Blackbird

“Me,” Bolas asked with an amused chuckle as he raised his magic-covered hands into into a punching pose, “You’re going to make me, scream? Laughable.”

I felt that tingle and my eyes filled with those embers from earlier. My body felt like it was vibrating every atom, every cell possible! The words came out without me knowing.

“Sylvan Power Rings, activate. Initiating Blood Limit Protocol: Call To Arms,” The gloves transformed into claw-tipped gauntlets of pure platinum that traced up the length of my arms. Three spikes jutted out from the back of my shoulder blade, making me smile lecherously as I tightened my hands into fists, hearing the precious metal scrape against itself. “Activation complete.”

Bolas laughed and I smiled.

“Engaging target: Big Scaley Motherfucker.”

Let me state that with this new, Blood Limit being released, I now took off at a speed that made my previous one seem snail-ish in comparison! I literally collided with Bolas’s face, sending the massive dragon reeling back with a pained holler as my shoulder made contact. It sounded like a cannon shot when I impacted, so I knew Bolas felt it.

He gave a menacing growl as he backpedaled and turned his massive body, the rushing of wind alerting me to foul play. Using the new Battle Gauntlets, I andgled them down towards the ground and shot into the air, just avoiding the massive claw that was caked in black magic.

From there, I angled my gauntlets so that my hands faced behind my back, effectively hurtling me into a perfect roll like Sonic’s spindash as I rocketed towards Bolas’s face again.

The spinning was making me a little nauseous, but I held my bile in and flipped out of the flaming wheel position, thrusting my foot out just as I came to the apex of another rotation. Due to the speed I was going at, my body was still locked in the momentum that forced my leg to come down disastrously on Bolas’s skull.

You know an attack hurts when you see the fucking wave of energy ripple through what you just hit! This disastrous attack sent Bolas to a knee with another roar of pain, effectively blasting me away from his position with the wind force alone.

Bolas raised a claw and two massive serpentine-dragons with red eyes shot out, spiraling towards me at speeds I didn’t really care for!

“Oh shit,” I thought in panic as my eyes widened. I then tried the same maneuver, thrusting myself into the air right as the black magic dragons blasted through my previous position, “That was close as hell! Bolas has some tricks!”

I looked back at the spiraling dragons for a while, watching them fizzle out into nothingness; which, in turn, made me look back-

My senses flooded with an unholy amount of pain as Bolas’s large tail slammed into my person. My ribs, and any bone in my torso for that matter, became gelatin under the devastating attack. I gave a grunt of supreme pain before flying back at the speed of a bullet.

My flight time wasn’t long, for I crashed/cratered into the side of a mountain which caused some of the most intense pain ever, I gave a pained holler as blood surged from my mouth, splattering my chest. My mind was a haze of smog and pain, making me squint and grimace as I fought off unconsciousness. My vision was swimming, and the black patches around the corners of my eyes alerted me to the fact that one more hit could spell the end of my little revolution here.

“M..Medico,” I spat out more blood as my magic had its way with the damage in my body. Using the palms of my gauntlets as braces against the rock, I ignited them once I felt ready enough to resume fighting. The black vortexes around the corners of my eyes did not go away, and even as I flew it felt as if I was drunk on some strong alcoholic beverage, “He slapped the shit out of me...”

“Why yes...” I turned around sharply while jetting downwards to avoid a claw slash, “Yes I did. And I’ll continue to do so until you yield,” Bolas was perched above me, his cold eyes boring holes into my soul as the sounded of heating oil filled the air. As I peered up at the giant dragon who was lifting his head and getting ready to expel a large jet of flame, my feet touched something that made my blood run cold...

...The ground.

“He’s cornered me into a chasm!!!” I mentally screamed as Bolas waved a hand slowly, blocking off all attempts at exiting the chasm through flight. My bladder never felt so loose...

“And now you’ll be punished, human!” Bolas yelled before belching his sky-blue flame at me. Since I wasn’t feeling the whole ‘Get burned to ashes that will be scattered to the winds’ vibe, my hands shot open and expelled flames of their own as I rocketed away from the place of impact. This let me avoid the initial impact, but as I looked back, I could see the flames coming like a flood.

“HOW MUCH AIR CAN HE SUCK IN!!??”

My body was aligned like an arrowed as a worried expression gaced my features. The only thought on my mind was how I was gonna get out of this situation without sustaining massive injury or dying!

“Where the hell is Luna at!? I didn’t tell her to piss off, so why is she not here helping me!?”

“Is everything OK, Princess Luna!? I heard screaming!” The Thestral shouted just as he opened the door to the room. He nearly gave a surprised yelp when his eyes came inches from Luna’s.

“We art fine, Private Shadow Break. We are...” She trailed off with look of shame on her face before her eyes brightened and she outstretched hoof, “Playing a game! Yes, We art playing a game...for...fun!”

“Are you sure you’re alright, Princess?”

“Go back to your post.” Luna snapped bemusedly, making the Thestral’s eyes widen before giving a hurried salute and disappearing around the door while closing it. Seeing that she was able to diffuse what could’ve been a disastrous situation for her reputation.

Her mind clicked, and she opened the door and angled her head out of the crack, making sure the most serious face she could muster was in place. Both of her guards, Shadow Break among the two, snapped to attention and saluted, “Anypony that chooses to interrupt my private time will have to endure the Lunar Training Course...twice. Is that understood?”

“Yes ma’am!” Came the chorused, but slightly tinged with fear, reply.

“Then I leave you to your duties. Let no pony enter,” She placed a hoof on her chin for a moment then looked back down at the three guards, “Especially if it’s my sister.” And with that she disappeared back into the confines of her room, closing the door and locking it with her magically charged horn.

She stared at the lock for a while, thinking about her orders and of the time before the first game. The time, to be more specific, where she was raising Nicol Bolas. From the time he was a tan and sky-blue egg, to the time he grew into a wyrm. She had taught him spells, spells that he went on to perfect alone while among his own kind.

Because of how well Nicol Bolas grew in stature and favor with the other dragons, good relations were instantly made between the nation of T’Rell-Vadriz (Land of Glittering Scales) and Equestria. The dragons were and still are a proud race, so eventually the teachings of friendship began rubbing them the wrong way. This, of course, brought about the first national dispute.

Where the throne room’s roof used to be, now towered large dragons that peered down at the sisters. The seven that showed up established themselves as the Seven Lords, even though three of them were female.

Tek’Narvis the Greedy.

Nell’Vrak the Black One.

Nix’Tav the Proud.

Art’Krag the Wrathful Obliterator.

Qull’Trim the Tortuous Sapphire.

Hal’Vara the Desired.

Yil’Plagnam the Coveting.

“Twas a wake-up call most severe, that meeting. I had wondered how they made the three day flight to Equestria without tearing each other limb from limb, based solely on how they acted around one another during the four day council.” Luna thought with some amusement as she walked back to the bed, noticing the peaceful visage of Silas Epista laying down with his hands behind his head.

The council meeting lasted four days, which mainly dealt with the concerns of each dragon lord and lady. There were three ladies to the four lords, who were all hard-headed in their own right.

Art’Krag was easy to upset, and every rebuttal against his requests for more land made him storm off in order to destroy something.

Qull’Trim had difficulty staying awake during the meetings, often falling over and causing unspeakable amounts of damage with his massive (fat) body.

Null’Vrak was always eating something, so in secret, Celestia and Luna nicknamed him the ‘Black Hole’.

Nix’Tav couldn’t stand being away from any type of reflective surface for too long.

Tek’Narvis had been pilfering some ancient scrolls and tapestries with his tail.

Yil’Plagnam was jealous of Celestia and Luna’s ability to fit into small buildings.

Hal’Vara kept making obscene gestures towards everyone in the meeting, flirting at every given chance and giving bedroom eyes at whoever made eye contact.

The meeting was Tartarus in a Hoovebasket, but thankfully Bolas and his best friend, Phalanx, was there to keep everything from falling apart. Celestia and Luna were close to just using their powers in order to wipe the irritating lords and ladies from existence itself, but it was Bolas and Phalanx that ultimately persuaded them to be more lenient.

In dragon culture, those who did not match the scale-scheme of the Seven Lords were considered gutter trash, which was exactly the problem for Bolas and Phalanx. Phalanx was an albino, the only one in existence at the time, and was heavily frowned upon by the other dragons in the conference. He was wise beyond all belief, but was constantly placed in check by the Lords.

Bolas was frowned upon for his beige scales as well, which didn’t float so well with Luna when the Lords decided to call him out for it in her presence. It took some serious strength and calming words to keep Luna away from Hal’Vara and Art’Krag, who were just as eager to fry Luna to smithereens.

The four days passed begrudgingly slow, but it was with great, painstaking patience that a treaty was drafted. Many laws were put in place, but the overall gist of the legal document was as follows: “Stay away from each other.”

Luna shook her head at the stupidity of the meeting as she climbed into bed. She was thankful for Bolas and Phalanx, although the former brought along a new line of thinking from the lunar princess.

“He was the first Albino Dragon...and he now currently rules as the self-proclaimed Dragon King. The number of casualties wrought from fighting him is a little too steep, but I hear he’s found  pleasant mate and bore for himself an heir,”  She tried lifting the blankets but discovered that Silas was an obstacle in doing so, “He’s certainly gotten comfortable.” She thought with a small frown.

Her face slightly reddened as she caught herself staring at his muscular chest for a while.

“No, bad Luna,” She rebuked herself audibly, “Do not ogle your guest! You will not pick up on Hal’Vara’s habits!” Luna put on a face of determination, snuggling up to Silas’s side. She let out a comfortable sigh.

“At least he’s warm,” Luna’s eyes widened in shock as she remembered something crucial, “I forgot about Bolas! I need to help Silas or he may not return!”

Her horn began to glow, her magic entering the dream realm as it sought out the familiar presence of Silas’s magic. She found it instantly, her mind becoming a swirling mass of colors before affixing on a plane with red earth and yellow smog.

Her eyes closed for a moment before snapping open sharply, the pupils gone as the whites vibrated seismically with her magic. And just like that Luna had made the journey.

I wiped some blood off of my mouth as I panted heavily, resting on a knee while my eyes narrowed at the huge dragon looming over me, casting a shadow against the blistering orb of light in the sky.

“It was pointless from the beginning, Justin. You should have known better than to try and challenge the hand that feeds you.” Bolas mocked, nary a scratch upon his body. I had thought that with my new power up, he would be a little easier to manage. Obviously I was wrong in that aspect.

I gave three more pants, “You know,” I panted, “You’re very prideful. I wonder if you have enough room for a brain,” Another pant, “Beside all that ego, y’know?”

Bolas narrowed his eyes before outstretching his arms and hands to the side, making sure they were fully extended. His massive feet began leaving the ground below him as the smog gathered above, swirling into what looked like a vortex of yellow clouds with red lightning flashing in between them.

Slowly but surely did Bolas make his way into the air, a mini cyclone building under his body while its winds whipped me in the face, making me squint as I struggled to peer up at him.

His hands began gathering orbs of magic, with the respective colors of red, blue and black. The orbs became infernos that segregated themselves on his palms, occasionally blending together. Then, all of a sudden, they decide to fuse and become one solid color of sky-blue somehow.

The earth trembled as Bolas’s eyes did the same thing Luna’s would do when she concentrated with magic, the only difference being that his eyes radiated sky-blue like his hand’s roaring flames. The sound was deafening, making me liken it to the time when I was caught in my burning house.

“Shiver...At the power of a God.” Bolas boomed as red lightning flashed through the sky and struck the ground, leaving huge craters that had me practically shitting bricks since I was too worn out to move out of the way.

“Your aim is shit.” I sassed with a smile, even though I knew my time was up. So much for creating the strongest guild in the world, huh?

“Yourfinal words are shit.” He responded, making my eyes widen. Bolas never curses! I’m screwed!

“Ah, hell. I’m sorry everyone, but my body’s reached its limits.”

“I had saw promise in your obedience, human. As it stands, it seems that for the first time in seven-hundred years, I have erred,” Bolas shot out a hand and it squealed like a chorus of a million whistles, “Now, I will fix my mistake.”

I lowered my head and awaited my end. My smile never went away as the faces of my smiling friends and Queenie filled my mind. As long as they’re smiling I can go in peace.

“It’s been real, guys. I’ll never forget you, but I really wish it wasn’t an option! I don’t want to die!”

There was a bright flash, a deafening explosion, the clap of thunder and the roar of a dragon.