She had not returned to the mountain, knowing that there were no affairs to wrap up. If any of the dragons there learned of Devrialstrasz and his proposal, they would not hesitate to kill her. Instead, she would simply disappear, leaving them to suspect she had a premature demise. Better for them to think that instead of the truth.
The sun had set now, and a chill night wind blew through Ebonia's wings. She felt a subtle tremor travel through the ground, and shivered. It was probably nothing, but she felt a nagging, whispering presence in her mind, telling her to turn back, to hide, to bow. That was what she was supposed to do, should Neltharion decide to pay a visit.
Ebonia shook her head, telling herself to not be afraid. Neltharion did not like it out here, and visited as sparingly as possible. But the whispering voice in her head only grew louder, and she began to suspect that it was not her own.
She heard soft wingbeats, and looked around eagerly for Devrialstrasz. But instead, she spotted her sister, smiling as if she had just taken down a mammoth.
"Hello, Ebonia.", she said, zero affection in her voice.
Ebonia whirled around as Nefarian appeared behind her, his vicious claws raised. "We know of the red dragon.", he growled, "What caused you to betray us?"
Ebonia readied herself for a fight, but she knew she couldn't win, her siblings were too strong. Ebonia did not know how they had found out, did not know how they could've seen without being seen. But there were many shadows in the mountains, and it wasn't much of a stretch to think that a dragon was hiding in one.
Onyxia purred, "Don't worry, we won't hurt you too badly...yet. All we need to do is remind you of our lessons. Brother, hold her down, while we await the arrival of her little...friend."
Nefarian lunged, and Ebonia darted around his talons. He swung his tail around, but Ebonia ducked. With a snarl, she leaped at his face, but his jaws clamped down on her arm, crunching scale and bone. Ebonia cried out, struggling to escape, but his jaws did not release. He rose up and slammed his claws into her side, knocking her down onto her side. He kept her there, and used one of his feet to hold down her tail.
Ebonia twisted her neck, trying to bite at him, but she could not reach. Nefarian twisted the arm in his mouth, and Ebonia screeched with pain.
She spotted a certain red dragon flying in, saw his angered and determined expression. Onyxia smiled, and spread her wings. Ebonia knew what was about to happen.
"Fly! Fly out of here!", Ebonia screamed, "It's a trap! They're going to-" But she was interrupted by Nefarian twisting her arm again, nearly tearing it apart. Ebonia convulsed, the pain overwhelming her.
Devrialstrasz roared angrily, and dived towards Nefarian. Onyxia flew towards him, her jaws glowing as she prepared a breath of flames. Devrialstrasz spotted her and swerved to the side as she released it. It singed the tip of his tail, and he growled threateningly.
Onyxia didn't seem to care. She lashed out with her tail, and Devrialstrasz was struck on the leg. He retaliated with a swipe of his claws, leaving scratches across Onyxia's arm.
Onyxia chuckled. "Is that the worst you can do? Watch closely, Ebonia. Watch very closely..."
She lunged at him, claws outstretched. Devrialstrasz dodged, but Ebonia saw what he hadn't.
It was a trick. Onyxia's jaws were glowing again, and this time, she did not miss.
Devrialstrasz fell from the sky, screeching as the fire burned across him. He tried to fly, but the flames had burned a hole through his wings, and they no longer worked. Ebonia cried out, trying to reach him with her good arm, but she was too slow, he was too far. Devrialstrasz hurtled past the ledge, and there was a sickening crunch as he hit the ground.
Onyxia hovered above, breathing another jet of flames in case the fall hadn't been enough. But it was clear - Devrialstrasz was already dead. Ebonia was overwhelmed with grief, but it was quickly replaced with raw, molten hatred.
Onyxia smiled at Ebonia. "Remember this, dear sister; the red dragons are not our friends. They are certainly not our lovers. Everything in this world is our enemy, and it's depressing to see you be so foolish."
Ebonia snarled, "You know NOTHING about this world!"
She tore her arm free of Nefarian's jaws, ignoring the blinding pain and the sound of ripping flesh. "I'll destroy you for this!"
With strength she had never known she possessed, Ebonia flung Nefarian off of her, slamming him into the cliff. She delighted in the shock on his face, but Ebonia did not care for him. Her eyes were filled with the sight of Devrialstrasz falling from the sky, Onyxia's delighted smile.
With a roar of unbridled fury, Ebonia threw herself at Onyxia, her wings spreading in flight. Onyxia dodged, the smile gone. Onyxia took a deep breath, but Ebonia wasn't going to let her do that, wasn't going to allow herself to suffer the same fate as her beloved. Ebonia spun and slammed her tail into the side of Onyxia's face, breaking one of her horns and knocking the fire breath off course.
Onyxia snarled. "You dare fight us!? The red dragonflight will never accept you! The black dragonflight has rejected you! You are all alone, and every dragon on Azeroth will kill you on sight! You are weak, foolish, and fit only to be killed!"
Ebonia replied with a jet of flames.
Onyxia recoiled, screeching furiously as the flames burned around her. But she was a black dragon, and was resistant to fire. They dissipated, leaving her with nothing more than a few burns across her arms and chest.
Nefarian flew up and dashed towards Ebonia. She retreated, knowing that there was no way for her to win against both of them. She turned towards the sea, knowing that this decision would plague her for the rest of her days.
And she fled. She had always been faster than her siblings, and so they did not try to follow her. She flew past the mountain, once her home, but no longer. She flew past the tower, plowing through the cultists uncaring. She flew over the sea, the salty air burning the horrific wounds on her arm. She flew and flew, farther and farther away from everything she knew, plagued with grief as she remembered Devrialstrasz, his cute face, his wonderful stories, his love of life, everything he had been and was no longer.
For the first time, a black dragon began to cry.*
In the valley where the dragon had died, a human mage leaned down and picked up a golden necklace from its corpse. His long orange hair blew in the wind, a purple eye above lightning emblazoned on his tabard.
"The time of the dark hero is nigh.", he said, and teleported away.*