//------------------------------// // The Battle at the Border // Story: On Alicorns // by Nra Vadumee //------------------------------// Once Dragon burst into the great Darkness, Pentimus sensed the intrusion at once and moved, fast as an instant, to the source of the disturbance. He looked upon the great form of Dragon, his golden eyes glowing in the perfect Dark, and knew, not fear, but challenge. The two combatants circled each other, Dragon’s immense form dwarfing Pentimus’. I come to destroy, yes. But not by the request of the Lightbringer. Oh, yes, of course, it’s all in the name of the good, yes? To destroy me, the great evil? No. It is in the name of Dragonkind that I destroy you both. Confused by this, Pentimus was distracted, and off guard when Dragon struck first, blasting a sustained wave of dragonsfire at the Alicorn of Darkness. The flames impacted the Dark Stallion with immense force, pushing him back before he regained his focus and rose a shield to defend him from the heat. It became quite apparent to Pentimus that, perhaps, he had misinterpreted the situation. Meanwhile, back beyond the Border, Lumos watched with her brilliant glowing eyes at the abyss, smiling as she watched Dragon’s fire lash forth. However, it also dawned on her that there were two Dragons flying for the Darkness. Yet she saw only one… where was- Suddenly, the Lightbringer was caught in between two curved rows of extremely sharp stones which were coated in a sticky wet substance, and felt herself being taken off the ground and through the air despite not taking off to fly. With a degree of shock and horror, she realized that the stones were teeth, and the moisture was saliva. She was caught in the maw of the other Dragon, which had caught her in its mouth and was carrying her into the Darkness. No, no, NO!! You STUPID thing, I am LUMOS, THE LIGHTBRINGER!! It is PENTIMUS you are supposed to destroy!!! I am not a stupid thing, Lightbringer. I am Dawnvir, of Dragonskind, mate to Dragon, and I will see you and Pentimus destroyed! Lumos, incapable of understanding this counter-trap, continued screaming in wrath and, as they approached the Darkness, fear. She knew that, if she were to enter the realm of Darkness, she would be vulnerable. She continued struggling, but it was no use: Dawnvir crashed through the Border, and Lumos was drowned in darkness. At this point, Pentimus had gained an even footing with Dragon. He was soaring about, releasing streams and bolts of darkness at his foe, while Dragon whipped his body about, attempting to swat at the alicorn. Finally, Dragon managed to succeed, and his tail whipped Pentimus soundly on his side, sending the Darkstallion crashing into the earth. When he stood back up, he looked about, and saw his rival, Lumos, being shoved into the ground, before the other Dragon began pummeling her with its great paw. Deciding it was best to keep this second Dragon distracted, Pentimus kept his attention on Dragon, but when he turned back to face him, he was met with another sound pounding by the beast’s tail. Knocked far back and to the ground again, Pentimus, hearing some great beating noise other than Lumos’ torment, stood again, but saw no Dragon. Until the Vessel of Undying Things came back to the ground, having launched into the air, piledriving the Alicorn of Darkness. Running thin of patience, Pentimus responded by blasting at Dragon with a powerful surge of dark energies which launched the beast off of him and aside. At the same time, Lumos had regained a sense of things, and used what power she could muster to blast at her assailant. It was not much, but it was enough to buy the Lightbringer time, time enough to crawl off from her little custom-shaped crater. While Pentimus started a counter-attack, she knew she had to flee for the Light at once if she desired to gain retribution for this betrayal. But when she took off and found some distance gained, Dawnvir snatched her up in her paws and hurdled her to the ground once more before releasing a burst of flames to scorch her. As this occurred, Dragon finally began losing the advantage. Pentimus was flying safely away from his reach, and was pelting him with powerful dark energy. The scars that those bolts incurred onto Dragon’s strong scales would remain forever, to be sure, but he was focused on the pain rending his body from those fresh scars, and on the opponent inflicting the damage. He could not outmaneuver Pentimus; He was too large, Pentimus had agility over him. Instead, Dragon focused on his only ranged method of attack: Dragonsfire. He released volley after volley of flames, each one missing its target, all while the bolts of darkness hit home. Dragon was weakening and losing the battle, and he knew it. Finally, however, one of his bolts of flames nicked Pentimus’ wings, just enough to send him hurdling for Dragon. Reacting on reflex, Dragon opened his maw and captured the Alicorn of Darkness in his teeth’s embrace before slamming him into the ground and releasing the full force of his Dragonsfire on the Darkstallion. Pentimus welled up with burns and scars as his screams pierced the Darkness, and it seemed that Dragon was on the cusp of victory over the Stallion of Darkness. That is, until he heard Dawnvir cry out. Dragon, my love! Help me! Holding his flame, but also his prey still, Dragon turned to see Dawnvir being beaten back by Lumos, who, once Dawnvir was sufficiently backed up, took wing and dashed for the Light. Dragon knew that if Lumos reached the Light, she could summon her allies to her, and then it would be over: He and Dawnvir could stand against her and Pentimus, but nothing more. If she gained reinforcement… Dragon threw Pentimus aside, and took wing to pursuit Lumos. Pentimus did not stir; the flames had left him burned deeply, far worse than Iras, and he was in great pain. Dragon soared forth, crackling the air around him with the raw power of speed, his quarry dead set in his sights. Dawnvir! Rise! The hunt is not yet over, my love! We must stop her! At her lover’s call, Dawnvir rose up and took wing at Dragon’s side, though she could not match his speed. Surrender now, Dragons! None betray the Queen of All Creation! You both shall pay for this… this treason! Time was running short for the Dragons; the Border was seconds away, and Dragon was seconds away from Lumos. He tried using his Dragonsfire, but the chase was moving faster than the flame; It merely welled up his face, blinding him for the instant he tried. He flew as fast as possible, but the Lightbringer flew faster. The Border drew closer and closer, defeat came nearer and nearer, and the Dragons began, for the first time, to dance with the prospect of destruction. Lumos burst out from the Darkness and into the Light, her face contorted into a maniacal grin of unparalleled madness, revelling in her victory, overjoyed that even if Pentimus lives, he is broken, shattered, of no concern. She would be crowned, at last, she would be made Queen of All- All of Dragon’s guts, it would seem. For in her early celebrations, she had failed to recall that she was being pursued, and Dragon, acting in desperation, haste, and quick thinking, opened his maw and clenched her in his teeth. Wanting to make her suffer, he mashed his teeth into her flesh, which healed instantly, but not without inflicting pain all the same. He swallowed, and the Lightbringer went tumbling down his throat into his gullet, trapped in a deep darkness where no light ever shines. Surrounded by darkness once more, Lumos was out of her element, and without her full power, none of her beams of energy even singed Dragon. He was unable of telling that she was even blasting at his interior. He landed on the earth again, safe in knowing that Lumos was imprisoned as long as he desired her to be, and neither he nor Dawnvir were harmed. With a glance, however, he noted the scars they both had suffered. Well, neither of them were seriously harmed, anyway. Looking back at the Border, he saw the burnt and pained form of Pentimus approaching, though he did not walk into the Light. Nor did he have malice in his eyes; no, his eyes carried exhaustion and pain. Dragon looked at his beloved Dawnvir. We have made victories enough. The time for peace has come.