A/N: I've decided instead of Tibarn and Naesala vs. Deghinsea, it'll just be Naesala. The original version of this chapter was both of them, but I hated it.
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Tibarn's beak lodged itself into the mighty dragon's left wing, causing both to go spiraling out of control towards the tower wall. Before impact, Deghinsea was able to grab the hawk king and toss him across the room. When he saw Tibarn go flying, Naesala figured it was his turn. He flew towards the king in a similar motion to Tibarn, except heading for the right wing. The dragon king took this as the same type of assault Tibarn had tried, and readied himself to grab Naesala. The raven king, however, had a different plan. Just as Deghinsea was about to grab him, he swerved to the left, burying his talons in the dragon king's neck. Naesala immediately dislodged his talons and started to glide around the king, pecking at different spots throughout. Just as he went for the final blow, the dragon swept him up with his tail, crushing several bones in his body. Naesala, however, was not ready to give up. As Deghinsea let out a breath of cursed fire in his direction, Naesala used a last burst of adrenaline to propel himself into the air and dive, beak first, into the dragon's skull. He immediately stopped moving, and with a mighty thud he fell to the ground.
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"Nasir…"
"It's been quite a while, Ike. I trust you're doing well?" he asked.
"Why are you here!?"
"I fight for Goldoa. My country. I understand that you yourself have no specific loyalties to any country, but still, you should understand. I and everyone else here fight for friends and family."
"You fight for Goldoa!?" Ike seethed, "Goldoa, the same country that ostracized you! Neglected you! Forced you to fake life as a beorc! Nasir, this is insane! We can stop Ashera! Then all of this meaningless bloodshed will be over and your country will be safe! Please, stand down!"
"I am sorry…but I have no choice. It seems we were destined to one day meet on the field of battle…I am glad to call you my friend, Ike…Prepare yourself."
With a flash of light, Nasir transformed.
"So, you won't stand down regardless…? Very well…" Ike readied Ragnell.
Nasir threw his head back and spewed a column of white flame towards the Vanguard. Ike leapt in the air, dodging the attack. He hoisted Ragnell and brought it down. Nasir caught it with his claw and slammed Ike down to the ground. The Vanguard desperately looked for an opening. When Nasir raised his claw, Ike saw one, but in order to escape, he would have to kill Nasir.
It's me or him…and I still have a job to do.
Ike brought Ragnell up, driving it through Nasir's exposed neck. The dragon fell to the ground, coughing up enormous amounts of blood.
"I-Ike…Th….ank…you…I was…rea…dy to go…"
And so the white dragon Nasir, both traitor and hero, fell. Ike's quickly blurring eyes noticed Deghinsea falling to the ground, and he knew the battle was over. Ike fell to his knees, and for the first time in years, he wept.
--Micaiah and the rest of the Chosen Ones stood silently as Kurthnaga said his final goodbye to his father through the communication stone. Micaiah looked around, and saw that Ike was nowhere to be found.
She leaned over to Nolan and asked, "Where's Ike…?"
The Reaver pointed towards a shape on the ground, near the corpse of a distinctive white dragon.
"Leave him be…I doubt he would want anyone, not even yourself, to see him in the state he's probably in now…" he said.
Micaiah nodded. She was no longer paying attention to the conversation between the dragons, she was too worried about Ike. He hadn't moved an inch.
"Micaiah." An injured Naesala's voice got her attention, "It's time to go."
She gestured towards Ike. "What about…?"
"We can't let him stay any longer. Neither Tibarn or I are in fighting condition and we did most of the fighting on the second floor. Go get him."
She nodded and walked towards him.
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"Ike…?" He heard Micaiah's voice, but he paid no attention. This didn't seem to faze her as she sat down next to him.
"He must have been a good man…" she spoke softly.
"Yeah…" Ike spoke softly. He seemed to be calming down a bit.
"He was a great man…and I killed him." Ike was trying to hold back a sob. He didn't want to cry in front of Micaiah…
"Ike…do you…do you…need a hug?" she finally managed to spit out.
The Vanguard's answer both surprised and relieved her.
"Yeah…that'd be nice…" he mumbled.
Micaiah wrapped her arms around his waist and gently laid her head on his shoulder.
"It'll be all right…We're almost finished with this…" she mumbled. Ike hugged her back.
"Yeah…We'd better get going. Thanks, Micaiah. That…that meant a lot to me."
He got up and went towards the staircase, where the rest of the army had gone to give him privacy. Micaiah got up and went after him.
I meant to do that to comfort him, but it had the same effect on me…
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A/N: If this chapter was on paper I would tear it into shreds and burn it. It is a product of severe writer's block. Reviews are appreciated, as always.
