A Clash between Humans (Can I hold my own against Magus?)

I can hear the seagulls chirp. The castle walls are charred in black soot. Fires rage down below.

Magus scoffs, "You have some nerve. You should have heeded my warning."

"I can't do that," I clutch on to my sword, "Tohru is family. Without her, I would be alone. I don't want to go back to being alone."

"Shiro," he speaks in a stern voice, "Dragons and humans living together is a crime."

"Then why didn't you kill me before?"

The wind rustles softly…

Fwooo

He shakes his head, "What will Tohru do if she sees you die? She already lost someone dear to her once. Dragons and humans can't be together. Dragons should stay away from Humans."

"Bullshit," I said. I think of the memories I have with Tohru, with Kotori. The times we smiled. The times I cried with them, "I am proof we can live together in peace."

He grabs me, "Not all dragons are like Tohru. What will you do when evil dragons come to harm humans?"

"I'll face them together with my family. Just like I will face you," I reply tactfully.

He holds his staff and channels magic into the staff.

Swish

I brandish my sword.

"I see I can't convince you through words. Then we'll fight to see who is right," he launches magic bolts at me.

Fwoop Fwoop Fwoop.

I jump out of the way. "Hyaaahhhh!" he runs at me with the staff and swings.

Clang

I block a direct blow from him. I focus and swing. I strike his staff.

"So you can use magic?" he erects a barrier.

I attack the barrier with my sword.

Clang Clang Clang

I beat against the barrier but can't get through.

A magic bolt hits me. I fall over. He closes in and raises his staff. I roll out of the way. The staff slams into the ground. The ground shakes under me.

"You need to use a spell to attack him!" Kanna shouts.

Tohru is breathing fire against the barrier separating me and Magus from them, "I – I can't get through. Hang in there!"

Magus knocks into me with the butt of his staff.

He jabs at me with the front of his staff,

"Ugh," it hits me in the gut. I put my hand over my gut. An intense shock travels through my body.

"You have improved your fighting skills," Magus compliments, "That's not enough though."

He teleports away from me and charges his magic staff. A flurry of swords rain down on me.

"Shiro!" Tohru screams.

I extend my arms. Energy flows through my hands.

I clap my hands. A shield bubble surrounds me. The swords bounce off me.

I run toward Magus. He raises his staff to block. I close my eyes and focus. I teleport behind him and stab him in the back. It smacks against Magus' force field. I swing wildly at his force field.

Ptoom ptoom ptoom

Magus turns around, "You can't break my shield," He swings at me with his staff. I duck under him and slash at his arms. My sword makes contact with his wrist. The staff flies out of his hand, "What the-"

He casts a fireball spell, but I punch him in the gut. The fireball hits me directly.

Ptoom!

My shield breaks. We both fall off our feet and land on our backsides.

With Magus weakened, Tohru melts through the shield. She changes into human form and shields me, "I won't let you hurt him."

Magus' eyes open wide. He catches his breath, "So you beat me. What now?"

Shouta teleports in front of Magus. He rubs his mage's cloak while towering over him, "You lost, Magus. Don't be a fool. Come with us."

Magus shakes his head, "I can't stay with dragons or traitors."

Shouta slaps him in the face, "Your mother is a dragon, true. That doesn't change anything She loves you," he extends his hand to him.

Magus eyes widen open when Shouta says that. Magus hangs his head in shame, "I can't turn my back on my comrades…but…I- I do want to see her. I want to see my mother again…," he grabs on to Shouta's hand.

Suddenly a gust of wind rips by us. There is a giant crater in the center. In it is a woman wearing a robe. She has a blue fish tail, "Stop!" she shouts.

She holds on to her trident, "The boy is a mage of the Harmony faction. He stays with me!"

"Elma," Tohru says. She looks shocked. She approaches her, "You're with these zealots?!"

I look at the two of them stunned. How do they know each other? As if he read my mind, Shouta explains, "They used to be friends."

…Friends?

The dragon's expression changes. She frowns and sighs, "I'm sorry. But this is the law. Magus cannot live with Lucoa! How many times have I already told you? How many times have you disobeyed me?!"

Tohru lunges at Elma. Elma blocks with her staffs.

"I can't follow your rules, Elma!" Tohru hisses, "You can't separate him from his mother like you did to me and Kobayashi. I won't suffer!"

Elma shifts her body weight against the staff. It slowly pushes Tohru downward, "You'll only make Lucoa suffer. What if he dies? Like Kobayashi? Dragons are better off alone!"

"You sound just like father," Tohru remarks, "she whips Elma with her tail. Elma pushes her feet into the ground and slides a few yards back.

"You're wrong…," Tohru insists, "We can live together. Don't you remember? The time we spent together with the others? Don't you remember how much fun we had together in this world? When we lived with Kobayashi?!"

Tears pour out of Elma's eyes. Her hand shakes. She struggles to hold the trident. She shakes her head, "I do," she nods clenching her fist, "Kobayashi is my friend. You're my friend, Tohru," she sniffs her nose, "I-I don't want to be hurt again…I don't want you to be hurt again…That's why I can't let you live with humans!"

I remember feeling like this when I was younger. I felt the same emotions, like Elma, when I remember my mother's death and the time we were together. At one point, I tried to forget it all.

I told myself those memories needed to be forgotten. It would only hurt me to remember it. I couldn't forget those memories though. They mean a lot to me. They made me happy. They made me who I am.

I watch them fight. They struggle to gain the upper hand over each other. I see blood dripping from their wounds. I'm frozen in my place. I watch them fight. I wonder what should I do? What can I do?

They jump back and then ram into each other. The shockwave causes ripples through the castle. Objects and debris are flown our way. Me, Kotori and Shouta duck. We jump on the floor as debris fly over our heads.

"Elmmaaa," Tohru growls, "she breathes deeply absorbing as much wind as she can. A beam of fire forms at the tip of her mouth.

"Tohruuu!" Elma does the same. As she breathes a giant shard of ice levitates in front of her.

I snap out of my trance, "Do something!" I plead to Shouta." He stands quietly beside me and doesn't respond. Everyone is watching them attempt to kill each other. Why isn't anyone doing anything?!

I grab Kotori and shake her, "Kotori. Do something!"

She stares at them fighting. When I shake her she snaps out of it, "I- I don't know how!" she cries.

She looks scared. That's when I notice we're both shaking uncontrollably. I let go of her and run down the stairs to where they are fighting in the courtyard. Friends... Friends don't fight each other…Not like this.

Elma and Tohru land on the ground. I force myself to move. I run toward them. Elma and Tohru breath in fire. I jump in between them. "Nooo!" I let out a bloodcurdling scream. They let loose their attacks. Time slows down. I cast the strongest shield I can to absorb the blow.

BOOM!

The shield absorbs the intense flame and chill of their attacks before breaking. Their magic attacks hit me. The intense energy of the blow hits me. The pain travels all throughout my body.

I'm on the floor. I see the sky above me. I can't move my body. I notice I'm bleeding. Is this it…?

I'm going to die…Kotori runs to my side and grabs me, "Please…don't close your eyes," she begs.

Despite her begging, despite her crying I shut my eyes.

I wake up in a meadow. Am I…dead?

The wind rustles the leaves. There's a soft blanket lying on the grass. Picnic bento boxes and some plates lay on the floor. I see someone sitting there. A woman with red hair. She turns around, "Shiro?" I instantly recognize who it is. It's my mom.

I run as fast as I can to her. I jump into her welcoming arms. She lifts me into the air and swings me around before setting me down on the ground, "Mom…Mom…I-"

"It's okay," she pats me on the back, "I miss you, too."

She puts food on both our plates. She begins to pray. I reach for my food but she slaps me on the wrist.

"Shiro. That's bad table manners!" she scolds.

"Sorry…Tohru didn't teach me table manners," I say as I pray with her.

She nods, "That Tohru still has a lot to learn if she wants to be a good mother."

I reach for my plate of spicy curry and meat with rice.

When we finish our dinner, we sit together looking at the sky.

I think for a second. What should I say? There are many things I wanted to say. I wanted to tell her what I have been doing. I wanted to tell her about Tohru. Then I remember the fight with Tohru and Elma.

"M-M-mom…Ab-About Tohru…," I stutter.

She hushes me, pulling me closer to her. My head rests on her lap. I look up at her.

"Ah…yes. Tohru. She feels so guilty for what happened. It's not her fault though. She's too hard on herself, y'know…Like a certain someone," she looks at me, winking. Her fingers run along my hair.

I yawn, "I tried to stop her from fighting, mom. I tried my hardest to help her. I tried to help her move on…B-But every time I try I fail!" I cry.

She comforts me and whispers, "You didn't fail. Tohru won't admit it, but ever since you met her, I can feel how grateful she is to spend every moment with you…I can feel how happy she is to raise a boy like you…"

Gong…Gong…

A loud clock goes off in the distance.

"Mom…What is that?"

She pulls me up. A portal opens, "I'm sorry, Shiro. I used up all my magic. I have to send you back.

My heart skips. I hold on to her and refuse to let go. My head shakes furiously, "No. Don't tell me- I-I have to leave?" my eyes are watery.

"Tohru and Elma need you now. Please tell them…It's not their fault. Tell them they're family now. When it's their time to pass away I'll see them here again," she says this with a painful smile.

"Wait…so that means I'm-"

"Almost dead," she finishes, "I can sense the others are using all their magic to bring you home."

In the distance, I hear feint voices.
"Come back, bro! We need you!"

"Shiro! Let's go home! Please…open your eyes!"

She gently directs me toward the portal, "They need you, Shiro. Please help heal our broken family."

I step through the portal. The world turns white as if someone painted over everything. I look back at my mother, "I'll do everything to make you proud mom."

She kisses me on the forehead, "That's not necessary…you already have."

Whooosh

I wake up. My heart is beating like crazy, "Ack..Ack…Ack..."

Kotori's lips are touching mine. She's trying to give me CPR, "Argh, What's going on?!"

"Shiro you're alive!"

Elma and Tohru lift me up.

"You're…okay," Elma sighs in relief.

I nod. I notice they are smiling at each other.

"You're not fighting. Why?"

Tohru grabs me, "Geez. Don't make us worry like that again."

Elma laughs, "You should have saw us. She was crying and using all her magic to heal you."

Tohru gives Elma a noogie.

"H-hey, stop!" Elma squeals.

"Yeah?! If I recall you were bawling your eyes, too! You were screaming sorry over and over to me!"

She shakes her head. Her face is bright red, "N-No I wasn't!"

I wrap my hands around both of them, "Thank you."

They both turn red when I say that.

"I was with Kobayashi," I added, "She told me It isn't your fault. She doesn't want to see her family hurt each other. Elma, too."

Tohru and Elma look on dumbfounded, but nod.

"Yeah…that sounds like lady Kobayashi…," Tohru pats Elma on the back, "I'm sorry…"

Elma shakes her head, "It can't be helped I suppose," she fakes disinterest.

"Let's go home," I said.

I climb on Tohru's back. She takes off with me. The others fly alongside us home. To where we belong.

I take in my surroundings. This world really is beautiful. I think about my mother and what she said. A warm feeling comes over me.

A feeling that I had not felt in a long time. So this is what peace feels like.

Author's Note: To everyone who have made it this far, thank you! I hope you enjoyed the story so far. I'm going to slow the pace of the story down to a much needed crawl and focus on each of the characters. They deserve to rest and have time to themselves after all!