Chapter 5
Dragon Feed

Ditzy Doo loved her job. She enjoyed being able to meet and greet just about every pony in town on her route. Her special talent came in handy with delivering the mail during harsh weather as well. She could read wind currents like no other could. It was always thought that her clumsiness and that lazy eye of hers gave her the appearance of the dumbest pony around, but, in truth, she was one of the smartest and most caring as well. And that’s exactly why she could notice the little wyvern that worked for her. “Nel? Are you alright?”

At the beginning of the day, the little dragon had practically dragged himself in. Even though he’d finished his mail sorting for the day he’d still taken a while to get focused as well as if he hadn’t gotten enough sleep. And even now, he was lethargically curled up under the front desk for some strange reason. He let out a groan. “I don’t know…” He looked up at the motherly pony as she looked at his tired eyes.

She’d never seen him like this. Normally, he’d come in brimming with life and enthusiasm, but he seemed dead to the world now. His nose was normally cold, but it was never wet, so she couldn’t tell there. Fire dragons always ran an internal temperature of at least a hundred and ten, but he seemed oddly cold now. She didn’t know enough about dragons to tell if he was sick, but the pathetic way he looked at her was what won her sympathy. “You know, Nel, if you need it, you can take the day off.”

He let out a sigh. “I might have to take you up on that offer…” If nothing else, he just hated making the ponies worry like this. Fluttershy worried, Ditzy Doo worried, even Rainbow Dash worried when she saw him like this! He squirmed out of his crevasse, staggering away from the counter. For whatever reason, the room was spinning now and his stomach felt worse than before. After only a few steps, he had to sit and it wasn’t completely voluntary. His back legs seemed to give out on him, putting him back on the floor.

Ditzy actually had to fight a grin when the kitten found himself on the floor again. “I take it that wasn’t on purpose?”

“No,” he replied, “The room moved…” He laid down again, trying desperately to make the spinning stop. “Now I really don’t feel good…” He’d been sick before, but never like this. His acute balance was suddenly thrown off, his smelting pot stomach was churning, and he even felt as though his steel scales were getting softer! Something was definitely wrong with him.

“Okay, now I’m sure of it: you’re sick.” Ditzy circled the small dragon, working to put him on his feet. “Come on. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Nel was absolutely amazed. He never thought something like this would happen from being around ponies so long. He wasn’t allergic to the fine hairs of a pony’s coat. He didn’t get magic discharge from staying with unicorns so much. He didn’t even get altitude sickness from flying too high! He’d gotten something worse than that.

“Nel? Are you in here?” A purple unicorn pushed her way into the room. She smiled when she saw the drowsy dragon. “Hiya, big kitty, what’s up?”

Even in his tired state, Nel still smiled at her. “This is the second time I’ve ever gotten sick.” He shuddered. “Why didn’t anyone tell me it was such a miserable time of life?”

“You know what it means to be sick,” she stated, taking a spot beside his bed, “I thought you’d have put it together.” She didn’t think she’d see him here unless it was from injuries during another tussle with the monsters. It was actually unnerving to think of Nel in a hospital. “So, my mom asked me to take your place sorting mail at the post office today. I kinda figured something was wrong when she did. What happened?”

He let out a heavy sigh. “The doctors are going by general knowledge on dragons, but they called it a lack of nutrition.” He picked an emerald out of the bowl of gems and diamonds beside his bed. “My scales are softer, the flame sack in my throat is swollen and even my venom is losing potency…” He crunched into the emerald. It was a good thing that dragon enamel never deteriorated.

“So what? Do you just need to eat a couple bowls of gems and get your strength back?” Dinky knew some things could be simple like that, but it was hard to think of this being like that.

He grimaced. “…No, I need to get back on a normal diet for Narga…” He let out a short sigh. “…And that includes eating meat…”

Dinky shuddered at the thought. Dragons really were terrifying when one got down to it. She couldn’t help but think back to the monster she’d witnessed him kill. The sound of his obsidian cutting through bone and spinal tissue still haunted her and made her stomach churn. He was carnivorous. She could see it in his body structure. The image of his animalistic maw of fangs digging in and tearing through the demon’s flesh flashed through her mind again.

“Sorry…”

She almost visibly cringed at the somber sound of her draconic friend’s voice. The expression on his face wasn’t much better. “W-what are you apologizing for?”

He sighed. “The Narga are… Scarier than other dragons. Our name—our full name—means ‘hunting devil’ in the same language that my name is in. We’re known as those scary creatures that lurk in shadows waiting for that moment when we can tear out your jugular. I’m scary, I know. …I’ve scared Fluttershy and Apple Bloom too many times not to be scary…”

“Oh come on!” She gave him a quick jab. “You’re about as fearsome as Angel!” She’d admit that she was afraid of dragons, but Nel wasn’t a dragon to her. To her, he was one of her closest friends. She was almost amazed with the way he’d so easily gotten to her, but she made friends very easily anyway.

“Hey,” he chuckled, “I take pride in being an accomplished hunter. If I’m not appropriately fearsome, I’m not doing my job right.” He made a face, trying to make himself seem more like his animalistic roots dictate he should be. …But, his scary face gave way to a fit of laughter. “Until my scales harden again, I can’t really do much hunting anyway.” He crunched into a large sapphire.

“Spike’s probably gonna want to see that,” she stated, “Food’s always been given to him. He’s not a hunter like you.”

“His species isn’t made to be carnivorous anyway. He’s made to dig for gems and eat just about anything.”

“You really know a lot about dragons,” she stated, “But, I guess you should… How’d you learn it all?”

He wriggled in his bed. “I live with other dragons. It’s only natural that I’d learn about them.” He paused. “Plus my family’s kinda famous. I know every dragon in the forest and even a bunch in the mountains and volcanoes.” He smiled at the thought of another injury of his past. The week he’d broken his wing in the valleys, he’d gotten the joy of meeting his grandfather Lao and his grandmother Dora.

“I wish I could see your family in its prime.” As strange as it was, she’d taken after Twilight Sparkle over the years. Now that she was given the chance, she wanted to learn everything she could about dragons, especially the nightmarish Narga. “But, uh, I’m not sure if I could watch you hunting. …And eating…”

Nel sat in the room Fluttershy arranged for him, staring out the window at the crescent moon. After the past two days of eating only gems, his scales were back to their original steel hardness, but a problem still remained. He needed a normal diet for a Narga and that included eating meat. As much as he wanted to, he wasn’t just going to go and gut a cow to fill his maw. He didn’t want to go and kill off a cow from Ponyville. He made it an effort to never cross friendships and dietary habits. His sensitive ears could pick up Fluttershy’s snoring, no matter how light and dainty it was. There was no faking that. She was definitely asleep. He opened his window silently and scaled the wall to the ground.

Angel was fast asleep in his hut. He didn’t always worry after everything when Fluttershy needed a break.

Nel snuck past and looked at the daunting sight before him. It was the one place he knew he could hunt to his heart’s content: the Everfree Forest. He could smell it. There were plenty of animals in there both dangerous and those that were delegated as prey. His mouth watered at the thought of tasting blood that wasn’t tainted, at tearing flesh for food and not for battle. The adolescent dragon wasn’t in the mood to wait for a decision! His stomach was full of gems and he needed meat! He took a deep breath before heading into the forest.

The Everfree Forest was a terrifying place at night. The darkness seemed more eerie now that it had cold shadows mixed in. Its depths seemed deeper with the less light shed there.

Nel loved this! It was the same as the harsh darkness that blanketed the forest floor of his homeland. Hunting here was sure to win him some dinner.

A twig snapped.

The dragon went immediately into predator mode. He hid in the underbrush, his scales flexing to help him blend in better. His green eyes scanned the area and, in no time, found something he could pounce on.

A shadow trotted through the darkness. It was a four legged creature and seemed to move through the forest with familiarity instead of with sheer cunning.

Nel tracked the shadow for only a moment before he got ready for a meal. It had to have been the same size as a pony! He would eat heartily tonight!

The shadow hesitated, ears perking up. It swiveled, turning in the same direction as the dragon. It stared into the darkness for a moment before it did anything else. “Who is there?” the shadow called with a thick accent, “Come and face me, predator, if you dare!”

That was a first. Nel had never had prey that bold before. …But, then again, if this figure was that large and could speak, then maybe he should refrain from eating it. …If only for a moment. “Uh, hello? Are you a pony?” He stayed in the darkness, not willing to take a chance on whomever or whatever this was.

The shadow seemed to relax a little. “I am a zebra, and we do not run. Who would you be little one?”

He felt as though he would regret this, but Nel padded his way out of the brush, flattening his scales once more. “I’m Neliel Tsu Valshte… Who are you?”

The clouds move away from the moon, shedding light on the figures in the dark. The shadow turned her turquoise eyes to the small dragon. A smile came to her face as the adolescent dragon seemed to cower away from her. “A Nargacuga on a hunt? Or maybe this is a type of stunt?” She offered a hoof to the dragon. “Tell me what it is that ails you, or are you simply here to find something new?”

Nel was honestly surprised. He’d never seen an actual zebra back in his homeland, but his grandfathers’ stories kept him wondering all the time. “W-well, I—” His stomach growled loudly and his camouflage reflex turned his face a bright shade of red.

“So it is a hunt for your next meal,” she stated, “This is a task you must carry out with great zeal.”

“I do, it’s just hard to find anything to eat in this town…” He let out a short sigh. “I’m sorry to have interrupted your, uh, night time stroll, I guess, but I have to find something to eat.” If this was the same Zecora Twilight had told him about, then he would definitely have to find a time and come visit her.

“Your hunt requires such persistence,” she said, “But, perhaps I may be of some assistance.” She pointed down a beaten path. “Down this path, beyond the Heart’s Desire, there is easy prey that even the youngest dragon can acquire.”

He looked down the path as well. “Thanks,” he meowed, but then a thought crossed his mind. “Uh, not that I’m not gracious or anything, but, why would you help me to, uh, you know, eat some poor animal’s entrails?”

The zebra’s smile was oddly cryptic. “Your draconic customs are much different from ours. You are too used to hunting while your prey runs or cowers. For you, I hold no ill will and I never wish to be the subject of your species’ impressive skill.”

A smirk crossed his face. He quickly bowed to the wise zebra. “Thank you for your help. If I ever can, I’ll be sure to repay you.” He gave her a wave as he got on the path. She seemed quite nice. It’s a wonder as to why Ponyville’s inhabitants considered her so unlikable in the past. He slowed only a little to smell the flowers, but that didn’t last. Instead, he continued on to find a large, open field.

The field was almost as large as the expanse of free air between the forest and Ponyville. It was unobstructed by bushes or rouge trees, but it did have what he was looking for.

There was game here—large game. They all seemed very large, probably the same size as Big Macintosh, but, something like the ponies, they didn’t seem to have any biological features meant for self preservation. Its legs looked too heavy to kick. It didn’t have horns or claws or even spiked tails! They were all just there waiting to be slaughtered. …And Nel was happy to oblige.

As opposed to the sad sight she’d seen the week before, Ditzy Doo was amazed to see the little wyvern strolling into the post office. “Well, hello, Nel,” she chimed.

The kitten jumped over the counter, landing beside her with expert precision. “Hello, hello, Ms. Ditzy Doo,” he purred, “How are you today?”

“I’m fine, but I should ask you that,” she giggled. It was amazing how easily he’d turned his condition around. Before he was struggling to stay awake, but now he was as lively as ever! His scales were shimmering and even his eyes seemed brighter. Whatever he’d done, it must have done the trick.

“I feel a lot better now,” he meowed, grabbing his bag for deliveries, “It’s kinda hard to do, but Rarity taught me her gem finding spell, so my scales won’t soften so long as there’s gems to eat.”

“And, what about, uh, the other staple of your diet?” She’d heard from her daughter and even noticed it about the wyvern’s smile that meat was his first choice of foods. She just had to wonder where he got his food now.

He gave her a devilish grin that did not inspire confidence. “I have my sources. I’m going to start hunting trips every week.” That would keep him nice and healthy for a good long time. He pulled a letter from his bandana. “But, enough of that. I have a letter that needs to go out of town. Is there any way to get it there?”

“Ah, you’re in luck my little friend,” she chimed, “There’s a pegasus coming to get the mail that travels out of town. He’s going all over by the looks of it.” She took his letter and put it in the pile, but she couldn’t help but question it. Who was he sending letters to?

At the end of a work day, the last thing any pony wants to see is something to give them extra work. Days like this were exactly what Ditzy hated. The mail mare flew through town, dropping off mail the way she did before Nel showed up. Before, it was just her delivering mail and, every so often, her daughter came in to help her sort. Today, she’d been dragged to all the edges of town.

Applejack got a letter from her cousin in Appleoosa.

Twilight Sparkle got a letter from her brother in the Crystal Empire.

Thunder Lane and his brother got a package from their parents in Cloudsdale.

After flying around so much, she just wanted to get done and go home. …But, that was why this sudden package annoyed her so much.

There was a large box sitting in the post office. It was obviously from out of town with all of the stamps on it. The box was, oddly enough, cool to the touch and it was very well sealed. On the side it read “Time Sensitive.”

“Hm?” The grey pegasus looked the box over for a moment before her confusion and curiosity piqued.

On one of the labels, it was written in scrawling script, “To the Little Black Dragon,” the last part—a name most likely—was written in another language.

“Little Black Dragon,” she muttered, and remembered seeing Nel’s notebook. The name seemed to be in the same language that he wrote in. With as often as the young wyvern had been checking the incoming mail over the past few days, she’d almost wondered what he was waiting for.

As if on cue, the black dragon came into the post office with his usual exuberance. “Hiya, Ditzy Doo,” he meowed, “I’m kinda glad I caught you. I forgot my bag earlier.”

“Hey, Nel,” she called, “Nice timing. Can you read this?” She tapped a hoof on the label, hoping her hunch was right.

He looked the box over for a second. “Hm?” For a moment, he looked confused, but then his eyes grew wide. “Oh my gosh!” He practically leapt onto the desk. “This is for me!” His sharp claws sliced through the cardboard and tap with ease, but he stopped when he almost cut through glass as well.

Inside the box was a metal milk crate with four milk bottles in it. The crate had four markings that somewhat resembled the language Nel wrote in.

The kitten wore a large smile on his face. He was surprised they were using those markings. Somehow, he never expected them to take his thought into consideration.

“What’s this?” She absently pulled one of the bottles out to get a better look at it. She’d never thought any pony would send milk through the mail system.

“This is cream,” he meowed, “I know a pony with a dairy who made it especially for me when I was staying with her.” He popped the cap off of one bottle, taking in its sweet aroma. Cold or warm, it was all delicious to him. …Though, the noble hunter did think about his image now. Looking directly at Ditzy, he put on a serious face. “Don’t tell any pony about the way I reacted.”

She made a gesture of zipping her lips closed. “You’re secret’s safe with me, little guy. …If some pony finds out about your crazy cream addiction, it won’t be from me…”

Author's Note

This is just a filler chapter to explain Nel's diet. He can't eat meat as often around ponies after all... Plus, I wanted to include Zecora for the hell of it.
Speaking of Zecora, I wasn't sure of her vocabulary. If anyone wants to give me some advice on that, I'll be sure to take it into consideration.