Emerald Forest was grounded she wasn't allowed to go back down to the dragons anymore for the rest of the night. She wasn't even allowed to look over the cliff and see what was going on. She stayed to the very back of the cliff blocked by Syrreth's huge frame. He was angry but was too tired to make the trip back to their home. He decided the best course of action was to still until daybreak and leave then.
Frustrated and disappointed in herself for not taking her own advice and staying only an hour Emerald laid on her back looking up at the stars. The sounds of the dragon roars below beckoned to her like a song. Rolling over on her stomach she began to inch to the edge of the cliff.
"Emerald Forest." Syrreth said using her full name in a low menacing voice
"Dad?"
"Get back here right now young lady." He said, defeated Emerald went back to her original position and dropped herself on the floor "you do the crime, do the time."
"Dad… that's corny." Emerald chuckled
Syrreth's tail rose and wrapped around her body lovingly "I only want to keep you safe Emerald; I know you're strong, but I'm a father."
"I know dad." Emerald said closing her eyes "when we go home maybe you can teach me how to fight some more, I didn't like feeling scared."
Syrreth's head rose, Scared? Why was his Emerald scared he turned to her but she was already asleep "Tomorrow is another day." Syrreth thought before laying his head down
The following morning Emerald arose to the warm sunlight caressing her face. Lazily she stood; it took a few moments for her to regain her bearings. Rubbing the sleep out her eyes she looked for her dad.
"Dad?" she asked looking around the cliff "hey dad?"
From above the distinct shadow of a dragon loomed, looking up emerald squinted in the sunlight as two majestic dragons flew through the sky. It was hard to see them as they were so high up but Emerald decided that it must be her dad and the dragon lord based on their shape. She sat there looking at them for a while
"OK, time for breakfast." She said as her stomach growled
As she walked over to the small bundle of food still left over Emerald took out three apples and sat on the edge of the cliff and looked over where all the dragons were laid out sleeping. Taking a bite from her apple she stretched waking up her body fully.
"This was fun." She said with a smile "maybe we can come back here to visit."
As her breakfast continued Emerald looked over the dragons trying to distinguish their species of dragon from where she was. The wingless were easy they were all huddled together like a huge family of some sort making a ring around their sleeping hatchlings. The winged and water dragons were a harder find but the fire breathing dragons were almost impossible to determine. After a while Emerald gave up, she was about to return to her sleeping spot when something caught her eyes.
Down below, amongst all the dragons a black cloud moved, it was nearing the dragons slowly, she squinted, trying to make out what it was but it was too far. As the clouds of black moved closer, Emerald began to see what it was clearer. Within the smoke black creatures that resembled her advanced to them. Around ones neck was a black stone, Emerald watched as the creatures came to the dragons.
"I wonder what's going on" Emerald asked herself, she continued to watch as the black creatures stood in front the dragons, the lead took off the black gem off his neck and held it up, to Emerald's shock the gem glowed and in a small flash black tendrils began to appear they latched on the unsuspecting dragons waking them up, their roars of anguish filled the sky
"No!" exclaimed Emerald
The small pony immediately threw herself off the cliff and levitated down
The dragons roared and fought against the tendrils that had latched on to them as the black creatures began to attack. Weakening the dragons, Emerald watched as the weaker ones were pulled into the gem.
"No!" she screamed again, she looked around frantically looking for the hatchlings, they were all huddled in a corner surrounded by the creatures, with a roar of her own Emerald tackled the closest creature and kicked it into the wall "you will not take them!"
She stood her ground in front the creatures as they snarled their forked tongues snaking out their mouths dangerously, one was about to attack when from above two mighty roars filled the area. Emerald smiled, as the creatures looked up, giving her the chance to attack charging she ran horn first into the closest creature impaling it's neck. The sound of gushing blood and tearing flesh made her flinch as the creature slummed dead. Pulling her horn out she faced the others.
"Bring it!" she growled, just as they unfurled their bug like wings to attack they were immediately stomped to the ground by the landing of Syrreth "Dad!"
"Emerald are you all right?" growled Syrreth
"Yes." Emerald replied "what's going on?"
"Changelings." Was Syrreth only reply before her turned and breathed fire at a horde of attacking changelings "get to safety."
"Dad I can help." Emerald said
Turning to her Syrreth breath was visibly "You'll help by keeping the younger hatchlings safe, go!"
Syrreth turned and attacked another horde of changelings, beside him the dragon lord did the same, together they were a force to be reckoned with. Emerald reluctantly turned to the terrified hatchlings.
"Come on." She ordered, the small hatchlings followed Emerald as she led them through the back of the larger dragons fighting against the changelings and the tendrils, they found a cave hidden from view and entered "We'll be safe here."
Unknown to her, one of the changelings saw them sneaking away and followed them. It dug within the mind of Emerald Forest and found the person she cared deeply about. It smiled as it walked towards the cave it's body glowing in light as it began to change.
Within the cave Emerald had the hatchlings hide behind a rock as she kept a lookout. The fighting was dying down many of the dragons voices were disappearing. Emerald shut her eyes and hoped for the best. Just at that moment in the cave mouth a looming figure towered over her. Opening her eyes emerald smiled as she saw her father.
"Dad" she squealed happily
"Come let's go." Syrreth said
"Go where?" asked Emerald
"We're going someplace safer than here." Said Syrreth he looked around "Where are the other dragons."
"What?"
"The dragons pony, where are the dragons?" Syrreth shouted making Emerald step back
"My dad won't yell like that," she said "who are you?"
Syrreth laughed "Oh, you're a smart one," he said "not much can tell the difference when we change."
Emerald watched as the Syrreth before her shrank in size it's body became pony like and black, it's mane a pale blue and its bug like eyes captured the little light in the cave. It hissed menacingly.
"Die pony." The changeling attacked diving at Emerald he managed to pin her to the ground, Emerald fought to keep him at bay as he tried to bite into her neck with he fangs
With a roar of her own Emerald mustered all her strength and kicked off the changeling, catching himself mid fall the changeling landed on its hooves. It hissed again as it began circling Emerald.
"I'm going to enjoy eating you filly." Laughed the changeling
"You'll have to do better than that." Emerald said as she stood her ground, the changeling lounged at her, on reflex Emerald doges and kicked out with her kind hooves hitting the changeling sideways
The changeling recovered quickly and dived again this time he managed to grab a hold of Emerald's leg and bit down.
"AHHHH!" screamed Emerald the pain shot through her body, kicking him off she stumbled back ward and fell on her flank, blood stained her coat as she bleed from the wound given by the changeling.
"Delicious." The changeling licked his lips "let me taste more pony."
"Leave her alone!" a small voice said, the changeling looked around, from behind the boulder steeped the newborn dragon hatchlings
"So there you were." Hissed the changeling turning to them "First I'll have my fin with this pony, then you all will be taken to the commander."
Emerald struggled to her feet, but fell once again, the pain was unbearable. Tears filled her eyes as the changeling turned back to her, it loomed over her licking its lips. Emerald closed her eyes expecting pain to rush through her body once more but it didn't come. Opening her eyes she watched as the changeling was being attacked by the small hatchlings.
"Leave her alone!" one shouted," he spat fire just as the changeling was about to take flight destroying his wings in an instant
"What, you little-" before words could escape his lips a hatchling bit into his throat and pulled ripping flesh from bone, the changeling stumbled back chocking on his own blood, it looked at Emerald with expressionless eyes before dropping on the floor dead.
The young dragons cheered and ran to Emerald helping her to her feet "Are you on?" asked one
"Yes I'm okay." Replied Emerald as she hobbled over to the rock, the noise from outside has died down, Emerald believed the fighting to be over she walked to the cave opening
The land was in ruin, changeling bodies were scattered all around the area dead, but there was no dragon in sight. In shock Emerald looked around, she levitated her body leaving the young hatchlings on the ground and flew through the air looking for her father.
"Dad." She called "Where are you"
No answer, the worse possible outcome started to play on loop in Emerald's head, tears filled her eyes once again, she allowed them to fall, she was also loosing blood from the wound she had received from the changeling. Her body was becoming weak. Suddenly a roar filled the sky Emerald immediately went in the direction of the roar.
She came upon the sight of the remaining dragons all latched on by the tendril that came from the black gem. Before them the lone changeling stood. He was laughing mechanically.
"With the power of the dragons we'll take over all of Equestria." The changeling heckled as one of the remaining few dragons lost the fight and was sucked into the gem "just two more to go, come now dragon lords give up you can't win."
One of the dragons roared, Emerald knew it was her dad immediately, she watched as he struggled to fight against the pull. His body was weakening. She saw his head dip and his body fall over.
"NO!" screamed Emerald she dived to the changeling hind hoof first she connected hoof to jaw, the sound of jaw bone breaking was heard, just as the body of Syrreth disappeared and the dragon lord was freed from the tendril grip as the gem hit the ground.
Emerald stood over the changeling, she looked around, Syrreth was nowhere in sight, with flowing tears Emerald turned to the changeling.
"What did you do to my father!" she screamed, the unconscious changeling laid almost lifeless on the ground.
"Emerald Forest." The dragon lord said softly "come, let us tend to your wounds"
Emerald heard nothing the dragon lord said, her vision blurred as her body fell forward, the dragon lord caught her before she hit ground. Picking up the changeling and gem he carried them back.
The sound of soft melodious music filled Emerald entire being, she felt warm and relaxed. The pains from before was gone her leg was completely healed. Opening her eyes Emerald found herself lying in a large pond. Around her was a cave of clear crystals.
"Beautiful." She whispered
"Good you are up." a voice said behind her." Emerald turned to see the dragon lord and all the hatchlings around him.
"Where are we?" asked Emerald getting out the pool "Where's my dad?"
"Emerald." Began Balor