*Boom!*
"What the hay?" Silver flew in the direction of the explosion. As she got close, she found a field that was littered in craters, no doubt from explosions. And near one of the craters was... "Smolder."
Sure enough, the orange dragon was standing there, staring at Silver. There was no sign of familiarity in her eyes. Or any emotion, for that matter.
Silver swallowed. "It's okay. It's just an emotionless statue. Don't be afraid to hurt it." She summoned the Gunlance. "Don't be afraid to destroy it."
"Silver? Are you okay?"
She bit the bottom of her beak. "I'll be fine." She launched towards the effigy of her friend, ready to strike. The two locked eyes... then Silver squeezed her's shut.
*Boom!*
Silver was sent flying.
"Oi! What's going on? Why did you close your eyes?"
"I think I get it." Ladybug put her hands on Silver's shoulders. "Don't think of that as Smolder. Think of it as something between you and Smolder. Something you need to get rid of in order to see Smolder again."
Silver righted herself. "Right. That thing is between me and my friends. And I can't let it stay in the way!" Silver charged towards the animated statue with a war cry.
As soon as Silver was in range, it held up its hand and created an explosion from its palm. Silver rolled out of the way of the way at the last moment.
"Those explosions are short range." Mipha wasn't there, but she still saw what was happening. "You need to keep your distance."
"I wish you said that before I sprained my wing!" Silver swapped the Gunlance for Sakanade. "Luckily, I have options."
A pink mist filled the area. Silver continued to watch and avoid the statue as it continued to attack her. "How long does this take to kick in?"
Shinji rubbed his chin. "It's supposed to be an immediate effect."
"Anything I need to do to trigger it?"
"Just will it."
"I've been willing it, and nothing is happening."
"If it's the mist, then nothing is going to happen."
"Ah, good point, Mipha. Your opponent needs to smell the scent of the mist in order for Sakanade to take effect."
"Well, that only leaves me with one option." Silver switched the sword out for the yo-yo and threw it. The statue dodged it, grabbed the string, and made another explosion, destroying the string. Silver promptly removed and returned the yo-yo, fixing it.
The statue put its hands on the ground and created an explosion, sending it rocketing towards Silver. Silver did a front flip over it, landed before it did, and threw the yo-yo at it, wrapping it around the wings.
"If you travel by explosion, then you don't need these!" With a hard yank, Silver ripped off the wings, leaving only rocky stumps.
The statue looked straight at Silver as if it didn't notice its wings getting torn off. Another explosion and it flew straight into the air. Silver immediately ran towards a nearby cliff. The statue crashed into the ground, then created another explosion that launched it towards Silver.
Silver rolled onto her back, kicked her hooves into its stomach, and forced it over the ledge. Silver looked over the ledge. The effigy of her friend had latched onto the cliff face straight below her.
"That should buy us some time. Mipha, can you-" Silver was interrupted by a shaking in the ground below her. A second later, the ledge she was standing on gave out, crumbling to pieces.
Silver's sprained wing kept her from flying. Mipha was holding it, trying to heal it, but Silver could tell there was a more pressing issue. She was falling straight towards Smolder. Smolder's hand was stretched out like she was reaching for Silver.
Her wing wouldn't heal in time.
If it even healed, she wouldn't have time to get away from impending doom.
Silver closed her eyes tight.
*BANG*