Double Dragon

Her eyes opened to the sound of anti-air explosions and droning sirens. Enne’s body shifted to vertigo she experienced from the moving behemoth. The Snallygaster’s ear-piercing screech sang a chorus against oncoming rockets. Enne pulled herself onto its back and looked at her talon-like hands. Her hair tapered to the wind as it made its descent. She drove her nails through its thicket hide when it spiraled away from the bursts of plasma cannons below.

How long were we out? she thought. Wait—This thing is partly mechanical. That means—

Enne closed her eyes. A strange sensation welled within. The snallygaster and her became one as she slowly gained control. When she opened her eyes, it began plummeting toward the cannon fire.

“D—did I shut it off?” she screamed. “Up! Up!”

The snallygaster took a direct hit and let out a screeched. It shredded through their attackers before making a steady ascent. Enne saw the smoke arise from a molten wing. She couldn’t fathom how it survived the hit. She steered it away, witnessing shots fired from every direction. Gunships soon followed as they sped after them. One boosted ahead, swung around to face her, and charged its rail guns. She gestured her hand to the shape of a firearm, emitting a green beam at her fingertips.

“Pew, pew!” The gunship blew up before it could finish charging. Enne was surprised by the rapid rate of firing off her shot. “That’s the fastest it’s done that!”

She looked over her shoulder, counting the several spread-out gunships trying to get a decent shot. The buildings below served as another route to avoid them. Enne needed to buy time until she figured out what she needed to do. The snallygaster jerked upward before spiraling through the city’s crevices. The creature’s wings tore through some buildings before stabilizing. Few pursuers dared to enter since the streets were still reeling from the ongoing panic. Enne witnessed the exodus of people trying to stray away from the central conflict zone. While the anti-air defense focused on her, she discerned the sporadic exchanges to the north.

The creature made a sharp right, scraping against the building’s glass siding. A convoy of Ethoxian military vehicles littered the streets as ground troops moved forward. Little did she know how close the rebels were.

“Keep low,” Mikail said. He glimpsed the passing vehicles from the alley’s darkness. “They don’t know who’s-who. Whatever that thing was added to the chaos.”

“Isn’t that the problem?” Raquel whispered. “Yes, and no? We’re a small force.”

Real encouraging. McCreary’s voice grumbled through the earbud. Why am I still out here?

More explosions rocked the vicinity. A fiery glow filled the alley from another block. Raquel observed his grim reaction while the creature wreaked havoc. Raquel checked her rifle, gauging its ammo output. It could only get them so far.

“Everyone is working their magic,” Mikail smiled. “They were waiting for this day.”

“You two, identification!” a soldier shouted behind Raquel. She froze, keeping the gun’s large barrel out of sight. Mikail glanced over without moving a muscle. “Hey, I’m talking—”

“What seems to be the problem?”

“Seriously?” Raquel whispered. He winced with a slight nod.

“I said identification!” the soldier repeated. His gun was raised at them.

The snallygaster’s sudden appearance startled the soldier as its talons scraped through the streets. Projectiles flew into the alley amidst the explosions, striking the soldier but missing the duo who hid behind the dumpsters. When the destruction eased, they heard the bloody gasps of the soldier. They discovered the metal protrusion lodged into his shoulder. Blood became diluted by the rain as it oozed toward the drain. The flames spread nearby despite the rain. The wounded soldiers moaned and cried. Raquel exchanged glances with Mikail.

You two okay? McCreary asked. That was a hell of an explosion!

“Yeah,” Mikail replied. “We’re—"

What is that on top of it? He continued. Is that… Enne?

“What?” Raquel uttered. “She’s on that thing? That bitch could’ve gotten us killed!”

“She’s the gift that keeps on giving,” Mikail said. “Is there a way we can reach her?”

Maybe? I didn’t know she was there until I spotted her. The dwarf shrugged.

Ah! Is this thing on? Enne’s voice broke through. I—Where are you guys at?

“Enne!” Mikail spoke. “You can—control that thing?”

Yeah? Barely, but—

“We need you to take out their air support!” Raquel ordered. “The sooner, the better!”

Got it! Enne smirked. Upon the dragon, she spiraled away from the anti-air explosions before taking another dive into the city. Entering from the east, the wings skimmed along the rooftops. Gunships arrived from the south, wasting little time attempting to shoot them down. The tops of buildings exploded as the snallygaster steered to the left. The flap of its wings raised it over the higher building until reaching Janus’ tower. Enne flew close, glimpsing Cire, who watched all the while. Their eyes met that moment, and Enne trembled at the Elphynian presence. Cire’s lips moved:

“There you are.”

S—shit. That’s not a good feeling. Enne thought.

A brilliant purple light flashed before an owl-like screech filled the chaotic scene. Mighty wings flapped against the stormy wind before flying after them. Enne trembled, focusing ahead. The snallygaster flew above the buildings as conventional rockets fired at them. Enne grimaced, raising her other hand. She felt a gentle tug as she focused on the projectiles. They maintained their distance as they got closer to the source of the anti-air defense.

No way. Crap, big birds are still on my tail.

Enne motioned her hand downward, releasing the rockets as they plunged at the ground targets. Explosions lit up the skyline. She looked over and wondered if any civilians were caught up in the destruction. Gunships flew past them in formation. She looked ahead and saw several more maintaining speed. They faced her while charging their gatling guns. The snallygaster spun away into the crevices of the city. A steady flow of energy beams tore chunks from the rooftops. Her pursuers began shifting in different directions while trying to shoot them down.

“Can this thing shoot back or something,” Enne panicked. “You’re a damned dragon, but you can’t breathe fire?”

The tentacle around its mouth spun before locking into place as it emerged over the rooftops. A crimson beam charged quickly before firing off. The red projectile broke into several heat-seeking fireballs that struck everything nearby. Enne gawked at the suddenness of its counterattack. The remaining gunships were swatted away from the mysterious dragon while the snallygaster glided to the west. She glimpsed the brightly lit base.

What in Ethos’ name is that? McCreary shouted.

“That woman… Must’ve turned into it,” Enne said as she pressed her earbud.

What?

Hell… We’re about to make a push to the tower! Mikail declared. Enne smiled. That satisfaction was short-lived when she felt a presence around her.

A lilac beam slashed through the aerial beast, missing her by inches. The snallygaster contorted, nearly throwing her off. She clenched her fingers into its flesh as it drifted to the side. Enne watched in awe as the light ascended in the dark sky. It emitted a powerful flash that coated the gray skies into an eerie purple hue. The light reemerged behind them and shot toward the snallygaster. Enne sprung onto its back and erected a shield.

Her shield did little as Enne felt the full force of the attack. The only thing she saw was a pair of glowing lilac eyes. The earpiece dislodged, with Mikail’s voice becoming inaudible. She felt the weightlessness of her fall, barely clinging to consciousness. She felt her energy had sapped, realizing she could not slow her rapid descent. The snallygaster veered out of sight, letting out its screech. Enne thought of them as she closed her eyes. Something broke her fall. Its embrace brought calm and warmth amidst the cold air before guiding her to a position where she’d manage the plunge. Enne struck into a hangar and razed the ground with her feet before bursting through the closed doors.

Enne leaned against the entrance. Her clothes were shredded from the violent tumble. She saw several figures watching her from different positions. Her body trembled when she discovered empty eyes in one of them. Though human-like, they moved unnaturally while moving into position. Enne moved cautiously while sizing up her opponents. The one thing that stood out to her was the immense mana they emitted.

Concentrated, she thought. Their power could be unlimited. That means…

“Aw…” she sighed. “Can’t I catch a break?”

Meanwhile…

“We’ve lost contact with her,” McCreary said. His voice shook in his delivery as he lowered his scope. The purple sky returned to its dull gray skies. The shock dulled in his senses, unaware of the approaching footsteps.

“McCreary, was it?” A tired, familiar voice spoke. The dwarf looked over, seeing Alejandro and Silesta holding the dozing slime. “Sorry for being behind schedule.”

“We can’t reach Enne.”

Alejandro smiled when he saw the bright flash to the west. The snallygaster’s silhouette appeared, approaching them with a sense of purpose. McCreary was baffled as he turned to Alejandro. Patting Silesta on the shoulder, she looked at him, finding his tired gaze. He wasn’t sure whether he’d return after what had happened in the fog. Time was running short.

“Keep them safe in the meantime,” Alejandro asked.

“Wait… Where the hell are you going?” McCreary replied.

The wanderer remained silent as he staggered toward the nearing creature. Alejandro was almost home.





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