Chapter 1: Village in the Mountains.
It was a bright day in a remote mountainous area in Equestria. Two figures were walking along the mountain path, a lavender alicorn, and a purple/green young dragon.
"We are going the right way, Twilight?" the young dragon asked.
"Of course, Spike. The village in these mountains should be around the next corner." Twilight said.
"Whatever you say," Spike said.
When they turned around the corner, all they could see were more mountains.
Twilight sighed in disbelief. "More mountains? You know, Spike, I don't think we can look for the village."
"You think?" Spike asked, "How about we ask a local for directions."
"And where would we find a local of a hidden village?" Twilight asked.
"Good point." Spike shook his head.
"Oh well, I will fly up and see if I can find it from the air," Twilight said.
Twilight flew up into the sky and scanned the mountain range. As she was about to land next to Spike, she saw a figure in the corner of her eye.
Twilight fell next to Spike. "Hey, Spike, I think I saw some pony over there."
"Could he be local?" Spike asked.
"I think so. Come one, let's check it out, Spike." Twilight said
"Okay." Spike hopped onto Twilights back.
Twilight and Spike flew in the direction of the local for a few minutes. When they arrived, they were stunned to see that it was not a pony, but a vermilion-scaled bipedal dragon waving a spear. The 7-foot tall dragon noticed Twilight and Spike, so he turned his body. Twilight and Spike were surprised.
"What brings you here, outsiders?" the dragon asked.
Twilight landed on a rock nearby. "Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and this is Spike. We have searched for a village in these mountains for a while, but we can't find it."
The dragon looked at Twilight and gave a slight nod. "Why do you search for a village hidden in these mountains?"
"We heard rumors of a village and decided to check it out," Twilight said.
"Rumors you say?" the dragon said, "Well, those rumors are not false, there is a village, but getting there without the help of a local, you might as well give up and turn back.
"I take it you are a local then?" Twilight asked.
"That is correct, Princess," the dragon said, "If you want, I can take you to the village."
"Seriously? That would be great," Twilight, said.
"Alright, follow me." The dragon walked towards the mountain trail and put the spear on his back. "Oh, by the way, my name is Porr."
"Lead the way, Porr," Twilight said.
Porr, Twilight, and Spike were walking along the trail for a few hours before coming up to a dead end.
"Why did you lead us into a dead end, Porr?" Twilight asked.
"Who said this was a dead end," Porr said.
Porr walked up to the rocky wall and knocked thrice. A small opening in the mountainside appeared with a pair of eyes staring at Porr. The figure moved his eyes up and down scanning Porr and the two travelers.
"Password," the figure said.
"Mountains are the best place to live," Porr said.
The figure closed the opening in the rocky wall and pulled a lever. The rocky wall moved downward revealing a huge opening. Stationed at the entrance.
"Good afternoon, Porr," the first guard said, "Are you back from your training?"
"Yes." Porr pointed towards Twilight and Spike. "Also, we have guests."
"Hi, my name is Twilight Sparkle, and this is Spike, "Twilight said.
One of the guards walked toward Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle? Isn't that the name of Equestria's newest princess and alicorn?"
"A princess? All the way out here?" Another guard asked.
"Oh, Spike and I were just traveling the mountains alone trying to find this village," Twilight said.
The first guard chuckled. "You were wondering these mountains alone? You two should consider yourselves lucky that you found Porr while he trained outside the cave."
"Why is that?" Twilight asked.
"The creatures around here would have made a tasty morsel out of you without a second thought," The guard said.
"Is that right?" Twilight asked
Porr chuckled and then looked at the guard. "Stop teasing them Cross Work."
Alright, alright, I will stop," Cross Work said, "I hope you and Spike have an enjoyable stay here."
"Thank you, Cross Work," Twilight said.
"My pleasure," Cross Work said, "If you need to go outside just give us the word, and we will open up the entrance."
Porr, Twilight, and Spike waved at the guards as they walked down the tunnel. A few minutes have passed, and the three figures were about to reach the village. When they arrived, Twilight and Spike looked at the community with their jaw dropped. The beautiful village filled with ponies and dragons coexisting made it look like it was some hidden resort.
"Dragons and ponies coexisting?" Twilight asked.
"That's right, Twilight," Porr said, "These dragons are unique and can't live without the food the ponies make. In return, most of the dragons protect this place from harm. Without us dragons, they wouldn't last a week on their own."
"So it is like a symbiotic relationship?" Twilight asked.
"Correct," Porr said, "Enough talking, let's go and meet the locals."
Porr, Twilight, and Spike had finally arrived in the village, only to be greeted by the locals with some of the locals staring at the two travelers.
"How's it going, Porr?" A dragon asked.
"Back from your training?" Another dragon asked.
"My family will have a feast, tonight and we would all be happy if you could join us." One pony said.
Porr answered all the questions and greetings he received, some even asking about the two guests.
A couple of young dragons saw Spike and immediately went up to him.
"Hey there, my name is Gaze, and the two behind me are Jyrod and Chester. What is your name?" an adolescent dragon asked.
"My name is Spike," Spike said.
"Spike, huh, want to be friends and play with us?" The dragon asked.
"Alright, let me ask Twilight if I can go." Spike looked at Twilight.
"Can I hang out with these dragons?"
"Of course, Spike," Twilight said.
Spike waved at Twilight and Porr and ran off with the dragon trio. The greetings and questions were put to a halt when a young looking Pegasus flew in front of Porr and asked him and Twilight that they meet with the elders as soon as possible. They agreed and immediately walked to a tall building with the words 'Council Office' on the third floor.
Inside the building was a spacious room filled with a multitude of ponies and dragons. Porr and Twilight went up the stairs to the third floor.
"ENTER!" A loud voice said.
Porr opened the door leading to the council office and saw two elders, a unicorn on the right and a dragon on the left. The unicorn was called Lot. He had white, gray hair with a wrinkly sky blue coat. The dragon was called Rethyl. A big dragon whose age was unknown. He had crimson scales and huge spikes running down his body.
"Do you know why we summoned you, Porr?" Lot asked.
"Because I let in an outsider?" Porr asked
"That is one of the reasons, but we will talk about that later," Lot said.
"We want to speak with Princess Twilight Sparkle for a moment."
So Porr stepped to the side, and Twilight stayed where she was.
"What do you want to talk about, respected elders?" Twilight asked.
"Why have you come here, Princess?" Lot asked.
"I heard a few rumors about this place and wanted to check it out," Twilight said.
"Is that all?" Lot said, "Well, seeing that you are an alicorn and a princess, you are welcome to stay here for as long as you like, Princess."
Twilight slightly nodded. "I planned on doing that, thank you for your kindness."
"Not a problem, Princess," Rethyl said, "Now, we need to talk with Porr in private. We hope it is not a bother for you to step outside the door."
"Not at all, elders." Twilight turned around and stepped out the door.
Now that Twilight is outside, it is just Porr and the two elders in the room.
"Porr, you should know the eventual consequences when you bring in an outsider," Rethyl said.
"I know, Grandfather, but she isn't just some outsider, she's a princess," Porr said.
"And, what if she wasn't a princess but a changeling?" Lot asked.
Porr put on a confident smile and looked at Lot. "Elder Lot, you should know as much as I do that if she were a changeling, I would be able to sense its presence and cut it in half."
"We are all aware of your abilities, Porr." Lot stroked his beard with his hoof. "I have no doubt that you would be able to kill a changeling."
"Will I be punished, Elder Lot?" Porr asked.
"I guess you can go with no food for three days," Lot said.
When Porr heard Lot say that sentence, he panicked and said: "No food for three days? Elder Lot, don't you think that is cruel. A day is fine, but three is too long, I might even die."
Lot looked at Porr with his eyebrows furrowed. "Oh, stop whining, it is only a few days, and you definitely will not die."
"I don't know, Lot, maybe it is cruel," Rethyl said.
Porr turned his head and looked at his grandfather. "Thank you, grandfather."
"You like to spoil him sometimes, Rethyl," Lot said, "But that won't change anything. Porr will go without food for three days."
"Sorry, Porr," Rethyl said, "You know Lot, he can be stubborn and not even I can change his mind."
Rethyl twitched his eyebrows. "Who's stubborn?"
"Never mind," Rethyl said.
"Now that this case is closed, I want to talk with Rethyl about something. So you can leave now."
"Then I will take my leave Elder Lot, Grandfather." Porr bowed and walked out of the room seeing Twilight lean against the wall. "I assume you heard that?"
Twilight nodded. "No food for three days is harsh."
"You have no idea, Twilight." Porr shook his head.
"Well, at least, your grandfather supported you," Twilight said, "Do you have any parents here, I would like to meet them."
After hearing Twilight ask about his parents, Porr clenched his claw into a fist. He stared coldly at Twilight and said: "Grandpa Reth is, in fact, my foster grandfather. As for my parents, I never knew them or even know how they look. Whenever I bring that topic up with Grandpa Reth, he always avoids it. So, I don't want you asking about my parents again, got it?"
Twilight felt a shiver down her spine. "Loud and clear. The thing with your parents is obviously a sensitive subject, so I will not press any further."
"Good." Porr returned to his usual self, and the two walked out of the building.
"Are you hungry, Twilight?" Porr asked.
"Oh yes, it has been a while since I last ate," Twilight said.
"Well, come with me, I know a great place to eat. I can also treat you." Porr said.
Twilight smiled. "Thank you, Porr."
Twilight and Porr walked down into the town and arrived at the front of a restaurant called "Dragon Diner." As they came, they saw an empty table and sat there. A waiter came up to them.
"What can I get for you?" the waiter asked.
Twilight looked at the menu. "I will have the large horseshoe-shaped fries and a milkshake, please."
"That is good, ma'am." The waiter then turned toward Porr. "What about you, Poor."
"I won't have anything. Elder Lot punished me," Porr said.
"A punishment from Elder Lot? Sounds harsh." The waiter walked to the counter.
"Hey, Twilight, I need to tell you something," Porr said.
"What is it?" Twilight asked.
"Well, I have been having a bad feeling since I left the building," Porr said.
"How bad?" Twilight asked.
"I can't explain it in detail, but a disaster is about to happen. I do not know how this disaster will unfold or where it will come from," Porr said.
"Have you told your grandfather about this?" Twilight asked.
"I think he would be able to sense it as well." Porr handed Twilight some bits. "I got to go somewhere secret, so take care, Twilight."
As Twilight and Porr finished whispering, Twilight's food arrived, and Porr left the restaurant to a secret place that only a few citizens of the village know. In that secret place, at the center. There were also guards stationed all over the place and even Elder Lot, and Rethyl were there.
One of the guards noticed Porr and said to himself: "Even Porr is here? It looks like something serious is about to happen."
The two elders noticed Porr and greeted him.
Porr walked up to the stone and stood beside the two elders "Elder Lot, grandfather; it looks like that you two did sense something is wrong."
"Of course, we did, Porr," Lot said.
Porr slightly frowned. "Do you know what will happen, Elder Lot?"
"Not sure, Porr, but I have a feeling that there will be a battle, and we need to prepare," Lot said as he put his hoof on the stone.
Rethyl moved to the opposite side of Lot and put his claw on the rock. "I agree with Lot. To prepare for the battle, we will receive help from this stone. As the village's most powerful defenders, we have a duty to protect this community and all of its citizens."
Porr moved to the northeastern side of the room and placed his claw on the stone. "You are right, grandfather, with the power of this stone we will be able to repel any invaders."
The rock started to shine. Three blue beams shot out from the stone and collided with the three defenders. Each of them could feel a surge of power rushing through their veins, increasing all their abilities threefold.
Meanwhile, outside of the village, two figures, one pegasus and one dragon were walking toward the cave entrance.
On the left was a tall, mean looking, bipedal dragon covered in shiny azure scales. His four horns and two wings protruded from his body like an evil being, and his jet-black hair waved in the wind.
A massive sword covered in bandages adorned his back.
The Pegasus stallion on the right had an orange coat, brown mane, and a yin yang symbol as a cutie mark. He sported black shades covering his scar stricken left eye.
As the two figures reached the entrance, the little opening in the rock face slid open, revealing two eyes.
"Who are you and what is your business?" Cross Work asked.
The dragon stretched his arm out and said: "Who we are and what we are here for is not of your concern. However, we will tell you one thing."
Cross Work's eyes squinted. "Oh, and what is it?"
The dragon smiled and stared coldly at Cross Work. "You will die."
(To Be Continued.)
