"Ow! Oooooow~! What the heck was that?!"
"Oh, stop being such a pansy, Steel!"
When the posse regrouped, the scene before them was like nothing any of them envisioned. Steel was curled up on the ground, rubbing his claw. Flint, meanwhile, was holding an arrow in his own claw and shaking it at Steel. Needles raised an eyebrow.
"Do I wanna know?" she asked.
"I think we can guess just by lookin'," said Braeburn.
Flint snorted. "C'mon! He was annoying me by picking at this darn thing. What was I supposed to do?!"
Toro sighed as he dismounted from Braeburn. "We all thought you were in serious danger, ese."
"Well, blame Steel for being such a wuss," said Flint with a pout.
Trigger smirked. "Ehheh... And here I thought you were the type who would just let him suffer. Perhaps there's more to you than you let on, Mr. Flint. Ehheh... Ehheh..."
"Wipe that smug grin off your face," Flint snarled. "It isn't like that at all. Dragons don't do charity."
"Noble dragons do," Spike stated frankly.
"H-he's got you there, Flint," whimpered Steel, still massaging his wounded claw.
Flint let out a deep-throated growl. "Steel, do me a big favor and grow a backbone, will you? Don't just agree with whatever this runt says. Don't just suck up to the buffalo. Think for yourself for once, if you can think at all."
Steel blinked. "But every time I do that, you criticize me or beat me up."
Flint smacked his forehead. "Thinking for yourself and being a complete moron are two completely different things, Steel."
Needles folded her arms. "Translation: Whenever Steel does somethin' you just so happen to disagree with, he's bein' stupid."
Flint clenched his claws into fists and drew in a sharp breath. "Well, I know better than he does!" he snapped. "He wouldn't get anywhere without me!"
"Is that why you stick with him all the time?" inquired Trigger, grinning from ear-to-ear.
Flint scoffed. "Oh, don't act like this is one of those 'gotcha' moments. It's called 'tough love' for a reason. Steel might get on my nerves, but I never said I hated the guy."
Needles snickered. "Well, I'll be. Looks like your mission to teach us all how to be noble just got a little easier, Spike."
"Y-yeah. I guess so," Spike agreed.
Flint sighed and massaged his temples. "Yeah yeah yeah. What a shock. I'm not completely heartless. Hilarious. Now can we please do something a bit more productive?"
"Señor Flint is right," said Toro, sniffing the air. "Isabelle might still be around with those oxbow men. We need to get out of this canyon and continue our search for their hideout."
Needles looked over at the wounded antlion, who was still unconscious on the ground. She frowned.
"Are we just gonna leave this fella?" she asked.
"Um, why not?" said Flint with a shrug. "It's none of our business."
Needles shook her head. "He got hurt because of me. I'd feel just plum awful if we left him here to die."
"Did you not hear Toro a minute ago? We gotta get a move-on!" Flint insisted, waving his arms frantically.
"I know, I know!" Needles said hastily. "I-I'm tryin' to think."
Steel's eyes suddenly darted around the canyon, and he swallowed a lump in his throat. "Um, Ms. Needles? You might wanna think quickly."
"Why's that?"
"I do believe we're being watched."
Needles took a quick look around. Sure enough, she spotted several glowing yellow eyes in the shadows. They quickly disappeared, but the split-second glance she got was enough to get her heart racing.
"Okay, okay. Think, think," she chanted to herself. "What to do, what to do?"
As she racked her brain, the glowing yellow flame within her chest returned. Steel's eyes went wide.
"Oh no! It's happening again!" he yelped, ducking to the ground. "Take cover!"
"Needles, relax," said Trigger, wringing his claws nervously. "Y-you're stressing yourself out. I-I can give you a— ow!"
Trigger was interrupted by a smack on the wrist from Spike, who shook his head in disapproval.
"Wh-what? I'm trying to help her think," Trigger protested. "Th-that's the noble thing to do, isn't it? Ehheh..."
Needles shot a glare at Trigger. "Trigger, you really don't want to test me right n— *hic*"
She cut herself off with a sharp hiccup, causing a small wisp of flame to erupt from her mouth. The wisp opened two beady yellow eyes and yawned.
"Mmm. How long have I been asleep?" the wisp murmured in a tiny voice.
Needles blinked. "Um, what?"
The wisp turned to face Needles. "You appear to be puzzled, young mage. Is this your first time summoning me?"
"I-I don't even know who you are," Needles answered truthfully.
"Hmm. That answers that question then," mused the wisp. "Well, I supposed I should introduce myself. My name is Ocard, and I have been entrusted to be your advisor. May I ask your name?"
"Hold on, back up," said Needles. "Th-this is very weird."
"It, honestly shouldn't be," said Ocard, sounding rather confused itself. "Leaping embers, I've been asleep for longer than I thought."
"Um, guys?" said Steel. "I hate to interrupt, but we've got company!"
Everyone turned to where Steel was pointing. Marching towards them was an irritable-looking griffon with beige fur and sharp blue eyes. He was decked out in a khaki vest and matching pith helmet, and he had a musket slung over his shoulder.
"Confound those stupid Caanus Minors," the griffon grumbled. "They aren't here, either." He then spotted the antlion and shrugged. "Ah well. At least I can have a bit of sport while I'm out."
"Hold on a minute, ya varmint!" Braeburn called out. "What're you plannin' to do in that getup?"
The griffon turned his head, and his eyes bugged out. "My word! Young dragons, here? Accompanied by Diamond Dogs and ponies of all things? Th-this is scientifically unheard of, but I could get back into Maggie's good graces if I catch these fellows."
Toro's face darkened. "You work for Isabelle, cazadore?"
The griffon blinked. "I'm sorry, what did you call me?"
"Cazadore," Toro repeated.
The griffon scowled. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were insulting me, good sir. Don't you know who I am?"
The posse looked amongst themselves before sharing a shrug. The griffon stared at them in disbelief.
"You're serious," he said. "You really don't know about me? Jacques Moschet, world-reknowned big game hunter? The only person to ever catch a Shielded Thundercrab in the wild? None of this ringing a bell to you?"
"All I see before me is a cazadore, ese," said Toro, hefting up his cannon. "And that's more than enough reason for me to take you down. Señor Trigger, aquí."
Trigger instantly clamored up Toro's back and perched himself on his shoulder. "I suggest you surrender now, Mr. Poacher. We have you completely outnumbered. Thus, it can only end badly for you. Ehheh... Ehheh..."
Jacques smirked. "That's where you're wrong, my friend." He then reached under his wing and took out several hunting horns strapped to a single necklace. "My pets just so happen to be running around the area in hopes of stalling some buffalo. Once I call them, they'll—"
"So you are working for that Diamond Dog Isabelle!" Spike proclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger.
Jacques flinched. "Wait, what?! No, you dim-witted creature! It's the other way around! Why would I work for a lowlife like her?"
"Hey hey hey! That's my sister you're talking about, cazadore!" Toro barked. "No one insults the family of Toro the Bulldog!"
"To be fair, she has been quite unpleasant," Steel interjected. "You know, with the kidnapping of the dragons and her sending her guys after us and all. I'm just saying."
"Guys, focus!" Braeburn snapped. "If Isabelle's workin' for this varmint, we can force him to tell us where the hideout is!"
"Oh, hey! That's right!" Steel exclaimed, taking out his bow. "Alright, poacher! Time for you to feel the full might of the Dragoons!"
Jacques scoffed. "Hmmph. Proud words for such easily-caught prey," he said with a sneer. "All I need to is call for my animals, and—"
"You mean these animals, Mr. Moschet?"
All eyes turned to the cliffs, where Isabelle and Pepito stood. Several oxen lined the cliffs, as well as a menagerie of wounded monsters. Jacques gasped.
"M-my pets!" he roared. "What have you done to them?!"
"We found 'em like this after catching sight of a bit of a light show," said Isabelle, tossing the charred remains of a deathstalker at Jacques's feet. "I was wondering what these foreign creatures were doing roaming the desert when Pepito here brought me up to speed."
Jacques groaned and palmed his face. "Confound it all. Maggie's going to kill me."
"Not until you pay what you owe us, Mr. Moschet," Isabelle countered. She then stared down at the posse. "Alright, big brother. This is your last warning. If you give up and go home right now, we won't hurt you. And don't think of fighting back. After all, as they say, when you miss the shots you take, you only turn yourself into a target."
Just then, several tatzlwurms sprung from the ground, blocking every conceivable exit. Needles's heart raced as she clenched her claws into fists.
If I use my magic, they'll know about the Dragon Magi and hunt us into extinction, she thought. If I don't, we're probably all done for. Dang it, no matter what I choose, it's wrong!
"Is it?"
Needles perked up as she noticed a distinct warmth next to her ear. Turning her head, she saw Ocard floating right next to it.
"H-how did you know what I was thinkin'?" she inquired.
"If you honestly don't know, we really need a serious talk when this is over," said Ocard. "Listen, you should not think of yourself. Think of others."
Needles tilted her head. "I am doin' that. I'm thinkin' of my friends and my family."
Ocard's eyes closed. "Then consider this, young mage. Which one is more important to you? Answer this, and you'll know what to do."
Needles paused for a moment, and then nodded. "Alright, I know what to do now. I'm makin' this jump, and by golly, my parachute will open!"
She threw her parasol to the ground, summoned a magic throwing star between her fingers, and tossed it at one of the tatzlwurms. The star hit its mark, causing the worm to stumble back. Isabelle's eyes went wide.
"Wh-what was that?!" she exclaimed.
Another star flew through the air, this time striking one of the oxbow men. Needles levitated in the air, bathed in an amber aura as she threw star after star at her opponents. Spike, Big Macintosh, and Braeburn simply stood in awe of Needles's wrath, unable to process what was happening. Isabelle was quick to notice this as well.
"I've never seen a dragon do that before," she said with a toothy grin. "It must be some kind of magic! She's worth a fortune! Pepito, get her!"
Pepito turned to Isabelle. "¿Qué?"
Isabelle deadpanned. "Seriously? Ugh, capture ese dragón mágico, langosta muda."
Pepito looked at Needles, and then back at Isabelle. "But, she so young. Too young. It not right."
Isabelle's eye twitched. "¿Tú está preguntando mis órdenes, Pepito?"
"No, no. Just being, uh..." Pepito reached under his sombrero and took out his dictionary. "Caw-ti-ous. Is that right?"
Isabelle snarled. "You're just as spineless as my big brother is what you are. Fine! I'll do it myself!"
Isabelle took out her weighted lasso and slid down the cliffside. Trigger noticed this and saw that she was aiming straight for Needles. He quickly tapped Toro on the shoulder.
"That way!" he yelled, pointing at Isabelle. "Needles is in trouble! We have to cover her!"
Toro turned to where Trigger was pointing, aiming his cannon at the oncoming threat. However, he realized it was Isabelle just as Trigger lit the fuse. The blast missed Isabelle entirely, instead slamming harmlessly into the cliffside behind her. With a twinkle in her eye, Isabelle leapt towards Needles and let her lasso fly.
"Watch out!"
Ocard flew into the path of the lariat, but found itself to be knocked out of the way instead of setting it ablaze. Needles turned towards the commotion a second too late, and she was easily snagged. She squirmed and struggled against the bonds, but after expending so much energy from her attack, she was driven to exhaustion and passed out.
"No! Needles~!" Trigger screamed, his wails echoing across the entire canyon.
As everyone turned their attention to Isabelle, Jacques found his own opportunity. He fired his musket just above Flint and Steel. Flint noticed this and tackled Steel out of the way. Behind them, a net exploded from the charge Jacques shot, ensnaring the antlion instead.
"Drat, missed," Jacques grumbled, loading another cartridge.
"Let her go, Isabelle!" Toro barked, aiming his cannon.
Isabelle laughed. "Or what? You'll miss again? Face it, big brother. I've won the biggest catch of my career. ¡Vamanos, muchachos! We're done here!"
She hopped onto a nearby tatzlwurm and disappeared underground. The rest of the gang followed suit, ending with Pepito. Before he left, he gave the posse an apologetic glance. Jacques blanched.
"Hey! You're taking my pets!" he bellowed, flying towards one of the tunnels. "Wait for me!"
"Oh, no you don't!" Braeburn barked, closing off his exit. "We ain't lettin' you leave until you tell us where that hideout is!"
"Eeyup!" said Big Macintosh.
Jacques snorted. "I honestly do not have the time to deal with this. Maggie will be checking on me soon, and trust me, she's far worse than any of you. I advise you all to turn back now, lest you wish to face her wrath. As a token of goodwill, you can have that antlion over there. Good day to you, gentlemen."
With that, he fired a net at Big Macintosh and Braeburn, ensnaring them both as he flew off into the distance. Trigger slashed Toro's cheek in frustration.
"You idiot!" he howled. "It's your fault that they got away with Needles!"
Toro hung his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Señor Trigger. I-I just can't bring myself to hit Isabelle. She's my own flesh and blood."
"Well, I guess now we really have to find that place," said Flint, helping Steel to his feet. "LS is gonna be mad if she finds out we let this happen without a fight."
"You're right, of course," said Trigger, pounding his fist into his palm. "If they harm one scale on Needles's gorgeous body, I'll make them sorry. Ehheh... Ehheh..."
Spike used his flame to free Braeburn, Big Macintosh, and the antlion before speaking up. "Well, that's good and all, but how do we get to them? The underground is still crawling with those dogs, and it'll take us forever to get there on foot."
Trigger arched an eyebrow. "That's quite a defeatist attitude, Mr. Spike."
"Hey, I never said we should give up. That's not how noble dragons roll," said Spike. "I just think we need an easier way."
"They might be closer than you think."
The posse perked up as they turned to Ocard, who was struggling to levitate itself back into the air.
"You alright there, buddy?" asked Braeburn.
"I shall persevere," said Ocard. "It'll take more than a smack from some fireproof rope to kill a fire elemental. Anyway, I know a way we can find my symbiotic partner."
"How's that?"
"She and I are linked through magic. This bond cannot be severed. As such, I am always drawn to her location. Wherever she goes, I follow."
Spike's expression brightened. "So all we have to do is follow you to find the hideout!"
"That is correct," said Ocard. "Though our swiftness may still be a concern. For that reason, I feel we need some sort of plan."
Trigger scratched his head and racked his brain. He looked over at the wounded antlion, then at Braeburn's saddlebag. He then shifted his attention to Toro, stroking his chin in thought. Finally, he scuttled over to the parasol that Needles discarded and took it up in his claw. After much deliberation, he nodded confidently.
"I have an idea," he said. "Mr. Braeburn, do we have enough medicine for that antlion?"
Braeburn stared at the antlion for a moment before turning back to Trigger. "Um, I dunno."
"Well, let's make do with what we have," said Trigger. "And make sure he's fed, too. He'll be our key to breaking into the hideout."
Flint raised an eyebrow. "Just a minute. A while ago, you were content with leaving this thing to rot. What changed?"
"The circumstances, Flint," Trigger answered, gripping Needles's parasol tightly. "Needles said I should use my brain more often, and that's just what I'm doing. It's high time I help Needles the right way and make those poachers regret crossing me. Ehheh... Ehheh..."
Spike swallowed. "Dude, I'm proud of you and all, but you're also creeping me out."
Trigger shrugged. "It's part of who I am, Mr. Spike. Pay it no mind. Now, let's prepare ourselves for battle. Before this day is done, justice will be served, and it'll be so very sweet. Ehheh... Ehheh..."