Chapter 13: Blu's First Battle

Blu and Tomada faced each other, maintaining eye contact, with weapons ready.

Rafael, Nico, and Pedro stood behind Blu while Sorrel, Bosco, and Marcus stood behind Tomada, both sides were worrying about their friend, the two groups knew that one will walk away while the other will die.

Blu and Tomada got ready and Tomada spoke.

"You know this is your last chance to surrender and spare you own life, don't be foolish to take me on." And Tomada started swinging his mace around, showing Blu how strong he was.

Blu took a deep, calm breath and remembered something his father told him. That when facing an opponent that is stronger than you, you first go on the defensive, block his blows, save your strength and tire your enemy out before you strike and defeat him.

With his father's advice in his head Blu knew how he would win. But this was Blu's first true combat, he was scared that he would not only fail Jewel, but also his father. Blu was determined to succeed.

"I will not surrender, you want me, come and get me." Blu shouted, taunting Tomada.

"Very well, it will be my pleasure." Tomada smiled and charged forward at Blu, mace swinging and ready to being down on Blu's head.

Blu prepared himself with his shield, ready to take the blow.

Tomada got to Blu and brought the mace down with as much force as he could, aiming for Blu's belly, hoping to make him fall down so he could strike Blu in the head in the second swing.

However Blu blocked the blow and did not fall, he was still standing, but was pushed back a little.

"This guy is tough, he was not kidding." Blu thought as he was pushed back. "I have to aim for the wooden handle." Blu thought as he regained his focus on the fight.

The mace is a very deadly weapon, but the disadvantage of the mace over a sword was it's wooden handle, a sword can easily cut the wood if one was strong enough in combat. A sword was entirely made of metal and thus cannot be broken easily by a mace.

Tomada quickly delivered another blow at which Blu blocked it again with his shield and this time Blu even came close to cutting the wooden handle.

Both of Blu's and Tomada's friends were watching with interest and worry as Blu's were wondering why Blu was not attacking while Tomada's friends were surprised at how Blu was standing his ground.

Tomada came again and again at Blu, with Blu blocking each and every blow with his shield. Each strike that Tomada made, made him lose a bit of strength attacking Blu. Blu knew Tomada was getting tired as he blocked the blows.

"How long can I keep this up?" Blu wondered as another strike touched his shield.

"Man this guy will not fall!" Tomada thought angrily to himself.

Soon the moment Blu was waiting for appeared, he noticed that finally Tomada's swings were very slow in coming and he took advantage of it.

Before Tomada could deliver another blow, Blu sprang forward and with one strong swing of his sword, cut the wooden handle in half, making the mace useless. Blu quickly moved back, while Tomada was shocked.

"How did you do that?"

"Surprise, do you give up now?"

"Well." Tomada said, turning around, and with lighting speed took out his sword and came at Blu, bringing it down on Blu's shield. "No."

Blu used his strength to slowly force Tomada's sword off his shield and then the two clashed swords.

Now that Tomada used most of his attacking energy with the mace, he was now on a level playing field with Blu and since Blu was mostly on the defensive, his attacking energy was still high.

The two swung each other's swords at each other. Blu blocking the blows with his shield and then using his sword to collide with Tomada's to get some distance for attacking. Tomada, having no shield and armor like Blu, could only use his sword to block Blu's blows as they came.

Tomada still had a lot of fight in him, but at this point he was more angry and not focusing on his emotions and controlling them. Controlling your emotions during combat was important, lose control and you die.

Blu noticed this as Tomada's swings became less coordinated and random as Blu studied his opponent while blocking the sword blows.

Bosco and Marcus were now extremely worried as they noticed their leader and friend was losing the fight, but they still had hope Tomada will win.

Sorrel was tearing up a little as she saw her loved one struggling to fight and hold on. "Come on Tomada win." She said under her breath.

Blu's friends were getting excited that Blu was winning the fight.

It was only a matter of time before Tomada fell and lost.

Tomada swung his sword at Blu and Blu held it with his shield, while Blu swung his sword lightly, but still enough to leave a gash in Tomada's left wing and cause extreme pain to Tomada.

Tomada let out a scream and fell, dropping his sword in the process and laid down, using his other wing to cover the gash as it started to bleed. Tomada was now at the mercy of Blu.

Bosco and Marcus were shocked and just stood there as Blu pointed his sword at Tomada's neck.

Sorrel, however, was furious.

"You bastard!" Sorrel shouted at Blu and started running to kill him with a dagger she had in her talons.

Bosco and Marcus were quick enough to hold both of her wings, preventing her from going.

"Let me go you two, I will kill him!" Sorrel shouted out with tears streaming down her face.

Tomada was panting, but shouted at Sorrel.

"No!" Tomada said to Sorrel. "Stay there, the kids." Tomada said softly, not wanting for Sorrel to ruin the eggs inside her.

Sorrel slowly stopped trying to escape Bosco's and Marcus's grip and cried her eyes out.

Tomada then turned to Blu.

"Go ahead, finish it, kill me." Tomada said with a heavy heart.

Blu pointed the sword downwards to Tomada's neck and brought it down.

Tomada closed his eyes and heard the sword, but was surprised he was still alive. Tomada opened his eyes to find the sword right next to him and Blu staring down at him.

"No." Blu said, maintaining eye contact.

"Why?" Tomada asked, confused.

"I lost my father, but at least I got to know him very well before he die, I will not end a father's life. Now let us through." Blu said, keeping his cool.

"Very well, my worthy opponent." Tomada replied.

Blu held out his wing and Tomada grabbed it and Blu helped him up.

"And also, tell your children that what you are doing now is not a good life choice."

"I will noble knight."

Blu then got on Sally and called to Rafael, Nico, and Pedro.

"Let's go guys." And Blu started riding, leaving behind his defeated opponent alive.