The Elder Dragons of Equestria

by FanboyGamer3E

Chapter 9. The king of death

The shells of the insects that littered the ground crunched underneath the massive form of Nergigante as he, Kushala, and Kirin guided Twilight, AppleJack, and RainbowDash towards the coiled carcass of the Dalamader. With Kushala's control of wind being the only thing keeping the effluvium from enveloping them.

"So Nergi, what kind of monsters do you think will be here?" Twilight asked as she trotted up beside him.

Nergigante thought for a moment and said. "Well, if it's anything like the Rotten Vale in the New World, there's probably going be a number of species specially adapted for surviving there. There's Radobaan, a herbivore brute wyvern which covers itself with bones as a defense mechanism. Girros and Great Girros, fanged wyverns with paralytic venom and a cousin of the Jagras. And last but not least Odogaron, a fanged wyvern which can strike with devastating speed and terrifying savagery, doesn't help that his skin is literally blood red so he can blend in with all this rotten flesh. Other than that we might run into some unique subspecies that live here."

"Subspecies?"

"Yeah of course. Viper Tobi-Kadatchi, Acidic Glavenus, Ebony Odogaron, frankly I wouldn't be surprised if we ran into monsters that haven't even been cataloged by the Research Commission. This place is just radiating Bio-Energy, that's bound to do something to anything that wanders in here."

"Hold on now, does that mean we might turn into crazy monster ponies?" AppleJack asked.

"That's not how it works AppleJack." Twilight explained. "A subspecies is created when a species needs to better adapt to a climate or environment foreign to them. Like how a group of Pegasi that got trapped underground for decades created the bat pony race."

"Exactly, only normally that process takes a good number of years. But here, in an area rich in Bio-Energy, a subspecies can be created instantaneously. Even if the creature wasn't born here, it can still develop into a subspecies if it grows up and matures in this kind of environment. Bio-Energy itself it a catalyst for change, that's why the New world back home is filled with so many different biomes and creatures, it is literally a place where Elder Dragons go to die and release their energy."

"Well... that's certainly off-putting. But still, we're too far in to turn back now."

"See, that's why I choose you three to come with me, because you know how to keep your cool in tough spots."

"Is that what you think is happening." Twilight said in a nervous voice. "Because I don't exactly feel like I'm quote, 'keeping my cool.' I'm walking through a literal land of the dead, to the mouth of a giant snake where a zombie dragon lives, all the while stepping on the bodies of bug the size of my hoof, and the only thing keeping me from inhaling a fog of airborne flesh eating bacteria is a simple wind current produced by a metallic dragon. I'm quite literally one surprise way from having a panic attack, how can I possibly be keeping my cool?"

"Allow me to answer your question with another question. How do you think Rarity, FlutterShy, or PinkiePie would be handling all of this?"

Twilight paused for a moment, "Fair Point."

"Mhm, that's what I thought. No disrespect to the three of them but when it comes to real serious topics they're not exactly useful. Where as you, AJ, and Rainbow are definitely able to handle more mature situations. Rainbow's gutsy enough to take any challenge, AppleJack's not afraid of getting her hooves dirty, and you have enough mental fortitude to not let your emotions cloud your judgement."

"Thank you, I guess. Y'know it's strange, we've only known each other for a couple of weeks and yet it seems you already have a good understanding of our personalities."

"What can I say, I'm a good judge of character."

"Everyone stop." Kirin shout. "We've been surrounded."

"But how?" Rainbow asked. "Nergi would have smelled them coming wouldn't he?"

"Actually the only thing I can spell is rotting meat, I can't believe it had slipped my mind till now."

"IGNITERS, CLEAR THE EFFLUVIUM." A voice called out from the fog.

A series of screeches and grunts could be heard in response to the order. A series of fire balls began to burn up the effluvium in massive droves. When a majority of the fog and dispersed, the group surrounding them could be seen clearly. The group itself was made up of 12 different monsters. Among them was a purple wyvern with a green tail and wings who was missing its left eye. A large two-legged brute entirely covered in tar and bones. A fanged wyvern with the head of a snake and a tail covered in feathers and spikes. And the monster that appeared to be the leader of the group, a theropod-type creature with gray and cyan scales, a pair of horns above its eyes, and a long blade-like tail covered in a sickly yellow rust.

"State your business here." The theropod said from on high.

"I take it you're the welcoming comity." Nergigante retorted. "Take us to your leader."

The other monster growled at this but where silenced when the Theropod slammed the side of its tail down.

"You think we do not your kind, Elder Eater? You think we will just let you slay and consume the king of death?"

"Please, give me some credit. You really think I'd eat a dragon who's rotting from the inside out? If I wanted food I'd just take a bite out of one of these two. I came here so these ponies could hold a conference with your king to persuade him to join my team."

"Your team?"

"Yes, my team. A team of Wyverns and Elder Dragons which protect the land of Equestria in exchange for food, shelter, and various other things that make it so we don't have to worry about someone killing you in your sleep. Now are you going to lead us to the king, or are we going to have to find himself?"

"You believe you can defeat us? We are 12 monsters who have been tempered by combat even before we came to this land, you are only a mere 3."

"Yes, 3 Elder Dragons. And if my eyes aren't playing tricks on me, I'm not seeing any Apex Predators like Deviljho, or Rajang. You may bring at least one or two of us down, but the last one would end up killing the rest of you. And it's not like we're actually trying to pick a fight with you, I was just saying that me and my allies would have to find the king by ourselves. Now why don't we keep things peaceful as can be and go to meet his highness together. Would that be all right?"

The Theropod scowled down at Nergigante before grunting, "Very well, but one false move and we will call upon all the hordes of this land."

"Fair enough, but one more thing. What's your name big guy?"

"I have no name of my own, however my subordinates have taken to calling me Yellowtail."

"I take it they call you that because of the Sulfur Oxide on your tail blade?" Twilight asked.

"Sulfur what? You mean this yellow rust?"

"Most monsters aren't that well-versed in the periodic table." Nergigante whispered.

"Noted."

As Yellowtail and his soldiers lead the team into the maw of the Dalamader the stench of death seemed to permeate more of the surrounding area while somehow dropping in its intensity, and as they delved deeper into the belly of the beast they could hear the distant grunts, screeches, and howls of the various monsters. Finally they were lead into a massive open space encircled by the coils of the great serpent, empty save for two lone figures. The first appeared to be some kind of statue or tree, however on closer inspection its true grim form was revealed. What stood in the center of the clearing was a long death dragon, its bones showing, what little flesh remaining being calcified, wings outstretched only held up by what remained of its tendons, and growing out of the creatures agape jaw was a giant mushroom reaching up to the sky.

The second figure appeared to simply be a mass if rotting meat and bone, complete with various insects and birds pecking at any loose bits of flesh. However when Yellowtail approached the mass of flesh began to move. The vile mass lifted itself up of muscular legs tipped with jagged claws, unfurled its tattered leathery wings, and as the birds and bugs took flight Val Hazak revealed himself in all his grotesque splendor. With a voice that sounded both gravely and stoic he asked, "Why are you here?"

"My king, I-"

"Not you, them."

Twilight cleared her throat, stepped forward and said. "Greetings, I am Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria. These are my friends RainbowDash and AppleJack, along with our guards Kirin, Kushala, and-"

"Nergigante the extinction dragon. Him I know well."

"I think you mean you know of my kind well." Nergigante corrected.

"But of coarse. There is not an Elder alive who does not know of the great devouring race, you mean to say you are different?"

"Well considering I haven't tried to take a bite out of you or these two, I'd say I'm plenty different."

Val Hazak focus his gaze upon Nergigante for a moment fo before saying, "Yes, your body is strong. But I do not sense the energy of any Elders mixed in with your own."

"Um excuse me." Twilight interrupted. "Could you please explain what you mean by that."

"It is quite simple princess. When a Nergigante devours the flesh of an elder dragon, he doesn't simply consume the meat to satiate his own hunger. He also absorbs a percentage of the elder's Bio-energy, making it his own and increasing his power. Once he has consumed enough Bio-energy, he begins to develop into a more powerful version of himself, The Great Ruiner, with spines of steel and enough power to rival even the almighty Black Dragons. Now, I think it's time that you answer my questions, why are you here?"

"We have come to ask that to become an ally of Equestria. In exchange we will aid you in any aspect that you desire, from giving you assistance in battle to suppling aid to your people in troubled times."

"My people are resilient, able to weather any famine, drought, or plague. And as for the strength of my guards, you have only see my allied scout troop. Allow me to show you my four Royal Commanders."

Val Hazak let out a roar, setting of a cacophony of roars and shrieks from all around the clearing until four figures jumped down from above. Cause the team to step back, even Nergigante. The first of the monsters was a hound-like Fanged Wyvern with black scales on its face, grey scales on its upper body, and red scales on its lower body ending in a bone covered tail with blue embers sparking from the bone shards. This same blue energy flowed throughout the creatures body, with its breath also having the blue embers sparking from it.

The second was a Theropod Brute Wyvern with green and purple scales which almost seemed to act as plates. It had a large club-like shell on both its arms along with on in the middle of its forehead, and its tail had a club at the end which seemed to be in the shape of a mace. Lastly, there was the sickly gray mold which appeared to be growing all across the creature's body.

The Third appeared to be a great Leviathan Wyvern with neon blue scales, a crested head, and a number of crystalline bones in the center of its back. It was covered in liquid which was burning the actual floor of the clearing, and green sparks of electricity sparked along its back.

Lastly, there was the ape. It appeared to be a fat gorilla with the face of a hippo, brown and green fur, a red mohawk, and a tail similar to that of a lion or baboon. However the most defining quality of the ape, was the smell. The stench of death that was only slightly noticeable at this point, was replaced by the most vile, tear-jerking, stomach turning, repugnant stench that the group had ever smelled in their entire life.

"I take it these are some of them sub-species' you were talking' 'bout." AppleJack said.

"You have no idea, AJ." Nergigante said with a nervous smile. "These things aren't just any normal subspecies', they're full-blown Deviants."

"Deviants?" Twilight asked.

"Monsters that have gone through such an extreme and traumatic event, that their bodies have been gone through an equally drastic change, making them far stronger than than any normal subspecies."

"Precisely." Val Hazak said. "These four are the ones most effected by the extremes of this land. Allow me to introduce my guard. Odogaron of the azure flame, Brachydios of the effluvial mold, Lagiacrus of the acid lake, and Congalala of the decaying bowels. It's worth noting that the Kings of fire, the swarm, and the sky also have a squad of 4 deviant monster who serve them. Together they are known as the 12 Deva's, an order founded by my father, the first king of these lands."

"Wait, so your father was the first king of the Rotten Vale?" Twilight asked?

"Yes and no. My father was the one who ruled this land before the territory was divided up between the current 4 kings, but this place is a far cry from the Rotten Vale in the new world, that land is ruled by nothing, be it man or monster."

"Well then how did this place come to be, and how did your father become king?"

Val Hazak chuckled. "Hehe, I was wondering when you'd ask that. Very well then, I shall start from the beginning."

Author's Note:

I got the Idea for the Blue Flame Odogaron from a "What If" discussion video by Rage Gaming.

Rage Gaming Vid