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.

“Okay,” He started slowly, teal hair blowing in the breeze that Amber’s continuous flapping of her wings brought upon the group. “May we have permission to pass through?”

“Hm…” Amber thought for a moment, flying above the group once more and orbiting in circles as she thought loudly, humming and tapping her chin with a clawed finger. “I’m not sure. I think I need to be swayed.”

“Swayed?” Cobalt repeated, confused. “Swayed how? With like, gifts?” Amber shook her head.

“No, not gifts. With a show!” She slammed down on the ground, shaking all of the ponies and knocking them each to the ground with the force at which she touched down. “Dragons! Bring them to the dungeons.”

Before anyone could speak up in protest, the Dragons that had been encircling the group pounced, pinning them each to the ground and carrying them away, toward a hollow volcano with all sorts of rooms lining the walls. Irradiance felt himself freeze as he was pinned to the ground, his heart rate picking up as he gave up, ready to be at the mercy of his attackers once more.

“Let me go, you monsters!” Hibiscus shouted, body pinned within the claws of a blue Dragon. Cobalt and Emerald were nowhere to be seen in the sky, and Irradiance could only guess they were either already trapped or simply further behind.

“As you wish!” The Dragon laughed, dropping Hibiscus into a caged room, feet away from the pit of lava at the bottom of the volcano. Irradiance was dropped in the cell directly next to her, stuck to the floor once he had been let go, frozen in fear.

The three ponies screamed up at their captors, outraged by the sudden loss of autonomy. They were just passing through! There was no need to steal them from their path and stick them in jail cells!

“You can shout all you want but just know,” Amber called, soaring down the volcano and landing in front of the four cells, “The louder you are the less likely I am to be entertained by you later.”

“Entertained?” Emerald cried out. “What are we going to entertain you with? Ourselves?”

“Maybe. I’m bored! Ponies don’t pass through the forest anymore. I’d like to keep you all as pets until I get bored of you, really.”

Hibiscus scoffed, pink mane in danger of being scorched by the flying sparks from the lava below her cell, “That’s awful! You can’t keep us here forever!”

“I didn’t say forever!” Amber defended, eyes widening in mock offense. “I said I’d keep you until I get bored! That could be a very short period of time!”

Irradiance still hadn’t stood up, stuck to the floor. He wanted to go home. He never should have left the cottage to fetch peonies. He shouldn’t have let this stupid Pegasus lead him directly into the claws of the Dragon Lord!

“I will give you all a fair chance to leave!” Amber declared, laughing. “In an hour I’ll return and I’ll have you all put on a show for me. If it’s entertaining enough, I’ll let you go! If not… well,” Amber trailed off, shrugging her shoulders. “Enjoy your peace and quiet, ponies!”

She flew out of the volcano, likely back to wherever her residence was in the Dragon nest. Irradiance took a deep breath and stood up, deciding he couldn’t remain paralyzed forever. They had to escape somehow.

“What show are we supposed to put on?” Cobalt asked the group, genuinely nervous about the idea of never escaping. The walls between the cells were bars, allowing the ponies to see all the way down where each other was.

“I have no idea,” Hibiscus added unhelpfully. “I’ve never been captured by Dragons before. Do they like violence? Should we fight?”

Emerald shook his head. “No, no. Let me call her down here and I’ll talk to her.”

“Don’t tell me you’re going to sacrifice yourself!” Hibiscus cried, brows pressed together.

“Please tell me you are,” Irradiance added, face blank.

“Oh, please,” Emerald’s face twisted, blue eyes narrowed as he glared at Irradiance from three cells down. “I’m the one offering to lead you to a cure for your curse! And you want me gone?”

Irradiance just shrugged.

“Whatever,” Emerald rolled his eyes. He leaned his head as far through the cell door as he could and shouted up to the sky, “DRAGON LORD AMBER! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!”

Silence followed. Irradiance let out a laugh. “Are you serious? What is she, your dear friend?”

“Maybe they are friends! Or they were dating and they broke up, and now she’s angry at him for breaking her heart and so she’s punishing all of us at once!” Cobalt suggested, golden eyes wide. Irradiance laughed at the idea, but his face quickly fell as he looked back toward the Pegasus, who was red as a tomato.

“You’re kidding me,” The purple stallion gawked.

“It was a long time ago,” Emerald responded, not making eye contact with anyone.

“Oh, my Celestia!” Hibiscus cried out, laughing in disbelief. “You were dating the Dragon Lord? How did that even happen? Why would you come through here if you knew she hated you?”

An irritated shrug was the response that followed, “I don’t know! I thought maybe she got over it!”

“Girls don’t get over being broken up with, sweetheart,” Hibiscus shook her head in pity.

Eventually, the hour passed and Amber made her way back down to the group of ponies. There was no show prepared but Emerald had prepared a speech.

“Dragon Lord Amber,” He began, eyes teary, one hoof over his chest. “I understand I broke your heart long ago and that you are punishing us now, but please know that what I am doing is for the good of Equestria and I truly mean you no harm! Will thou please let us pass?”

The yellow Dragon stared for a moment before bursting into laughter, wiping a tear from her eye. The laughter continued for far too long, leaving Emerald and his cohorts to stand awkwardly as they waited for a response. There was no time for discussion, so if this went poorly then all of the ponies were doomed to stay here! Or rather, Emerald would be doomed to be sacrificed. He was the one getting them in trouble, after all!

“Oh, Emmy,” Amber sniffed, still recovering from the bout of laughter. “That was a good one. Thou? Who even says that anymore?”

Emmy? Irradiance felt his face twist up in disgust at the pet name. Was it a pet name? He didn’t actually care. He wanted to make it to this monument and get rid of his stupid horn.

“That was funny, I will say. I’ll let you all go,” The group cheered, “On one condition!” The cheering halted. “I’m chaperoning you. I don’t trust a group of ponies to run freely in my forest.”

“Oh!” Emerald Shield seemed conflicted on the condition but began to nod once he looked down the row of cells and saw all the other ponies were in agreement. “Sure! Why not.”

Gesturing to a couple of Dragons on stand-by, the group of ponies were freed from their volcanic cells.

Irradiance took a deep breath as he stepped out, looking down at the lava at the center of the volcano, thankful that he was no longer stuck in such a small space. Just as he felt at ease, he felt his entire body tense up as familiar claws began to dig into his sides. Terrified, Irradiance surrounded himself in a bright purple shield with his magic, defending himself against the Dragons attempting to lift him up and return him to the surface.

“Woah!” The same blue Dragon exclaimed, backing up. “Someone’s feisty!”

“Turquoise! Buddy,” Emerald chuckled awkwardly, “Are you okay?”

Hibiscus furrowed her brows and sent a knowing look toward the purple stallion. He had mentioned his past trauma briefly and she had listened. “Hey, Emerald,” She turned toward the green Pegasus, expression sympathetic. “Would you maybe consider carrying Turquoise up out of the volcano instead of one of the Dragons?”

“What?” Amber piped up, instantly on edge. “What, do you have something against Dragons?”

“I think he’s just a little shaken from the initial capture! We understand you had to do what was necessary for your people, but we all react differently,” Hibiscus was pulling that excuse out of thin air, and for once, Irradiance was thankful someone was here to help out.

Emerald’s face shifted to something Irradiance couldn’t quite place, but it ended in a wordless nod. Irradiance felt himself flush as he felt hooves wrap around him, pulling him up out of the volcano. He would need to thank Hibiscus when this was over and they were back in the forest.

Each of the ponies landed safely on the ground, sighing as they did so. It was a short capture, but scary nonetheless! They had been ambushed!

“So where exactly is this monument?” Amber asked, red eyes narrowed in skepticism.

“It’s this way,” Emerald gestured, not yet leaving Irradiance’s side. “Come on. It’s about a two-day journey from where we are now. If we start walking now we’ll have a day left by sundown.”

Author's Note

amber and emerald/leviathan are a fun friendship to write, btw. have you guys noticed that leviathan is more of the main character? did i say that already? he's fun to write and I'm really loving his development. i have art of him on tumblr and I also have a profile on artfight this july if any of you do that! i plan to illustrate this eventually so expect pictures soon!