The two pups rolled down the Firedrake's throat, tackling each other as they slipped down the back of the tongue. They became aware of their surroundings momentarily, but their bitter rivalry blocked any thoughts aside.
"Weady for wound 2?" asked Zuma, a small grin revealing in the corner of his lips despite his speech impairment returning at the worst possible time.
"Still got that stupid talking problem," muttered Claw with an eyeroll. "But yes, I'm ready to tan you again, you insufferable sod."
A low gurgle from deep inside the Firedrake's stomach made the two pause their banter.
"Okay," mumbled Zuma, "Now I know how Wubble's food feels."
The Firedrake was as tall as the castle itself; extravagant in length and simple in width. Its body hewn with red, spiked scales and the occasional glimmer of gold around the belly. The head was enormous, with a broad snout and deep, blue eyes. The enormous creature could be mistaken for a dragon, were it not for the gills on its neck. With a flash the eyes opened, scanning the people and pups before it. With a hiss from her forked tongue, the Firedrake spoke.
"So! I am to set destruction to puppies," she hissed, light reluctance in her voice.
"...It's a girl?" asked Chase, stunned and asking a simple question to lessen the mood.
"Zuma gets eaten, and that's your question?" asked Marshall.
The Firedrake looked over the citizens of Barkingburg, skeptical in her next move. She hadn't killed, or even seen the light of day for three hundred and forty seven years. But the oath she'd made lay before her. With a soft breath, she prepared to blow the flames.
"Brace for impact!" shouted Ryder as he and the others fled behind stairs, poles and towers to avoid the fire.
Claw and Zuma were tussling away when the deep boom came from within the great beast. Claw, on top of his opponent while attempting to bite him, was taken aback. Zuma gave a malicious smile as he shoved the Doberman up with all might in an attempt to lose him in the fire. But Claw was too quick. He used the momentum Zuma gave him to flip over and climb back up the throat, kicking the Lab down in the process. Only by catching onto a chunk of the throat and flattening his body the best he could was he able to avoid the flames. Claw, now near the tongue, hid against a tooth to avoid being burnt to a crisp. After about 12 seconds, the flames ceased their spewing and the pup knight looked down into the throat to ensure his enemy's defeat. He sighed in relief as he saw no one there, but failed to notice the Lab climbing the ceiling of the mouth and leaping down before delivering a swift Pup-Fu kick to his side.
"How are we gonna get outta this one?" asked Marshall, somewhat yelling above the living flamethrower they hid from. "You'd think I'd know, being the firepup and all," said the Dally in a downtrodden tone.
"What was it Claw said?" asked Rocky aloud, "something about mastering the Krystal to control the Firedrake?"
"He did say that," recalled Chase while looking out from behind the pole.
"Maybe one of us just has to wear Claw's helmet," suggested Skye.
"That's the stupidest thing I've heard in the history of ever," said Rocky. "And yet, I think it may work."
"Where is it?" asked Ryder, watching out for the Firedrake from behind a staircase.
"Oh no," groaned the mixed breed. "It's still at my truck."
Sweetie, hearing the pups in need, leapt out from the arms of the princess, running to a secret hatch.
"Sweetie, don't be a hero!" shouted the princess after her royal pet. "Don't be a fool with your life!"
"This is a job for stealthy Sweetie," grinned the Terrier while sliding down a vent into her secret garage. She crawled into her jet and loudly revved the engine, capturing the Firedrake's attention before she could spot the pups. The beast of flames crawled down, looking through the window to Sweetie's jet.
"I don't believe it," muttered Marshall. "That villainous Terrier is distracting it!"
"You know, I'm starting to like her," said Rubble proudly. Of course, the others misinterpreted his admiration for a crush. Marshall was so going to make him eat those words... after he retrieved the helmet.
The Lab and Doberman snarled as they looked at each other, not daring to look away for even a brief second.
"What's so special about you?" growled Claw. "You are weak. Scared. Intolerable. And yet even now," paused the pup knight, a glimmer of admiration and even curiosity in his voice, "you've been a bloody horrible wrench in my plans."
"The one thing I have that you don't," remarked the Lab.
"Oi? Enlighten me," said the Doberman.
"I've got fwiends. I've got people and pups who suppowt and love me. And love, fwiendship..." Zuma trailed off, realizing what he was saying as he said it, "awe the only achievements I'll ever need."
With an enraged howl, Claw sprinted forth, preparing to tackle his opponent and crush him against the Firedrake's teeth. But something happened to Zuma. Something differently than last time. He saw the beast in Claw's eyes. The same one in his brother's before him. But he did not cower, or stop in fear like the last time. He embraced his past.
With one burst of strength, Zuma bit Claw on the neck as he charged, lifting and hurling him out of the Firedrake's mouth. With 15 seconds and no time to spare, a splash was heard as Claw crashed into the lake.
Marshall and Rocky were tugging on Claw's helmet the best they could, but the magnet would not let it budge.
"Ugh, if only I had my mighty pup powers!" groaned Rocky. "I could pull these two apart!"
"What about just using a second magnet?"
Rocky laughed at his idea, before slowly realizing what he meant.
"You know, sometimes you surprise me," Rocky commented proudly as he leapt into the back of his truck, rummaging through recycled goods.
"Ugh, hurry!" shouted Sweetie. "I can't distract her for long!"
Indeed the Firedrake was losing interest in the vehicle. She hadn't noticed Claw falling out of her mouth, and even tried to burn down the wall that concealed Sweetie. No luck.
"Aha!"
The Firedrake looked up to see Marshall holding a magnet in his teeth, sucking the helmet towards it with a loud bang. Making do with the small magnet attached to it, Marshall stuck his head into the helmet, disgusted by the reek of unkempt fur and rust. The Dally felt a large claw poke his shoulder, and he looked up to see the Firedrake. She grinned malevolently before revealing her teeth and preparing to spurt flames.
Marshall only cowered in fear. But little did he know, fear is what powered the Krystal. Fear was the magic that binded the Firedrake to her oath, and fear was behind Clive Barking in his curse.
The Krystal shone a deep purple, and something seemed to snap in the Firedrake's eyes. She no longer seemed an angry, yet slightly remorseful being. She now held the eyes of a creature who just wanted a friend, or to play a game, or even cheer up a sad child.
"Oh, oh," she cooed. "Don't be afraid."
"Huh?"
Marshall looked up at the Firedrake, confused. She wasn't going to rain down hellfire upon the pup who enjoyed putting it out. She even seemed to have a more soothing voice. As less of an aged warrior and more of a mother or an old friend.
"You've put out my oath, and for that I thank you," grinned the Firedrake before reaching her paw down to gently stroke the Dalmatian's cheek with a claw.
The Dally's cheeks burned red, and he felt embarrassed at his attacker's change of mood. Mostly because he hadn't known or understood how on God's green nightmare called earth he'd put out her oath.
Everyone nearby clapped, cheering on Marshall for ending the Firedrake's short-lived rampage.
"No, stop!" shouted Marshall. "Don't applaud me. Don't celebrate me."
A somber mood flashed in the Dalmatian's eyes. "Zuma has fallen."
A grim feeling fell over everyone, as they had all seen the Lab bravely come to Sweetie's aid and tackle Claw into the mouth of the beast.
"But he didn't fall in vain. He gave his life to defeat the wicked pup knight, Claw. It was he who made the discovery that lead to our victory today. It was he who made the difference. When careless pups... such as myself... Rocky... Skye... mostly Chase... even Rubble... overshadowed the little guy, he stood strong. Determined to prove himself." At this, Marshall's voice began to crack and a tear formed in his eye. "So when you think of the victory at Barkingburg, dont think of us. Think of Zuma. Think of the people saved today. From here and a hundred years from now, when people and pups alike look back on today, and they remember the lives touched by what happened, know that Zuma, brave water pup, and l-"
A small brown figure fell out of the Firedrake's mouth, interrupting Marshall's sweet speech after crashing into him.
"That was a lovely speech, Mawshall," gushed Zuma as he gave his friend a lick on the cheek.
And so it was that the pups and Ryder reunited once again in victory.