"Thank you again, it may not be a bath, but I feel a lot cleaner in these clothes." I say as I stretch my arm, the new red clothes made from torn curtains fit my frame perfectly.

"You smell a lot better in them too." She snickered but winced as we both looked at the corpse of a knight. He was from the Invincible City, they were only ones that had spiked armor as their main guard uniform. Even if it did make them harder to eat, also made it harder for them to run, which must have been this guy's downfall as all that was left of him was his armor and the now black skeleton inside of it, covered in the charred remains of the original inhabitant of the armor.

"Think it'll fit?" I ask her.

"The armor? No."

***

"This feels... not great." I pant as I climb the last bit of dragon stairs, leading to the dragon's kitchen. "Why do dragons even have stairs?" I cry out to no one in particular, even as Rose chuckles next to me as she helps me stand up again.

"You could have just asked Smolder to carry us, why didn't you?"

"If he finds out what I'm doing, and what you're doing, we're both going back in the cage."

She visibly shivered at the thought. "Let's get there quickly then, I haven't been there in years, not gonna start now." She said as we started to walk through the kitchen, not sneaking really as the three Sandwing hurriedly scrambled across the place. We walked in like we owned the place.

It was weird, there was a giant counter which probably held several pots and pans the size of someone's hut, noticeable by the handle of one sticking out and casting its shadow over us. There were also what looked to be some plates and cups left on the floor, probably dropped by how hectic things were I guessed. One of the dragons suddenly fell in front of us and looked sadly at all the plates and cups on the ground, and growled sadly before noticing us.

"Don't worry, Sandy's a softy, unless you know this one's name too?"

I shake my head as 'Sandy' approaches us while using her tail to move some of the cups and plates back on their respective counters. She let out a soft growl as she then lowered herself to our level, her head resting against the sand on the floor.

Rose suddenly walked up to the large dragon as I stayed behind, a little hesitant, before I saw Rose starting to scratch the dragon's snout and chin, all the while 'Sandy's' tail wagged from side to side.

"Why are you still back there?" Rose called out to me.

I nervously took a few steps closer, freezing up as the dragon's eyes focused on me, then trailed off toward my missing arm. She let out a soft whine before the dragon suddenly opened its mouth and shot its head towards us.

I let out a yelp and jumped before realizing she had paused right in front of me, her giant teeth looming over me as I could hear the dragon's breathing right in my ear. "Relax, she's just getting ready to pick us up." Rose suddenly assured me as her clothes were already caught by one of the dragon's teeth.

I froze as the dragon gently hooked its teeth on my new red clothes and carried me up. "She won't eat us, right?" I ask nervously as me and Rose are swung lightly as the dragon continues picking up the remaining dishes on the floor. Rose then pointed us in a direction and our body's were sent flailing a bit as the dragon nodded.

"This feels... terrifying." I thought aloud as I thought about how one wrong move from the dragon and I'll be dead.

"Really, I prefer this rather than Smolder carrying me, I can actually stretch my legs and arms without being so cramped.

I let out another yelp as we were both flown forward and right to the door, the dragon turned it's head and we were flung around a bit as she growled something to the others.

The others let out small roars of protests and growled back before waving her off as another Sandwing approached, wearing some type of decorated armor, seeming to order something.

'Sandy' then opened the large behemoth doors revealing the insides of the room. The circular place was a mix of pale yellow with hints of black powder on the floor, and to the sides of the room were large round barrels filled to the brim with black powder, some overfilling. I looked at the window, seeing the blue sky outside, I couldn't tell which one but one of the moons could be faintly seen from the corner of the room outside the window.

I let out a sigh of relief as 'Sandy' dropped us to the floor.

"What is she-" I asked before my eyes widened as the dragon stuck her head inside one of the barrels, before drawing her head back into view above the barrel, her eyes now bloodshot and glassy while she drooled, barely able to stand as she snorted, some powder being blown into her nose after she inhaled it. "Is she-" I started before Rose answered.

"Yeah, she's flying higher than a dragon could do naturally." She said as we watched the sand dragon let herself fall while letting out a few random growls, watching as she rolled over on her back and started to squirm around.

"Dragon's are so weird." I muttered.

"You have no idea." Rose agreed.

We watched as that armored dragon from earlier entered, his head high as he walked in a boastful manner, he snarled as he noticed us.

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"Bastard!"

"I don't like that guy."

Me and Rose said simultaneously as we watched as the dragon then approached 'Sandy' who was still rolling around on her back. Just by looking at the boastful dragon, I could tell Rose was right when calling him a bastard. As soon as 'Sandy' noticed the other dragon though, the smaller dragon stood up and looked to the bigger one.

The bigger one made some growls and made the mistake of putting his claws on the smaller one's shoulders.

CLAP!

"Oh!"

"Three moons!"

We both exclaimed by the loud clapping noise that emanated from the force of the smaller dragon's tail slamming hard into the larger one's face. 'Sandy' let out a growl and roared, making the larger one flinch and let out a whimper as it then moved back towards the door quickly as 'Sandy' continued to snarl and growl at him until he was gone. Then she went all mellow again as she looked back at us and fell to the floor, her tongue out and her eyes going in different directions, letting out a lazy whine.

"I'm curious." I murmured to Rose as I picked some powder up.

"Wait, River don't-" Rose was too late as I inhaled some powder, only to go into a coughing fit and snort it out. She bursted into laughter as I wiped my nose. "I tried, it's no good to us humans."

"I guess so." I coughed before finally snorting all of it out. "Alright, guess it's time to get ready then."

***

"RIver... are you sure you want me to leave?" Rose asked as the kind dragon who was still wobbling a bit picked her up in her claws.

I nodded.

"This is my battle, but thanks... for all of it."

"Hopefully this won't be the last time we-"

"It won't, I promise."

Rose went silent before patting the dragon to be let down.

"Rose what are you-" I was cut off as she tackled me and gave me a hug as strong as a dragon's talon-grip.

"If you don't come back out of this room, thank you for talking to me and being with me, today has probably been one of the best days of my life. Just... sorry... I'm not great at words... I haven't had anyone to talk to in so long... thanks for teaching me how to speak dragon, even if it's just a little bit." She sniffled as she finally loosened herself off of me, but kept one of her hands on my shoulder. "Promise me you won't die."

"I... Rose..."

"Promise me! P-please?" She asked as I saw more tears running down her cheeks.

It was my turn as I gave her a hug with my one good arm. "I'm not going anywhere yet, you can't get rid of me that easily." I chuckled as I tried to keep the tears in.

"Oh River... you're shivering." She said as she wrapped one of her hands around my own.

"I-I a-am?" I asked as I looked down at myself. "Y-you're right... I-I'm scared... but that's okay... that's okay..." I keep repeating as I pull away. Now seeing the moon is now full and shining brightly. "Go. Now." I then turn to 'Sandy,' "Take her, now."

Even though she can't understand my words, she seems to understand me as she wraps her tail around Rose and slowly lifts her between their wings.

"Promise me River. Promise-" The door shuts behind them.

I take a deep shaky breath as I refit the red cloth around me, even though it wouldn't do much, I wish I could have had the armor around me, I wish I could have had Rose with me, but I can't risk her, and I can't risk missing.

I managed to head to the other side of the room and sit down, checking the boomstick's pipe once again to make sure it was already loaded, that everything was set up correctly, no matter how many times I checked, it still didn't feel like enough.

It was quiet, and I was able to see the room more clearly now, now seeing the torn remains of rope that belonged to a grappling hook still hanging weakly from the window, while some traces of dried blood could be seen, but too small to be from a dragon. Where Pyro's fate was locked in. He must've made a play for the black powder, allowing him to make his weapon, one of the only weapons that could truly harm a dragon without any tricks, that could go through scales as if they were sheets of parchment according to his own studies. But it came at a price, leading the dragon's back to him and...

I could now hear Burn's voice through the window, she was still relatively calm, as in she was shouting but she hadn't taken anyone's limb yet, I couldn't make it out, even if I wanted to. I could only hear my own breathing, the shuffle of sand as the wind took it from here to there, wisps dancing inside the room as if phantoms. My heartbeat was loud inside my head, I tried feeling it in my heart but I couldn't.

I heard her voice be enraged and what sounded like a dragon's wing being torn as the angry dragon's voice got louder and closer. Was this how Pyro felt? Was Pyro shaking too when he faced death? Am I facing death? No, but I had that vision, with Sunny. But the vision of this changed, was that why it was all in black, why I couldn't see anything, because it was a failed future, had I jeopardized it? Am I gonna die? I don't wanna die! I was so close to getting everything I wanted in the Invincible City and now this bullshit! I could have had a life! I could if it weren't for dragons! Damn the dragons! Damn the sky demons! Damn them. Damn her.

Damn her for taking my arm.

I could hear her talon-steps.

Damn her for keeping me locked up for so long.

I could hear her voice just beyond the door.

Damn her for keeping Rose trapped here all alone with no one at her side.

The doors swung open and she roared in fury, but her eyes widened at surprise as she saw me.

"DAMN YOU!" I roared as I pulled the trigger. It was as if time slowed as I watch the piercer release from the small hole as the spark was ignited, forcing the small metal ball to fly out and head right for the barrel, her wing got in the way and I watched as the piercer went right through it as if the wing wasn't there, but now followed by a small trail of blood as it continued its journey, heading right into the barrels.

"Three moons, I hope this works-" I start before the entire room lights up followed by a thunderous boom as I was flung to the wall of the room, my body crumpling against the floor, followed by a loud ringing in my ears. I couldn't hear anything but that ringing as I tried getting up. I managed to put my knees under me and slowly lift myself up.

"Y-you got this... Just... one put one foot under the-" I tried saying to myself before I felt myself lifted up suddenly, I still couldn't hear right, the ringing winning over every other sound, it was as if I was under water, yet there I was, hanging in Burn's jaws. She said something and I couldn't make it out as I felt her tongue flip me to look up, where I could see the roof of her mouth.

"Please work-" My voice was cut off as she bit down and I let out a short agonized scream before going limp, feeling as blood flowed out of me from where her teeth had pierced into my stomach, it didn't last long as she was forced to drop me as a few other Sandwing's entered the room and took her away, no doubt to be healed, yet she continued to thrash around angrily until the doors closed. I laid there, gasping for air as I laid on the floor, breathing in the sand since I had no power to pick up my head. I smiled as the door opened again and Smolder came into the room with Rose on her shoulder.

"It worked." I croaked out as I barely managed to flip myself to the side and take the red cloth off, revealing the dented metal plate from the armor I had worn underneath, still bleeding but it had stopped the teeth from going all the way through my body. "It worked." I repeated before closing my eyes, the last thing I saw was Rose running towards me.