Tigra and I wondered around the festival with eyes on us. I kept a blank expression, after all I was just Tigra’s Guardian, I could not let anyone find out the real emotions between us.

Today had started early, but now the sun was setting, and the festival was all lit up with different coloured lights, it gave the evening a different feel.

Tigra played many of the games, even got me to join in; in front of everyone I could not disobey any order Tigra commanded me. I tried my best to decline, never getting to finishing my line.

“Fang, could you win that for the little girl?” smiled Tigra, comforting a crying lupin cub who’d been unsuccessful at winning the giant teddy she wanted.

“Do I have to remind you I’m on du…” She gave me a stern look. “Yes, your highness.” I stepped up, threw a few rings on bottles, and won the giant teddy for the cub.

“Thank you, Fang.” She cheered running off, barely able to see where she was going.

“Skilled as always,” commented Tigra.

“Yeah, whatever.” I sighed.

“What’s wrong?” asked Tigra.

“Nothing never realised how big a deal the city would make for your new Guardians,” I said shrugging. “Mind I think they are more interested in seeing you.”

“Most probably,” agreed Tigra. “Did you notice Dumah earlier; with you he can’t get close.”

“And that is how it should be,” I nodded.

“Do you know where Link went?” wondered Tigra.

“Watching from one of his vantage points,” I answered, looking around to catch a gleam in the distance.

I looked forward, my nose twitching at a familiar scent. My mind flashed to my unit being attacked. I grabbed hold of Tigra pulling her in close to me as a ball of dark energy flew passed, grazing my shoulder.

“Alex.” Tigra cried out in surprise.

I felt half my strength disappear when I got hit, by whatever hit me. I moved Tigra to stand behind me as a winged shadow flew above us.

I heard a scream from behind. I glanced back seeing someone had been hit by the remainder of his attack, killing them instantly.

“We meet again Fang.” He spoke.

“Who are you!” I shouted, every hair on my body standing on end. “I still had no name for this Draco.

“Oh, you know who I am.” He remained high above us, out of reach of the gathering knights. Cathopia didn’t have an aerial team of fighters.

“Alex.” I moved Tigra behind me. “Who is he?”

“He was there at the attack on my unit,” I answered, remembering his scent so clearly now.

I felt Tigra clinging to my back. “We need to get everyone out of here.”

“Come and get me Fang.” He taunted me. “Let me see the power that survived against mine.”

“You!” I shouted at one of the knights. “Get everyone out of here, anyone hit by that will die.”

“Roger.” He nodded, ordering the others to protect the civilians.

“Tigra go with them,” I said.

“No.” She shook her head.

I glanced back at her. “Let me do my duty and protect you.” I held desperation in my voice. “I don’t want you to be in danger.”

She nodded. “Okay. Just be careful, please.”

“I will.” Larana’s wings took form and then our fused armour.

“Be careful Master,” warned Raziel. “Your power has already been halved; you won’t be able to maintain that form for very long.”

“I won’t need long.” I took flight, Raziel, then Arata following me.

“Show me your power Fang.” He laughed as I drew both the lion swords.

I swiped with Raziel fire burning strongly, boosted greatly by Larana’s wind. He moved just enough to avoid being hit, but it lit him up enough for me to get a look at him. It was definitely a Draco – a dark Draco. He was truly the source the dark energies that threatened to take over my home.

“Who are you?”

“I am the darkness that will rule this world.” He answered. “The remains of a banished darkness. I bring death.” He flew higher, opening his mouth, sending out more of those deadly attacks.

I dodged one, then another. I dove down towards the ground, using Mila I drew up water from the fountain, using it to redirect another which came in my direction. Pushing the water faster I managed to cut his shoulder.

“Not bad,” snarled the Draco. “But what will you do when I do this.” He redirected his attack at the Animalia still evacuating.

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“No!” I cried out, moving the water to redirect the attacks. With my attention on defending them, the Draco had come in close. My eyes widened, prepared to be hit. Raziel and Arata came in at him, both blasting off an attack each. “Thanks.

“Don’t let your guard down for a second master,” snapped Raziel.

“Focus on him nothing else,” snarled Arata.

“Dealing with you all again grows tiresome, but with a weak master such as him you cannot stop the darkness from ruling this world.” He laughed, his wings opening wide; they glowed intensely sending a beam of pure dark energy towards me. My eyes widened as it came in closer, I’d never dealt with an attack like this.

Blinded I was certain I was facing death. Before it came into contact it dispersed. My vision clearing, I saw the strong form of my father hovering in front on me, covered in his fused armour.

“Dad.” I was shocked, he had dispersed it with such ease.

“Alex.” He looked at me. “Gather yourself and send this monster away.”

“Damn you, Fangs!” shouted the Draco, charging up the attack again.

I flew straight towards him, using Larana’s speed to reach him within seconds. I was behind him, smacking him down to the ground before he could finish charging up his power, which had left him wide open. I landed, facing him as he struggled to his feet.

“Leave.” I snarled. I needed this to end quickly as I realised, I did not have enough power to defeat this being of darkness, he had made sure of that with his first attack.

“Let’s see if you can make me.” The Draco swiped his claws, I defended and pushed him back with wind. He jumped high his wings spread out wide. His whole body was emanating with dark power.

In those seconds I felt this strange power rise up from within me, which seemed to combat against his. My mind flashed to a scene of darkness on one side and light on the other. Two beings shrouded in their power, combating against the other. It almost felt like I was the light fighting back the darkness in that moment and now.

My light was not strong enough and the Draco pinned me to the ground. “There is still much you have yet to understand about our endless struggle Fang.” His mouth opened ready to fire but was interrupted by a single arrow. I recognised it straight away; it was from Link. “What?”

“I never fight alone.” I smirked as Dash joined me, knocking the Draco off me. “What took you so long?”

“We had our own troubles to deal with,” answered Dash. “Sorry.”

“Doesn’t matter, you’re here now.” I looked at the Draco, lifting Raziel’s blade. I would warned him off with what power I had left, infusing Larana and my power into it, before sending a blazing fire ball right at him. Dad also charged up an attack, which fused together with mine before hitting the staggered Draco.

I felt the last of my strength leave me, but I held strong, standing proudly, doing what I could to keep my fused form visible.

“It would seem you’re more interesting than I thought, and you have a better team this time, but it will still not be strong enough to chase away the darkness, after all with so few of you Fangs left, she can no longer save this world.” He came out from our attack without a single scratch on him. “We’ll meet again Fang, when we do one of us will die.” He spread his wings and flew off.

I let out a sigh, feeling like I was about to collapse as my fused armour faded away. I was relieved the fight was over, if only I had not lost half of my strength from the start, I might have stood a better chance without the help.

“Master, stay strong a little longer,” said Raziel.

“Okay.” I barely nodded, turning to face Dash. “What happened?”

“More than just that beast,” answered Dash. Now that he mentioned it, he was covered it cuts.

“Fang, you were amazing!” One of the civilians shouted in amazement.

“Look how he chased off that beast!” shouted one of the knights.

“Well done,” said dad, patting me on the back as his fused armour disappeared.

“Thanks for the save,” I smiled grateful he had helped.

“You’ll be ready next time, but for now enjoy the attention Guardian Fang,” smirked dad.

I now had all of the attention of those at the festival, they had just witnessed only a small portion of my power. I heard words going around the crowds.

“Did you see that, he’s amazing.”

“He really is as strong as the rumours say.”

“Your awesome Fang.”

Tigra was able to come back over. “You, okay?”

“Yes.” I nodded, putting on a smile for everyone. She shook her head knowing I was lying.

The festival was left in ruins, but I noticed it had not dampened the moods of those presence, there was sadness for the loss of those hit by his dark power, but also a celebration I had chased the Draco off.

Queen Daz reassured the crowds as the festival came to an end, there was no way for the festival to continue. Animalia began heading home.

“Alex.” Tigra said my name.

“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Just a little tired.”

“Dash can take over,” said Tigra.

“No.” I shook my head. “I can’t just leave after a battle; it wouldn’t look good.”

“Alright.”

Dash updated me on what had kept him and Link from giving me assistance. Turned out there was more than one Draco about, but by the sounds of it the two they had faced had been small fry compared to the one I had met.

“That was fine until we were attacked,” commented Dash as we headed back to our rooms.

“Yeah,” agreed Tigra, upset the festival was cut short.

“You were amazing though, from what I heard,” beamed Dash.

“It didn’t help half my power was cut from the start,” I sighed.

“You said he was at the attack of your unit,” mentioned Tigra.

I nodded, the thought of it was still almost too much for me to take.

When we arrived at our rooms Zack was already waiting outside Tigra’s door. “Evening.”

“Hey,” I said. “Tigra is now in your care.”

“Of course.” He nodded, looking at Dash. “What happened?”

“We were attacked,” I answered, heading for my room. “Night.” I needed to get some sleep before I collapsed in front of them.

“Night.” They all responded, and I headed in, leaning against the door after I closed it. I could hear them still talking.

“It was one of those responsible for the deaths of his unit.” Tigra had elaborated for me.

“I see. Must have been hard for him,” said Zack.

“He’s tough,” commented Dash.

I shook my head, heading over to the bed, I could not be asked to change. I had only just handled walking back because Raziel had let me borrow some of his own power, weird how that worked.

“I made it.” I flopped onto the bed, exhausted. The power which was drained by his attack would take some time to recover.

“Sleep well Master,” said Raziel. “I will take guard.”

“Thanks.” I lifted my arm lazily and fell asleep. My first day as Tigra’s Guardian had been far more exhausting than I thought it would be. All the events and then the attack from the one who had also been with Dumah taking the lives of my unit, my friends. I would face him again and avenge their deaths.