long as it’s very lean.

“Only turned green once She of Hourglass and Dragon FireWyrm started eating, though he never saw the actual kill.“

That shocked me. I remember turning green the first time I saw Dragon FireWyrm hunt then eat after he Chose, and I had been around meat eaters for some time by that point. “Even with the way DragonWyrm Heart likes to ‘play’ with his food?”

“He just ate… whether it was because of Magic Dowser, tiredness, or both, I don’t know.” Caretaker sighed. “I have to say, Magic Dowser… He has earned those scars…”

“One does not earn hatchhood Caretaker.” I corrected her as I watched Minty wait patiently nearby, under the shade of a small tree. I had offered to let her wait with me, but she had insisted on not giving off any appearance of hovering over Magic Dowser. “The scars are just the culmination of what already was…”

“Firstclaw, have you been sulking in the philosophy section of your library again?”

“No…” I sighed, shaking my head, “just had a lot on my mind lately…”

“What?” I asked after a minute of being under the scrutiny of Caretaker gaze.

“I have to get back... Don’t wait on them too much longer… If you need to… Well you know how to wake the princess, don’t you?”

“Caretaker!” I grumbled as Caretaker made a hasty retreat, giggling the entire time.

Caretaker was gone for less than a minute when I detected movement from within the forge, and the distinctive glow of Magic Dowser’s magic. A moment later, and She of Hourglass and Dragon FireWyrm stepped out. After Dragon FireWyrm nodded a greeting to me, both dragons headed over to where Minty was, who was now standing up and adjusting her saddle bag.

“Good morning, Dragonbrother.” I greeted Magic Dowser as stepped into the threshold of the forge doorway behind the dragons, blinking at the bright light of the outdoors.

“What do you want, DragonWyrm Heart?” Magic Dowser growled out as he walked away from the forge and me.

“This is a firemail spell.” I held out a scroll with the firemail spell matrix on it. “However…”

“Let me guess,” Magic Dowser grumbled as he stopped, took the scroll, and shifted through his saddle bag, looking for something. A few seconds later, he levitated a stone shaped like a dowsing rod over to me. “An anchor is needed to focus the spell?”

I raised an eyebrow at Magic Dowser’s accurate assumption that the spell needed an anchor. It wasn’t a complete shock, given his talent, but still, he had not even checked out the spell and figured out it needed an anchor. I examined the roughly hewn stone dowsing stick. It looked like it was done with claws, not tools. This was something deeply personal, and I didn’t think he would give me this, at least not this willingly. “Did She of Hourglass carve this?”

“Yes… as much as I loathe giving it to you, I know that the best anchors are ones easily visualized. If this spell works under similar principles to teleportation, then the better I can visualize it, easier it will be to cast the spell without failure.”

He was right, teleportation does work under the principle that the better the visualisation of the destination, the less the likelihood of failure to cast the teleportation spell. It is also why the spell is considered so advanced. Many struggle to visualize their destination clearly enough, while simultaneously gathering the mana necessary, and casting the spell. However, firemail doesn’t follow the visualization principle as closely. “To a degree, you are correct…”

“Yeah, whatever. Anything I should know about this spell, like mana and range?”

“Manawise, it’s about the same as levitating a broom, and it has no terrestrial range.”

Magic Dowser blinked and tried to form words. If I had to guess, he was probably trying to figure out how the firemail spell could be that far reaching without breaking the Starswirl Expenditure Principle, or whatever they call it now. It states that when the exponential growth in amount of mana needed to cast or maintain a spell over an increasing distance affected by the spell becomes too high, the spell either fails, and/or the caster will suffer from mana exhaustion.

“Anyway...” I spoke up, snapping Magic Dowser out of his stupor, “The firemail spell is only if there is an emergency, as Dragon FireWyrm has a better way to communicate with you.”

“Which is…?”

“Dreamwalking…”

“Sure, why not?” Magic Dowser muttered, raising his forelegs in defeat. “Break every known magic law…”

“Um, it doesn’t…”

“No. Don’t.” Magic Dowser raised a hoof to stop me from explaining. “Your impossible firemail spell is enough for one day. Anything else we need to discuss?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I was about to turn to close the forge and check its wards one last time, now that everyone had vacated it, when I was suddenly pulled backwards, hard. I was caught so unaware, and was flung so hard, that I found myself belly up, with Magic Dowser towering over me, his horn glowing.

“Let me make something clear, DragonWyrm Heart.” Magic Dowser whispered, the fire of death in his eyes. “If you hurt my siblings again, I will find you, Pasturelands be damned, and I will make you wish that I had... How did you say dishonored dragons are executed? ‘Skinned, quartered, and left you out to rot’? Got it?!”

I knew that Magic Dowser wasn’t giving me an idle threat; it was a promise, and one that I knew he would find a way to keep. “Understood.” I nodded to him, and the pressure of his magic lifted, allowing me to get back on my feet.

Magic Dowser walked away, adjusting his saddlebag slightly as he did. He joined Minty, who was still waiting in the shade of a small tree. Phoenix Wave was going to be escorting both Minty and Magic Dowser to the edge of the Everfree, where clan friends He of Everfree and River Guardian would take over protection until they reached the other side.

“Captain.” I spoke softly, alerting Phoenix Wave, who I had sensed behind me, to the fact that I wished to speak with him.

“Yes, Firstclaw?” Phoenix Wave stepped out from the shadows.

“When you leave Magic Dowser and Minty Herb at the edge of the Everfree, stress to both He of Everfree and RIver Guardian to keep a sharp, watchful eye on Magic Dowser, indefinitely.”

“Indefinitely?” Phoenix Wave looked at me, a bit confused.

“You recall the reaction Elegant Prose had to History Keeper trying to teach She of Hourglass about her heritage.” I reminded Phoenix Wave as I turned to watch as She of Hourglass nuzzle Magic Dowser goodbye. “With Magic Dowser sporting two linear scars across his neck…”

“You think she might react in a similar matter as before, or worse?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t want a repeat of the mistake I made with She of Hourglass.”

“Anything else I should be aware of?”

“No, nothing.” I lied.