Chapter 73: Meeting Ironfang

Meanwhile, in the fighting crowd...
Stella and Kirin were both taking turns clawing at Dansel, a female leopard. She kept throwing fire at Stella and Kirin, but they managed to dodge each of them; it appeared Dansel was getting frustrated. "You'll never win!" she roared, scoring a claw rake at Kirin. Kirin yelped out and tried to land a scratch back at Dansel, but the Firebender easily dodged it.
Dansel kicked Kirin aside and bit down onto Stella's neck and easily threw Stella's body into the crowd, leaving her lifeless. Dansel growled at Kirin. "Where's your partner now, eh?"
Nearby, Zapada and Nyx were working together, blowing air onto Firepit and Seafall. They both screeched at the two and began pushing fire against the air, trying to make it reach Zapada and Nyx. That made both owls just blow air harder, but Firepit and Seafall kept working for it. Eventually, the fire managed to get to Zapada and Nyx and it made Zapada fly back and land with a sickening crunch. Nyx darted over to Zapada. "She's dead...!" Nyx yelled. A fireball rushed over her, and Nyx narrowed her eyes at Firepit and Seafall, and darted for them to avenge her friend.
Kabu - who was bleeding from the head - was clashing against Orion, both of them roaring and swiping their large paws at each other. Orion bit down on Kabu and Kabu shook himself and bit hard down on Orion, making the bear roar out even louder and claw at Kabu's shoulder. "You're quite good for an elder!" Orion spat.
"I've spent a long chunk of my life fighting cowards like you!" Kabu snarled, biting down more harder.
Orion growled and rolled sideways into Kabu, crushing him. Orion quickly got up and growled at Kabu, but the lion just laid there, stunned.
"Kabu!" yelled a voice. Kabu's mate, Shell, ran up to him. "Kabu, your old body can't handle this fighting...come on, let's get up and take you to Nightgale and Comet so you can rest," Shell said.
However, Kabu only shook his head. "Shell, it's my time to leave..."
"Kabu, stop being silly," Shell insisted, although her expression showed fear, "you're fine."
Kabu, however, was closing his eyes. "We'll win," he whispered.
"Kabu?" Shell grew wide-eyed. "K-Kabu?"


The gate creaked and closed behind Ash, Rusty and Eclipse. Ash's heart began pounding so hard he was positive Ironfang - wherever the evil bobcat was - could hear it. The three slowly began to walk through the room, their pawsteps echoing throughout the silent room. It appeared no one was in the room, but Ash knew  Ironfang had to be somewhere. Come on... Ash thought. I just wanna get this over with...
"Where is the little--er, where's Ironfang?" Rusty asked.
Good thing he stopped himself, Ash thought silently, or Rusty would've been Ironfang's breakfast.
Suddenly, there was a roar. Ash flinched. "Wh-What was that?" he called out.
Just then, an icy voice came out from the darkness. "Well, well...Fallen Fire, is it not?"
Ash shivered. "I-Ironfang?"
"Well, this is appropriate," whispered the voice. "The so-called savior destined to defeat me comes to me with an overwhelming scent of fear. This should be over quickly, and quite easy, may I add..."
"Ironfang, stand down," Rusty growled, although a note of fear was in his voice.
"Thought you'd get help Ash...? Well, I'd prefer it to be just the two of us," spat Ironfang's voice.
So quickly that Ash only just had time to take it all in, a breeze swept by Ash and all of the sudden Rusty screamed, but it was cut off. The silhouette that had rushed by fled back into the darkness, leaving Rusty laying on the floor, blood spilling quickly from his throat.
Rusty was dying.
"Rusty!" Eclipse cried. She quickly ran to Rusty's body and dragged him off, leaving Ash alone.
Ash heard Ironfang laugh. "Your 'helpers' seem to not be able to do what you think," he sneered.
"Well?" Ash said, using all the strength he could muster to keep himself from shaking. "Face me!"
"Face you, huh? Very well, guess I haven't shown my face in a while to anyone," growled Ironfang.
Ash blinked and all of the sudden he found himself face-to-face with the most hideous, battle-scarred creature that Ash had ever seen. He almost passed out from the sight: Ironfang had many scars and his ears were so torn they were almost gone. He was missing his left eye and his right eye was dark red. He had patches of fur clinging to him and his whiskers were crooked. Ash tried to stifle a scream.
Ironfang put his claws into Ash's right paw - the one that had broke before - and Ash yelled out in pain. "I believe this is the first time we meet in person?" Ironfang murmured, digging his claws in further. It was the worst pain Ash had ever felt; he screamed out. "Defeat me, will you? By the looks of it that's not going to happen."
Ironfang let go and Ash gasped out, relieved it was over; yet it still hurt. Ash whimpered.
"These two others that are supposed to help you? Uh-huh. One, Rusty isn't one of them. Never was. And two, only you can beat me, so they say. But you won't stand a chance."
"Y-Yes I will," Ash insisted. "I have the P-Peace--"
"Don't say that word," Ironfang spat. "The Peacebenders don't exist anymore. They turned their back on us - and me - moons ago. They hate the Firebenders, yet they let animals like you prosper. I could take all of these Peacebenders on right now. They're not on your side. Let them try to protect you!"
The ear-splitting roar came back. Ash looked in the direction of it. He could feel his right paw covered in blood.
Ironfang then bit down on Ash and easily tossed Ash aside, despite Ironfang being smaller. "If the Peacebenders were real, wouldn't they be giving you courage right now? I can throw you across the room and not feel a thing."
Ash growled. "You're d-deep in a dark path, Ironfang," he said, struggling to get up, "the Peacebenders won't help you because of that."
"I have the Darkbenders on my side," Ironfang snarled, baring long yellow fangs, "they're far more better than your pathetic Peacebenders."
"They're called Darkbenders because they couldn't be accepted into the Peacebenders!" Ash snarled.
Ironfang narrowed his one good eye. "Ash, there's some things your Peacebenders can't control."
Ash looked at Ironfang, breathing heavy due to his blood loss.
"Such as..." Ironfang gave an evil grin and zipped away, and the roaring grew louder. Soon, Ash felt the ground rumble beneath his paws, making him jump, and something began stomping towards Ash. The torches in the room began to light up - Ironfang was throwing fire onto them - and a huge, green eye came down, level with Ash. Ash yelled out.
"The Dragon of Time," came Ironfang's sneering voice.

Author's Note:
Ash vs. Dragon of Time.
Who wants to make some bets? 8D