//------------------------------//
// The Battle! Part One! 
// Story: Dragon Quest VIII; The Adventure of Eight 
// by Roarin Thunder 
//------------------------------//

Typhon slashed downward with his mighty claws and smashed several of the large wooden arrows that had been coming towards his group. The other dragons unleashed breaths of fire and ice to stop incoming cannon balls and other weapons as two dragons broke from the group.

They landed on separate walls and began to attack soldiers who pulled out their weapons and began to fight off the behemoths. 

Shining ran over to a different wall while Eight went to a ladder and began to climb down, 'No doubt that the leader is going to touch down on the ground. I'll be there waiting for him!'

Eight continued down as Shining met the first dragon that touched down on the eastern wall, “Hey! Over here!”

The other ponies saw Shining and grinned, “Captain!” The dragon turned at the sound of that.

“You're the Captain? That's a shame, you don't look very impressive. Though I am inclined to ask your name, so...” The Dragon trailed off as Shining's horn fired up. 

He brought out a sword and a shield and smirked, “I'm Shining Armor! What about you?!”

“Senper is the name and I'll be the one to burn you to a crisp tonight... or not... I forgot about that...” Senper said as he scratched the back of his head while looking at the moon.

He looked back at Shining and then grinned, “Say goodbye to your friends!” Senper swung his tail upward and then over which knocked the soldiers off the side of the wall.

He then turned to the armaments and fired ice breath over them which froze them and made them useless.

Then he turned back to Shining and found that the pony had disappeared, 'Where did he g-!' Several slashes were made to Senper's legs as he fell forward slightly.

“Dammit!” Senper cursed as he swung his tail at Shining. Shining teleported out of the way of the sweeping tail and ended up in front of Senper.

Senper fired ice breath at Shining and he blocked it with his shield, 'I can use the ice as a spear just like Eight did when he fought Glaurung!'

Just like last time, the ice built up on the shield until it became a spike. Shining smirked while Senper looked confused, “Why are you smirking?! You haven't even won!”

Shining galloped toward Senper, “Taste this!” Shining brought the shield forward and the spike stabbed through Senper.

Shining looked up at the dragon and smirked, “Can I smirk now?”

Senper looked down and grinned. Shining's smirk turned into a horrified look as claws slashed into his two front shoulders. Then Senper smashed his tail into Shining sending him flying backwards and onto the ground. Shining slid for a few seconds and then stopped. 

Shining laid there unmoving as Senper tossed the icy shield aside, “No, you may not smirk because the fight has only just begun!” Senper's stomach didn't have a scratch on it. Senper patted his stomach and laughed.

“Do you really think that I, Senper would go down from that?! Looks like little Shining Armor is about to lose that luster!” Senper began to move toward the unmoving body.

“Just lay there! Make this easier than I had ever predicted it would be!” Senper roared as he finally stood over Shining.

“Die!” Senper roared as he brought his claws in a downward arc over the Captain.


~In the middle of the front courtyard~~


The other three dragons behind Typhon left to fight the other guards while he sat down on his back legs, 'How boring... Most of these ponies have fallen and the Princesses haven't even shown themselves yet... Where is their Dragon Slayer? I'll call to him if he's too cowardly to show up for battle!'

Typhon looked around the castle grounds, “WHERE IS THE DRAGON SLAYER?! I KNOW HE'S HIDING AMONG YOU! BRING HIM TO ME!”

Eight finally made it to the bottom of the ladder, 'Dang, that was a long ladder... Now I can fight!'

Eight then heard the resounding roar of a dragon, 'He said “Dragon Slayer”, so he must mean me! Gorbash called me that too...” Eight thought as he ran towards the dragon in the middle of the castle grounds.

“HEY! I'm the one you're looking for!” Eight yelled as he continued running forward.

Typhon stared at the small figure running towards him, 'Really? Is that truly the Dragon Slayer?'

Eight stopped in front of the dragon and smiled, “What do you want?”

Typhon looked at the small creature in front of himself, 'He stands on two legs... But can this really be it? I just... can't... believe... it....” 

Eight expected to be attacked on sight and he even expected having to fight almost immediately, but he found the dragon to be laughing at him instead.

“HEY?! What's so funny?!” Eight demanded as the dragon guffawed at the small Dragon Slayer.

“It's you! Our legends spoke of terrifying killers that stood on two legs, but you're hardly like what they described! I'm going to enjoy debunking the Legend of the Dragon Slayers! You will die by my power and then I shall keep your head for all to see! Are you ready, Dragon Slayer?!”

Eight drew his sword and shield and nodded, “I'm ready when you are!” Eight finished as the Dragon smirked at his foe.

“There is one thing that I must know about before we begin this bout.” The Dragon said as Eight nodded.

“What do you need to know?” Eight asked his opponent.

“What is your true name?” Typhon asked the warrior below him.

“My name is Eight! What's your name?” Eight asked the Dragon.

My name is Typhon, Eight and I will be the one to send you to your grave!” Typhon launched himself forward and Eight ran forward as well.

Eight's sword had missed Typhon entirely, but Typhon had struck him. Eight stumbled, but managed to stay up by using his sword as a support, 'Damn... he got me...' Indeed, Eight felt blood dripping from his left shoulder.

His shield sagged a little, but he still managed to hold the shield, 'I can't let that happen again!' Eight turned to Typhon who smiled.

“You're still ready to fight me? That's hilarious!” Typhon said as he laughed at the small fighter.

Eight looked up at Typhon, 'I'll have to be more careful, I can't let him hit me again!' 

Eight raised his shield despite his injury, “LET'S GO!”


~Meanwhile, on the other side of the courtyard.~


Two groups of guards were fighting against two different dragons and the dragons were pushing them back with minimal effort.

The first dragon roared at the groups, “Weakling ponies! Prepare to die!” The dragon opened it's mouth and prepared to roast it's victims alive.

Suddenly, a light interrupted him and the dragon bashed into the side of the castle's inner outer wall. 

The second dragon looked at his partner who was stuck in the wall at the moment, “Who dares to do that to Clawface?!”

“I DARE!” said another voice. 

The second dragon turned to the sound and then he began to back up, “You! Celestia! How dare such a weak princess put Clawface into a wall! I'll kill you!” Celestia watched as the foolish dragon launched itself at her.

Celestia's horn activated and summoned a hefty battle spear and then she galloped forward. She met the dragon halfway and then she stopped when he ran past her.

She then turned to the dragon while pointing her heavenly spear at him. The dragon fell to the ground as blood poured from an open wound on his side. 

“Get up! I'm not through with you just yet!” Celestia yelled at the collapsed dragon.


~Meanwhile on the other other side of the courtyard~


The claw of Senper pierced the ground where Shining had just been, “Where did he go?!”

“We believe that thou are no longer dealing with him any longer! We shall be thou's opponent instead unless thou would rather give up now?” 

Senper looked at the shadowy pony before him, “Luna! How dare you interrupt me when I was about to finish my kill! You'll pay for this!”

“We shall see if thou are capable of going through with that threat!” Luna's horn sparked to life and two swords appeared in a dark blue glow.

Senper charged forward and Luna stood in place, then she moved. Her movements were done in the blink of an eye and Senper had no idea what had just happened. Luna walked past Senper as he fell to the ground.

Blood pooled beneath him from the many slashes inflicted upon his body. Luna watched Senper and waited for him to get up.

“We heard thy name when you fought Shining Armor. Senper, thou surely must know that thou is doomed once We've joined in combat. We are not as merciful as some may believe, so get up.” Luna commanded Senper as she clashed both of her swords together.

Senper got up shakily, “So, you truly are as cold as the night... Perfect, I'll kill you and be heralded as a hero...” Senper trailed off as he finally stood tall.

His wounds dripped blood onto the stone floor below them as Luna prepared to strike. Senper opened his wings and flew into the air.

“You maybe good at ground combat, but are you able to fight while flying?! I doubt it!” Senper flew down and gained heavy momentum as Luna sidestepped where he slashed at her and then she tried to slash him back.

Luna missed and Senper went back into the sky. Senper then dive bombed towards Luna and she teleported out of the way. An impact was made into the stone tower and dust billowed out from where Senper hit.

Luna appeared on the other side of the dust cloud and kept her swords close together, 'We cannot see which way the heathen will come out on... We shall wait...'


~On the Eastern Wall~


The second dragon that had touched down destroyed the armaments on the East Wall. He felt confident that this day would provide victory. At least, until he met the pony named Rising Star.

“Do you honestly think that you have a chance?” The Dragon asked Rising.

“I have all the luck on my side and we have plenty of soldiers coming from the south end to back me up if I happen to fail. We'll see what chances I have...” Rising opened up his saddlebags on his side.

“I excel in sword combat, but my real strength is in summoning magic and destructive magic. I keep multiple papers with different circles in my saddlebags for any combat situation. This is the best time to use them, wouldn't you agree, Hermos?” Rising asked in confidence.

“Use whatever you like, it still won't change the outcome of this fight.” Hermos said as he prepared to charge down Rising.

Rising's magic finally found the sheet he was looking for and he set it down, “This will work just fine!” He reared back and stamped his hooves down.

Hermos charged Rising and prepared to strike him down when the paper exploded and a huge, heavy fog blasted all around the area where they were. 

“I can't see!” Hermos roared as he felt several slashes go through his wings.

“RAAAGGGHHH!” His wings were impaired to the point where he couldn't catch the wind with them.

"You can't escape now... I wonder how long you'll last...” Rising trailed off as the fog began to lift around them.

“Cheap tricks like that is not the fight of a true warrior!” Hermos said as Rising smiled.

“These tricks are enough to put you down...” Rising raised his sword and shield up.

“Ready to continue?”


~Eight and Typhon~


Eight ran and dodged Typhon's attacks, but could never land any of his own, 'Damn! I can't get close enough to damage him! He's way better than Gorbash and Glaurung! I need to come up with a better strategy!' 

'This Dragon Slayer is quick on his feet. I may need to go to my true state in order to win this fight, but then it would be to easy...' Typhon thought to himself as he stopped moving.

Eight stopped too and then he thought of the spells that Jessica had taught him, 'I can use Accelerate! With that boost of speed, I'll be able to land some hits!'

Eight raised his right hand into the air with is sword in his grip and then he cast the spell, “Accelerate!” A blinding blue flash enveloped Eight as Typhon watched with interest.

'What's this?' Typhon questioned himself as the light stopped.

Eight looked at Typhon and smirked. Then, Eight was gone and he appeared beside Typhon and slashed down the side of Typhon.


~End of Part 1~