Thousands of cheering spectators stood around the arena where two dragons would soon fight to the death.
"I dont know if i can do this," said Karina to her father.
"Of course you can. No dragon in all of Ayria is a match for Aurora," He replied, shifting his armor so it was more comfortable. She sighed, knowing that her father would just say the same thing if she mentioned that Aurora had gone blind in her right eye and hurt her leg in the last Dragonfight. Across the arena stood Jack. His Dragon would take take on hers. He stood confident, with an aire of dignity. His sword clipped to his side gave her the impression that he was a warrior.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the second Dagon Wars Championchip match!" Shouted a man. The Arena master. Cheering and clapping so loud it hurt her ears exploded all around.
All they want is blood. They dont care the outcome, they just want one of us to die, came Aurora's voice in her head. She heard it clearly over the shouts of the crowd.
I know. You dont have to fight, you know, she thought, knowing her dragon would hear her.
I will fight. I am not a coward, she snarled back defensively.
"Now, everyone, please give a warm welcome to Edge, the fire-spouting Red dragon! His handler, Jack, raised him from a hatchling! Their bond is strong! They might have what it takes to win!" The red dragon spiraled down from the sky, landing in the massive arena with a resounding boom. He spouted flames into the air and let out an impressive roar. There was more thunderous applause, and the Arena master held up a hand for silence. Everyne quieted.
"Also raised from a hatchling, please welcome the Ice-Spouting White Dragon Aurora, the current champion of Dragon Wars!" The cheering started even before Aurora was in view. She swooped low, spraying liquid ice onto the arena that froze on contact, then landed in the center, letting out a roar that easily topped Edge's. Her pearl white scales flashed in the rising sunlight, and her claws looked freshly sharpened. Her right eye was closed, a nasty scar going through it and down her face. She obviously favored her hind left leg.
"On my count, the dragons will fight to the death! Are you ready! Three...Two...One!" The announcer said from his position in the tower beside the fighting platform. There was utter silence. Both dragons stared at the other. neither willing to back down. Lethal snarls rumbled across the floor. She felt Aurora's heartbead in time to her own.
Finally Edge let out an explosion of fire, which Aurora easily countered with a blast of ice that froze the fire in the air. It fell and shattered on the ground and she took off.
The fight was on.
Karina watched from the sidelines as th red chased her aroud the sky, his long wings easily keeping pace with her shorter ones. She wanted desperately to cheer her on, but Mindspeak would only distract her.
Aurora sailed through the air, twisting this way and that, easily dodging the blasts of scalding fire Edge would send her way. He flew quickly, keeping up with Aurora was obviously not hard for him. He was toying with her, waiting for her to tire.
Finally, Aurora flipped around in the air and had a blast of ice arcing twoards Edge so fast that he had no time to react. The ice spray hit him full force in the chest, hardening and freezing his scales. He let out a roar of fury and pain as he spiraled to the ground, slamming into the earth with enough force to shake the ground. He stood again, shaking off the blow as though it never happened, and jumped again into the air, searching for his opponent.
And there she was. Aurora streaked down from the sky and drove him back to the earth. They hit the Arena so hard it buckled under the sheer weight, collapsing into a pile of dust and rubble. There was silence. The tension in the air was thick as everyone waited.
Suddenly, from the pile of stone burst aurora. She flew quckly, climbing into the air with amazing speed. Edge climbed out of the mass and flew after her, blood dripping down his face from the gash to his forehead.
"Go, edge! You wont give up!" Screamed Jack. Edge flew faster and faster, gaining with amazing speed. Soon he was on her right side, flying beside her. Aurora, being blind in her right eye, took no notice until he lashed out with his clawed hand and delivered a painful tear to her wing.She whipped around and roared, lashing out with her feet and scratching his face. He looked up at her, malice and hatred burning in his eyes. Aurora opened her jaws, preparing to deliver a blast of ice, but he was faster.
The explosion of fire rang out, so loud that many of the spectators covered their ears, cringing. The shockwave of heat caught many trees on fire, and the inferno lit up the sky, spreading all directions. Neither dragon was visible for a long moment. Then, out of the air, plunged Aurora. She fell, limp and lifeless, to crash into the mass of stones that was once the arena. There was stunned silence, then deafening applause and cheering.
"Aurora!" She screamed, climbling over the stones to her dragon's side. She heard Aurora's labored and ragged breathingas she ran to her. Blood covered her scaled face and her wings were nothing but charred flesh and bone. "Aurora," She sobbed, gently running her hand down the dragons face, not caring of the blood. She opened one massive, blue eye, looking directly at her.
I'm sorry, Karina, She said through Mindspeak.
"Please, Don't die!" She said, voice cracking. Edge landed near them, head held high, triumphantly roaring and flaring his wings. Aurora growled, so soft only she could feel it.
I will not die in vain, Said the dragon, shifting. The cheering stopped and Aurora struggled painfully to her feet. The leg that was hurt dangled uselessly. Her wings remained unfolded, and a gash on her side poured blood. She turned to face the oblivious red dragon.
"Edge! Watch out!" Screamed Jack. Edge turned, and, with her dying energy, Aurora sent a blast of ice to match the fire that delivered her fatal blow. It hit him full on in the face. Ice froze in his mouth and nose, cutting off any air. It froze his eyes and ears, flowing down his neck and back and coating his wings. After a moment of struggle, Edge's lifeless body fell to the ground.
Please, forgive me, said Aurora, falling to her side. She closed her eyes And, with one final breath,she died.
The silence in the arena was shocked. Nothing like this had ever happened before. Jack ran to Edges side, screaming for him to wake up, trying to clear the ice from his mouth. Aurora's bloody body lay in front of her.
"Karina," She heard. Her father.
"What?!" she shouted, spinning around. "This is your fault!" Her father gave her an odd look.
"What is my fault? Karina, you have to wake up," Karina felt her head grow fuzzy.
"What? What do you mean?" She asked.
Karina opened her eyes. Her father stood over her, concern shining in his eyes. "Sre you all right? It seemed as though you were having a pretty bad dream," He asked. She nodded, thoough she shook with fear. She could feel Aurora's presence somewhere in the sky.
Aurora? She asked.
Yes? the dragon answered. Releif flooded through her at the sound of the dragons voice, and she felt her eyes prickle with tears. Aurora, sensing her handler's tears, flew down and landed at her feet, lowering her head. What is it, karina? She asked.
Aurora, please, dont fight, She said. Surprise emanated from her.
Why do you wish me not to fight? She replied.
Aurora, if you fight you will die! Please, dont fight! for me? she begged. The dragon looked at her for a long moment, reading her emotions, her paralyzing fear.
I dont know your reasoning, but allright. I shall not fight. Karina let out the breath she did not realize she had been holding.
"..The ice-spouting White Dragon Aurora, the current Champion of Dragon Wars!" Came the announcer's voice. A chill ran down her spine as she remembered her dream. Cheering rang out, then died down as they realized that Aurora was still planted at Karina's feet. Karina stood.
"Aurora is not fighting," She called out.
"Karina, what are you doing?" Asked her father in a harsh whisper. She shot him a look, silently begging him to trust her.
"You are saying your dragon is not going to fight?" Called the announcer. She nodded back to him. "Yes, thats right." There was momentary silence.
"Then, by forefit, Edge wins! He is the new Champion!" Cheering again erupted, and she saw Jack look over at her. He walked over.
"Why will you not fight?" He asked her. She shook her head.
"Aurora is blind and hurt," She said. The battle would not end well. For either of us." Jack was about to question her, but she walked away, climbing onto Aurora's back andmotioning for her father to follow. He mounted behind her, not asking any questions. He knew to trust her judgment; she was not often wrong.
"all right, lets go home," She said to aurora. The dragon nodded in silent greement. With one mighty beat of her wings, her dragon lifted into the air and lifted into the air. Soon tey were hundreds of feet above the earth, sailing through the white, puffy clouds.She smiled contentedly, knowing how lucky she was to have Aurora. The dragon turned to the left, flying easily into the dying sunlight. Flying twords home.