Chapter 9: Sweet and Smoky
It was a peaceful sunny day at the School of Friendship as a bird twittered and flew in the background. Inside the teachers lounge, Twilight was going over some notes as Chase sat next to her and was sharpening his katana swords. Jade was busy meditating with Sokka while Sunray was doing some push ups. Trini and Antonio were practicing their katas as Fluttershy and Spike were reclining on the sofa.
"Ah, it sure is beautiful outside, guys." Sokka said to his friends and wife with a smile. "It makes me feel calm and relaxed while I meditate."
"You said it, dear." Fluttershy said in agreement with her husband with a smile.
Jade opened one of her eyes as she sent Sokka a smirk in agreement.
"I couldn't agree with you anymore, Sokka." Jade said in agreement. "This is exactly what we needed."
"And no amount would go great if this day could get any surprises on our shoulders." Antonio added in agreement.
Chase smirked with Twilight in amusement.
"Well, if that were to happen, any one of us would get the best news." Chase said with a chuckle as Twilight giggled.
"He's right, but at least it's break time for us so we can have a little relaxing session." Sunray said as he stopped doing his push ups.
It was then a knock on the door was heard as Chase turned to see Smolder opening it.
"Uh, Headmare Twilight and Headstallion Chase?" Smolder said as she flew up to the royal couple. "Sorry to bug you both in the Teacher's Lounge. Is it okay if I miss class?"
"Mm-hmm." Twilight said as she nodded while going over some sheets. "You can make it up tomorrow."
Chase felt like there was something Smolder needed to say something more specific.
"Why would you wanna skip class, Smolder?" Chase asked the young dragon curiously as he stopped sharpening his katanas and puts them back in his sheaths. "Do you have something in mind to participate in an activity?"
"Actually, I'll be gone for a week, Chase." Smolder replied back, making Twilight and Chase surprised by this as the alicorn mare drops her notes.
"A week?!" Twilight exclaimed in shock. "In the middle of the semester?"
Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Sokka, Fluttershy, and Spike overheard the conversation as well.
"Oh, is everything all right, Smolder?" Fluttershy asked with concern.
"Are you still having trouble living in Ponyville?" Sokka added as he, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio approached Smolder with concern.
"Not exactly, Sokka." Smolder said and sighed. "My brother's been having a hard time since I left for school. I want to go home and check on him. He's a really sweet guy, and the other dragons can be kind of rough."
"Did you say "sweet guy" and "dragon" in the same sentence?" Spike asked while hovering next to her with an intrigued smile.
"Yeah." Smolder said and gently poked him on the nose playfully. "He's sort of like you, Spike."
"Awww..." Spike said bashfully.
"Gee, I don't know." Chase said doubtfully. "You probably won't be able to get your grades up while you're at home, Smolder. There's no doubt on all of the studies you'll have to get done with."
"My husband's right. And we're sorry to hear about your brother, Smolder." Twilight said in agreement with Chase as she apologized. "But the Dragon Lands are really far for you to go by yourself. And I'm not sure about you missing so much class."
"Yeah, and if you don't make it back in time, you won't be able to catch up with the exams either." Jade added as well.
Smolder lowered her head down sadly, knowing they were right. Luckily, Spike was able to provide her with comfort.
"Hey! What if she got a school credit for it?" Spike said while wrapping his left arm around Smolder. "Kind of like a... a kindness field trip? I'll go with her."
"Thanks!" Smolder said as she smiled and wrapped her right arm around Spike as well. "The Dragon Lord is way too busy for personal problems when it's baby dragon hatching season."
It was enough to get Fluttershy's attention as she widened her eyes of hearing baby dragons.
"Baby... dragon... hatching season?!" Fluttershy beamed with full interest and gasped. "All those cute little snouts poking out of those adorable little shells?! Teeny, tiny, twitchy tails?! Can Sokka and I go too?!"
She smiled big with wide puppy like eyes at Twilight and Chase. Sokka was also interested in this.
"I wanna check it out too. Maybe we can ask Dragon Lord Ember if we can keep one of them for our home." Sokka added with an excited smile.
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio looked at him with a smirk of amusement.
"Are you really planning on being excited the whole way? Because you may want to have to do some double meditation to clear your mind." Jade said with a teasing smirk as she and her family laughed while Sokka glared at them annoyingly.
"Well, you are the perfect pony to lead a kindness field trip." Twilight said while looking to side with a thoughtful smirk before she saw Sokka, Fluttershy, Spike and Smolder with pleading smiles.
Chase chuckled as he found this adorable and Twilight sighs in defeat.
"Fine." Twilight said. "But we're gonna expect a full report when you get back."
"How many pages?" Smolder asked.
"I was talking to Fluttershy." Twilight corrected. "Hatching season sounds fascinating!"
Chase shook his head as the four laughed.
"And I think you and your family should go with them too, Chase. And don't forget to bring Nyx with you." Twilight said to Chase as her husband turned to her.
"Is it because I need to get more dragonish knowledge for you?" Chase asked with an amused smirk as Twilight blushed a bit with a cute smile she sent to him.
"That, and I would like you to make sure there won't be any problems on the way. Besides, our daughter needs some father time with you after all." Twilight said as she nuzzled Chase lovingly and he returned the favor.
"Alright. I'll do it." Chase said as he and Twilight departed before the alicorn stallion turned to his team and Sokka. "Gather up your gear and lets go get Nyx, guys. Looks like we're going on a journey."
With that, he and his group left the teachers lounge to go pack up for the Dragon Lands.
*Main theme*
Sometime later, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Nyx, Spike, Smolder, Sokka, and Fluttershy were making their way to the borders as they entered the Dragon Lands.
"Okay, I made a list of what cheers me up when I'm down, so if your brother's like me, he's gonna love it!" Spike said while looking through a list. "What should we do first? The Smile Song? The sharing circle? Or friendship bracelet weaving?"
"That sounds like a lot." Sokka said with a smirk. "Don't you think it might be a little too much?"
"Come on, Sokka. What's the point in of cheering a dragon up when you don't have the skill to prove it?" Spike replied back with a teasing grin.
"I'm not sure those are the kind of things my brother's gonna be into." Smolder said.
"Well, what would make your brother happy?" Fluttershy asked.
"Just having Spike and me accept him for who he is will make a huge difference." Smolder said. "Dragons who appreciate his more sensitive side."
"I got it!" Spike said. "Show tunes!"
"Yeah, no, but good try." Smolder said with a smirk and they continued off, leaving Spike stunned.
While they continued on, Nyx was walking next to Chase with an excited smile as her father turned to her.
"Feeling excited for the babies, Nyx?" Chase asked Nyx as his daughter turned to him.
"Yup and I've always wanted to see the baby dragons hatch. I can't believe we're going to see it!" Nyx said with an excited giggle.
Chase chuckle as he ruffled Nyx's mane, making his daughter giggle.
(Scene changes)
They continued following the trail as they were soon in the Dragon Lands and then Fluttershy sniffs the air before she soon finds a pungent odor from the lava and volcanic vents.
"Oh! Uh... That's an interesting smell." Fluttershy said, covering her nose as Smolder inhales a good breath of the scent and sighs happily.
"The stink of sulfur." Smolder said as she looks down while rubbing her left foot against the rocky ground. "Sharp rocks under my claws." She sighed happily. "It's good to be home."
"I can't wait to meet your brother, Smolder." Spike said. "We're gonna be best buddies. I just know it."
"He usually hangs out near here." Smolder said. "I'll go try and find him."
"Well, hurry back. We're gonna go see if we can find the eggs." Chase said as Smolder nodded before she flew off to find her brother as the alicorn master turned to the others. "Come on, guys. Maybe Ember might be around here. She can help us find the hatching grounds."
Spike then flew over a rock and set his backpack down.
"Spike, do you mind if I take a peek at the cute little baby eggs?" Fluttershy asked.
"No problem." Spike said bringing a blanket out and knitting tools. "I'll stay here and finish this comfort blanket. It'll be like a hug every time Smolder's brother wraps it around himself."
"Awww. I'm sure he'll love it, Spike." Fluttershy said.
"We'll be back to catch up with you three soon enough." Sokka added as the eight ponies went off to see the dragon eggs.
(Scene changes)
In a different area of the Dragon Lands, the eight ponies followed a trail while finding the nesting grounds. As they continued to find the place, Fluttershy gasped at what she was seeing.
"Oh... my... goodness!" Fluttershy said excitedly as Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Nyx, and Sokka joined her.
In front of them was the nesting area as it was filled with nests with a clutch of eggs. The sight of the eggs made Jade, Nyx, and Trini take a few photos with their cameras.
"It's beautiful." Nyx said with a teary smile of seeing the baby dragons.
"Come on, let's check it out." Chase said as the eight went over to one of the nests.
"Good morning, little one." Fluttershy said to an egg before adding a baby talk. "I've come a long way to meet you. Did you know there's a whole wide world out here waiting to say hello? Did you? Oh, did you, boo?"
Sokka chuckled as he rubbed the egg gently.
"Alright, both of you, enough baby talk." Chase said, getting Fluttershy to stop as she and Sokka turned to him. "I know that you're eager to see the babies, Fluttershy, but you can't rush them to come out of their eggs now."
It was enough for Fluttershy to blush sheepishly with a smile.
"Sorry, Chase. I'm just excited to see them." Fluttershy said with a smile as Sokka kissed his wife on the cheek in agreement.
"Well, you guys will have more time to see them hatch when the time comes today." A familiar voice came from behind Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx, making them turn around to see Teejay, Mikey, Echo, and Sly looking at them with smirks.
"Echo." Chase said with a smile.
"Teejay!" Jade greeted excitedly.
"Sly!" Sunray greeted.
"Mikey!" Antonio said with an excited smile.
"Don't forget about me." A familiar tough girl's voice was heard as Ember landed in front of the ponies with her arms crossed and smiled at them.
"Ember!" Chase said as he approached the dragon lord, lit his horn as his left fore hoof was replaced by his left aura hand. They bump fists with each other before Chase stops using his magic. "It's good to see you guys again."
"It's good to see you, Nyx, and your team too, Chase." Ember said with a casual smile before she noticed Sokka and Fluttershy. "And you guys are Fluttershy and Sokka, right?"
"Yup, that's us. I'm one of Chase's friends and former second in command of Shining Armor's Royal Guard." Sokka introduced himself.
"And I'm his wife, Fluttershy." Fluttershy also introduced herself. "The one who loves creatures. Are... all these ours?"
"What?!" Ember exclaimed while blushing. "No! None of them are. Watching over eggs is just part of the glamorous life of a Dragon Lord."
"Yeah, and since this is Ember's first time doing this, it won't be an easy chore." Echo said, agreeing with Ember as his friends nodded in agreement.
"I think it's wonderful." Fluttershy said with a smile.
"As well as it's a huge responsible." Sokka agreed with his wife.
"And we'll help out anyway we can." Chase said as his team nodded in agreement with their leader.
"Yeah? Great. Then maybe you guys can help." Ember said.
"I'd love to!" Fluttershy gasped in joy and excitement. "Just tell me what to do!"
"I don't know." Ember said uneasily, making the eight ponies surprised by this.
"How come?" Sunray asked. "Aren't you supposed to treat the babies with care?"
"To tell you the truth, Sunray. It's my 1st time being in charge." Ember said. "Dad wasn't big on sharing Dragon Lord details. It's kind of a "burn or be burned" job."
"Yeah, and Torch hasn't been able to give us any information to give dragon kids love and care." Teejay added in agreement. "The only way we've been able to figure out is that the eggs need to heat up at a certain degree."
"Well, I'm sure you're doing great." Fluttershy said as Sokka nodded.
"Watching and looking after babies is what a good parent does." Sokka said with a caring smile. "So is there any chance that they'll come out?"
"Not really, Sokka." Ember said while gesturing to the unhatched eggs. "The eggs should've hatched by now. But none of them have even cracked."
"What?" Chase asked in shock and surprise as his family shared the same expression. "Why not?"
"I thought the babies would be warm enough to come out. Why are they not hatching?" Jade asked with concern.
"We don't know, Jade. The Dragon Lands have a lot of places for lava to flow through and so far we haven't had any luck on making sure the newborns hatch." Echo replied back as he looked back to his friends and they nodded in agreement.
"Oh, dear." Fluttershy said with concern as Sokka looked worried as well. "Maybe they're lonely? Don't you worry. Auntie Fluttershy and uncle Sokka are here. And the Dragon Lord, my husband, and I are gonna do everything we can to welcome you into this world."
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx shared smirks with each other before they turned back to Ember.
"Don't worry, Ember." Chase said with an assuring smile. "Sokka and Fluttershy will help you out while find the source of what's going on with the eggs."
"Really? Thanks, Chase." Ember said to Chase with a grateful smile before she turned to Fluttershy and Sokka. "So how are we gonna make sure they're okay?"
"Um... I have no idea." Fluttershy said.
"Hmm. This could take a while." Trini said with concern.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Spike was still knitting the blanket for Smolder's brother and he was soon finished with it.
"Now, that's a thing of beauty." Spike said with a satisfied smile.
That's when a shadow appeared as Spike looks up, seeing a group of four dragons as one went towards him.
"Whoa!" Spike said in panic and he got on his knees with the blanket out in front of him.
"Well, if it isn't our little pony friend Spike." Garble said as he landed on the ground with a taunting smirk he sent to the little dragon while his friends joined him.
"That's Equestria's official friendship ambassador to the Dragon Lands to you!" Spike retorted with a glare, causing the four other dragons to snarl at him. "And I'm not little! I had the molt. See?"
He then shows his wings, but Garble and his gang laughed at that.
"Oh-ho-ho, runt's got wings." Garble mocked. "I'm soooo impressed." He then saw the blanket. "What's that supposed to be?"
"Nothing!" Spike said as he quickly hid it behind his back, but Garble grabs the blanket and shakes Spike off it.
"Looks like a baby blanket to me." Garble said teasingly.
"It's not a baby blanket." Spike protested. "It's a... comfort blanket."
That made Garble and his gang stare for a moment before they burst into laughter.
"Awwww. Did you pony pals make it for you with friendship and gumdrops?" Garble asked mockingly. "What about your big pony brother? Did he do it?"
"No. I made it." Spike firmly said. "And by the way, knitting's a lot harder than it looks."
"Check out the baby blanket, guys!" Garble said and swung the blanket. "It's a lot harder than it looks!"
He flung the blanket to Fume and Spike went to get back, but Fume threw it back to Garble.
"Got your bwanky!" Garble mocked and tossed it to Billy.
"Aw, little baby crying?" Billy mocked holding Spike back.
Soon, Spike was in a monkey in the middle game, in which he was the monkey in question.
"Bet he broke a claw and everything." Billy mocked and laughed.
"Give it back!" Spike demanded angrily. "It's for my friend!"
Garble and the dragons laughed so hard that they breathed fire. The flame changed from purple and then blue as Spike ducked.
"Cut it out!" Spike said. "You know laugh fire's are dangerous! It can-!" Before he could finish Garble lifts the blanket up and it caught fire as it flames up, making Spike miserable at his work. "...do that."
"Garble!" Smolder's voice called out and they turned to see Smolder coming to the scene.
"Smolder?" Garble said, suddenly happy as he rushed over to her while pushing Spike aside, making the little dragon confused. "What are you doing here?"
The two did a special shake by bumping fists, bumping their shoulders, shared high and low fives, and slapped their tails together before they stopped while sharing smiles with each other.
"How's it scalin' brah?" Clump asked Smolder casually as Spike flew up to the orange dragon.
"We'd better get out of here before your brother shows up." Spike whispered with concern. "Garble isn't very nice to sensitive dragons."
"But Garble is my brother." Smolder said with a confused look, not understanding what's going on.
"Your brother?!" Spike exclaimed in shock as Garble came up behind him.
"Got a problem with that, pony-boy?" Garble asked as he placed his left index finger on Spike's forehead and turned him around to face the big dragon.
"Oh, brother." Spike nervously said as he quivers while his teeth chattered and he whimpered.
"I've missed you, bro." Smolder said, gently pushing Spike aside and shared a fist bump with Garble. "We got a lot of fun to catch up on. There's no lava diving at school."
"Good luck gettin' Garble to do anything." Clump said.
"Heh, yeah." Billy said. "He's gotten so weird since you left. Hiding and moping around..."
"I have not!" Garble snapped while shooting some fire out of his mouth.
"Have so!" Clump, Billy and Fume said in unison.
"Easy, guys." Smolder said while getting between them. "I learned at Twilight and Chase's school, ganging up on each other isn't half as cool as you think."
"Awww. Pony school made you soft." Clump mocked and then Smolder pulled him down to her level.
"Want to try me and find out?" Smolder challenged.
"M-Maybe later." Clump nervously said with a smile as he gulped.
"So, uh, let's get diving." Spike said. "What do you say?"
"Better stay here, shrimp." Billy said. "Lava might ruin your blanky-wanky."
"Let the wimp tag along." Garble said and punched Spike's shoulder. "Then we'll have somedragon to dunk!" And he smacked his shoulder and laughed.
"Hmph. Only gonna warn you once." Smolder said. "Spike's my friend. You mess with him, you mess with me. Besides, he came here to hang out with you, Garble."
Garble then uneasily glanced around and to his gang as the three dragons laughed at that while breathing laugh fire again.
"Awww. How sweet. Ha!" Billy mocked with a smirk.
"Let's go do dragon stuff." Clump said before glancing at Garble with anime eyes. "Garble can have fun with his new friend."
The three laugh fire again as they leave.
"But I'm not having fun!" Garble said angrily as they flew off. "And he's not my friend!"
He angrily growled as Spike and Smolder flew up behind him.
"Eh, just ignore them, "Gar-Gar"." Smolder said gently, which Garble's eyes widened from hearing that before he turns to her angrily.
"Smolder!" Garble said angrily as he came up to his little sister and gestured to Spike. "Not in public!"
"Oh, it's okay to have a nickname." Spike assured the red dragon with a smile. "Sometime's I'm called "Spikey-Wikey"."
"Seriously? You're admitting this?" Garble said and smacked himself and turns to Smolder. "I am not hanging out with him."
"Give him a chance, Garble." Smolder said. "You guys have a lot in common."
Having no way of talking himself out of this conversation, Garble then annoyingly groaned.
"Fine. Race you to the lava pit." Garble said as he took off into the air.
"Wait." Spike said, holding Smolder from flying off. "I thought you said your brother was sweet."
"All the tough guy stuff is just an act." Smolder said. "He's a big marshmallow."
"Yeah, not seein' it." Spike said with an unsure expression.
"Well, maybe a burnt marshmallow." Smolder admitted. "Smoky on the outside, but squishy inside. He just needs friends who can appreciate that part. Like you. You're not changing your mind about helping me cheer him up, are you?"
"Me? 'Course not!" Spike said and laughed nervously.
With that said, Smolder flies off and Spike sighed.
"I really wish you were here to help me out right now instead of finding the eggs, Chase." Spike said sadly.
(Scene changes)
Later, Garble, Smolder and Spike stood at the edge of a pool of lava.
"Okay! Lava jumping!" Smolder said with an eager smile as she turns to Garble, who looked a little annoyed. "Just like old times, huh, Gar-Gar?"
"Yeah. Just like old times." Garble said before he turned to Spike bitterly. "Except for 1 little annoying thing."
"Scales away!" Smolder as she rushed to the pool and she jumps into the lava pit. She rises back and spits out some lava from her mouth. "Come on in! The lava's fine!"
She reclines in the lava comfortably as Garble sighed annoyingly while standing next to Spike.
"You know, whenever I'm feeling a little down, it always helps if I do something with a friend." Spike said as Garble turned to him. "How about we jump together?"
He extended his hand out, but then Garble tail swatted Spike into the lava after the little dragon yelped and he sinks down.
"Ooh..." Smolder said as she winced. "Spike? You okay?"
Spike came up with a runny nose as the side of it was dark red.
"Uh, I know there must be something worse than lava up your nose." Spike said and then sneezed some lava out. "I just don't know what it is."
"Cannonball!" Garble yelled.
They looked up and saw Garble on a cliff over the pool. He jumps off as he hits the lava and Spike went under.
"Woo-hoo!" Garble cheered and laughed. He then noticed that Smolder had witnessed Spike was under the lava again and she glares at her older brother. "Oops?"
He then swims off as Smolder dove under and came back up with Spike.
"Ah!" Spike gagged as he started coughing up lava. "Swallowing lava. Swallowing lava's definitely worse."
"My bad." Garble said insincerely as he swims on his back and Smolder rolled her eyes.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile back in the nesting area, Fluttershy was reading a story to a clutch of eggs while Sokka was gently caressing one of them.
"...And then they all lived happily ever after"." Fluttershy finished the story and closed the book. "Time to come out, little ones."
She then baby talks to the eggs, but none of them even stir.
"Maybe you'd like a song?" Fluttershy suggested and took a deep breath.
"I don't know, honey." Sokka said, stopping his wife as she turns to him. "Seems like most of our idea haven't been working out well."
"Oh come on, sweetie." Fluttershy said gently as she brought out a stuff dragon Sokka had made. "I'm positive that the dragon doll you made for them was great."
"But there's still no explanation about this, Fluttershy." Chase said as he joined the two. "Something just seems a little off about this place. And right now, my family, Echo, and his family haven't had any luck at the moment."
He gestures to Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Nyx, Echo, Sly, Mikey, and Teejay were trying to find some clues on why the eggs aren't hatching.
"He's right. And I think right now you guys might be encouraging them to stay in." Ember said. "Dragons aren't much for touchy-feely stuff."
"Oh. I'm sorry." Fluttershy apologized when a rattling sound was heard and they turned to the eggs.
"Huh?" Chase and Sokka said in unison.
"Goodness." Fluttershy gasped. "Why are the eggs shaking?" And she then gasped. "Are they finally hatching?"
"Hold up, Fluttershy." Sokka said with concern as he noticed that they eggs still won't come out. "Is there any chance the place is suppose to be warm here?"
"I wish, Sokka." Ember said, not seeing the problem. "They've been doing that for days. I'm sure it means something, but it's probably not good."
(Scene changes)
Back with Spike, Smolder and Garble, they were having cupcakes. Though Garble doesn't seem to like the idea.
"Try this." Spike said, holding a red velvet cupcake. "Red velvet. Guaranteed to brighten anycreature's spirits."
Suddenly, Garble coldly smacked it out of his hand and hits the ground before he stomps it and flattens it.
"Feelin' better already." Garble smugly said and Spike was sadden from that.
(Scene changes)
Later, the three were out flying.
"I dunno about you, but a change of scenery always turns my frown upside-down." Spike said to Garble, only for the bigger dragon to pushed Spike aside into a cloud.
He came out as the cloud gave him a puffy cloud diaper and pacifier. Spike dusts it off him as Garble sticks his tongue out with his right hand forming an L for loser he sent to the little dragon and flies off.
"I will be the bigger dragon." Spike said under his breath and he flies off to catch up. "I will be the bigger dragon. I will be the bigger dragon. I will be the bigger dragon." He then sighed depressingly. "Where are you, Chase?"
(Scene changes)
Later, they were gathered up in a group for some tea, but Garble still was having that much fun with a bitter and annoyed look on his face.
"Sometimes, just hearing what someone appreciates about you can make you feel better about yourself." Spike said.
"I'll go first." Smolder volunteered. "Spike, I think it's nice that you're trying to cheer up Gar-Gar."
Garble only groaned.
"Thank you, Smolder." Spike said as he turned to Garble. "My turn. I like how you always let everycreature know how you're feeling, Gar-Gar."
"ONLY SMOLDER GETS TO CALL ME THAT!" Garble angrily snapped with a fire breath as Spike let out a painful groan and his head was charred.
"Thank you for speaking your truth." Spike said and he falls back and groans.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile elsewhere in the Dragon Lands, Clump, Billy and Fume were by a pool of lava.
"More fresh lava comin' up!" Clump said as the three moved a rock aside and lava from the pool started draining.
On the other side, Spike, Smolder and Garble appeared below.
"Okay. New activity." Spike said. "Who wants to make vision boards?"
"Hey, Garble, Smolder!" Billy called out as the three looked up and saw him.
"Surf's up!" Billy the dragon yelled.
Billy surfs down the flowing lava and soon pass by them as Clump and Fume followed.
"Let me show you how it's done!" Garble said excitedly as he grabs a flat rock and he surfs down the lava while Smolder as well grabs a flat rock.
"You coming?" Smolder asked Spike.
"I'll... catch up with you." Spike said.
Smolder nodded and surfs down the lava flow when Chase, Jade, Sunray, Fluttershy and Sokka appeared.
"Spike!" Fluttershy said as she sighed with relief. "There you are!"
"Thank goodness we've found you little buddy." Sokka said with a relief smile
"Hey, Fluttershy. Hey, Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Sokka." Spike greeted.
"For a land that's all rocks, this place is surprisingly easy to get lost in." Fluttershy said.
"But a good thing Echo was able to say he saw you with Smolder and Garble flying over here." Chase added with a smile.
"How are the baby dragons doing?" Spike asked as the five ponies were concerned.
"The eggs won't hatch." Fluttershy said. "They just keep shaking. I'm starting to think the dragons are too scared to come out."
"Ember said they've been shaking for days." Jade added with worry. "But they all should've hatched by now. We've already asked Nyx, Antonio, and Trini to stay behind to help out Ember, Echo, Teejay, Mikey, and Sly."
"We were hoping you could help." Fluttershy offered. "If you're not too busy cheering up Smolder's brother."
"Not a chance." Spike said. "Smolder's brother is Garble."
Fluttershy then gasped in shock as Chase, Jade, and Sunray were visibly surprised by this while Sokka looked confused.
"Wait, what?!" Chase asked in shock. "You mean that dragon we've been dealing with since you came here the first time and when we competed in the Gauntlet of Fire is actually her brother?"
"Yeah, Chase. And the only thing that cheers him up is to make me miserable." Spike sadly said.
"Where is he?" Sunray asked with an angry look as he wanted to give the dragon a piece of his mind.
"Hey, Spike!" Garble called out as they turned and saw Garble with his gang hovering over the lava.
"I take it that's Garble?" Sokka asked Spike and Chase as he eyed the dragon bitterly.
"Yup." Spike replied back with a glare.
"Want to play lavaball?" Garble asked as he grabs some lava and threw a ball of lava towards Spike, who quickly dodges it.
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Fluttershy, and Sokka joined Spike while glaring at the four dragons angrily.
"Excuse me, but that's not a very nice game!" Fluttershy said while glaring at them and then they started throwing more lava balls at Spike.
"Ah! Nearly got you!" Clump smugly said as he sent another lava ball at Spike when Chase catches it with his left aura hand since he already lit his horn.
"ENOUGH!" Chase yelled as with his royal Canterlot tone while tossing the ball away.
Garble, Clump and Fume dropped their lavaballs from the firmness of Chase's shout.
"Oh, great. It's those three members of the Elite Ninja. What are you guys doing here?" Garble asked with a glare he sent to Chase, Jade, and Sunray as the three glared back at him.
"Don't you idiots know it's not nice to pick on smaller dragons?! That can really hurt them!" Chase said and then Fluttershy clears her throat.
"He's right. That's no way to treat them like that. Now leave our friend alone please." Fluttershy said. "Spike came all this way to cheer up Garble, which was a very kind thing to do."
"Awwww, do you need cheering up?" Billy said, mockingly to Garble.
"Wrong's wrong, Garble?" Clump asked teasingly. "Did some somedwagon hurt your wittle feelings?"
"No!" Garble protested as he glared at Spike and then the three members of the Elite Ninja. "I-I don't know what she's talking about! Spike's the one who's gonna cry! And so will those three ponies there that messed with me!"
"QUIET!" Chase shouted in his royal Canterlot voice again, making the four dragons flinch in surprise as the alicorn stallion switched back to his regular voice. "If you know what's good for you, you keep your mouths shut! Unless you wanna let General Echo know about this!"
This made the four dragons gulp nervously as they shook their heads in response, not wanting to meet up with Echo.
"Hey!" Smolder called out and they turned to her. "Are we lava surfing or what?"
"Uh, yeah, yeah!" Garble said and laughed nervously before he turned to his friends. "Let's go hang with a real dragon, not a pony wannabe!"
The gang laughed as they flew down.
"See? It's no use." Spike sadly sighed. "Why don't I see what I can do about the eggs and you guys cheer up Garble? At least he listens to you. Especially to Chase."
"Don't worry, buddy. I'll go with you." Sokka said as he and Spike went to the nesting area.
"Just you wait, Garble." Fluttershy said firmly as Chase, Jade, and Sunray glared at Garble's retreat in agreement. "You're dealing with Fluttershy, Chase, Jade, and Sunray now, and they're packin' a whole lifetime of kindness!"
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile in the nesting area, most of the eggs were still shaking but with no signs of hatching. Nyx, Trini, and Antonio each placed a gentle hoof on one egg when they felt a cold spot on them.
"Hey, do you guys feel that?" Nyx asked Trini and Antonio with concern.
"We sure do, Nyx." Trini said as Echo, Ember, Teejay, Sly, Mikey, and Teejay approached them with hopeful yet concern looks.
"Did you guys find anything yet?" Ember asked with concern.
Nyx, Trini, and Antonio nodded in reply.
"I think we might've found something to why these eggs won't-" Nyx was about to finish when she was cut off.
"There you guys are!" Spike's voice said as Ember widens her eyes in surprise and she turns to see the little dragon and Sokka coming over to them.
"Spike!" Ember said in surprise before she smiled.
"Hi, Ember!" Spike greeted as he hugged Ember, who hugged him back in reply before they let go.
They turn to see Antonio, Nyx, Trini, Echo, Sly, Mikey, and Teejay smirking at them teasingly, making the two dragons glare at them annoyingly.
"We're just friends right now, guys." Spike said with an annoyed tone.
"Yeah, so stop thinking we're a couple now because I'm not his girlfriend." Ember added with an angry look on her face.
"Whatever you guys say." Antonio said mockingly before he and the others laughed amusingly as Spike and Ember rolled their eyes annoyingly before the female dragon turned to him.
"What are you doing here anyway, Spike?" Ember asked with a smile. "Shouldn't you be helping out at the friendship lessons you do at Twilight and Chase's school?"
"I wish." Spike said sadly, which confused Ember, Echo, Mikey, Teejay, and Sly. "It's a long story."
The five dragons didn't need to figure it out.
"Is this because of Garble picking on you again?" Echo asked as Spike nodded in reply and he groaned angrily. "When is that dragon ever gonna let his pride go?"
"We'll figure it out later, Echo. Right now, we've got bigger problems to deal with." Trini said with concern, bringing their attention back to the eggs as Spike saw them still shaking.
"Wow. These eggs really do look scared." Spike said in surprise as the eggs around them continued shaking.
"Actually, we think it's more than what we expected, Spike." Nyx said with a conclusion. "They look like they're freezing."
"Freezing?" Spike asked curiously as he pressed a hand on the ground in one of the nests and then noticed something. "Wait. You guys are right." He looks back to Echo, Ember, Teejay, Sly, and Mikey. "Aren't the hatching grounds supposed to be hot?"
"Uh, of course." Ember replied obviously, not seeing the problem. "There's a lake of molten lava under them. That's why the eggs are laid here. The heat makes them hatch."
"And all of the lava is suppose to heat them at a certain degree of two hundred." Echo added, curious at what Spike was talking about. "Why?"
"Then something's wrong, Echo." Spike said as he gently touch two eggs. "I don't think the eggs are shaking because they're afraid. They're cold."
"Cold?" Sokka, Teejay, Mikey, and Sly asked in surprise.
Ember placed a hand on the ground of the nest and realized the ground was cooler than it should be as Spike, Nyx, Antonio, and Trini were right.
"You're right!" Ember exclaimed in shock. "But what happened to the lava?"
"The lava chamber below must've somehow drained." Trini speculated. "The bigger question is to where though?"
"I might have an idea." Spike said with a smile.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Fluttershy flew around looking for Smolder and Garble as Chase, Jade, and Sunray front flipped on a huge rocky platform, helping the yellow pegasus.
"Garble! Smolder!" Fluttershy called out. "Is anydragon there?"
"They gotta be around here somewhere." Chase said as he, Jade, and Sunray landed back on the ground with Fluttershy joining them.
"But the Dragon Lands are really big." Jade remarked as she turned to Chase and her older brother looked back at his sister. "There's no telling where Smolder and Garble are."
"At this rate, we probably won't be able to get back to help the others at the nesting grounds for the baby dragons to hatch." Sunray added with concern.
"We just need to keep our eyes open for any sign of Garble, guys. I've got a feeling that Smolder is with him and is the only one he's happy to see." Chase said with a suspicious look.
"You're right, Chase. But why would he wanna pick on Spike when he was just trying to help out?" Fluttershy asked with concern as the four ponies walked to a pathway.
As they continued looking around, they heard the sound of bongos.
"Oh, my." Fluttershy said in surprise she shared with Chase, Jade, and Sunray. "Are those... bongo drums?"
They listened to the sound before Chase heard it louder.
"It's coming from over there." Chase said, pointing in the left direction as he trotted over the sound with Fluttershy, Jade, and Sunray following him.
They followed the playing bongo sound before they saw Smolder with Garble as he wore a french hat and shirt while playing bongos.
"Fire, dragon." Garble said in a poetic way as the four ponies silently gasped in surprise. "Wig and waggin'. Feelin' like I be saggin'."
"Oh, yeah. I dig." Smolder said, snapping her fingers and Garble continues playing his bongos.
"Ragin' lava. Balaclava." Garble chanted as Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Fluttershy went up to them.
"I thought we heard something over here." Chase said, gaining the two dragons' attention.
"Huh?" Smolder asked as she frowned.
"Aah!" Garble screamed in panic as he quickly throws the hat and shirt away before he crossed his arms with a casual yet nervous smile he sent to the four ponies.
But Chase, Fluttershy, Jade, and Sunray frowned curiously at Garble.
(Scene changes)
Meanwhile, Clump removes another rock from a pool of lava.
"Fresh lava comin' up!" Clump said.
Below him, Billy and Fume were in a pool of lava and started relaxing. Nearby, Spike, Ember, Nyx, Trini, Antonio, Echo, Sly, Mikey, Teejay, and Sokka appeared.
"See? I wondered where that lava was coming from." Spike said. "They must be draining it from the underground lake."
"Those careless brainless idiots." Echo said angrily as he growled. "That's why the eggs didn't hatch a few days ago!"
"Well now that we've found the source, what are we gonna do with them?" Nyx asked with concern.
"Leave it to me, Nyx." Ember replied back as she growled angrily and flew down to them.
The three dragons were busy reclining back comfortably when Ember landed with a loud stomp on the edge of the pool, gaining their attention.
"Put that rock back!" Ember demanded angrily as Echo, Teejay, Sly, and Mikey joined her with the same angry looks. "Immediately!"
"Uh, yes, Dragon Lord Ember!" Clump quivered.
"How long have you been removing these boulders?" Ember demanded sternly while Echo and his team glared at them with their eyes narrowed.
"Uhhhh... a while." Clump answered, trying to avoid eye contact with Echo.
"And any reason why for so long?" Echo questioned quite angrily. "And chose your answer very carefully right now."
"It made our lava pool so nice and warm-like, General Echo." Billy explained nervously when Trini and Antonio came up behind them with angry looks and they each smacked both of their heads, making the three dragons yelp in pain.
"Isn't lava hot enough?!" Echo asked angrily. "Because right now, you three are in a whole lot of trouble!"
"B-b-but why, General Echo?" Fume asked, now feeling nervous from the seven glares.
"It's supposed to be heating the eggs!" Ember angrily said as she growled. "Now they'll never hatch!"
Clump, Fume and Billy nervously gulped at their unknowingly careless mistaken and slowly lowered into the lava. But then Echo and Teejay pulled all three of them out and held them up.
"Now what... are we going to do with you?" Teejay asked sternly as he and the others glared at them.
(Scene changes)
A few moments later, Clump, Fume and Billy tried to close up the drainage from the pool.
"Sorry, Dragon Lord Ember and General Echo!" Clump tried to apologize to Echo and Ember.
"We'll put the lava back!" Billy said.
"Here you go, lava!" Clump exclaimed as he tried pushing the rock back. "Come on! So difficult!"
Then Clump was hit in the face by lava from Billy scooping the lava back in the pool.
"And liquid-y!" Clump said while wiping the lava off his face.
Spike, Ember, Echo, Nyx, Teejay, Mikey, Sokka, and Sly were hovering in the air while watching the scene. Trini and Antonio joined them with a floating spell they cast on themselves with their magic.
"I don't think it works that way." Spike said. "The hatching grounds can't be the only warm place in the Dragon Lands. There's got to be somewhere else we can take the eggs."
"It's not that simple, Spike." Echo said with concern. "We can't just move them out of here. This is the only safest place for them to hatch."
"He's right, Spike. You know how fragile those things are?" Ember said, agreeing with Echo and reminding Spike. "No way we'll be able to move them all safely."
"Then we don't have another choice. We'll just have to make the dragons heat the eggs with their flame." Antonio said with concern.
"Antonio's right, guys. We don't have much time before the next generation of dragons will be history." Sokka said in agreement with Antonio.
Ember growled and turns to Clump.
"You! Go and bring all the dragons to the hatching grounds!" Ember ordered the three dragons as they turned to her. "We'll have to make the heat ourselves!"
Clump, Billy and Fume frowned before flew to find some dragons.
"While they're doing that, you guys keep an eye on them and we'll find Chase and the others." Trini said to Echo, Teejay, Ember, Mikey, and Sly as they nodded in agreement.
With that, Ember, Echo, Sly, Mikey, and Teejay flew off to the hatching grounds while Nyx, Antonio, and Trini flew off to find their family and friends.
(Scene changes)
"What do you think you're doing sneaking around here, ponies?" Garble asked angrily as he placed the bongo set down and approached Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Fluttershy with his arms out.
"Hold up, Garble." Chase said firmly with a raised hoof, stopping Garble in the process. "Before you doing anything you might regret, you better just tell us what this is all about."
"He's right, and as for the sneaking part?" Fluttershy said, agreeing with Chase. "Looks to me like the only one sneaking around is you, Garble. Why didn't you tell me you were a poet?"
"I'm not!" Garble protested after nervously looking around.
"Oh really? Then what are those anyway?" Jade asked with a smirk as she gestures for Fluttershy to help him out.
Fluttershy then glanced to the bongos and gasped, getting the idea as she winked to Chase, Jade, and Sunray before she grabs them.
"If you want us to help you, then you need to explain to us while Fluttershy is playing." Chase said as Garble and Smolder turn to each other while shrugging their shoulders in confusion as Fluttershy started playing.
"Words. Rhythm." Fluttershy chanted. "Sometimes rhythm. Weird punctu... ation. Sure sounds like poetry to me."
"It's okay, Gar-Gar." Smolder assured. "Fluttershy won't think you're soft for being a poet. And neither would anydragon who was your real friend."
"Just swallow your pride and tell us if this really all about poetry." Sunray added with a smile as Garble soon sighed in defeat.
"'Kay, fine." Garble gave out before he recomposed himself as he turned to Chase, Jade, Sunray, and Fluttershy. "But I'm not a flowery, namby-pamby poet! I'm a beat poet. Dig?"
"I totally feel you." Fluttershy said.
"Same here." Chase, Jade, and Sunray said in unison.
"And you better not tell my friends about it!" Garble said threateningly as Smolder rolled her eyes at her brother's tone in annoyance.
"But why?" Fluttershy asked with concern. "If I was a poet, I'd want to share my creations with everypony."
"Is this really why you wanted to check up on him, Smolder?" Chase asked as Smolder turned to him. "To make sure he writes poetry?"
"Yeah, Chase. I'm the only one Garble will perform for." Smolder said to Chase in reply and began to explain. "He hasn't written any poetry since I left. That's why he's been so sad."
"I need to create." Garble said and explain he was having a hard time without Smolder. "But if the other dragons ever found out I like this junk, they'd make fun of me forever."
"Is that why you pick on Spike?" Fluttershy asked. "To make your friends think you're tough? And would the same go for Chase and his family since your last encounters you had with them?"
"Is this why you just pretended to be a bully?" Jade asked as well.
"Wait." Smolder said as she frowned angrily while pointing at Garble. "You've been picking on Spike? And this whole time you picked on Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio?"
"Uh... only when you're not looking." Garble confessed before he added angrily. "But if I didn't pick on Spike, they'd just pick on me! And he is kind of a weakling. And as for Chase and his family, they're just little ponies."
"Just little?!" Chase, Jade, and Sunray said in anger.
"Hmph!" Fluttershy angrily huffed as she got to Garble's face. "I'll have you know Spike is stronger than you are any day! Especially for Chase and his family!"
"Yeah, right!" Garble said dismissively as he pushed her away a little. "That little cupcake-making, blanket-cubbling pony-dragon?" He laughed as Chase, Jade, and Sunray glared at him angrily. "Give me a break!" Garble then turns back to the three members of the Elite Ninja. "And since when do you guys have what it takes to save us from the Quinkan? You just almost let the world down too."
Chase, Jade, and Sunray glared at him for insulting them as Fluttershy gasped from that.
"First of all, there's nothing wrong with being a pony!" Fluttershy said. "Second, Spike isn't afraid to be who he is, no matter what you or anycreature thinks! That's real strength! Not like some dragons I know." She then gestures to Chase, Jade, and Sunray. "More importantly, Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio have saved the world plenty of times, especially when Emperor Zhao led his Quinkan army to invade Equestria! They've proven to be more capable of defending themselves thanks to their grandfather, Darius Hisomi, and they've done so much for everycreature too!"
"For a pony without a horn, she's sure got a point." Smolder said before she added sternly. "And don't ever mock Darius Hisomi like that, Garble. Chase and his family have been doing their best to honor him and that's what really matters."
Chase, Jade, and Sunray nodded in agreement as Garble lowered his head down in shame. That's when Nyx, Trini, Antonio, and Sokka appeared with frantic looks
"We've been looking all over for you guys!" Spike said urgently as six turned to him and the others. "We need your help! Hurry!"
"What's wrong, Spike?" Chase asked with concern.
"It's best if you found out, Daddy!" Nyx replied to her father as Spike zips off and they all followed him.
(Scene changes)
Back at the hatching area, every dragon started breathing fire over the eggs hoping to warm them up. But they were having no luck as Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Nyx, Spike, Smolder, Garble, Sokka, and Fluttershy arrived to the scene.
"What's happening?" Chase asked with great concern.
"The hatching grounds have been completely drained from letting the eggs hatch, Chase." Echo explained as Chase turned to him and his team. "If we can't heat them up, there's no way we'll have a new generation of dragons."
"We've ordered everydragon to warm up the eggs, but they still won't hatch." Ember added as let a few tears fall from her eyes. "I don't know what else to try."
"Those eggs would've hatch... if those morons hadn't kept messing with the lava pool!" Antonio said angrily as he shot a glare at Clump, Fume and Billy.
"So that's why the babies haven't come out yet." Jade said as she and her family glared at the three dragons for messing everything up.
"We can't give up!" Spike said. "There's got to be something we can do!"
"How about we wrap the eggs in a bunch of baby bwankets?" Clump mockingly suggested and laughed.
"Yeah!" Billy added as he laughed. "The wimp can knit 'em up quick-like!"
Soon they laugh fire with Spike dodging them.
"Hey, watch it!" Spike said angrily, avoiding the flames. "That laugh fire could burn somepony!"
The three dragons continued laughing as Garble appeared, and then noticed steam appearing over a nest from the purple flame, which he had an idea.
"Burn... Good idea, Spikey-Wikey!" Garble said as he pats Spike on the head, zips off and then came back in his poet shirt and hat as he held his bongos.
It got Billy, Fume and Clump immediately to stop laughing as they saw him.
"Eggs, come." Grable chanted. "Burst into that light. Break through shells that bind."
Spike snaps his fingers while Chase, Jade, and Sunray smiled as they knew where this was going.
"Break free, explore." Garble continued. "Stuck!... Between rock and... hard place."
Billy, Fume and Clump turn to each other confusingly. They started laughing like crazy and laughing fire as well as the other dragons did the same. They didn't notice that their flames were over the eggs.
"Freedom, come!" Garble chanted. "Don't be shy! Look those others in the eye!"
The dragons continued laughing like crazy as their flames turn blue and Garble saw that his idea was starting to work.
"Stake your claim!" Garble chanted. "Don't stop! Just do! Be the one and only... you!"
All of the dragons continued laughing as then a cracking sound was heard.
"Spike, Chase, Sokka, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, Jade, Nyx, look!" Fluttershy said excitedly as the others turned to what she was pointing at.
One of the eggs in the nest in front of them started cracking, as well as soon with the other eggs of the clutch.
"What?! Huh?!" Spike exclaimed in shock and happiness as the rest had happy smiles. "Their laugh fire's so hot, it's hatching the eggs!"
"Keep it up, Garble! It's working!" Chase said to Garble.
"You got it, Chase!" Garble replied with a thumbs up as he continued to chant. "Come to light! Proud to be! Open up! Bam! Be... free!"
As the dragons continued laughing, soon one of the eggs finally hatched as soon as with the other eggs. Eventually the dragons stopped laughing as Nyx, Jade, and Trini cooed at the sight of the babies hatching.
"You did it, Gar-Gar!" Smolder beamed. "You performed in front of other dragons!"
"And it was super lame!" Billy laughed as the others glared at him. "What kind of weakling writes poetry?"
"The hero of the Dragon Lands!" Ember said, hovering above him. "That's who!"
"And because of your careless stunt, you nearly cost a whole next generation of dragons from existence!" Chase added glaring at them with the rest of his family.
"We'll have you three cleaning up the rest of the egg shells after this is over." Echo added with a stern glare.
"Yeah!" Smolder said. "Garble saved our eggs because he was strong enough to be who he is, whether you like it or not. I grew up thinking it was okay to make fun of differences. But my friends have taught me to celebrate them."
The other dragons turn to each other and nodded.
"And from now on, in my kingdom, that's exactly what we will do." Ember declares and turns to Garble. "Now, if you don't mind, can you teach me how to write poetry like that? It's pretty cool."
"Uh... yeah, sure." Garble said. "No problem!"
"Yeah, me, too!" Billy said as he came over to Garble.
"I want to learn!" Clump said, joining his friends.
"Take a number, guys." Spike said as Sokka and Fluttershy hovered while they each held three baby dragons.
"We'll take them all!" Fluttershy said as she giggled cuddling with the baby dragons as they smiled contently.
Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, Antonio, and Nyx smiled at them as they chuckled with Echo, Teejay, Mikey, and Sly. That's when Garble approached the Elite Ninja with an uneasy look on his face.
"Hey, guys. Look, normally, I don't do something like this, but..." Garble said as Chase, Jade, Sunray, Trini, and Antonio turned to him. "I'm sorry for picking on you and for bullying Spike. I know I was wrong to be mean because all of the dragons would think I'm not cut out for being a tough guy."
Chase looked at him for a moment before he sighed as he approached Garble, who looked uneasy at the moment.
"Well, you did try to harm my family over the times we've encountered you and I would be angry with you right now." Chase said as Garble sweated nervously before the alicorn master smiled. "But you've managed to see the error of your ways now. So... friends?"
Chase offered a hoof bump to Garble, who looked at it for a moment before he smiled and fist bumped with him.
"Friends." Garble replied back with a smile.
The other dragons cheered as Chase's family hugged him while Ember, Echo, Sly, Mikey, Teejay, and Smolder smiled, feeling proud of Garble learning his lesson and making amends with Chase.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Here's chapter 9. I know it may not look like much, but I did my best on it. I'll be back to write chapter 10 soon enough. Hope you like this one.
Peace out!