Dragon against Dragon. 61

The council building doors flew open and Insa came running out leaving a trail of smoke behind him. He had just got a warning from Jandar about an eminent attack on Winterhaven by dragons. As he ran down the cobbled street he shifted to smoke and flowed between the people going about there daily business on the streets. He had warned the council, now he was on his way to the city gates to activate the city defenses. as he approached he shifted back to human form and surprised the guards on duty.
" Councilmen Insa." The guard looked at him in dismay. " Is there something we can do for you?"
" Yes." He said. " We're about to be attack. Activate the shields at once!"
" At once sir!!" Spinning on his heels the guard ran to the gate house and started issuing orders to all the guards within. Suddenly a hum could be heard growing through out the city and the skies developed a golden hue as the magical shield covered the city. Just then Fiero dived out of the sky spewing flames at the gate. Everyone on the wall dived for cover as the flames hit the shield and were reflected back at him. Fiero roared out his anger and slammed himself against the shields. As Insa watched the guards all went running from the walls of the gates into the city in terror. The only one to stay at his post was a young elf named Morganz manning the shield controls. Insa quickly ran into the gate house.
" When you hear my roar." He said. " I want you to turn off the shield then switch it back on again."
" Your not going out there?" Morganz said grabbing Insa's arm. " Its suicide."
" Don't worry son. I can handle myself." Insa patted his shoulder. " On my roar. Off, then on, got it?"
" Yes sir." He saluted.
Shifting back to smoke, Insa flew out and up onto the wall. As he watched Arik attacked battering at the shield then pulled back so Fiero could dive in again to flame the shield. The shield was taking a really strong beating. Insa wasn't sure if it could hold out until Rage and Jandar got there. In his smoke form he watched both Fiero and Arik streak back up into the sky to ready another assault. This was his chance. Insa roared and the shields fell. Quickly he took off out of the city as the shields came back on behind him. Now it was up to him to hold off the dragons until help arrived.
[ Rage, you better hurry.] He sent. [ I don't know how long I can hold them.]
[ Insa?] Jandar sent. [ What the hell are you doing?]
[ Giving you time to get here. The shields won't take there attack much longer. Just hurry!!]
[ We're over the bay.] Rage sent. [ Two minutes.]
Soaring up into the sky, Insa formed claws out of his smoky essence and slashed at Fiero's back. Fiero roared in pain as he banked to the side to avoid the smoke cloud. As he pasted he sent a stream of flame at Insa. Quickly becoming smoke the flame went right through him as he turned himself again to slash at the fire dragon. But twisting in the air Fiero managed to angle himself out of the way. Suddenly and a great gust of wind caught Insa and defused his smoke leaving the dragon exposed. As Insa looked up he saw a gout of flame coming at him that he couldn't avoid. This was it, he thought. Suddenly Rage flew out of no where and blocked the the flame with his own. Behind Rage, Insa saw another dragon. This one was golden. He thought it was Shine, but his crest was totally different. This had to be Valen, the first dragon.
[ Get back to the city.] Rage sent. [ You've done your job. Thank you old father! Jandar, take the others down to nthe city. Valen and I will take care them.]
[ Love.] Jandar sent to him. [ You can't kill them. There innocent dragons being control by Muerte.]
[ Then what do suggest I do?]
[ I know exactly what to do.] Jandar sent to both Rage and Valen. [ It won't be easy.]

After explaining his plan to them Jandar,Dreik and Jade headed down to Winterhaven to watch from the gate walls as they took off to battle the two dragons.
[ Valen, you take Fiero.] Rage sent. [ Try and contact him. He's in there fighting to be free, I can feel it.]
[ I know.] Valen said. [ I feel it too. ]
Diving down at Fiero, Valen reached out to see if he could feel his mind. He felt the pain that was driving his brother mad, and a spark of intelligence. He was fighting her. Valen called out to him.
[ Fiero!] He sent. [ Little brother. Its me Valen,]
Fiero shook his head as if to knock the voice out of his mind and sent his flame at the golden dragon. Valen didn't even try to avoid it. He didn't have to. Fiero's flame couldn't hurt him. It never could.
[ Fiero, you have to remember me and your sister Jade. Please!]
[ Sister?] He sent. [ Jade? Remember? No!!]
The red dragon launched himself at Valen only to get knocked away with the batting of his golden wing. Valen wasn't sure talking was doing any good. Maybe Jandar's plan was the only way. In his fist Valen held a piece of the Salvation stone. He would have to get close enough to plant it in his head. He wasn't sure Fiero would let him get that close.
Rage flew head on at Arik and sent a stream of flame towards him that he easily flew around. But as he did, Rage reached out and grabbed his leg throwing him off course. Arik tumbled through the air but caught himself and sent a hard blast of air at Rage. Folding his wings, Rage dropped like a rock until he was under Arik and kicked out hitting him in the chest. Arik roared out in pain and veered of to catch his breathe. But Rage wasn't going to give him that much time. Angling his wings, Rage dived down and slammed into Ariks back then launched himself away.
[ Come and get me Airbag!!]
And Rage took off. Angered, Arik gave chase after him. Unknown to Arik, Rage had just dropped Denner on his back in the form of a spider. So small Arik never noticed he was there. Increasing himself in size, Denner crawled as quickly as he could along the dragons back. As Rage sent gout's of flame back at Arik to keep him distracted from feeling Denner and shaking him off. Denner kept moving. Crawling along Ariks back, Denner found himself on Ariks head. He shifted back to human and slammed his Salvation stone down onto the dragons forehead then dived off shifted to eagle and flew off.
As the Salvation stones magic took affect Arik howled out in pain and dropped fron the sky shifting to human as he fell.
[NO!! ARIK!!] Fiero screamed. Seeing his brother fall was all he needed to destroy the spell. [ Valen save him!!]
Rage dived down folding his wings to his back and was like an arrow moving through the air. As he approached Arik, he reached our and grabbed him out of the air then opened his wings and sailed over the surface of the water. Suddenly a large column of water shot up and Maxius the water dragon appeared. Turning west Rage turned aside to miss him. Looking back he saw Mortimer riding Maxius's back. He climbed forward until he reached his head and place a blue stone on the top of his head. Rage saw him wave as Maxius howled then slipped back under the waves.
[ I got him!] Rage heard. [ Don't worry. I'll get him out of the water and back to shore. Call someone to pick us up.]
[ I'll meet you there and give you a lift.] Rage headed for the shore to wait for the Merman and the passed out dragon.

Opening his eyes Fiero looked up to see Valen sitting in a chair next to his bed. He rubbed his eyes not sure if he was dreaming. He looked around not sure where he was.
" It's not a dream." Valen said leaning over and wiping Fiero's forehead. "Your free of her. She'll never get in your mind again. I promise."
" Arik?" He said. " I saw him fall?"
Valen pointed to the beds next to his. There he saw both Arik and Maxius sleeping soundly.
" Are they alright?"
" They're fine. Slip into there dreams and see." Valen smiled.
Fiero looked at his brothers and remember all that had happened to them. Tears began to run down his face as he turned away from Valen and cried.
" Little brother whats wrong" Valen asked.
" I failed you." He said. " I couldn't protect them."
" Nonsense." Valen said as he got up and sat on the bed next to him." If it wasn't for you. Both of them would be brain dead. You kept them alive and you fought so hard you broke her spell on your own. I felt the pain. Jade and I both did. We know what you endured. I am so proud of you."
" What now?" Fiero asked.
" You three get some sleep." He said. " You need it. You haven't slept in weeks. Let us deal with her. That's an order."
" I don't think I can get out of this bed anyway."
Valen get up and pulled the covers up over his second the ran his hand through his hair.
" Go dream with your brothers. I'll come check on you later." He said as he headed for the door. " Sleep well little brother."
Outside the door Cutter waited for him. Valen held up his finger to keep him quiet and walked him down the hall.
" Does he remember yet?"
" No." Valen told him. " You can make sure they never remember?"
" Yes." Cutter told him. " Don't worry. They won't remember what she made them do until you can help them with the memories."
" Good." Valen said. He looked sad as he turned to head down to Rage and Jandar's study. Muerte had made Fiero and the others do some horrible things. He knew it was time to end this. She had to be stopped.