Chapter 25

[You know I hate when I add or remove chapters. I have to keep changing the chapter number, and it's still saved under the old number, so I have to try and remember which one is next.]

Pride slid backwards down the cracking floor, only to fall off of it in entirety into the dungeon below. He screamed before being cut off by the impact of the fall. The air was knocked out of him.

As soon as he could, he sat up, and saw a large scaled claw nearby.

Pride shook his head and looked up. There was a giant reptile, about the size of Envy's true form, in front of him. It had dark red, almost black scales, and glowing orange eyes. It walked on four legs, but there were also two large wings that it partially unfurled now that there was no ceiling in the way. It let out another roar and frills on either side of its face flapped out, like feathers puffing up.

The Doctor was still on the first floor. Pride could see her grabbing an object meant to hold a torch to stop herself from falling. She was staring at the reptile in front of them with a mix of awe and sadness.

"You're a dragon," the Doctor said.

The reptile's crazed eyes focused, turning toward the Doctor as she spoke. Pride tensed up. The dragon still looked very angry, it was just that anger was directed now. It growled, moving its head closer to the Doctor.

Pride couldn't see them, but he could tell by the footsteps and voices that the humans were coming. Still, the dragon seemed focused on the Doctor.

Her eyes darted up and down the reptile. "What is your name?"

"Ethron." The voice had been a deep rumbling sound, seemingly coming from multiple parts of the room.

"Listen. Listen Erthon, you don't have to do this. These people, they're not a challenge, and they don't really want anything to do with you. If you just leave-"

"You are lying."

The Doctor closed her mouth. Pride jumped. Above him, he could just make out two servants exchange shocked glances.

"The humans want me here. Or do you believe I enjoy being locked away?"

"I know. I know. And I'm so sorry. But they're just scared. We can still work this out."

The dragon didn't let her continue. "That is no excuse."

It tilted its head so one eye was focused on the Doctor, then reeled back with its long neck slightly. Smoke began to puff out from the sides of the dragon's mouth. It was obvious what was about to happen, but the Doctor didn't seem to notice.

"Oh. I understand now."

"Doctor, move!" Pride tried to warn.

Tried in that he shouted it, and the Doctor heard, but it was a bit late. The dragon opened its mouth and confirmed it was a dragon, with a stream of nearly white fire coming out of its mouth.

Even from the floor below, Pride felt his hair whip up and the air get a lot warmer. The flames shot in a relatively narrow straight line for the Doctor, only to disappear, flicker out.

The Doctor stood back up and looked around in confusion. Pride couldn't say he blamed her. He peered through the smoke. It was that alchemist, Arthur. He stood to the side, by the dragon's wing and the Doctor. In his hand was a bit of scroll, with obvious alchemy symbols on it.

"You need oxygen for fire," he said.

The dragon didn't seem surprised things went this way. It growled, face scrunching up slightly, and whirled around to face Arthur, jaw open.

"No wait!" the Doctor shouted.

The dragon smacked its tail against the wall, knocking stones out of it and forcing the Doctor to move. It was possibly that hadn't been on purpose, but if so, it was a big coincidence. It had made the Doctor shut up after all.

Pride moved out of the way of the dragon's legs and glanced back up. Things didn't look good for the dragon, actually. It was huge, scaled, and had very sharp teeth even without breathing fire. But there was not a lot of space to maneuver in. When it tried to bite Arthur, he simply stepped further to side, forcing Erthon to stretch his neck out. Then there was the fact Merek and a few guards had shown up to attack.

The first idiot swung a sword at it. The sword hit the scales and shattered. So the other guard jumped up onto Erthon and stabbed it in the eye. Erthon let out a roar and swung its head around violently. The guard was flung off, slamming into a wall, and Merek was pushed back by one of Erthon's wings unfolding a little more. He took out his sword and sliced at it. The wings were unprotected skin after all.

Arthur raised his alchemy symbol again. Erthon's eyes got wider and his jaw opened as his head heaved up and down. Right. Arthur controlled the oxygen in the air. Erthon was probably struggling to get enough of it. Of course he had a large body, and presumably impressive lung capacity, but eventually his eyes shut and his head slammed against the floor. Pride backed up again to avoid it. Arthur pulled out another circle that Pride guessed was a reverse transmutation. Erthon resumed breathing, but it was shallow.

At the top of the grand hall, the balcony, Frederick had entered. He clearly hadn't been expecting this, standing there in night clothes with a surprised expression, before he quickly schooled it.

"Ah. Jane. I am so sorry about all this."

He hadn't mentioned Pride at all, but he was sitting in the dungeon. It was possible Frederick couldn't see him. And he'd no doubt consider the Doctor the more important person in the room.

The Doctor seemed to disagree. She turned slowly, deliberately, towards him. "Selim, are you alright?" He nodded. "Why don't you come back up?"

Pride nodded again and headed for the stairs. They were luckily still in one piece. He heard the Doctor and Frederick talking still.

"You haven't been entirely honest with us."

"Ah. Well, yes. I thought it would be best not to worry you. As you can see, we have everything under control."

"No. That's not what I see."

Pride left the main part of dungeon and started up the stairs. He could no longer see what was going on, and the voices were muffled. He was pretty sure the Doctor and Frederick were arguing about if they should free Ethron, or if doing so would kill them all.

He made it about halfway up the stairs when a sword appeared in front of him, very close to his neck. Right. He was out of sight. No one would notice. Great. Was this going to be the near-death experience for this trip? Faking a fearful look, he raised his head.

Merek was there, holding the sword. "Not so fast," he said quietly, in a tone that was probably supposed to be threatening. "Arthur wants to have a little talk with you."