Black Dragon

Chapter 2
The Red Gem

Draconic Variation of Wyvern: Narga

The Narga are a race of dragons that inhabit the forests around Dragon Territory. Narga are known quite well by other dragons as the greatest hunters. Because of onyx black scales, advanced night vision and even a camouflage reflex, these dragons are known quite well as the creatures that haunt jungles on the prowl for food.

As far as personalities go, Narga are, for good reason, known to take on feline characteristics. Most tend to be very friendly when young, but become more jaded as they amass more years.

It’s a common occurrence in families of Narga to make records for the family member who can take a life at the youngest age. The youngest Narga to kill was documented at only twelve years of age. That record belongs to the Valshte family.

Neliel Tsu Valshte stared at a monster that made its way into Ponyville, wondering how it had found its way in. He could barely believe it. This was the same creature that had slashed his wing open!

“That thing?” Rainbow asked, going to the dragon’s side. That monster had actually hurt a child? That was something that Rainbow Dash wasn’t going to stand for!

“What a grotesque creature,” Rarity commented. The last time she’d seen anything even remotely as horrid as that, she’d been staring down a Diamond Dog, and they looked much better than this thing did!

Whatever that thing was, neither Twilight or Spike had ever seen anything about them in their research. Twilight wasn’t even sure how to categorize this monster. It was simply too strange. Spike, though, knew exactly what to call it: an abhorred thing.

“Come on out, little kitten,” the monster growled, “Or maybe you’d like to see what I did to that pretty little pegasus you like so much.”

Nel froze. What was godforsaken that thing talking about? It couldn’t mean Fluttershy. …Could it?

“It’s a shame you brought her into this,” it growled with a sneer, “She really did seem like a nice pony.”

“Huh? What’s he talking about?” Spike asked, “Does he mean—” He stopped as soon as he saw a black blur slice past.

The demon flinched slightly as a cut was opened on its face. It looked in time to see the dragon of interest landing.

Nel slid across the ground on his hind legs before dropping back to all four limbs. He turned a fierce glare toward the monster, his slip pupils narrowing to cut thin gashes. He didn’t even seem to notice the blood dripping off of his obsidian blade.

“Ah, how kind of you to show yourself, black cat,” it growled, wiping blood off of its face. “I didn’t expect a hunter to make such a defiant stand.”

“What did you do to her?”

That was unexpected. That question actually stopped the monster in its tracks. “What did you say?” it asked.

“The pegasus,” he growled, “What did you do to Ms. Fluttershy?” His glare was hard and every one of his muscles was tense and poised for battle.

The monster spat. “That worthless puddle of nerves? Nothing yet.” A dark smile crossed its maw as it saw the annoyance on the young dragon’s face. “But, since you’re so interested in her, I might just tear off her wings, make her skull into a necklace, maybe I’ll make her entrails into a new belt or—” It actually flinched this time as another cut was added to its already grizzled and damaged body. Looking back, it spotted Nel as he landed.

Nel turned a glare to the monster, standing ready to fight, once more. He had the look of someone on a mission.

“Wow…” Twilight had only seen Rainbow Dash move that fast. If he’d let her, she definitely had to do a study on this little black dragon. Simply seeing him fight, it was enough to inspire an entire report on him!

“Is that his blood?” Rarity’s question brought their attention back to the dragon.

Nel made his defiant stand like only a few creatures could, but something seemed wrong. It wasn’t his well warranted glare. It wasn’t his tense muscles. It wasn’t even his disturbingly animalistic eyes! It was the way he suddenly collapsed, falling on his right arm. He opened his wing, checking his injury. The stitches keeping the webbing closed were coming undone! “Damn…” he hissed. That was a definite step backward.

“Oh, what’s wrong?” the monster asked, approaching the dragon. “Is the little kitten hurt?” It took a step closer, swinging at the dragon! Its fist slammed the ground, but found no flesh. …But it did take great joy in watching the adolescent dragon limp out of harm’s way. “You didn’t hurt your wing or anything, did you?” It moved its massive arm in time to block several quills sinking into its flesh.

“There’s no need to be snide about it, asshole,” the young dragon growled. Even injured, he still had it in him to defy the monster.

The demon let out a snort. “But what better time to kick someone than when they’re down?” A wide, devilish sneer crossed its face as it slammed a fist down, narrowly missing the young wyvern. “I wonder if you enjoy this as much as I do.” It mockingly walked toward Nel. “A hunter must love being able to take a life in the blink of an eye.” It brought a fist down again to crush Nel into the dirt!

He quickly moved out of the way, but, thanks to the broken earth, he was put on the ground once more. Sadly, due to his injured wing, he had trouble getting up again. He struggled simply to push himself upright again! This time, he wasn’t going to be able to move out of the way as the demon approached. He had to do something. …But, what could he do if he couldn’t get up? He really wasn’t made for battle.

The demon didn’t waste any time. With Nel dead, it would be able to find its treasure and make Ponyville a distant memory! …But, then again, it would have to get past that annoying barrier first. It brought its claws down to crush Nel once more, but, this time, it was stopped by an odd red barrier instead of missing completely. “What?”

“Nel!” Rainbow Dash was the first to get to Nel. She was quick to help him up, giving him a wing to lean on. “You okay, little guy?”

“I’ve been better,” he grumbled. He flinched slightly as the demon started hammering the barrier with both fists. Even though it didn’t crack or give, he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would last.

Twilight Sparkle did her best holding off the monster, but the abuse its blows put on her barrier was a little much. She could hold it back, but not for very long.

Rainbow flinched as the monster roared, slamming the barrier’s wall. Some pony had to deal with this bully! With a growl, she opened her wings to take it head on! …But, she stopped with a single touch from the young wyvern beside her. She looked toward him, but she only saw the vacant look on his face.

“That’s too big and too strong for any one pony to take on,” he stated, “I wouldn’t do that if I was you.” His large green eyes scanned the monster’s body, analyzing its every tense, powerful muscle. With his own body in such disrepair, he knew he didn’t stand a chance alone.

“Ugh…” Rainbow could tell just by looking that the barrier wasn’t going to last much longer. Reflexively, she grabbed Nel and moved out of the way as the shield shattered. “So, what are we supposed to do?”

Nel looked at the monster as they got their distance. “I’ll tell you when I have a plan.” He didn’t stop analyzing the monster, even as Rainbow put him down by their friends. “It’s not gonna stop that easily,” he stated. He needed to think more about a positive strategy. “Rainbow, distract it. Don’t get too close and listen for my signal.”

That was unexpected. None of them had actually expected him to actually take charge like that.

This monster was too much for him or any pony to take on alone, but, if he did the math, they had a chance of taking it out together. …That is, if the ponies would move. He looked at the three ponies as they stared at him in confusion. “It’ll attack if we don’t do something,” he stated, almost sounding angry.

“Y-yeah, right!” Rainbow took off, soaring past the monster as she caught its attention. Keeping out of its reach would be easy for her. Her size and its speed both fell in her favor!

Nel bit his thumb as he thought. “That thing’s big and lumbering… If we’re careful, we can drop it with minimal effort.”

“What do you need us to do?” Twilight asked, eager to help. If they had to fight it, then they’d have to listen to the seasoned warrior.

“Well…” Nel looked the monster over as it flailed for Rainbow. “See that?” He pointed at the quills sticking out of its flesh. “Those are my quills. They have a powerful anesthetic on them. Given his body size and the number of quills in him already, we’ll need to sink four more into him. I still have seven needles to launch.” He let out a sigh. “I can’t guarantee that I’ll hit every time, so I say keep his attention off of me and give me an easy target.”

“Alright,” Twilight chimed, her horn popping alight once more.

“What will those quills to do it?” Rarity asked curiously. Sure they can do damage—especially the largest of them at the tip of his tail—but what was he planning to do?

“The anesthesia causes hallucinations in small doses, and paralysis in larger doses. I’m going for something just under full body paralysis—which is about three to four quills.”

If he was right, then they had to do it. Either way she looked at it, they had to stop it anyway. If they didn’t, it was bound to kill some pony!

The monster swatted at Rainbow Dash, missing narrowly every time. It was starting to get annoyed with this little nuisance! Maybe it would have two pegasus skulls and a wyvern pelt for jewelry when it was done. …That is, if it could lift its arms. “Hm?” It turned its attention to its suddenly heavy limbs, noting the two unicorns holding them down with magic. “Get outta my way!!” With a roar, it slung its arms, breaking their hold on them. The only thing that broke it from its rage was a sharp pain in its back.

Nel snapped his fingers. “Damn!” he gripped. Only a few more inches to the left and he’d have hit its spine. With that pierced, the rampage would have been over. At least he hit the large target before him, thought.

The demon roared at him again, setting its sights on the true target of its rampage. With Nel mostly immobile, it would be easier for it to crush him! …But, again, that annoying tug on its limbs was going to have to be dealt with. Looking to the source of the problem, it found, not magic, but rope holding its limb this time! “What?”

Nel grinned. He’d heard plenty and even read about the Elements of Harmony and was all too glad to see another one of them helping in the fight.

A mare with an orange coat and a blonde mane tied the rope’s loose end around a tree, helping to restrain the monster. With its arm restrained, it wouldn’t be quite as dangerous as it was before. …Or, that’s what she would have thought if the demon hadn’t torn the tree from the earth that held it.

A curse spilled from Nel’s mouth as the tree went flying toward a mare and her foal! Fighting the pain in his right arm, he snatched Spike up and darted toward them. “Torch it!!” Both he and Spike launched a wave of green and orange flame that turned the tree from fresh foliage into a pile of ash. “And that’s what a couple thousand degrees Kelvin can do for ya,” he purred.

Spike hopped off of his back. With Nel’s size, he was only half as comfortable to ride as a full grown mare. He knew good and well that he couldn’t have torched that tree by himself. He turned his gaze to Nel as the older dragon launched more quills at the monster. This black dragon was definitely a strong one.

“Ya’ll alright?” the orange mare asked, helping the other pony to her hooves.

“I-I think so… Thank you.” She quickly grabbed her foal before thanking Spike and Nel as well. With that, she took off for cover.

“Hey, little guy,” the mare began once she noticed the blood leaking from Nel’s wing, “You alright?”

“Oh, it’s just a flesh wound,” he purred before analyzing the monster again. “But, I could use all the helping hooves I can find…” He launched one more quill, hitting the monster in the leg, slicing its knee in half. “Hah! Alright, we need to keep it busy now.” He looked to Spike and the mare. “Spread the word—keep it busy for at least three minutes.”

With nods, the two took off to follow his directions. …But, then again, had he really used his quills enough to get the timing down to a science that accurately?

Three minutes—that wasn’t going to be too hard. It was simple for Rainbow Dash or Applejack. Their speed, stamina and resourcefulness made them very difficult targets. Twilight and Rarity were simply too well guarded with their magic to strike down. Even Spike knew to simply get ponies away from the monster and to stay out of the way.

Nel was almost proud. A trap like this would be the subject of every conversation everywhere near Dragon Territory. It was an interesting thought, but, then again, this monster seemed off. Why wasn’t he able to see the demon’s movements changing? If the anesthetic was to take effect, wouldn’t it cause a change or restriction of movement like it did for his other prey? He hoped desperately that this monster wasn’t immune. …But, then he saw it.

The monster swatted at Rainbow Dash and at Applejack alike, but then it swung at Rainbow and missed by miles. It wasn’t swinging at just one of her anymore.

“Maybe it is working,” he thought with a smirk. If he had his full mobility, he’d be able to get close and sink his tail’s largest quill in. He glanced at his tail. He only had one more quill to launch and all the others were firmly in place for at least another two weeks. …But, he wasn’t completely helpless.

This was strange. The monster could feel its body getting heavy. It was getting slow and its vision was getting blurry. …But, there was no way it was going to die before getting to know what that odd burning sensation was on its back. It turned to find the reason and found the black dragon instead. That was the reason it was here in the first place. “You…” it growled. It turned to attack him directly, but soon found itself on its face.

“There we go!” he meowed, limping to the monster. “And that’s what a Narga can do when injured and enraged.”

“Wow, three minutes exactly,” Twilight commented as she approached. It was simply amazing that Nel could do that with a simple distraction and a few quills.

“You do realize that your elevated heart rate helped to spread your paralysis, right?” Nel waggled his tail in front of the paralyzed demon’s face. “I guess you’re not getting that necklace back, now.” He started back for the library. “The paralysis—given his size—will last for about seven hours. I suggest we get him out of town and into the Everfree Forest soon.”

“I’ll get Big Macintosh and some other ponies on it right away,” the orange work mare chimed happily.

“Thanks!” And now, Nel could really be proud of his work. He took out a massive monster like this and without any casualties. Pretty good for a hunter if he did say so himself.

“Do you really think it’s that easy, kitten?”

Nel stopped in his tracks, looking back to the monster. “What do you mean by that?” he asked, keeping his voice neutral.

The demon let out a strained chuckle. “I’m one of many monsters on duty. We’ll get that gem back from you one way or another. And do you really think I’ll just forget about my eye or the burn you put on my arm?” It laughed again, harder this time. “I’ll come back and crush your skull like a grape! But before I do, I’ll be sure to make you watch as I destroy this entire town. …I’ll even make you watch as I kill these precious ponies of y—”

Nel grabbed its head, and propped it up. Without hesitation, he stabbed one of his obsidian blades into its throat and sliced it wide open! “You probably have about thirty seconds before the paralysis and blood loss get to you, so I’ll be brief. Yes—I do enjoy being able to take a life so callously, but only when it’s the life of a worthless piece of shit like you!!” He turned his back on the monster and started walking away. He only stopped for Rainbow Dash. “Uh, hey… I’m kinda worried about Ms. Fluttershy. Would you go and check on her for me?”

“Can do!” Without hesitation, she took off, flying toward Fluttershy’s cottage at top speed.

Nel watched with a grin as the rainbow pegasus flew off. After a second, he let out a heavy sigh. “As for me…” He plopped down on the ground, resting his shaky, well used muscles. “My wing is killing me and I can barely walk straight. Can I please go to a hospital?!”

Nurse Redheart carefully wrapped the black dragon’s wing under a neat layer of bandages. She was careful of the obsidian blade there as to keep from cutting the bandages or herself on it. “Alright,” she cooed, “That should do it. Be careful with that wing until it’s healed.”

“I will be,” he purred, “Thank you.” Though he seemed as calm and cuddly as a kitten, he was having his own little conniption in his mind. Defending Ponyville was one thing, but killing that monster so harshly was a little much. He couldn’t help but wonder what the ponies would think of him now.

“Oh, by the way,” the nurse continued, “You have some visitors.” She opened the door and stepped aside for four ponies to enter, including a nurse she knew very well.

This had to be the fastest Fluttershy had ever moved. She was at Nel’s side before even Rainbow Dash! “Please tell me you’re okay,” she pleaded.

From any other pony, he’d have been sorely surprised, but, from Fluttershy, he was pleased. “Yes, I’m fine,” he purred, “Just a little worse for wear…” He looked at the other three ponies and the dragon that had helped with the monster that attacked Ponyville. “Thank you all for your help. With my wing like this, I don’t think I’d have been able to handle that thing by myself.” He paused. “…Actually, even with my wing, I doubt that I’d have been able to take it on at all…”

“No problem, little guy,” Rainbow chimed immediately. She was just happy to be rid of such a dangerous monster.

“Even so, it was you who coordinated the counter offensive,” Rarity stated, “We wouldn’t have known what to do without you.”

He sighed. “Honestly, that’s a very scary thing… Most ponies don’t study battle strategies like most dragons do. …Not my species, but most dragons…”

“But, there’s still a question that’s left unanswered,” Twilight began, but she was unable to finish the question seeing as how another was asking already.

“What was that creature?” The question was asked by a pony that everyone, including Nel knew. The princesses of Equestria strolled in, finishing Twilight’s question.

Reflexively, every pony in the room bowed to the regal Alicorns, showing their respect to the rulers of Equestria. Even the young dragon bowed. …But, that was only one dragon that bowed.

Nel looked up at the two, somewhat surprised to see the princess ponies there. But, he also had to give them a proper greeting. “Hi, Tia! Hi, Lulu!” he meowed, confusing almost everyone in the room.

“Tia and Lulu?” Twilight questioned aloud, getting shy grins from both her teacher and the goddess’s sister.

Nel turned his eyes away nervously. “Well, uh, there was a border dispute a couple years ago between Equestria and the Griffin Kingdom,” he explained, “My ‘grandfather,’ as I call him, was asked to come as a neutral negotiator. I came with him to explore Equestria. Lulu found me wandering Canterlot Castle by myself and took it upon herself to keep an eye on me. I met Tia a little while later.”

“That explains a lot,” Spike muttered under his breath. He knew Nel was a learned and experienced one, but he didn’t think he’d know the princesses so well. It almost made him wonder what else Nel was hiding.

“The question still remains, Nel,” Princess Celestia continued, “What was that creature and why did it attack Ponyville?”

Nel let out a short sigh, his feline ears drooping to show his displeasure. “As much as I’d like it to be, that’s not an easy answer,” he said gloomily. He grabbed his bag, pulling the pendant from its contents. “That thing was a monster from beyond a Hell Gate. It was after this, but I’m not completely sure why.”

“What is it?” Princess Luna inquired. She couldn’t recognize it, but it did look vaguely familiar. And then there was that name: Hell Gate. That was something she and her sister knew very well.

“What is this Hell Gate you speak of?” Rarity asked carefully. She almost wished she was as learned as Twilight at moments like this. Maybe then she’d know about the gate he was talking about.

“Those are two very good questions with two very vague answers.” No matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t give them very good answers. …Mostly because he didn’t know them himself. “The Hell Gate is one of five remaining doorways to… Well, I’m guessing the bottom floors of Tartarus… Monsters slither, scuttle, crawl and lumber out of them whenever they’re open.” He looked at the red gem. “How this thing fits in is beyond me, but I think it’s a key.”

Princess Celestia took the pendant from him, levitating it in front of her face to examine it more closely. “That much is certain,” she sighed, “With what we know about the Hell Gates, these red gems are used as keys to open and close them. Without them, it’s impossible to open it.”

“Makes sense for why that thing was so serious about getting it back.” Rainbow didn’t know anything about all of this. Hell Gates, keys, monsters coming to Equestria—it was all a little too dense for her, but what better time to learn?

“We should have closed all of the Hell Gates, though,” Luna mused, “Even Discord agreed to help us destroy the other four.”

“But, even with Discord’s help, we couldn’t destroy the last five. All we could do was close them off.”

“But, now that they’re back, that just leaves the question of what to do…” Nel was at a loss here. If the princesses couldn’t destroy the Gates without the ever annoying Discord, then what were they going do? He let out a heavy sigh. “I’m really not the kind of cat to just start barking orders, but I could hold on to the gem. It’s just one more Gate locked off until we can do something about it.”

Sadly, none of the ponies could argue. It sounded like the best course of action. Nel seemed to know what he was doing even if he wasn’t a warrior. And, even so, if he held on to the gem, that would give the princesses a distraction to go and close the Gates. For the time being, that was their only option.

There was a short silence before anyone spoke. “…Twilight Sparkle,” Princess Celestia began, “I’d like to request that you and the Elements of Harmony watch after Neliel Valshte.”

“Of course, princess,” Twilight chirped, eager to please.

“In the mean time,” Luna continued, “My sister and I shall close the Hell Gates once more. We hope you all can handle the task we’ve given you.”

Nel quickly saluted as the ponies and dragon did the same. “We’ll handle it with pride!” He never actually thought that he’d be taking orders directly from the princesses of Equestria. Even now, it seemed almost surreal that he’d be doing all of this. Somewhere in his mind, he couldn’t help but question if he’d still be in Ponyville when he woke up instead of at home questioning if it was all a dream.