Zenora, The Dragon's Fury

It didn’t take long, for Iris and Ayinthur to be pinned down as well.

Us three, mighty Dragons weren’t going to be enough, to beat over two-thousand enemy soldiers.

“Keep them secured!” Hayden yelled to his men.

“Finally, the mighty, all powerful, chosen one has been taken down! And you are all mine now.” Hayden chuckled, while he stroke the sight of my head.

My skin crawled, upon feeling his touch, he might be Brock’s twin, but he could never have me. Not even when he would’ve been nursed and educated, inside the castle. There was never a pittance of love within his soul.

“You even gave me your daughter, which has now turned into this magnificent creature! And as bonus that stupid Obsidian Dragon!”

I tried to get loose from the ropes, but my efforts were futile.

“At first I only wanted you, to take your powers and make myself the most powerful Human alive! But now that I also got two, pretty young Dragons, my special blood-supply won’t run dry in centuries! Especially your daughter, will be taken as my personal blood bank, since she is just a child and a Dragon as well, she is the most special creature to draw blood from. Her blood shall make the strongest of my spells, even stronger than I could ever imagine!” Hayden explained.

So, that's what he meant at the castle! It was young Dragon's blood, that is the most special blood there is!

“Don’t you dare touch her!” I yelled.

“And what are you going to do about it?” Hayden asked this rhetorical question.

All I could do is grunt, yell or roar, but I couldn’t get free. My head was constricted to the ground, in a way where I couldn’t see either Iris or Ayinthur.

But Hayden stood in front of me, and waved his arms towards his men, noting for them to get to Iris. I could hear Iris gasp, and Ayinthur yell, begging and commanding to keep the men away from her.

“What are you doing? Stop! Don’t hurt her!” I tried, hoping somehow that Hayden would listen, but I couldn’t do a thing, and Hayden just continued.

“NOOO!” I heard Ayinthur scream, and a tear rolled over my cheek.

Is this going to be the end? Are we finally done protecting ourselves, for all these years? Everything we had done, to keep Hayden at bay, was coming back to us in three-fold? What would have happened if we hadn’t protected ourselves, and let Hayden attack our castle, years ago? He wouldn’t have the army he has right now, we probably would have been able to fight them off. But now? No, he has captured us, because we let him.

Iris was screaming, and I couldn’t bear to hear it anymore. But what was I supposed to do? What could I do more than this? I didn’t want to give up, but I was out of ideas either way.

I closed my eyes and tried to focus on the good times that I had with her. Her smile, her false singing with me, her gorgeous drawings and her connection with Ayinthur. She is one hell of a creature, and she is my daughter. I made her.

She kept on screaming and slowly I drifted away, sunken in sorrow.

“Chosen one, don’t wallow in tears just yet.” I heard in my mind.

“Who is this?” I asked him.

“I’m not alone, and we are on our way. You are the creator of our Queen, and she has called upon us.”

How did she call upon them? Oh wait! Her magnificent roars, the one that sounded like a song!

I heard the Dragon, as I assumed him to be, chuckle. Oh my, he is not such an awful lizard as Ayinthur is, right? I can’t handle more of those obnoxious Dragons!

“I tried to talk to our Queen, but due to the torture she’s in, she’s not able to communicate. Keep the enemy busy for a few more minutes.”

Yes, she is being tortured right now, Hayden is bleeding her to dry! Really, I’m starting to get a slight resentment to Dragons now.

Okay, keep Hayden busy, right!

I need to change back into my Human form, only then I can try something else. But how am I going to do that? I know my other powers are dormant, but they are not gone. How am I going to push back this Dragon, and find my own self again?

Don’t think in problems, only in solutions.

Share your emotions with others.

Tell your friends and loved ones, what bothers you.

Your citizens love you, believe you and rescued you.

All these wise lessons were roaming through my mind. Together with the knowledge that Brock loves me to pieces and that I have always been a stubborn and determined woman.

That’s it! I never lost my powers, to begin with, but when the Goddess took them temporarily, I was too stubborn to believe that they were gone! What if I’m too stubborn now? Thinking that I need the Goddess or something else to bring me back to my Human form?

I just have to let go, my power is my own! Every power is my own!

“Uhh, sir?” I heard a hesitant voice say, next to me.

“General, quick come here!” Another one of the enemy soldiers said.

I heard Hayden gasp, as I could feel magic tickle all over my body.

My bones became smaller, my scales began to dissipate, my horns swirled back into my head.

“She is changing back! Good, then I can finally take her powers!” Hayden laughed.

Oh, if only he knew.

My claws retracted, my hands returned. My tail and wings disappeared - good riddance - and my hair grew back.

I was butt-naked, but I didn’t care. All that matters, was to keep Hayden distracted, enough to make him stop hurting Iris. Which was actually working, as she is safe for the moment.

I stood up, with my head bowed down. The ropes and cables sliding off of me, dropping on the floor. My mind was blocked, making it impossible for Hayden to read what was about to happen.

The arrogant bastard was thinking that he had all the leverage, that he could do whatever he wanted. He touched my chin, to lift my head up.

“Look at me!” He said commanding.