Chapter 7
Yugi swallowed heavily, shifting where he sat on Yami's back. The dragon felt his discomfort and he snorted faintly, smoke drifting from his nostrils.
"Yugi?"
The boy looked up as he heard the voice, looking to the side to see Ishizu flying near him, Odion hovering beside them effortlessly. He smiled at the woman. "Yes?"
"Are you sure that you are ready for this? If you do not feel ready we can send you back with one of the others." Ishizu said, worry in her voice. "And I'm not sure it's a good idea, given the fact that Yami cannot flame."
Yugi smiled again. "Don't worry."
Yami tossed his head, growling softly. He is my aibou, I will keep him safe. You have no need to worry.
Ishizu smiled at that. The others were right; Yami was different than the other dragons, with a stronger sense of protection and loyalty, and an almost alien emotion. Ishizu knew what was happening between dragon and Rider, and she was almost ecstatic, because it meant that the legend may be coming to pass.
"Riders ready!"
Yugi looked up as he heard the call from Mahado, flying at the head of the pack of dragons. Odion moved away from Yami; as one of the largest dragons, he was to fly up front to help with the main assault. As the large sandy colored dragon moved away Harpy flitted into his space, moving like lightning to get into her assigned place. Dice floated on Yami's other side, Duke grinning like a maniac on his shoulders.
Yugi grinned at the black haired man. "Having fun, Duke?"
Duke gave him a thumbs up, his deep green eyes flashing. "This is one of my favorite parts of being a Rider, the freedom of being on a flaming dragon. Just wait until Yami flames for the first time. It's an amazing feeling."
Yugi smiled, running his fingers over Yami's scales absently. The large black dragon purred faintly, arching his neck appreciatively. Yugi took his time to ready himself by thinking calming thoughts, and as he was doing this he noticed something.
Yami, once the smallest of the group, was now larger than Dice. After his first few weeks of growth he really hadn't gotten any bigger, but it was obvious now that he had grown, and quite a bit. Yugi realized that Yami was now one of the bigger dragons, Dice being the fourth largest in the group, bested only by Magician, Malik, and Odion.
This made Yugi smile, and he rubbed at Yami's neck. Curious, the dragon turned his head to focus one large crimson eye on his Rider. Is something wrong, aibou?
/No, Yami. I just figured something out, that's all./
Figured what out?
Yugi grinned at his dragon. /You're one of the biggest dragons, Yami. I hadn't realized how much you'd grown!/
Yami chuckled faintly, turning his attention back forward. I'm always growing aibou, I probably won't stop until I am a few years old. In any case, the enemy is close, we must be prepared.
/Right, I'm ready./ Yugi said confidently, setting his face as he looked forward. Yami snorted slightly, showing his teeth as figures came into sight.
"Scarblacas Ven." Yugi whispered, his eyes going red and his vision turning to Yami's. He felt the dragon's mind brush against his own in a closeness they didn't normally have, and he looked with Yami into the distance to see at least six dragons, a great red one in the front.
/That's a big dragon…/ Yugi murmured. /Maybe even bigger than Magician, I can't tell…/
I believe that he would be about the size of Odion, actually. Yami replied, his vision zooming in on the creature. Perhaps a little larger. No need to worry, they are outnumbered.
/Only by one, and that's us, so it's not much of a difference./ Yugi said sadly, his fingers tightening on the straps that held his legs in place.
If needed Bakura will bring Ryou up to fight, and with him Valkyria and Mana. But they must stay behind right now and protect our home. It will be alright, Yugi, with all of the dragons we have with us, we will be fine. Kisara and Malik are the most powerful flamers, and Magician, Odion, Dice and I have the power of our size. Harpy is the smallest, yes, but she can turn on a dime and is good at maneuvering quickly and accurately. We are a powerful force. Yami explained patiently, trying to reassure his Rider.
Yugi smiled. /Thanks Yami./
It is what I'm here for, little one.
Malik suddenly tossed his golden head, impatient, and shot forward to meet another dragon in midair, his jaws opening to pour forth almost golden flames. The green dragon he was aiming for roared, returning the flames, only his were tinted green. Magician went for the red dragon in the front, his violet tinted fire blazing through the blue sky.
Yami tensed beneath Yugi, and the boy held on as the dragon shot forward, rearing up and sinking all four sets of claws into the brown dragon that met him. Yugi caught the green-gold stare of the dragon's Rider for an instant, and then the gaze was torn away as Yami flipped up and over the dragon, pouring on the speed to get back into attacking range.
Yugi flung what spells he could from Yami's back, but the black dragon was taking care of most of the fighting for him. The brown dragon they were fighting with was powerful, just a little bigger than Yami himself, but for some reason he had yet to flame. This, for Yugi, was the most distressing. /Something's gonna happen, Yami, he hasn't flamed yet!/
I know aibou, it's worrying me too. Don't worry; I'll protect you no matter what! Yami roared out loud as he said this, his teeth latching onto the dragon's neck. The other dragon let out a horrifying screech, his head tossing, and then Yugi let out a sharp cry as teeth came towards him. Yami growled around the flesh in his mouth, twisting his body in an attempt to get Yugi away from the jaws, and barely succeeded in time.
The brown dragon fixed his jaws around Yami's neck just in front of Yugi's saddle, and Yugi fought not to cover his ears as Yami cried in pain. The boy let out a shout of his own as Yami's dark blood poured over his hands, putting his hand against the brown flesh and shouting out a spell.
The dragon screeched again, releasing Yami and falling back, his head smoking. Yugi breathed heavily, hastily scrubbing his hands across his riding pants to get rid of the warm blood that stained his skin. /Yami!/
The dragon's voice was strained as he spoke next. I'll be fine aibou. Are you okay?
/Yea, I'm fine. Are you sure you're going to be okay?/ Yugi asked desperately, laying his hand on Yami's side.
Yes aibou.
A moment later another dragon was shooting out of the flurry of flames and roars, a smaller bright yellow one. The dragon already had blood pouring from numerous scratches and marks, but he was unscarred by fire, leading Yugi to believe that he was probably rather agile in the air.
His assumptions were proved correct when he darted around behind Yami, whirling and going up over the dragon's back. Yugi gasped in shock as the dragon turned a loop, bringing his Rider into range of Yugi. The boy's eyes widened when he saw the man grin, raising his hand.
The roar nearly split his mind open, and Yugi screamed in pain, covering his ears as though he could block it out.
NO!
Yami whirled in midair, bringing his jaws right into range for an attack, but he didn't bite. He opened his jaws and flames poured forth, searing the screaming man and dragon as they fell from the sky. There was just one thing about the flames that was off, and it made Yugi, still cringing in pain from Yami's voice, gasp in horror.
The fire was pure black.
OMG, there's a plot in this chapter! -laughs- I amuse myself sometimes. Yes, I did start to hint the plot this chapter, and more will come to light in the next, I promise. I tried my best on the fight, and I'm pleased with it, I hope you liked it. I'll give you a list of the dragons of both sides and their Riders...
Riders and Their Dragons:
Yugi – Black Yami
Marik – Golden Malik
Ryou – Gray Bakura
Seto – White Kisara
Mai – Maroon Harpy
Duke – Aqua Dice
Ishizu – Sandy Odion
Mana – Purple Valkyria
Mahado – Violet Magician
Evil:
Shade – Red Zorc
Dartz – Brown Levaiathan
Valon – Green Orichalcos
Pegasus – Blue Cecelia
Keith – Yellow Bandit
Gansley – Teal Warrior
Crump – Ice Nightmare
Nezbitt – Silver Knight
As you can see, I just kind of threw in some of the main villians, but I ran out, so I started using the minons and the Big Five as well. I made up the name Shade, cause I wanted the dragon to be named Zorc, who is, of course, the villian in the final season and the lord of the shadow realm (I believe) Hope you enjoyed it, and please review!