Burning Flame (New Version)

A World at War

Roars of mourning poured forth as hundreds of dragons gathered to watch the burning of their once beloved King and Queen. High upon a hill the bodies of a red dragon and dragoness lay, their taloned hands clutched and their wings tucked at their sides. Another red-scaled couple walked up the hill with a titanic hydra and sleek purple dragoness following closely behind. The dragon looked down at the dead pair with a sorrowful dignity. The resemblance between their features and his was uncanny. The dragoness next to him cried silently, her regal face tight with despair.

The dragon turned to his peers.

"Today is a day of sorrow and despair," his mighty voice boomed, "but my father would not wish for us to cry over his corpse. He would wish for us to remember him fondly, and he would wish for us to move on with our lives. King Atlas would want us to continue the success of our kind in this world, a world that is still new to dragons. He would wish for his son to take the lead. With a heavy heart I bid his spirit farewell."

He arched his neck and opened his jaws wide. A jet of flame poured from his mouth and smoke billowed from his nostrils. The dragoness joined him and soon the old King and Queen were enveloped in fire. Black smoke drifted from the bodies, and as they burned the dragon turned back to his subjects.

"Farewell to the Great King Atlas and Queen Vermillion!" he roared.

"All Hail King Inferno and Queen Magma!" the dragons thundered in return.

The dragon stood with head held high as the dragoness stood solemnly next to him. They watched the crowd as they cheered their names and the fire next to them ebbed down to a smoldering ash.     

When the cheering died down, the new king spoke again,

"In Atlas' name I shall further the success of dragon kind. Before he died, he told me that he wanted only the best for all of you. So with his blessing I now break the pact with the pegasi. We must take the land that is rightfully ours! We are dragons! We are superior! We must fight for our survival! WE MUST DECLARE WAR!!!"

He roared his speech in a passionate frenzy. The air was alive with electricity. Hundreds of dragons boomed with fierce agreement in the heat of the moment. His eyes sparked as he looked down at the turmoil he had created, and deep inside he was satisfied.

***

Out of sight a small group of pegasi had come to witness the funeral of the adored royal pair. Their hearts sank as they watched the procession.

"Atlas never would've wanted this. They are blind in their sorrow and confusion," one of them exclaimed.

"Either way we must prepare for war. You heard Inferno. I doubt he will change his mind being his stubborn, condescending self," another replied.

"We must find a leader and train for battle. It is our only hope."

"I think there is a promising young stallion and his mate that we can rely on. They have good heads on their shoulders. We must contact the others immediately."

All of them nodded in agreement before disappearing into thin air.