Rex brought out his taloned feet in front of him, and dove directly towards the giant eye that belonged to the dragon.The dragon shifted his gaze towards the dracovol, and grinned. He opened up his huge wingspan. Rex's concentration was broken as he stared at the enormous wings. They looked like they could fit across the valley's length of the Great Valley! Temporarily distracted, Rex couldn't react when the monster's tail came out of nowhere and struck him in the side. Rex yelled in pain when he was knocked out of the air. He crashed down in between two large rock formations.
The giant flamebreath roared ferociously as he bent down and lashed out. Rex closed his eyes, waiting for the pain of the teeth close in around him, but when he opened up his eyes, he realized that the flamebreath's head was too large to fit in through the crack. The dragon snarled impatiently as he tried to fit his snout in.
Rex grinned smugly as he walked up to where the mouth was only a few inches from him. "See? Bigger is not always better." He laughed and slashed across the giant's snout.
Yelping, the giant lifted up his massive head and let out a roar. A few trinkles of blood ran down the front of his snout. But they looked like only minor scratches to the giant! Rex flinched and backed away. His larger claws on his feet would do a bit more damage, but they'd still not be enough to produce a wound that would even be considered an annoyance to this flamebreath.
'Man what am I going to do?' Rex thought as Dark Rex lowered his head back down. The creature opened up his mouth, as if to speak, but instead of words coming out, flames came out instead. Rex screamed and took into flight, and screamed again as the tip of the flames singed the tip of his tail.
"You are no match for me, weakling!" The dragon bellowed. As Rex flew away, the dragon took to the air as well. He was like a giant ship trying to attack a small rowboat. "Without even fire, you cannot win! Why not just surrender now and make it easy on yourself?" The dragon asked as his huge eye opened up only a few feet away from Rex's flying form. "Or do I have to kill you?"
Rex snarled, and slashed at the eye. Instinctively, the dragon pulled away before the dracovol could do any damage. "I hate you!"
"The feeling's mutual." The flamebreath growled. "You kept me bottled up inside your whole life. You kept me in the shadows, in the confides of your puny mind. You kept ignoring my urges, kept dismissing my calls."
"What are you talking about?" Rex asked, confused. "I've never met you before in my life! Well until you took over my body that is."
The dragon laughed so hard that Rex had to flap his wings as hard as he could just to stay in the one spot. "Don't be so naive, Rex." The dragon said as he stopped laughing, but kept that huge grin on his face. "You've met me before, years ago."
Rex's mind is mixed up with all kinds of questions. What was this moron talking about? Where have they met before? He was just plain crazy! "W-What are you talking about, you overgrown excuse for a volcano!"
The dragon's grin broadened. "Remember Zill?" He hissed through his grinning mouth. "Remember the bloodlust you got at that moment? Remember how you felt as you saw the blood seep through your paws? Remember how you jumped on him and broke his neck? Remember how you tore out his internal organs and ripped apart the body? Remember how you buried your face inside him and ate as much blood and flesh as your small body could handle?"
Rex's face was drained of all color as memories recollected in his head. Vivid memories of the horrid deed replayed itself over and over inside his mind. That was the moment that his life had changed. That kill was the turning point to how he is now. That event nearly led to the extinction of the friendship he shared with Littlefoot and his pals. He gulped nervously, shaking so badly that he lost control of his flight and fell down.
Dark Rex narrowed his eyes slightly and he brought out his giant paw and caught the dracovol. He brought him close. "Remember?"
The dracovol regained his composure, though as he stood up his legs wobbled like they were made of unsturdy quicksand. "Y-Yes...b-b-but what does that have to do with you...? And how did you...how did you know what happened?"
"How could I not know?" Dark Rex smiled. "I'm with you, always. I'm a part of you as you are a part of me, kiddo." He laughed. "And as what it deals with me, well, that wasn't your sharptooth instinct taking over." Rex's eyes widened as big as they could get, and his mouth partially opened. He tried to speak, but no words came out. "Yes, that's right Rexie boy." The dragon leaned in closer. "That was me."
Rex wasn't sure what to think. His mind just went blank. He stared at the flamebreath disbelievingly. Had he heard right? Was this overgrown flamethrower telling the truth? Was this dragon the real culprit to him unleashing his meat-eating side?
"I-It was you...? This whole time...?" He said, shakingly. "I-I unleashed you...back then?" He stammered, unable to think clearly.
"Yes, I used your hunger to allow myself to surface, in a way." Dark Rex explained. "I was tired of being ignored for so long, so I awakened myself. You had no idea of your true potential, Rex. I let you become aware of that, in that instance." The monster licked his lips. "That sharptooth was so tasty..." He looked down at the kid. "Don't you think so, too?"
"SHUT UP!" Rex shouted, jumping into the air. Anger had taken over his mind now. "YOU WERE THE REASON WHY I HAD TO LEAVE THE GREAT VALLEY! YOU WERE THE REASON MY BOND WITH MY FRIENDS NEARLY SHATTERED! YOU WERE THE REASON WHY I WAS FORCED TO LIVE IN THE MYSTERIOUS BEYOND!" The last part was a lie. He had CHOSEN to live in the Mysterious Beyond until he found out who he was.
The flamebreath cocked an eyebrow. "Me? Oh no my dear boy. I would not have been able to let myself out if you didn't let me." Rex continued growling fearlessly, a distrustful look on the eye. "It's true. You let your guard down, allowing myself to get free...sort of." He chuckled. "I obviously didn't gain full control. You came to your senses after the episodes."
"And I couldn't remember what I did because..."
"...because it was my mind which was in control. When you came to, your mind booted back up with little recollection of what you did." The dragon answered the dracovol's question.
Rex blinked as his mind was taking in this newfound information. But he couldn't lose sight of his goal. He had to defeat this dragon! But how? How! As he stared into the dragon's eyes, he remembered the voice from before. Something about taming the beast...is this what it had been talking about? Was he supposed to somehow 'tame' this beast? Was that the same as destroying?
"What's the matter?" Dark Rex asked, taunting the little dracovol. "Too scared to face the truth? The truth hurts doesn't it?" He chuckled breathlessly.
"J-J-Just shut up..." Rex said, placing his paws on his head. He was trying to think of what mode of action he should take next. As he pondered his, he didn't notice the large paw of Dark Rex getting closer and closer. As he was lost in his thoughts, the dragon swatted down. Rex's mind snapped to reality and he dodged just in time. He could feel the wind rush to him as the paw swept past him and struck the ground. The force was so great it created a miniature earthquake!
"Whoa!" Rex exclaimed. "That was close!" He turned around to face the large dragon. He glared, and gritted his teeth. Just how was he going to win? He looked up around the area. But he couldn't see any source of light. 'Dang it!' Rex cursed. 'How am I supposed to beat him with no light around!' He started to fly away, and he could hear the heavy wing beats of the dragon behind him. Being smaller Rex was able to fly faster than Dark Rex. But Dark Rex was larger. That would pose a problem, forcing Rex to go even faster.
Rex looked around frantically, trying to find a place where he could hide. He noticed a small opening in a cliff wall. 'Perfect!' He thought as he dove downward towards that opening. Just as Dark Rex was about to close his jaws around the puny dracovol, he crawled into the hole, just large enough for him to fit through. The flamebreath roared in frustration. He turned around, and started beating the cliff.
Rex shuddered as he felt the ground shake and the rock formation starting to give way to the colossal monster. He knew he didn't have long to think about a course of action. He knew he didn't have long to figure out just what he should do. His mind raced as well as his heart. He walked as far back as he could into the cave. It was only a couple yards long, and that wasn't good enough to keep him from the jaws of the dragon when that frontier wall finally crumbled.
'What to do? What to do!' He asked himself, digging his claws furiously into his scalp. He winced as he felt blood trinkling down. He stared at his blood, and his hands started shaking again when he remembered what Dark Rex had just told him only a few minutes prior to this event. His hands clenched into fists, and he struck out at the wall. He ignored the searing pain he felt as the hand made contact with the wall. He punched the wall with his other hand, and this time accidentally cut himself against a sharp object protruding from the wall.
He stared at the blood on his hand, a few tears of anger strolling down his face. He was so frustrated that he just had to let it out. He took in a deep breath and let out a loud shrill. It was so loud that even the flamebreath had to shake his head a few times to stop the ringing in his head. But as Rex screamed, he felt a sudden warmth inside his mouth. He opened up his eyes and saw a stream of flames exiting his mouth. And as the flames illuminated the room, Rex could feel his strength returning.
"Of course!" Rex shouted as the flames died out. "The light! Fire makes light!"
"I HAVE YOU NOW!" Dark Rex had broken through the barrier, and let out a huge flame attack on the dracovol. Rex quickly moved out of the way, but stayed close to the flames. This startled the dragon. Rex then struck out against the top jaw. This time the claws had slashed in deeper, and longer, as though he was twice as large. The dragon howled in pain as he staggered back. But he wasn't out of the game just yet. "A wise guy eh? Let's see you escape this!"
The large dragon flew up into the air. He opened up his huge wingspan and the rims all around started to glow. Then that glowing spread over the entire wing membrane. Rex looked up in horror as flames engulfed the wingspan of the creature. "Oh...my..."
The creature roared angrily as the fire turned a white hot color. Then Dark Rex flew downward. He tipped over one wing and then the other. The tips of the wings caused the rock to catch on fire. The white fire spread throughout the entire area, except for the largest mountain in the region. Rex flew up as high as he could, and stared down in shock at the white fire burning the rock. Then Rex realized that the rock was actually firestone, a special rock that could catch on fire. He thought it was only a myth, but he's seen it for himself. Then again this was inside his head. Maybe it's just his imagination.
The dragon flew close to him now, a smile on his face. He looked like he was feeling victorious. "Now what are you going to do, little one? Your only resting spot is over there." He pointed at the formation. "And with that shield, you'll be cornered."
Rex looked over again at the formation. His eyes widened as he realized the dragon was right. There was a flat surface, but what looked like a wave in the form of stone curved over. If he had landed there, Dark Rex would have him for sure! Rex narrowed his eyes at the dragon, and then smiled. "But you made one small mistake."
"And that is...?"
"Lighting this place up!" Rex flew in close, and spewed fire onto the beast's head. Dark Rex roared in agony as the flames from the little one burned his face. The pain was so intense that he had to retreat, and the only place to roost was the stone wave cliff, and Rex followed him.
Rex had noticed a strange mark on the dragon's forehead. It was shaped like an X. He narrowed his eyes. This brought back memories of the evil alimons, who all bore a scar on one of their shoulders to show their loyalty to their leader. This X mark only made itself present after Rex had flamed Dark Rex's head. If he was right, all he had to do was hit that spot directly, and Dark Rex would be done for!
As he got close to the exhausted dragon, Dark Rex retaliated by sending out more fire. But this only added to the illumination and thus making Rex stronger and faster. The dracovol easily dodged the flames. Dark Rex was getting slower and his reflexes sluggish. If he wanted to destroy him, now was the opportunity. Rex knew the flames wouldn't burn forever, and once they die out, the strength advantage would be switched.
He hoved in front of the dragon's head, the large eyes half way closed. "It is time, flamebreath, for me to be free of you once and for all!" He brought out his paw, extending his sharp nails as far out as he could, and dove down. Dark Rex was too tired to react, but let out a scream as the claws penetrated through the X mark on his head. It sliced right into his brain!
Rex recoiled in pain quickly as a hot white light shot out. Rex tried to fly away, but for some reason, he was frozen in awe as the dragon's body started to break apart, white lights shooting out everywhere. The white fire below them started to burn out of control, and get bigger. "WHAT'S HAPPENING!" Rex shouted to no one in particular.
The white light from the dragon had completely swallowed it up. Rex shielded his eyes, and the light quickly died down. When he looked, there was nothing left of Dark Rex except a giant black circle where he had been. Rex stared, shakingly, at what he had just done. "I-I'm free? I'm free!" He shouted gleefully.
Suddenly the white fire below turned into pitch black fire. "What?" The black fire suddenly shot out at him. Rex screamed as the flames engulfed him and pulled him down. He struggled to get loose. The fire was hot, to his surprise, but it was sticky. It was sucking him down, and where he did not know, nor did he want to know. "AAAHHHH! HELP ME!"
His mind was going crazy as the sticky black fire continued to engulf him. Then he heard a voice, the same voice from before.
'Do not be afraid. I will help you.' The voice said gently, and, while Rex was almost completely covered by the tar-like substance, in the corner of his eye, he could see a light shining through. He only saw it for a second before his eyes were covered, sending him into darkness.