Chapter 74: Sparks Ignited

Ash gaped. The Peacebenders didn't tell me I'd have to face the Dragon of Time! He looked at the huge monster. Its eyes were about the size of Ash, and it was night-black. It had huge, powerful-looking wings and claws. The Dragon flapped its wings, sending a rush of wind, and screeched.
"Kill him," Ironfang spat.
Somehow, the Dragon obeyed Ironfang and flew towards Ash. Ash yelled out in alarm and flopped into the shadows, hiding from the Dragon. The Dragon landed on the ground and looked wildly around, roaring. Ash studied it: he was surprised with its size that it could actually fit in the building. Its wingspan was ginormous. Synor said it guarded Yin and Yang...but what are Yin and Yang? Ash thought.
The Dragon lifted its huge head and then looked down at Ash and did a deafening screech. Ash tried to run away, but the Dragon grabbed Ash and flung him across the room. Ash landed hard, and was surprised he didn't get any broken bones. However, the Dragon blew fire out of its mouth and darted towards Ash and lifted a giant claw.
The last thing Ash saw was the claws making contact with his head.


The gate to Ironfang's den creaked open slowly. Ironfang stepped out of it for the first time in a while. The wind blew hard, making Ironfang's fur ruffle, and thunder crashed overhead. He then easily trotted down the steps and towards the crowd of fighting animals and let out a growl to stop them.
Immediately the Firebenders stopped fighting and turned to look at their leader. The other animals turned to see what made them stop, and all of them gaped at the sight of Ironfang. Some even screamed.
"What do they call him?" snorted Tiggerpaka's voice. "'Lucky'?"
Fortunately for Tiggerpaka, Ironfang didn't hear him. Ironfang stood there for a while. Voices began murmuring.
"Is that--?"
"It's Ironfang!"
"He's hideous!"
Ironfang then spoke, his icy voice calling out. "Ahem...Ash, his orange friend and the former Firebender wolf, Feather's adopted daughter all came in to challenge me."
Silence greeted these words.
"And you know what happens when an animal challenges me?" murmured Ironfang. His long claws hit against the stony ground, making the sound of him walking echo around the area. "They do not make it out alive." The bobcat scanned the animals with his one eye. "That orange wolf was killed. And so was Ash."
Silence came from the crowd.
Then, the Firebenders burst out in laughter.
"You rebellion-types thought this would work," Ironfang went on. "But it didn't. And you know why?" he stayed quiet for a bit, then spoke. "Because you all trust in the Peacebenders to answer your every problem. And they don't really care for you." He walked closer towards the crowd, making some animals nearby grimace. "They turned their back on you. All of us," Ironfang added. "And the Firebenders thrive while you Peacebender-believers suffer. That's because we don't trust in them. We believe in ourselves. Since your so-called 'savior' is dead, maybe you should join the Firebenders. And if you don't..." he bared his huge teeth, "you have to answer to me."
Everyone glanced at each other.
"The Firebenders are destined for greatness," Ironfang insisted, giving the rebellion animals a cold glare. He began walking through the crowd, animals jumping out of his way as he walked. "We rule the land. What better option than to give in? Any who refuse shall be killed, of course."
Still, silence.
Just then, however, from the gates of Ironfang's den, stumbled out a dark gray wolf, with a few scars on his head. No one noticed, though. The wolf looked around nervously and spotted Ironfang. There he is, the wolf thought. He was feeling weak, but the job had to be finished.
"I-Ironfang!" he called trotting over to the bobcat.
Ironfang quickly whipped around and his eyes grew wide. "Ash? How--"
Thunder boomed and lightning lit up the sky, turning Ash's pelt silver.
"The Peacebenders are a help, that's how," Ash growled.
Ironfang snarled. "Well, let's finish this," he spat.
Lightning struck the ground nearby, making the thunder louder than ever. The Firebenders launched into attack again, fighting the rebellion-animals, and Ironfang lunged at Ash. Somehow, Ash managed to dodge Ironfang's attack by what only seemed like a hair.
If there's water in the clouds like it's going to rain...Maybe I can Waterbend! Ash thought. He quickly spread his paws on the ground and pushed them forward, using a form that Creature had taught him back when Ash was an apprentice.
No water came, and Ironfang lunged at Ash. But, something struck Ironfang. Ash grew wide-eyed as he saw what it was: fire.
Ironfang screeched as he caught on fire. Ash grimaced and looked wildly around. Who Bended that? he thought.
"You're a Firebender?" Ironfang roared. "That's impossible?"
"I what...?" Ash said in alarm. He tried Bending again, and, sure enough, fire flew towards Ironfang instead of water.
Ironfang yelled out. "Ash! How can you possibly be doing this?"
Ash didn't reply; truthfully, he was as clueless as Ironfang was about this.
Ironfang snarled and tried to speak, but Ash Firebended again, making fire fly onto Ironfang again. Ash then bit down on Ironfang, luckily not catching fire, and Ironfang laid still.
I did it, Ash realized. I killed Ironfang. I avenged Rusty, Spots, Midnight, Lightning, everyone I lost...
A yell came from the animals. "Ironfang's dead!"
Ash realized it was Fang who had called out. He was gaping at Ironfang's lifeless body.
"That means Poisonfang is our leader now...?" murmured Firetalon.
Poisonfang's voice called out. "We cannot stop fighting! Continue!"
What?! Ash thought in alarm. I thought the Firebenders would give up!
The animals kept fighting. Ash growled. Come on, Peacebenders. Help me out here! he began to lunge for the nearest Firebender.
Suddenly, some sort of objects started pelting the Firebenders. Ash couldn't tell what it was. They were round and small and were brown, but they hit all of the Firebenders and it bounced away from them.
"Retreat!" cried Wildfire.
The Firebenders quickly ran out of the Fire Nation.
"Don't ever come back!" called Ash, although he wasn't sure why they fled.
Everyone at once looked to where the mysterious objects bounced back to. It lead back to Tiggerkat, who was sitting there and chewing.
"What?" she said, her voice muffled. "I like to eat my reese cups by having them bounce off of others!"

Author's Note:
Nothing to do here.