Trigger warning-- Mild blood and death. Dall E for the Thumbnail Me for the story __________ I have found a way to beat him. As my heart pounds in my chest, I take a breath. And I take off. My legs clutch Trident's flank as she beats her wings beneath me. A cry of fury leaves both our mouths at once, the wind ripping it away from us. My dagger digs into my side, haunting me even though the joy I share with Trident is unmeasurable. This flight is different. Different-- because I am different. I am willing to take this as far as I can. As far as I need. My opponent is already in the sky, his dragon faster than mine. "It's okay, Trident," I tell my dragon, this beautiful creature that bonded with me, that loves me. I would do anything for Trident. Anything at all. The cold metal of the dagger seemed to be pressing into my leg much more than it should as Trident came level with Cocoa and Rea, the opposing dragon and his rider. Cocoa was a much bigger dragon than Trident, his horns three times the size of hers, his tail much sharper and his claws much deadlier. His rider had won every battle. And those who had lost? Their dragons had been shamed. Losing a battle with your dragon was a terrible thing. But winning, however? Winning was everything. I grinned, allowing adrenaline to take me as Trident swooped and spun in the crisp evening air. Rea followed suit, his metal outfit gleaming in the setting sun. I rolled my shoulders, feeling them crack and pop as my joints settled into place. I pressed my leg against Trident's flank, letting her know what I wanted her to do. "And... go!" I shouted, feeling a rush of wind as Trident spun beneath Cocoa's dark brown belly, her claws tearing past his scales. Cocoa pulled back in fear and shock, and I started to doubt whether I would need to make use of the illegal dagger I had brought. But then Cocoa's claws were upon us, his teeth digging into the scaly neck of my dragon. "Trident!" I screamed, feeling her pain as my own. I met Rea's eyes as our dragons shift and press against each other. I saw only pride there, pride and love and hope. I shake it off. Proud of his dragon, proud of the victories that have caused others to lose their place in this school. I don't allow myself to think that if those others had won, I would have beaten them. That if those others had one, Rea would be the one to walk away in shame. I won't let him walk away. He will die here. By my hand. He wouldn't want it any other way. I still remember our first night together, here at this school. He had approached me, kind and careful. I was lonely, and sad, and homesick. He was perfect, and loving, and dutiful. He made me feel happier than anyone other than Trident. Our first kiss was magical. It was the night before we knew that there would be battles. Others had made friendships and fallen in love. I suppose the battles began so that they could teach us the most important lesson. That our dragons are the only ones we can love. But that kiss wasn't our last. I learned my lesson well. I made no other friends. I won all of my battles, trusting none who had even looked at me kindly. I would betray them when I beat them. Better not to have anyone to betray. And now, here I am. I have to win this battle. Rea will lose. When I win, I will be the Champion. Trident's Champion. We will lead the fleet. And Cocoa will be shamed, ridiculed. As my eyes bored into Rea's, I could tell he knows it too. But he is holding back. "Why?" He whispered. "Why?" I reply. "Don't hold back. Fight me. Don't I deserve that, at least?" For what I'm about to do, is what I don't say. Because if you hold back, I won't let myself do it. He is no longer holding back. Cocoa is forcing Trident back to the ground with every beat of his wings. Rea and I are so close, our dragons pressed so close together, that I am almost brought back to that first kiss, his breath in my lungs, his hair in my face. And then I kill him. My fingers grab the dagger from my leg. My arm thrusts forward. His heart is mine. And I have shattered it. He falls to the ground. Cocoa's wingbeats slow. Trident drags a claw against his throat. Cocoa collapses, tumbling out of the sky. Silence. Then cheers. My dagger is coated in blood. Rea's blood.
