“All right, all right. I’m done, you big lizard.” Her head swiveled over to my side as I started climbing onto her back.
::I never thought you would be riding me one day.::
“Well, it’s like every kid’s dream.” I pulled myself up to the saddle, strapping in my legs.
“Get chosen by a dragon. Go on adventures. Kick butt.” I tied down my right arm, snapping the hook in place and wrapping the cloth around my elbow. I gave it one last pull. All secure.
“And for the record, if this is how I go out, then I’ve had a good run.” I looked up to see Aria’s massive eyes staring at me, her neck contorting in ways that no human ever could. Her diamond eyes were sparkling with emotion.
::Don’t you dare die.::
This was followed by a sloppy lick on the face before she turned away. I could feel her muscles tense as she prepared to take off. Her massive wings spread across the entire structure, laying waste to even the tallest platforms.
“Cute, but you know I have to—aaaaaaah!” I screamed as we lifted off, the entire structure groaning.
Wind sheared across my skin as she blasted right through the top of the roost. I was blind for a moment as my eyes adjusted to the morning sun, before a firm crash sounded from the ground below. We were up in the air, overlooking the entire city. Even the great Castle Mithil looked tiny in comparison.
Aria landed with a thump on top of the Acadamae, before letting out an earth-shattering shriek. No person nor dragon was spared to her challenge.
::Lazarus! Show yourself!::
* * * *
It didn’t take long for my half-brother to emerge. He was massive, wrapping himself around the entire castle while his wings blotted out the morning sun. I felt fear in my heart as the two of us spread our wings. He was bigger than me, a terrifying advantage to have against a fellow dragon. I was afraid, yes, but Charlotte’s presence reminded me of the stakes. We could win just this once.
::Aria. I thought I had made myself perfectly clear. Yet you are here itching for a fight.::
His telepathic voice echoed across the city, as citizens came out of their homes to stare at the two dragons roaring challenges at each other. This had never happened before, and if I was capable, this would never happen again.
::You told me to hide myself from view, because my existence would disrupt your so-called stability. Clearly Cestra no longer wants stability, if I have been chosen as a dragon.::
I could watch the gears in Lazarus’s mind turning at my rebuttal. If he accepted me into the crown, then he was accepting the very thing that could’ve undermined his rule, but worse. On the other hand, it wasn’t like he could ask me to go into hiding again. Once a dragon, always a dragon.
::I told you to go into hiding for the good of the people, but it seems you selfishly yearn for the crown. I will put you down like the rabid dog you are.::
With a roar that shook the very ground he issued his challenge. With a roar of my own I dived towards him, claws outstretched for the fight of my life.
::If you cannot see that you are denying a child of Cestra her birthright, then fine! We shall settle this by blood and claw!::
* * * *
Human ears were not made for dragon roars. I could feel pain with each of Aria’s shrieks and Lazarus’s deep booming shouts. No wonder we couldn’t fight dragons, when just their roar alone causes all our ears to bleed!
As Aria dived for Lazarus’s throat I drew my rifle at the massive dragon. Now that I had a better look at the king, I’d say that we made the right choice. If I thought Aria was huge then he was absolutely massive. He was larger than Castle Mithil, with his tail casually drooping onto the streets below. Even if we might’ve had the upper hand in preparation and technology, it felt like an underdog fight.
Come on, one shot. With a flash of the muzzle I saw him stagger slightly, the bullet having grazed his muzzle. So much range! With my opening shot Aria had taken the initiative, lunging at Lazarus with wings outstretched.
“Go get ‘em, girl!” I shouted before bracing myself against her, feeling her massive wings thrusting forward.
Before the fight, I had hooked my gun onto my shirt just in case I lost my grip on it. Now I was using it to attempt a one-handed reload. There was no real way to not hold on for dear life with Aria in the thick of combat.
I leaned down as much as I could, bracing the rifle against my right arm while holding on for dear life. I could hear crashing of stone and crystal as Castle Mithil crumbled from Aria’s impact. Sprays of building material bounced off Aria’s scales as plumes of dust rose from the two dragons duking it out.
“Come on…come on…” I thought out loud as the breach shuttered. A lull in the action. With a swipe and a slam, I jammed the second round in. Time for shot number two.
Before I could even get a proper view, a spray of white scale splinters flew just meters from where I was. I reflexively ducked, my heart fluttering with worry. It didn’t help that I couldn’t tell who was hurt.
When I raised my head again, rifle drawn, my eyes stared down into King Lazarus’s massive silver gaze. While Aria had managed to smash him into the castle, he had recovered and was now clawing away at her right rear.
The one where Coronacht was housed. Blue blood poured from the wound, as his assault had torn most of the scales off her right flank. Aria’s was desperately trying to wheel around, her wings spread high to avoid injury, but Lazarus no longer had her in mind. He was looking right at me.
It was my turn to prove my worth.
“Aria, fly!” I shouted as I raised the rifle. I needed one shot, one perfect shot. I could feel Aria’s muscles tense as Lazarus’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t have to kill Aria. He just needed to end my existence.
With a flash, he reeled back, his left eye gushing blood. His massive eyelid sloshed down as blueish blood poured out from the shot, as he watched the two of us take off. I could feel the wind howling at my cheeks as we narrowly avoided a lazy claw swipe.
“Haha! That’s what you get for hurting my girlfriend!” I shouted in gleeful exuberance as the breach clicked open, readying itself for a third shot.
Aria was wheeling around for a final flyby attack. I took the time to reload, but even from this distance I could tell that I had only bought us time. Lazarus wasn’t out of balance. He was ready for us.
“Aria! Lazarus’s…” I began, but she wasn’t listening. She was dead set on ending this as quickly as possible, even if Lazarus was luring us into a trap.
“Fine! Just go!” I screamed as I swung the rifle around my back. We were going for the lance strike. As she began to dive, I undid the hooks keeping my legs in place, the wind blasting against my face. Just as I was getting ready for the lance drop, Lazarus sprang to the air as well. He was going right for her underbelly!
If Aria broke and flew straight up, we’d lose the one opportunity we had for a quick battle, and leave us with Lazarus trailing us in the air. If we took the dive, then Aria was going to get hurt. Maybe even killed if I didn’t pull it off.
::Don’t cry for me.::
