The acid, that stung like no other. It was not natural acid, either, the great oracle of the storm dragons could taste it with the membranes in her scales. A tranquilizer, or perhaps something far more lethal? It was all the same to her, as the gloves burned holes in her body. She didn't look like swiss cheese or anything even slightly humorous. Seeing the youngest hydra in such a state... the two who took shelter under her had to put in one last stand.
Clasping hands, Charon and Noire began to change, both at the same time. Purple eyes eclipsed in perfect synchronization, the result of years practicing the forbidden technique. Their bodies grew larger, flesh bubbled and rippled as it turned to diamond-hard sleek scales. Charon and Noire became one, their consciousnesses brushing against each other in an intimate dance of brother and sister, until they became one.
The hydra opened all four of its eyes and stared deeply at the burnt, cavernous, and unconscious form of its ally. The hydra growled softly and with all six of its legs, moved to step over the oracle in an effort to protect her. She could not die, but they wouldn't allow her to be taken away. The hydra was different than any the humans had seen thus far. Edge had shown it to them, once. Why it was so important to bond with your hydra kin, so your hearts could beat as one and take the divine form of a god.
Yes, a god. For this is surely what these incredible organisms were, gods. A phenomenon unexplained by contemporary science and untouched by anything but folk tales and ancient mythology, where humans worshipped and sacrificed to appease. This, the two necked hydra, was the epitome of vanity and lust. Such beauty, such grace, such timelessness! And the humans, with their eyes clouded by the white dragon, saw a target to shoot at.
But this god was not one of mercy. Perhaps Charon wanted liberation and Noire wanted deliverance, but with power comes lust for more, and for the owner of that power to be unbelievably vain. Like the two hands reaching from another world high above, Charon and Noire took turns devouring mouthfuls of human puppets, each with about fifty men with each bite. It made their connected hearts beat faster in unison. Bullets and rockets bounced off like they were paper airplanes and acid dripped like the rain on a wax parasol.
Nothing could match the sheer power and force of this creature, and their oracle below them began to stir, one eye completely burned away by the acid but she struggled to stand. December, poor girl. She didn't know she was already a goddess, being revered by every dragon in existence. And so easily tricked by Edge in his mad rush for power. Edge was god at that, they all knew that. Regardless of how close they were, none would deny that Edge had roped them all into being gods. He had handpicked them like a fantasy football team.
He wasn't like the other tyrants or monsters of that time. Edge was no conquerer. Looking at the face of the young man, one saw bright, curious eyes and a genuine, optimistic smile. They saw boyish hair and a nose that crinkled when he laughed. His purity was so unlike his rivaling warlords. He swept in at the worst moments of their lives, and offered them all a second chance- and a second chance at life with new powers was something only a fool would pass up.
They were appointed commanders of a group of lower dragons that didn't even compare to themselves and were treated like family by their king. It was the perfect life, really. But slowly, as they watched Edge add more and more pieces to his collection, they wondered if they were anything more than pieces themselves in a twisted game Edge was playing against an unknown opponent.
He had the knights, the queens, the bishops, the rooks, and countless pawns. So where did he mess up? When did wanting more become so much of a problem Beelzebub pointed it out? When did Edge decide he didn't care if he harmed his allies? When did Edge decide to use his council of seven as his personal harem after a long-day's work? When did Edge decide he and he alone was the only one that mattered? When did Edge go from a god trying to liberate dragon kind to the one and only devil who only wanted to hold the world in his palm and crush it? When did they all realize they were as powerless as the rest of the world to Edge's plan? That Edge could replace them all with several sweet words?
But on particularly warm days and nights, Edge would stand on the highest balcony in the castle and just spread his wings. He would smile fondly, and pour out his heart to anyone who would listen. It would be just like the good old days where they could pretend they were still doing the good thing, that Edge still loved them, and that he hadn't lost his mind. They could pretend they didn't make him crazy by having him absorb all their bad energy so all they felt like was confident and clean.
December was done pretending. She struggled to stand, but once she did, she felt something penetrate through her midsection. There was a roar from her comrades before they too were skewered. Eventually the three of them fell, Charon and Noire separating and December simply slumping down, until all three blacked out and dreaded when they would once again regenerate and awaken.
For Charon, that was sooner rather than later. He fought to open his eyes, not wanting to dream of Edge, of the king he could never have. One great violet eye opened wearily and he let out a moan.
"I don't know what you think, but I'd never use you guys. We're family." Edge cried, nearly on the verge of tears as he said so. It hurt, more than any battle ever had. Having his so-called family turn on him like this. Hadn't he given them everything they wanted? Power? A place to stay? A place they could belong? As the boy's gaze shifted from hydra to hydra, he realized all seven had the same look, even with their own personal features. Betrayal. It reflected what he was feeling.
Desperately, he reached out and stroked Beelzebub's cheek. "See? It didn't even leave a mark. And I already apologized." He felt the muscles tense under his touch. That was how they all were now. What were they so afraid of? He was just Edge, sure he was technically their king but he hadn't asked them to address him as such since the past few years. Violet eyes met violet and Edge's lower lip trembled. Shifting one foot, Charon stepped forward to put a hand on his shoulder and console him. Edge took it was a sign of hostility.
With a scream, he tumbled backwards and off the balcony, wings fluttering uselessly against the free fall. He could hear the shouts of joy from the dragons below as their conquerer fell to his apparent doom...
He was a legendary general of the Sky Knights. Forte was unmatched, losing only when it benefited the cause. He had sacrificed himself many times for his ranks, but that was before he was a hydra. As a hydra, he stood tall against what once would have been considered his king's mate. Along with his partner, Beelzebub, he knew the white dragon stood no chance, regardless of what kind of sword he wielded.
But confidence turned to uneasiness and even fear as Beelzebub turned on him and walked away. Forte's eyes widened and his spiky hair seemed to twitch. What just happened? He knew white dragons could take control of humans, but he had never heard of them mesmerizing other dragons- especially a hydra! He growled, rage boiling in his blue blood.
Sure, Beelzebub had a temper, didn't obey their king all the time and was hard to be around most of the time, but he was closer to the hydra than anyone else. And Beelzebub would never turn his back on them, no matter what Noire and Charon believed. Those two didn't know what it was like in the heat of battle anyways, always content to rule from their throne rather than fight at the front like a true leader. Sniffing the air haughtily, Forte glared at his opponent. As far as he was concerned, the other was already mincemeat. He had never lost a duel one on one, where no one else could get hurt.
"So, you dare to challenge me? I assume you think you can put me under your thrall? Or perhaps find a way to cheat?" The knight readied his sword, but quickly twirled it, splitting it in two. The metal was a black color and now they looked like the noses of a saw shark. "I don't know what you've done to Beelzebub- or how, for that matter, but it won't matter after I have your heart in my stomach." He then set his tail free from his armor, the limb thrashing uncontrollably.
If his king were standing next to him, giving him orders, he'd want his kids to be safe, he knew that. And he wanted to believe he wanted all of them safe as well. Twirling his sword once, the hydra raised a brow at the dragon. Quickly, the other would appear to be getting heavier. In actuality, Forte was amplifying the gravity just around him. Leisurely, he strolled over. "My, my, my... like my gravity? It might be a bit hard to move your sword..." He added, giving both swords a firm twirl. By now, the massive amount of gravity was making a buzzing sound. Swiftly, he attempted to cut his blades in an x-shape to end the other.
Skylark knew not of the pain and suffering the hydras and dragons were enduring, but only that his Father was near and the were forbidding him to see his family. And that was a bad thing. Daddy and Father's friends were nice, mostly, but they couldn't compare to Daddy or Father! Especially big, strong, handsome, perfect father! Skylark struggled even more, desperately wanting to see his parent and idol. "LEO, PLEEEEAAAASE LET ME GO! FATHER WILL TAKE CARE OF ME!" He screamed, tears falling from his face as they ran.
Suddenly, he was so overcome with emotion, he felt something in him spike and he felt like throwing up. Instead, he opened wide as his teeth got bigger and sharper. Quickly, he bit into Leo's shoulder mercilessly. Cruelly. Sila caught this and she quickly spat at him. She just got a bunch of her saliva on the toddler's face. Skylark froze at the strange sensation, before he felt his mouth being glued shut and though he didn't know it, the bitterness in his mouth was plant residue. The wood dragoness sighed. The hydra's wound looked bad, but hydra were known to recover quickly.