Acrid smoke stung Derpy's lungs, and her body threw a spasming fit of coughing in a vain attempt to expel the black fumes. Any hopes of making it back home undetected were shattered now. If anything, Dragonspire was probably alerted to approaching trouble.
The papers the thief had on him described the attack plans in detail. There were seven dragons involved, including the two they had already defeated. Six of them were going to attack the dragons that would otherwise be protecting their target, and the thief would have stolen her away in the confusion. Each of the fighters was planned out for a specific dragon, with abilities and strengths chosen to give them a distinct advantage.
The dragon they were fighting now was meant as an opponent for Applejack, the daughter of the farmers Koro killed. He was a crazed magic type who could control plants, and it was starting to look like they would have to burn down the whole forest to get away.
Though, looking at Fire Flash, that seemed to be the plan all along. He spewed fireball after fireball, splattering everything green with flaming globs of oil until they were surrounded by inferno. One last vine snaked its way towards the flaming drake, intent on capturing a claw, but was incinerated by one last annoyed spit.
That was it, there wasn't a single living plant within twenty five meters of them, and the plant dragon was staying even beyond that, hidden in the forest.
Fire Flash backed up to Derpy, putting them tail to tail as they scanned their surroundings for movement that wasn't flame. "Oy, Grey, those bubbles you're so proud of, can they hold up to heat?"
Derpy glanced back. "Heat? You mean this fire? Yes, why?"
A bramble vine shot towards the blind spot looking away created. Flash grabbed it before it could hit her, wincing as the thorny tendril wrapped around his wrist. A little snort of flame reduced the vine to ash. "How long can you hold your breath?"
The plant mage perched on a branch, picking his nose and watching the localized blaze. "Eenie, meanie, miney, mo. Catch two dragons by the toe." He flicked away a nugget of snot and took some seeds from a pouch on his woven belt. "String them up, don't let them go. Lop off heads and watch them roll."
Whatever plans he had for those seeds, they were quickly forgotten when his prey bolted from the flames, red one first, fat one second. "Where are you going?!" The grey one yelled, panicked, sweetly scared. "We were safe in there!"
Safe? How funny, she thought she was safe. He dropped his seeds with a snicker. The big one was amusing, much more pleasant than the angry one, she should die last.
"Did you think I could keep that up forever?" The red one yelled back. "I'm out of flames!"
The hunter took to the chase, laughter ringing through the forest as he hopped from branch to branch. Finally, the annoyance was gone, no more would his weapons turn to ash before striking. "Run, run, as fast as you can, take the entrails, make a flan." He jumped to the ground, so he could run faster. "Hear them scream, begging no. Bring the bodies-"
"Now!" The red one shouted. Grey turned and charged at the plant mage. Surprised only for a moment, he jumped before she could reach him. First up, and then off her head, only to be body slammed by the roaring red dragon behind her. The two crashed to the ground, one calling forth his plants for aide, and the other calling forth fire.
Hunter and prey grappled and fought as the forest floor burned beneath them. Roles that seemed decided just seconds ago were called into question as they struggle and squirmed, like serpents locked in combat. The plant mage tried to slash at his opponent, but mustered no more power than a cat batting at a sock as Flash clung to him, tangling their limbs.
Blazing inferno ate away at the encroaching plants, keeping them away from the battleas the two dragons wrestled. The plant mage gave up on summoning aid and threw his all into the contest of strength. He wasn't quite as brawny as his flaming opponent, but his wiry frame proved an even match.
After a minute or two of struggling, the plant mage managed to work a claw free. The red dragon clung stubbornly to the other one as the mage slashed at him. The first few slashes slid off hard scales, leaving little more than scratches. Then, with a roar of frustration, the mage jabbed his claw up into Fire Flash's gut, digging past the scales from the other direction.
The attack didn't penetrate deep enough to cause much damage, but it caused plenty of pain. His face contorted in pain, but Fire Flash didn't cry out. If anything, he kept his mouth screwed shut in grim determination. At least, until the plant mage pulled his claw back for another attack. He lunged forward, teeth first, and clamped down on the plant mage's shoulder. He was aiming for neck, but the mage twisted at the last second.
The mage roared in pain. He slashed blindly at his foe. At some point, he had balled his claws into fists, and started pummeling the fire dragon. One lucky strike to an eye loosened the bite, and the mage put everything he had into shoving the other dragon away.
He stared down at the other dragon, and at the claws he just pushed with. Blood, both his and the other's. Pain, both from his shoulder and from a broken bone somewhere in his claw. Anger, at the failure of his plants and his opponent's refusal to lose. Fear, fear that somehow, he might just lose.
He smiled. With a screeching, cackling laugh he threw himself at his down opponent. How exciting! Never, never before had he been in a fight like this. Never before had he been so close! So close to the blood, the death. Surely, this is what battle was meant to be!
He cried out with glee as he battered the red dragon under his fists. He snorted with excitement at the sound of his strikes thudding against his opponent's feeble guard. He threw punch after punch, striking until the red dragon dropped his guard. Then, he punched some more.
He took it slow now, savoring each blow to his opponent's face. The red dragon was at his mercy, unable to even right his head after each strike. All he could do was stare up at his tormenter with a delicious look of defiance. What a warrior! Such determination in the midst of defeat!
The plant mage wrapped his claws around Fire Flash's neck. He would watch that determination disappear, slowly, right along with the red dragon's life breath. And he would enjoy every second of it.
It was then that he noticed the red dragon wasn't breathing.
He pulled his claws back in surprise, blinking away the spots in his vision. No! He couldn't be dead, could he? He was still looking up at him. The plant mage shook his head. It hurt to think. Wait, no, it just hurt. Why did his head hurt so much? He didn't get hit, did he?
He looked down at the two red dragons... No! He shook his head again, willing the two images back together. He tried to focus on his opponent, but the image was fuzzy. Everywhere he looked, little black dots danced around him, buzzing static, ringing in his ears. Did they have a magic type with them? Was this an attack?
He turned to run, to put distance between himself and whatever this was, but he felt heavy. His body responded slowly, so slowly that the red dragon had time to reach out and grab his tail. With a sharp pull, he pulled the plant mage off balance enough to send him crashing to the charred ground. No flames or plant life remained, the fire having exhausted all possible fuel minutes ago, even the very oxygen in the air, leaving nothing but smoke and ash.
As the plant mage struggled to get his claws under him, Fire Flash crawled forward. He was starting to understand. Through the haze that only he could see, the plant mage saw the other dragon, the large grey one, on the other side of a clear, oily-pink wall. She was almost completely obscured by the static in his vision, but she watched the battle with confidence, like she knew the outcome had been decided.
The plant mage took one last unfulfilling breath as he felt a sharp pain behind his ears. It was a distant pain, no longer part of him, but part of some other world. He didn't care anymore. It was odd for him, a moment of calm. As he watched the grey dragon close her eyes, he realized that, for the first time in his life, he had lost.
His view of the grey dragon twisted sharply sideways, and the static faded to black.