Act 8.

The four of them turned to the dragon that filled the entire opening of the tunnel. He had a large smile as he said.

"Now, let us make this simple shall we? The mage gives herself up and I let the others go. Else I will destroy both of you before taking her anyway."

"A bit of a talker isn’t he?" said Margaret.

"Yeah." said Linda.

She turned to Mikako.

"Well?" she asked. "What answer are we to give him?"

"If it not to much trouble Champion." she said. "I would prefer not departing this world at this time."

"You heard her." said Linda to the dragon. "You are not going to get her today."

Toukon sighed.

"Very well." he said. "If that is your decision."

He moved quickly into the large cave growing even more and with his skin turning to the black they had seen earlier.

A large claw swung out at Linda. She back-flipped out of the way and pulled her sword from its sheath as soon as her feet hit the ground.

Unfortunately Margaret had not had time to dodge the tail that swung around to meet her.

She flew across the room landing in a heap further down. Linda could have sworn that Toukon made a surprised noise as Margaret almost immediately rose to her feet and pulling out her sword ran back at him.

Linda joined her.

Toukon, surprised at the actions of the two warriors, actually backed up a little before realising what was happening and stopping to confront them.

He reared up as the two came closer.

Linda ran past, trying to swipe at his side.

She hit but there was just the sound of metal on metal as her sword skittered across the scales.

From the sound, she could tell that Margaret was also having the same difficulty.

His whipped his tail towards Linda who could not avoid it in time.

It struck her square on the chest making her expel the air in her lungs as she was swept off her feet and flung through the air.

She braced for the impact with the ground.

She felt herself stop but not with the jarring thump she had expected. She opened her eyes to see herself floating an inch off the ground.

She looked over to Mikako who was lowering her hands and depositing her gently on the floor.

Linda stood up.

"Thanks." she said to Mikako.

"You are welcome." came the answer.

Linda left her and Byron behind the rock they had taken shelter behind at the beginning of the fight. Linda could see that Byron was showing her hand gestures and guessed that he was teaching her the spell he had promised.

All she and Margaret had to do was stall for some time.

"Easier said than done." she told herself.

Margaret was trying hard to avoid the large teeth that were determined to do her harm.

At one point Toukon snapped at Margaret and she brought the pommel of the sword down on his snout with both hands.

His jaw actually contacted the ground.

He quickly reared up onto his hind quarters as Linda reached Margaret’s side.

"We’re not as easy as you thought. Are we?" said Linda.

"No." answered Toukon. "I may have underestimated you. But that can be rectified."

He brought both his front claws together trying to catch the two of them.

He was stopped by the invisible barrier again.

He grunted in frustration and looked around for the source of the magic.

Mikako was defiantly standing out in the open.

Toukon smiled.

"Decided to surrender to save your friends?" he asked.

"No." answered Mikako. "I just need the space."

"For what?’ he asked with a smirk.

"for this." she said.

She cupped her hands together and a light sprung up inside them. It grew in intensity until she flung her hands in Toukon’s direction and yelled.

"Taisen!"

An orange ball of flame flung out of her hands and grew in intensity and size, engulfing Toukon and everything in front of her.

Still protected in the shield Mikako had created around them, Margaret and Linda watched as the flames covered Toukon.

He roared out in pain and surprise.

As the flames dissipated they could see that he had balled himself up and covered his head with his fore limbs. Either he had not had enough time to, been unable to, or had not thought of, making himself intangible as there were scorch marks on the black scales.

He straightened himself out.

"you’ll have to do better than that little one." he said.

"I am only softening you up for the others." she told him.

Before he could say anything, Margaret moved quickly and sliced at his forearm. This time she cut into the scales and drew blood.

Toukon cried out again and pulled back.

"She’s right." said Margaret to Linda. "Whatever that was it seems to have weakened his armour a little. Come on."

She moved off towards Toukon.

Linda looked to Mikako.

"Go Champion." said Mikako. "Keep him busy, I still need a little more time to prepare."

Linda nodded and followed Margaret.

He had backed up to the wall. The two warriors engaged him taking any opportunity they could to cut him. It was more of an inconvenience to the dragon than life threatening, but the frustration showed on his face and caused him to make mistakes. The two warriors dodged his claws and tails as best they could but still every once in a while he connected.

Linda’s body was beginning to protest the abuse, causing her to hope that Mikako would be ready soon.

As if in answer they heard Mikako’s voice.

"Lady Knight, Champion, to me!"

The two of them backed off quickly and went to the mage’s side.

She was already in the process of creating a spell when they reached her, and Toukon took this opportunity to lunge forward.

But before he could reach the three of them, Mikako brought both her hands down flat on the ground and cried out.

"Ittekimasu!"

The entire cavern was filled with a light that seemed to emanate from Mikako. A fierce wind came up and nearly knocked Linda off her feet if Margaret had not grabbed a hold of her.

Everyone in the cavern shielded their eyes.

When the light died down, they could see that Mikako was still in the same position.

She stood up and turned to them, her hair as black as a star less night falling out of its braids.