He flies through the air with the greatest of ease [ Open! ]

[secondcity_npc]

Characters: Anyone interested in taking down a gigantic dragon
Time: April 16th-April 17th
Location: The skies of Chicago
Content: A giant dragon is perched on the Willis Tower. Operation Sky Battle has now commenced.
Format: Poster's choice
Warnings: None. No tag order.

Comments

[secondcity_npc]

It may have been summoned by the fire, the heat of the battle. Or it may have been watching from some place further than even they could reach. But when it swooped from the sky, avoiding the furious dragon's attempts to drench its brilliant red-gold feathers in ice-water, it brought with it the rays of the sun.

It circled down to where the two ponies were still gazing up at the sky, bringing with it the promise of summer. Unlike its companion, there was no dark spell crushing this celestial guardian - for some reason, the dark magic that had woven around the hearts of the others had burned clear of the Phoenix.

He is weakened. He can be stopped. The words were more felt than heard, echoing in their hearts rather than minds. The Dragon is powerful, but under the Sorceress's spell is not the celestial guardian he should be. You can reach him if they fight.

[notthatjason]

Jason hesitated when he heard the voice of the phoenix, well, heard probably wasn't the right term. Still, he couldn't help but look off at the fiery bird as it flew down to the ponies below. Gods, he hadn't even REALIZED the ponies were down there. He was surprised since, while he appreciated the support, this battle field wasn't really the place for them.

Still, the phoenix was encouraging them to keep up the attack. Well, Jason wasn't about to argue there. He grabbed his sword and ax and started flying further up the dragon. The winds becoming much easier to control and direct without much thought. If he could maybe get to the dragon's head he could cause more damage. Even as he flew up, however, he threw lightning bolt after lightning bolt at the dragon. He felt as though if they could just get a few more powerful strikes in they could win. This could be over.

[lollipopamazon]

A phoenix? Fantastic, Amber thought as she swung the airplane just beneath the infuriated dragon's reach. With its arrival, for once she felt the warmth of victory spread through her, and she grinned back at Blondie. "I think we can do this! Hang on!"

[sailorkindness]

The bright, warm glow of the phoenix might have been surprising in the midst of the raging battle, but it brought with it a wonderful feeling of reassurance. Fluttershy hadn't seen such a magnificent bird since when she was last home, and the heat it carried with it brought back a wonderful nostalgia and assurance.

The Pegasus watched the gleaming bird with wide eyes, listening to its not-quite-words with an uncertainty. A spell? But then... "Oh dear. That's not right at all..." Her face screwed up. The poor thing... and everyone bullying it, without any other choice, oh, how awful. Biting her lip, Fluttershy gave Rarity along look, gulped, and managed to get herself into the air, shaking. "I h-hope this works..."

The battle in the air was far more than anything she could really keep up with, fire and lightning and machinery crackling around her. The dragon--the one everyone was fighting, that was, let loose an earsplitting roar, and she cringed.

"Ex--excuse me!" The great scaly beast didn't seem to hear her, but she waved a hoof in greeting. "Sir! Please listen!" Gleaming, furious eyes set on the speck of a creature. "I--I'm sorry, but--I'm sure you're very confused, and scared right now--"

A great clawed arm lashed out at Fluttershy, and with a squeak she dodged aside. "Ahh, I'm sorry, but please, just listen! We're all trying very hard to help you, Sir! You've got to see that!" She cast a wary glance around at the others in the air, with their terrifying weapons and powers. "We... we're all fighting to make things better. You need to see that, I'm sure you can break through this!"

She couldn't bring herself to scold the massive creature--he didn't even know what he was doing! But she could try to get him to see...

[sailorgenerous]

Rarity hadn't seen a phoenix since Philomena, and the majesty and reassurance this one brought was well-needed in this situation, even if the news it brought wasn't quite so uplifting. "A spell?" Rarity repeated, disgusted. "Who would ever use magic to do such a terrible thing?" Well, obviously someone had or they wouldn't be in this situation right now.

Rarity caught Fluttershy's look and nodded - if anypony could end this with minimal damage, it was Fluttershy. "You can do this, Fluttershy!" she encouraged. "I'm right behind you!" As her best friend flew into the air, Rarity realized that she wanted a way to make her promise count. Luckily, that way was approaching the ground - and breathing fire, true, but at least it seemed to be fighting with them instead of against them.

"Hello up there!" she called to the fire-breathing dragon, stubbornly reminding herself that she was doing this to support Fluttershy so as to prevent her voice from shaking. "You, with the beautiful red scales! I was wondering if you wouldn't mind doing me a tiny favor. You see, my friend," she pointed a hoof towards Fluttershy, who was already approaching the celestial dragon, "is going to try to convince that dragon to calm down, and while she is rather good at this sort of thing, she is also talking to a dragon who's been trying to hurt us. I promised I would support her, but as you can see, I don't have wings of my own. If you would be so kind as to give me a little lift, I would be very grateful."

[notthatjason]

Jason was watching the dragon as he ascended and was surprised when it turned to the small yellow pegasus several feet below him. He cursed in Latin, what was she thinking! As far as he had gathered, Fluttershy wasn't exactly built for this sort of combat, not like the pegasus at Camp anyway. He couldn't focus on the battle if Fluttershy was at risk of being hurt, although she seemed to know what she was doing.

Wait, Jason listened to Fluttershy again, was she seriously trying to TALK the dragon out of the spell? The dragon was surprisingly focused on her now and when it swatted at the pony Jason gasped, "Fluttershy!" Thankfully the pony dodged, which surprised even him.

Jason looked back up at the dragon and then to the pony. Yeah, the others could focus on attacking, there was no way Jason was letting this dragon hurt the defenseless pegasus trying to help. With a command of the air currents Jason dropped several feet in the air until he was hovering in front of the other pony, sword held out protectively in front of her. "I don't think he's listening Fluttershy."

[ofsunandmoon]

Stella flew down near the yellow Pegasus and the man with the sword. She thought about what the phoenix said and wondered if her dust could do something to break the spell that the dragon was under, it was worth a shot, and would be even better if it worked.

"Maybe he'd listen if I gave him a little touch of fairy dust!" She told the two of them. "It should be good for breaking spells if I can get close enough to the dragon."

[letthemburn]

There was a long silence from Iskierka after Rarity's word. Not because she hadn't heard, though. On the contrary, she'd heard the request quite well. She was still getting used to the idea of talking horses after that attack on the vampires, and she hadn't the slightest idea of how one of them was supposed to hold on while she flew. But then again, perhaps that wasn't really her problem. She could always dive to catch her passenger.

But neither of this was precisely what was catching Iskierka's attention at the moment. She was focused on something that most people would have found rather inconsequential, or at the very least not worth a second thought.

"Why are there diamonds on your flank, please?" she asked, flying lower yet. "They do not seem to be sewn on, like the ones on Granby's coats. Have you always had them?"

[notthatjason]

Jason glanced between the pony and the girl with fairy wings. Well, it was as good a plan as any and the girls in the airplane were still doing a pretty good job of distracting the dragon. Jason sighed, he was going to have to make a choice here because he really didn't want to leave either Fluttershy or the fairy girl unguarded.

"Okay, I'll give you cover while you us your fairy dust...help you get close," Jason replied, figuring if she was going to be going TOWARDS the dragon then it would make more sense to give her cover. He then looked to the small yellow pegasus pony, "Be careful, okay."

[sailorkindness]

Looking between Jason and the nice young fairy, Fluttershy gave a small nod; if he wasn't listening to her, then she didn't know what else to do. Fairy dust certainly sounded like a reliable tactic, though. She'd have to trust in the others to take care of it. "Right... and you both be careful, as well. I know we can get through to him."

[secondcity_npc]

The giant beast chuffed at Fluttershy's attempts to persuade it towards calm, eyes still glowing a dismal and ferocious red. Between the airplane zooming about the Tower and Jason shooting bolts of lightning at its head from his hands, the dragon was apparently growing more and more irritable. Silvery-blue scales gleamed against the fall of faerie dust, and it seemed to do nothing except provoke it into a furious rage.

...almost.

Even as the tiny pony's words drifted to it and the constant barrage of attacks left nasty scorch marks along its hide, something seemed to change in the Dragon's mannerisms. It still growled angrily at their attacks, but the belligerence seemed to be fading. The Phoenix, which had been circling the ground several stories below, soared up to meet them, bringing the warmth that had vanished from Chicago with it.

The Dragon tilted its head to the side, as if listening to a question none of them could hear.

They are here, at the end of all of these things, to decide. Burn the spell for they have proven themselves more times than most ever will.

It was unclear whether it was the Dragon or the Phoenix who "spoke", but as the last of the dust settled into the scales, the enraged demonic glow faded from the Dragon's eyes into a pure, molten silver. It turned towards Fluttershy, Iskierka, and Rarity, snorting a puff of whitish smoke in their direction.

A stubborn mortal sort.

[renegadeamazon]

Gripping her machine gun stubbornly as the plane continued to weave just out of reach of the dragon's claws, Blondie jerked her head in the direction of the giant animal. Over the winds, she shouted, "Think the fucker is on our side again!"

Just in case, she didn't lower the gun but kept it aimed firmly at the space right between the guardian's eyes.

[lollipopamazon]

Amber continued to circle the building, hands firm on the familiar controls. Glancing back over her shoulder at Blondie's shout, she saw that the Dragon indeed seemed to be far less belligerent than it had been. Did that mean the spell was broken?

She looked at the others, already knowing they wouldn't be able to hear her, and wondered what to do next. Maybe the Dragon could tell them where the witch was? They could end this once and for all, save Chicago and everything.

If the Dragon knew where she was, of course.

[ofsunandmoon]

It was good to see that the dragon calmed down and the presence had overall disappeared. Stella flew down to the dragon, albeit cautiously.

"So... How are ya feeling bud?" It was the first thing that sprang to mind when Stella flew around to the face of the dragon, giving a friendly smile.

[secondcity_npc]

The Dragon and the Phoenix shared a look, and then the Dragon appeared to nod its head imperceptibly.

Yes, I understand.

It unfurled from around the Willis Tower, its length nearly that of the skyscraper itself. The Phoenix dipped lower amongst the buildings of glass and steel. Thank you. But it is not over. You must be at Demonreach.

It all ends there.

[notthatjason]

Jason sheathed his weapons. The battle was over, however anticlimactically, they had survived. He dropped back to the ground, landing easily thanks to his control of the winds. He felt exhausted but there would be time for rest later. "Can you take us there or at least tell us how to reach it. I'm afraid the majority of us aren't familiar with Chicago or a place called Demonreach."