Regina could only watch in horror as her family battled it out with this titan-like monster. Every muscle itched to join the fight, to destroy this creature that dared try to harm her family. It crossed the ocean, climbing the cliffs near Ruby and Henry. The werewolf was quick to run off with him, but the creature started roaring and strange monsters crawled off of its back, made of lava and rock like the creature itself. Before they knew it, Ruby was being chased by dozens of fiery monsters that ran along the ground and Zelena was assaulted by more that flew through the air. Her sister was flying erratically on her broomstick, trying to kill them and stop herself from crashing at the same time.
"Shit. Shit, shit, shit!" Belle hissed. "Get higher, Zelena!" She said. Zelena zig zagged wildly, throwing fireballs and bursts of electricity. She noticed Ruby's predicament and summoned a cloud of flying monkeys that got the flying creatures off of her back and unleashed a wave of explosive magic at the ones chasing Ruby. For the moment they had the situation in hand so Regina turned the transmitter back to the dragons just in time to see Lily slamming into the ground. Cynder had taken dragon form, one even larger than Mal's. She and Mal both dove in opposite directions to avoid the swinging claws of the lava creature. Cynder made it free and attacked its head but it spun, moving in a much more calculated manner than some random creature, and struck Mal with its tail, sending her crashing into the ground.
"Where's Henry?" Emma demanded. "I want to see my son!"
"He's fine, now shut up!" Regina rolled her eyes.
"Open a portal. Let us go help them!" The blonde insisted.
"I told you we can't!" Regina hissed, rounding on the idiots. "If they had the time to open a portal, don't you think they would've by now?!"
Emma growled at her and started pacing, angrily watching the tv screen. Regina rolled her eyes again, just as on edge as the idiot blonde. She knew that they both were scared and anxious, but yelling at each other wasn't solving anything.
The dragons were in the midst of battle, trying to take the monster down by any means necessary, but the creature was always a step ahead of them, sending them flying or knocking them aside with ease. However, Regina noticed that it tunnelled Cynder, always keeping one eye on her and even though Cynder was the most powerful of the dragons, she was far from being full strength. It showed. The creature picked them apart. It tossed Millie like a ragdoll and knocked Cynder out of the air with a heavy paw. Lily grabbed onto its arm, tearing off clumps of rock before suddenly diving away, screeching in pain. The creature grabbed her tail and she screamed again. Mal unleashed a torrent of fire as she dove. She changed into a human and landed on its head. She lifted her foot and brought it down with brute force, stunning it long enough to help Lily. The rock cracked under her feet and lava spilled through. Was the rock its skin? Its flesh? She didn't understand it. Cynder flew, catching her in her claws before the creature could hit her.
Regina watched her daughter carefully as she landed and she realized why the dragons were having so much trouble fighting it. The creature's touch was like acid and its corrosion ate away at her scales and flesh. There was already a hole in her child's wing and a ring around her tail that was exposed because the scales were melted away. "Lava that can melt dragon scales? What is this thing?"
"It's nothing I've read about." Belle answered. "But some people hate dragons. If they're intelligent and have enough resources...something to test it on...It could be made."
Both women glanced down at the children, anxiously watching the tv screen. They couldn't really offer any words to console them. It would mean nothing until the others came home.
/
Maleficent evaded the swinging claws and landed next to Lily. "Lily, are you okay?"
"No, it burns!" Lily hissed.
"Get to the water. Try and wash it off-"
A roar cut off her words and she turned back to the fight, ready to leap back in. The lava creature was facing Millie, who'd grown her dragon form to a monstrous size. Mal winced at seeing so many of her scales gone. The flesh beneath was still smoking where the lava managed to touch it and there were many places that were red and raw. Her mother wouldn't survive in a straight fight against that thing. They couldn't even touch it without getting burned and Millie didn't even have claws.
"Go." Ruby said, coming to her side, "I've got Lily."
"You two get Henry and Zelena and get away from here. Find a safe place and draw the portal. I'll get my mothers and we can leave as quickly as possible."
"I'm not leaving you." Lily growled, glaring at her. "Don't even try that shit, Mom."
"I'm not going to die, Lilith." She said purposefully. "Not here and not by that thing."
"GIVE UP!" All three whipped around at the guttural command. Smoke was pouring off of the lava creature and gradually the shadow of its great form disappeared.
"It shifted form? Is that a dragon too?" Lily asked.
Mal had no answer for her. She didn't know what it was. If it was anything like the other dragon they'd killed, then it was something or someone who was willing to stay in the Forbidden Lands just to keep her mothers from leaving. Millie's form was engulfed in smoke as she reverted to human form. They really needed to get her out of here. She needed medical attention and she wouldn't be able to keep switching forms if this continued any longer.
"GIVE UP!" In the place of the lava dragon now stood a male human. He was covered in large, long scars that marred nearly his entire face, as if someone had tried to claw him to death. The rest of his face was covered by his long, messy hair and a beard but what was odd was his attire. He was dressed in plate armor that was so dented, broken and dirty she wondered how he wore it without being in pain. She didn't recognize the symbol on the chest plate either. It appeared to be a sword with some sort of animal underneath it, as though impaled on the blade.
"Give up, Cynder." He said, glaring at the blonde dragon, who had moved to Millie's side. "You are not leaving this place. Not while I live and breathe."
"Then I suppose we'll have to kill you then." Mal called, drawing his attention away from her mothers. She walked forward, hoping to keep his attention on her and off of her family. "May I ask your name, sir? And inquire why you are guarding my mothers' prisons?"
"Mothers? You are the daughter of Cynder and Milicent?" The man slowly grinned. "Excellent. I can eliminate the entire bloodline of you beasts right here."
"You beasts? Are you not a dragon as well?"
"I am superior to you in every way!" He hissed vehemently. Mal leaned back slightly at the sudden outburst. "Dragons are a vile, repulsive, plague on many worlds with claws stained with the blood of innocents and always leaving scores of dead in their wake." The man trembled with rage, every word dripping with venom and hatred.
"Don't waste your breath, Maleficent." Cynder said, coming to her side. "You stand in the presence of a creature that has hunted down and murdered dozens, if not hundreds, of our kind."
"Murdered?!" The man roared. "MURDERED?! How many have you killed Cynder, beloved queen of dragons, icon of killers?"
"I never betrayed my own people." Cynder growled. "How many of us have you killed? How many eggs have you smashed?! Children who never saw the light of day because those bastards who trained you told you that they were monsters! They were children!"
"They would've grown up to be like you and I had to save the world from tyrants like the beasts of your kind. That's why you're here, isn't it, Cynder? You killed and slaughtered and when people had enough of you, they banished you to this world. It wasn't even enough to kill you, they wanted you and your family to suffer. Just as they did!"
Mal silently listened to the pair argue and scream accusations at each other but she did find it odd. A dragonslaying dragon? This fool really believed he was saving the world? He'd have to kill everyone then.
"Psst." The invisible transmitter landed on her shoulder and she raised a small ward around them. "His name is Trevas Shald. He's a dragon that was raised by the dark wizards that imprisoned your mothers. Cynder's right. He was taught to hate his kind and he won't hesitate to kill you all."
"If I can distract him long enough, Zelena can get the others away."
"She's moving Millie now, but they're in bad shape, Mal." Belle said.
"I know." Mal heard shuffling noises that sounded like someone turning pages.
"There's nothing in the books on weaknesses."
"That's fine. I think I already saw one." Mal teleported straight into Trevas' face and landed a hard punch to her jaw. Her knuckles were seared where they touched his skin but it hurt a lot less than before. Was he weakening or was it because he was in human form? In any case, she chose to capitalize on it. Cynder joined in her attack, striking when she dodged and evading when she needed to. Trevas swung wildly but there was power behind every one and Mal knew that she was hit, it might take her out. She hoped Zelena was getting the others to safety in the meantime.
It was going well. Mother and daughter were able to keep Trevas occupied, then…Cynder slipped in the loose sand… It was like a switch had been flipped because Trevas was on top of her in an instant, viciously clubbing her everywhere he could, clawing and even biting her exposed arms. Mal grabbed him around the neck, fully prepared to snap his neck right then and there, but he teleported again. She crouched next to Cynder as she spat blood into the sand.
"Mother-"
Trevas appeared behind her and grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her backwards. Mal sent him sliding back with a well placed burst of magic and he retaliated by diving at her. She steadied herself to be tackled and roll through it, but he punched her, ramming her in the stomach as hard as he could. Mal collapsed to her knees, sucking in big gulps of air as pain raced throughout her body. Trevas kicked her, knocking the wind out of her again and grabbed her ankle. He swung her like a ragdoll, slamming her into the ground over and over and Mal grit her teeth against the pain, trying to come up with a way of this. It was only when the pain stopped and she was dropped on the ground that she realized she couldn't feel anything at all. Not her magic, not any pain, not even the rest of her limbs.
"Mal, you have to get up." She heard Regina say. "He's going after the others. They need you."
"I...can't feel my legs."
"What? You can't heal yourself?" There was an edge to Regina's voice, one verging on panic.
"I can't...do anything."
"You're moving your hands." Regina said.
"I am?" She felt nothing when she tried to raise her hand but she could see that it was moving. She wasn't sure what was more disturbing between the paralysis or her ghost limbs. She heard Lily scream, followed by lightning and thunder. Lily and Zelena were fighting. She needed to help them. A firm hand on her forehead made her look up. "Mother?" Cynder was bleeding from multiple wounds on her face and arms. She felt another set of hands on her cheek and Millie came into view. She couldn't see what the pair were doing, but they were moving quickly.
"He is weakening rapidly. He will take dragon form again soon." Millie said.
"If that is true, he may retreat or regroup." Cynder added.
"The lava!" Belle yelled. "He might need it to recover. All these years waiting here, this is probably the first time he's been out of it."
"That means he will have to go back through the water." Millie smirked. "Perfect."
"You are too injured to drown him." Cynder scoffed, removing her girdle and clawing out one of the gems.
"That is true, but if our Maleficent had a way to pierce his armor, I can exhaust him before she delivers the killing blow." Mal knew the perfect way to do that but she was too weak and she couldn't move. "Diadoma Esseena Tie. That is the spell I use to grow larger. Use it if you need it."
Mal gave her a nod. She twisted her head to watch as Cynder held the gem to her chest. Her mother held a hand over it, one of her fingers morphing into a dragon's claw. All it took was a single touch to crack it and magic cascaded from it in the form of a wave of golden fire. Mal grit her teeth as energy poured into her body. Her magic and flames flared to life, restoring feeling to the rest of her limbs and healing all of her wounds. The rush of energy bordered on pain but more than that, it was exhilarating.
Regina and the others at home were in awe when Mal stepped out of the flames. Her eyes were glowing with dragon fire and she couldn't help licking her lips seeing her mate in such a state.
"Regina, my love." Mal said. "Forgive me."
"Forgive you for what?! What are you about to do?"
Mal didn't answer. The others were so busy fighting that they didn't even notice that a certain player was returning to the game. Trevas had been toying with the other women, trying to separate them from Henry, who he considered someone who needed to be 'rescued' from the 'monsters.' Monsters seemed to be his favorite word. He kept spouting nonsense about how dragons were murderous monsters who destroy everything in sight and Regina knew that her child would not tolerate his brainwashed defamation, nor would she allow him to touch Henry as long as he was under her protection. Trevas was weakening under the barrage from the Queens of Darkness. If what Millie and Cynder believed was true, he would have to return to the lava soon.
The children were cheering in front of her but Regina barely heard them. She was glad Mal was up and walking but what was she planning? It had to be something reckless, something she knew Regina wouldn't approve of. That could be anything. Just come back to me, Mal.
"Hey!" Mal yelled, making Trevas turn around. Smoke began billowing off of her skin in waves, engulfing her within moments. For a moment they couldn't see anything but a dark shape within the smoke. It was the slowest transformation Regina had ever seen of Mal and she knew that she had used Millie's spell. Mel and Sarai gasped when they glimpsed one of her wings. It alone was bigger than Mal's usual size. When the smoke finally dispersed, she truly did look like a monster. She towered over everyone and everything in a way she never had before, like a creature made of pure darkness with glowing coals for eyes.
"Destroy him, Mal." Regina hissed, grinning at the sight of her wife.
"With pleasure." Came the deep throated growl.
Trevas scowled as he shifted back into his dragon form as well. The lava that once poured through the cracks in his armor was dark and crept along the stone that covered his hide. He was indeed weaker.
"You like to kill dragons, Trevas Shald?" Mal said, shaking the ground as she walked forward. "Kill me."
"So be it-"
Maleficent suddenly unleashed a roar that completely knocked out the sound on the transmitter. Zelena struck out with a burst of lightning that caught Trevas off guard and knocked him backwards. Mal took flight, stirring up a storm of dust as she made straight for Trevas and grabbed him by his arms. She cast him off the side of the cliff and Millie sailed off after him, swan diving into the water perfectly. Mel grabbed the controller and steered it after them. Mal remained in the air as Millie worked her magic. In other words, mauling Trevas and dragging him into deeper waters. On land he had the advantage, but even weak and injured, Millie dominated in the water. She repeatedly dragged him beneath the waves, ignoring his clawing and thrashing and cursing her. When he surfaced again, Mille was wrapped around his chest, pinning one of his arms to his side while the other floated limply in the water. Mal slowly drew in a breath, her belly glowing with dragon fire. Waves of green and purple magic began circulating around her, building in power until she was blinding.
Regina scowled when she realized what Mal had planned. "That was the first spell you thought of?"
"What spell is it, Mommy?" Mel asked.
"She calls it Erasure. It basically means that she will put all of her power into a single blow."
"But that's bad." Jade whispered. "Isn't that dangerous? You said never to do that."
"It is reckless and dangerous but Mal knows what she's doing." Regina assured her. "She better." She shook her head, imagining the price Mal would have to pay for this foolishness. Maybe they would have to hold off on the baby making for another month. Perhaps then she would think twice about making her wife worry so much.
By now Trevas was struggling to get away from Millie but she held him tightly and refused to let go. He must've been too weak to teleport because he only kept struggling and yelling what could only be curses at Mal as she fired. The blast that erupted from the dragon's maw obliterated the transmitter, throwing those at home into darkness.
"Did she do it?! Did she kill him?!" Sarai demanded, bouncing up and down.
"We won't know until they come back. She destroyed the transmitter." Belle said.
"We should get to the house." Regina waved her hands, cleaning up the living room.
"What? Why?" Emma asked, following on her heels as they went out to the cars.
"We redrew the portal on the front lawn." Regina replied. The kids piled into the car and Belle got into the passenger seat. She drove them back to the mansion and they arrived just in time to see the portal scars on the ground begin to glow.
"They did it!" The children were the first ones out of the car but Regina was quick to rein them in. The portal opened with a blast of harsh winds that still knocked them off their feet. Regina shielded her eyes against the bright light and strong wind. She turned her back to it and pushed the kids behind the car as the portal expanded to swallow the entire front yard. The house began shaking and Regina panicked at the thought of the portal sucking it in too.
Then the winds stopped. The glow disappeared. The portal closed.
"Mom!" Henry yelled.
"Henry!" Emma swept her son up in her arms and her parents crowded around her to welcome their grandson home.
Regina ran to her family, all of whom looked injured and exhausted. Cynder was leaning on Zelena, Ruby was carrying an unconscious Millie and Lily was supporting Mal, who barely looked conscious herself. Her Erasure spell used all of her power in one blast, making it extremely powerful, but it also sapped nearly all of her strength. The fact that she was standing at all was a shock.
"Mal!" Regina ran to her wife to assess her wounds. She looked at Lily as well, scowling with rage at seeing so many burns on her child. They'd all have to be treated for them soon. "Belle!" She called. "Let's get everyone inside." They'd already prepared the bedrooms for the family and their newest arrivals. She looked at Mal as she gently took her from Lily's arms. Sarai almost instantly took her place, happy to see her mothers home and safe.
"I have returned, your majesty." Mal said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "As was promised."
"That you did. Mission accomplished."
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