Crystalline Destiny - MLP Fanfic

Chapter Five

Irradiance was in awe of the figure above him: she was slender and nearly taller than he was, deep yellow in color, with a darker yellow frill of what a Dragon might call hair upon her head. She had long white horns and ruby-red eyes, striking the group down from high in the sky. There was no question that this was the Dragon Lord, Amber.

Irradiance had learned of rogue Dragon nests outside of Ponyville; where the Dragons didn't socialize like Ember's nest had. This was true for every different collection of creatures. Some Changelings hadn't reached reformation like King Thorax, and some Hippogriffs didn't want to socialize with ponies at all! Irradiance couldn't blame them. Just a day and a half with three ponies was making him exhausted.

"Who goes there?" The Dragon boomed from above, sending another wave of air at the group, shaking them all nearly off their hooves.

"We're travelers from Canterlot!" Irradiance called up, hoping he sounded confident and not fearful of the Dragon. "We're just passing through!"

The yellow Dragon swooped down, perching on a stone cliff several feet away from the group, closer than her placement in the sky. She glared down at the purple stallion. "Just passing through?" She scoffed. "No one 'passes through' a Dragon's nest. Don't you know we have rules on how you travel through here?" There was a sinking feeling that formed in Irradiance's gut, his green eyes bouncing between his traveling companions, the figure before him, and the shadows that were slowly creeping up around the perimeter.

"I'm sorry," He tried, watching as eyes became clear. The Dragons were surrounding them. "I didn't know about any rules. Our friend here," He hissed, pushing the green Pegasus a couple of feet forward, "Was leading us and took us right into your nest!"

Emerald Shield looked petrified. Whether he had an intense fear of Dragons or he was simply nervous to be confronting the Dragon Lord head-on, Irradiance couldn't say. But he was sure that he was getting more and more angry at this stranger for his awful series of directions! Directly into a rogue Dragon nest? Really?

"A friend, hm?" Amber stood up, making her way toward the Pegasus, a sickening grin splitting across her face, fangs shining. "Tell me, pony," She spat the word like it was poison, "What brings you through my territory? Don't you know your way around these woods?"

"I figured my friends here would want the quickest route possible!" Emerald's voice shook as he explained to the golden Dragon, eyes flickering around to the hissing creatures closing in on the small group. "I knew we could get through here faster than we could around, and my poor, poor friend here needs a cure for his curse! See?" It was Emerald's turn to put Irradiance on the spot and the Unicorn cursed him for it. All eyes were on his crystal horn and hooves, resulting in the Dragons grumbling, drooling as they looked at what was practically dinner.

"Idiot!" Irradiance rushed forward, hissing into Emerald's ear, "Don't you know Dragons eat crystals?" Emerald cursed under his breath, shutting his eyes in guilt. He sent a sorry look with his blue eyes and Irradiance just groaned. No use in apologizing now.

"Now, now," Amber started once more, that sly look still on her face. "We don't eat ponies, don't worry. We just have rules regarding visitors."
"Which are?" Hibiscus spoke up, herself and Cobalt looking absolutely petrified to be surrounded by bloodthirsty Dragons. They only knew the peaceful kind that walked the paths in Canterlot! Not these rogues!

Amber widened her eyes, soaring down to stand right in front of Emerald, almost touching her snout to his, "All visitors of the Dragon nest must request permission to travel through. Should they receive a decline of their offer, they must sacrifice one of their own."

"What?!" Cobalt cried out, clearly upset at this strange rule. "There's no way that's true!"

"Oh, it's true alright!" Amber verified. "I've had my share of visitors come through! Those that come alone and get their requests denied? Well..." She gestured to the pile of pony bones far atop a pile of rocks in the background. Irradiance felt his blood run cold. He wasn't a fearful pony by any means, but a threat of death? That was sure to shake anyone.