CHAPTER 7

Hot Headed, Overgrown Newt!

I slowly opened my eyes, yawning. The first thing I noticed was the orange glow across the sky indicating the setting sun. I must have been out for hours. Quickly after leaving Twilight's, I found a nice little out of the way cloud to nap on. I got up and stretched, the bones in my legs and wings popping. "Finally up, Newbie?" I jumped up and whirled around, facing Dash.

"Oh hey, Rainbow Dash..."

She eyed me as I sat back down. "What happened with you? Twilight said you freaked out and flew away. Are you alright?" I nodded and hung my head. Rainbow Dash walked across the cloud to sit next to me. She nudged me with her wing and smiled. "Come on. You don't look alright. I can tell these things. Just another part of how awesome I am." I couldn't help but smile.

"I am just a bit frustrated, I guess. We got on the subject of me not really being a mare and Twilight pretty much said that it wasn't possible."

"Who cares?"

"Huh?"

Dash rolled her eyes. "I said who cares? I know it wouldn't matter if I was a mare or stallion, I would still be the coolest, fastest flying pony in Equestria! I am not gonna let something as silly me being a mare or stallion tell me who I am or what I can do. I don't think you should either." She gave me another nudge with her wing. "Come on. Twilight probably is freaking out herself. We should go check on her before we head home." She paused a moment before tapping the makeshift crystal armor on my chest. "Where did you get this?"

I laughed before spreading my wings and jumping off the cloud. "I made it!" I yelled back at her. I warmed the crystal before yanking it off of me, shaping it into a mock form of a bird. I looked back with a smug grin, waiting to see the awe on Dash's face. I couldn't see her. I slowed to a stop in mid air and began looking around. "Dash?! Where'd you go?" My answer was silence. "Dash..."

"NEWBIE MOVE!" The wind was knocked out of me when the Pegasus crashed into me, crying out when pain jolted through my head as the crystal was yanked from my mind's grasp. This all seemed secondary as a gout of flame streamed through the spot I was just at. As soon as Dash helped me level out, I followed where the fire came from. All I saw was a hole in a cloud from above. "Behind us, Newbie..." I turned around in the air to find us facing a red dragon with a yellow underside. It wasn't all that big, considering the size they grew to.

"Hey! What's the big idea, scale head?" Antagonize the dragon that nearly killed us. Best plan, Dash.

The dragon just moved to reveal a pony floating in the air behind him. Not a pony, an alicorn. He had a pitch black coat and a slicked back, white mane. He simply walked forward on the air, no wing movement involved. "Greetings there...heh girls. You were quite lucky that miss Dash was here to knock you out of the way...what is it you are calling yourself now? Crystal Blossom? I must say that is quite a fitting title for your new body. I am quite confused why you came over as a mare. Must have been one of the unknown variables that I calculated. "

"Hey....HEY! Just who are you?" Dash glared at the alicorn as she flew defensively in front of me. "What do you have to do with Crystal here?"

The alicorn nodded. "Ah yes. My apologies for keeping you ladies at a disadvantage." I growled at the comment, causing a small smile to appear on the alicorn's face. "My name is Exitium and as for my relationship with dear Crystal, I am the one who brought her here..." I am sure mine and Rainbow Dash's faces held the same amounts of disbelief because Exitium and the dragon started laughing.

"Y-you brought me here? How...or more importantly, why?" I flew over Dash to face the alicorn directly. "I mean, this is a dream come true to me but why was I just nearly crispied by that dragon? Seems a bit counter productive to me." I stared flatly at the alicorn.

Exitium laughed. "That is exactly the reason I brought you here. This world is just dreadfully boring and it has been grinding on my nerves a bit lately. I decided to have a bit of fun, if you will. Now I knew one of these pathetic little ponies wouldn't have the gall to provide the entertainment I desire, so I reached into your world, a world where violence and death are commonplace. I searched for a soul wanting adventure, blood and glory. To be seen as some grand hero. I found you."

"You were perfect out of all the specimens I examined. I do believe you will give me the greatest challenge. You will, won't you? You will fight tooth and hoof for your new life?" I nodded. That went without saying.  "Good. You have a year before I take the army I have built and begin terrorizing the citizens of Equestria."

"What did you say?!" Dash took off towards the alicorn, only to be intercepted by the dragon.

"Temper, temper, Miss Dash. Not wanting to start the war early, do we?" Exitium chuckled as he turn to me. "Don't worry. I gave you the tool you need to defeat me. The Daedalus Heart. I am not without mercy, as shown with the year I have given you to enjoy this place and train. You will need training. One thing,though. There is one thing I will not accept. That is if you run to your useless little princesses. She will get her own warning in due time..." Exitium looked me over. "I must say, you made the transformation quite...beautifully." I shuddered at his smile. "One more thing. Please don't die before the war. That would be just awful. Dreadfully boring."

Exitium stretched his wings and turned away. "You have my warning, Crystal. Have fun with the time you've earned..."

"Oh no you don't!" Dash quickly flew around the dragon, her aerial expertise proving true. "You think I'm gonna let you run away after what you said!"

Exitium sighed. "I thought so. Dreston, have your fun as well." The alicorn pumped his wings as he began rising off the seemingly invisible platform he was on. The dragon roared and wheeled to face Dash.  I watched as Dash smacked into a magic barrier the alicorn threw up when she got too close. "We shall not start the war early, Miss Dash. Due to your brash behavior,though, you and fair Crystal now have an angry dragon on your hooves. Good luck..." The dragon began breathing in as Dash fell of the barrier when the alicorn teleported away. My mind was racing. Too much stuff was happening at once. The flame alight in my chest, Dash not catching herself quickly enough, the flames licking at the dragon's maw.

The flames in the dragon's mouth! He was going to torch Dash!

"Dash! You won't touch her, you lousy newt!" I ripped a line of the liquid crystal through my body and out of my foreleg, barely registering the pain it caused. I shaped it into a long spear before pulling back and throwing it with both mind and body. There was a satisfying fwump as the spear rocketed through the air. That fwump was accompanied by a roar of pain from the dragon as the spear struck him in the back of the knee joint, piercing through him. I was aiming for the spot between his wings. I was lucky I even hit the dragon.

Here is where my brave but reckless action showed its mistakes. Yes, this is the second time I saved Rainbow Dash's life. I distracted the dragon but now his eyes were fixed on me. That's not all. He still had a lungful of dragon fire and I could not fly well enough to dodge his attacks.

I could do nothing but watch as the dragon let loose a large fireball. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dash steady herself. She was safe. I was trying to pull enough crystal to at least buffet the blast, knowing I would never block it completely. I held the pitiful amount of crystal in front of me, bracing for impact. Just when I thought the heat from the fireball would singe the fur off my skin, a sudden coolness wash over me. I looked up to find the fireball spreading around me, split by a purple tinted barrier just I front of my crystal. "Wow... Am I doing this?"

"Don't be silly, little one. I am just lending a helping hoof right now." I felt a movement on my back. I turned around to see that same purple mare from the hospital sitting there. She was weightless! It had to be some sort of spell. "A dragon's weak spots are its joints. Same as with any armored beast. Go for those points. Better yet, go for it's wings. You can't fly all that well. Level the playing field, huh?"

"Just who are you?"

The mare smiled. "I am a friend for now. Oh before I forget..." She leaned to the side to reveal my crystal from earlier, wrapped in what looked like roots. "Try to hold on to this stuff. You may find always trying to make more of it will come at a price..." As soon as I had a grip on the crystal, the mare fell backwards off my back, disappearing like she has before. I didn't question or chase her. I knew it was pointless and there was a bigger problem. I turned to face the dragon.

A smile played my lips. Dash was literally flying circles around the dragon, the beast swiping its claws in vain as she delivered an uppercut. "Alright...wings." I split the gathered crystal in half, sliding each over my fore hooves and shaping swords like I did with the changeling. I waited. I waited until that lizard had its back to me before I charged. I flew as fast as I could, holding the swords out in front of me. "Take this you hot headed, overgrown NEWT!" I stabbed into it's right wing at full force...

And nearly stopped dead. I pushed harder, this time with my mind as well and was rewarded with a pained roar from the dragon. My small victory was short lived as we both started to plummet. I frantically tried to tear a hole in the dragon's wing. It was like trying to tear a phonebook in half with your bare hands. I let out a yell as a tearing noise filled my ears. I ripped the wing from about in the middle all the way down before pushing off the flailing dragon, flapping my wings wildly as I tried to steady myself.

Dash flew up next to me. "Did you get him?" Her answer was a torrent of flame that barely missed us. "OK, Newbie, here is the plan. I am gonna distract him while you fly up and then dive bomb him with that crystal stuff there. Make sure you hit him hard." I nodded and began flying upwards as Dash set to her plan. As I level out, I thought of how to accomplish my task. I couldn't use these swords. A drill? My thoughts turned to a certain anime. No. I wouldn't be able to catch myself from that sort of spin. I thought of all sorts of fantasy weapon and a perfect one came to mind. A battleaxe. The one I could make would be too big but I was sure it could complete its job.

I formed my weapon of choice and began my descent. The dragon was fully focused on Rainbow Dash. This plan was going smoothly. Wind whistled in my ears as I picked up speed. I raised the axe, gripping with both mind and hoof. As I closed in, I let out a warcry. "For Equestria!" Don't even say you wouldn't have said that. My cry alerted the dragon to my presence. He was able to jerk his head out of the way of my incoming axe. This was fine. I wasn't aiming for his head and he learned this too late. It was to tough to cut the wing up but with this kind of leverage, cutting it off at the joint should be nothing.

If I said it was like a hot knife through butter, I would be lying. A hatchet through a tree branch may be more accurate. There was a sickening squelch as the axe finished it's job. Another roar from the dragon, this time with a blast of fire to accompany it. I pulled up, watching in glee as the lizard plummeted, unable to keep itself up with one wing. Dash met up with me as it thudded on the ground below, scattering ponies. "Not bad, Newbie..." Screams rose up from below.

I looked down to see the dragon pulling itself off the ground. "You've got to be fucking kidding..." I growled, diving down. I flattened the head of the axe until it resembled a hammer. "Keep your ass on the ground!" I swung, smacking the dazed dragon upside the head. He spun and landed face first in the dirt. I didn't waste time. I split the crystal over my hooves again, forming a hook on one hoof while making a sword with a very crude looking serrated edge on the other and landed on his back.

I swung the hook around, catching the dragon in the nostril, pulling his head back. The dragon made a weak attempt at a struggle but I held on. I then placed the sword against its neck, pulling. At first, it did nothing but skit across the dragon's scales but then the serrated edge caught on the flesh the scales failed to protect. Thankfully, its flesh here was nowhere as tough as it was with its wings. I could feel feel as my sword dug deeper. Blood sprayed as I hit major arteries, showering me with it. I yelled as I finished my slice. A bad idea as the dragon's blood got in my mouth, burning where it touched.

I panted as I deformed the crystal, letting it flow back into the chest piece from before. The dragon slumped limply on the ground, its blood flowing out. I noticed the town ponies starting to gather again. They stared at me but not how I expected. I saw fear in their eyes. They had reason to. They just watched a strange pony slaughter a dragon and now sat there covered in its blood. I could feel myself start to panic. This wasn't how I wanted to be seen. I was too scared to even move.

Dash finally made her appearance. She look at me then the other ponies, the cogs turning. Her eyes opened wide as she realized how I looked to the other ponies. "Uh...Woo, yeah Crystal!" She looked at the other ponies. "What are you featherbrains waiting for? Crystal here just saved your flanks from an evil dragon! Yeah, Crystal! Woo Hoo!" Dash clopped her hooves together in applause. The other ponies looked at each other weirdly at first but then Dash's enthusiasm started to spread. Soon all the ponies were stomping on the ground and cheering. I felt a smile spread on my face. I also noticed the setting sun at my back. I reared up and flared my wings, yelling out as loud as i could, adding my voice to the crowd's.

I was a badass!

And I collapsed.

As I faded back into consciousness, I could hear voices around. I immediately remembered my fight with the dragon. I bolted upright, swinging my fist...or hoof. Something blocked it and knocked me hard in the nose, causing me to fall back down.

“Awake, she does, with her hooves swinging. I did not know it was such a violent pony I was treating.” I know that rhyming. I get to meet Zecora in such good timing...Yes...I suck at rhyming. Wait, was I just punched by Zecora? I opened my eyes to see Twilight, Zecora and Dash standing over me. I went to go talk and then suddenly it felt like magma was poured down my throat. “Quickly girls, hold her down! The pain, I can only imagine, is profound.”

Dash and Twilight quickly jumped on me. “Oooh. I am sorry, Crystal. I know it burns but Zecora is going to get something for you. We would have treated you earlier but we didn’t like the idea of sticking something in your mouth while you were asleep.” I gave her a worried look. What was going to be stuck in my mouth?

Zecora came over with some sort of fruit. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Dash. The pegasus grabbed the fruit and looked at me very seriously. “Bite down on this!” She shove the fruit in my mouth and held her hooves there. I prefered the magma.

This fruit was incredibly bitter and sour. I am sure that if Rainbow Dash wasn’t holding my mouth shut, I would have thrown up. I gagged and struggled against Dash and Twilight’s hooves. Zecora opened her mouth to say something but Twilight spoke up first. “You need to keep that in your mouth for about an hour. At least you shouldn't have to worry about it anymore. Dragon’s blood only burns you like this once. Just be glad you’re not a filly.” Zecora gave Twilight a squinted gaze.

The zebra shook her and opened her mouth again. Rainbow Dash bounced up in my view. “Zecora said that the bitterness should only last about twenty minutes. After that, you are good to go.” There were flames in Zecora’s eyes. “So, Newbie...You were great out there.” Zecora opened her mouth and then paused, staring at the two ponies who were now staring each. She seemed content neither was going speak and smiled.

“What do you mean she was great, Rainbow Dash? She killed a dragon! I’m just glad Spike wasn’t around to see it. I have to keep him locked up in the library until they clean up the...mess she made. Celestia was right. She is dangerous.” Zecora threw up her hooves and walked away.

Rainbow Dash glared at Twilight. "What are you talking about,Twilight? Crystal saved my flank more than once now. It's obvious she is our friend."

Twilight shook her head. "No. She may be your friend, Rainbow Dash, but not mine. I don't trust her. In the couple days she has been here, she has killed twice. Plus, she has caused nothing but trouble and chaos too."

Dash took her hooves off my mouth and pointed at Twilight. "They attacked us. How can you even accuse her of being dangerous? Me and Berry wouldn't even be here right now if she didn't do what she did! And you heard what happened with the dragon!"

"Yes, I did, and quite frankly it doesn't make any sense! Nothing about her does! If you would stop and look at it instead of letting yourself get swept up in the bravado like you usually do, you would notice it too. How she is alive without a heart, having an ability that no other pony has and now some alicorn, a stallion one no less, coming and saying that he is going to wage war against Equestria in a year. Sooner if we tell Princess Celestia. I'm sorry but this is just something I can't believe. I have to look at the facts on this."

"No. You need to stop being an egghead about this and look at what's happened. A changeling attacked us and Crystal jumped up to protect us and then some strange pony sent his dragon after us and again, Crystal jumped up to kick it's flank. She is a hero in my books!" It's weird having two ponies fight over you. Both literally and figuratively.

"I think you are letting all this excitement get to your head. You aren't thinking logically."

"What exactly are you saying, Twilight?"

"I am saying Discord could make better decisions than you right now. Crystal has done nothing but attract trouble."

Dash growled and leaned across me, getting her face in Twilight's. "You wanna know what I think? I think you have been acting like a foal ever since that night we all slept together. I think you need to buck up and get over it and stop whining. You act like your whole life is ruined because of it. Stop acting like a little filly and grow up, Twilight Sparkle." I facehoofed and shook my head.

Twilight shook her head while backing away slowly. I could see the tears swell in her eyes as she turned around and ran out the door of Zecora's hut. "Twilight, wait. I didn't mean it like that!" Dash yelled after her. A flash of light outside was her answer. "Horsefeathers!" Dash fell back on her haunches, sighing. Zecora walked over to Dash and laid a hoof on the pegasus' shoulders, taking a deep breath. "Please not right now, Zecora. I am going to get some fresh air." The cyan pony shrugged Zecora's hoof off and flew out the door.

The zebra huffed and turned to me. "I do not get you ponykind. When it comes to words of comfort, you never have time. Ah,but you'll listen to old Zecora, for your condition, I have more to tell of." She sat down and smiled at me.

“Now, dragon’s bloo-” Dash burst in the front door.

“Hey, Zecora. You care if me and Crystal take off? We have an early day tomorrow and with what happened...” Dash was interrupted by the zebra flipping a table and walking to another room. The pegasus looked at me. I just shrugged. She soon came back, shoving a bag and a piece of parchment into Dash’s hooves.

“Now go.”

“Are you alright, Zecora?”

The zebra stared hard at her. “You heard what I said. Now go before I lose my head.” Zecora turned and started picking up the stuff she knocked over, mumbling in her native tongue. Dash and me decided that was as good as time as any time leave. We walked...well, Rainbow Dash flew beside me while I walked, through the Everfree in an awkward silence.

As we got close to the edge of the forest, Dash stopped me. “Crystal...” She landed, laying the bag and parchment aside.

“Hmm?” Was all I could muster with the fruit in my mouth.

“I was just thinking...I never did thank you for saving my hide with the changeling or the dragon...”She scratched her head. “I guess I am thanking you now...I am not doing too good though, huh?” I bumped her to get her attention. When she looked up at me, I shook my head and smiled. She seemed to get the message. “Yeah...I really messed up bad with Twilight back there. She just kept trying to make you the bad guy and I know that’s not true but...I don’t know if we’re even going to be friends anymore.”

Oh no. I placed a hoof on Dash’s shoulder, spitting the fruit out of my mouth. “Naw you wishen her, Dash. You an Tiwight ah gud fwiends. Dish ittle fight ishn’t gowing ooo change shat. You choo juss yeed ooo cool own a beh. e’eryshing ill be all wight.”

“....pppffffftt! Bwaaahahahahahaaaaa!” Dash fell backwards, laughing like there was no tomorrow.

I could feel my face heat up. “Dash! I am chying ooo be sherwius.” That didn’t help. It only sent her into another fit of laughter. I just sat there in silence until she was gasping for air. Finally she stopped laughing and got up. “An’ we go?” Dash nodded. I sighed and turned around to exit the forest.

“Hey, Newbie...” I rolled my eyes and turned to face the pegasus, about to ask her what she wanted. Suddenly a pair of cyan hooves wrapped around my neck and pulled me in for a tight hug. After a moment of confusion, I returned the embrace. “I mean it, Crystal...Thank you...” Dash pulled away from me with a smile. “Now move that flank and let’s get home. I’m starving!” I saluted her.

“Yesh, Ma’am.”