For Want of Black Feathers
Chapter 1: The Wrath of the Forbidden One
The six Signer Dragons of the great Crimson Dragon were in a very perilous situation. The current circumstances were very unfortunate, and the odd were in the favor of their certain destruction. Behind them was their "home base", so to speak. A huge ziggurat-like temple, with beautiful terraces with green plants growing. It rivaled the fabled Hanging Gardens of Babylon. This temple was the Temple of the Crimson Dragon.
As the six dragons hovered near the outside of their base, a massive being of ultimate power took huge, heavy steps toward them.
"Well, I guess we're dead," Black Winged Dragon remarked, his black mane of loose feathers flowing down the back of his neck.
Red Dragon Archfiend snarled in rage at this statement and pulled hard on the dragon's feathery tail.
"Ow!" Black Winged exclaimed as Archfiend actually managed to pull off one of his black feathers.
"You fool!" the red dragon said, "Never say die! Never give up! Surely we can win this battle!"
Ancient Fairy Dragon stretched out her golden, mayfly wings and said, "Yes indeed. The Crimson Devil fell to us, the Earthbound Immortals fell to us, the Machine Emperors fell to us, and so shall this monstrosity!"
Life Stream Dragon nervously clutched the spear on his arm, "Er, it would be wise to not be overly optimistic."
Black Rose Dragon tucked her wings in and shuddered, clearly afraid, and said, "He is right. This is no ordinary creature we are up against. This is a being of unlimited power!"
Stardust Dragon hovered up in front, creating a cooling breeze in the heat of high noon with his every wing-beat. "Yes indeed, Black Rose, this being had powers that boggle the imagination. These powers were so great that this being had to be magically sealed and split into five parts. It has only been released five times during the entire history of this world, and this is number six."
"Hmm, sixth time, six dragons, I wonder if that means anything?" Life Stream commented.
"It means this," Stardust said, "If this be our final hours, then let us live them with honor."
The six dragons looked up into the face of doom. Encrusted with gold, built up like the mask of an Egyptian Pharaoh within his golden tomb. With his magic chain, undone and broken, dragging from his arms and legs, Exodia the Forbidden One grew closer to them.
Ancient Fairy Dragon shed tears, "Why? Why must it end like this? The great one before us is not evil. What spurred him to seek our demise?"
"'Why' doesn't matter now," Archfiend said, "What matters is 'how', as in 'how are we gonna to defeat the Forbidden One?"
"It's only weakness is it's five pieces, but now that they're together, he is invincible," Life Stream said.
"Unless..." Stardust said.
"Yes?" Black Rose said eagerly.
"I might be able to banish him with my Stardust Cancel," Stardust concluded.
"No!" Fairy shouted in pure horror, and she reached out and clutched Stardust's forearm tightly, as if she would never let go, "That move causes you to vanish for a time, the stronger the monster-."
"The longer the time, I know," Stardust said.
"But Exodia has infinite strength!" Black Winged gasped, "That means-."
"I may never return," Stardust said calmly, "But you all will survive."
"No! You will not use that move!" Life Stream shouted.
"We've already lost Black Winged and Ancient Fairy for too long!" Rose said, "We cannot let you leave us for good!"
Archfiend snarled and said, "I won't let anyone else fight my battles for me! You will not do this, Stardust! That's my final word on it!"
"Besides, it may not even work! This is Exodia we're talking about here!" Black Winged said.
"But what other choice is there?" Stardust said.
"There is one other way," Black Winged said, "We combine our powers."
"What do you mean?" Rose asked.
"I can use my Damage Drain ability to absorb an attack from Exodia. Then, I'll weaken him by his own strength."
"But Exodia has infinite power!" Fairy said.
"And infinity minus infinity is zero," Black Winged said with a sly smirk.
"You fool! Do you really believe you can absorb an attack from Exodia? You'll be obliterated!" Archfiend challenged.
"That's why it has to be timed perfectly," Black Winged said, "When the attack hits me, I'll throw myself at Exodia and use my Damage Drain on him. I'm sure I can survive long enough to do that Then, At that exact moment, Stardust needs to banish both of us with his Stardust Cancel."
"WHAT!"
"Black Winged! You cannot sacrifice yourself like this!" Stardust argued.
"You were willing to sacrifice yourself," Black Winged replied.
"Yes, but now, I'd be the one to..." Stardust's voice trailed off.
"I know I'm making you do something terrible, but hey! I deserve it!" Black Winged said cockily.
"What are you talking about?" Black Rose said in shock.
Black Winged Dragon's mood suddenly took a nosedive. He hung his head and wings down low. His very feathers seemed to droop with shame. "It's because of me Exodia is attacking us," he said miserably.
"What?" Archfiend snarled.
Black Wing sighed and said, "It happened during the time I was separated from you guys for all that time. I was a wanderer in the Duel Spirit Realms. I soon found myself in the realm occupied by the Sacred Beasts and Exodia..."
I slowly flew into a huge cavern. It got wider and taller as I went in. Before long, I had arrived at the door, and I immediately knew what was behind it.
I then saw a smaller being standing in front of the huge door, guarding it apparently. He bore a strong resemblance to the Forbidden One that lay sealed behind the door. He was a muscular humanoid with wide, brown shoulder pads, and a mask very similar to the face of Exodia.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
"Black Winged Dragon, of the Crimson Dragon!"I replied confidently.
The being was clearly not impressed. "Hmmph! The Crimson Dragon?He's nothing!"
"What? Who do you think you are!"
"A mightier being than you! I am Exodius, the Ultimate Forbidden Lord! Servant to the mighty Exodia the Forbidden One!"
"You still have no right to insult the Crimson Dragon!"
"Or maybe you're the one who feels insulted? Besides, I have the infinite power of my master on my side. Can your Crimson Dragon boast of infinite power?"
"He sure can! Exodia is just as powerful the Crimson Dragon! If they were to fight, they would probably both end up destroyed. But as for you, my friends and I could take you down anytime with ease!"
"What?"
"I'm well aware of your powers, Exodios-"
"It's pronounced Exodius!"
"Exodia invests his power in you by the thousands, but not even you can harness his infinite power, therefore, the servants of the Crimson Dragon could easily destroy you!"
"Why, you insignificant little..."
"In fact, I bet I could take you down on my own!"
"YOU LITTLE..."
"You're just lucky I'm busy trying to find my way back to the others. But remember this: when all of the dragons get back together again, feel free to challenge us! Adios, Exodios!"
"IT'S EXODIUS!" he shouted, but then he took a deep breath, and laughed hysterically.
"What's so funny?"
Exodius stopped laughing and said, "Was that a serious challenge?"
"Certainly!"
"Then fine, I accept! When all six of you are together, I will meet you in battle."
"Hmmph!That shows how much you know, there are only five signer dragons!"
"You may believe whatever you want to believe. You can believe that along with believing that you can defeat me. Now, begone, until we meet again!"
I then turned around, and, without looking back, left the cave.
"Over those 10,000 years, I forgot all about that challenge. It looks like he didn't," Black Winged said. Suddenly, he became filled with rage and shouted, "And what makes it worse is that jerk Exodios he cheated! I challenged him, not Exodia!"
"MY NAME IS EXODIUS YOU FOOL!"
The six dragons looked out over to Exodia.
"Look! On his right shoulder!" Life Stream shouted and pointed.
It was Exodius.
"Stinking deceiving cheater!" Black Winged shouted, "I challenged you and you alone!"
"You're wrong, little dragon!" Exodius shouted back, "Here is what you said, word for word: 'when all of the dragons get back together again, feel free to challenge us!' You didn't specify who you were challenging, so the challenge fell upon all who were within the sound of your voice: me and my master!"
"Wha-?" Black Winged gasped.
"Yes! Watch and listen!" Exodius raised his arms up to sky and shouted, "Oh three Mighty Egyptian Beasts! Oh three Sacred Beasts! Oh Crimson Dragon whose servant has boasted so greatly! If I have not rightfully met the terms for his challenge, strike me down!"
Clouds gathered in the sky. Darkness shrouded the entire area. Thunder and lightning crashed within the sky. Shadowy images of mighty creatures flashed within the clouds, shrouded in darkness. Their roars echoed throughout the sky.
Exodius laughed and said, "Hahahaha! See, the great powers support my claim! And now, I shall make you pay for desecrating the name of the Forbidden One with your words, Black Winged dragon! Perhaps I may even spare your allies after I destroy you! Exodia, my master, go forth, quickly before you period of release fades, and you are split into five pieces and sealed away again!"
Exodia took more huge, lumbering toward the six dragons, his chains dragging across the ground.
Black Winged Dragon felt lower than he even thought was possible for him. "He's right," he said. Then, he held his head up high and said, "Now I know what I've gotta do to set things right!"
"No, Black Winged! Don't do it!" Rose shouted, "The Crimson Dragon will-."
"Nod in agreement as I die!" Black Winged said, "I did not defend his honor against Exodio-, er, Exodius. I disgraced the Crimson Dragon with my arrogance, and my big stupid beak!"
Archfiend swallowed hard. He had been using that name on Black Winged for quite some time now.
"The Crimson Dragon won't save us, he wants me to pay for what I did."
"Black Winged!" Stardust said.
"What's worse is that I got you into this challenge without any thoughts for you! If Exodia harms any of you, that blood will be on my hands, and I can't let that happen!"
"There is always another way!" Ancient Fairy insisted.
"Not this time," Black Winged said flatly, "I' m going for it, now."
"No!" Stardust shouted.
"Stardust, if you don't do your move, this will all be in vain, and then we'll all be dead, so you better get in position, cause I'm going!"
"Don't do it!" Archfiend shouted.
Black Winged Dragon looked around at his five friends. "Goodbye guys," he said, and then he flew over to Black Rose Dragon. "I'm so sorry," he said softly to her, and then she whispered something to her so that the others couldn't hear, and then took off at full speed toward Exodia. Black Rose just hovered there, apparently paralyzed with shock and intense emotion.
"Go ahead, punk! Make my day!" was what Black Winged wanted to shout, but he didn't.
"I'm gonna go out with honor! Cocky Black Winged Dragon is gonna have to wait until the afterlife, if I'm even worthy enough for that," he thought.
Exodius gazed in awe at Black Winged Dragon surged toward him. The feathered dragon let out a mighty battle-cry caw as he shot forward, the wind whistling through his feathers.
"He is indeed a great warrior," Exodius thought, "He flies towards his death, and yet he does it boldly and with honor...I have not wasted my master's time with his obliteration."
"Exodia!" Exodius roared, "OBLITERATE!"
Exodia built up a mighty energy ball within his hands. It glew with a light that rivaled the sun in magnitude.
"GO!" Archfiend roared at Stardust.
"Let me go, Fairy, quickly!" Stardust shouted.
Ancient Fairy Dragon quickly let go of Stardust's forearm, and the shinning, stellar dragon zoomed off and around to Exodia's back.
Exodia released the blast from his hands, and the mighty beam of infinite power shot right at Black Winged Dragon.
Black Winged extended his wings as the beam crashed into his chest. He let out a huge cry as pure pain moved through his body. Black Winged was used to taking the pain for his masters and allies, but this was different. Black Winged cried out in pain, blood leaking out of his eyes and nose. Normally, he wouldn't receive any actual injuries thanks to his powers, but it seemed that Exodia's might was slowly shattering his magic.
"I must not fail!" he shouted, "I can't let my friends die!"
He thought of each one of his comrades, focusing on the battles and challenges they fought together, and the good times they had together. When he arrived at memories of Black Rose Dragon, he suddenly found brand new strength.
He roared mightily as all of his feathers became a burning black and white. His feathers actually burst into black flames. His hair-like feathers on his head caught fire as well.
"What?" Exodius gasped.
Black Winged Dragon soared like a burning black comet, and crashed right into Exodia's chest.
"DAMAGE DRAIN!" Black Winged shouted.
Exodia groaned as he was enveloped in the black fire.
"What's going on? Exodia is invincible!" Exodius shouted.
From where Black Winged collided with his chest, arcs of black electricity connected to Exodia's Left Arm, Right Arm, Left Leg, Right Leg, and Head. These arcs connected, and twisted together, and formed a huge infinity symbol.
Exodius suddenly felt a presence behind him. He turned around fast to see Stardust Dragon extending his wings over Exodia's shoulders.
"STARDUST CANCEL!" the dragon roared as he wrapped his wings around Exodia.
Weakened by a black, fiery reflection of his infinite power, Exodia began to crack and explode and fade away. With a final flash of white light, Stardust Dragon, Exodia, and the burning body of Black Winged Dragon, all disappeared.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Exodius exclaimed as he fell down and hit the ground with massive force.
CRAAASH!
When the dust settled, Exodius found himself lying in a small crater. Exodius got up slowly and looked up, straight into the face of Red Dragon Archfiend.
Exodius didn't have time to think as Archfiend sent him sky high with a flaming punch.
Life Stream zoomed in and caught Exodius in mid air with his spear, and dragged him through the sky and threw him.
Ancient Fairy Dragon was waiting for him, floating on air daintily, and slapped him back with her tail.
Black Rose, with a wild lust for vengeance glowing in her eyes, caught Exodius in her thorny tail, and dragged him painfully across the rough ground, and released him.
When he finally slid to a halt, Exodius struggled to his feet. "M-m-m-m-master..." he moaned out. He closed his eyes, and called upon the might of Exodia. He felt his muscles pump up to epic proportions as a fraction of the power of the Forbidden One was invested within him.
His strength regained, Exodius stood tall and confident... until Stardust reappeared over him.
Exodius was now surrounded by the five dragons. His confidence gone, the Ultimate Forbidden Lord shouted, "Wait! This is not my fault! Your friend's blood is on his own hands!"
Stardust pointed accusingly at Exodius and said, "Black Winged may have challenged you, but you did not have to accept his challenge. Also, the Crimson Dragon and his servants stand only for good, and never evil, and yet you attempt to use your power to destroy such a force of good just to prove your own superiority! Does that sound honorable to you?"
Exodius' eyes widened with fear as the five dragons closed in on him.
"In the words of the dragon who sacrifice everything just to keep defend us: ADIOS, EXODIOS!" Stardust shouted.
Exodius just stood in silent terror as all five dragon released their powerful breaths at him. When the explosion settled down, Exodius was gone, for good.
The dragons kept silent for a moment, and then Life Stream said with a quiet voice, "Let us return to our temple."
The five remaining dragon, too inwardly worn out to fly, walked across the ground toward the Temple of the Crimson Dragon. Black Rose Dragon was on the verge of tears.
As Red Dragon Archfiend looked around at the other dragons, he felt something burning within his hand. He opened his fist and gasped when he saw it. He still had the feather he had pulled form Black Winged Dragon's tail. Archfiend closed his eyes as he clutched the feather. It felt so long ago... but it had barely been half an hour... but so much had been lost...
Archfiend approached Black Rose and handed her the feather. Her eyes grew wide as she held the feather close. "T-t-thank you..." she managed to say, and then was silent.
As the dragons entered the temple, a black cloaked fiend with a skull-topped cane and a black top-hat came out of the shadows. It's lower body had no legs. It was like that of a spirit or a ghost. It's arms and head was that of a gruesome goblin.
Crimson Mefist snickered wickedly and said, "I can sense that the quick spell I laid met it's target. My revenge on Black Winged Dragon will soon be complete. He is now in a place far worse than the Graveyard! So, I shall now return there and see firsthand what the King looks like when he is pleased."
And with that, Crimson Mefist vanished in an eerie purple glow.
This may be my greatest story yet. This has to be the longest chapter I ever wrote! PLEASE REVIEW! I am really proud of this, and it will get better next chapter. Tune in later!