The Dragonslayer

The Sea of Serpents waved softly in the early morning light. The cool blue waters softly shifted and swayed. Gently rocking three old ships that glided down the surface of seas. The early morning sun guided them. The ships were all aged, their years on the sea and in the hot sun were obvious, showing to even to one who had never been to sea. The wood was sun bleached and cracked with the scars of time. The masts and their sails shared a common tanned hue to them. Besides their age, one other thing unified these ships. A black flag with Celestia's Sun Mark crossed out with a sharp and bright red X. What that meant was simple. These ships were owned by pirates.

The lead ship was slightly larger and just ahead of the other two, forging the path with the largest of masts. The pirate captain stood out obviously in his tattered, aged, and faded Equestrian Naval Officer's uniform, especially when compared to the rags his crew wore. It boasted a light blue overcoat a with white undercoat. White being a “correct” color, but time had changed that color long ago. The gold trimming that should have complimented his uniform had been harvested for its worth long ago. The colors did not really compliment his pale mustard yellow color and foggy "white" mane, that color, like the white of his uniform, being subject. Being his manes natural color, his history of hygiene left his mane dirty, a color very close to gray. A long sheathed blade at his hip, and knife on his his chest.

The other pirates ran the ships, scurrying about, they had their duties. Some worked on washing and cleaning the deck. Others worked the masts and sails, and tended to the weaker boards on the boats. Most however, drank booze and talked amongst each other and muddled about.

The ships raced across the sea.
Five not so distant vessels tried to escape the pirate’s path.
From the speed of the three pirate ships, the five sea vessels would not get away.

“Make this quick, those friends of mine are going to be at the docks of Flashport soon.”
“Aye, very well. We'll sack dis dogs and head t’ port.“

"Oye! To arms lads! We're tak'n dem ships and spendin' the dough in Flashport! Keelhaul the lot of ‘em!" The Captain roared from the lead ship.

All at once the entire crew began to cheer and roar. In what was a rough thirty minute chase, the pirates were on the vessels. Within’ distance to hop on deck, the pirates began their siege. Invading the ships, the pirates fought with the sailors. Swords clashed. Blood splashed. Prayers were made, but none were answered. The Captain casually strolled down one of his target ships. Of the few who tried to face him, a quick parry and powerful kick gave him space. His crew dealt with them after that. Several being taken to one of the pirate ships.

A quick trip in the cabin, and he saw that this ship had no cargo. As he made his was calmly back to the deck of the ship. With a flick of his hoof his pirates left the ship. Another moment later and only the sea vessel's own crew sat on the ship bewildered at what was happening. With their cabins ransacked, and several hostages taken, the pirates rushed to their own boats. Confusing the non-pirates.

"Jus those two dere Capt'n." a pirate pointed out. He stood near his captain, on the bow of the
lead ship.

"Arr you su'ure?" The Captain replied, his calm demeanor never changing.

"Aye Capt'n. We checked. Da cargo is only on those two." The pony pointed out again.

“Oye, to deep with t’is lot den.” The Captain walked a few steps forward. “By da waters of my myself, Capt’in Dusk Bones, may the sea drown this lot slowly.”

With a hard bite on the hilt of his blade, the pirate captain Dusk Bones gave one mighty swing of his blade. As if the sea obeyed his order, as he swung, a harsh tide shot from the sea, smashing in to one of the sea vessels with a powerful crash. With only three mighty swings of his blade, three crushing tides rushed from the waves and destroyed the hulls of the three ships not holding cargo. Water rushed in and the sea greedily began to consume. The pirates rushed the other two ships. Their blades slicing the survivors. The hostages were beaten and tied up. They would be hung upside down from the edge of the ship, dragged along under the ship. Keelhauled.

“Git the lot on board.” Dusk Bones ordered. Wordlessly his men followed his order. The dead sailors were harvested. Their clothes and tools to be sold. One by one, ponies were being taken from the brig of the captured ships on to the pirate ships. Their chains now broken.

“Fuk’n slavers. Dis close t’port too. Fukers are askin’ to git dere guts trawled out on me bow.” Dusk said aloud angrily.
“Relax young one. Let us be swift. We have company awaiting our return to port. And these ex-slaves probably have had enough of the sea.”
“Aye, Levi. We have the tide and the wind. We will be to port soon.”

“In the swamp, that wretched odor of death and rotting was everywhere. Now here we are by the sea, plenty far from that place now, aaaaaand now everything reeks like fish and sea water, blarg.” Feral growled lowly.

Freya gave an audible sniff. “It’s not bad at all, that sea breeze smells pretty nice to me.” the light hearted griffin grinned.

Life gave a similar sniff. ”I agree with that statement Freya, as I also enjoy that scent.” the grim looking mare said too cheerfully for her appearance. Her gaunt face and dark eyes did not match her personality well.

“Yea, Feral likes to whine about the smell of everything. You get used to it.” War Bond teased with a light tap on the wolf's shoulder, which he promptly ignored.

“You do, it becomes like… a second nature kind of thing. Oh my! The sun sure is bright today. It’s a little warm. Feral is going to bitch about the smell of things.” Stone added with a laugh. Coming from the tiny colt, the entire party wanted to hide their snicker, not that they did.

“Fenrir used to do the very same thing. So he probably gets it from her.” Ziz added in between a hearty laugh.

“Indeed, she used to complain and whine on and on about bad smells for hours at a time. Nearly all of which we didn't seem to notice.” Goliath reminisced with a vigorous laugh from War's chest.

“Well I would have complained less of you two ever took the ten minutes to clean yourselves. None of these friends of mine ever kept clean for more than a few hours. One day to the next they would get themselves into something that reeked.” Fenrir defended herself with a growl.
“None of you understand. All you lot smell is clean air. I can smell every stupid fish in the damn harbor. And not just the ones being sold, include the ones swimming near the damn docks.” Feral added to the defence, taking away Fenrir's growl and replacing it with a glare of teeth and fangs.

“So, now what’s the plan? We couldn't even get a wagon. How do we get a boat?” War asked changing the subject to something notably more serious. She was looking to the town of Flashport in the sun of the early dawn. The city was made mostly of cobblestone buildings and roads. It was a rather large town, where many came from far away lands. All with a hope of making a honest living. At least that was the town motto. Somehow the harbor was even bigger than the town itself. The town made of mostly fisherman, mercenaries, families, sailors, merchants, and pirates. Mostly unsavory types.

Judging from all the ships that bore black flags docked in the harbor, pirates frequented the town more than tourists or civilians. Rumors of Flashport and it's hospitality toward anyone with bits were known far and wide, it was a hot spot for gamblers and mercenaries alike, as well as everything in between the two. The actual residents claimed that if you had the money, almost anything can be found in infamous little port town of Flashport.

"From the feel. Levi is still out at sea. She must feel us all together, so I assume we just need to wait for her. She is indeed on her way, just slowly." Goliath spoke calmly, but he could feel tension in the air.

"That may not be an option. You know our enemy is closing in on us yet again, correct?" Behemoth answered with his low voice, he felt it just as well as Goliath did.

"Indeed, and I am sure they brought reinforcements this time." Goliath put an angry look on War’s face. The non-mythos gave each other a particular look.

"War and I shall deal with Regal." War and Goliath spoke at once in their combined voice.

"We can deal with Habrok. Stay out the sky 'till we're done. Ready Freya?" Ziz stated almost solemnly.
"I never wasn't." Freya boomed with confidence.

"We can silence that Mandragora." Fenrir put the slightest grin on Feral’s face.
"I'll rip her throat out if I have to." The young wolf added.

"We'll can take any of the newcomers, right Greep?" Moth boomed.
"Consider them taken care of." Greep and Life gave light bow and then a curtsey.

"I'm sure Life and I can deal with just about anything." Stone smiled.
"Indeed, I am quite good in a scuffle." Life gave the stone colt a light tap on the shoulder and a quick tussle of the mane.

"But I don't feel anyone else..." Fenrir warned.

"We don't have much time. We should prepare, while we have the chance. Get the townsfolk warned and inside. Let us hope Levi can arrive in time to lend some assistance. We have a fight on us now, and with our backs to the sea, running away is not an option." Goliath and War ordered.

"They know we are coming. We've got a snake to deal with now." Regal growled lowly. The tiger pony paced in a circle for a moment, pondering her means of attack.

"That won't help them Regal. I shall have my vengeance yet. With the wind in my wings they shall fall." Hábrók squalled.

“Do not underestimate these guys or their ponies. They are skilled fighters.” Une and Mandragora waned softly.

"They do not know of us. That Dragon will fall to my blade." A rogue's voice spat.

"They do not. I promised you blood. Let us fight and settle some things, then you and yours can come for the kill." Regal smiled maliciously.

"Just do not get in our way when we start." A mare added.

“It would be easier to let us do the fighting. But have the fight you are looking for. And if these two get out of hand they are dead too.” a second rogue sneered.

Two dragons made their way to Flashport.

One walked with an extra two pair of legs, the creature was longer than normal dragons. It’s scales were a silky slimy silky white. Its head lacked a mouth at all. and it’s tail was very short. The most noteworthy things about it were it’s wide wingspan and he gapping and massive cavity in it’s gut. It’s mouth was an opening on its belly. In the shape of a V the rows of jagged teeth made it something one does not want to look at.

The second was a jet black dragon. Much smaller in size. This one did not seem to have any unusual body structure or appendages. The two monsters looked down at the town. The sun still not high in the sky.

“Let’s get this started then.” Regal smiled.

The soft tide washed the shoreline. It crashed against the wood docks softly. The caw of seagulls squacked. The sun still lower than its peak. The dawn had past, but the sun was still dragging in this morning. Feral sat calmly. Gazing out in to the sea.

Feral sang his song "What I've seen... Can never be... Lost my Hope... Lost my faith..."

"-Lost my life.-" Une began to sing softly with him. He hardly dained to notice her. Not even turning his head and gaze away from the sea.

-All I see... Is Bloody Streams

They sang together perfectly.

I close my mind...
what you see
its surreal...
eternity

lost my love...
lost their life
what you hear
trapped by fear…

Close my mind..

Dull my blade
What I see
is not real

Soldier's soul

Lost my mind
Lost the truth
I am damned

Lost the world
Lost them all
What have I now… but phantom blood...

“Wow. My love… I can't even begin... where did you learn such a beautiful lullaby?” Une smiled seductively at the wolf.

Sand crunched as Feral stood. His eye’s still out to sea. “Was going to ask you the same question.” he replied softly.

“I have my ways now. But so do you. I must say, you are so much more handsome up close. I am smitten by your mane alone.” she smiled that seductive smile of her’s.

Feral gave a deep sigh. “You should surrender.” he said solidly, yet he didn't even turn to her.

Une or Mandragora laughed. “Why would I do that Sweetie?”

“Do you value your life at all? I’ve already won our battle. So if you want to keep living, surrender. Even if you win. Atlas will kill you.” Feral stood with his confidence and pride.

“You think that? Do you really think that? He promised us the world you know? Kind of too good to pass up.” she laughed.

“Too good to be true. Don't be a fool. Surrender and keep living. Or fight me and die.” His words were like pressed steel.

“This is hilarious. Honey… honestly, I mean really honestly, do you think you can beat me? That’s funny. You sure make up for that ignorance with your looks.” she didn't drop her smile.

“Like I said. I already won.” Feral finally turned around. Meeting her eyes, he didn't even flinch.

“Now-you-are-going-to-say- You haven't won anything yet.”

“You haven't won anything yet- wha!?” Mandragora’s eye’s widened.

He had predicted her words and tone exactly. That confidence of her’s finally dropping.

“Nice trick”
“Nice trick-err” They spoke at the same time and tone again. This time Mandragora gave him a glare.

As she began to scold him, he spoke in perfect unison with her, even to the unique cadence in her voice.

“Bastard! Enough! Stop! How are you- MMRRR BE QUIETTRAAGGRRMM STOP IT!” She began to scream loud enough for it to hurt Feral. But he didn’t let her know that. Instead, they gazed at each other in pure and utter silence for a moment.

“I’ve predicted each of your words. You think I can't predict everything you will try in a fight? I already won, women are simple, you are simple.”

“Nevermind, you aren’t handsome.” His perfect copy of her words yet again only made her burn even more with anger.

“You know… you know she will not surrender yes?”
“Of course. At this point I’m just pissing her off. Making her stupid.”

In the air Hábrók and Ziz flew within the minds of their other halves, just a bit away from each other.

“Ziz! Enough of your running! My vengence is at talon!” Hábrók roared in the sky. Ziz and Freya casually flew on. Ignoring them.
“Pathetic griffin doesn't know her place.” the pegasus muttered
“Ziz! You killed my sister! Now you'll DIE YOU BASTARD!”

With a spreading of his wings, Hábrók dashed for Freya. The two responded with an artful dodge and laugh. “I didn't kill your sister Hábrók, you know that. You were there when it happened.” Freya shot up even higher, and the pegasus only followed her altitude.

“It was because of you she ended up dead! If she never met you she’d still be here! THAT MAKES IT YOUR FAULT!” Another rapid dash, this time the air screeched with him, the dodge Freya gave was just barely not enough to fully evade. She felt the burn in her side. She had been cut.

“The wind is his claw. Now that we have the altitude. We fight back.”
“If we never met, she would be full of sorrow. Or did you forget how happy I made her!”

The wind screeched again, prompting a much faster reaction from the griffin this time around, she attempted to counter with a strike of her talon. They met for only an instant, Flying by each other in an single second of time. With the green fields to the east, and the sea to the west, up that high in the sky.

It was only them.

Blood dripped from Hábrók’s leg. The gash on Freya’s side burned. The two flew in circles, their only company was each other. They never dropped eye contact. With a flap Freya dashed even higher. Hábrók followed with hate and anger in his eyes.

“Get back down here! I’m the fastest! I am the best! DIE MY BY TALON”

The air screeched again. This time The griffin turned around and talons clashed.
“Hábrók… IF YOU THINK I WANTED HER GONE YOU ARE A DAMN FOOL! HER DEATH HURT ME TOO!” A flurry of slashes and jabs filled the air. Neither pegasus nor griffin allowed themselves to slow down.

The two dragons made their way onto the the town of Flashport. Before they could get far a ghostly mare floated up and stopped them.

“Turn back. You need not die today.” she spoke, warning the two.

The two dragons laughed. The six-legged one’s laugh was particularly haunting to gaze at. The black dragon spread it’s wings and floated up to jam it’s face at the little mare that was Life Blood.

“Who are you to stop us?”

“That depends…”

Her shadowy cloak began to move on its own and shift about over her body. In seconds her body was completely hidden by the growing and stretching shadows of her cloak. The pitch black dragon backed away. As she began this particular ritual the soil beneath the six-legged dragon began to roar. The ground cracked and the six-legged dragon backed up swiftly. The black dragon was distracted by the shadows.

The ground erupted and the tusked and horned beast that was the stone Behemoth began to erupt from the soil. The earth trembled and shook. The booming was loud and powerful. It echoed loudly. As Behemoth pulled himself from the soil, the Grim Reaper began to sulk out of his cloak. Arms made of clutching arm bones stretched and caught a massive harvester’s scythe made of chalky white bone. The black dragon tried to back up more, but the Reaper’s cold bone hands gripped it tightly. The shadows hidden in the hood spun in the dragon’s mind. An instant later, a skull matching the one in his own head pulled itself out the dark and shadowy cloak.

“Who the hell do you think I am?” The Grim Reaper cackled madly.

Behemoth let out an even louder roar then the earth that quaked beneath him.

Regal strutted onto the docks. Her steps were completely silent, but the old wooden docks creaked at the weight of her body. War Bond and Goliath stood just as proudly on the docks, their back to sea.

"I see you felt us coming this time around. New tricks? New friend?" Regal sneered.

“That is not important. What is, however, is this attack. Stop it. No one has to die here.” Goliath responded steadily.
“You do.” the tiger responded swiftly, drawing a thin blade from her side.

“Honestly, that was more for your own good. A chance to save yourself. Figured I would be a good sport before I kill you. It was a honor to know you Regal. I’ll spread your ashes in the sea.”

“You talk a lot of game their scaly.”

“Enough. Let’s get this over with shall we?”

War Bond placed the hilt of Justice in her mouth. Regal slid into a more poised stance. The two both used a highly reactionary style. War Bond knew she had the disadvantage, as great swords aren't as effective at the close range duels like Regal’s rapier would pushing itself into. However, her great sword would have a mighty weight advantage over the rapier, meaning Regal couldn't really block and must rely on dodges.

Regal moved first, stepping closer until the two were within attacking range of each other. With a lightning fast strike, Regal shot low, sweeping with a slash at War’s front legs. War moved fast enough to rear, moving her front legs up and evading the sweep, countering with a stomp toward Regal combined with a swing of her massive blade. Regal had to leap back to evade, the blade of Justice barely missing her mane. The wood dock couldn’t handle the heft of the attack and the wood planks in the way of the blade were splinters. The dock trembled, shaking heavily and yet not unbalancing either of them.

Regal flicked her mane back behind her, re-entering her stance.

War lifted Justice to it’s attack position, moving it so she can strike quickly again.

The two stepped toward each other slowly. With a lunge, Regal thrusts for War’s shoulder, but a swift parry sends the thin blade up. With a massive and wide swing War counters, but Regal silkily slides just enough to evade the attack, then follow up with an attempt to slash War’s face. War feels the blade coming, and tries to evade. Goliath put up the scales, but Regal’s blade still gashed deep into War’s cheek. This all happened in just over two seconds.

War back peddled. Putting distance between her and her smiling foe.

The blade cut through my scales. That’s a Dragonslayer’s blade.
She was smart enough to come prepared.

This type of quick encounter repeated over and over. Regal starting, War countering. Each time one side would manage a minor hit on the other. Be it War nicking Regal's side or leg, or regal glancing a lock of War's mane.

Regal dashed forward again to close the distance yet again. War attempted the first strike this time, beginning with a very heavy swing. Before she could get to far into the swing, Regal rushed in shooting the blade for War’s eye. War smiled. Her bait worked. Stopping her own swing, War poised herself, pushing the hilt of her blade into the hilt of the thrusting Regal. Pushing the sharp blade away from it’s target. War threw herself upward. Pushing Regal out a balanced stance. War’s hoof landed square in Regal’s face.

That blow made Regal flinch back. As did the next one and the one after that. As well as the four or five that came after the third one. With a downward smashing swing, War sent Justice down and Regal’s rapier was shattered and sent sprawling down into the water of the docks. The dock itself also shaking with pain.

Regal smiled sadly. Half her face already badly bruised. “End it. Atlas is going to kill me anyway. Kill us all. You're a fool to think you can stop him.”

“You’re a fool for working for him. Sorry it has to be this way.” War spoke before Goliath could.

“At the very least I got a chance to see some old friends.” Regal glared.

War responded again. This time by bashing the hilt of Justice on the back of Regal’s head. For a second blood ran down Regal’s face, before she fell unconscious on the docks.

“We’re just leaving her here?”
“We aren’t taking her with us.”

Hábrók flew hard. A large number of gashes and cuts in his body, wings, and face.

Freya flew with a similar stress. She felt an aching burn in both her sides. Like hot coals pressed on her wounds. Even breathing hurt. Her deep breaths tried desperately to gather more air, but the sheer height they were at denied her by having such thin air. Hábrók struggled to keep himself balanced, the strong wind pushing him slightly along just as it did Freya. The flying was now taking so much focus their battle was slowing.

Freya smiled ready now to end her aerial battle, letting herself go, she began to fall. Hábrók took it as a sign of his victory. The air screeched as he slashed through it with an open-taloned dash down toward her. Freya gave a single flap of her wings. Hábrók dashed too fast, he was unable to slow himself. Now out of the attack’s range, she countered. Hábrók felt her talons do much more then slash him. Her talons deep in his chest, he began to fall limply. Freya falling with him, talons still deep in his chest.

“You fucker!” Hábrók screeched through the sound of rushing wind as they fell together.

“When you’re dead. Tell your sister I still love her, you bastard!” Ziz roared back.

“I’ll kill you! I’ll…” Hábrók suddenly felt his life begin to drain from his body. He saw his blood. Floating.

He fell faster than his blood.

“You bastard… you took her away from me… then you let her die. May you never sleep as we cry together for the rest of eternity.” Hábrók forced out painfully. He screamed those words. Bellowing deep from his belly, he wanted to be sure Ziz heard.

“I miss her too. You'll be together for the first time in eons Hábrók. May you enjoy the afterlife with your sister, as I continue on cursed with my memories of her.” Ziz said his final piece. Freya pulled her talon’s free. Hábrók continued falling with her. The holes in his chest weeping.

His vision fading to black. The last thing he saw was Freya beginning her hovering. With all his energy he picked up a talon and grabbed her wing.

“Something to remember to two of us by….” Hábrók just barely whispered.

With a single blade of wind.

Freya’s wing separated from her body. Blood poured. She let out a cry of anguish and pain.

Hábrók wrapped himself around her. Flapping with all his might, he slowed her fall. Sadly. He stopped moving while holding her. The two collided into the ground with crash. Only the earth to soften their landing.

Freya’s whole body ached. She pulled herself from the dead pegasus in a daze. Her body wanted to stop. But she didn’t.

“Did… Did he just save us from crashing?” Freya edged out.
“He respects those who best him. Come now.” Ziz softened.
“The other’s might need help.”

“Let me aid you as I can Mistress Freya!” Abvol smiled outwardly, galloping to her aid, large bundle on his back.

“Abvol!” Freya and Ziz shared their surprise and their voice.

Setting the bundle down, Abvol began to pull out medical supplies. Wordlessly he began to patch up Freya’s injuries.

Freya let out her signature smile. “Thank you.”

“I made haste here. I apologize that I could not arrive any sooner. After I bandage you, we must help the others!” Abvol replied hastefully.

“I’m not sure that they will need it.”

Feral Silver dashed and whirled about the sandy beach. Patches of sand were turning bronze as they mixed with his blood. Feral was covered in gashes and cuts. Blood matted his thick fur, dripping from it slowly. Every step he took left a fresh brown dent in the sand. As he ran, Une and Mandragora lashed at him with thorny vines, which stretched from her own body. He dodged gracefully, looking as if dancing elegantly about the beach.

Mandragora and Une were getting tired, most their protective bark had been ripped from her body. Thrown down into the sand by where she stood. Now, she covered her body in razor sharp thorns. Striking her would mean hurting yourself. From the number of deep bleeding claw marks on her body, and Feral's bloody paws, he had no problem with her defence. Her breathing was labored, and she was slowing. She had lost a lot of blood as well, it into the sand beneath her. Now all she wanted to do was let out a screech, but everytime she tried to take the extra air needed for her scream, Feral flashed to her in an instant, and he'd rend her with his claws.

He wanted to make vital strike, but in his haste, he had little time for aiming. With the holes in paws and the gashes in his hide, attacking hurt and left him open to counter attacks. The thorns on the whipping vines made getting hit excruciatingly painful. The sand sliding into his wounds stung. Moist with blood, the beach clung to him. Fatigue and sand were slowing him greatly as well.

They were at a stalemate. Only that Mandragora was rooted in a single spot, her vines reaching out from her mane and back while Feral was forced to dance around the beach. His stamina hitting near its limit, he decided that he had to end the battle before he lost it.

He came up with a risky plan. With a sprint, he dashed for the mare. He took four whips to his back, the vine snapped into his hide. Splattering blood across the sand. Feral fell, sliding into the sand with a hard slam. Stopping only a short distance from Une's hooves, Mandragora let out a sigh of relief. She began to move, stepping toward Feral's motionless body. She stopped, unsure of her victory. After a brief pause he began to take in a deep breath.

Jumping up instantly, Feral slammed a claw in her throat. As she choked on her blood a second claw viciously ripped into her body, splaying her blood to mix with his in the sand. He stabbed and lashed onto her flesh. She fell in a bloody heap onto the sand.

He did not look much better.

You did well my Pup.
Did what I could. Wish I could have ended that sooner.

"Feral!" a shout came from the solid ground away from the beach.

Abvol and Freya ran to him.

"Abvol! Good to see you again! Oh, Fuck! Freya! Shit! Your wing!" Feral grimaced at the sight at the one winged griffin.

“I’ll be fine. Damn Feral. I hope all of this isn’t your blood.” She grimaced at the bloody scene as much as he did her wing.

“Feral Silver, a pleasure. Please allow me to tend your bleeding wounds.” Abvol interrupted, already in the process of taking out the supplies needed to help Feral and his various wounds.

“It’s mostly mine. But I’ve lost more. Take care of Habroke?”

“Hábrók is dead. Not before he took my wing. But hey, I’m not dead so there is that.” Freya smiled, even at such a moment she remained optimistic. “I take it Mandragora didn’t want to surrender.” Ziz added looking to the still bleeding corpse of the half-plant mare.

“She was a slave to Atlas words. When we take his head, her death will be avenged.” Fenrir remarked.
“I’m the one who killed her. Not Atlas.” Feral spoke just after the she-wolf.

Before anyone could respond a loud and pounding roar filled the air. The group all turned to gaze at the source of the sound.

The shadowy symbol of death slid about, dodging the furious and angry claw swipes of a dragon far too frustrated to land an actual strike, the Reaper pestered the monster by making ranged swings from a distance just out of reach. The pitch black dragon had completely wrapped itself in fire. Blazing, it chased at the shadowy figure of death. As the two dodged each other. The belly-mouthed dragon stood attempting to engulf Behemoth in it's gargantuan jaw. Teeth scratching into the hard rock. Behemoth as a result, was lifting the beast over his back. The ground cracking and groaning underneath the two.

The Reaper made a sanity draining cackle and dashed back, practically begging for a leaping pounce from the flaming dragon. The dragon delivered, and made its move, both pouncing at the Reaper and falling directly into a swift counter. Greep slid his scythe low. The blade sliced clean through the creature's abdomen, spilling a river of blood. The monstrous dragon clutched at its wound, but still it's stomach spewed with gore. The Reaper made another wide and sweeping slash, plunging the blade of the bone scythe deep in the dragon. Dashing completely around the dragon circling the creature a number of times, the scythe lashed around in a full circle, digging deeper and deeper with each revolution. Pulling the scythe from the beast, the dragon fell sliced entirely in two. It screamed out loudly as it's flames began to creep into it's non-insulated organs.

Behemoth let out a laugh. He held the maw-mouthed dragon tightly. The dragon began to scream and roar in terror at the realization that it would soon be dead. Its scream of horror echoed throughout the entire town. Behemoth was sinking, his body lowering into the soil. Already more than halfway into the soil, the dragon was desperate. It clutched at the surface of the earth, clawing at it madly, upturning the soil it so desperately clung to. The pressure already crushing the dragon, blood spewed out of the ground from beneath where it was getting crushed. Similar to a geyser occasionally, blood would squirt out up high. It was like popping a particularly fluid filled piece of acne. It was far too late. In a matter of seconds the screaming stopped as the two were completely engulfed in the soil. Forcibly buried and crushed by the earth, the monster was defeated.

Life Blood now walked along to harbor. Her breathing was heavy and labored. She looked as if all that sleep she had gotten was meaningless. The young mare was visibly exhausted. She suddenly stopped, as a tiny hoof emerged from the sand beneath her, with a little help from Life Blood, Stone pulled himself free, looking just as exhausted as Life Blood.

“We meet at the beach now, correct?” Life asked between breaths.
“I believe so. Swiftly now.” Stone replied solidly.

“War Bond! Soldier of the Dragonslayers. You went missing when a force was deployed on an unregistered Titan-Class Dragon ranked Danger Level Triple S. Save your words I already know the truth. The whole truth. You must realize Ms. Bond, that our time has finally come to an end. Our time of Equine supremacy. It is time to stop resisting, and let the end come. Surrender to Atlas. Surrender to me. Let this entire mess finally end.” Leader of Titanslayer Mercenary Unit and once General of the Dragonslayers, Blood Tooth glared out from the start of the docks.

War was starstruck.

“You... You want to... What? I don’t understand.” War bond was in shock. She really did not want to believe what she was seeing.
He is working for Atlas, he is not on our side War Bond!

“Trust me girl. This war you have been fighting, that war doesn't end. I have been fighting it longer than most. I've slain more dragons than nearly anyone else has ever seen, yet still, still we are their victims, still they attack us. After a lifetime of fighting, they tell me I will need to fight more. I’ve had enough. Enough resisting. Enough fighting. Why drag this out. Why make this take longer. Why have the struggle. Why have the fight. Stop resisting them War Bond. Let them win.” Blood spoke as if issuing an order.

“You want me to... just give up?” War Bond whispered to the stallion who was her greatest hero and inspiration.
Do not listen to this fool War! Dammit!

“You speak as if you know everything Blood. You don't. I have lived for thousands and thousands of your lifetimes. And each and everyone of them has an Atlas. There is always something like Atlas somewhere in the world. And there is alway someone to stop them. Don’t hold us back because you have been broken by all this.” Goliath boomed out from War Bond’s mouth.

“That is exactly my point Dragon! Every time there is peace, there is something that wants to end that peace! No matter how many times we fight to keep the good, something wants to take it away! Enough! It's pointless! Just stop the struggle! Why bother with the violence! Look at this! Two more dragons brutally murdered! Look at the blood on the beach, the blood spilt by this pointless and meaningless war! All the lives that you and your “paragons of peace” have ended today alone!” Blood roared, his anger and sorrow burning in his eyes.

“Look at that town! Flashport! There are inhabitants who have nothing to do with a power hungry dragon who was born eons ago! Who they know nothing about at all! They deserve to live their lives, and they do not deserve to end up a pile of ashes for no reason besides that they were born. They are the ones caught in the crossfire! They are the ones you will let die! They are the ones you say have no meaning but to die! Look to the town you damn fool!” Goliath roared louder then he had ever roared from War's mouth.

“That’s all they will do in the end! That's all any of us will do! Eventually, we all end up nothing but dust. I'm trying to help you, to help you all! But I see you will never understand. I promise to give you a swift end.” With that Blood drew his blade.

Blood entered his battle stance, War delayed for a second before entering her's. Blood held his blade the same way War did, or rather she held her blade as he did. She had copied her style from him. Now they stood versus each other, the only difference was that War was stiff, very inexperienced in comparison. Her hero wanted her dead. Her Hero no longer had any desire to help anyone. Her hero now stood directly in her way.

Blood swung in a hauntingly similar wide swipe, War knew the style well. Dodging his strikes was easy. She kept backing up. Not fighting back. The reality of what was happening clouded her. She was running out of dock to back up on. Blood attack unrelentingly, swinging hard enough that her armor wouldn't mean anything if he actually landed a swing.

Regal slammed her body into Blood Tooth. "I'm not done fighting yet!" she growled.

“Yes you are.”

With a single shove Regal was thrown to the hard docks.

The sound of a ship not too far away could be heard.

The sound of water being ridden was the only sound in the air for that instant.

With a single swing of his mighty blade, Regal’s head fell from her body.

Blood painted the docks and Blood's blade Dragonsbane.

“She was warned not to get in our way.” Blood stated as he gave his blade an aimless swing, splashing away the blood clutching at his blade onto the dock.

“You bastard! She was on your side and you killed her!? What happened to what you stood for! When did you stop believing in anything!” War Bond snarled.

“When I realized that all of this, and I mean absolutely everything, means nothing. Tell me you pitiful pathetic girl, if in five thousand year, that's five zero zero zero years from now, from right now, nearly everything we know will be gone, then what possible meaning could it have? The answer is none. Is there any meaning in anything that we do? No. We are nothing more than grains of sands waiting to be pulled deeper and deeper into the ocean. When we die, the world keeps turning. When Atlas wipes out all of us, will the world care? No. The sun and moon will begin to move on their own as they did before us, and the world will keep on spinning. We mean nothing. It is nothing but a cosmic joke for the foolish nothings we are, t-to stand for nothing. For nothing to die for nothing. Weeping for the dead is pointless and idiotic, crying over nothing is the action of a immature child. This animal’s death means nothing. The world and everyone and everything she knew will continue on unchanged. My taking her head, was just as meaningless as her life.” Blood Tooth lectured like a teacher to a incapable child.

“You Bastard!... You… Son of a Bitch!" War Bond was pissed. "You say we mean nothing… you say that we mean nothing merely because the world doesn’t care…What about an infant’s innocence. A mother’s smile in pride of her child's acheivements. The blade of a warrior. The honor of us Dragonslayers. These are all things that mean something! Just because something is not physical doesn’t mean it’s not real, it doesn’t mean it has no meaning! You look at me like I am an ignorant child, but you are the one who really knows nothing!” War Bond shouted as loud as she possibly could.

The two blades clashed with the sound of hard steel on steel. The two grinded against each other in a shower of sparks and light. The flash of the blade. The feel of the steel. The two battled, swinging their massives blades with the hope that they would take the life of their enemy. Knowing that who ever landed a strike first would be victorious. War Bond could feel something burning inside her. It wasn’t like when Goliath was bonding to her. It wasn’t like she exhausted herself and her lungs were burning. This burning felt good. Felt empowering. Blood Tooth and War Bond clashed their blades, they made mirroring strikes at each other, the one who attacked harder got the edge and pushed. The more she fought, the more the passion burning in her chest shined.

Unfortunately, Blood Tooth was a very experienced fighter. And his blade was designed to kill dragons. The legends called Dragonsbane the ender of Dragons somewhat redundantly. The blade that took the first dragon life in eons. Goliath could feel its pressure, draining him by proximity alone, but he would never tell War that the blade was draining them. He stayed his tongue. He knew she needed concentration.

War let out a grin. Dragonsbane and Justice clashed and clinched, grinding with a shower of sparks again. War and Blood shoving their blades into the other with as much force as their bodies could allow. Neither gave an inch. A lance came whirling down separating the two. A pegasus in blue and yellow armor speared down at War who just barely dodge in time. The blade of a second lance glancing off her armor.

“Stay out of this Wonder Volt!” Blood snapped.

“Then kill her alrea-UGH-” Both midair and mid-sentence, a shower of rocks bashed into her side, throwing her off balance and into the sand with crutching slam.

“Keep going War!” Stone shouted. “You can do this!” Behemoth boomed.

Dragonsbane and Justice collided again in another power struggle. War and Blood were fighting to see who was stronger.

“Fuck that!” Wonder Volt began to get up, but found herself bound by a pair of talons at her throat.

“Kick his teeth in War!” Freya shouted to her friend. “C’mon War Bond!” Ziz squawked.

The dock rumbled faintly as Feral and Life Blood made their way on to the dock.

“Bare your fangs War!” “Rip him to pieces!”
“We believe in you War!” “You can do it!”

A beam of shining magic pierced Freya's shoulder. With a gaunt of pure agonizing pain. She fell limp. Star Swirl’s spell had left a hoof sized hole where her shoulder should have been… The wound was seared, it did not bleed. Star Swirl hovered toward the dock.

Volt was up in an instant. Wings out, she dashed to pierce War. Black colored aura grasped her wings and stopped her.

Life Blood was still as her magic held the pegasus in place. Volt laughed as saw an easy target. Volt tossed her final lance into the air lightly, then gave it a sharp kick, which sent the spear shooting through the air.

A split decision was made.

The ship was cleaving through the water not far from the beach.

Life hit the sand below the dock. Feral took the spear in her place. It gored him through his side. He fell motionless in to the sand beside his friend who he had just saved for the second time. Blood tainting the sand once again. The spell still dropped, and so did Volt. She landed in the sand once again. This time she grinned as she slid out her holdout dagger and began to spread her wings to fly toward War.

Only she did not move. She looked about, and found her hooves firmly placed and rooted into the sand. She looked about frantically, seeing the hull of a ship not far off, she saw the unmoving colt in the sand. “There!” She screamed out with a point. Star Swirl traveled with a blink, teleporting to get a better angle, a second of hesitation passed over him as he aimed his magic at the colt. But it was Stone’s mastery of earth kept Volt rooted in place.

A beam of magic shattered the stone colt, and Volt attempted to take off. But still found herself bound to the sand. She looked to the pirate ship now speeding impossibly fast toward her. The tide beneath pushed the ship toward her in a righteous fury. A ex-naval officer stood on it’s deck proudly, He gazed at her with the eyes of old warrior, eyes much like her own. The eyes of a stallion that had killed many times before. The eyes of death on a pirate ship. She had seconds. Looking down at her armored hooves, she saw the face of the colt in the sand. His sand stretched out like tendrils on a crab, they held her in place, making her stare at the ship speeding toward her. With a crash of sand water and blood, Volt was crushed under the boat with her last scream.

Star Swirl started another spell, but instantly found the same colt he shattered glaring at him as he burst from the sand like a volcano, only now the colt was twice the sorcerer’s size and had horns.

War took her eye away from Blood and worried for a moment on her friends, in that instant, Justice was struck and launched from her teeth.

Fortunately, with a well aimed toss, a Pirate Captain’s sabre appeared not far from her or Blood Tooth.

Both War and Blood knew the fight was over.

As Blood made a jumping slash down at her, She took the rum flavored hilt in her mouth. Dragonsbane cut deep into her side as she managed a timely sidestep, but she didn’t stop.

She fought through the pain of a blade slicing deep into her.

And the sabre found itself plunged deep in Blood’s chest.

The blade pushed the tide below them into the docks.

When she forced the blade up from the stallion’s chest to the stallion’s chin vertically, the tide broke the old dock.

War found herself in the waters of sea. The water itself red with Blood.