Fool Moon, Part 34 (Drakkensryd)

>It's official. You are dead, and this is hell.
>You let out a chuffing cough as you trudge across the dusty stone ground, trying as hard as you can to ignore the hunger tearing your stomach apart.
>Bon Bon keeps glancing back at you as you trudge behind her, buzzing her wings in some changeling gesture of agitation, or perhaps annoyance.
>Reading ponies was hard enough, reading bug horses is impossible.
>"Are you alright?"
"No, I'm fucking starving."
>"Welcome to the life of a changeling. We're ALWAYS starving."
"Why the hell do you live in the middle of a foodless hell then?"
>She shrugs.
>"That's the way it's always been."
"That's a stupid answer."
>She laughs, which sounds incredibly terrifying when echoed by that strange changeling voice-buzz.
>"Welcome to why I left the Hive in the first place."
"So Lyra had nothing to do with it?"
>Bon Bon stiffens, slipping out of the air and landing on her hooves.
>"She had everything to do with it. She was...is, I mean...she was perfect. I was just supposed to be scouting for the invasion, and I met her, and..."
>You blink, sidling up to Bon-Bon.
"Go on, I love story time."
>Bon-Bon scowls at you, but reluctantly continues.
>"She was more than just food. I was supposed to report back and take her to the Hive, but I just...I just never went back."
"And the others were okay with that?"
>She snorts.
>"I was just a scout. It's unlikely they even noticed. The Hive doesn't hold grudges like that, normally. We're all family. To them, I had just found a more reliable source of food for myself. I was happy and NOT starving, and that's all that mattered. Then along came Blueblood..."
>She doesn't get any further.



>You've already shifted shapes and wrapped her up in a hug.
>The changeling lets out a surprised, birdlike squawk, her wings fluttering against your face.
>It's kind of adorable and kind of creepy at the same time.
>"Why are you-"
"We'll get her back."
>Bon-Bon falls silent.
"I'm not leaving anyp0ny near Blueblood. He's a snake. A rich snake, which is the worst kind. We'll get your Lyra back."
>She smiles, and does the unexpected by nuzzling your chest.
>"Thanks, freak. That tastes great."
"I'm not a f...what do you mean tastes?"
>"Friendship's just a weaker form of love, Anon."
>Your good mood suddenly vanishes.
"Hey."
>"Hmm?"
"I'm naked, aren't I?"
>"Mhmm."
>You swiftly release the changeling and scramble away, cursing and changing shapes.
>She giggles at your reaction, fluttering up into the air and clutching her belly.
>You growl at her from your position on the ground.
"Will you things do ANYTHING to eat our love?"
>Her grin turns into an annoyed frown.
>"We do what we have to, Anon."
"And was Chrysalis just 'doing what she had to' when she kidnapped me?"
>Bon-Bon looks uneasy.
>"I wasn't there...but yes. After the invasion...we're starving, Anon, all of us. We can't feed off of each other! The Hive is just trying to survive! What Chrysalis did to you was just to keep her subjects alive! You and Rarity have so much love, you just-"
"Stop. I don't want to hear it anymore."
>"No! You need to hear this! We're not monsters! SHE'S not a monster! Blueblood made us all an offer we couldn't-"
>You roar at her. Your lips open , and a snarl of tremendous proportions rings out, shaking the ground you stand on.
>Wait. That wasn't your roar.

 Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8i4MQ1x8QE
That wasn't your roar. You're not that loud, not that-
>The ground trembles again, and you look up in confusion, your own snarl of anger forgotten.
>That roar was familiar...too familiar.
>Bon Bon flutters nervously close to you, her argument forgotten.
>"Anon, we need to go. We need to go now!"
"Where would we-"
>"IT DOESN'T MATTER. WE NEED TO GO. WE CAN'T BE HERE WHEN IT GETS HERE!"
"When what gets here?"
>You hear the roar again, and the smell of smoke reaches your nostrils.
>Bon-Bon's eyes become massive spheres of terror, and you gulp as she looks over your shoulder.
>"The...D-DRAGON!"
>You feel the wind pick up, and a sound like a clap of thunder echoes over the Badlands.
>You turn around, your heart in your throat.
>You can see it now. A dim speck on the horizon, flying in the blaze of the sun.
>It roars again, and you feel the earth tremble beneath your feet.
>It's...it's huge. Huge, and familiar.
>You can see it now, drawing closer, closing in on you with a speed that shouldn't be possible.
>Something that big simply can't be that fast.
>You can see it now. The crown of horns.
>The green scales.
>The burning red gaze.
>The fire flickering from between it's teeth.
>The hate in that gaze as the remaining eye orients on your position and narrows, like an eagle spotting a mouse.
>Razorfang.
>Your head snaps to Bon Bon.
"Run."
>"Where!?"
"I don't know JUST RUN!"
>You take your own advice and lope to the left as Razorfang lets loose with a terrifying roar and dives, jaws spread in an awe-inspiring display of fangs and fury.
>You hear the roar again, and suddenly your world becomes fire.



>Pain fills every one of your senses as dragonfire washes over you.
>Fur vaporizes, fat ignites, and your organs boil inside you as you collapse in the wake of the fire.
>The intense heat rips the oxygen from around you, and you find you don't even have breath to scream.
>For the first time since you succumbed to this curse, you realize that you might die.
>Your organs are already regrowing, your fat and skin and hair coming back, but without air...
>You shove one claw into the suddenly-glassed over sand, clawing divots into it as you pull yourself away from the blast radius.
>You struggle to claw your way out of the dirt and molten glass, hissing at the agony you find yourself in.
>The earth trembles, and dust rises into the air like a cloud.
>Moments later, something slams into your stomach with the force of wrecking ball.
>Pain flares in your abdomen as your organs are pancaked so soon after regenerating, and you go flying, tumbling endlessly before slamming into a rock.
>You slowly slide down the rock, dazed, in agony, terrifi-
>A massive green talon slams into your chest and pins you to the rock.
>You grunt and spit up a red spew of blood onto the talon, then look up as your tormenter reveals himself.
>One burning eye, crimson red, set in a snout covered in green scales, is now inches from your face.
>The eye curls, and a voice rumbles from the monster's throat.
>"I spy, with my little eye, one. Dead. Thief."
>You curl your jaws and roar at the dragon, struggling and squirming under the claw.
>"Still have a little fight left in you? That's good...I will enjoy beating it out of you."
>He smiles, and fire becomes your world again.


>The heat melts and warps the rock that you lay against, and you scream, even as the air in your lungs ignites.
>The dragon chokes off the flame and chuckles, drawing his head back on his serpentine neck.
>The claw withdraws, and you fall into the dirt, howling in pain as your fleshless, burned body touches the dirt and rock.
>Before you can rise, a tail slams into your spine, cracking it and driving you deeper into the dirt.
>You smell the beast's stinking breath as it's head hovers over you, inspecting you.
>"Still alive? Tsk, tsk, Hoard thief. I expected more than this. You fought like a treacherous, sneaky, animal. And now you do nothing but scream and bleed."
>He slams one clawed fist into your back, and you gurgle into the melted glass.
>"Disappointing."
>He rears back, fire burning from between his teeth, and prepares to burn you.
>There is a loud buzzing sound, and a flash of green light, and Razor's head snaps to the side with a howl of agony.
>The rich smell of dragon blood fills your noise as Razorfang convulses, clutching one clawed hand to his remaining eye and screaming.
>"ANON! GET UP!"
>You stay where you are. The pain...the molten glass continues to burn you even as you heal, the fire...
>"ANON!"
>The dragon roars and spews out a gout of flame, and the winged buzzing grows louder.
>"ANON! RISE, DAMN YOU!"
>The dragon roars again, releasing it's wounded eye and howling after Bon-Bon.
>"BURN, YOU MISERABLE INSECT! BURN!"
>Fire sprays in a gout of heat, and you hear Bon Bon scream in fear and pain. Razorscale's furious roaring becomes a dark chuckle.
>"Delicious. Another one of the thief's mates to torment."
>You lift yourself out of the molten glass.

 Music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6qAIaqK3_Q
>Glass drips off of you in great burning gouts, steam rising from your coat as your skin and fur melts and heals at once.
>Razorfang...he was one of the ones who'd hurt her. The first Bon-Bon had told you about. Chrysalis had captured you, tortured you, but this thing...
>This beast had tortured the one you loved, for no reason other than petty spite.
>The dragon turns, it's tail lashing through the air like a great green vine as it's neck curls to face you.
>The great crimson eye focuses blearily on you, blood dripping from a great scar in the scales, cut there by Bon-Bon's magic.
>"Ah...yesss...you rise so that I may break you again? Wonderful. Come closer, wretch."
>You obey his demand, breaking into a furious, determined charge, in the manner of a man, not a beast.
>Your legs eat up distance as you charge the dragon, and he roars and thrusts his head at you, jaws opened, fire burning.
>Your hands reach out, and you meet the dragon's jaws with a shuddering impact of flesh upon scale.
>It tries to snap shut around you, but you stomp down with your foot onto the beast's lower lip, your claws rising and catching it's upper lip.
>The beast's neck bunches up in shock, and it's claws dig into the earth as it tries it's best to snap it's maw shut on you.
>You do not allow it.
>You roar, right down it's throat, and stretch, forcing the best's jaw up, and up, and uuuuup.
>Razorfang howls in agony and turns his head to the side, trying to dislodge you from his mouth.
>His tongue flicks out, and you smell sulphur.
>You release the dragon as another gout of flame blasts out.



>The fire singes your fur off, and you see Razorfang rear up on his hind legs, roaring in fury and pain.
>The dragon turns his malevolent gaze on you, drawing in a great breath of air before releasing it in another gout of fire.
>"BURN, YOU MISERABLE WRETCH! BUUUUUUURN!"
>You roll away from the molten fire, diving behind a stone pillar.
>You hear the sound of buzzing wings, and you look up as a slightly singed Bon-Bon dives again, her body glowing green as she slams into the dragon's eye.
>Razor screams as blood erupts from his remaining eye in a milky spray.
>His wings twitch erratically, and he snaps his head around, spewing a scarily accurate burst of fire at Bon-Bon, who screams from the heat and dives away.
>"PATHETIC WORMS! I DO NOT NEED EYES TO KILL YOU! YOUR STINK IS ENOUGH!"
>He sprays another blast of fire.
>"ALL WILL BE REDUCED TO ASH!"
>His claws crack the stone beneath him as he roars and thrashes, striking in near every direction with each of his deadly limbs.
>The great blind dragon swings his horned head, cracking a rock pillar with his thick skull as he searches for you.
>"I AM RAZORFANG! GREATEST OF THE SONS OF SMAUG! I AM LORD OF THE EVERFREE FOREST! ALL KNOW ME AND DESPAIR AT ME COMING!
>His wings rise in the air in some primal display of aggression, and his tail whips behind him as he whirls, searching for you.
>He inhales great lungfuls of air, sniffing for the scent of mammal.
>"WELL? WELL!? ARE YOU A COWARD AS WELL AS A THIEF? DO YOU FLEE BEFORE MY MIGHT?"
>You savor the moment as you lean over and whisper in his earhole from your position on his back.
"Flee? Not exactly."


>The dragon stiffens, and you laugh, digging your claws deep.
>When Razor speaks, his voice is quiet, surprised.
>"How did you...when did you..."
"Lizards should know better than to slam their heads on rocks when they're upset."
>Razor's wings flare straight up, and then slam down, launching the pair of you into the air as he roars.
>"I AM NO LIZARD, THIEF! I AM RAZORFANG, THE EVERFREE! THE VERDANT DEATH!"
>His wings beat, and you tighten your grip on his horn as his velocity increases.
>Wind whips past you, threatening to tear you free from your perch and slam you into the swiftly shrinking ground.
>"I AM THE HORNED KING! I AM THE SERPENT! I AM THE ELDER WYRM THAT STALKED THE BOUGHS OF THE EVERFREE SINCE BEFORE EQUESTRIA ROSE FROM NOTHING!"
>His wings beat again, and you hold on with both claws as the blind dragon whirls in the air, doing a barrel roll in an attempt to dislodge you.
>He roars as you bare your claw and slash at the scaly flesh around his earhole, snarling into it.
>His whole body jerks, doing another high speed roll in an attempt to dislodge you.
>"I AM SMAUGSON! THE MIGHTIEST OF MY FOREST KINDRED! I AM THE FIRE! I AM DRAGON, THIEF! WHO ARE YOU, THAT YOU THINK YOU MAY SLAY ME?"
>Your claws dig in deep as Razor jerks his head.
>You brace yourself as you raise one clawed arm.
"Me? I'm Anonymous."
>You jam your free claw into the base of Razorscale's skull, beneath the jagged crown of horns on his angular skull.
>Your claws pierce flesh and scale and bone, digging deep into the dragon's head.
>The green behemoth gives one last roar of defiance and agony, before falling silent.
>Then he plummets from the air.



>Bon Bon watches as the great green dragon stiffens in the air, wings spreading out in some sort of spastic reaction.
>It raises it's great horned head and screams, fire spouting from its maw in its final death-throes.
>Then its head droops, wings falling flat.
>The creature plummets from the sky like a fallen green meteor, wings trailing behind it as it plummets.
>The little burned changeling gasps as the creature slams into the ground, a great shockwave racing through the earth on impact.
>A massive plume of dust and rock flies into the air from the leviathan's crash.
>She coughs, holding one hole-filled hoof to her muzzle as she makes her way towards the dead mountain of green flesh.
>Fear and...sadness fills her as she beholds the dead dragon. Anonymous was her only chance to save Lyra...and he...there was no way he'd...
Music:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pSlu2okpqM
>One furred hand thrusts into the air from near Razor's head.
>The hand grabs onto the scaly head, and pushes.
>With a torturous amount of effort, the dragon's head is pushed to the side, lolling bonelessly as Anonymous climbs from beneath it.
>"A...Anon?"
>You look up at Bon-Bon, at the shock on her face, as you pull yourself from beneath the monster.
>You felt satisfaction, pride, and the sweet taste of delivered vengeance as you gazed at the dead monster before you.
"One down, Bon-Bon."
>You flex your claws, looking at the bloody gobbets of dragon brain that cling to them.
>You notice Bon-Bon looking, and you smile.
"One down, and two to go."
>"...Blueblood?"
"Blueblood."
>She smiles, and moments later, the both of you are racing over the dusty plain of the Badlands.

Canterlot-Blueblood's Perspective.

>This was a disaster.
>Worse than a disaster, this was a panic. Chaos.
>You scowl and hurl away your glass of wine as you glare at Sparkler, who is kneeling before you.
>Self-inflicted scars and a single bruise mar her coat, a self-imposed punishment for failing you, and letting Razor go.
>No. For UNLEASHING Razor on an unsuspecting Equestria.
>Already, reports were coming in of the beast who'd burst out of Canterlot Castle and literally blazed a trail of destruction between there and the distant Badlands.
>Whole towns had been evacuated as the beast had come through, roaring out fire onto anything unwise enough to cross his path.
>Your most powerful ally.
>Lost.
>Maybe he would kill Anonymous. Maybe not.
>You still had to answer the inquiring press about the presence of a dragon in the castle. Especially considering all the time you'd spent hyping them up as Equestria's ultimate foes.
>"...My King?"
>You turn your eyes on Sparkler, giving her a sullen, burning look of contempt and hate.
>You know how she feels about you. To her, this is worse than any spoken reprimand, any stroke of the lash.
>True to form, she shudders before continuing.
>"My King...the changelings report that...they've apprehended the one called...Lyra."
>One spot of good news, at least.
"And what have they done with her?"
>"Given her to the Queen, my King. It is their belief that her love for the traitorous one, Bon-Bon, will be enough to heal her."
>You shrug.
"As long as she is disposed of, in the end, I care not what happens to her."
>Sparkler bows her head.
"You have instructed the guards to keep out the public?"
>"Yes, my King."
"Good. Let us see to my bride."



>Sparkler grimaces, and you allow yourself a small smile.
>You turn to leave, ignoring the pieces of shattered wine glass on the Royal Carpet as you prepare to make your le-
>"Blueblood."
>WHAT.
>You slowly turn to look at her, shock leaving you speechless.
>She had never dared to use your actual name.
"What did you just call me?"
>"Blueblood, please. I have always been your most faithful servant. My entire family is sworn to your service! The descendants of Clover the Clever, tied to the line of Platinum as your assistant."
"What did yo-"
>"BLUEBLOOD. I called you Blueblood!"
>Her eyes shine with a crazed kind of mania, and you silence yourself, confused and amazed at her audacity.
>Emboldened by her silence, she trots closer, going so far as to nuzzle you as she speaks.
>"Please, Blueblood. My Lord, my Prince, my King. I love you, but please. You have to see that this is going too far!"
>Your eyes widen even further in shock. That she woul-
>"It's Rarity, my love. Your bride-to-be. She's poison. She's evil! She's sabotaging your brilliant plan, I know she is!"
"Sparkler..."
>"She must have whispered poison into Razor's ears. She did -something- to that changeling to allow Anonymous to escape. She's a villain, love. A villain!"
>Those purple, mad eyes look up into yours.
>"Let me kill her."
"Sparkler, that's enough."
>"Please, Your Majesty, let me kill her! Let me cut her, ruin that poisonous beauty, and then dump her body far from us, where her evil cannot reach!"
"Sparkler, if this is another-"
>"I don't even want to be Queen! I want to be YOURS, my love! I wa-"
"ENOUGH."



"ENOUGH, Sparkler."
>You push the purple mare away from you, gently, ignoring the disgusting sniffling she makes.
>"My...my lo-"
>You put a hoof to her lips, silencing her.
"Sparkler. Amethyst Star. You have served me well, in the years we have known each other. You have been a trusted confidant, a master magician, a loyal assassin, and..."
>You hesitate briefly, wondering if it is against some sort of Kingly protocol to speak the next words.
"...my friend. My only friend."
>Those too-wide, too-moist eyes look up at you once more.
"But I do not love you."
>Her eyes seem to crack and shatter, a million thoughts whirling through that fanatically loyal, dangerous insane trap she calls a mind.
>She begins to shake, trotting towards you once more, and shaking even harder once you step away.
"I don't love you, Sparkler. I do not even desire you, as I do Rarity. You are...you are the closest thing I've had to a close sibling. But what you feel for me...I cannot return it."
>Her jaw clenches, and you can practically see the thoughts racing through her head as she shudders.
>For a moment, blazing, uncontrolled rage blossoms in those eyes, and your heart freezes at the depths of hate visible in them.
>Then she cools, returning to the professional, emotionless demeanor you know as hers.
>"Of course, Your Majesty. Forgive me my impertinence. I was being foolish."
>Deep in your heart, something you cannot name feels awash with guilt.
>You ignore it, as you have learned to ignore many of your own feeling in order to pursue your desires.
"There is no need to ask for foregiveness, Amethyst Star. You were simply speaking-"
>There is a resounding boom from the Royal Door.

"I gave specific orders that I was NOT to be disturbed!"
>"You did, Your Majesty. I made sure those orders were carried out."
>You glance at Sparkler, annoyed.
"Then who is knocking on my door?"
>The boom is followed by three louder booms, and the doors bang open.
>A brief jolt of cold fear runs through your body at the sight of the pony behind the door.
>You immediately raise yourself to your full height, giving the approaching mare the full benefit of your dazzling smile.
"Good afternoon, Miss Twilight Sparkle."
>She stops a few steps away and bows.
>"Good evening, King Blueblood. I had heard you'd sealed the Throne Room, but-"
"Nonsense, Miss Sparkle. I can always make time for one of Equestria's Heroes. What is it that you need?"
>Her smile widens.
>"I'd simply like to ask you a few questions, Your Majesty."
>Your smile falters for only a second.
"Questions? I'm afraid-"
>You jump as a bubbly pink voice interrupts you.
>"Yeah, I gotta question too, Mister King."
>You turn, surprised as the source of the voice, a bubbly pink mare, pops up between you and Sparkler.
>You turn back around, perplexed to see a yellow mare muttering something from behind Twilight.
>An orange pony trots in from the room beyond.
>"Ah reckon' ah got mahself a few questions, as well. Namely, where's mah friend?"
"I don't know what you m-"
>A rainbow colored blur interrupts your voice as it streaks into the room.
>"Don't play dumb, Bluey. None of us are buying it. Now where's Rarity?"
>A sixth voice sends a chill of true fear down your spine as it's source moves from behind Twilight.
>"Yeah! Where's Rarity? Where is my sister!?"
>Sweetie Belle.