One More Time

The dragons turns to look where the tuxedo cat is pointing, gasping and growling.

"Shoot!" Lakes says, jumping to his feet, the other dragons doing the same. Lava lights herself with orange flames, slowly approaching the dark tunnel.

Sitting in the darkness is a slim black dragon with glowing violet eyes. There's a purple patch around their left eye, along with dark purple chestplates.

"Why are you here?" Ice hisses, fanning out the sharp icicles on her tail protectively.

"What do you think?" the black dragon says, his voice rough. Everyone stays silent, and the black dragon rolls his eyes. "I'm here for the taste of blood. It's what I live for." Gingercat shudders, hiding behind Leona.

"Stay back here," Milo meows. Leona and Gingercat stay tucked together in a corner, Milo not much further ahead of them. "Dark, that means you too!"

Instead of answering or doing what I'm told, I stand next to the dragons instead. I know what I'm doing. The black dragon stares at me, somehow creating a purple icicle. Instead of throwing it at me, he throws it at River. The Water Dragon Queen opens up her wings to fly, but Lakes gets in her way. He jumps in front of her, facing his queen. River watches in disbelief as the sharp object makes contact with her king's bare back, going through far enough to show through his stomach.

"Lakes!" River screams, tearing up as Lakes falls in front of her. His blood is already flowing quickly out of the puncter, pumping out thickly onto the stones. "No!"

"I'm sorry," he whispers weakly, staring lovingly into River's fearful eyes.

"Lakes, don't leave me!" River cries, laying next to Lakes, burying her head into the crook of his neck. "I need you!"

"River… not everything can go the way you want it to."

"But Lakes, why are you leaving me?" River says shakily, more tears flowing down her cheeks. "Why now? Why not later?"

Lakes stares sadly into River's eyes. "River, don't worry about me." He pauses, sighing. "I shall be with you every moment of your life. You are the best dragon I could ever fall in love with…" This is so hard to watch. It makes me want to cry, seeing how much they care about each other.

Lakes closes his eyes slowly, a tear rolling down his jaw. His breathing becomes staggered, and just like that….

He's gone.

The Water Dragon Queen breathes deeply, her eyes full of pain and anger. "Kill him," River growls. Ice lowers her tail, looking over at Lava.

"River, is this really necessary?" Lava asks, taking a step back.

"Kill him!" River shouts, her voice loud enough to hurt my ears. I hold my breath, waiting for the next move. Lava obeys right away. Big, scarlet flames corner the black dragon, tall enough that jumping over it wouldn't be possible.

"Tell me when to strike," Ice says to River, waiting for her command. The wintery dragon spreads her wings and raises her tail, fanning out her sharp icicles.

I know this is bad of me, but it's something I must do. It'll hurt everyone. They'll think I died. But that's not really how it's going to end. I'll leave it a mystery.

"Good-bye," I say softly, running towards the flickering flames.

"Wait!" I hear Gingercat yowl.

"It's too late! I'm sorry!" Ice says behind me. I feel the heat of the fire now. One last leap….

I jump into the roaring flames. I need to disappear.

I won't be gone forever.

I won't die.

That's not how it'll end.

I'll come back.

I'm sure of it.