I sighed as I entered a town named in my self-made map as Dual Springs. So far, my most recent search in an area known as the Eastern Frontier was fruitless and frustrating. Though there were numerous prosperous small outposts, camps, and settlements, I was amazed at the lack of consistent and reliable communication and trade between them, making my search for a blacksmith or machinist of the skill caliber that I needed much more difficult. I was beginning to think that I should have gone to a major population center, like the ones in the Zebra Confederation, or in the lands around Traxti City, skipping the Eastern Frontier all together... However, I did have valid reasons for searching here first.

Searching here first had its advantages. One, it was along the way to those population centers. Two, it would also give me time to build up the self-confidence to explain what I wanted, and why, without blubbering like a fish out of water. Third, I knew from experience that greatness can come from anywhere.

As I walked further into Dual Springs, it became clear that this was a fairly substantial and well-established town. A lot of the town blended into the wooded area around the town, and the construction was of higher quality than typical in frontier towns, where speed and practicality in construction is more important than being of high quality, or pleasing to the eyes. Luckily for me, this meant that it was much more likely to be part of trade lines from the west, and could even have a local, and hopefully skilled, blacksmith.

It wasn’t long before I found a blacksmith near the edge of town. It had a highly interesting design to it. It looked like the chimney of the forge, and possibly the forge itself, was carved into the massive rock. It was quite a unique way of building a forge in an open above ground area. What made it even more unique, however, was a metal relief installed in a carved recess. It was clear that a lot of work went into the building of this forge. Above the opened shop window was a sign reading:

Dragon Flame Forge

As I got closer, I could see that the relief depicted a forge, and that it was also a moving relief, something that I had not seen since before the fall of Equestria, some two thousand years ago… Whether this was magically enchanted or mechanical, I could not tell yet. If it was mechanical, it could very well mean that my search was over.

The animated metal relief depicted a stylized dragon blacksmith. The dragon started off ‘shooting’ out ‘flame’ into the forge, which had ‘smoke’ coming out the top. After a moment, the dragon stopped and slid down a barely visible track to an anvil, and hammered on it. Again, the dragon moved, then stopped, quenching a sword in a barrel, ‘steam’ pouring out as the dragon plunged the sword in. Finally, the dragon sharpened a sword on a wheel. The dragon then went back up the track to begin the whole process again.

I scanned it to see that it was not enchanted, but was all controlled by a series of hidden gears and belts. The air movement from the chimney behind it was used to provide the kinetic energy necessary. Whoever made this was extremely skilled, possibly skilled enough for the ‘project’ I had in mind. That is, if it's not too unappealing for them…

“What can I do for you, miss?” A male voice suddenly called out, startling me. I looked over to see a middle-aged minotaur standing at the shop window.

“Sorry, miss, I didn’t mean to spook you… Alagoas, proprietor of the Dragon Flame Forge, at your service.” Alagoas reached out and we shook in greeting.

“Ah yes…Twilight. I was admiring your moving relief. It is a fine piece of work… I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like it. If it’s alright, I would like to know how you created it.”

“I wish...” Alagoas sighed. “ but I didn’t create the relief... Rye'lath, a dragon whelp, made it… He was a gifted and astute student… when he wasn’t tinkering or playing chicken with lightning…”

“I had him as an apprentice for close to five years.. During that time, he made that mechanical relief… it originally was only a the dragon shooting flames into the chimney, but it was never enough for him, and he tinkered with it and added the smoke from the chimney and so on... As he tinkered with it, it became increasingly clear that my student, my apprentice, would surpass my skills…” Alagoas chuckled as he leaned on the counter, before sighing sadly. “The day he finally completed the relief to his satisfaction was the day I both dreaded and cheered for. He had surpassed my ability to teach him… So with a heavy heart, I told him that there was nothing more I could teach him. If he wanted to improve himself… to find his place and calling… he would need to leave Dual Springs, and my blacksmith shop...”

“A few days later, he left Dual Springs to parts unknown…” Alagoas sniffed, a few tears falling. “I have not seen him since…”

I struggled, myself, to handle it. The story was quite sad, but I could see great pride in Alagoas’ expressions, as well. It reminded me of something Celestia told me, when I took on my first student: the greatest joy a teacher could ever have was when a student surpassed the teacher...

“Any idea where he may have gone, or where he is now? Any at all?”

“I’m afraid not, miss…it was fifteen years ago…and… and, as I said, I have not seen him since...”

“I...I have some contacts that may be able to help. One moment…” I quickly pulled out a piece of parchment, and my special ink pen with no quill. I quickly wrote and sent off a quick letter to Caretaker, the dragon most likely to know of this whelp, as she was usually the one that dealt with and monitored whelps on the Migration. Hopefully Rye'lath has joined a leg at one point…hopefully...

A reply was not long in coming. I quickly scanned the letter. I read it a second time, and then a third time, just to see if I read it right.

Dear Dragonfriend Twilight,

I’m sorry, but I can’t say that I have heard of any dragon whelp with that name. I talked with Wanderer at length, and he has not heard that name used as a title either… You may want to try with Merc and the Southern Isles Clan, if you haven’t already. Good Luck, Dragonfriend.

Caretaker.

Damn it… I inwardly cursed as I rubbed my forehead in frustration. I knew it was a long shot, but I had really hoped that I would get something helpful.

“I just remembered something! “ Alagoas exclaimed, suddenly getting quite excitable. “Wait here.”

I waited patiently for a few minutes before Alagoas reappeared with an envelope, yellowed with age, which he handed over to me. “This arrived about six years back. The letter probably won’t help, but the envelope might.”

I pulled out the parchment that was inside the envelope and, with a quick, skimming glance, agreed. I turned my attention to the envelope and examined it carefully. It was an unremarkable, standard envelope. The stamp on it, however… I recognized. It belonged to a courier company based out of Traxti City. Though this letter could have come from one of the auxiliary offices… I really hope this won’t turn out to be a dead end.

Deep breath…

Dive deep…

Relax and let go…

Deep breath…

Dive deep…

Relax and let go…

I opened my eyes as I sensed someone approaching. I looked out from where I was meditating to see that the sun was closing in on the horizon. It seemed that I had been meditating for six hours… without results... not that I expected much. It had been nearly six months since I was hit by the friendship wave, and I had yet to figure out what exactly happened, or what had changed… My mind, memories, magic, and psyche didn't seem to have changed, at all.

“Hey Dragon FireWyrm, She of Hourglass.” I leaned into Dragon FireWyrm as he laid down next to me, while I kept my sight on the lowering sun. I knew that She of Hourglass was on him. There was a subtle difference in the way he walked, when she was on him.

I sighed as I felt his gentle breathing and heartbeat. I was glad he showed up, as I had been becoming more and more frustrated at the lack of progress with trying to figure out what exactly happened. I knew that raw friendship magic, just like raw harmony magic, could be quite fickle on what it would do, but just maintaining the status quo with an over-the-top lightshow doesn’t make any sense.

I pulled out a blank scroll from my satchel. It was a good time to write down my thoughts in my journal, while there was still a bit of light in which to do so. Now let’s see, what number am I on?

Journal entry 18791:

It's been nearly six months since the Friendship magic wave… and I have had no progress in finding out what, if anything, it did. I’m beginning to wonder if maybe it’s best to just put it out of my mind, for now. I still have a ton of Harmonious Knight’s memories to filter through. At least it no longer gives me a migraine to memory walk them. The alicorn was a master mental multitasker…

Dragon FireWyrm found me today. Not surprising, as it's hard to hide from him, not that I was trying that hard to hide. When I slipped away from the Migration, I only did so so that I could find a distraction-free place to meditate. My clan understood what I was doing, and why. A random Migration dragon may not, and may have ended up disturbing me. On top of that, the Migration is not the most peaceful place.

Don’t get me wrong; I really enjoy the Migration, but I do need time for other things. As I am writing this, there is a fantastic sunset occurring, something that I know I would miss at the current migration location. Also, I wouldn’t admit this out loud, due to the risk of being teased endlessly, but leaning against Dragon FireWyrm, which is better now, with his new size, is always relaxing… especially with his heartbeat and warmth. Wish I had a book to read right about now. I can see why She of Hourglass spends so much time on him.

I yawned hard as I finished up my journal entry, sealing it and sending off with my fire to Phoenix Wave, who would place it my library. When we returned, I would bind it, along with the other journal entries I have been writing, into book form. I sighed as I settled back on Dragon FireWyrm’s side.

Speak.

I sighed. I knew it would be hard for me to hide my frustrations from Dragon FireWyrm and if he wanted me to speak I knew there was no getting around it. “This whole friendship wave thingy… six months with nothing to show, but a fancy light show… while you and everydragon has agreed to be my wyrmhalf… nothing has really changed...”

Why you worried? Clan said help. We will help.

“I know that...” I sighed “But I also don’t want to sit on my butt doing nothing! I just don’t want to ever repeat what happened… never again… not when I can at least be doing something to prevent it!”

You stupid hunter.

“I don’t hunt, Dragon FireWyrm…” I grumbled out in frustration.

Hunter doesn’t think, hunter feels… Dragon FireWyrm growled at me, hitting the back of my head. You think think think, prey slip through claws…

I yawned hard before I had anytime to dwell on Dragon FireWyrm’s words. Meditation can be relaxing, but, depending on the type used and why, it can also take a lot out of you, such as the type I used. I yawned a third time as I tried to get up. I think I overdid it.

We would need to get back to the Migration quickly, so that I could get some sleep. Falling asleep mid-air is not exactly a good thing, and neither is this location, after dark. While I and Dragon FireWyrm were way more than capable of taking care of ourselves, even dragons can be caught unaware and killed by opportunistic predators that are native to this region.

Sleep. I watch. Dragon FireWyrm nuzzled me a bit before his gaze lifted off and up, his tails curled protectively around me.

Always the loving protector… I smiled as I let myself fall asleep…

“Well that was a complete waste of a month of my life.” I growled out softly in frustration as I left the GMD Courier Company’s headquarters. Well, I knew it was going to be a long shot, but why is it that every time I get a lead, it gets shot down!? I was hoping to get at least some resemblance of a clue out of the records. But after meticulously searching through fifteen years worth of records, I found that, sadly, Rye'lath only ever sent that one letter. I could check with other courier companies, but that could take another year to check them all. Time is not on my side in this search, if I wasn't already out of time, as he is as least twenty-three years old; three years for being a hatchling, five years as a blacksmith apprentice, and fifteen years since he left Dual Springs.

It a was high probability, in the upper ninety percentile, that the dragon had Chosen, in which case, I would never be able to find him... As much as I wanted to avoid it, it looked like I need to to follow Caretaker’s advice and contact a Southern Isles dragon. Luckily for me, there should be one stationed here, at the local Outfitters Inc.

I wandered the business district until I approached a nondescript warehouse-like building, near the docks. A simple sign above the small attached office building read, “Outfitters Inc. est 984 AK”.

Gah, it’s hotter then Tartarus in here! I nearly collapsed from the oppressive heat as I walked inside. Their heater must be broken, and stuck in the on position. I felt really sorry for the diamond dog clerk, who has panting hard, facing a fan. He was so focused on trying to get some relief that he did not notice me at first.

“Excuse me... but is a Southern Isles dragon here, and available for immediate work?”

The diamond dog clerk turned to face me, panting even harder. “Notth many… rewuesth a drawon... outh of the fenth... unleth they are... plannin’ on woin’... thomewhere dan’erous... or doin’ thomethin’ illethal…”

“I assure... nothing illegal will... transpire.” I panted. It was clear that the heat was too much, even for me, so I quickly cast a cooling spell. It would help, at least for a bit. I sighed in relief as the coolness washed over me.

“Thank you… The heater has been on the fritz all day...” The diamond dog sighed in relief as he momentarily leaned back in his chair, revealing a name tag labeled Buddy. “As I was saying… SIC dragons are quite sticklers about anythin’ that could even be considered remotely amoral or illegal.”

“I’m trying to track down a friend that I lost contact with some time ago.” I lied. Well, it was a partial lie…it was actually Alagoas’ ‘friend’ who had ‘lost contact’, but there was no way in Tartarus that I was going to tell Buddy the reason I wanted to find him. Applejack would not be too pleased with the lie, partial or not, but somehow, I think she would forgive me in this case. “As I don’t know where my friend may have traveled to, I wanted a dragon, for peace of mind.”

“I see…” For a moment, I almost thought that my cooling spell had failed, as I started to sweat again under Buddy’s critical gaze. I tried not to sigh in relief when Buddy seemingly took me at my word, as he hopped off his chair and motioned for me to follow him down the corridor behind the desk. We only traveled down the corridor for a short distance before we reached the end, and a set of doors, where we stopped. “I feel I must reiterate my earlier warning. SIC dragons can be sticklers. Just because you have convinced me, does not mean that he will be convinced, as well.”

“I understand.”

Buddy stared at me for a few moments before he opened the doors. A waft of oppressive heat poured out as he did. I quickly cast the same cooling spell in an invisible bubble around us. I knew that dragons liked hot places, so I had no idea if the heat was intentional, or was because of the broken heater.

It looked like a typical warehouse, or large storeroom, except that there were row after row of the same type of memory crystals that once adorned the tree root chandler in the Friendship Castle, all arranged on the walls, and displayed on wooden shelves. While it was quite beautiful, it gave me no clue as to what this dragon's hoard actually was. Southern Isles Clan dragons’ hoards generally had something to do with adventuring, but that left quite a wide berth of hoards, from shipbuilding, to straight out payment for services rendered.

A large green dragon with white belly scales was snoozing on a modest bed of gems and coins. The dragon’s head was facing away, and his tail was curled around him, preventing me from seeing what, if any, tail weapon he had, and what kind of head spines or horns he had. While I’m friends, or at least on friendly terms, with many dragons, including a good third of the Southern Isles Clan, I don’t know all of them. So far, this dragon seemed unfamiliar to me, but, until I saw this dragon’s more defining features, ie head spines, horns, tail weapon, I couldn’t be sure.

“Yo, Tracker, wake up, ya lazy mutt!” Much to my shock, Buddy accented his insulting wake up call with a gem, which he pitched hard, right to the top of ‘Tracker’s’ head. “You have a potential client.”

I failed to stifle a giggle as ‘Tracker’ snorted awake with a groan of pain. His head popped up high enough that I saw that he had white head spines, similar to DragonWyrm Heart’s, and a pair of white horns, similar to the centaur Tirek. Now those were some unique features, and I vaguely remembered seeing them before, but the memory of when and where was too hazy.

“Ugh, Buddy, you dick, why’d you have to do that!?” Tracker grumbled as he slowly turned around.

“You know the rules, Tracker.” I was impressed when Buddy held his ground without flinching from an annoyed dragon, who had now finished turning around, and was currently pressing his large snout within a hair’s breadth from the diamond dog. “No sleepin’ durin’ business hours… even if it’s temptin’, with it being hotter a sauna in here… stupid heat lovin’ dragons...”

Tracker sneered as Buddy nonchalantly turned to walk back to the front desk. “Bitch…”

“Too hot for makeup today...” Buddy called back.

I blinked hard. Wha? My confusion only increased when Tracker chuckled and settled back on his hoard bed. It took me a moment more to realize that the insults that were leveled between the two were friendly, not antagonistic. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Males.

“Sorry ’bout the insults… Buddy and I have a friendly rivalry, and he was right; I’m not supposed to be asleep during business hours…” Tracker explained. “So... you wish to hire a dragon?”

“Yes I…” I stole a glance to the front of the building, where I observed Buddy easing back into his chair. I then closed the door and cast a soundproofing spell, which caused Tracker to raise an eyebrow. I didn’t want to risk Buddy or anyone else inadvertently overhearing. Normally, I would trust the dragon in his own hoard, but I was not sure if Tracker treated this hoard chamber as personal, or not. Once I was sure we would have some privacy, I dropped the hood of my cloak.

“Dragonfriend Twilight!” Tracker exclaimed in shock. “What brings you to these parts? The Migration’s route doesn’t go by here for another twenty years, if memory serves me right.”

“Nineteen years, four months, and six to ten days…” I blushed in embarrassment when I realized I had obsessively corrected Tracker, who, thankfully, had only raised an eyebrow. “Sorry.”

“Nothing to worry about, Dragonfriend.” Tracker dismissively waved away my apology. “My earlier question still stands.”

“I’m looking for a dragon…”

“Why don’t you ask Wanderer?” Tracker titled his head in confusion. “His hoard is the Migration, after all, and he meets with a lot of dragons…”

“That’s just it, neither he nor his mate have heard of this dragon. Further confounding my ability to find him is the fact that the dragon I’m looking for is a whelp… well, maybe…”

“Explain.”

“The last contact anyone had with the whelp was six years ago, via a letter that was sent from Arc’nai, a small trading village near the Zebra Federation. The last time he was physically seen was fifteen years ago… in a small eastern frontier town called Dual Springs, which he lived in for about five years…”

“You picked a difficult target… If he has Chosen, I doubt he will be found, even with my skills… What else can you tell me about him? Name, physical description, likes/dislikes, hobbies, anything at all? The more information I have, the easier it will be.”

“Rye'lath has dark green scales, with aquamarine spines running down his back Two white horns on top of his head, along with a third one above his nose. According to a minotaur by the name of Alagoas, he is a loner, likes to tinker with machinery, and has a fascination with… lightning.”

“And why, exactly, do you need to find him?”

“Well, you see, I need... that is… Um…I’m looking for someone to .. and I was hoping he… uh..” I could feel my face burn as I fumbled, trying to tell him that I was hoping that Rye’lath could help me create a fully functioning phallus. You would think that I would be used to this, living with hedonistic-leaning dragons, but it's still embarrassing to talk about.

The reason for wanting a fully function phallus was that I really didn’t want to go through another alicorn heat without relief, and, at the moment, Phoenix Wave was unable to ‘perform.’ I knew that if I explained this to Tracker, that he would bend over backwards to help…. Practically any dragon would, especially a Southern Isles dragon, but I didn’t want it to become common knowledge, even among dragons, what I was up to.

“Now I really need to know…” Tracker leaned down, a very sinister grin quickly forming.

I gulped. I was bucked now...