Campout [Bellona]

[Bellona]

Bellona carefully watched her distance from the dragon. Just outside of the range of her claws, and another round of flame breath would take long enough for her to move out of the way. Or forward. But that didn't come. Instead, the dragon spun on the spot, and Bellona barely had time to move before the tail caught her in the stomach, sending her flying back several feet before she tumbled to the ground. The gusts created by the dragon's wings as it took off then forced her soldiers to cover.

As Bellona recovered, she saw that the dragon had taken to the air and was now out of reach of hers or any melee weapons. She considered having her archers and mages fire on the dragon, but opted against it. She would keep this battle one-on-one for their sake as much as for her own honor. But that didn't mean they couldn't help at all. "Conall!" she called out to the mage among her troops. The red-haired soldier pulled a thunder tome from his robes and threw it to Bellona. Bellona caught it in her open hand, then channeled the magic through her saber to shoot a bolt of electricity at the dragon.

[Vesperia]

Vesperia eyed the tome that was tossed to the blue-haired warrior. As the blunette flipped the book open and electricity arced about her sword, the draconic Conqueror reared her head back before releasing the fireball that had been pent up. The fireball sent by Vesperia and the lightning shot by Bellona met in mid-air, a great explosion following as green flames mixed with the arcing electricity to create a rather dramatic display. With everyone's eyes upon the bright light show, Vesperia dropped down suddenly, landing upon all four before suddenly leaping forward, a claw outstretched to quickly strike at Bellona.

[Bellona]

Bellona only watched the display long enough to see that her spell had been deflected by the fireball. It was impressive, but also distracting, and sure enough the dragon tried to use that to quickly come in for a landing. She rushed forward as the dragon leaped towards her, quickly side-stepping past its claw and closing the distance before it could pull back to reach her. From there she slid underneath its body, hopefully too close to be in range of its other legs, and charged up another Thunder spell to fire directly at its underside.

[Vesperia]

Vesperia's claw met only earth as it dug into the ground where Bellona once stood. The Dragon began to wonder where the defiant Princess had dodged to, when a sharp sensation of electrifying pain answered it for her. However risky or even stupid it may have been, the Dragon would give her foe credit for such a ballsy tactic. Nonetheless, there was a very simple response to this situation that would prove a rather forceful end. And that was a full on body slam. The massive Dragon's full weight came crashing down towards Bellona, giving her no time to crawl out from under Vesperia before getting crushed beneath. Nonetheless though, she did hold back from crushing the Princess entirely with her weight, giving Bellona a chance to surrender.

"Admit your defeat! If you do not, then I will rather literally crush you beneath me." More than a few snickers were made amongst the bandits.

[Bellona]

It was in that fleeting moment as the electricity struck true that Bellona realized that she had made a terrible mistake. And that mistake came back to her in full when the dragon simply dropped, forcing its weight down on Bellona. Pain exploded through her body, but she recognized that the dragon had held back. Its full weight would have killed her, or at least knocked her out cold and broken most of the bones in her body. But in that moment of mercy, she saw a chance to escape. Digging the edge of her saber into the ground, she attempted to drag herself out from under the dragon's body. But try as she might, she couldn't move herself enough to slip away.

It could be justified many ways. This was her first time fighting an actual dragon, and she had chosen to do so alone. She had taken a gamble on avoiding its claws. But no matter the justification, the reality was simple. She had blundered. And while she was not broken, she was not fool enough to refuse to admit it: she was defeated. "Very well. I yield," she said.

What came next would be determined by the dragon's response. If she was to be humiliated, she would take death first, and electrify the dragon to death along with her. If she was to be taken prisoner, she would bide her time until a new opportunity arose. She had already been defeated once, by her brother's servant, but even then she was still the War Goddess. Even now, that would still hold. And if a different sentence came...well, that would depend on what it was.

[Vesperia]

Vesperia could feel Bellona's attempts to squirm her way out, but it was no good. The Princess had been thoroughly bested this day. In the end, she conceeded her defeat and with that, the great black dragon was satisfied. However, she did not move herself from her relaxed position just yet. There was one more simple matter that she had for Bellona. "Then I give you a simple offer. You said that you wanted to reform the world. Well, I will give you that chance. Join my World Reformation Army and become my Queen, my General, my Second-in-Command. Whatever you would title it. You will lead my followers into battle to conquer this land and many others. I offer you the chance to make your dreams a reality with me. If you refuse... Well, I encourage you not to. Join me however, and it is just as I said." Vesperia began to show an iron-handedness that made it clear on what Bellona's options really were. Join or suffer.

"Now. Make your choice. Rule with me or..." She left the sentence trail off and gave her fallen foe some time to consider the options.

[Bellona]

That was a surprisingly generous offer from a dragon calling herself the Conqueror. Join her as her general...heh. Bellona always fancied herself more as a general than a princess anyway. It was unlike her to accept the position of 'second-in-command' rather than being on top, but her options were limited. She had been beaten. There was only one small matter. The Conqueror was strong, very strong, but her 'soldiers' were still the common bandits she had crushed beneath her so effortlessly. That would have to change. But at her hands, that could change. Among her troops were some of the Empire's best soldiers. They would have to play the part of trainers now. If not...she would do so herself, and the bandits would wish they had let her kill them rather than running for their leader. The War Goddess's training was truly from hell.

As for this grand conquest, it was exactly what she had hoped to do herself. If the end result was not to her liking, she would simply seek out the next battlefield, and start the process anew. "I accept," she said.

[Vesperia]

"Good. I am happy to have you."

The Dragon's form was engulfed in a dark light before it quickly shrunk into the form of the child-like girl from moments before. She sat upon Bellona after the transformation was over and quickly rose off of the taller woman before extending a gauntleted hand. It was less actual help standing and more the sign of their deal. Yet if Bellona did take the handshake, she would find the little girl to have a very strong grip indeed that reflected her draconic nature. And after it was over, Vesperia began to speak again.

"There is one more thing, however." Her hand remained outstretch, but this time she held it palm up and gestured towards Bellona's sword. "As in ages past, I would demand a symbol of your loyalty. I am still a Conqueror, after all."

[Bellona]

Bellona felt the weight lift off her as the dragon returned to human form, leaving only the child. She was still in a considerable amount of pain, but managed to push herself to her feet without the dragon girl's help. Nonetheless, she took the handshake when it was offered, noting with some amusement that Vesperia's grip was quite strong. Heh. Even in the form of a child, she was something else. Next, however, she kept her hand extended, holding it palm up and gesturing towards Bellona's saber in a motion that was clearly demanding it. "Hm," Bellona said, letting out a small laugh. It seemed surprisingly easy to just cut the girl down here where she stood, instead. But she had bested the War Goddess and earned her respect. Bellona did still have her honor. "It's a weapon of command, not of war. My effectiveness with it reflects more on my own strength than my weapon's. But if that is what you desire, then you may have it." She detached the saber's scabbard from her belt and sheathed the blade, then held it out for the dragon girl to take.

[Vesperia]

Vesperia watched as the blue-haired woman first chuckled and then spoke up about the sword's use as more of a command symbol than actual practicallity. Fitting, in a manner of speaking. After all, the Little Conqueror's new General was relinquishing command. The open gauntleted hand reached out and claimed the sword from it's now former owner. And as she brought it back towards herself, the little Dragon girl reached towards the hilt and drew the saber forth in a fluid motion before pointing it high towards the ever luminescent sun that hung in the sky. Light glinted off of the saber's edge and in that moment, one would be hard pressed to deny the image of a ruler, even one as odd and strange looking as the little girl that held the sword to the sky.

"And now..." She brought it down with a colorful flourish, pointing the tip towards the horizon of Port Cofanus and the sea beyond. "TO THE FUTURE!"


[END OF THREAD]