The Prophecy's Five (WoF x CRK)

4. The Arena

When Hollyberry woke up, she didn't open her eyes. Instead, she enjoyed the feeling of the fresh wind and the warm sun on her scales. She wondered what colours they would glisten today. Maybe they'd go orange in the sunset. Not that it was sunset, or was it? Hollyberry opened her eyes to see what time it was. Midday, and much to her dismay she was in a very foreign area. She was chained to a very tall podium at the SkyWing Arena that Queen Scarlet had briefly spoke of before she had abducted them.

The MudWing suddenly jumped to her talons, remembering the events of the day that had passed. The sudden movement tugged at the chains around her wrists and wings. Great, so she couldn't fly away. The chains were probably fireproof too. Hollyberry scanned her surrounding for her friends and saw Dark Cacao, Pure Vanilla & Golden Cheese each chained to their own podium. She wondered where White Lily was and why they would've chained Golden Cheese up since she's a SkyWing,. Her thoughts were interrupted by a burnt dead fox being dropped in front of her.

"You ssssshould eat that." A male voice said, and Hollyberry looked up to see a SkyWing.

He had vibrant red scales, with white underbelly scales. His eyes were a startling bright green, and as she inspected him she noticed his horns were also a sort of greenish black, and a few of his underbelly scales were actually more of a greenish white. Strange, she thought, SkyWings aren't meant to be green.

"Who are you?" Hollyberry asked cautiously, taking on a defensive stance again.

The SkyWing chuckled, "There'sssss no need for that. I'm Pitaya, the Queen'sssss champion. You really sssshould eat that fox, it'ssssss no fun if you die before I get to kill you."

Hollyberry resumed her normal stance and bit into the fox. It was very charred but still somewhat flavoursome. She devoured it within moments, finding herself to be a lot hungrier than she expected. Pitaya watched her with what seemed to be curiosity. She looked up at him, wondering what he found so curious.

"What is it?" She asked.

"It'ssss jusssst I've never sssssseen a pink MudWing before." Pitaya explained, and as he was talking she noticed that his wing membranes were green at the tips too.

"I've never seen a greenish red SkyWing either." Hollyberry commented, and the SkyWing seemed to be surprised by this.

"No one hasssss ever noticcccced that before." Pitaya told her, and the MudWing wondered how, it was fairly obvious.

There was an awkward pause, the only sound being the SkyWing's wingbeats. Hollyberry was unsure what to say to him, and found herself backtracking over what they had spoke about. Oh, he had mentioned killing her.

"Hey, about what you said before. The whole 'It's no fun if I die before you kill me thing', what do you mean by that?" Hollyberry asked, glad to be able to fill in the awkward silence.

"When I kill you in the arena, of coursssse. That'sssss what you're here for, to fight in the arena down there for Queen Ssssscarlet'ssssss amusssssement. That isssss, if you make it far enough to fight me." Pitaya explained, surprisingly calm for a dragon talking about murder.

Hollyberry tried to match his calmness, "What do you mean make it far enough to fight you? Wait, it's probably easier for us both if you just explain how the arena works. You've probably already noticed but I'm new here."

She hated having to ask all these questions, too much information overloaded her brain with unnecessary stress. But she had to know what was going on and if her friends would be safe.

"After a dragon hassss won at leassst one round in the arena, which to win you mussssst kill your opponent, her majesssssty will ssssend me in to fight on her behalf. Anyone who beatssss me issss set free, but no one ever hassss." Pitaya finished, his tail swaying in the winds, which were gradually increasing.

Hollyberry took a moment to process the information, taking deep breaths. So basically we have to fight in the arena because the Queen says so, and you have to kill your opponent to win. If you win at least one round you can fight against the Queen's champion Pitaya, and if you beat him you win. But no one has ever beaten him. Huh, I wonder why that is, he seems harmless.

"Hey, I forgot to asssssk for your name." Pitaya remembered.

"It's Hollyberry."

"Well Hollyberry, it'sssss been niccccce talking to you, but my fight'sssss about to sssstart. Root for me!" And with that Pitaya flew down to the arena.

Hollyberry watched him carefully, deciding to study his moves in case they ever fought. If they did, she was going to win that much was certain (or at least she liked to think it was certain, whether she could actually kill another dragon or not would remain unknown until her life was on the line). She watched as Queen Scarlet emerged out onto her platform.

"Welcome to today's arena battle!" The SkyWing Queen's voice boomed across the arena, "Do you like my new art?"

It was then that Hollyberry spotted White Lily, chained to a white tree-like structure and fast asleep. Her scales shimmered magnificent shades of purple and pink that would normally be enchanting if she weren't being held captive.

Queen Scarlet continued talking, "With four victories on his claws, this dragon will be facing my champion, and should he win his release is promised! I present to you, Horizon of the SandWings!" The crowd reacted fairly neutrally to him, "Our other competitor is none other than my champion. Give it up for Pitaya of the SkyWings!" 

The crowd cheered loudly for him. Hollyberry refused to take her eyes off of the arena. Pitaya wasn't necessarily a small dragon, but Horizon was a lot bigger than him. Yet for some strange reason, fear was clearly radiating from the SandWing. Why is he so afraid?

"Fight!"

Horizon immediately darted away from Pitaya, running as far as he could as fast as he could. Hollyberry watched Pitaya very closely as he confidently strode of to the terrified dragon, slashing his claw through the air. Fire came blazing out of it, singing the poor SandWing's side. What the hell was that?! Hollyberry thought. Does he have Fire in his claws or something?! Although it was barely noticeable from her position, the look in Horizon's eyes changed. Without any regard for his life, he threw himself at Pitaya, who was startled by the sudden movement. Horizon lit up in flames as soon as he made contact with the smaller dragon. The fight was over only moments after it had started.

"Well that was boring." Scarlet commented, "I do hope tomorrow is much better. That will be all for today."

Hollyberry struggled to believe what she had seen. How do I even stand a chance against that?