You let out a piercing scream as Maleficent's razor-sharp talons dig into your abdomen, ripping through flesh with a sickening tear. Instinctively, you struggle to escape her iron grip, feeling the warm rush of blood gushing from the wound. Towering over you, her cruel smirk only deepens your terror as she taunts, "You don't seem so tough now, do you, little one?" Her voice is a low growl that radiates malice, sending chills crawling up your spine.

You catch a glimpse of her injuries—a once-elegant tail now thrashing with rage, and a deep gash running down her snout, blood streaming over her features. It's almost ironic. Despite the pain coursing through you, witnessing her struggle offers a flicker of hope.

Suddenly, the air explodes with a roar that shakes the ground. Tiamat, your father, bolts into action. His massive jaws snap shut with a thunderous crack, narrowly missing Maleficent's head as he snarls, "You will stay away from my son!" His voice booms with fierce authority, the kind that could command armies. "If you ever lay a claw on him again, I'll make you regret it." His fiery breath, once a gentle warmth, now encircles her in a whirlwind of flames, a warning straight from the depths of his rage.

The ground quakes beneath you as Tiamat looms larger, flexing his menacing black talons. Raw tension fills the air as the two incredibly powerful beings lock eyes, each equally determined. You lie there, gasping for breath, your abdomen screaming with pain, but there's a flicker of hope in witnessing Tiamat rise to defend you. He's become your shield against the chaos unfolding.

Crimson stains mar Tiamat's scales, remnants of a fierce battle, glinting ominously in the flickering firelight. His usually warm amber eyes burn bright with unyielding fury, reflecting the impending clash. His tail violently swipes the ground, sending sparks flying and amplifying the atmosphere charged with danger.

Maleficent regains her composure, a sneer crossing her lips as she sizes up Tiamat. Even wounded, she radiates raw power, her injuries inflaming her anger as if they've transformed her into a more dangerous predator.

The tension mounts, the air thickening as both combatants prepare for the showdown. This moment feels monumental—the fate of everything hangs in the balance.

Your heart races as adrenaline surges through you. You can't help but root for Tiamat, the only thing standing between you and Maleficent's wrath. You might be just a small piece in this chaotic puzzle, but pride swells within you at the fierce love he displays.

As the moments tick by, Tiamat's heavy breaths resonate like distant thunder, and you watch, holding on to hope as the world around you fades, leaving only the charged presence of this titanic standoff. You know a fight is coming, and it's going to change everything.

As the fierce clash between dragons and the witch rages on, your mother—the formidable dragon—swoops down from the clouds, landing with an earth-shaking impact right in front of the trembling sorceress. With a menacing snarl, she digs her claws into the shattered ground, leaving gnarled trenches as a testament to her fury. "You're powerless against us—two fully grown dragons," she growls, her voice full of dark authority.

Tiarn, holding tightly onto the struggling witch, nods gravely at your mother's words. He then turns to you, still upright on his hind legs, claws clenched around the villain's throat. "Let her go," he barks, his tone gruff and commanding. "Or I swear you'll regret laying a finger on them." His grip tightens, and you can see the terror in the witch's widening eyes as she gasps for breath.

Determined to shield the humans, you rise to your full height and interject, your voice carrying despite the chaos around you. "Hold on, Tiarn. Let's not go that far," you urge. "Even if she's our enemy, she might have a shred of honor worth recognizing. We can't become the monsters we're supposed to protect the innocent from."

Just then, Emberlyn swoops down, landing gracefully next to you. "Let's not lose ourselves in the fight, my friends," she suggests coolly. "If we kill her, we might lose parts of our own souls along with that dark magic. Instead, let's just take her staff. By destroying it, we strip her of her power without turning into monsters ourselves."

Tiarn grumbles, but you can see him thinking it over. "Fine," he replies reluctantly. "But if she ever hurts anyone again, I won't hesitate to finish her." He releases the witch, who gasps and shoots you a venomous glare, all fury and spite.

Emberlyn takes charge, expanding her wings wide and enclosing you both in a fiery embrace. With a powerful flap, she launches into the air, bursting through the remnants of the roof above. You clumsily follow, the frantic screams of Maleficent ringing in your ears as you hear an ominous crack—likely not just her staff breaking, but a deeper fracture in her power.

The three of you land heavily on the roof's debris, which creaks under your weight. Emberlyn strides purposefully towards the defeated witch. With a swift motion, she raises her tail, its fiery tip glowing with righteous fury, and strikes hard against the staff. Wood splinters, and crystal shatters, releasing a wave of dark energy that dissipates like sinister fog.

Now stripped of her magical weapon, the witch looks back at you, anger and defeat mixed in her gaze. But she knows better than to challenge you again. With one final, furious scowl, she takes flight, disappearing into the distance as she escapes your wrath.

~~~

As you arrive at the slope where your crew is hanging out, they all sprint over to you, giving you bear hugs despite your being a dragon. "Dude, we thought you bought it," Mal says, pressing her face against your neck, unfazed by the tough, shiny black scales. "All we heard were these crazy screams."

You lean in and nuzzle against them, your mom and dad thudding down heavily behind you. Your pals retreat a bit, and Mal wipes away a tear. "Don't freak us out like that anymore, okay?" she says, visibly relieved. "I'll do my best not to, babe," you reply with a soft smile. Then, you shift back into your human body, sweeping the dark locks from your face, and Carlos wraps his arms around you tightly. "Where's Mal's mom?" he asks, sounding concerned, and you glance over at Mal, your expression a mix of sadness and tenderness. "She's... not here," you explain gently, "she left after we broke her magic stick." Mal's eyes widen, and she looks up at you with a hint of disbelief. "You mean she's dead?" she asks, and you shake your head. "No, she just decided to leave after we destroyed her source of power."

Her relief is palpable, and the appreciation gleams in her emerald eyes. You pull her into a tight hug, noticing your folks grinning from ear to ear as they observe. Then, your mom takes a step closer, gently nudging you with her snout. You release Mal and Carlos to face her. "It's a shame she cut our festivities short, but we can always resume in Erisa. You can even invite the whole of Aurodan if you like," she proposes. You exchange glances with your companions and smile. "That sounds great, Mom," you reply. She looks thrilled and flutters her wings. "Wonderful, I'll meet you there," she says, before soaring away with your dad.

Mal grins warmly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Your mother and father seem quite pleasant," she comments, her voice lilting with the promise of an adventure to come. You return the smile, feeling a surge of happiness and reassurance at her words, and clasp her hands firmly in yours. "Trust me," you reply, filled with a newfound confidence. "Let's go rouse Ben from his slumber."

~~~

You and all your friends had gathered for a night of revelry, the air alive with laughter and the rhythmic pulse of music. You danced freely with various people scattered across the room, but mostly with Mal and Evie. At one point, Mal leaned in close, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Thanks for helping us, and, well, not for killing my mom," she said, her voice a playful giggle. You couldn't help but laugh along, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Anytime, darling," you replied, the warmth of camaraderie suffusing the space between you.

Then, you let out a deep sigh, your eyes drawn to the dazzling fireworks painting the night sky. Mal and Evie were clearly in high spirits, their faces aglow with excitement. Jay and Carlos weren't far behind, the four of you huddling together in a spontaneous embrace of camaraderie. A profound sense of joy bubbled up inside you—the kind of happiness that felt unshakeable. In that moment, you were struck by the realization that you wouldn't swap this experience for any other, not even the most treasured memories of your past. And just maybe, you'd never have to.