Escutcheon appeared in a flash of gold behind one of the pillars. The fire poured through the gaps of the pillar. Escutcheon's eyes widened as the Choler's horn lit up with an aura of purple and black. The spell exploded as it struck his golden magical shield. He really wished that Mother had taught him combative spells, sure at home they would have been useless but they would be really handy right about now.
"I will rip you. I will tear you."
"Yeah I've heard it all before." He lunged to the ground as his shield vanished. His focus shifting to focusing the magic of his horn on to his assailant, in only a second the golden bolt struck the Choler blasting them off of their hooves to the wall behind them. They fell limply to the ground. "No, no, no, no." He ran over to the downed Choler. "Please don't be dead." He pulled off the mask revealing a mint green mare, her face was contorted winkles forming a constant scowl. He sighed in relief as he felt her breath. Only then did he notice that the fire had stopped pouring into the gap between pillars. His ears flopped back.
"You would have made an great Choler, pity you're to companionate. It makes you weak, Like this mare." He looked over his shoulder looking up to the vaulted ceiling. "This is a world were only the strong deserve to thrive. The weak may live so long as they serve. I could have made more, but you would rather help the weak than let them stay where they belong. So, now you serve only to be an example." Fire spewed from the dragon's mouth.
He flashed into existence back on the top floor. The unconscious mint green mare with him. He dragged her into a corner as he tried to figure out how he was supposed to beat a dragon. The ground started to shake. "Crud." He ran for the exit. Only for the ground under his hooves to erupt a red claw grabbed him. The red dragon continued through the pyramid breaking through the top.
"I want you to see this. I want this to be the last thing you know. Know that you failed." The ruby in the other claw glowed blood red as visions of the battle below flooded his mind. Homes were burning to the ground. Pythagorean's estate was under siege the small aura shield around it being assaulted from all sides by dark magic. He was horrified to see visions that had bird's eye views of the battle to see them swooping down and attacking unicorns, earthponies, even fellow Thestrals. One last vision flashed through his mind, Clover the Clever casting a spell on a blood red ruby. "Do you see now colt. To side with the weak is weakness." He squeezed causing Escutcheon to scream. He heard several sickening cracks, black spots crept along the edges of his vision. "Now it's time to die." He felt the dragon's grip loosen, the wind whipped around him as he fell back down into the pyramid, plummeting to his death.
"Escutcheon!" A blur shot down into the hole. It caught him moments before he hit the ground. Her leathery wings flapping as hard as they could as she flew around the room. Bolts of dark magic shot all around, she swopped down low landing blows on any Choler still standing, before landing in a shadowy corner. A bile tasting liquid oozed down his throat, a moment later his bones snapped back into place, and his vision became crystal clear.
"Dusk." The bat pony filly smiled pulling him into a hug. "Thanks."
"Where are you?" The dragon slithered back down into the vaulted room. "I feel it, that flying mouse has undone what I did. How dare weak undo what the strong have done. You will regret that she has. I will break you, I will fill you with as much pain as I am filled with fury. Until you beg and bow before me, pleading for it to stop."
"He'll never bow to something like you!" Dusk flew out of the shadows ramming into the dragon's head. Escutcheon jumped out and joined her. Firing bolt after bolt of golden energy at the dragon. He knew what he had to do. He had to get to the ruby, if he could he knew he could end this. He got ready to teleport.
"Oh but won't he?" The dragon grabbed Dusk from the sky. Holding her tight, dread broke his focus, and the spell died on his horn. He squeezed out a long and draw out wail from Dusk. "Now colt have you learned your lesson, or do you have any compassion left?" Escutcheon watched in horror, his heart stopping in his chest. "I see. Well then show this flying mouse how wrong she was. Bow, and I'll spare her, and vent my fury on you instead. Bow to me and you save this weak filly. Or don't show her that only the strong make it." He began to panic, he looked away from the dragon to the filly he had spent the last week with. Her tears made his decision. He head bowed, in defeat and he got on his knees.
"Escutcheon."
"See this is what happens when the strong care for the weak." He dropped Dusk and inhaled. A second later fire spewed from his mouth. Escutcheon was tackled thrown to the side, away from the concentrated magical flame.
"Dusk, No!" The magical flame forced its way into her. She screamed, wailed, and flailed around. Escutcheon teleported her to him and then teleported behind some rubble. "Dusk no, please be okay." He fumbled through his bag pulling out his red potion. He put the bottle to her mouth. "That's right every drop, Dusk. Just get better. Please."
"Kill me. Please just make it stop." Her body was contorted in pain. Escutcheon's face went hard. He gently lowered her to the ground, and wiped the hot tears from his eyes.
"You'll regret this." He climbed over the heap of rubble. His only coherent thoughts were on killing this dragon. It had to die. His horn pulsed as black and deep purple replaced his usual golden aura. He felt cold, it didn't matter. "I'm ending this now!" The dragon turned to the face him, only to be struck by the bolt of dark magic, followed by another, and another, and another. The dragon roared, dropping the ruby as it was pushed back. "Now I'm going to end this. I'm going to end you." He turned to the ruby. His blood froze at his reflection. He gawked in horror at what he saw, before bowing his head, as hot tears started burning his eyes again. The dark aura faded as he tapped the ruby with his horn, the golden hue returning.
"No!" The dragon roared. A red claw swept across the ground swatting him into the air as the ruby turned to dust. He hit the wall with a thud and crack, as his head met the hard stone. He was filled with pain, which faded as he fell with another thud to the ground. His vision fading the last things he saw before slipping away was the arora above him, and a shadow descending. He smiled. They were going to Dusk.