The Dragoso Series 3: Peace in Agony

Trevor stood still as Salem attached armor to his body. The vampire had been working on armor for the newer members of the team in the event of being unable to fight in dragon form. This would be one such battle where preserving energy would be vital to victory.

Trevor’s armor was a very light grey with ocean blue accents much like his scales. The armor was much like a paladin’s armor from the video games he had played over the years. He had chainmail under it and a cloak on his shoulder that had his old jersey number. It was nice to have something familiar close to him.

“You’re sure this will be okay to fight in with hardly any time adjusting to it?” Trevor asked. Salem tightened clasps as he secured the metal.

“Armor from centuries ago was made of heavy metal, the metal I use is a combination of steel and titanium. It has it’s high defense and it’s also not that heavy, as you can tell,” Salem explained. He stepped back and looked Trevor over before nodding. “I have something for you I think you might appreciate for the upcoming battle.”

Salem stepped over to the chest that had held Trevor’s armor and pulled out a sword and a shield. The two looked to be made of crystal. The same crystal Kathey had taken from the Dragon Temple.

“No way, she had you make it into a sword and shield?” he asked, taking the shield and sliding it onto his left arm, testing the weight. He slid the sword from its sheath and spun, striking the air and feeling the weight. “I have to admit, you really have outdone yourself, Salem. It’s the perfect size.” Salem bowed slightly at the waist and offered the sheath to Trevor. The sword was returned to it and Trevor strapped it and the shield to his back.

After saying his thanks, Trevor made his way out of the forge and towards the front of the Academy grounds where the team waited. Trevor had been the last one to be fitted with his armor. He turned dragon as he approached and stood beside his siblings.

“All set, Trevor?” Brenda asked and Trevor nodded, looking to where Anna and the Compass boys talked quietly.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I guess Kathey spoke to Kaylano about the army Agony had summoned. There are hundreds of forces of different types. It’s more than she or Sylark saw in the cambion’s memories.” Trevor exhaled.

“It’s our duty to protect Earth, isn’t it? That’s why we joined the team, even if it means putting our lives at risk.” Trevor looked at his younger siblings and snorted. “But...we’re not going to be stupid about it. Listen to me, the moment it looks like we’re bound to fail with no hopes of victory, you three turn tail and run.”

“We’re not cowards, Trevor.” David snapped.

“No, but it’s not a coward’s move to run from a losing battle. It’s smart to run when things look hopeless. Mom still needs you guys. I’ll watch your backs if we run.” Trevor looked between his siblings before David wrapped his arms around Trevor’s neck. His sisters joined the hug as well and somehow, Trevor let out a strange sound, almost like a rumble in his chest. A dragon’s purr.

“Alright everyone, we’re all here,” Anna called out, drawing the attention of the whole team. “There’s not much of a plan that we can really rely on. When we get there, everyone split off to hit the edges of the army, do not face Agony alone, it will be a death wish. Watch each other’s backs. Let’s move!” Anna opened her wings and took off, everyone following in pursuit.

~oOo~

The team flew for about an hour through the dark October night. Of all nights to threaten the team, Agony picked Halloween. Considering his abilities, it was fitting; even if it was an evil thing to do.

Trevor looked about as towns turned to farmland and farmland turned to a field surrounded by forest. Most likely a forest preserve and off in the distance was a horrific sight. Demons, undead creatures, demonic hellhounds, and even some kind of fleshy blob creature that could hardly be described.

The groups split off and Trevor led his siblings to some of the possessed undead, diving down and freezing them along with Brenda. David and Aya landed and swiped their claws and tails at the soldiers that raised their swords at them. Trevor wheeled around and landed with Brenda to assist his siblings in their battle.

Trevor dodged a sword swing to his wing and snarled. He would end up with cut wings if he wasn’t careful. Trevor pushed off the ground into the air, glowing and turning human. He drew his shield as he fell and bashed an Undead right in his head, knocking him out. Trevor blocked another swing and drew his sword, cutting the soldier’s leg and toppling him to the ground.

Something barked a few feet away and a large two headed dog charged at Trevor, snapping both jaws onto his forearms and pushing him back. “Trevor!” Brenda shouted. She glowed light blue and became her human form, jumping onto the canine’s back and stabbing it with her two small blades. The dog howled and released Trevor long enough for him to stab the beast in the chest and it collapsed.

Brenda’s armor was built more for women, a breastplate over her torso to protect organs while the rest was strong leather, all brightly colored to match her scales. Trevor’s attention was pulled to small cat sized demons flying at him, gremlins. The Academy taught students about the little buggers. They were more of an annoyance than a threat. Trevor raised his shield as one slammed into the crystal dragon head and it squeaked.

“Stupid bugs,” Trevor grumbled and shook the demon from his shield. He turned and watched Brenda slash at them with quick movements. She looked up once they dispersed and her eyes went wide. Trevor spun around in time to block the slashing claws from a Wendigo. He retaliated with a stab to the creature’s belly and he growled. “Nice to know Agony was behind you assholes,” He said and withdrew his blade.

A fleshy blob following a herd of zombies approached the four siblings where they fought. Trevor and Brenda turned to their dragon forms and took off. David and Aya followed in suit, looking around. “There’s too many...” David said, distressed.

“I know, buddy. But we have to keep fighting,” Trevor replied. “Aya, surround them with snow, box them in. David, you and I will hit them with water. Rotting flesh and water don’t mix well.” Aya flew circles around the herd of undead and snow started swirling around them. Trevor and David flew through the circle and hit everything with water, what Trevor didn’t expect was to be hit with a fleshy appendage and thrown to the ground, instantly swarmed by zombies. Brenda and Aya blasted the zombies with their breath elements, freeing Trevor of the swarm and leaving the fleshy creature before them.

“This is so not gonna be fun...” Brenda noted, looking up at the humanoid figure the blob had on top of it.

“No turning back now. Charge!”

~oOo~

Anna and Malice soared over a big part of the battlefield, hitting it with their lightning breaths and rising above everything, hovering above the fights.

“I don’t see Agony around here, he’s probably somewhere in the forest or hills watching the fight,” Malice said, looking around.

“This is my fight, Malice. Agony wants me, he’ll get me,” Anna snorted. She started to fly off, but stopped at Malice’s words.

“You better come back, we need you.” Anna smiled and flew off towards the hills. She looked around a bit before out of nowhere she was hit in the belly with a black orb of magic. The force threw off her balance and she nosedived towards the ground. She managed to pull out of it and soared about a foot over the ground before landing. Anna coughed and looked back towards the direction she had just come from.

“Damn...that wasn’t fun.” Anna growled. “Cheap attack, Agony!” she shouted, getting only the faint sounds of battle in response. She snorted and walked towards the hills. The attack came out of nowhere, it would be hard to pinpoint where it came from. Anna climbed a hill, finding a flat area surrounded by hills and standing right in the middle of it was the bird himself, Agony. He held a magical staff of sorts as he waited for Anna.

“Took you long enough, Dragon,” Agony snapped, crossing his arms. Anna growled softly.

“What’s the point of all this? Threatening me, creating an army. Why?” Anna asked. Agony chuckled, holding his arms out to the side, almost like he was presenting something.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Behind him, two portals appear in the ground and a Demonic Hellhound emerged from each one, charging at Anna.

She dodged a bite and hit the second one with her ice stream, freezing it. She faced the first one and shot it square in the forehead with a spike of ice, the beast falling dead. Anna pushed off the ground and launched herself at Agony, mouth open. She hit a wall of some sort as Agony raised the staff and was thrown to the side. Anna rolled a few times before coming to a stop, getting to her feet and hissing.

“Enough! You will not defeat me that easily! I know just what the limits are to a dragon’s abilities, especially a Life Dragon! I’ve faced your ancestors, Dragon. They successfully sealed us away for a few hundred years, but as you can see, they failed.” Agony said, walking back and forth slowly. “New magic will never conquer old magic.”

He waved his staff and hit Anna with dark magic again, sending her against an incline and she slid down it. Anna got to her feet again and growled. “I will admit, you are persistent for a Flower Dragon. Maybe that’s why they all failed in the war, got more than they bargained for, hm? Come to think of it, the Royal Family played a key part in it, right?”

“Shut up,” Anna mumbled under her breath.

“Matisa Dragon, the instigator for the Pink and Moon War, bringing the supposed extinction of Flower Dragons. I can see how they failed, acting recklessly without considering the consequences.”

“Shut your mouth! You don’t know anything!” Agony was getting on Anna’s nerves. How could such a rage filled Tenkkoa be so calm right now to ramble about dragon breeds that were so few in numbers. Life Dragons, Flower Dragons, what next?

“Oh I don’t know anything? You weren’t even born yet! You-” Anna had blasted Agony with her earth shot, launching him across the clearing and into the far incline. Agony recovered enough to plant his feet into the incline and stumble down to flat ground. “You little bitch! That’s it, I’m done being nice! If it weren’t for Kaylano, you wouldn’t-” Agony stopped himself and growled. “No, I won’t spoil that surprise.” Anna prodded Agony’s mind, only to be hit with a heavy wall of resistance, one that she couldn’t penetrate.

“Damnit,” she huffed.

“Did you seriously just try to read my mind? Our master didn’t create us with weak minds, our defenses will never be broken!” Agony shouted and was surrounded in black magic. It swirled around him before growing to twice Anna’s size. The magic exploded away from Agony and disappeared.

In his place stood a black and blood red dragon with a beak like snout and a crown of feathers on his head. Agony opened his wings and roared at the sky. He lowered his head and snarled at Anna, in a stance ready for pouncing if he so wanted.

“My master will surely reward me greatly when he finds out I killed the infamous Anna Dragon,” Agony snarled. Anna got into a stance as well, muscles rolling and ready to launch her into the air.

“You’re not walking away from this field!” Anna declared and launched herself into the air.