Chapter 42: Ironfang's Monster

Although it was daytime, this particular area was covered in darkness. The clouds were dark black and looked deserted. Down below was a dark city, lit up by torches and fire everywhere. The city was empty. No one was in there.
Suddenly, at the gate entrance, a blood-red snake dropped out of the sky. A hawk that had dropped him there quickly flew off, he was very fast. The snake looked up at the hawk and then slithered toward the gates. He slipped under the gates and went through the city, which had no animals in it. The snake looked around at the walls. Blood was on the walls here and there, and torches with fire that didn't seem to burn out. The snake's tongue came in and out as he looked around.
Then, the snake approached a very large building in the center of the city. The snake then slipped under the gates and into the building.
The building was pitch black, except for the torches on the walls, which provided very little light, making it still almost impossible to see. Fear was in the snake's eyes, but his expression was blank, not showing his fear. He slithered down the hall. "...Master?" he said.
The snake approached a throne, but it was not occupied. Two torches were on either side of the throne, making it visible in the darkness. The snake slithered past the throne and looked around quickly, wide-eyed, as if expecting something to jump out at any moment.
At the end of the room was a cell. The snake approached it. Nothing was in it. This cell, the snake knew, was used for top prisoners who the leader was to kill. It was empty. The snake could recall the last prisoner their leader murdered. It was tortured to death, and well deserved it.
However, something felt weird to the snake. As if something, or someone, were nearby. The snake slowly approached the cell. His eyes eyed the cell.
Suddenly, two ginormous jaws snapped at the snake, its fangs covered in blood. The snake yowled out and jumped back. The jaws snapped a few more times before going back into the cell, realizing the animal it wanted to attack was unreachable.
The snake grew wide-eyed. "...It's real," he whispered.
"Yes, Wildfire," said an icy voice, "and we shall use it...to help."
"But..." Wildfire began, but nervously trailed off.
"Don't be a coward, Wildfire," said the voice, "but be careful what you say..."
"Um, master...my Lord...that isn't...the Dragon of Time is it...?" Wildfire murmured.
"Indeed it is..." growled the voice. "And? You want to say more?"
"Th-The Dragon of Time needs to protect Yin and Yang...if it isn't the world goes out of balance!" Wildfire exclaimed, "the Fire Nation may be cursed forever!"
"They got the Protectors," spat the voice, "we'll use it to keep control over those Benders."
"Yes, Ironfang, about that..." Wildfire said, casting a nervous glance at the cell, "the Water Tribe escaped."
"What?" demanded the voice. "We lost...The Bending Tower, and the Water Tribe?" the voice then snarled, "turns out I don't have warriors. I have fools who can't keep a conquered place in line! I thought you were loyal--"
"Sir, sir!" hissed Wildfire, "we still have the Earth Kingdom! They're powerful! B-But of course, my Lord, not as powerful as you...but we've all moved to watch the Earth Kingdom, and we'll kill any Benders who come in, master."
"You'd better," spat Ironfang, "you know what? I think I've gone soft, too! I'm giving you idiots second chances! You're my only army. If you lose all of our conquered Benders, Ash will--" the voice stopped, as if scared. "No, no...of course that will never happen."
"Master?" Wildfire whispered, "are you...scared of Ash? I've seen him, he's not a Bender who could defeat you, he's truthfully a--"
"You think I'm scared?!" roared the voice, "Wildfire, you know I have no fear! I am the most powerful animal of all! No one will ever beat me! The world is ours, Wildfire, with me leading you! You're supposed to be grateful!" Wildfire flinched, expecting Ironfang to attack him, and to Wildfire's great relief, he didn't. "This is why I have the Dragon of Time...he will stop The Bending Tower from their little duty to save the world from us...no one has beaten the Dragon of Time. I will make the Dragon kill Ash...it'll show Benders everywhere that Ash isn't a savior and how powerful I really am. Goldwing was a fool not to come to us...Goldwing was wrong. I will become leader this way. And everyone will bow at my paws!"

Author's Note:
Be sure to check the new contest, go to the post before this one!